CUCU ABANG GODAM

It appears as if Ducati is not the only player in the game with the  1299 Superleggera ‘s carbon fibre frame, as BMW Motorrad has stepped up with the BMW HP4 Race prototype. Revealed during the EICMA show in Italy, the HP4 Race displays a carbon fibre frame, along with a fairing, tailpiece and wheels made from the same material. The standard  HP4  carries a 999 cc inline-four cylinder with 16 titanium valves that puts out 193 hp at 13,000 rpm and 112 Nm of torque at 9,750 rpm. The HP4 uses BMW Motorrad’s Dynamic Damping System (DDC), along with traction control and ride modes. There is not a lot of information forthcoming about the HP4 Race, save that it will be hand built, and produced in limited quantities in the second half of next year. However, BMW Motorrad president Stephan Schaller said, “The HP4 race will feature the full carbon fibre main frame and carbon fibre rims as shown here. We will reveal more about this model next spring.” - Paultan

The Aprilia MotoGP team will run a special livery at this weekend's Valencia season finale, to celebrate the Piaggio Group's support for (RED).  Founded in 2006 by Bono and Bobby Shriver, (RED) has contributed $360 million to the Global Fund in the battle against AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria.  These funds have arrived in Ghana, Kenya, Lesotho, Rwanda, South Africa, Swaziland, Tanzania and Zambia. 100% of the resources have been invested in Africa to finance programmes intended to fight HIV/AIDS.  (RED)'s support for the Global Fund has had an impact on more than 70 million people with prevention, treatment and consulting operations, as well as HIV tests and assistance services.  The hashtag #iRideRED has been created to coincide with the Valencia race.   Aprilia Racing and the Piaggio Group thanked their partners, sponsors and riders for agreeing to the creation of the special livery, which will see not only the machines but also...

The Ducati Desmodue V-twin, thought to have had its final hurrah with the Ducati Scrambler series machines, has made a comeback with the 2017 Ducati Monster 797. Carrying an 803 cc Desmodue Euro 4-compliant engine, the Monster 797 is a return to roots of the original 1992 Monster 900, somewhat. Producing 75 hp at 8,250 rpm and 69 Nm of torque at 5,750 rpm, the Monster 797 is now the “baby” Monster in the range. Designed to be fun and accessible to all riders, new or old, the Monster 797 uses Bosch ABS, and brakes use a pair of Brembo M4.32 radial-mounted calipers. Suspension is by Kayaba and Sachs, front and rear, respectively. The front fork is a Kayaba 43 mm upside-down unit, non-adjustable, while the rear is a Sachs absorber with adjustable pre-load and rebound. Full LCD instrumentation graces the cockpit, and LEDs are used for the side-lights and tail light, with a USB port tucked under the seat for charging electronic devices. The Monster 797 is also ready for for the D...

The Multistrada 1200 now has a sibling, the 2017 Ducati Multistrada 950, which was launched at the EICMA show in Milan, Italy. Carrying a 937 cc Testastretta 11 V-twin engine with 113 hp at 9,000 rpm and 96.2 Nm at 7,750 rpm, this new Multistrada takes firm aim at the 2016 KTM 1050 Adventure. Drawing on the DNA of the Multistrada 1200, the 2017 Multistrada 950 is lighter than its big sister, and has a lower 840 mm seat height, with 820 and 860 mm seats available as options. Suspension travel is a suitably long 170 mm front and rear, and suspension duties are done with Kayaba forks and Sachs rear shock. Coming standard with the Ducati Safety Pack that includes Bosch 9.1 MP ABS with three settings, the Multistrada 950 also has four riding modes – Sport, Touring, Urban and Enduro – as well as eight-level Ducati Traction Control (DTC). Riders also have the option of user customised traction modes, which can be combined with the ride modes. Fuel is carried in a 20-litre ta...

