Motorcycle news, Motorcycle reviews from Malaysia, Asia and the world

2025 Honda CB1000 Hornet Launched in Europe

The 2025 Honda CB1000 Hornet has been launched after the prototype was first revealed at EICMA 2023.

There are two versions, namely a standard and an up-spec’ed SP.

Engine

Both versions are powered by a 1000cc, inline-four, DOHC, 16-valve engine. The standard’s engine does 150hp at 11,000 RPM and 104Nm at 9,000 RPM. On the other hand, the SP versions engine produces 155hp at 11,000 RPM and 107Nm at 9,000 RPM courtesy of an exhaust system which features a servo-operated valve which opens at 5,700 RPM.

The CB1000R’s engine was derived from an old CBR1000RR Fireblade which produced 189hp at 13,000 RPM and 116Nm at 11,000 RPM. So, the CB’s engine has a lower RPM ceiling and produces its peak power and torque at lower RPMs.

The engine’s power is channelled through an assist and slipper clutch, and six-speed transmission which were also derived from the previous generation CBR1000RR. The CB1000 SP has a quickshifter as standard equipment which is an option for the standard version.

Chassis

The 2025 Honda CB1000 Hornet uses a twin-spar steel frame which is claimed to be 70% more torsionally rigid than the previous CB1000R. While the 1455mm wheelbase and 25° rake are identical to the CB1000R’s, weight is now biased towards the front, 51.2%/48.8% (50.9%/49.1% on the SP), by shifting the engine forward along with components like the rear shock and battery. The airbox is located above the engine’s cylinder head.

Both versions share the same 41mm Showa SFF-BP upside-down forks that are adjustable for compression, rebound and preload. At the back, the standard version gets a Showa monoshock with preload and rebound adjustments. The SP version gets an Öhlins TTX36 shock adjustable for preload, rebound and compression. Both modes use the same conventional aluminium swingarm compared to the single-sided and more expensive CB1000R.

While both variants use radial-mounted, four-pot front calipers on 310mm discs, the standard Hornet’s calipers are from Nissin while the SP uses Brembo Stylema. The rear Nissin single-pot caliper and 240mm disc are shared by both versions, and while there’s 2-channel ABS.

Electronics

There is a 5-inch colour TFT display with phone connectivity. Accompanied by Honda’s RoadSync app and a smartphone gives all the usual connectivity, including turn-by-turn navigation. A bar-mounted, backlit, four-way toggle switch controls the screen, and when paired to a Bluetooth headset you also get control over calls and music.

Both variants have five riding modes namely Rain, Standard, Sport, and two user presets. There are also four levels of traction control, engine braking control, and wheelie control. There is no IMU for cornering ABS and traction control, however.

Other specs include all-LED lighting with dual projector-style headlamps and an Emergency Stop Signal (ESS) function that flashes the hazard lights automatically during hard braking.

Price

The standard 2025 Honda CB1000 Hornet is priced at £8,995 (RM50,487.64), while the SP version is £9,995 (RM56,109.24). These prices are the same as the Yamaha MT-09’s in the UK.

Will it make it here? Who knows.

6 Tips on Riding Through Flash Floods

It is now in the middle of the transitional season in Malaysia, bringing sudden thunderstorms and heavy downpours. And as expected, there will be flash floods, like this morning on 15 October 2024.

While it is safest to sit out from riding in pouring rain and flooded roads, there is no escaping it at times, especially around flood-prone areas where the roads remain flooded even after rain has stopped.

Here are our tips for riding through flash floods (and deep puddles of water).

1. Stop and inspect

Treat riding through deep water like like it is adventure riding. No sane adventure rider will just blast headlong into an unknown body of water without first inspecting its depth, potential hazards underwater and exit on the other side.

While you may not have to get off your bike and walk through floods on the road you travel on each day, you do need to stop and look for clues. If there is another vehicle pushing through the water, note how deep it is. Observe if there is a strong water current from one side of the road to the other.

