TOC Archives

5 Things You Should Know About Bikes

Motorcycles are complex machines and working on them needs expertise.
But motorcycle maintenance is not just about changing the oil and filter.
Here are the four most overlooked aspects of motorcycle maintenance.

For many of us, motorcycles are just another form of transportation that gets one particular job done; getting to desired destinations. All that we really consider when it comes to our travels are the amount of petrol in the tank, tyre conditions, basic service maintenance, and surprisingly, nothing more.

The motorcycle is a complex piece of machinery and some models by renowned manufacturers have simplified them down to their basic structures so that owners wouldn’t have to worry so much about their machines and overall conditions. And there are some which are technological marvels.

As simple as most bikes are, there are things that motorcyclists need to know about their bikes when it comes to the maintenance department. With that being said, here are 5 things you didn’t know about bikes (or 5 things you SHOULD know about bikes).

1. For God’s sake, service your brakes!

We all know for a fact that going fast on any motorcycle is super exhilarating (especially high-performance ones like the BMW S 1000 RR and the Ducati Panigale V4 S). As much fun as hitting the redline and hitting all the gears, stopping power needs to be at its optimum to ensure a smooth and safe stop.

Most workshops with certified mechanics and superbike technicians will give a quick once over to basically ensure that the calipers are clean, discs are smooth, and brake pads are still good. If the bike is sent to places where they don’t have any service record, it’s difficult to determine the most overlooked aspect of brake maintenance: replacing the brake fluids.

If you’re starting to notice that your brake levers are going soft or limp on you, it is usually the main indicator to get your brake fluids changed. Most bike manuals would suggest you do this every two years to ensure that the brake fluid is fresh and the absence of air bubbles in the system.

Bleeding the brake – Courtesy of motorcyclistonline.com

Uncertain of when was the last time this happened? Certified mechanics and technicians can usually tell just by looking at the colour of the brake fluid. For your information, brake fluids are usually crystal clear with a tinge of yellow. As fluids get older and degrade, they get darker and cloudier.

Although the of bleeding the old fluid and replacing it with a fresh batch is not difficult, utmost care must be taken as you do not want to leave air bubbles in the system. Besides, brake fluid is highly corrosive and will cause paint damage if they land on other parts of the bike.

Also of important note is replacing the brake fluid for motorcycles with ABS. The bleeding process is straightforward, but air bubbles should never be allowed to enter the ABS modulator. If it did then you would need an electronic ABS tester to flush it out of the system, otherwise the motorcycle will have braking issues! Where can you find this tester? At official workshops (manned by certified technicians, of course).

In short, head to workshops with certified technicians to get your brake fluids checked (and replaced!).

2. Give your forks a chance!

Your suspension system needs to be periodically checked, as well. We’re talking about your bike’s front forks and rear shock absorber(s). Most affordable small-capacity bikes only have the option to replace them once they’re worn out but it’s more likely to be cheaper than tearing it apart for service.

For bigger bikes with higher-end gears, the suspension package will last for a long time provided that you go through the periodically-scheduled maintenance on time.

Take for example, the forks. Forks not only hold the front wheel, allow you to steer the bike and absorb shocks, they are also important in providing front tyre feedback to the rider.

Suspension service – Courtesy of jamespackwoodracing.co.uk

The service process for forks is needs a meticulous working etiquette as they consist of high-precision components. This is where you should really look for a workshop with a dedicated team of certified technicians to work on your bike. Trust us on this one, you’ll be thanking us later.

3. Valve clearance is vital!

Harley-Davidson Milwaukee-Eight head – courtesy of bikebandit.com

Valve clearance check-up is one of the most important (and probably the biggest) service aspect for your motorcycle. Why? Because wear and tear and heat in the valvetrain will affect the position of valve and clearance size. Wrong valve clearance will first lead to a nasty-sounding valvetrain. If the issue is not addressed over time, your engine will start to lose performance, stutter and just will not run. In extreme cases, the valves may even contact the piston’s crown resulting in catastrophic failure!

