The Rottweiler Performance 790/890 Intake System is closing in on completion and we are on the final stretches folks. Nearly a year of design and development has gone into this intake system and we could not be more proud of the next-level quality, fit, and finish this intake system exudes. It is a shining example of our commitment to being the best at what we do and our desire to constantly innovate and push the boundaries so that we can deliver better and better products to our customers.
We have been testing the system in its current state of development and it has passed the white glove tests with flying colors, all while increasing airflow over stock by simply designing the system with a massive reusable foam surface area.
Features:
RALLY VERSION – PRESALE NOW: Real carbon fiber construction. (Think Akrapovic quality fit and finish)
PRO VERSION – EXPECTED JAN 2021: Plastic construction for lower costs
Drop-in 10+ HP at 6300 RPM safely with no mapping.
Further gains with custom mapping. (See 790/890 PCV mapping page)
Race tested at professional level Rallies
1.7 lb. (.77kg) weight reduction
Included Filter is supplied DRY
Packable and replaceable main filter with removable cage just like a dirt bike. Carry 6 or more in your side pods or pack for long trips.
Over 20 free maps to support a Power Commander V.
Check out all of our 790/890 Adventure Power Commander Maps here!
NOTE: Customers who purchased our Pro Power Plate will receive an email with a Discount Code. Use this discount code when placing your order online and receive a full $69.95 off your intake purchase.
Reach significant and safe gains over stock without any mapping. Even more gains when matched with a Power Commander V!
Stocking up on replacement filters for our 790 Adventure Intake System couldn’t be easier. Easily fit multiple filters in your stock toolbox or in a fender bag. No one wants to carry cleaning solution and oil with them on extended trips, grab a few filters, and limit unnecessary downtime!
Yamaha announced updates to the NMax 125 and NMax 155 for the 2021 model year. The scooters are now slightly more sporting with a new frame and some finer details being adjusted.
The company also updated the Blue Core engine, which is now Euro 5 compliant, using a variable valve actuation with a new intake camshaft with two cam lobes. This offers higher performance due to the two different cam lobes, one being for lower rpm and the other for higher rpm.
The 125cc bike makes 9 kW of power, and the 155cc version makes 11.1 kW of power, according to MCNews. This scooter can really scoot around. You’ll get good fuel economy, too. The 125 is rated for 2.2-liters per 100 km and the fuel capacity is 7.1-liters, giving the bike a range of 300 km.
There’s a new traction control system LCD instruments, Bluetooth connectivity, SCCU simple communications control unit, and a smart key system.
The bike also gets a 12-volt power socket up front that will help you charge your phone and the brakes are 230mm at both the front and the rear. ABS is standard. I’m not seeing prices yet, but the bike is said to come in Q3 of 2020, so prices should come at a later date.
When we think of custom motorcycles, we think of welding, new parts and components, and high-performance, generally. But George Woodman decided to go with one of the oldest materials known to man, wood.
He calls the creation, Hommage. It’s a Yamaha XSR700 that’s been heavily customized. The chief piece of custom work that stands out on this bike is the beechwood fairing.
According to RideApart, Woodman said he has spent more hours than he cares to admit hand sanding the fairing until it was crafted into the perfect shape. From there, he did an overlay of fiberglass and resin to protect it from the elements.
The fairing is just the most noticeable part of the bike, but it’s all been gone over. There’s Ohlins suspension, K&N air filters, XRace exhaust, Pirelli Diablo SuperCorsa tires, a customs eat, and a custom paint job that compliments the bike’s unique fairing.
You can see more about this unique machine on Woodman’s website. It’s worth checking out up close.
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Kymco has unveiled four all-new scooter models for 2021, headlined by the strikingly sporty F9 – the world’s first electric motorcycle equipped with a two-speed automatic transmission.
The Kymco F9 launches alongside the DT X360 adventure maxi-crossover, compact KRV and CV3 leaning multi-wheel scooter. All four models will arrive in Australian showrooms as they become available later next year.
Kymco F9
An urban electric motorcycle, the Kymco F9 is equipped with a 9.4 kW motor and designed for enthusiastic street riding, according to Kymco. It accelerates from 0 to 50 km/h in three seconds and charges on to a top speed of 110 km/h. A 96V 40Ah battery provides a range of 120 km under the New European Driving Cycle. With fast charging, it takes only two hours to fully charge the battery.
The F9 features a two-speed automatic transmission which has been specifically designed for electric motorcycles to improve power delivery and motor efficiency. It also employs a chassis design that integrates the battery as part of the frame structure for additional torsional rigidity. Combined with 14-inch wheels and a light weight of just 107 kg, the F9 has been designed and engineered as a fun-to-ride electric option. Looks alright too.
