Modenas Kriss series
Encyclopedia
The Modenas Kriss series is the debut 4-stroke underbone
motorcycle
series by Malaysian motorcycle manufacturer, Modenas
. The original Kriss 110 was developed through a partnership with Kawasaki
, which partly owned Modenas, based on Kawasaki Kazer 110 underbone model. The Kriss is actually named after a Malay traditional weapon, kris
, though some motorcycle shops in the United Kingdom
had mistakenly advertised the model to be named from the acronym of a famous American motorcycle racer, Kenny Roberts
because Modenas had once built some racing motorcycles for Modenas KR Motorcycle Grand Prix team.
It was previewed to the public during Malaysian National Day parade in 1996 and began production at the end of 1996. Since its debut in December 1996 for the original 110 cc model with drum brake
s, the Modenas Kriss became one of the most popular 4-stroke underbone motorcycle in Malaysia, attaining a peak of over 50% of the Malaysian 4-stroke underbone market in 2000 and 2001.
The Kriss series has spawned several variants, including the front disc brake
model in 1999, the 100 cc model in 2004, and the 120 cc model in 2007.
celebration in 1996 before the production officially started in December. It was built based on Kawasaki Kazer AN110 underbone
motorcycle but with a slightly different styling. The Kriss also uses the same Kawasaki
AN110 engine as the Kazer.
Since 1997, the Kriss became one of the most popular 4-stroke underbone in Malaysia, with about 99,800 units (or 46% of the Malaysian 4-stroke underbone market segment) being sold during its debut year. The success of the Kriss was contributed by several factors such as affordability, performance, reliability, spare parts availability, and very good fuel economy. Due to the success of the Kriss 110, the Kriss series has spawned several variants, including the front disc brake
model in 1999, the 100 cc model in 2004, and the 120 cc model in 2007. A lower-cost 110 cc variant known as Kriss SG was also produced in 2002 but being phased out later due to unappealing design.
In 2000, the AN110 engine was retuned to increase its power rating from 7.5 PS in the original Kriss to 9 PS. The fuel consumption of the Kriss 110 is very good, clocking 44 km/L (103.5 mpgU.S.) at the constant speed of 90 kph.
The Kriss was facelifted in 2003, featuring the newer lights, newer graphics and full colour body panels. In 2007, the second-generation Kriss was launched. The second-generation Kriss uses a new 120 cc engine which is essentially a rebored AN110 engine, with a revised camshaft profile being dubbed as MAC-S (Modenas Advanced Camshaft System).
There are two attempts by Modenas to introduce a legitimate successor of the Kriss. The first attempt was the Modenas Kristar which was launched in 2004 but the production ended in 2006 due to lack of appeal. It was only in 2009 that Modenas had finally launched the legitimate successor of the Kriss series, known as the Modenas CT series
, with the 100 and 110 cc engines being derived from the Kriss series. As a result, the Kriss 100 and Kriss 110 were being phased out to make way for the CT series, leaving the Kriss 120 as the only Kriss variant being sold currently.
and Greece
became the earliest export market. Soon, the Kriss series were also being made available in other countries such as South Africa
, Iran
, Vietnam
, Turkey
, Argentina
, Malta
and Brunei
. In Cambodia, Iran and Vietnam, the Kriss is sold as CKD models. The Kriss is also available in the United Kingdom
as well.
Underbone
An underbone is a small motorcycle built on a frame consisting mostly of one large diameter tubular component.The stylistic difference between a motorcycle and an underbone is considerable and they are sometimes known as "step-throughs" or even marketed as scooters in the West.The fuel tank...
motorcycle
Motorcycle
A motorcycle is a single-track, two-wheeled motor vehicle. Motorcycles vary considerably depending on the task for which they are designed, such as long distance travel, navigating congested urban traffic, cruising, sport and racing, or off-road conditions.Motorcycles are one of the most...
series by Malaysian motorcycle manufacturer, Modenas
Modenas
Syarikat Motosikal dan Enjin Nasional Sdn. Bhd , or known as Modenas for short is a Malaysian national motorcycle company producing various small motorcycle models below 200 cc targeted for local market and export...
. The original Kriss 110 was developed through a partnership with Kawasaki
Kawasaki Heavy Industries
is an international corporation based in Japan. It has headquarters in both Chūō-ku, Kobe and Minato, Tokyo.The company is named after its founder Shōzō Kawasaki and has no connection with the city of Kawasaki, Kanagawa....
, which partly owned Modenas, based on Kawasaki Kazer 110 underbone model. The Kriss is actually named after a Malay traditional weapon, kris
Kris
The kris or keris is an asymmetrical dagger or sword nowadays most strongly associated with the culture of Indonesia, but also indigenous to Malaysia, Southern Thailand and Brunei. It is known as kalis in the southern Philippines. The kris is famous for its distinctive wavy blade , but many have...
, though some motorcycle shops in the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
had mistakenly advertised the model to be named from the acronym of a famous American motorcycle racer, Kenny Roberts
Kenny Roberts
Kenneth Leroy Roberts is a former motorcycle racer and racing team owner. In 1978, he became the first American to win a Grand Prix motorcycle racing world championship. He was also a two-time winner of the A.M.A. Grand National Championship...
because Modenas had once built some racing motorcycles for Modenas KR Motorcycle Grand Prix team.
It was previewed to the public during Malaysian National Day parade in 1996 and began production at the end of 1996. Since its debut in December 1996 for the original 110 cc model with drum brake
Drum brake
A drum brake is a brake in which the friction is caused by a set of shoes or pads that press against a rotating drum-shaped part called a brake drum....
s, the Modenas Kriss became one of the most popular 4-stroke underbone motorcycle in Malaysia, attaining a peak of over 50% of the Malaysian 4-stroke underbone market in 2000 and 2001.