While Malaysia still awaits the official release of BMW’s “baby” Motorrad, the G310 R, BMW has announced the international arrival of the dual-purpose styled 2017 BMW G310 GS. Drawing heavily on BMW’s heritage of Gelande/Strasse (land/street) machines, the G310 GS looks like smaller version of the massive R1200 GS overlander machine. Using the 313 cc DOHC liquid-cooled single-cylinder that is used in the G310 R, the G310 GS has 34 hp at 9,500 rpm on tap, with 28 Nm of torque at 7,500 rpm. All this pushes a package that weighs 169.5 kilogrammes, which is a DIN number, not a manufacturer’s claim. Two-channel ABS – which can be user deactivated – comes standard, and suspension is with upside-down forks and a monoshock in the rear. The front wheel is a 19-inch unit, while the rear wheel uses a 17-inch hoop, held by an aluminium swingarm. BMW Motorrad has not indicated when the 2017 G310 GS will enter the market, or what the likely pricing might be. It should b...

Without much fanfare, Kawasaki has released the 2017 Kawasaki Versys-X 250, a small displacement. dual-purpose style sports-tourer. Two versions are available – the stripped-down Versys-X 250, and the fully-loaded Versys-X 250 Tourer, which comes with panniers. The Versys-X uses a 249 cc liquid-cooled, parallel-twin DOHC engine, but Kawasaki hasn’t revealed output numbers for the bike. However, based on the Kawasaki Ninja 250R, it’s safe to assume that the engine on the Versys-X won’t veer far from the 250R’s 29.9 hp at 10,500 rpm and 21.7 Nm torque at 10,000 rpm. Single brake discs are mounted front and rear, with a Nissin four-pot caliper in front. The Versys-X 250 comes in both ABS and non-ABS versions, while the Versys-X 250 Tourer features ABS as standard. Standard telescopic forks hold up the front end, with what looks to be at least 170 mm of suspension travel, while a single shock absorber suspends the rear end. Spoked wheels are fitted front and back, the front usin...

After the recent launches of the Street Cup, T100 and T100 Black and Bonneville Bobber, Triumph has added another model to its Modern Classics range, the 2017 Triumph Street Scrambler. Using the basics ofStreet Twin, the Street Scrambler carries on the mantle of the previous generation T100 Scrambler, but better. Taking the retro-styled Street Twin as a base, the Scrambler utilises a 900 cc parallel-twin liquid-cooled engine which puts out 54 hp and 80 Nm of torque at 5,900 rpm, driving a five-speed gearbox. While 54 hp may not sound like much, the high-torque Triumph power plant has 22% more ponies available from 2,750 to 4,750 rpm than the previous generation engine. The new Triumph Street Scrambler comes with specific options unique to the bike, evoking the classic image of Steve McQueen and BMX 822 B, the 1964 Triumph TR6 SC he campaigned in the International Six Day Trials competition in East Germany. First off are the twin high-swept exhausts, which fo...

So far, the only road-going Ferraris that use hybrid power are the LaFerrari and the LaFerrari Aperta, but from 2019 onwards, new models will receive some form of electrifications to improve performance, according to a report by  Autocar UK . Ferrari CEO Sergio Marchionne explained in a conference call to investors that the combination of an internal combustion engine and electric power will help to not only make cars faster, but also improve efficiency. The F12’s successor, which is expected to arrive in 2020, could be the first mainstream Ferrari to employ a hybrid powertrain. The report also points out that Ferrari had patented a common architecture for future models, which are able to travel up to 48 km on electricity alone. Aside from the replacement for the F12, the platform could also be used to underpin other models, including entry-level ones. Ferrari recently announced a joint development project with Altair Product Design on a next...

After the unveiling of the 2017 Honda CBR1000RR SP and SP2 at the Intermot show in Cologne, Germany, last month, Honda has now shown its “basic” superbike, the 2017 Honda CBR1000RR Fireblade. The welcome return of the Fireblade moniker shows that Honda is indeed serious about wresting the superbike crown back from the likes of Kawasaki and Ducati, after letting the previous-generation CBR1000RR languish for almost six years. Using the current iteration of the Honda’s famed one-litre inline-four, the 2017 Fireblade boasts of 189 hp driving 196 kg, numbers which are similar to the CBR1000RR SP and SP2. Missing is the Ohlins semi-active suspension from the track-oriented SP and SP2, and the Fireblade makes do with Showa’s Big Piston Fork (BPF) and Balance Free Rear Cushion (BFRC) shock absorber at the front and rear, with forged wheels, respectively. Electronics abounds on the 2017 CBR1000RR Fireblade, as it does with its higher-end SP siblings. Nine-...

