Superbike is not a toy - It's sad to see this happened

A youth was killed when he rode his dad's Honda CBR 1000 Superbike. This happened in Penang, an Island north of the Peninsular. News report with photos of bike and deceased shown below.

 It's sad to see something like this happened, regardless of age. Can it be avoided you may ask ? Well sometimes we say it fated. However fate can be change if we work to avoid it. There are many other similar cases where bikers got killed on the road, with many more sustained injuries.

In above case, this boy just got his bike licence two weeks before, I assumed its the B Full licence (No limit) since he's riding a 1000 cc bike. This boy was to be trained as a racer and I am sure the parents has enrolled him in proper sportsbike school to ensure he able to take the track.

Speaking about racer and track, yes you may be trained to be a professional racer however on the road there are just too many uncertainties and should not be taken as a race track.

Judging from damaged sustained on the bike this must be a high speed mishap. The news report says that the bike rear ended a car after loosing control. Looking at the damage where none significant in the front and with a broken rear rim shows a high side has happened and the rider could have been flung forward when this happened.

A high side can happened even on a straight, if too much rear brake being applied. If its a skid with more front than rear then the frontal part of the bike will suffer most. Without eye witness report we will never know the truth.

I am sure the parents will feel pressured after what happen and we can't runaway from the fact that as parent we do has to be responsible for our children action. It's unfortunate that a young person died, but in this scenario speeding in the city is just not such a good idea no matter how fully trained you are.

There are many bikers in Malaysia after obtaining a big bike licence, straight away jump onto a Superbike class of a bike. This being dangerous since rider experience is very crucial in avoiding accident.

I wish the Malaysian Government take necessary action to ensure safety by limiting the size of bike just like in United States, United Kingdom and most of European Countries.

After riding for more that 30 years, I had seen so many fatality with Superbikes and high statistic shown new riders. Some are not young but old new riders or those born again rider.

There is an incident a born again bikers was killed 2nd day after receiving his BMW C600 Sport Scooter. There are also cases where a rider killed on a newly purchased Yamaha R1, which highlighted in this blog couple of years back.

What ever it is, the Government must step in to limit or restrict bike capacity for new riders. This is to ensure general safety and ensure rider build up their skill and confidence as they progress.

SYM VS 150 Unschedule Maintenance

Its difficult to crank lately this bike, almost like a weak battery. This bike is new about 1 month old with slightly about 1k on the clock it cannot be a bad battery. Weak battery possibly and why its happen.

Few possibilities;

1. Faulty Rectifier
2. Insufficient ride
3. Bad wiring and connections.

Open up the battery cover and do a quick check, sure enough a bad wiring connection on the Negative terminal. Retighten her up and good to go, check charging current about 14V so the rectifier is good. Just need to ride around for a while to ensure enough juice into the battery.

While at it, decide to check few items out to ensure no problem with it. Not much problem found the fuel hose to carburetor not clip properly. Its clipped out of the carburetor inlet head.

Key fitting also giving some rattle, its a bit loose. So off come the front and this key fitting need to be tighten.

Few components I just want to highlight on this SYM VS 150 or Excel II, photos below will illustrate it.

A Pair of KLX

Met this two guys Joe and Ida, well actually a guy and a girl on their KLX150 Kawasakies at RnR Gombak. They are heading back from Genting Highland to Serdang on this beautiful day.

Having a fun time riding in the twisties and back since today is 1st of January 2013 everyone in a joyful mood.

This 150 Kawasakies is a nice little bike to ride, and they are more for off-road then doing the tarmac. Reasonable priced and good for new bikers starting out, this bike handle easier than like the D-Treker 150 or the 250 which are tall bike. This 150 is small in size and easier to handle.

Nasihat Biker Tua untuk Isu "Pelesit Jalanan"

Pelesit oh Pelesit

Sekarang hangat isu bikers "Pelesit Jalanan" ini saja mainan media supaya dapat menengelami isu isu yand lebih penting dimasakini. Budak budak bikers pulak melenting tak tentu pasal. Bagi saya lebih elok perbaiki diri sendiri saja daripada melenting tak menentu.