Allen Ko – Kymco Group Chairman
“Electric is one of the most significant transformations of modern transportation. From consumers, business to governments, more people are embracing electric vehicles to make our cities greener and the world a better place. However, while numerous electric motorcycles have been launched, few have been greeted with great enthusiasm by the market. The challenge lies in the fact that most electric motorcycles do not excite. The mere electric powertrain as the only differentiation has proven insufficient to significantly advance the green movement. The Kymco F9 is going to change that. This has been designed to provide the sensational riding experiences that change people’s perceptions on electric motorcycles.”
Kymco DT X360
The Kymco DT X360 is marketed as an adventure maxi-crossover with wider bars for easy steering on uneven surfaces and a higher (800 mm) seating position to improve rider visibility. Lightweight wheels and adventure-oriented tyres complete the look.
Equipment highlights include traction control; a keyless system for convenient access to the vehicle as well as a full-colour LED dashboard for maximum legibility. It offers the all-around capability for riders to easily manoeuvre in urban traffic or comfortably cruise on the open road.
The DT X360 is powered by a 320 cc liquid-cooled single-cylinder engine that produces 21.2 kW of power at 7250 rpm and 30 Nm of torque at 5750 rpm. Other technical details include a 12.5 litre fuel capacity, a 194 kg kerb weight and 14/13 inch wheels front/rear respectively.
Allen Ko – Kymco Group Chairman
“Many people believe scooters are only meant to be for city mobility. They also assume scooter riders just want to use their vehicles as part of their everyday urban routine. Underneath the surface lie urban riders’ unfulfilled quests to occasionally get out of their comfort zone and expand their horizons in all directions.”
Kymco KRV
In the Kymco KRV riders get a compact scooter featuring an independent swingarm and sporty look. Compact scooters are a predominant form of personal transportation in many countries thanks to their agility, efficiency and ease of use. The Kymco KRV adds an extra dose of comfort and convenience along with features including ABS, traction control, LED lighting and a keyless system as standard.
The KRV features an independent swingarm derived from Kymco’s flagship AK 550 maxi-scooter. This allows a lower centre of gravity, optimum weight balance as well as a premium ride quality and maximum cornering capability. Furthermore, the KRV’s flat-floor body design allows an optimal riding position for spirited rides and long journeys, while Kymco tell us that the suspension is tuned to suit solo and two-up riding.
Powering the Kymco KRV is a newly-developed 175 cc four-valve liquid-cooled engine which delivers its power via belt drive to the rear wheel.
Allen Ko – Kymco Group Chairman
“The Kymco F9, DT X360 and KRV all come with innovations that stir senses, intensify emotions and excite riders. As we continue to create personal vehicles that win the hearts of consumers all over the world, now, it’s time to excite!”
Kymco CV3
Revealed at EICMA in 2017 in concept guise to great acclaim the CV3 leaning multi-wheel scooter now becomes a production reality. In some markets people can ride these type of platforms on their car licence, but of course the fun police won’t allow such freedom in Australia.
The CV3 is powered by a 550 cc parallel-twin liquid-cooled engine that generates 38 kW (51 hp) at 7500 rpm and 53 Nm of torque at 5750 rpm.
In addition to the dual-front wheel architecture, the Kymco CV3 also features ABS; traction control; cruise control, full LED lighting and dash; keyless ignition system, and a large-capacity underseat storage compartment.
Kymco Australia plan to bring all four models to Australia but the arrival schedule and pricing is yet to be determined.
Motorcycle Test by Wayne Vickers – Images Rob Mott
I had another scooter in the shed recently. Totally different proposition to the big Tmax I had a couple of months back which you can read more about here. This lwas Honda’s ADV150 and it wasn’t a bad little jigger. Honda are dubbing it an ‘adventure scooter’ which is probably having a bit of a laugh in comparison to genuine adventure bikes, but it’s certainly a little bit different and worth a look.
What are we looking at? Well, 150cc fuel injected single cylinder, auto gearbox, ABS both ends and even Showa shocks. It tips the scales at 133 kilos and will set you back around 6 grand.
My impression didn’t necessarily start off that well, it has a not-very-intuitive at first key fob and startup system. The key fob (it has no key as such so you can just keep it in your pocket) has three buttons with icons and no text and a start-up process that involves a push-and-turn dial on the bike as well as having to have the side stand upright and brakes on to start it. It took three blokes about five-minutes to get it started for the first time. The alarm had to be turned off and the dial turned to the right position before it would jump to life. A simple key would have certainly been quicker… but once you figure it out and get used to it, it’s ok. The fob comes with a button to make the bike beep if you’ve lost it in a car-park (although I didn’t test the range on that…), an alarm on and off button. I honestly left them all alone and just got on and rode.
On the road it’s quite refined. The auto clutch take-up is seamless, the engine is smooth and quiet while the ABS stoppers both ends feel up to the task. Mechanically its Honda through and through and feels bulletproof and well sorted.