Bikers love to hate this particular maintenance procedure as they are slightly more on the expensive side and it take time as it involves working and removing vital engine components. When to check the valve clearance is different for every bike so make sure you double check with your bike’s manufacturer manual and certified workshops.

Valve clearance adjustment – Courtesy of www.transmoto.com.au

For smaller bikes, this process is quite easy to do (provided that you have the right tools) but vital parts of the bikes like body panels, fuel tanks, and maybe more need to be remove in order to successfully complete the process. Having doubts? Keep calm and send your bike over to a certified superbike technician!

4. Keep cool with coolant!

Lastly, we’re going to touch on your bike’s overall cooling system. Those with air-cooled bikes can start riding because this advice is for those with liquid-cooling. Go ahead, we’ll meet you at the rendezvous point!

Why is it important to check your bike’s cooling system? First of all, the liquid coolant used in your bikes contains active ingredients or agents that help to control corrosion. These agents degrade over time and once it’s dirty, it won’t be as efficient to keep things nice and cool.

Like your brake fluid, replacing the liquid coolant is also advised to be done every two (or three, depending on the manufacturer) years. Doing it yourself is not difficult but you’ll need to find the proper way of disposing the used coolant as some types are toxic, and can damage the environment plus affect your health if it contacts your skin.

Apart from replacing the brake fluids, you also need to check the radiator, hoses, and clamps. Rubber hoses must be in good condition (pliable with no cracks). Hose clamps should be nice and tight, too. As for the radiator, look out for any physical damage. If there’s any bent cooling fins, you can easily straighten them out with a small screwdriver.

Overall, maintaining your motorcycle is more than just ensuring that there’s fresh oil and oil filter every time it is sent to the workshop. With proper workshops and certified technicians, keeping tabs of these five most overlooked aspects will be a whole lot easier on your machine as well as your ease of mind. So keep calm, ride safe, and practise proper bike care!

5. Certification guarantees satisfaction!

Worried about sending your bikes to shady workshops and characters? Well, you should! Your bikes are like your own body and when it comes to healthcare, you only want the best so why should it be different for your bikes?

Workshops, mechanics and technicians with proper certifications gained from programs coordinated by fine institutions like the TOC Automotive College offer, provide, and supply the nation with certified and highly-trained technicians who have experience in working with bikes ranging from small-capacity daily bikes to high-performance track racing machines.

It is always advisable to send your bikes to the manufacturer’s authorised service centres but when there’s none around, it’s always good for you to send your bikes to places with proper certifications when it comes to the workshops as well as the technicians working on the machines.

To know about the demand for certified superbike technicians, CLICK HERE.

Certified Superbike Technicians are now in demand!

Please visit the TOC Automotive College Facebook page or their campus (map below) or call call (+603) 7960 8833 for more information. Likewise, you can find more information about the TOC Bina Bakat Program here, or email info@toc.edu.my. Please click on this link for further information on the TOC Superbike Technician Course.

2018 Pirelli Malaysia Superbike Championship Round 2 – An Encouraging Start for the TOC Desmo Cup

The inaugural round of the TOC Desmo Cup was held during Round 2 of the 2018 Pirelli Malaysia Superbike Championship.
This new series was the result of the cooperation between TOC Automotive College and Desmo Owners Club Malaysia.
The competitors’ bikes were worked on by facilitators of the TOC Superbike Technician Course.

The TOC Automotive College and Desmo Club Malaysia had signed a partnership recently to work hand-in-hand to create a new series called the TOC Desmo Cup exclusively for Ducati owners, beginning Round 2 of the 2018 Pirelli Malaysia Superbike Championship.

There was a total of six competitors in this series, making for a humble beginning. More riders had wanted to join initially but couldn’t prepare enough in time.

But while any Ducati makes for a great track weapon, all six were on the Ducati 898, 1098 and 1198 variants. The 1098 made its debut in 2007, the 848 in 2008, and 1198 in 2009. It meant they could be considered “outdated” in the pantheon of superbikes. (Carlos Checa won the 2011 WSBK rider and manufacturer title on a satellite 1098, nonetheless.)