As posted yesterday, the EICMA show in Milan, Italy saw the official launch of the limited edition 2017 Ducati 1299 Superleggera, also known as Project 1408. As the word “Superleggera” – superlight – means, the 1299 Superleggera is absolutely dripping in carbon-fibre. From the monocoque frame, swingarm, wheels and fairing, carbon-fibre is used to achieve lightness. This extends to the aluminium fuel tank and the engine internals, which use a mix of aluminium cylinder liners, titanium valves and a lightened crankshaft with tungsten weights. On the engine itself, the Desmodromic 1,285 cc Superquadro engine puts out 215 hp at 11,000 rpm, and 146.5 Nm of torque at 9,000. Fed by Mitsubishi EFI with two injectors per cylinder, the 90-degree V-twin features ride-by-wire elliptical throttle bodies with flow-optimised intake trumpets. A full suite of electronics comes with the 2017 1299 Superleggera, including ride and power modes, cornering ABS, Ducati Traction Control E...

After 9 years, 106 podiums, 43 victories, 38 pole positions and 3 world championships, Jorge Lorenzo will start his final MotoGP race for Yamaha at Valencia.  The Spaniard is switching to Ducati next season and will make his debut in the post-race test.  But first he hopes to sign off with one more Yamaha win, a result that would also end a ten-race losing streak for Japanese manufacturer.  "It'll be a very emotional moment, because nine years in the same team, that gave me so much," Lorenzo said.  "So that's why I'm fully motivated to train as hard as possible and to finish with a win in Valencia. For sure it won't be easy, because the competition will be very close, but we are going to try."  Lorenzo sealed his third world title by leading last year's Valencia race from start to finish.  The Spaniard looks set to finish third in this year's championship, being unable to catch Marc Marquez and Valentino Rossi ah...

Intermediates could be dropped from Michelin's MotoGP tyre line-up next season.  While Bridgestone only offered a choice of wet or slick tyres during its tenure as exclusive supplier, Michelin has made the third type of tyre available for its return season.  However there is only a brief time window when track conditions are not better suited to either wets or slicks. That means intermediates are normally more appropriate should mixed conditions occur in practice and especially the short 15-minute qualifying sessions.  Intermediates were used by some riders after swapping bikes in the drying German MotoGP race, although the grand prix was won by Marc Marquez using slicks, who later stated:  “For our team the intermediate doesn't exist. We go from wet to dry. Otherwise it is a big confusion and how do I tell the team [during a race] 'I want intermediate or I want slick?'"  Discussions are underway between Michelin, the manufacturers and ...

Daniel Ricciardo has dismissed the argument that Sebastian Vettel's outbursts over the team radio are simply in the 'heat of the moment', adding that his persistent critiques towards other drivers have become 'a bit too much'.  Vettel hit the headlines in the Mexican Grand Prix as rising tensions in an eventful final few laps prompted him to launch into an expletive laden outburst over the Ferrari team radio aimed at Max Verstappen and FIA race director Charlie Whiting.  Though the FIA opted not to discipline Vettel for his actions, he has nonetheless received widespread criticism across the sport in a year that has seen him regularly take to the team radio to express his anger and frustrations at other drivers.  Indeed, though Vettel has justified his actions by calling it adrenaline, Ricciardo is less convinced, saying his instinct has been to 'hit the radio and start spurting a lot of stuff'.  Advising Vettel to be 'more sensible...

