Latest news with #DucatiMonster
Hindustan Times
3 days ago
- Automotive
- Hindustan Times
2025 Kawasaki Z900 launched at ₹9.52 lakh
2025 Kawasaki Z900 will now come with an upgraded ECU. Check Offers Kawasaki India has launched the 2025 Z900 in the market at ₹ 9.52 lakh ex-showroom. There are changes to the design, new features and an updated engine as well. Bookings for the 2025 Z900 have begun, and we can expect the deliveries to begin soon. What are the rivals of the 2025 Kawasaki Z900? Kawasaki Z900 goes against the Ducati Monster, Triumph Speed Triple R and Honda CB650R. What is the hardware upgrade to the 2025 Kawasaki Z900? Kawasaki is now using radially mounted 4-piston calipers from Nissin that are mated to 300 mm discs in the front. When compared, the outgoing version used to come with axial calipers. The Dunlop Sportmax Roadsport 2 tyres have been replaced with new Dunlop Sportmax Q5A which should offer better grip levels and feedback to the rider. The tyre sizes have not been changed. (Read more: 2025 Kawasaki Ninja 1100SX sports tourer launched in India, priced at ₹ 13.49 lakh) What are the new features of the 2025 Kawasaki Z900? For 2025, Kawasaki has added a new 5-inch TFT display for the rider that is controlled via new switchgear that is borrowed from the Ninja 1100SX. The new TFT screen also supports Bluetooth connectivity and voice commands via the Rideology application. It now gets a ride-by-wire throttle that has enabled features like cruise control and a bi-directional quickshifter. There is also a 5-axis IMU, riding modes, power modes, dual-channel anti-lock braking system and traction control. Kawasaki continues to use 948 cc, four-cylinder engine that puts out 123 bhp of max power and a peak torque output of 99 Nm. Kawasaki uses input from numerous sources to monitor front calliper hydraulic pressure, front and rear wheel speed sensors and various information from the engine ECU (throttle position, engine speed, clutch actuation and gear position). All of this ensures that there's high precision brake control which limits the rear lift off, there is minimal kickback during operation and it also accounts for back-torque. There are four riding modes on offer - Sport, Road, Rain and Rider. In the Rider mode, the customer can set systems independently. The traction control also gets three modes. Mode 1 prioritises forward acceleration, Mode 2 offers a balance between acceleration performance and rider reassurance and Mode 3 provides rider reassurance by facilitating smooth riding on challenging surfaces. If the rider wants, he or she can turn off traction control as well. The rider can also set power modes. There is Full power mode and Low power mode. Check out Upcoming Bikes In India. First Published Date: 03 Jun 2025, 09:30 AM IST
The Star
3 days ago
- Automotive
- The Star
Redemption ride to Cambodia
SOMEWHERE near Haadyai, in the corner of a hotel car park, Zeus stirred. He didn't growl. He didn't thunder. But that first twist of the throttle was like breath returned – after months lying low, the Harley-Davidson Sportster 48 came back to life. His chrome still bore the grime of an unfinished past – that first failed attempt in September, a journey to Cambodia that never quite reached the border. Cecilia Su, his rider, hadn't forgotten. She had unfinished business. This time, the plan was smarter. Ban Laem Salt Farm glows like gold under cloudy skies, one of the many quiet marvels along Thailand's provincial roads. Two long days of Thai highways were shaved off by strapping Zeus and his companions – a Harley-Davidson Fat Boy known as Ironman and a Ducati Monster – to the back of a flatbed bound for Bangkok. Their riders, Simon Ng and Joanna Choong, flew in ahead. The towing crew ran a tight ship, military in their precision. By morning, the trio was tearing out of Bangkok, carving inland towards Sa Kaeo, and gunning down Route 33 to Poi Pet – the nearest Thai-Cambodian border post. The air was thick with petrol and possibility. The clock, meanwhile, ticked menacingly toward the border's 8pm closing. Zeus rolling through the historic Poi Pet border, where hours of paperwork finally gave way to open roads and Cambodian smiles. By the time they arrived at 5pm, the customs office had already closed for the day. However, in a rare gesture, the border officers made an exception, reopening the counter to process the motorcycle documents. The paperwork took an hour, a slow ritual of stamps and signatures, while immigration, by contrast, was brisk, done in half an hour and without ceremony. The convoy rolled through the gates and stopped for a quick photo at the border sign. They decided to stop for a night at the border town after the long ride, only to throttle on the next morning. Boats and homes rising from the Tonle Sap Riverbank,a village suspended between water and sky. Cambodia isn't for timid riders. Here, the road is a battleground. Trucks claim the lanes with impunity. Vehicles barrel at you from the right. Potholes yawn wide and deep. Tuk tuks, scooters, dogs, children – all jostle for space on the same sliver of tarmac. There's no hierarchy. Only survival. Su, in her Nexx helmet and Five Advanced gloves, rode