Carlos Checa in 2011 – Courtesy of Sport Rider

Such a scenario created a unique challenge for any team to keep the bikes competitive, but thankfully, the TOC Desmo Cup has help from the TOC Automotive College in the form of TOC Superbike Technician Course lecturers to work on those Ducatis.

On the other hand, TOC also benefits as their facilitators and students obtain the experience of working in a hectic environment.

It was visible that both parties worked well together and not one bike suffered any mechanical failure throughout the weekend.

Again, it demonstrates the importance of having certified technicians working on your bike.

As for the TOC Desmo Cup series, it was well-organized among the ranks, hence everything went on without a hitch. The riders are riding buddies and friends, which provided an atmosphere of friendly rivalry and ribbing each other.

Zulkiply Yahya won the inaugural race ahead of Sarul Fahmi Mohd. Zaini and Syamsul Bakthiar Esa.

Watch out for the next round as more competitors come onbard.

Besides supplying the manpower, the TOC Automotive College upped the ante in projecting their branding from this round, by putting up boards of their Bina Bakat program and also the Superbike Technician Course in the paddocks.

Please visit TOC Automotive College’s Facebook page or their campus (map below) or call call (+603) 7960 8833 for more information. Likewise, you can find more information about the TOC Bina Bakat Program here, or email info@toc.edu.my. Please click on this link for further information on the TOC Superbike Technician Course.

PICTURE GALLERY

2018 Pirelli Malaysia Superbike Championship Round 2 – TOC HKM Racing Team Makes a Comeback

Round 2 of the 2018 Pirelli Malaysia Superbike Championship saw see-saw results for the TOC Automotive College-backed TOC-HKM Racing Team.
However, the team’s technicians did a great job to restore one heavily and another slightly damaged bikes.
Team rider Amirul Hafiq Azmi won the Superstock Race 2 and finished 2^nd in the Superbike Race 2 at the Sepang International Circuit.

In campaigning in the 2018 Pirelli Malaysia Superbike Championship Round 2 at the Sepang International Circuit, TOC HKM Racing Team had started the event well initially; Amirul Hafiq Azmi fought his way up the field from his 11^th qualifying grid to finish 2^nd behind a hard-charging Azroy Hakeem, in Saturday’s Superstock Race 1.

The team’s BMW S 1000 RR was well-prepared has the speed and Amirul Hafiq has the skill but Azroy was already too far in front to chase down.

However, he crashed spectacularly in the subsequent Superbike Race 1 and destroying the bike in the process. He was holding on to 3^rd position at that moment.

His teammate Muhammad Jamalul Tarmizi, on the other hand, was caught in a see-saw battle with Thailand’s Michael Muesel, often swapping positions. However, just a handful of laps left to go, Muhammad Jamalul overshot a corner and low-sided in the gravel trap. He was able to pick the bike back up and crossed the line in 15^th. (Please click on the link below for a detailed report.)

2018 Pirelli Malaysia Superbike Championship (MSBK) Round 2 (Saturday)

Not a very good day to remember.

TOC HKM Racing Team’s crew worked through the early Sunday morning to repair Amirul Hafiq’s bike for Race 2 of the Superstock and Superbike categories.

In Superstock Race 2, Amirul Hafiq once again charged up the field and closed the gap to Azroy Hakeem and shadowed the latter from Lap 5. Amirul Hafiq made his move by outbraking Azroy into Turn 4 (a great feat by its own) and pulled away immediately to win the race.

Next was Superbike Race 2. While Azlan Shah Kamaruzan and Rajini Krishnan of India blasted off into the distance, Amirul battled with a number of riders into 4^th. Rajini then overshot Turn 9 and dropped to fifth. That meant the Swiss rider Jonathan Serrapica was in 2^nd. Amirul hunted down Serrapica mercilessly and passed the rider to take 2^nd spot which he held on until the finish.

Muhammad Jamalul also rode a smart race on the TOC HKM Racing Team Kawasaki ZX-10R to cross the line in 6^th.

