KTM SMT (SuperMotard Touring) 990.

KTM SMT (SuperMotard Touring) 990.

The year 2010 seems to be a good year for KTM Malaysia as sales surged from strong demands especially towards the SMT model. In Malaysia, KTM SMT comes in 3 models, namely the SMT, SMT Limited Cruiser, and Limited Sport.

A standard SMT model was arranged for my test ride courtesy of Welly World Cycle Sungai Buloh. The seat is a bit hard but nevertheless comfortable for short and hard riding. However over a consistent speed on a long distance travel, it isn’t very comfortable.

Handle bar is wide and makes maneuverability easy especially with the 200mm long travel from the WP adjustable front fork. Simplistic instrument panel consisting of: analog rev meter (hitting red at 9,500), digital speedometer, 2 adjustable trip gauge, temperature and clock. What’s missing and I am sure a lot of bikers have been hoping for is the fuel gauge. There is however a light indication low fuel with a claimed 68 kilometers (with an average speed of 110 – 120km/h) more before you starts pushing your bike.

The acclaimed 999cc, liquid cooled, 8 valves, 75 degree V-Twin DOHC LC8 engine churning out 116 bhp is all muscles in the low and mid range and great for twisty roads but not a joy for highway speed demons as the wind shield is a bit small to fend off front wind effectively. A top speed of around 220 km/h is hardly “satisfactory” for seasoned sport bikers but more than enough to get you speeding tickets. Ride comfort is best at 140 – 160 km/h and anything more than that you will find yourself “fighting” to hang on rather than enjoying your ride. Add a pillion behind and hit high speed, you wouldn’t need to pop those nasty pills for serious head swinging.

Gear changing is smooth both up-shift and down-shift and clutch is soft. Popping wheelie is a breeze and so is doing a stoppie, thanks to the tremendous stopping power of the double 305mm disc, 4 piston calipers front Brembo brakes.

The steel trellis frame of the SMT makes handling great. Owners just need to tweak the front and rear suspension to its individual weight and riding style.

The SMT is great for town and daily use, power is superb for overtaking and whizzing through traffic. The downside is, you have to upshift and downshift more often than in-lines. However for V-twin lovers, it is the fun factor and it keeps you on your toes, pun intended, at all times.

The SMT has a 19 liters fuel tank and is not known for fantastic fuel range but then again, who would complain when you are having loads of fun riding a high torque bike? It is like driving a Ferrari and complains that it is a fuel guzzler.

KTM SMT Limited Cruiser comes with:

-          ABS

-          Double Stand.

-          Side Panniers.

-          Soft top box.

-          Higher wind shield.

-          Engine guard.

-          GPS Bracket.

-          And comes in white color.

KTM SMT Sports comes with:

-          Slipper clutch.

-          Slipper clutch cover.

-          Engine guard.

-          Belly Pan.

-          FMF exhaust.

-          Body slider. (Front & Back)

-          Soft panniers.

All KTM SMT models come with steel braided brake hose, Brembo brakes and Marchesini Rims and are available in Welly Sg. Buloh. Drop in for a test ride and feast your eyes on the wide range of models there.

Specifications:

Make Model:

KTM 990 Supermoto T

Year:

2009-10

Engine.

Liquid cooling, four stroke, 75°V-twin cylinder, DOHC, 4 valves per cylinder.

Capacity.

999.8 Bore x Stroke 101 x 62.4mm Compression Ratio 11.5; 1

Induction.

Keihin EMS with FPT fuel injection.

Ignition. 

Electric.

Max Power.

116 hp 85 KW @ 9000 pm.

Max Torque.

97 Nm @ 7000 rpm

Transmission / Drive.

6 Speed / chain Clutch Wet multi-disc clutch operated hydraulically. 

Frame.

Tubular Chromoly space frame powered coated.

Front Suspension.

48mm WP USD adjustable, 200mm wheel travel.

Rear Suspension.

WP shock, fully adjustable, 210mm wheel travel.