with the caution of someone who'd been here before. The first 50km out of Poi Pet were brutal – dust-choked, narrow, ruled by freight trucks. But they pushed on, the promise of Angkor pulling them forward. And then, as if emerging from a dream, Angkor Wat revealed itself, solemn and still, a monument not to conquest but endurance. The still waters of Chanthaboon Waterfront mirror the calm between storms, where time slows in the glow of sunset. It wasn't about the photo op – though there were plenty. It was about dropping the side stand on sacred ground and hearing the low hum of Harley pipes reverberate off stone. Cambodia, finally. But the border wasn't the finish line – just a bend where the road started to hum a new tune. From Siem Reap, the group backtracked to Poi Pet, then swung southward, hugging the coast and chasing the overlooked edges of the Thai kingdom. Now, it was about the road, not the crossing. These roads – the real ones – are intimate and provincial. They wind through fruit orchards, skim mangrove swamps and coil into the hills. The convoy snaked past Chanthaburi, then on through Chonburi, Samut Sakhon and Petchaburi. Su and Zeus against the cliffs of eastern Thailand, where the sea meets the road in whispers and waves. Some parts blurred. But others carved themselves in – the sweeping turns of Route 5050, the quiet perch at Noen Nang Phaya Viewpoint, the crumbling French facades of Chanthaburi, the endless salt flats beside the Gulf of Thailand. They passed Ban Laem Salt Farm, where neat white mounds shimmered in the sun and barefoot workers danced silently across salt pans. Further south, a detour led to Route 4006, winding towards Kaeng Krachan Dam. The road turned sinuous. The views, sudden. Zeus responded to every curve like a jazzman hitting his stride. In Hua Hin, they stumbled upon an old train car turned library – a forgotten space breathing the scent of paper. The road to Noen Nang Phaya, where winding curves, the ocean breeze and the kind of view that stays long after the ride ends converge. They slept in roadside motels, bone-tired and dust-lined. But one moment clung tighter than the rest: the Chaloem Phrakiat 80th Birthday Bridge, stretching over the floodplains of Thale Noi like a whisper. The sun dipped through reeds. Su rode in silence, Zeus purring like an old friend. No photo could touch it – that feeling of floating between water and sky. By the time they rolled back into Haadyai, the road had pressed its fingerprint deep. Crossing back into Malaysia at Bukit Kayu Hitam, there were no trumpets. Just the soft familiarity of home. It wasn't just a ride. It wasn't just redemption. It was 3,563km of dust, wonder, bureaucracy, beauty and stubbornness. Proof that failure isn't final – only a pause in the journey. Zeus, once sidelined, had come full circle. The road had taught him grace. And Su? She proved that the journey isn't about making it the first time. It's about making it again. And maybe next time, she joked, it'll be Zeus on a plane.
Hindustan Times
15-05-2025
- Automotive
- Hindustan Times
New-gen Ducati Monster with V2 engine spied testing in Europe: What you should know
The new-gen Ducati Monster will feature an all-new design and a new V-twin powerplant. Check Offers The next generation of the Ducati Monster was recently spied testing in Europe, and it is set to arrive with a range of updates, including a new V2 powerplant, updated design, and added features. The Italian motorcycle brand has been introducing the new 890 cc engine in models such as the Panigale, Streetfighter, and the Multistrada. The upcoming Ducati Monster V2 will be the next to join the V-twin lineup. Ducati's latest 890 cc V2 engine was unveiled in November 2024, leaving behind the brand's coveted, but high-maintenance desmodronic valve technology. It is claimed to be the lightest engine from the Italian brand and was developed in adherence to the Euro5+ standards. Equipped with an Intake Variable Timing valve system, it makes 70 per cent of its maximum torque at 3,000 rpm. Also Read : 2025 Ducati Scrambler Full Throttle launched in India at ₹ 12.60 lakh The engine features aluminium liners and weighs just 54.4 kg. It utilises a spring valve timing system, which was first introduced in the V4 Granturismo. Ducati says the valve clearance is to be checked every 30,000 km, whereas the oil change is scheduled after every 15,000 km. To optimise weight distribution, the cylinders are turned backwards at a 20° angle from the horizontal cylinder to the relative plane. The engine is also fairly versatile, with Ducati offering it in two power output versions - 120 bhp or 113 bhp, both arriving at 10,750 rpm. With the track-only racing exhaust, the 120 bhp variant jumps to 124 bhp at 10,000 rpm and 98 Nm of torque at 8,250 rpm. It remains to be seen whether the new Monster will get the sportier version of the V2 engine. Ducati Monster V2: Design and hardware changes The next generation Monster will be the first to not feature the desmodronic valve system typical of Ducati bikes in the past. In terms of its design, the upcoming Monster will bring a new look. The spy shots showcase a new design for the bodywork, with large