Sunday’s comeback showed the experience and resilience of the team and they did an amazing job to go from a trashed bike into a race-winning machine. In fact, pundits in the paddock were adamant that it was the end of the TOC HKM Racing Team for this round following the previous day’s misfortunes.

But this demonstrates what we’ve been harping about in the last few articles: If Certified Technicians are important outside the racetrack, they are crucial (to the stage of performing miracles) during a race weekend. To cite what Dato’ Ahmad Razlan Razali said during our interview last week, the developments in racing activities creates a huge demand for certified and trained technicians. The results today showed what he said was correct.

The TOC Automotive College upped the ante in projecting their branding from this round, by putting up boards of their Bina Bakat program and also the Superbike Technician Course in the paddocks.

Pirelli Malaysia Superbike Championship (MSBK) 2018 Pusingan 2 (Sabtu)

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2018 Pirelli Malaysia Superbike Championship (MSBK) Round 2 (Saturday)

Round 2 of the 2018 Pirelli Malaysia Superbike Championship (MSBK) went off without a hitch.
It was an exciting day as the riders and their teams showcased their effort and skill at the Sepang International Circuit (SIC).
Race 1 for all classes (except the TOC Desmo Cup) were held today. Race 2 is due tomorrow.

If there’s any indication of tomorrow, today’s (Saturday 28^th July 2018) track action in the 2018 Pirelli Malaysia Superbike Championship (MSBK) Round 2 at the Sepang International Circuit (SIC) demonstrated just how much excitement will be in store tomorrow (29^th July 2018).

The morning started with another torrential downpour like the one during Round 1, forcing the riders to go out on Pirelli Diablo Rain tyres and getting fully drenched. They had to do so to gather setup data in case the rain continued throughout the day.

Of important note, SIC has revised the race program for the MSBK series, featuring Free Practie and Qualifying on Friday, Race 1 on Saturday and Race 2 on Sunday for all classes apart from the TOC Desmo Cup.

IDEMITSU ASIA TALENT CUP (ATC)

The ATC riders were the first to hit the track for Race 1 at 1pm. The rain had stopped by this point and the track was drying quickly.

Characteristic of the ATC, the teenagers fought tooth and nail from the green light. However, Mario Aji (#7) from Indonesia and Bill Van Eerde from Australia (#19) managed to break free of the chasing pack halfway through the race.

The pair then started trading the lead with some almost impossible and heart-stopping passes. However, Aji turned up the pace in the last few laps (recording his best on the final and 13^th lap) to keep Eerde at arm’s length, to finish 1^st and 2^nd, respectively.

In 3^rd was Malaysian Danial Sharil (#21) who did well to fight off the other riders and found space to ride a steady race to finish 5 seconds ahead of the 4^th place man, Lucky Hendriansya (#13) also from Indonesia.

TOC DESMO CUP

This class is open specifically for Ducati owners to test their skills in a competitive environment. As mentioned earlier, the Desmo owners went out for Qualifying today. It was an awesome sight and aural pleasure to hear the Thundering Twins roaring around the Sepang International Circuit.

Syamsul Bakhtiar Esa (#14) on a Ducati 1198 recorded the fastest lap of 2:35.576 and astounding 8.166 seconds faster than 2^nd placed qualifier Zulkiply Yahya (#12) on a Ducati 1098. 3^rd fastest was Muhammad Danial Afiq Zamry (#98) on a Ducati 1198.

It was an important affair for both the Desmo Owners Club and TOC Automotive College as TOC supplied the technician workforce which consisted of their lecturers and students, allowing them to get their hands on racebikes as part of their education. Desmo Cup participants, on the other hand, have experienced lecturers working on their bikes.

The TOC Desmo Cup race will be held tomorrow.

SUPERSPORT

The big news prior to this weekend was Malaysia’s current Moto3 rider, Adam Norrodin would be racing in this 600cc class.

Moto3 Rider Adam Norrodin to Ride at MSBK

But Muhammad Helmi Azman (#32) had different plans as he blasted into the lead when the red lights went out, trailed by Adam and the rest of the field. As the race progressed, Helmi kept his blistering pace to open up a huge lead, which he held on to win the race.