Front Brakes.

2x 305mm discs 4 piston callipers.

Rear Brakes.

Single 240mm disc 2 piston callipers.

Front Tyre.

120/70 ZR17

Rear Tyre.

180/55 ZR17

Seat Height.

855 mm.

Dry-Weight.

191 kg.

Fuel Capacity.

19 Litres.

Top Speed.

222.0 km/h.

The Legend Cherating Resort. Kuantan. Malaysia

The Legend Cherating Resort. Kuantan.

Looking for a place to hold your company’s function, events or even a relaxing weekend getaway? Try The Legend Cherating resort, situated in the State of Pahang and about 249 kilometres or 3 hours’ drive from Kuala Lumpur. To get there, take the east-west highway beginning from Gombak and travel along Karak highway. Driving along this highway is really relaxing with scenic views of endless stretch of greeneries and hills that make up the main range of peninsular Malaysia. There are 5 rest and relax (R & R) areas starting with Lanchang, Temerloh, Maran, Gambang and Kuantan where you can take a break for a cuppa or refill your car. You can drive into Kuantan town for some shopping or visit or by-pass Kuantan via Jabor and head towards Cherating.

The Legend Cherating resort is located about 42 km from Kuantan town and there are plenty of signs along the trunk road indicating where and how close the resort is to you. Upon reaching the resort entrance, the first thing you will notice is the driveway towards the lobby. It is actually directing you on the wrong side of the road. For a moment there I thought the management or owner must have a weird sense of humour but upon checking I was told it was actually a “Feng Shui” factor.

The external appearance did not really impress me for a 4 Stars resort. The landscape does not have the “Wow” factor and the building looks quite mundane. This probably may be due to the fact that the resort is 19 years old. The lobby however is spacious and the décor incorporates some traditional Malay design. There are foosball, snooker & pool tables, reading area and video arcade along the long stretch of the lobby to keep kids occupied while you check-in or out and also to provide guests with alternative entertainment. A convenience shop and a lobby lounge are also on the same floor. One floor down and you will find the one and only restaurant called Coconut groove that serves both local and international delicacies.

Checking in was a breeze, probably because I was one of only 2 guests there at that time of check-in. But the service given is 5 stars. So was the bell service as our luggage was quickly and efficiently taken care of from the moment we got down from our car to the room. Luggage was nicely placed onto the luggage rack and air-condition was promptly turned on for us by the bell boy.

I was initially a bit apprehensive of our room condition while walking towards it as the corridor leading to the rooms is really plain, devoid of any plants or panting on walls as you would normally get from 4 star resorts. All the negative perceptions changed when we got into the room. The newly refurbished premium deluxe sea view room is spacious nicely laid with wooden coloured floor tiles, very comfortable divan king size bed, extra pillows, coffee / tea making facility, double seat PVC sofa, flat screen TV, safe box, robes, iron and board, mini fridge and lots of electrical wall sockets (something which many resorts and hotels sorely lack off) to cater especially for gadget freaks like me who need to charge the many gadgets that I brought along. 

Bathroom is just as impressive with generous space allocated. Shaving kit, toothbrush, shower cap, sanitary bag, cotton bud and sewing kit are neatly placed together with hand towels. The shower closet is spacious as well and we really love the rain shower, or alternatively you can also use the hand shower, depending on your shower habits. Each deluxe sea view room comes with balcony for guests to enjoy the picturesque view of the sea, feel the wonderful sea breeze blowing in from the South China Sea and listen to the hypnotic sound of the waves splashing onto the beach.

Rooms that are available in The Legend Cherating include Deluxe, Premium Deluxe, Premium Deluxe sea view, junior suite, executive suite and Penthouse. Prices differ according to the season and readers here will get substantial discounts if booked under Active Bugs Resources or Travelution Magazine.