tank shrouds and a new subframe. The tail section has been revised as well, and the bike gets a new exhaust system with a larger catalytic converter. The prototype rides on new alloys, which are expected to make it to production. On the hardware front, the new Monster prototype appears to feature the same components as the MY24 model. The setup consists of 43 mm upside-down forks and a pre-load adjustable monoshock at the rear. Braking performance comes with twin 320 mm discs at the front and a single 245 mm rear disc with Cornering ABS. At present, there are no official details available regarding the Ducati Monster's launch timeline. The next generation of the motorcycle is expected to be unveiled sometime between late 2025 and early 2026. Check out Upcoming Bikes In India. First Published Date: 15 May 2025, 09:34 AM IST
Glasgow Times
14-05-2025
- Health
- Glasgow Times
Banton nurse set to take part in a global motorbike event
Kirsty Follett, from Banton, will participate in the Distinguished Gentleman's Ride (DGR) on Sunday, May 18. The event, which is in partnership with Movember, raises funds and awareness for men's health. Read more: Parents worried about their child's mental health urged to seek support Kirsty, a theatre nurse practitioner, will ride her Ducati Monster in the dapper-themed event to help spark conversations around prostate cancer and mental health. She has first-hand experience supporting men undergoing tests for prostate cancer. Kirsty, 55, said: "Because I'm at the sharp end of it, I can explain the procedure and tell them what it's all about. "I always tell men coming through the hospital to share their experience with mates—it helps normalise the conversation." This year, she will also ride in memory of her friend's son, who died by suicide. She said: "It came out of the blue—no warning signs, no one was expecting it. "We know what men are like—they don't communicate, whether it's about their physical or mental health." Kirsty first joined the ride five years ago at the encouragement of a friend. Back then, she borrowed a bike to blend in with the DGR's vintage theme. Now, she owns her own classic bike and will be joined by two of her colleagues. She said: "I'm looking forward to seeing everyone dressed in their finest. "The motorbikes are stunning, and the people taking part are phenomenal." The Glasgow ride is one of more than 1,000 taking place globally on May 18 as part of the 10th anniversary of the DGR x Movember partnership. Since 2012, the collaboration has contributed to funding life-saving research, support services, and community programs tackling prostate cancer and men's mental health. Read more: Deaf football manager shares heartfelt message to younger self Dan Cooper, Movember's director of innovation, said: "Ten years of partnership with DGR is a milestone worth celebrating. "Every ride, every dollar, every story like Kirsty's helps fund life-saving research and spark meaningful conversations—helping men live longer, healthier lives." Mark Hawwa, founder of DGR, said: "What began as a small ride in 64 cities has grown into a global movement across 1,000. "Together with Movember, we've turned passion into purpose – funding life-changing research and programs for prostate cancer and men's mental health. "We can't wait to see what the next 10 years brings."
NDTV
11-05-2025
- Automotive
- NDTV
Triumph Scrambler 400 XC Teaser Reveals Design Details- Launch Soon
Triumph Motorcycles India is expanding its range of affordable 400 cc bikes. Adding to the lineup is the off-road variant of the Scrambler 400 X, called the Scrambler 400 XC. Before the launch, the bike was spied on different occasions. However, there was no official announcement from the brand at the time. It has changed now, as the manufacturer has released a teaser of the upcoming bike. The latest image hints at the bike's design, confirming multiple speculations surrounding the machine. Starting with the design, the Triumph Scrambler 400 XC will have a design dedicated to off-roading. In the picture, the brand has revealed the round headlamp protected by a metallic mesh. Additionally, the bike gets a beak painted in yellow, hinting at the introduction of new paint scheme options. Apart from that, the bike is expected to come with higher ground clearance, cross-spoke tubeless wheels, a visor placed over the headlamp, and a better sump guard for the engine. Also Read: Next Gen Ducati Monster Spied Testing- What's New? The hardware of the Triumph Scrambler 400 XC is expected to be largely the same as its siblings. However, we can expect it to have a different tuning for the suspension system for better off-road prowess. Meanwhile, at the heart, it will have the same 398 cc liquid-cooled single-cylinder engine. This unit is tuned to produce 39 hp of power and 37 Nm of peak torque. This power is transferred to the rear wheel via a six-speed gearbox. Based on a piece of leaked information, the Triumph Scrambler 400 XC will be Rs 2.94 lakh (ex-showroom). This makes it more expensive by Rs 27,000 compared to the Scrambler 400 X. In this price segment, it will compete against rivals like Royal Enfield Himalayan 450 and the KTM 390 Adventure X.
