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The Kawasaki Ninja ZX-25R is finally coming to Malaysia, two years after its official debut in Indonesia.

  • The ZX-25R is fitted with the smallest inline 4-cylinder engine in the market.
  • A high revving machine, the quarter litre screamer can go up to 17,000rpm. 

The quarter-litre screamer will arrive early next year by the newly appointed distributor and partner, MODENAS.

The confirmation news was delivered by none other than MODENAS CEO Roslan Roskam, during our recent visit to the company factory plant, in Gurun, Kedah.

While we wait for the ZX-25R imminent arrival, let’s take a look at what makes the smallest inline-4 an exciting machine to look out for.

1. High rev ceiling.

To put things in perspective, a factory MotoGP bike can rev up to 18,000 rpm while an F1 car can go up to 15,000rpm.

The ZX-25R can go up to 17,000rpm, and you can get to 10,000 rpm just by riding to the nearest ‘Mamak stall’. Let that sink in.

This makes the ZX-25R an impressive engineering machine brought to you by the brilliant mind from Kawasaki.

2. Small yet powerful engine.

The Kawasaki Ninja ZX-25R gets you a 249.8cc, DOHC, fuel-injected, liquid-cooled 16-valve, in-line 4-cylinder capable of delivering 51hp @ 15,500rpm and maximum torque of 22.9Nm @ 14,500rpm.

The impressive power figure puts the bike at the top of the 250cc segment.

3. Not a beginner-friendly bike as you might expect.

With such a high rev ceiling, the power only kicks in at a dizzying 15,500rpm, and below 10,000rpm, there is pretty much nothing.

This makes the bike a bit challenging to ride, especially for new riders who might get caught out when the power kicks in all at once at 15,000rpm.

4. Perfect track bike.

To be fair, most track-oriented machines cost a fortune and the cheapest option with the proper specs you can get your hands on are 600cc supersport motorcycle.

However, Kawasaki realised that twins and singles mostly dominate the 250cc and 300cc class, and while they are good enough to take you around the track, they don’t make a lot of power.

The ZX-25R is the perfect high-revving motorcycle for the track, and with 50hp, it currently has no competition.

5. Phenomenal soundtrack.

No word can best describe how good is the sound that comes out of the ZX-25R. We suggest it might be best to take a look at the video shared by Kawasaki Indonesia.

A reminder, the bike in the video is installed with Akrapovic full system exhaust, so the eargasm is not a joke.

 

Honda is set to introduce a new retro scrambler based on the Rebel 250 for 2023.

  • the CL250 will be built based on the Rebel 250 engine and chassis.
  • shares the same 249cc single-cylinder engine that makes 25hp and 22Nm. 

Japanese publication Young Machine previously revealed Honda’s plan to launch an all-new CL500 scrambler based on the engine and frame of the Rebel 500.

The rumour relating to CL500 has been making its round in Japan for some time, but it was only recently that Honda essentially confirmed the new retro scrambler after filing trademarks for the CL500.

However, new evidence has emerged that Honda plans to add a smaller CL250 alongside the 500cc variant.

Like the CL500, the smaller retro scrambler will borrow the same engine and chassis structure from the Rebel 250, currently on sale in the Asian market.

Honda Thailand recently filed a trademark application for the CL300 name due to the fact that there is where Honda manufactured the Rebel 300 and Rebel 500.

Honda also applied for the CL500 naming rights in several other countries, including Thailand and Australia, suggesting that the new model will likely be launched later this year.

Meanwhile, the upcoming CL250 is expected to offer 25.6hp and 22Nm thanks to the 249cc single-cylinder engine found in the Rebel 250.

Italian scooter maker Malaguti has announced its entrance into the South-East Asia market with the introduction of the new Madison 150 compact scooter.

  • The century-old brand will take on the likes of Yamaha Aerox (NVX) 155 and Honda PCX 160.
  • the Madison 150 was built based on the Madison 125 in Europe.

 

Despite the Italian heritage, the Madison 150 bodywork is somewhat similar to other Japanese 150cc scooters in the market, with the side profile giving the same vibe as the Yamaha Aerox 155.

Power comes from a 149.3cc liquid-cooled, single-cylinder engine that pushes out 13hp and 11Nm, and is mated to a CVT transmission with final belt drive.

