Author: Mohan K Ramanujam

2025 BMW Motorrad R1300 GS Racingred A variety of color and option updates for certain models in BMW Motorrad’s 2025 lineup. The most important change is the omission of using a key to unlock the navigation module, with electric unlocking now standard across all motorcycle models. For the ‘F’-series motorcycles from Munich, the F800 GS in Sport and Triple Black variants now gets an optional tall windscreen with manual adjustment while the tinted windscreen is dropped for the F800 GS Sport. Latest color option of Gravityblue metallic with seat in black/grey is added, while the Racingblue metallic paint option is…

Being re-introduced into Malaysia is Indian Motorcycle, during a brand launch event in Petaling Jaya. Indian Motorcycle was previously distributed under Naza, and for a short while under one other distributor, before landing with current Malaysian distributor Spirit Lake Motor. Shown throughout the launch was a variety of Indian Motorcycle’s current lineup, including the Chieftain Dark Horse, Springfield Dark Horse, Scout, Scout Bobber Twenty, Scout Rogue, and Scout Bobber. Spirit Lake Motor will provide a comprehensive line up of customer services, including after-sales service, spare parts, technical assistance, warranty coverage, and official merchandise. Spirit Lake Motor can be within the…

Effective May 19, the Road Transport Department (JPJ) will stop allowing conversion of foreign driving licences to Malaysian licences. In a press statement, JPJ director-general Datuk Aedy Fadly Ramli said this is an element of the federal government’s efforts and commitment to enhance road safety, strengthen governance and lift the standard of public service delivery. “This is an element of JPJ’s efforts to boost compliance with road safety standards involving foreign nationals,” said Aedy. “Foreigners wanting a Malaysian driving licence could have to follow the identical procedures as Malaysian residents,” he said. Nonetheless, exceptions to the ruling can be made…

2025 Zontes 368D Shown on the Malaysia Autoshow are the 2025 Zontes 368D and 368E scooters, with estimated pricing from below RM25,000 and RM27,000 respectively. The 368D and 368E join the present model Zontes 368G in Malaysia, which is priced at RM28,800. Styled in a different way from the more adventure oriented 368G, the 368D and 368E are biased towards a more urban design. The 368D is meant for the urban rider who wants a straightforward to ride and maintain scooter for city and highway commuting, while the 368E is is for the rider who takes longer journeys on their…

Carrying the newest iteration of Ducati’s legendary V-twin, the 2025 Ducati Panigale V2 and Streetfighter V2 make their world debut. The Panigale V2 will enter the market in V2 and V2S versions at the top of January 2025, available only in Ducati Red, while the Streetfighter V2 and V2S will likely be available from the top of March 2025. Starting with the all-new V-twin engine in 90-degree configuration, displacement is 890 cc. Power, with variable valve timing (IVT), is claimed to be 120 hp at 10,750 rpm with a maximum torque of 93.3 Nm at 8,250 rpm. The engine is…

Alongside the Kawasaki ZX-6R, the Malaysian MotoGP also saw the debut of the 2025 Modenas Kawasaki Eliminator 500, priced at RM30,100. The worth for the Eliminator 500 doesn’t include road tax, insurance or registration and there are two color schemes available – Pearl Robotic White and Metallic Spark Black. Direct competition for the Eliminator 500 in Malaysia is the Honda Rebel 500, priced at RM33,899 and the upcoming Benda Chinchilla 500 with V-twin engine, with pricing to be determined. This cruiser motorcycle from Kawasaki comes with a liquid-cooled, parallel-twin, DOHC, eight-valve mill displacing 451 cc. Power for the Eliminator 500…

Launched together with the Yamaha GenBlu Carnival in Johor Bahru, the 2024 Yamaha PG-1 is now in Malaysia, priced at RM6,998. Pricing is really helpful retail and doesn’t include road tax, registration and insurance. This off-road styled kapchai is available in two colors and there are accessory packages available from Hong Leong Yamaha Motor, with pricing ranging from RM1,200. Malaysia market competition for the PG-1 comes from the Aveta Ranger Max Explorer with a price tag of RM6,988. The PG-1 is powered by a 115 cc, single-cylinder, air-cooled mill, fed by EFI. Mated to a four-speed centrifugal clutch gearbox, the…

One 12 months after its Malaysian market preview, the 2024 Suzuki V-Strom 250 SX gets its official launch, priced at RM17,800. Pricing doesn’t include road tax, insurance or registration and there are three color options, Orange, Yellow and Black. Direct market competition in Malaysia for the V-Strom 250 SX is the Kawasaki Versys-X 250, priced at RM24,900. There’s also the moderately more hard-core Honda CRF250 Rally, with a retail price of RM28,900. Suzuki’s smallest adventure style motorcycle comes with a single-cylinder, SOHC, liquid-cooled engine displacing 249 cc and fed by EFI. The V-Strom 250 SX delivers 26.5 PS at 9,300…

2024 Honda Vario 125 Black Latest colors for the 2024 Honda Vario 125 scooter in Malaysia, with pricing set at RM7,268 really useful retail, excluding road tax, insurance and registration. This compares to the 2023 price for the Vario 125 of RM7,080 and a two-year or 20,000 km warranty against manufacturing defects is obtainable. The 4 recent colors for the Vario 125 in Malaysia are Magenta, Black, Silver and Red, which replace the previous 12 months’s colors of Yellow, Blue and Red. Stocks of the Vario 125 scooter are expected in all Implant X and authorised Boon Siew Honda dealers…

For Malaysia, the 2024 Honda Gold Wing Tour is priced at RM212,888, excluding road tax, insurance and registration. Previously priced in 2023 at RM210,888, the Gold Wing Tour is predicted in all authorised Honda BigWing dealers nationwide starting August 2024. The Gold Wing’s trademark flat-six engine displacing 1,833 cc produces 124.7 hp at 5,500 rpm and 170 Nm of torque at 4,500 rpm. Engine power goes through a Honda 7-speed DCT (Dual Clutch Transmission) gearbox – now in its third generation – with shaft final drive. Coming with ride-by-wire throttle, the Gold Wing Tour gets 4 ride modes – Tour,…