The Kriss series has spawned several variants, including the front disc brake
Disc brake
The disc brake or disk brake is a device for slowing or stopping the rotation of a wheel while it is in motion.A brake disc is usually made of cast iron, but may in some cases be made of composites such as reinforced carbon–carbon or ceramic matrix composites. This is connected to the wheel and/or...
model in 1999, the 100 cc model in 2004, and the 120 cc model in 2007.
Model history
The Modenas Kriss 110 was launched in May 1996. It was previewed to public during the Hari MerdekaHari Merdeka
Hari Merdeka is a national day of Malaysia commemorating the independence of the Federation of Malaya from British colonial rule in 1957, celebrated on August 31 each year. It is not to be confused with the formation of Malaysia...
celebration in 1996 before the production officially started in December. It was built based on Kawasaki Kazer AN110 underbone
Underbone
An underbone is a small motorcycle built on a frame consisting mostly of one large diameter tubular component.The stylistic difference between a motorcycle and an underbone is considerable and they are sometimes known as "step-throughs" or even marketed as scooters in the West.The fuel tank...
motorcycle but with a slightly different styling. The Kriss also uses the same Kawasaki
Kawasaki Heavy Industries
is an international corporation based in Japan. It has headquarters in both Chūō-ku, Kobe and Minato, Tokyo.The company is named after its founder Shōzō Kawasaki and has no connection with the city of Kawasaki, Kanagawa....
AN110 engine as the Kazer.
Since 1997, the Kriss became one of the most popular 4-stroke underbone in Malaysia, with about 99,800 units (or 46% of the Malaysian 4-stroke underbone market segment) being sold during its debut year. The success of the Kriss was contributed by several factors such as affordability, performance, reliability, spare parts availability, and very good fuel economy. Due to the success of the Kriss 110, the Kriss series has spawned several variants, including the front disc brake
Disc brake
The disc brake or disk brake is a device for slowing or stopping the rotation of a wheel while it is in motion.A brake disc is usually made of cast iron, but may in some cases be made of composites such as reinforced carbon–carbon or ceramic matrix composites. This is connected to the wheel and/or...
model in 1999, the 100 cc model in 2004, and the 120 cc model in 2007. A lower-cost 110 cc variant known as Kriss SG was also produced in 2002 but being phased out later due to unappealing design.
In 2000, the AN110 engine was retuned to increase its power rating from 7.5 PS in the original Kriss to 9 PS. The fuel consumption of the Kriss 110 is very good, clocking 44 km/L (103.5 mpgU.S.) at the constant speed of 90 kph.
The Kriss was facelifted in 2003, featuring the newer lights, newer graphics and full colour body panels. In 2007, the second-generation Kriss was launched. The second-generation Kriss uses a new 120 cc engine which is essentially a rebored AN110 engine, with a revised camshaft profile being dubbed as MAC-S (Modenas Advanced Camshaft System).
There are two attempts by Modenas to introduce a legitimate successor of the Kriss. The first attempt was the Modenas Kristar which was launched in 2004 but the production ended in 2006 due to lack of appeal. It was only in 2009 that Modenas had finally launched the legitimate successor of the Kriss series, known as the Modenas CT series
Modenas CT series
Modenas CT series is a series of underbone motorcycles produced by Malaysian motorcycle manufacturer, Modenas. The CT were first launched in 2009 as a legitimate successor of the popular Modenas Kriss series. Before the CT was developed, another underbone model known as Modenas Kristar was produced...
, with the 100 and 110 cc engines being derived from the Kriss series. As a result, the Kriss 100 and Kriss 110 were being phased out to make way for the CT series, leaving the Kriss 120 as the only Kriss variant being sold currently.
Export market
The Modenas Kriss was first being exported in 1997, with CambodiaCambodia
Cambodia , officially known as the Kingdom of Cambodia, is a country located in the southern portion of the Indochina Peninsula in Southeast Asia...
and Greece
Greece
Greece , officially the Hellenic Republic , and historically Hellas or the Republic of Greece in English, is a country in southeastern Europe....
became the earliest export market. Soon, the Kriss series were also being made available in other countries such as South Africa
South Africa
The Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans...
, Iran
Iran
Iran , officially the Islamic Republic of Iran , is a country in Southern and Western Asia. The name "Iran" has been in use natively since the Sassanian era and came into use internationally in 1935, before which the country was known to the Western world as Persia...
, Vietnam
Vietnam
Vietnam – sometimes spelled Viet Nam , officially the Socialist Republic of Vietnam – is the easternmost country on the Indochina Peninsula in Southeast Asia. It is bordered by China to the north, Laos to the northwest, Cambodia to the southwest, and the South China Sea –...
, Turkey
Turkey
Turkey , known officially as the Republic of Turkey , is a Eurasian country located in Western Asia and in East Thrace in Southeastern Europe...
, Argentina
Argentina
Argentina , officially the Argentine Republic , is the second largest country in South America by land area, after Brazil. It is constituted as a federation of 23 provinces and an autonomous city, Buenos Aires...
, Malta
Malta
Malta , officially known as the Republic of Malta , is a Southern European country consisting of an archipelago situated in the centre of the Mediterranean, south of Sicily, east of Tunisia and north of Libya, with Gibraltar to the west and Alexandria to the east.Malta covers just over in...
and Brunei
Brunei
Brunei , officially the State of Brunei Darussalam or the Nation of Brunei, the Abode of Peace , is a sovereign state located on the north coast of the island of Borneo, in Southeast Asia...
. In Cambodia, Iran and Vietnam, the Kriss is sold as CKD models. The Kriss is also available in the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
as well.