Buktikan yang kita benar, tak merempit atau membesit dijalan raya - Ada Berani ?

Dibawah satu contoh yang saya sendiri lalui semasa memandu.

Ada saya kena dgn Versys 650 di lebuh raya pantai timur ketika itu saya di laluan kanan. Dia kasi high beam.... yg bangang nya ialah masa itu saya sedang memotong lori dan bas... bayangkan mana nak pegi. Saya pon bikers, selalu saya bila bikers datang dari belakang saya akan tunggu tengok reaksi dia. Takut takut dia cilok semasa saya nak kekiri.

Lepas beberapa saat saya akan beri laluan, tapi kalau sudah nampak dari jauh saya akan beri laluan terlebih dahulu. Tak payah beam beam pon, sebab saya bikers dan saya pentingkan keselamatan mereka.

Berbalik kepada penunggang Versys yg bangang tu.. cammon lah.. kiri aku ada bas dan lori.. tak boleh nanti sekejap ker yang hang pi bagi high beam tu buat apa.. Lepas dia high beam saya maintain belah kanan tak mahu kekiri.

1. Kerana dia kurang ajar, tak sempat sempat tunggu lah saya lepas bas dan lori dahulu.
2. Takut dia cilok kiri, nanti ada pulak yang jadi Arwah.

Jadi nasihat saya pada bikers, kita ni laju. Adakala pemandu tak sempat nak react kerana kita sampai laju sangat di belakang mereka. Majority pemandu terkena begini.

Ada juga pemandu yang banggang, yang ni bukan setakat bikers saja dapat masaalah tetapi pemandu lain juga marah.

Macam ini lah, bila menunggang atau memandu perbaikilah tata cara kita. Tak payah menunding jari, lebih lebih lagi kita bikers betol ke salah ke... kalau accident kita yang terok..

Cerita Versys balik.. saya biarkan dia potong belah kiri, kerana sewaktu memandu laju reaksi yang terbaik ialah.. kita maintain, biarkan orang ambil action. Sekira dua dua buat perubahan serentak, ada kemungkinan kemalangan boleh berlaku.

Jadi kita bikers masa ride simpan ego dirumah... demi keselamatan dan untuk yang tersayang.

BMW C600 Sport Owner Review - Long Distance

Today 27th December 2012 my scooter clocked 2525 km total after slightly more than a month usage. I pick it up on 23rd November : Here

Use if for commuting occasionally alternating with my SYM VS 150 and done few ride with friend taking twisties at Genting Sempah and Kuala Klawang corners and over longer distance to Penang, Malaysia. 

Scooter handling is different from that of a bike, firstly it being a CVT Automatic it doesn't have that engine braking or the "Drop Gear" function as normal bike do. Instead we has to rely on brakes for corner entry and that takes some time to adjust if you don't ride scooter  that often

In Kuala Klawang and Genting Sempah, these are stretches where most twisties are. Klawang being the back road which is more dangerous, has many more obstacles short corners as compared to Genting Sempah where it more hilly and longer cornering sweep. Both places this scooter did handle well, with Pirelli Diablo Scooter tyres hugging the road and never once loose grip. I was a bit hesitant initially, being new to this scooter. But after few corners regain my confidence and able to take the turn with feeling of safety and in control.

Its important to feel safe and in control while riding, not overly confident.. but just there otherwise we may ride with a bit of hesitation that could pose danger to oneself. The bike actually can do more that what we can trow at it without problem.

After my Kuala Klawang  and Genting Sempah ride its due for the first service. What a whoopa the bill came.

I am expecting somewhere around RM 400 ~ RM 450, nope it turn out to be almost RM 660.00 looking at the bill its actually the engine oil is expensive at RM 422.52 for 4 liter and the Running in Checks at RM 156.00 its a few hours job. Oh well a premium scooter cost a premium to service.

This scooter has 2 years unlimited mileage warranty, so while its still under warranty I had to send it to  the authorise service center. Luckily this bike service interval is every 10,000 km so roughly once a year. After which I will do it myself and will cost around RM 200.00 the most.

