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BIKES: Kawasaki Z900RS Reviewed! Why It’s The Best Modern Retro Out There Now [+Videos]

When all you don’t like about a bike are its awkwardly long-in-stalk mirrors, you just know you’re in a heap of trouble… and boy was I ever. You see, not too long ago I owned a Kawasaki Zephyr 750 (below), and it was one of the best bikes I’d ever owned up till that point in time…

Surprisingly though, Kawasaki themselves seem to have forgotten about the Zephyr, (then) available in both 750cc and 1100cc guise, the latter being one of the first modern production bikes to feature twin-spark technology – eight plugs in all, two per cylinder. Instead they harked all the way back to the 70’s when the Z1 (below) first made its debut…

Fond memories of my Zephyr came rushing back as the launch and subsequent media test ride of the Z900RS ensued, and while I’ve never owned a Z1, I can honestly say, the Z900RS is most definitely the spiritual successor to the Zephyr. It made me feel 18 again… here’s the official video from Kawasaki.

Here’s the thing, the idea of a ‘modern retro’ like this Z900RS is nothing new, just about every bike-maker out there has at least one of these models that harks back to a bygone age of motorcycling, and while every internal component may be new and improved, design and styling wise, they’re supposed to remind everyone of what’s fondly remembered as the golden-age of motorcycling. And that’s EXACTLY what the Z900RS does. It’ll make you wanna watch “On Any Sunday” all over again. You can’t call yourself a biker if you’ve never heard of that classic docu-movie…

My initial ride impression can be found here, but recently I managed to get the bike all to myself for a few blissful days, and having put an additional 250+km on its odometer, my initial impression of the bike has definitely changed; I like it even more now.

Okay, well, you already know how I feel about those mirrors, and to be honest, I would opt for the ‘high-seat’ option (apparently available in Europe) since that one may have a bit more much-needed padding, especially for long distance rides. Speaking of which, if the latter is your cuppa tea, the Z900RS will not let you down in that department either.

Power wise, granted, on paper it may only boast 111Ps & 98.5Nm of torque, but with 948cc (which begs the question why they didn’t just badge it a Z950RS) dual-overhead cams, 16-valves and a 10,000rpm redline, the Z900RS is by no means a slouch. It may have the same engine as its sibling the Z900, but this RS (Retro Sport) has been re-tuned to offer a lot more low-end torque.

So ferocious is this low-end torque, that during the initial convoy media ride, the Z900RS was able to keep up with a Kawasaki GTR1400 during hard acceleration from a standstill. This didn’t just surprise me, but the ride Marshal on the GTR1400 was left wide-eyed as well. It’s a very short first gear for instant acceleration, eventually ending with a very tall sixth gear for cruising.

A word of caution though, the Z900RS’s throttle is incredibly sensitive. Just a twitch sends the revs into the upper ends of the counter, and thus getting used to this instant power delivery at the end of a hair-trigger is a must. Some will find filtering in traffic a bit dicey because of this. Let’s put it this way, if you’re filtering around traffic and suddenly have to sneeze, come to a complete stop first before letting it rip. Trust me on this, lest ending up a boot- or hood-ornament was your ride-objective that day.

In terms of specs and safety, the Z900RS comes standard with ABS, Kawasaki’s famed 3-mode KTRC traction-control system, 41mm inverted front forks, slipper clutch, and Kawasaki’s first fully-tuned exhaust note, which ‘audibly’ takes you back to the aforementioned golden-age of biking, if its looks weren’t enough to do that in the first place. (For the FULL specifications and features download this: 2018-Z900RS)

I can’t remember a recent time where I had so much fun on a test bike, really. The Z900RS is pretty-much the perfect all-rounder bike in my honest opinion, and being a modern retro is just a bonus. For the duration I had it, I was always thinking of places I’d love to ride this bike to if I had more time with it, and that’s how you know if a bike is going to be a genuine pleasure to own; when it inspires you to go riding just for the hell of it.