It has quite a nice, nimble lightness to it that I think a lot of folks would find appealing. In traffic it’s able to hold its own against most cars from the front of the lights. Pumping out 14 horsepower and about the same number of Newton Metres of torque, it’s no rocket ship and doesn’t scream away from the lights. But for a nimble low-capacity scooter it goes ok in traffic.
Around town and on shorter jaunts it’s in its element – and certainly the slightly bigger than average sized wheels (for a scooter), help navigate rougher urban roads, potholes and tram tracks etc. But I wouldn’t want to spend extended hours touring on one out in the countryside. In fact, after the first 40 kilometres of mind numbingly boring highway work on the way home from picking it up I was already feeling it in my lower back and hips. I got used to it with some more time aboard, but it’s worth noting that the seat is quite firm and there’s not a lot of soaking up of serious bumps going on for longer trips.
So I’m not sure what sort of ‘Adventure’s’ Honda has in mind. While yes, it will handle good quality gravel roads (just like any other bike), I wouldn’t suggest you to have any plans to tackle anything gnarlier than that on it. I wouldn’t like to ride it through loose gravel.. (I did see a youtube video of someone trying it. And they tucked the front at the first sign of soft gravel and dropped it… so…), and I don’t think the undertray would like you for it either. On the flip side – It does have slightly taller ride height than some of its competitors, so it’s probably less likely to scrape on gutters. Maybe ‘Urban Adventurer’ might be more apt?
An 8 litre fuel tank is going to force you to stop fairly regularly on any longer trips too. I was averaging around 3.5L per hundred kays overall, but was seeing 4.5 – 5L/100ks on the dash while holding it pinned at 110 down the freeway (tucked in behind the adjustable two position front screen), so don’t expect to be getting any more than 200 kilometres per tank. I’d suggest it’d get better mileage than that on full time urban work. Especially with the auto stop-start enabled via the simple switch on the rhs switchgear which worked just as expected. Sit still for a few seconds. It shuts down, twist the throttle and it starts back up again. Nice.
I did note one interesting thing however in that if you turn the engine off fully with the dial while having it on auto stop, then you need to give it a little rev to get it started.. It wont just start by pressing the button. Had me scratching my head again for a bit.
When it comes time to park, the centre-stand is a doddle to use as it’s such a lightweight bike for even the most physically challenged amongst us. Super easy to put on and off the stand.
The dash is a bit unusual. It has a display that shows you the day and month and it also shows you ambient temp. But doesnt show you the engine temp, which I’m starting to see more of on the latest motorcycles and can’t say I like it. And where I was expecting a tacho that space is instead replaced with an ‘insta fuel consumption’ readout. I did pay attention to it every now and again initially for curiosity’s sake, but I’m not sure I’d look at it much after the first couple of weeks if it was mine. I think most folks understand that when you twist the throttle harder it uses more fuel… 🙂
Styling wise it seems nicely executed if a little busy but I don’t mind it. Lots of individual surface details and they’re all quite nicely finished with good quality materials. Plenty to look at while you’re sipping your latte. I did seem to have to keep wiping the bike down in that colour scheme, the footrest areas in particular just kept showing up dirt and scuffs.
And although there’s plenty of useful storage space including a charger equipped 2 Litre pod in the dash, note that the underseat storage didn’t fit either of the two full face helmets I tried which I thought was disappointing. We tried every which way to make it fit, but it was about an inch short of closing. Probably would have got it to shut if I forced it, but I’m not going to do that to a helmet… I’d expect it’s made for open faced helmets even though the blurb says full face… So you’d want to check it before buying a lid.
To top it off – that great price tag for Honda build quality and confidence. And for that, you can ignore some quirks in the dash etc. I actually think it’s a pretty solid offering. Plenty to like, especially for those wanting something a little different to the Vespa look.
Why I like it:
Light, nimble, get on and go once you get used to the fob
Honda build quality – good smooth engine, no shortfalls mechanically
That price!
I’d like it more if:
The underseat storage actually fitted my full faced lids
The adjustable screen had some more height to it
The seat could be a little softer for soaking up our rubbish roads
Yamaha have announced updates to the NMax 125 and NMax 155, with styling updated in 2021 with a slightly more sporting bent with a new frame and extra fine detail touches across the bike.
The Blue Core engine is also Euro5 compliant and runs Variable Valve Actuation, with a special intake camshaft with two cam lobes, one for low to mid rpm, and the other for high rpm, offering broader performance.
The 125 cc Blue Core engine produced 9 kW at 8000 rpm, while on the 155 cc version we’ll get in Australia this is boosted to 11.1 kW also at 8000 rpm.
Fuel economy is a claimed 2.2L per 100 km on the 125, with a new Start & Stop system helping reduce emissions, although this can be switched off. Fuel capacity is 7.1 L with an effective range of 300 km.