Jika sebelum ini Honda pernah menunjukkan Honda NSX versi lumba GT3, kini syarikat itu memperkenalkan pula NSX-GT. Beanya, NSX GT3 menggunakan enjin 3.5 liter V6 Twin Turbo daripada kereta produksi, sementara NSX-GT pula menggunakan enjin empat silinder 2.0 liter turbo seperti yang telah ditetapkan oleh Super GT. Pacuannya masih lagi sama iaitu dua roda belakang. Saiz enjin pada NSX-GT memang lebih kecil berbanding NSX GT3, tetapi ia tetap berkuasa dengan jumlah maksimum boleh mencapai sehingga 590hp. Dan sudah tentu, kit aerodinamik lengkap digunakan pada kenderaan ini, malah lebih lagi berbanding NSX GT3. Pembelah angin hadapannya lebih besar dan pada lengkuk roda terdapat beberapa salur udara. Pada bahagian belakang, lampu NSX versi produksi masih lagi digunakan, sementara sayap belakang yang besar dan kehadiran diffuser menambahkan lagi keberkesanan manipulasi angin di belakang. Apabila ditimbang bersama pemandu, tetapi tanpa sebarang minyak, NSX-GT dikataka...

  1.      Over the past week, I have been overwhelmed by the warmth of the reception Malaysia’s delegation has received during our time in China. From the welcoming ceremony at the Great Hall of the People, with the guard of honour and 19 gun salute, to the one-on-one meetings with both their Excellencies President Xi Jinping and Premier Li Keqiang, and the special banquets they accorded us – our hosts showed just how important the relationship is between China and Malaysia. 2.      As the son of the first leader in the region to recognise the People’s Republic of China and open diplomatic relations, Prime Minister Tun Abdul Razak, I am delighted our two countries have never been closer. This week’s visit has enhanced our friendship in many key areas, including trade, defence, security, culture and people-to-people connectivity. 3.      The many agreements we have signed will have deep and lasting benefits for Malaysia. Just...

A teaser video has appeared on the  ktmdukes  web page, showing a bisected headlight, surrounded by what looks like daytime running lights. Could this be the face of the new KTM Duke, scheduled for launch at the EICMA show in Milan this November? It might be the 890 Duke, rumoured to be making its way to the market soon. If so, it addresses a gap in the Duke range that currently sees a massive jump from the twin-cylinder 1,290 cc Super Dukes to the Duke 690 with its thumper. KTM’s Duke family of naked sports machines come in V-twin and single-cylinder flavours, and covers a range of displacements from 1,290 cc down to 125 cc. The range-topping 1290 Super Duke R Special Edition is a fire-breathing beast that scares even experienced riders, with the Duke R not that far behind. Down the range, there is the Super Duke GT, a sports-tourer, and various hooligan machines like the Duke 690, Duke 390 and Duke 250. KTM machines have proven to b...

It’s not just custom pony cars at the 2016 SEMA Show, as Ford Performance unveiled its new, track-ready turnkey Mustang race car at the annual Las Vegas exhibition. The Ford Mustang GT4 has been designed and engineered jointly by Ford Performance and Multimatic Motorsports to compete in sports car championship racing series globally, including the GT4 European Series. The Mustang GT4 puts Ford head-to-head with established race cars from Porsche and Aston Martin – in a mirror of the FIA World Endurance Championship, where the Ford Chip Ganassi Racing Ford GTtakes on the Aston Martin Vantage GTE, Porsche 911 RSR and Ferrari 488 GTE. The race Mustang is inspired by the Ford Shelby GT350R-C that won the IMSA Continental Tire SportsCar Challenge championship in the US last month. “As the Mustang nameplate continually expands its presence in  markets throughout the world , so does our relevant motorsport presence. The ...

Yamaha may have refused to give Lorenzo full early release from his 2016 contract but there are other factors that will have much greater effect on his 2017 form Who knows why Jorge Lorenzo and Yamaha have had a falling-out – maybe we’ll find out when we get to Motegi, or maybe we won’t. The factory’s decision to allow its three-time MotoGP champion to test with Ducati just once before the winter testing moratorium suggests that the two have had a squabble and this is Yamaha’s way of rapping his knuckles. I can’t say I’m that surprised. Relations often sour between rider and manufacturer before the two go their separate ways. As Nicky Hayden said shortly before he left Honda for Ducati a few years ago, “things are getting a li’l salty right now.” And, in hindsight, I’m even less surprised considering a brief chat I had with a senior member of Yamaha management at Aragon three weeks ago. This was after Lorenzo had reemphasised his dissatisfaction with Valentino ...