19th May 2017, Setia City Convention Centre – National motorcycle manufacturer, MODENAS (Motosikal dan Enjin Nasional) has announced their collaboration with BAJAJ AUTO LIMITED (BAL).
BAL is the world’s sixth largest two-wheeled motorcycle and third largest three-wheeled motorcycle manufacturer. The Indian giant also holds a 47.96% stake in KTM Power Sports AG (as of 2013) and produces the KTM 200, 250 and 390 Duke seen in our market.
Three new models were launched to commemorate the announcement, the PULSAR NS200 naked street bike, PULSAR RS200 race bike and V15 café racer. Modenas is confident in grabbing 22% of this segment in the coming 12 months, as these models are leaders in their segment across 74 countries in Latin America, the Middle East and South Asia. This positive outlook is also bolstered by the local demand for motorcycles 250cc and below, which represented 5% of overall motorcycle sales for the past three years.
The collaboration will be initiated in stages including front end distribution and development of a dedicated assembly hub in Modenas’ plant in Gurun, Kedah. We can expect to see the launching of several new models over the next few years. “Today, Malaysians have three new Modenas models to choose from, along with the three we launched in the past six months,” said Dato’ Abdul Harith Abdullah, Chief Operating Officer, Automobile Distribution, Manufacturing and Engineering at DRB-HICOM.
Pulsar NS200
The Pulsar NS200 sports a beefy look and muscular look, while the RS is a fully-faired sportbike with aggressive race-ready lines and panels, and twin projector headlamps.
Pulsar RS200
The Pulsar NS200 and RS200 are powered by a 199cc, DOHC, 4-valve, liquid-cooled, fuel-injected, single-cylinder engine, which also features a novel digital 3-spark ignition. While the engines for both bikes share the same architecture, they are differently tuned for their specific purposed. The NS200’s engine produces 23.5 PS (23.2 bhp) @ 9500 RPM and 18.6 Nm @ 8000 RPM, while the RS200’s pumps out 24.5 PS (24.2 bhp) @ 9500 ROM and 18.3 Nm @ 8000 RPM. Engine power is fed through a six-speed gearbox. Both models will both boast a single-channel ABS, the first for the Modenas, and in this segment.
V15
The V15’s engine, on the other hand, is a 150cc digital twin-spark unit which produces 12 PS (11.8 bhp) @ 7500 RPM and a torque of 13 Nm @ 5500 RPM.
The public are welcomed to experience these bikes at the DRB-HICOM Autofest 2017, held at the EON Complex in Glenmarie, Shah Alam from 19th May to 20th May 2017.
For more information, please follow Modenas’ Facebook page.