The Hulala Bike Fiesta 2024, hosted by GB Motorcycles Sdn Bhd and Sheng Fatt Motor, is back for 2024 and takes place this weekend (6,7 and 8th of September 2024) at the Penang Juru City Concept Hall. If you’re a motorcycle enthusiast, this is the event you simply cannot afford to miss! (more…)
Do you know that MotoGP bikes have no ABS (anti-lock braking system)? In fact, the system is also not used in the Moto2 and Moto3 categories.
The short answer is ABS is banned by MotoGP’s governing body, the FIM. In fact, it is also banned in the World Superbike Championship (WSBK). On the other hand, ABS is allowed in the FIM Endurance World Championship. There are several reasons behind this, which we will describe here.
Marc Marquez and Dani Pedrosa did experiment on the system as far back as 2014 and was proven to work especially well in wet weather.
However, the FIM decreed that braking action should be left as a rider and the respective team’s setup prowess, rather than having the rider grabbing the brake and letting the system take care of the real braking action.
See how far aerodynamics development has gotten in just a few short years? It has gotten to the stage that the riders have to ride their bikes like how their machines warrant them to, instead of how the riders want their bikes to “listen” to them.
Braking distance can be increased, given the ABS system’s on-off-on-off operation. So again, the onus of how to brake is shifted back to the riders and their teams.
Although not succinctly stated, many MotoGP insiders have said that Dorna and FIM do not want the factories to develop ABS technology to the level where it supplements or even takes over from braking as a rider’s skill. Also, development will certainly cost a lot of money, which runs counter to Dorna’s wish of keeping the costs down in order to see more participation on the grid. Heck, a single carbon-carbon brake system in MotoGP already costs USD20,000.
So, there you are, the reasons why ABS is not allowed in MotoGP.
Michelin Malaysia and KTM Asia announced their official partnership in Southeast Asia to drive motorsports excellence by pushing the boundaries of performance, innovation, and resilience.
This groundbreaking partnership between these two industry leaders will debut at the highly anticipated 2024 edition of Rimba Raid, the world’s largest motorcycle adventure race set in the heart of the breathtaking Lenggong Valley, Malaysia, from September 25th to 29th .
This year, Rimba Raid will showcase the seamless integration of Michelin’s world-class tire technology with KTM’s high-powered performance bikes and their “READY TO RACE” ethos.
The collaboration will be highlighted by a formidable team of five elite racers from Singapore, Malaysia, and the Republic of Korea. The teams will mount KTM 890 ADVENTURE R motorcycles outfitted with Michelin’s renowned MICHELIN Enduro Medium tires, designed for excellent control with intricately designed tread blocks that ensure grip and stability over tough terrains.
True to KTM’s philosophy, the motorcycles will arrive at the starting line in near-stock form, featuring select KTM POWERPARTS enhancements straight from the official catalogue. This impressive setup will be backed by a dedicated technical team from both Michelin and KTM Asia, ensuring optimal performance throughout the event.
Prichapakorn Dangrojana, Managing Director of Michelin Malaysia, Singapore, and Brunei, said “At Michelin, our tyres embody the high performance and endurance needed in the most challenging terrains. Through our partnership with KTM Asia, we are not just elevating the racing experience—we are driving motorsports excellence forward, in line with our #WeRaceForChange initiative, which focuses on driving sustainability, diversity, and innovation in motorsports. Through this partnership, we are not only pushing the limits of performance but also contributing to a more sustainable and inclusive future for racing.”
Enrico Remigio, General Manager of KTM Asia, added, “KTM is thrilled to collaborate with a tire partner that fully understands the extreme demands of high-stakes racing. This partnership is a testament to our shared dedication to motorsport excellence, and we’re excited to put this collaboration to the ultimate test at Rimba Raid Lenggong 2024.”
Renowned as the toughest race of its kind, Rimba Raid pushes both riders and their machines to the absolute limit. With less than half of the participants completing the previous two editions, the race has earned its reputation for grueling challenges that demand peak performance and unwavering endurance.
In 2023, Rimba Raid attracted 279 adrenaline-fueled competitors from 24 countries, including 21 trailblazing female racers, underscoring the event’s global appeal and inclusivity. The race also serves as a dynamic showcase for leading motorcycle brands, with 19 manufacturers seizing the opportunity to display their cutting-edge products and services.
We have since published the Glossary of Motorcycle Terms for the letters “A,” “B,” “C,” and “D.” So let us push on to the letter “E.”
The point of this is to help you identify and understand motorcycle terms better. It makes it much easier to explain the terms to your riding buddies and impressing them. *LOL*
ECE: Acronym for the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe. It was established in order to promote economic cooperation and integration among its member states. As such, the ECE committee created sets of regulations for all products sold in the region, including those for the motorcycle industry, such as biker gear, motorcycle parts, etc. For example, the ECE R22.06 standard for motorcycle helmets, EN 1621 for the protective padding in rider gear, ECE R90 for brake pads, and many more.
ECM: This acronym could have several meanings but mainly as an electronic control unit. Some identify it as the engine control module, or electronic control module.
ECU: Electronic Control Unit. See ECM above.