The legend Cherating resort has ample facilities for families, groups and corporate companies. These include tennis court, squash court, Jacuzzi, Sauna room, gym, table tennis, archery, 7 elements obstacle course and water sports. Beach in front is great for jogging as it stretches for kilometres away. Swimming in the sea however is not for the faint hearted as waves and current are strong and do check with the resort for jellyfish season. The sports and recreation department do organizes tour for turtle and firefly watching, snorkelling in nearby snake island, jungle trekking, fishing trip, jet ski, ATV, Buggies and bicycle rental. Other beach activities include beach soccer, sepak takraw and beach volleyball. Those who prefer to stay indoors, there are ample board games, congkak and carom. You can also sing your heart out in the Karaoke or dance the night away in the X’pose disco. For plain relaxation, drop in for a reflexology or relax those tired body of yours with a traditional body massage which cater for both male and female.   

kawasaki Media Appreciation Night 2011

Kawasaki Motors Malaysia held a media appreciation night yesterday at Shah Alam where food, fun, catching up and goodies announced where the order of the night. Besides a marketing presentation by head of marketing, Ms. Christine Chai on the business direction and strategies of Kawasaki motors, members of the media were also shown clips on some of the events and activities hosted by Kawasaki over the years including the very challenging and successful 1Malaysia Merdeka expedition ride from K.L to London covering 20, 941 km in 62 days.

Over a short period of 2 years from June 2008 to January 2011, Kawasaki Motors Malaysia have introduced 11 premium models to the market from the all new KSR110, Ninja 250R, KLX 150S, KLX 250(Fi) to the hot selling ER-6N / F and the 650 Versys. Kawasaki Motors Malaysia has also announced an increased in dealerships across Malaysia as well as improvement in the delivery of service, parts and technical support.

Highlights of the night were probably the short video clip of the 1Malaysia expedition, a short brief given by the expedition leader Capt. Azizi Hashim, lucky draws where the main prize is a Kawasaki VN II and goodies announced by Mr. Jeffrey Lim, General Manager of Kawasaki Motors Malaysia. This include the Ninja Super 8 Merdeka contest in which purchasers of ER-6F or Ninja 250R SE between April 2011 and August 2011 are eligible to enter and may find themselves winning any one of the 8 superbikes up for grabs and last but not least a free Arrow muffler worth over RM3, 000.00 for every purchase of the Ninja 250R.

For more information, kindly contact any Kawasaki dealer nearest to you or visit www.kawasaki.com.my. The 1Malaysia Merdeka Expedition has come up with a book and may be purchased online at http://em1.shakespot.net. Price inclusive of delivery is RM52.00

 

  

Gopher Visi-O Lite GPS Navigator Review

Gopher Visi-O Lite GPS Navigator Review

Gophers Technologies Sdn Bhd, the supplier and distributor of Gophers GPS in Malaysia, who incidentally also design, develop and manufacture the GPS, can really be proud of themselves as they have not only grown in such a short period of time but also have come on par, if not better, with other more well known international GPS brands.

The people behind the design and technology of Gophers must have really listened to their customers as major improvements have been made to their current units. I previously tested the 3.5’ Tri-O and encountered numerous flaws such as a slow processor speed, inaccurate vocal instructions as with the directions shown onscreen and difficulty in searching for past GPS coordinates and sometimes locations as well.

The test unit given to me this time is a 5’ Visi-O lite model released in April this year. Fresh out from the box, the unit felt solid yet light and its smooth black rubberised casing is a joy to hold in the hand. The windscreen cradle and mount are very easy to fix on although prolonged exposure of the GPS navigator in the scorching heat, especially during long drives, proves to be slightly worrying as we are unsure if exposure to such extreme conditions will affect the unit both internally and externally in time to come, especially with the rubberised casing. Well, let’s hope the good people at Gophers Technologies will allow me to have the unit long enough to test that out.