Well as they say, all good things must come to an end, and with that, here are my final parting words upon returning the Z900RS to KMSB… I’m already missing this bike… a lot! Anyone have RM69,900 just lying around not doing anything? – Chris Wee.

STOP THE PRESS! Check out the Kawasaki Z900RS Cafe Racer Conversion!

Kawasaki Z900RS Photo Gallery…

Specs…

Engine: 948cc, 4-cylinder, DOHC, 16-valves, liquid-cooled

Max Power: 111Ps @ 8,500rpm

Max Torque: 98.5Nm @ 6,500rpm

Top Speed: more than enough!

Mercedes-Benz Auto Commerz 2S Service Centre Opens In Setapak

Mercedes-Benz Malaysia, together with its newest dealer partner, Auto Commerz Sdn Bhd, are further enhancing customer services with the unveiling of the interim Mercedes-Benz Auto Commerz 2S Service Centre located in Setapak. Complementing the interim Mercedes-Benz Auto Commerz Autohaus launched in September 2017, the new service centre kicks Auto Commerz’s strategy into high gear, to deliver a unique and individualised customer experience for Mercedes-Benz customers.

“On behalf of Mercedes-Benz Malaysia, I congratulate our ninth dealer group, Auto Commerz, on the launch of their new service centre. We believe the partnership we share with Auto Commerz reflects our common passion and care for our customers and their needs. With the widest premium automotive dealer coverage in Malaysia, we are focused on ensuring that the quality of service offered throughout the customer journey embodies the Best Customer Experience,” said Mercedes-Benz Malaysia President and CEO, Dr Claus Weidner (below, left).

The Mercedes-Benz Auto Commerz 2S Service Centre, located just 950m away from the Mercedes-Benz Auto Commerz Autohaus in Setapak, has a land area of 13,866 sq ft and built-up area of 9,200 sq ft. Built to serve the expanding Mercedes-Benz customer base, the service centre is equipped with state-of-the art Mercedes Benz approved diagnostic tools and equipment, and operated by professionally trained Mercedes Benz Certified Service Specialists.

“As the latest dealer group to join the Mercedes-Benz network in Malaysia, we are proud to add customer services to our repertoire. With this update, we now deliver a complete end-to-end customer experience and we welcome all Mercedes-Benz owners to our new service centre for the best aftersales care that the Auto Commerz team can offer,” said Auto Commerz Dealer Principal, Eric Khoo.

The interim Mercedes-Benz Auto Commerz 2S Service Centre sports the sleek Mercedes-Benz Presentation System II (MPS II), in line with the Three-Pointed Star’s brand identity customers have come to recognise. Its optimally functioning work bays have the capacity to service up to 200 vehicles per month.

The interim Mercedes-Benz Auto Commerz 2S Service Centre is located at No. 14, Jalan Usahawan 5, Kawasan Perusahaan PKNS, Setapak 53300 Kuala Lumpur. For more information please contact tel: 03- 4144 5500.

Mercedes-Benz Service Clinics – My Specialist. My Service.

In line with its commitment to provide superior customer services and to elevate the customer experience to greater heights, Mercedes-Benz Malaysia and select partner dealerships will be hosting exclusive Mercedes-Benz Service Clinics between May and September 2018. Dates and locations are as follows:

Date	Venue	Contact number
14^th – 18^th May	NZ Wheels Klang Lot 1385, Jalan Kapar, Wisma Naza, Batu 2, Kawasan 19, 41400 Klang, Selangor	03-3342 3333
25^th – 29^th June	Hap Seng Star Iskandar No. 7, Jalan SILC ¼, Taman Perindustrian SILC, 79200 Iskandar Puteri, Johor	07-509 9019
3^rd – 7^th September	Auto Commerz No. 14, Jalan Usahawan 5, Kawasan Perusahaan PKNS, Setapak 53300 Kuala Lumpur	03-4144 5500

The service clinics cater to Mercedes-Benz cars, aged 48 months old and over. Customers who wish to have their vehicles undergo a full safety check conducted by a Mercedes-Benz Service Expert from Daimler, popularly known as a ‘Flying Doctor’, are urged to book their appointments in advance to secure their slot. The initiative allows customers a first-hand look at the comprehensive expertise and service that go into maintaining masterpieces bearing the Three-Pointed Star.