If the water is too deep or current’s too strong, forget it. Just wait for it to subside.

If you do not already know the location of your engine’s air intake, now is the good time to start. Check if it is high enough above the water. (This also applies to car drivers.)

2. Stand Up

Standing up on the footpegs promotes better stability at slow speeds, allowing you to control the bike. It can also keep your head hence eyes above water splashes so you can see where you are going.

3. Go Slow (and straight)

This goes without saying.

Throwing up a big splash may look spectacular in pictures but it is not a good idea in real world situations unless you are riding an enduro motorcycle. Hitting a deep body of water at speed would most turn the water into a liquid brake/barrier. The bike will cut through the first few metres easily before coming to a sudden halt and causing the rider to lose control (or even thrown off).

Keep your speed steady and as low as possibleto keep the water’s bow wake below the height of the engine’s air intake. Remember, you are riding a motorcycle, not a jetski.

It is also best to stay off the sides of the road and ride in the middle of the lane as roads in Malaysia are typically higher in the middle.

4. Keep moving

Do not pull in the clutch or shut the throttle abruptly.

Maintain a steady throttle and speed in the gear you are in right now, even if you should feel a tyre or tyres kicking loose when contacting something in the water. In fact, you should open the throttle a bit more if that happens.

Roll off the throttle smoothly if you need to slow down more and stay off the brakes.

5. Exiting

Do n0t gun it immediately after exiting the flood. You may increase your speed, but do not slam open the throttle, without first giving the time for the water or whatever debris collected on the bike to “drop off.”

Also, with the bike still moving, apply the brakes lightly to clean them.

6. Kill It!

But what if you hit, for example, a pothole and the bike goes down?

Make the effort to kill the engine before you lay the bike down into the water. You would most probably have the time to do so since you were riding at a slow speed, right? Right? Regardless, the engine should be shut down as quickly as possible.

An internal combustion engine is basically an air pump which sucks in air, adds fuel to it, compresses the mixture and sets it alight. But water is incompressible and non-combustible (duh!), and therefore has the potential of causing catastrophic engine damage.

Do not immediately attempt to start a motorcycle that has been lying underwater. Instead, you should pull out the spark plugs and the airbox cover to check for water ingress. If the spark plug electrodes are wet, do not reinstall them, but turn on the bike’s ignition and crank the starter a few times to push the water out of the combustion chamber.

Reinstall only when it is sufficiently dry.

Conclusion

Riding through a flood is n0t difficult but one should do it with care and logic, obviously. Sticking to the above steps will have you home way ahead of car drivers, instead of ending up swimming in that filthy water. Think of it as urban adventure riding.

Kuala Lumpur Hit by Flash Floods

Several areas in Kuala Lumpur were hit by flash floods following continuous heavy rain since 8.30 this morning. The rain had caused Sungai Batu, Sungai Klang and Sungai Gombak to overflow.

Kuala Lumpur City Hall’s (DBKL) Corporate Planning Department Media Unit said the affected areas are Jalan Pantai Baharu, Jalan Parlimen (Dato’ Onn Roundabout) and Jalan Kinabalu.

“Other areas affected are Jalan Maharajalela, Jalan Travers, Jalan Damansara (under the Semantan flyover), Jalan Ledang, Jalan Segambut and Jalan Genting Klang opposite Shell and opposite Tunku Abdul Rahman University (UTAR), Jalan Sultan Azlan Shah and Jalan Sultan (Petaling Street).

“The incident was caused by a very high rainfall which exceeded 60 millimeters (mm) per hour which the rain reading at the city center rain station exceeded 114 mm per hour,” he said in a statement today.

He said that DBKL officers went to the field to ensure that the situation in the area was under control.

“The work includes traffic dispersal to help smooth the movement of traffic flow.