Fakhrusy Syarikin Rostam (#66) had been shadowing Adam for many laps until he overtook the latter with a daring move into Turn One. The pair then started trading places until the last lap when Adam managed to capitalize.

Adam came home 2^nd with Rostam less than 0.2 second behind him.

SUPER 250

It’s time for the ultra-competitive, hence ultra-entertaining Super 250 class in mid-afternoon. Competition is extremely close (and cutthroat) as the bikes are closely matched in terms of horsepower, meaning one has to work really hard to break away.

And fought they did, from even before they started braking for Turn One on the opening lap! The competitors banged fairings and elbows into Turns One and Two, almost causing a couple of crashes.

Championship leader, Indonesian Surya Narayana (#9) fought his way through to lead from Turn Two and held on to the finish, although he was hounded closely Jailani Kosma (#71) from Malaysia. Narayana kept his nerve and crossed the finish line as the winner with Kosma 0.5 second behind.

There was pandemonium as the riders fought each other hard, until Yokeshwaran K (#6) from India crashed hard just after the apex for Turn Two, causing the field to slow down and string out.

Malaysian Luth Harith B. Erwan (#38) picked up the final podium spot.

SUPERSTOCK

As opposed to Supersport, the Superstock class consists of 1000cc sportbikes.

Azroy Hakeem’s (#5) aggression worked well to allow him to decimate the field of 17 riders. He crossed the line a full 30 seconds faster than Amirul Hafiq Azmi (#80) of TOC-HKM Racing Team in 2^nd.

Ahmad Khan (#66) came home in 3^rd.

SUPERBIKE

With so many races lined up throughout the day, the premier Superbike class started at 6.15pm. The weather had cooled tremendously by this point, much to the relieve of the riders and tyres.

Azlan Shah Kamaruzaman (#25) of Chia PJ Kawasaki knew he had to contend with MSBK’s ex-champion, Rajini Krishnan (#67) who hails from India.

Indeed, the two rode in close formation at the head of the field from the start, with Rajini poised to capitalize on Azlan’s mistakes. Their teams and spectators held their bated breath as Rajini started to close the gap. The pass was going to happen soon.

But Azlan dug deep into his experience in the Asia Road Racing series and turned on his beast mode and started attacking every corner aggressively to open up an immense lead.

That forced Rajini to ride safe and he backed off his pace by the end of the race as he has a comfortable cushion over Jonathan Serrapica (#48) from Switzerland.

The trio completed the race in that order.

It was however, a day to forget for TOC-HKM Racing Team as both riders crashed in the race. Amirul Hafiq Azmi was holding on in 3^rd when crashed heavily, destroying the bike. Fortunately, he was okay. His teammate and championship leader, Muhammad Jamalul Tarmizi (#89) was fighting for 4^th place with Michael Muesel (#78) of Thailand when the former low-sided into the gravel trap. He was able to remount his bike and finished in 15^th for a single point.

The 2018 Pirelli Malaysia Superbike Championship (MSBK) Round 2 concludes tomorrow.

Mengapa Penting Untuk Ada Juruteknik Bertauliah Yang Menyelenggarakan Motosikal Anda

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Why It is Important to have a Certified Technician Working on Your Bike

Trusting your bike to a certified technician is a no-brainer.
There are great “traditional” mechanics out there but motorcycles are getting more complex.
A certified technician invariably means official training, discipline and knowledge.

Before we go on, surely you have experienced a horrific visit or two to a motorcycle workshop. You have ridden motorcycles for decades, but there always seem to be something to surprise you. (more…)

TechTOC with “Foreman” Oh: Your Chance of Being Coached by a Legend

Our new column, TechTOC with Foreman Oh seeks to assist you with your technical questions or issues with your motorcycle.
The winning question earns the sender a complimentary session at Most Fun Gym (MFG) worth RM300.
Prizes are also available for 2^nd and 3^rd placed questions.

We have been featuring the TechTOC with Foreman Oh column for a couple of weeks now and we’ve received a few interesting questions. Please click here for the first and here for the second column.