“Our customers are always at the centre of our activities. This is why we go to great lengths to ensure our customers enjoy the Best Customer Experience in every encounter with the Mercedes-Benz brand along the customer journey,” Mercedes-Benz Malaysia, President and CEO, Dr Claus Weidner.

During the Mercedes-Benz Service Clinics, Mercedes-Benz cars are given a full safety check conducted by the ‘Flying Doctor’. Each car is then followed up by assigned teams for the relevant service or repairs recommended.

“A Mercedes-Benz car is a masterpiece that is maintained by craftsmen with an intricate understanding of vehicles bearing the Three-pointed Star. Being passioante fans of the brand, we understand our customers carry much sentimental value with their Mercedes-Benz cars. The Mercedes-Benz Service Clinics demonstrate the strong support our dealer network receives from Mercedes-Benz Service Experts from Daimler in order to care for our customers’ prized Mercerdes-Benz cars,” added Mercedes-Benz Malaysia, Vice President, Customer Services MBC, Passenger Cars, Heinrich Schromm.

In addition to providing valuable peace of mind to customers, the service clinics also present opportunities for talent development. As a result of assisting the ‘Flying Doctor’ during the service clinics, Mercedes-Benz Malaysia’s local customer services teams gain valuable experience and knowledge which exemplifies the Mercedes-Benz philosophy of ‘lifelong learning’.

To-date, Mercedes-Benz Malaysia has 33 dedicated dealerships nationwide delivering the Best Products and the Best Customer Experience throughout customers’ entire journey, maintaining Mercedes-Benz Malaysia as the largest premium automotive dealer network in the country.

In brief…

Newest Mercedes-Benz authorised dealer partner, Auto Commerz, unveils 9,200 sq ft 2S service centre in Setapak, demonstrating its commitment to bring the customer experience to greater heights, further strengthening Mercedes-Benz’ retail brand presence in Malaysia.
Auto Commerz realises its expansion plan as a Mercedes-Benz dealer while Mercedes-Benz Malaysia increases its overall presence for superior customer service.

With an investment of RM2 million, the service centre comes fully equipped with state-of-the art Mercedes Benz approved diagnostic tools and equipment, and staffed by professionally trained Mercedes Benz Certified Service Specialists.

BIKES: Modenas Dominar D400 – Why It’s The BEST Bike Deal Right Now! [+Video]

As we waited for the official price announcement of the new Modenas Dominar D400 at its launch recently, many deduced correctly that it would probably cost below RM20k; what we didn’t realise though was just how much lower than RM20k it would be…

When the final price of RM13,788 was finally revealed, many – including yours truly – thought it was a mistake, but it wasn’t. Incredibly this 373.3cc bike, which was “born to sprint, built to tour”, would be a lot cheaper than even a new 200cc scooter.

Boasting a matching 35hp and 35Nm of torque from a single-cylinder, 4-valve, DTS-i ‘triple-spark’ engine mated to a 6-speed gearbox with slipper-clutch, the D400 – from Bajaj Motorcycles of India – even comes with front and rear ABS as standard.

Despite having 3 spark-plugs, not all of them fire all the time. It’s like a variable firing sequence, depending on throttle input, and of course, speed. Speaking of the latter, the D400 cruises comfortably at 110-140kmh, topping out at about 160kmh, and surprisingly, very little vibration can be felt through the handlebars even at that speed.