The “On / Off / Sleep” button has been re-located to the top of the unit as compared to the previous Tri-O where the “switch” is on the side and takes quite a challenge to switch on. However you must press the button for a few second before the unit actually switches off. Otherwise, the system will slip into “Sleep” mode and continue to consume battery. The stylus pen, located at the bottom right is nicely flushed to the unit and quite easy to pull it out. It is even extendable for those with bigger hands. The AV-in /TMC-in, Earphone socket, mini-USB port and SD/MMC slot are all located at the right hand side of the unit, designs that makes it easy for the driver to use.

Test Ride: KTM Adventure

The Austrian-made KTM has been making headlines over the years with their dominance in the Off-road, Trails and Cross categories. So when the opportunity to test the 990cc Adventure came, I was close to sleepless, in eager anticipation.

The test machine came courtesy of Welly Motor Sungai Buloh, a well-known bike shop who was recently appointed a KTM dealer in Kuala Lumpur. Mr. Ngo, the owner of Welly Motor S.B, gave the bike a thorough check before handing me the key and told me to have a good time with it. According to an acquaintance, my face shone like a kid fingering his brand new toy as I took the keys from Mr. Ngo.

A clear sunny Saturday greeted me on the day of test. With route mapped out and Andrew, my photographer, ready to follow me in his race prep car, we headed up north to hilly Cameron Highlands. The 75° V-twin engine matched with a GPR after-market exhaust at its rear is indeed a “sweet” combination. 

According to sources, the GPR 2 full system shed about 8 kilos and gained some performance to its rated 106 bhp liquid-cooled engine. Vibration was quite noticeable but then again, that is the V-Twin’s DNA. With a 21-inch front and 18-inch rear wheel, the seat height (860mm) is 20mm higher than the BMW GS 1200 (19 in. Front and 17 in. Rear) but it feels lower thanks to its narrower slim line body.

The new KTM Adventure has a bigger 999cc as compared to 942cc of the 2003-2006 models. Other changes include new fuel-injections, seat and graphics. In the comfort department, it pales in comparison to the GS. However, in terms of power, the KTM Adventure will give the Beemer a run for its money, especially on hilly terrain. Weight distribution is fairly good. Wind factor is good even at a high speed of 170 Km/h, thanks to the high windscreen fitted onto the test unit. However, the very same high windscreen created a slightly distorted visual of the road. I felt like I was viewing the road in front through a multifocal lens. I had to either sit upright to have a full view above the screen or tuck down to view through the windscreen.

The Brembo ABS-equipped brakes do not give you the sudden stopping, hair-standing moments like some superbikes and works well even halfway into a corner. The front upside down fork and rear WP suspension are both pre-load, compression and re-bound adjustable. Couple this with its tested tubular frame and 73.8 ft.lb. of torque, it is a joy to ride especially on hilly terrains. With its superb low and mid-range torque, you don’t need to down shift as many gears to get you in or out of corners. A slight twist of the throttle and the bike just pulls you out of turns without any lag. Response was good even on 6th gear acceleration.

Off-road sized rims and heavily-treaded tyres usually spell vague handling, but they surprisingly don’t and the Pirelli Scorpion tyres fitted to the test bike did a good job of gripping the tarmac. I had the ‘unfortunate’ opportunity to ‘rain’ test both the bike and tyres on the way back as the famous torrential monsoon rain came pouring. The rain lasted for over an hour and at a certain stretch, visibility was down to only about 10 meters. Cross winds were blowing haphazardly and a couple of times, I considered stopping at one of the rest areas as I certainly did not want to contribute to the highway accident statistics. But the bike fought on well against nature’s wrath on me and I gained more confidence in the bike as I spent more time with it.

The digital dash comes with 2 trip meters, temperature gauge and the usual works but sadly, does not have the fuel gauge. The twin fuel tanks require filling individually, which is a minor inconvenience. The narrowness of the opening is also an issue especially in petrol stations that have big nozzle and tight lever. I had petrol spilling out at some of those stations. Other improvements which I find that KTM needs to improve on are the short clutch and gear levers. Riders with big hands and legs would have difficulty with the current ones.