The NMax also benefits from a traction control system, not previously seen on the NMax 155 in Australia, but mirroring the larger XMax 300.
The LCD instruments also now incorporate Bluetooth connectivity, with a SCCU Simple Communications Control Unit, and again the Smart Key system seen on the XMax makes its way to the NMax models. This means as long as the rider has the key on their person, they’ll be able to jump on board, unlock the ignition and start the bike. without inserting a key. As well as access the underseat storage.
Owners can download Yamaha’s free MyRide app to their smartphone, and then pair their device with the SCCU using Bluetooth when they are close to the unit. Once connected, the MyRide app gives the rider full access to a wide range of technical and running information including battery and oil status, fuel consumption and more. There’s even a parking locator that enables the rider to find their NMAX using the phone’s last connected location.
Other features include a 12V power socket and a front pocket ideal for holding small items like a phone or wallet.
Brakes are 230 mm rotors front and rear, and include ABS as standard fitment, while a large underseat storage compartment is ready for a helmet and other personal items.
Colour options in 2021 for the NMax models will be Anodised Red, Phantom Blue or Power Grey, however market availability may vary with colours and pricing yet to be confirmed by Yamaha Motor Australia. The 2021 NMax 155 is expected to arrive in Q3, 2020 in Australia.
Selecting the right riding gear for the conditions is as important as setting your bike up before a ride. You should be able to focus 100 % on getting the job done without any distraction from poorly selected equipment. In the early days, when Husqvarna Motorcycles helped shape the sport of motocross, riders had little choice but to wear heavy, non-breathable clothing for protection.
Today, riders have the opportunity to select light, comfortable and vented gear for hot days, and waterproof options for colder, wet rides. It is important to wear a set of quality riding gear that has gone through the same vigorous preparation that you and your motorcycle have gone through.
A massive and potentially lethal pothole on a popular motorcycle road that has been reported to authorities is still not repaired weeks later, says Victorian rider Rodney Brown.
“It was 6.30 on a Sunday morning, dark and foggy, when I came across this road hazard killer,” he says.
“The water bottle (28cm long and 9cm wide) I placed in it gives you some perspective of this road safety hazard monster, especially for motorcycle riders.
“This death trap needs to be fixed immediately.”
Rodney reported the pothole on McGeorge Road, South Gisborne, to the local council and VicRoads but says it is still not fixed.
“The road is often used by local motorcycle riders and riders visiting the region who are looking for a scenic ride on a regional road,” he says.
“I rang VicRoads and they referred me on to my local council.
“The council knows about it and only gives these road hazards a quick repair job.
“It has been like this for weeks without any repair.”
Potholes and other road maintenance issues are frequently cited in local and international studies.
A 2018 British Automobile Association survey found that while potholes cause damage to cars, they are a greater injury threat to riders with riders three times more likely to be involved in crashes caused by potholes and poor road surfaces than any other vehicle type.
A 244-page 2016 Austroads report, titled “Infrastructure Improvements to Reduce Motorcycle Casualties”, found that roads need to be better designed, funded and maintained to reduce the risk of motorcycle crashes.
And while riders are urged to report road defects, that only yields a result if the problem is promptly fixed.
If a council or state authority is informed of an issue and a crash occurs before it is fixed, then the authority is culpable.
That may yield a result in terms of compensation, but it does nothing to prevent the accident from happening.
Rodney says there need to be roving road crews available to attend major roads hazards, especially on weekends.
“If not there soon should be road crews established to do so,” he says.
“With all the talk from VicRoads and local council nothing has changed in my 50 years as far as fixing regional roads.
He says the concerns of motorcycle riders in parliament have been abandoned.
“This (pothole) is just another example where our government doesn’t think motorcycle.”
The FIM Asia Road Racing Championship has released a provisional calendar for the 2021 season comprising of six rounds.
In a cautious move to give plenty of buffer for any lingering pandemic-related travel restrictions, the 2021 season will start late, beginning only in June.
The Sepang International Circuit in Malaysia is expected to host the first two season openers with Round 1 taking place from June 4 to 6, followed quickly by Round 2 from June 11 to 13, 2021.
The circus will then travel to the Zhuhai International Circuit in China for Round 3 from July 30 to August 1 followed by the fourth leg at The Bend Motorsport Park in Australia from September 23 to 26.
Two more consecutive rounds at the Chang International Circuit in Thailand will wrap up the season with Round 5 scheduled from November 19 to 21 followed by the season finale from November 26 to 28, 2021.
Ron Hogg – Director Two Wheels Motor Racing
“2020 has been a challenging year for all sporting events. As the promoters of the FIM Asia Road Racing Championship, we are grateful to all the racing teams and our corporate partners for their kind understanding and support. While the calendar is still subject to more changes, we are really looking forward to a great comeback season in 2021.”