The sweet-spot is 110-130kmh, which makes the ideal touring speed, on any bike; any faster and you’ll find yourself missing quite a lot going on around you. Here’s my first impression after the recent media ride organised by Modenas…

With its upright riding position, the Dominar D400 affords its rider a very comfortable commute, be it for the daily-grind or the occasional long-distance tour. For the latter, a top-box and maybe a set of panniers would be in order, and during the official launch, GIVI displayed their fully kitted-out touring version of the bike (below).

(L-R) Amirudin Abd Kadir, Dinesh Kulkarni, Dato’ Abdul Harith Abdullah

All in all, I really enjoyed riding this bike, but if I had only one complaint it would be the tyres. They seem to work better on rugged-terrain than they do on asphalt, so buyers would be wise to scrap them and opt for a better set. Despite the tyres’ shortcomings, the Dominar D400 was still able to tackle twists and turns with the kind of gusto normally associated with sport-bikes. It’s very nimble when the straights turn to twisties.

That tyre issue only shows itself in the latter instance, and it’s an easy fix, something most bikers do anyway, and hardly worth complaining about, because inherently, this really is the best deal in town right now. If you’re not into maxi-scooters or litre-class bikes, if you just want something to commute daily and head out of town with occasionally, the buck stops here. Good looks, comfort, fuel-efficient and a price that’s hard to beat. What more could you ask for? – Chris Wee.

Modenas Dominar D400 Photo Gallery…

Bermaz Motor Introduces Mazda Privilage Card

Bermaz Motor has announced the launch of the Mazda Privilege Card as part of its continuing efforts to improve the Mazda Peaceful Ownership Program. The card offers 15% discount on Mazda Genuine Spare Parts, 5% discount on labour cost and 15% discount on Mazda official merchandise. The Mazda Privilege Card is the first of its kind in the industry, rewarding customers through the Mazda Peaceful Ownership Program.

On top of being the latest addition to the Mazda Peaceful Ownership Program, the Mazda Privilege Card is also designed to aid those who are less fortunate through Bermaz’s CSR program – Mazda Medicare Fund. The sign-up fee of RM 100.00, for a validity of 3 years, will serve as a tax-exempted donation to the Mazda Medicare Fund in the name of the applicant. Mazda Medicare Fund, established in 2014, has raised more than RM 900,000.00 to assist charity homes, dialysis patients, and a non-profit hospital.

Cardholders are rewarded with rebates on aftersales services required beyond Bermaz’s 5 Years Manufacturing Warranty and 3 Years Free Maintenance package provision. Any Mazda vehicle purchased within Malaysia is eligible to apply for a Mazda Privilege Card. Benefits of card issued will be exclusive to the Mazda vehicle that it is registered to. Currently, the card can only be used at Showrooms and Aftersales Service Centres operated by Bermaz Motor Trading Sdn Bhd and Prima Merdu Sdn Bhd. Bermaz plans to expand the use of Mazda Privilege Card to include all outlets nationwide in the near future.

Mazda Privilege Card (above) can be applied for at any Showrooms and Aftersales Service Centres operated by Bermaz Motor Trading Sdn Bhd and Prima Merdu Sdn Bhd.

For more information on the Mazda Privilege Card and a list of participating outlets please visit www.mazda.com.my.

38,000 New Perodua Myvis Delivered, 41.5% Market Share Achieved, Perodua Pilihanku Campaign Announced

Fresh from a high of 41.5% market share in March according to Malaysian Automotive Association (MAA) numbers, Perodua has reached a new milestone of 38,000 new Myvi deliveries as of the third week of April.

“We are both humbled and happy to have this result in our hands at the tail-end of April. By our count, the Myvi has garnered 70,000 bookings from 8 November 2017 up to 30 April 2018, and we are overwhelmed by the response,” Perodua Sales Sdn Bhd Managing Director YBhg Dato’ Dr Zahari Husin said.