We’ve received many enquiries from our readers and followers in the past and although we attempted to answer every question, we couldn’t answer all due to our heavy schedule and time constraints.

But we now have “Foreman” Oh Kah Beng, also known as “KB” among his friends and “Sifu” by his students (us included).

We’ve featured KB and his current Most Fun Gym (MFG) motocross school extensively, as we discovered that riding in the dirt has immensely improved our riding skills. Please click on the link below about MFG.

Mastering All Roads by Riding Where There is No Road

As we’ve also written before, KB was the very first Malaysian GP rider, who raced on classic race bikes such as the two-stroke TZ750 against other GP greats such as Wayne Gardner and Ron Haslam. And won. Please click on the link below to read more about KB.

Most Interesting Biker –Oh Kah Beng

To refresh, KB has now been appointed as the Motorsports Consultant at the TOC Automotive College (TOC) due to his racing, wrenching and coaching background.

Not only that, the riders and even the mechanics of the TOC-HKM Toyo MSBK team are undergoing MX training at MFG in order to upgrade their skills.

So, since TOC and KB are providing motorcycle-based training, who better to answer your questions than the legendary Foreman Oh Kah Beng himself.

But it gets better, because in the interest of training more riders the fundamentals of handling a motorcycle:

The winning question receives a complimentary training session at MFG, coached by KB himself. Don’t worry about the motorcycle and equipment, as MFG will loan you the appropriate riding gear from head to toe and put you on the bike corresponding to your skill level. The package is worth RM300. Yes, absolutely free!
The 2^nd-placed question will win you 2 tickets to the 2018 Pirelli Malaysia Superbike Championship (MSBK).
The 3^rd-placed question will earn you a coveted Most Fun Gym t-shirt.

Please send in your questions now (PM us at https://www.facebook.com/BikesRepublic/), but please be specific about the issue(s) you are facing, and include your full name and your city of residence. So, start typing!

TechTOC: “Foreman” Oh Answers About Suspension

TechTOC is a weekly technical column moderated by “Foreman” Oh Kah Beng (KB).
KB is now the Motorsports Consultant at the TOC Automotive College’s motorcycle racing venture and Principal Trainer at his Most Fun Gym (MFG) MX-school
Send in your technical questions, and the winner receives a complimentary session at KB’s Most Fun Gym MX-school!

We began with TechTOC last week, when “Foreman” Oh or as he likes to be called, “KB”, answered a reader’s query about engine operating temperatures (please click on the this link to read about it). This week, KB answers a good question about motorcycle suspension, namely the terminologies.

Question:

I always hear my friends talking about set up. Can you explain what is preload, compression and rebound damping?

— Wong Siew Seng, Selangor

Answer:

To answer your question needs to take up and entire article so I’ll try to be as brief as I can and cover only the basics.

The short answer is, preload is to adjust suspension sag. Sag (there are unladed and laden sag) is the name given to the amount of suspension travel used up when the bike settles under the bike’s own weight (unladen) and when the rider sits on the bike (laden). You alter its settings by rotating the collars or ramp clockwise, which loads the spring. It will cause the spring to push back on the collar, thereby reducing the sag and raising that end of the bike’s ride height at the same time. Move the collars up and the ride height drops.

But do not be fooled! The frustrating misconception is that altering the preload also changes your suspension’s stiffness (spring rate). This is totally wrong! You DO NOT change the spring rate unless you replace the spring. The suspension feels harsh when you add in too much preload as you have reduced the sag too much and the suspension sinks into its stiffer stroke. Think of sag as “freeplay.” However, too little preload is also a bad thing, as the suspension will have to much “freeplay” and compress all the way to its bump stop.

Before we proceed to the subject of damping, let us get this out of the way:

A spring if left to work alone (without damping) is prone “oscillations.” A compressed spring stores energy and when that energy is released, the spring will re-extend past its original length. When that happens, the elongated spring now stores potential energy and will recompress the spring when released. This process happens over and over again, the spring will “oscillate” until the energy turns translates totally to heat. You will feel the bike wallow up and down, like sitting on a motionless boat on a stormy sea – up and down, down and up, up and down.