“As of 10.45 this morning, all the main routes in the city center have been opened except Jalan Rahmat which is closed one way,” he said.

He said, DBKL also activated two static pumps in Jalan Sultan Azlan Shah.

For the record, locations around Dato’ Onn Roundabout were flooded and DBKL brought in three portable pumps to suck up stagnant water which caused the situation to return to normal around 9.18 this morning.

The cleaning work around Jalan Parlimen has been completed by DBKL, while the cleaning work in Jalan Sultan is still ongoing.

Based on the proactive actions taken by DBKL, the majority of the affected areas can be controlled and the stagnant water recedes within 30 minutes.

Following that, road users are advised to be careful through areas that have not fully receded yet.

Trailer Rams Six Vehicles due to Brake Problem

A brake problem is believed to be the cause of a trailer ramming six vehicles at the Sri Medan traffic light intersection, in Batu Pahat, Johor yesterday.

In the incident, a trailer loaded with bricks driven by a 46-year-old man crashed into four cars and two motorcycles that were waiting for the traffic light to turn green.

Batu Pahat District Police Chief, Assistant Commissioner Shahrulanuar Mushaddat Abdullah Sani, said the accident occurred when the lorry involved was from Parit Sulong on its way to Johor Bahru.

He said, as soon as he arrived at the location with the road going down the hill, the driver noticed that the trailer had a brake problem before crashing into the vehicle stopped at the traffic light intersection.

“Preliminary investigations by the District Traffic Investigation and Enforcement Division (BSPTD) found that the accident occurred at 3.47pm.

“The crash also caused six vehicles to suffer severe damage but no casualties were reported as a result of the incident.

“The results of the initial urine screening test of the trailer driver involved were free from the influence of drugs,” he said in a statement today.

Shahrulanuar said that the police are still conducting an investigation and the case is being investigated according to Section 43 (1) of the Road Transport Act 1987 for driving recklessly and recklessly to the point of causing an accident.

Therefore, he said, people with information are asked to come to the nearest police station to help with the investigation.

Earlier, it went viral on social media of a lorry speeding and crashing into several vehicles in Sri Medan.

After crashing into several vehicles, the lorry then stopped about 100 meters from the scene of the incident.

2025 BMW C 400 GT and 2025 BMW C 400 X Revealed

BMW Motorrad revealed the 2025 BMW C 400 GT and C 400 X.

The BMW C 400 GT is the Gran Turismo version, while the C 400 X stands out as one which is more sporty and urban.

Engine

The engine remains the proven single-cylinder, liquid-cooled unit with an output of 25 kW (34 hp) at 7,500 rpm and a maximum torque of 35 Nm at 5,750 rpm. Power is transmitted via a continuously variable CVT transmission.

Electronics

Both models are equipped with BMW Motorrad ABS Pro as standard. ABS Pro consists of lean angle and corner braking features.

Additionally, Dynamic Brake Control (DBC) function linked to the ABS Pro offers a high braking and driving stability with the best possible deceleration even when cornering.

Dynamic Traction Control (DTC) and Engine Drag Torque Control (MSR) are also already on board as standard. DTC offers even more safety when accelerating — even at a lean angle and especially in slippery road conditions. With MSR, unstable riding conditions that can occur during coasting or abrupt throttle reduction causing excessive brake slip on the rear wheel (slipping or stamping) can be safely avoided. In these cases, MSR opens the throttle valves so far as to equalize the drag torque and stabilize the vehicle.

The BMW C 400 X and BMW C 400 GT now come with a large 6.5-inch TFT display as standard. In conjunction with the BMW Motorrad Connected app, the display is linked to the multi-controller on the left handlebar assembly and can be operated quickly, safely and conveniently. As part of the Connectivity Pro option, the BMW C 400 GT can also be equipped with a large 10.25” display.

Apart from music streaming, making and receiving calls, the free BMW Motorrad Connected app offers practical arrow navigation directly via the TFT display.