Other key features include a smart key system with immobiliser, LCD digital instrument cluster, USB charging port and a 10L fuel tank.

The Madison 150 misses out on ABS in place of CBS (combined braking system) and features telescopic forks at the front and twin shock absorbers at the rear.

Nevertheless, the Malaguti Madison 150 is available in four colour options; red, dark green, white and red and is priced at THB79,800 (RM9.9k).

KTM 450 Rally Replica is back for 2023, featuring race-winning technology that makes it the closes production bike you can get to a factory race machine.  

  • Exclusive electronic injection 450cc SOHC engine.
  • Competition chassis developed during the race.
  • 48 mm WP XACT PRO closed cartridge fork with Cone Valve technology.
  • Fully adjustable WP XACT PRO mono-shock.
  • Akrapovič race exhaust system.
  • Designed for cross-country competitions.

Dominating the Dakar Rally for the past two decades, the 2023 edition gets all the exciting goodies beginning with WP XACT Pro 48mm with Cone Valve front suspension and a fully-adjustable shock at the rear.

Not only that, but the new 450 Rally Replica also gained the same steel frame and transmission as Red Bull KTM Factory Racing uses.

In return, the 450 Rally Replica is about as close as a production bike is going to get to a factory machine. 

The bike’s 450cc single-cylinder SOHC 4-stroke powertrain delivers 60hp and is further enhanced by an engine management system from Keihin and Akrapovic race exhaust.

Ensuring the bike can keep going, the 450 Rally Replica is fitted with a massive 35L fuel tank. 

Norton Motorcycles have announced that bookings are now open for the company’s flagship V4SV superbike.

  • The V4SV is the first model to roll out of the factory since the acquisition by TVS.
  • The flagship superbike offer 185hp and full carbon fibre bodywork.

However, delivery will only occur after the first builds are delivered to customers who placed their orders before TVS Motor Company acquired the British motorcycle brand in April 2020.

“It is a hugely proud moment to announce that customers can now buy the re-engineered V4SV.

“I would like to thank the Norton team, customers and fans for their continued support for joining us on this journey in bringing Norton and V4SV to life,”
said Norton CEO, Dr. Robert Hentschel.

According to reports, the V4SV superbike is the first motorcycle to roll off the production line 18 months after TVS had to re-engineer the bike following the discovery of 35 faults in the previous built under former owner Stuart Garner.

A liquid-cooled 1200cc 72-degree V4 engine powers the Norton V4SV and can pump 185hp at 12,500rpm, making it a close rival to the Triumph Speed Triple 1200RR.

Other neat features available on the V4SV include:

  • carbon fibre fuel tank
  • carbon fibre bodywork
  • handcrafted TIG-wielded aluminium tube frame

The V4SV is being built at Norton’s new Solihull HQ, developed as part of a new investment from TVS with the promise of delivering up to 8,000 units annually.

For those interested to placed an order, the Norton V4SV is priced at GBP44,000 (RM237k).

 

An Isle of Man TT start line official who has been responsible for giving riders the tap on the shoulders at the start of the race has retired after 68 years involvement with the iconic race.

  • Paul Kermode has spend nearly 70 years with the Isle of Man TT races since 1954.
  • 23-time John McGuiness was his last send off at the 2022 IOMTT. 

Paul Kermode, 79, first volunteered with the TT back in 1954 as a scout working on the scoreboard before taking over the job as a start line official.

Kermode bowed out after the first Superbike race whereby his final shoulder tap happened to be 23-time winner John McGuinness’.

“When he came down to the line to start, he shook my hand and said: ‘happy retirement,.

“I think it’s been great to be able to do it,” he said.

Kermode been giving the famous shoulder tap for the past 15 years and despite not keeping count, he estimates that he has send thousands of riders away at the TT race and Manx GP.

“It had to come to an end at some time and that was the perfect way to do it, with John’s hundredth.

“I marshalled the early morning practices from 16. I couldn’t do race week, because I worked for the newspapers and we printed a TT special and no staff were allowed off.

“I might get out on the course somewhere now and watch them. In this day and age there’s not many people that will do something for nothing, but I’ve thoroughly enjoyed it over time. The early morning practices were something else,” he added.

(Source: MCN)

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