In conclusion, if Harleys are the bad boys of the Chopper class, KTM Adventure would definitely be the title holder for the Dual-Purpose class. 

Spyder Can-Am Test

Dark clouds were looming over the horizon at Sepang International circuit the day where 4 fabulous Spyder Can-Am were awaiting to be put to test. For those who think that the Spyder is a convertible 4 wheeler, well you got half of that correct. Yes, it does not have a roof but instead of 4 wheels, it has only 3.

BRP (Bombardier Recreational Products), the parent company of Can-Am is well known for its snow mobile and ATV and now comes along the Spyder. It is neither a car nor a bike but handles like a car and gives you the feel of a bike. The Spyder has a height of about 1.15m, has 165/65R14 front wheels, a 225/50R15 rear wheel, is equipped with dynamic power steering and a choice of sequential Manual 5 speed transmission or a sequential Electronic 5 speed transmission. The Manual transmission comes with a clutch and the gear shifting is just like that of a bike. The Electronic version has a shifter located on the left handle bar and shifting through gears a real breeze. All models of Spyder come with reverse gear and engaging it is so much easier and faster than on a Goldwing or a car.

It takes a while to get use to the way the Spyder handles. But once you are familiar with the gear shift, brakes and throttle, it is really a fun machine to ride on. The steering is like a motorcycle and the response is quite sensitive, like on a Jet Ski or an ATV. I was a little worried that the Spyder will topple over on corners at high speed but the fabulous traction control makes sure that does not happen. The Stability Control System (SCS) which has sensors controlling the wheel speed, handlebar angle and engine output will regain control of the Spyder if you “renegade”. However the “brains” or ECU, all 3 of them, does let you have some fun in the form of some tire-smoking launches in a straight line.

Twist the ignition key and with a push of your right thumb, the V-twin liquid cooled, fuel injected 998cc Rotex power plant kicks in. This is the same power plant that can be found on Aprillia’s V-twin. The test machine was fitted with sport exhaust by “Hindle” and the bass output was music to my ears. After a full lap, I decided to put its performance to test. I managed to hit 185 km/h on the 106 hp machine on the back straight and that’s not on full throttle yet. The front screen did a good job in keeping the wind from blasting my small frame off the comfortable and well padded seat. Revving the RPM to the red line on every gear shift is smooth and comes without any glitch. I would have gone on forever if I had not run out of all 5 gears and straights roads, or rather track.

Braking is through a foot actuated lever that stops all 3 wheels and are equipped with ABS and EBD (Electronic Brake Distribution). The Spyder also comes with additional foot brake to stop it from “running off” in sloppy or uneven areas. It works just like a car hand brake.

Instruments come in the form of dual analog with LCD speedometer, tachometer, ambient temperature, engine temperature, fuel gauge and gear position indicator. The dials are well designed and clear.

So for those of you who like to be different, having a Spyder and riding it around town will definitely turn heads. Though I would not recommend riding it during peak traffic hours down town. It would be great to ride with your riding buddies on those outstation and weekends trips or just a romantic ride with your love ones for holidays or dinner. Just make sure the jockey knows how to handle and park your Spyder.

Suzuki Hayabusa Test

Suzuki Hayabusa Test

Suzuki Hayabusa or bird of prey in Japanese first rolled out in 1999 as a super touring bike to dethrone the then fastest production motorcycle, the CBR 1100 XX Honda Blackbird and later the Kawasaki ZX-12R. 10 years after, Hayabusa has become a legend.

The first generation Hayabusa with its bullet proof 1299cc engine produces 156 hp with a dry weight of 215Kg. That statistics was enough to smoke most if not all superbikes then. The 2009 model has an increased dry weight of 220 kg but the engine is upgraded to 1340 cc churning out an impressive 194 hp. The power delivery in this four-cylinder, 16 valves, DOHC, liquid-cooled machine however is surprisingly smooth but as I was trying to test out its acceleration shifting from 4th to 3rd, it pops a wheelie. Fortunately it wasn’t a scary one and with a slight tap on the throttle, the front landed safely back to the ground.