More storage space

The BMW C 400 X and BMW C 400 GT now have more storage space under the seat. With the BMW C 400 X the storage volume increased by 3 liters, with the BMW C 400 GT, including the front pockets, by as much as 12 liters.

The BMW C 400 GT now comes with a manually adjustable windshield as standard and can be factory-fitted with a luggage rack as part of the optional equipment. With 43.5 l of storage space, the new top case not only offers 13.5 l more volume than before, but also 10 kg instead of the previous 5 kg payload. It also has electrification in the form of interior lighting and a USB charging port. A back cushion and painted side panels are also available as options for the new top case. It is attached to the vehicle via a vibration-decoupled luggage rack. New original BMW Motorrad accessories, such as body protectors and hand guards, round off the range of offers.

2025 BMW C 400 X with a new front and “Rugged” variant

In addition to the basic Blackstorm metallic version with a black/grey seat, black rims and brake calipers at the front, the BMW C 400 X, equipped with a new and more dynamically designed front area, is also available in the new “Rugged” model variant.

In this version, the BMW C 400 X features the Kalamata metallic matt body color and appears exciting and dynamic at the same time. Red rims, tapes and tires with off-road design meet golden brake calipers at the front. A heavily tinted windshield, a red-black seat bench, stainless steel footboard inserts, and hand guards available as an optional accessory complete the robust look. The footboard inserts, as well as anodized handlebar end weights, are available as original BMW Motorrad accessories for both the BMW C 400 X and BMW C 400 GT.

2025 BMW C 400 GT with “Exclusive” model variant

The BMW C 400 GT’s ground accessibility has been optimised to provide even greater comfort and improved ergonomics.

In addition to the basic Blackstorm metallic version with black seat, black rims and black brake calipers at the front, the BMW C 400 GT is also available in the new “Exclusive” model variant.

In this variant, the BMW C 400 GT in the body color Diamondwhite metallic looks decidedly elegant and exclusive. Golden rims, tapes and a black seat bench with embroidered emblem in the rim color complement the golden brake calipers at the front and a slightly tinted windshield. A floor lighting with a BMW logo projection and stainless steel footboard inserts round off the scope of this optional equipment variant.

Brembo Purchases Öhlins Racing

Italian braking giant Brembo purchases Öhlins Racing.

Brembo signed an agreement with Tenneco, a portfolio company of funds managed by affiliates of Apollo Global Management, Inc., for the acquisition of a 100 per cent stake in Öhlins Racing.

This deal is the largest acquisition in Brembo’s history, at USD 405 million, (RM 1,735.22 million). The acquisition is subject to customary regulatory approvals and is expected to close in early 2025.

This acquisition continues Brembo’s investment in the motorcycle and motor racing area. In 2021 the Group acquired SBS Friction in Denmark and J.Juan in Spain, completing the offer of braking system solutions dedicated to two-wheelers. In February of this year, Brembo announced its entry into Thailand with a new production site dedicated to braking systems for motorcycle manufacturers. Brembo also controls Marchesini, the leading brand in the design and production of light alloy wheels for racing and road motorcycles.

The two-wheeler business is today worth approximately 13% of Brembo’s total revenues.

Founded in 1976, Öhlins Racing is based in Upplands Väsby (Stockholm), Sweden, and has a strong international footprint. Öhlins employs approximately 500 people across two production facilities located in Sweden and Thailand, two R&D centers in Sweden and Thailand, and four distribution and testing branches in the U.S., Germany, Thailand and Sweden.

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Latest News

Engine

Chassis

Electronics

Price

1. Stop and inspect

2. Stand Up

3. Go Slow (and straight)

4. Keep moving

5. Exiting

6. Kill It!

Conclusion

Engine

Electronics

More storage space

2025 BMW C 400 X with a new front and “Rugged” variant

2025 BMW C 400 GT with “Exclusive” model variant

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