EFI: Electronic fuel injection. Fuel supply to the internal combustion engine is controlled electronically by the ECU, which acts on the fuel injectors to deliver the correct amount of fuel, at the corresponding timing, and duration.
Electronic Ignition: A computer-controlled method that conveys a high-tension current to the spark plug(s), to ignite fuel-air mixture. The timing is controlled by the engine control unit.
Electrode: The tips between which the electrical ions jump across in a spark plug.
Electrolyte: A fluid inside a battery, usually an acid.
Endo: The old term for a stoppie, as in lifting the rear wheel off the ground while braking hard or stopping. Conversely, lifting the front wheel off the ground is called a “wheelie.”
Enduro: Two meanings here: 1) A motorcycle that combines the off-road attributes of a motorcrosser and street bike, i.e. complete with lights and can be registered for road use. Enduro motorcycles are designed to handle challenging terrains, including dirt trails, rocks, and forest tracks. 2) A motorcycle competition that combines off-road racing and long-distance riding and/or over obstacles.
Engine Cut-Off Switch: The engine cut-off switch, commonly called a “kill switch,” is located on the handlebar control housing as a safety feature that instantly cuts off power to the motorcycle’s engine when activated. It is especially useful should a crashed motorcycle’s engine continues to run.
Engine Displacement: More commonly known as the engine’s size. It is the total swept volume of the pistons in an engine’s cylinders, usually measured in cubic centimeters (cc), litres, or cubic inches (for American motorcycles).
Engine Guards: Engine guards are crash guards designed to absorb impact and redirect force away from the engine and other vital components and serve as a protective barrier between the motorcycle and the ground or other objects. Typically made of durable materials like steel, aluminium, or polymer. There are several types depending on the motorcycle’s part to protect i.e. forks, frame, engine sump, engine covers, the rider’s legs, exhaust, etc.
Exhaust: Or exhaust system, to carry away the gases resulting from combustion of the fuel-air mixture in the engine’s combustion chamber.
Expansion Chamber: The expansion chamber is a motorcycle exhaust system used on two-stroke motorcycles (four-stroke engines do not require expansion chambers). It consists of a series of tuned cones and chambers that help improve the flow of exhaust system gases and increase engine power. You can identify it as the part with the largest cross section along the exhaust pipe.
Recently, the case of several 4×4 vehicles being parked in a river went viral. The actions of those vehicle owners have been widely criticised by netizens. Regardless, there is still no statement from any authority whether the owners will be subject to legal action.
In this regard, Perak Eco Tourism Development Association Advisor, Cik Siti Norlizawati Narawi said there should be a guideline for camping and public recreation sites to curb the irresponsible behaviour of visitors.
She also said that irresponsible acts are usually committed in locations without owner, because the paid sites have certain guidelines and rules that visitors need to follow.
“It is indeed difficult to control people who visit public recreation and camping sites, (but) maybe the government can issue specific rules such as don’t make a ruckus, respect others, and don’t pollute the environment and so on.
“Guidelines like these can be a reference for any individual or local residents to rebuke the actions and misbehaviour of visitors.
“There may be certain actions to teach a lesson, should they violate these guidelines,” she said when contacted by the Harian Metro newspaper.
“Recently, a case of parking 4x4s in the river went viral. We are worried that this may cause the vehicle’s oil to leak and pollute the river, making other people who bathe in the same area uncomfortable.
“There was also meals served on table and chairs set in the water. The safety aspect is one thing, then washing the dishes in the river afterwards causes the quality of the water to be dirty with leftover food such as fish and chicken bones.
“We may not see the impact now, instead, we only take action when something happens. Prevention is better than cure.
“This kind of act should not happen, in fact all parties need to be aware by taking care of their behaviour, speech and not polluting the area because any act that is not good for the environment will definitely have a negative and bad impact,” she said.
However, she did not mention off-sport activities such as enduro motorcycles, ATVs rides, and 4×4 adventures.
The Malaysian authorities have finally mandated the fitment of ABS to new motorcycles 150cc and above beginning next year. It is something many quarters including motorcyclists and transportation safety experts have requested for a long time.
However, we need to understand more about what it is and how it works, because there is no point of having the feature without knowing so. In fact, there are many fallacies about ABS that could endanger the rider’s life and limbs instead being useful.
Let us start with this before explaining further.
Not true. ABS only activates if the rider brakes so hard that the wheel is starting to lock up (stop moving). It is only so when the system triggers, not during every facet of braking.
Not necessarily. The system does help the bike to stop quicker if one brakes super hard over a dry, grippy surface as the threshold between maximum braking power and the wheel locking up is much higher.
However, maximum braking over a slippery surface may take a little longer as the tyre is more prone to locking up/sliding i.e. hard braking over wet painted road lines. As such, the system activates earlier/easier to let the wheel continue turning, resulting in a longer stopping distance.
Not true. ABS activates because the rider has exceeded the tyre’s available traction, thus he cannot brake harder even without ABS.
This was true with the older systems which weighed 11 kg in 1988. Current systems could weigh as little as 0.7 kg.
True, but no human can match the ABS’s 24 Hz frequency, besides applying the correct amount of brake pressure.
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