According to MAA numbers, from January to March 2018, the compact carmaker sold 55,568 vehicles against a 135,140 total industry volume (TIV), returning over 41% market share. This is an improvement of more than 10.5% over the 50,260 units registered in the first quarter of 2017, making it a record first quarter for Perodua in terms of sales.

The 55,560 sales consisted of 24,473 Myvis, 14,962 Axias, 10,101 Bezzas and 6,032 Alzas. In fact, 18% of all new cars registered in Malaysia in the first quarter of 2018 were Myvis. “We thank our valued customers and all Malaysians for their strong support. We look forward to serving you better and we are continuing to improve ourselves for your satisfaction,” said Dato’ Dr Zahari.

On deliveries, Dato’ Dr Zahari said that Perodua is working on further improving its efficiency to ensure that deliveries would be within an acceptable time frame. He said the current waiting period for the 1.5L Myvi variants is a shade under three months; however, 1.3L variants can be delivered almost immediately at the moment.

Kicking off the festive sales campaign is the Perodua Pilihanku campaign – join Customer Days this weekend (5-6 May) at all Perodua showrooms and service centres nationwide, where free vehicle inspections and cash redemptions of up to RM1,800 for selected models and variants await visitors.

“Grab this opportunity also to take a closer look at the newest member of the Bezza family, the Bezza GXtra, which we launched just last week,” Dato’ Dr Zahari said.

The third-generation Myvi is the most sophisticated and indigenously-designed model in Perodua’s 25-year history, featuring Malaysian innovations such as a built-in toll card reader and digital memory air-con. The Myvi also has a full 5-star ASEAN NCAP safety rating based on the latest protocol and is Malaysia’s most affordable car with active safety functions, courtesy of its Advanced Safety Assist (ASA) systems. – Perodua.

UMW Announces “Ramadan Bersama Toyota” Campaign

For the month of May and the upcoming holy month of Ramadan, UMW Toyota Motor and its authorised dealers are having a ‘Jalan Cerita – Ramadan Bersama Toyota’ campaign where customers are given special offers including “Duit Raya” worth RM500 (for selected models, see below).

Additionally, customers are also given cash rebates up to RM3,500 as well as other attractive offers such as free service vouchers or free accessories packages for added value of their purchase, as per the chart below.

Find out more about the offers in the details below, valid from now until 31^st May 2018:

Model	Attractive Offers
New Vios	Cash Rebate Up to RM3,500* + Free Accessories worth up to RM4,100* + Free Maintenance Package worth RM2,125 + Duit Raya.
Innova	Cash Rebate worth RM2,000 + Free Service worth RM1,000 + Duit Raya
Avanza	Cash Rebate worth RM1,000 + Free upgraded to 16” rims & tyres worth RM3,062* + Duit Raya
Sienta	Cash Rebate worth RM1,000 + Duit Raya
Hilux	Cash Rebate worth RM1,000* + Free Accessories worth up to RM3,485
Fortuner	Cash Rebate worth RM1,000 + Free Accessories (worth RM2,500)*
Camry	Cash Rebate worth RM3,000 + Body Coating worth RM2,700* or Free Accessories worth RM2,500* + Duit Raya
Corolla Altis	Cash Rebate worth RM1,000 + Free Accessories worth (RM5,790) + Duit Raya

(All offers are for selected variants and subject to Terms and Conditions).

Customers who require a financing plan may also check out Toyota Capital services offers like the Toyota 2-Tier Plan which offers lower monthly instalments for graduates and Toyota Drive financing plan, the first of its kind where customers can save more.

For peace of mind, all Toyota models come with a 5-year warranty and unlimited mileage (except for Toyota Hilux with maximum mileage of 150,000kms). To enhance the value of your Toyota, the warranty is transferable to the next owner within the terms and conditions.

To find out more about these attractive offers, customers can visit any Toyota showrooms where test-drives are also available. Visit toyota.com.my for further information.