Next I did a longer ride to Penang with few of my colleague from the Airlines for an overnight stay there. This takes me via the North - South Expressway which I am able to test out some high speed handling. The bike handle superb at high speed, no wobble or shake even at speed until the needle stop on the speedo it still handle well.

On return trip from Penang , I decided to do it solo. This I did via the North - South Expressway till Ipoh then I used the coastal road from Ipoh - Teluk Intan - Sabak Bernam - Tanjung Karang - Kuala Selangor route.

Massive traffic jam at each junction or traffic light this scooter handle it beautifully. Being low C of G due to the low engine location the heaviness of this scooter is not felt and I am able to comfortably ride it at slow speed in between traffic both in Urban environment and outskirt.

Emergency braking done few times, due to some stupid drivers changing lanes without brains. It handles superbly, the rear ABS will trigger early since it will be lighter on the rear during braking, the rear wheel will tend to skid first. ABS action can be felt at the rear brake lever. The front ABS only trigger few times during my ride, mostly in the wet or on sandy stretch. I give the ABS a thumb up, major improvement from my previous Beemer.

This Pirelli Diablo Scooter tyre is superb both in the wet and dry. Once up to temperature I can feel its tackiness to the touch. Never lost control on it and stable at high speed or during cornering. The front screen is good, I adjusted it to middle position and I just left it at that. Able to take the full speed of this scooter without problem

I had made a warranty claim against BMW on this scooter, its the screw holding the screen. Two of those four screw that clamping it, the two top screw it cannot be unscrew or tighten. No problem with the bottom two. The insert is rotating on its mount, suspected over tightening during installation. Apparently this is not the first case, and BMW agreed to replace the entire assembly.

Not a big problem but, I can't remove the screen for some work I need to do like mounting my GPS to this bike.  Well it has to wait, since the item need to be ordered.

There are scratches due to stone chips and road debris on the bottom panel, this I need to probably wrap with composite sticker to protect.

Verdict.

I did twisties, riding in the rain, long fast stretch, back roads and hilly stretch on this scooter. How do I feel ? One word - GREAT.

On the twisties its agile enough to compete with sports bike. Not a problem with hills and steep gradient it has enough power to pull through. Riding in the rain the tyre did a good job and the ABS works.

Straight stretch, its a scooter .. cruise comfortable around 140 ~ 160 km/h and able to do 180 km/h without the feeling of fear that it may explode. The engine can take it.

The engine is a twin and it does sound rough, probably a manly growl not like some sweet Japanese Girls kinda sound.. its manly and hunky loud.

I had issue with some screws and BMW agreed to replace the entire parts involved.

The service is a bit on the expensive side, but its only once a year service. Later on I will do it myself so it will be much cheaper. Then again other service center like Welly Sg Buluh, Wunderlich, Chear Motorrad  and AH Hoi can do this bike if you are not technically inclined.

On spares, well with Internets spare is no longer an issue, we could get anything from overseas supplier.

This bike is about RM 66+ k on the road with Honda Intergra NC700 at about the same, The Yamaha TMax 2012 at 67+k and the Aprilia SRV at 72k OTR prices.

All in all, most of these big Maxis are priced same and you choose which one is best for you. Look at the specification overall and don't forget to check on warranty and after sales.

Cheers.

Scratch .... arghhhhhhhhhh..

My Scooter got some scratches.. arghhhh....

Sanded those scratch and gave a temporary light coat of aluminium paint. May send both the left and right panel for either a paint job or composite wrapping.

MAS E&M Penang Ride (Nasi Kandar Ride)

On 22nd Dec did a short overnight ride to Penang an Island located North of Peninsular Malaysia. Its a fun ride and gave me the chance to test out the Beemer Scooter at its maximum potential in term of Speed, Road Holding etc.

Started from Rawang Rest area at 09:00 hrs headed North to Tapah RnR as first stop fueling stop.

 Various bikes and riders both seasoned and new join for this fun ride. Its good to see regardless of age and how long few has ride or some newbies all are having fun and looking forward to the ride.

Sports bike, Dual Purpose, Touring and even Scooter took part.

 Few bikers along the Nort South highway riding in the morning traffic.

 Tapah Rest Area below.

Looking forward for more ride with this bunch.