This Suzuki flagship model handles well both in heavy traffic and on wide uphill corners. I was surprise at its agility taken into consideration the long wheel base of 1480mm (20mm longer than the ZX-14). Going uphill and on long sweeping corners was a joy and the only limits are the road and your stamina. On the highways and on long straight roads, this long haul is the King. From a speed of 140Km/h, I throttled down on a long stretch of less than 400 meters and it hits 280Km/h without any glitch or hesitation. The heavy front end does a good job in making sure the bike sticks to the ground but it takes quite a lot of muscles to steer downhill, more so if you are having a pillion behind.

The front suspension consists of inverted telescopic forks, fully adjustable spring preload, rebound and compression damping. The rear is a link-type also with fully adjustable spring, rebound and compression damping. There is also a well hidden front adjustable damper for you to tweak to your riding style and comfort.

I was fortunate or unfortunate to some, to be caught in the evening heavy shower and thus got the chance to test out the S-DMS (Suzuki Drive Mode Selector). It basically tones down the power of the engine so that in case your wrist gets over excited and throttles down more than you should, the rear does not spin in the wet and gives you a high sided flip. From Mode “A” down to “B” and finally to “C” for the kind of shower that will blurs your vision.

Seat is wide and comfy but only if you are breaking the highway speed limit or going on a short ride. Anything longer than a 100 Km ride and with speed of anything less than 120Km/h, you will need to have a strong shoulder, wrists and bottom.

The fuel capacity of 21 litres is good enough for long rides as you won’t have to keep an eye on the fuel gauge if you are on a convoy knowing full well that other bikes will go in for refuelling well before your Busa needs too. However if you are a speed demon and tends to leave others behind, then it’s better to plan your refuelling stops.

The front Tokico brake callipers mounting on dual 310mm disc is not too hardy nor is it soft. Braking is smooth with no sudden surprise stoppie or losing of the front end, unless of course you intentionally want to lift the rear end or hits it on a sandy patch. The rear single piston calliper on a 260mm disc works better than most bikes of its class and with much better “feel”.

Overall the bike fair above average. With good aerodynamic, big front screen to keep you from blowing off at aircraft taking off speed, stylish and clear dials (digital gear indicators, clock, fuel and temperature gauge, analog Rev and speedometer), light aluminium alloy frame and swingarm. If you need a bike that intimidates supercars, this is the bike to get.

BMW S 1000 RR Launch.

BMW S 1000 RR Launch.

28^th February 2010 adds another milestone to the BMW Group Malaysia when they successfully launched the very much anticipated S1000 RR. The S 1000 RR is the latest breed in the Beemer stable of superbikes. 4 other new BMW Motorrad models were also unveiled. The BMW R 1200 GS, R 1200 GS Adventure, R 1200 RT and the F 800 R, a bike made famous worldover by professional stunt biker, Chris Pfeiffer.

Sepang International circuit was the venue of the launch with many guests, potential buyers, media and the biking fraternity coming in early to register themselves for the test ride.  The launch was officiated by Mr. Geoffrey Briscoe, managing director of BMW group Malaysia. According to him, BMW motorcycles sold a total of 183 Motorrad units in 2008 and it grew to 225 units in 2009 despite the challenges of the global economic situation. This is a testament to the success of the range in Malaysia despite it being a particularly niche market.

 According to En. Fazli, Motorrad Manager of BMW Malaysia, development for the S 1000 RR started at the end of 2007 and it epitomises the BMW group’s advances in motorcycle development as it is a bike that incorporates the power, riding dynamics and safety features endemic throughout the BMW brand but has yet to be achieved in the motorcycle segment, until now.

 The  bike have since then taken an active part in the world superbike championship with two world renowned superbike riders, Troy Corser and Rueben Xaus riding and helping in the development of the bike. The in-line four with 193 horses under the tank and weighing in at 204 Kg (fully fuel loaded) is said to be one of the best power to weight ratios bike in the market currently. Technology wise, it is no short of applications to dabble with. 4 modes of variable engine mapping (Rain, Sport, Slick and Race), fly-by-wire throttle management, ABS brakes, Dynamic Traction Control (DTC) and high speed gear shift assistant.

Much effort was spent decorating SIC for the launch as well as for the test rides. 10 units of the S 1000 RR were prepared for the half track, instructor guided test ride while another 2 units were on stand-by at the back of the pit for those who wanted to test the traction control (DTC) and the effectiveness of the S 1000 RR ABS system.

The test ride on that day was not particularly effective as we were only given 5 very much controlled laps thus was not able to take the bike to its full potential. We shall wait for the generosity of BMW Motorrad to arrange for another test bike for us to do a proper review, for the benefit of those who are planning to buy a superbike as well as for the general readers here. Demand for the S 1000 RR is overwhelming as all the test bikes were sold and out of the 43 units in shipment, there are only 2 left awaiting for new owners. On the road price without insurance for the S 1000 RR is RM108, 800.00. If you have missed this opportunity, then you will have to wait till August before the next expected shipment to arrive on our shores. 

KTM RC 8 Review - 2009

KTM RC 8 Test

Austrian make KTM with their latest offering, the Stealthy looking RC 8 is one bomber that took the super biking world with a storm. Considering that this is their first superbike venture, KTM has indeed done an excellent job.

KTM has not only established themselves in the motor cross and rally race circles but also in the 2-stroke 125 and 250cc class in the motogp with Mika Kallio winning 3 races from the first eight of the 2008 season and is currently 3rd in the overall standing.

  

On the test day, the weather was really unpredictable but it was also a blessing in disguise as I get to try out the bike in both wet and dry condition. Firing up the engine and the un-mistakable V-twin sound comes to live. Although the well hidden stainless steel exhaust doesn’t sound as “intimidating” as some after-market racing pipes (due to the regulated catalytic converter), it compensated that with its look, which is directly positioned underneath the swing arm and riders with sensitive ears will be glad that they can ride it without ear plugs on.

On the twisties the bike, with its Chromium-Molybdenum trellis frame handles well and good mid-range torque gets you out of corners in a breeze. The handle is really light and you need to fight quite a bit in getting it to “point” to the direction you want. Un-fortunately the test bike was not set up according to my weight and I couldn’t push the bike as hard as I would like to. However all this can be fixed with some tweaking on the WP front and rear suspensions and steering damper.

The 1190cc, 155HP RC8 may not have the smooth power delivery and gear change as the Japanese counterparts but it is loaded with front and rear Brembo brakes with steel braided hose which come standard on the bike. Stopping power is excellent and one can pull a stoppie without much effort. The liquid cooled RC8 runs on wet multi-disc clutch although upon starting it, it sounds like it’s running on dry. The sitting geometry is good on riders like me who is 170cm tall. I did not feel the strain on the wrists and back and riding it in jam packed K.L town was a joy too.

Now here are some of the things that bother me during the test ride. The first was the heat dissipation from the engine. The RC8 comes with half vertical fairings and on a hot day I can feel my shins burning up. The other is the gear lever, which in my opinion was a wee too short and I actually mis-shifted the gears on some corners. The front screen is also too low and wind was blasting on my helmet visor even when I was already almost kissing the tank at over 180Km/h. Other than the engine heat issue, the others can be rectify with some aftermarket parts.

This stealth machine comes with a tech instrument panel. It has readings for front and rear tyres temperature, external temperature, average speed indicator, a clock, distance before your next service, and a minimum to maximum fuel range. All that with a slight push of the Lap button on your left handle next to the horn. Now is that cool or what? Be careful however as I almost always pressed the Lap button instead of the horn when some moron just decided to come out of junctions without looking.

This 184Kg (dry weight) beauty will definitely be a choice for V-twins lovers or those who wants a difference. The RC8 comes with 2 colour choices. The signature orange, and white.