Spring oscillation graph – hyperphysics.phy-astr.gsu.edu

This is where damping comes into play. Damping controls the movements of the spring.

Compression damping (marked as “COM”on the fork/s or shock/s) pertains to how “quickly” or “slowly” the wheel is allowed to push upwards when it contacts a bump. If you increase compression, the valves inside the fork or shock shuts off the flow of hydraulic oil or gas, thereby resisting the wheel’s upward movement. Conversely, if you decrease compression, the valves open up and oil or gas is able to flow more freely, hence the wheel comes up faster.

But DO NOT go to extremes. Just because you ride fast, it does not mean you need more compression damping. If you increase it too much, there will be too much resistance to the wheel’s movement, rendering it difficult to “soak” up bumps i.e. the suspension could not comply with road irregularities. This will cause the wheel to hop and lose traction. Additionally, a lot of bump energy is transferred to the rider. A bit less compression works for cornering at times, allowing the tyre to absorb the bumps and “dig” into the road (better mid-corner stability, too).

Rebound damping is opposite to compression damping. It regulates how quickly or slowly the wheel returns to its normal position after compression. Too much rebound will cause the suspension to “pack up,” as in it returns too slowly and that end of the bike will feel loose as the wheel stays up too long from its optimal position. Too little rebound, conversely, causes the wheel to be pushed back down too quickly (“packing down”) and the bike will feel harsh.

Too little rebound can be confused with too much compression but pay attention to whether the “hit” is felt immediately when you contact a bump or just after it. If it is felt immediately when you hit a bump, it is due to too much compression (or a spring that is too hard). Conversely, if the bump is felt after contacting it, it is due to too little rebound damping.

So, adjust the preload to obtain the correct sag (30 to 40 mm or 1/3 of total suspension travel) and ride height, compression damping for bump absorption and rebound damping for how the wheel returns after bump absorption. Understanding this will do wonders to the handling of your motorcycle.

Although suspension settings are subjective as every rider has a different comfort zone and riding environment, personally, I always like to set both compression and rebound damping on the softer side, and work my way up, using the factory (stock) setting as the baseline. An overly soft setting is more forgiving than overly hard one, as the former is more pliant while the latter is harsh and unforgiving, which could lead to extreme occurrences such as tyre slides and tank slappers.

You can learn more about this in the TOC Automotive College’s Superbike Technician Course. Please visit TOC Automotive College’s Facebook page or their campus (map below) or call call (+603) 7960 8833 for more information. Likewise, you can find more information about the TOC Bina Bakat Program here, or email info@toc.edu.my. Please click on this link for further information on the TOC Superbike Technician Course.

You may also visit Most Fun Gym for off-road training, as it improves your riding skills for all riding conditions. Please call +6012-2072516 for more enquiries or to book an appointment.

TOC Automotive College Meterai Kerjasama Dengan Litar Antarabangsa Sepang (SIC)

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TOC Automotive College Partners with Sepang International Circuit

TOC and SIC have partnered to develop talents through Bina Bakat program and Superbike Technician Course.
The announcement was made with Hafizh Syahrin, Adam Norrodin and Zulfahmi Khairuddin in attendance.
The partnership augurs well for both parties as SIC is actively expanding into motorsports.

As we’ve reported on previous occasions, the TOC Automotive College (TOC) is providing a loan for students aspiring to be certified superbike technicians through a program called, “Bina Bakat (Talent Development).” (Please click here for the full article.) Now, to provide graduates opportunities for greater job placement portfolios, as the college has announced their partnership with the Sepang International Circuit (SIC).

This augurs well with SIC as the world-class motorsports venue’s management has expanded their reach into two-motorsports by running their own MotoGP team next year, after SIC tied up with the Angel Nieto Team and Yamaha to run the manufacturer’s satellite team beginning 2019 (please click here to read the full news). Besides that, SIC has also set up a Talent Cup to develop young racers in Malaysia, managed by Zulfahmi Khairuddin.

This is on top of Hafizh Syahrin making the jump to the MotoGP premier class this year.

Dato’ Ahmad Razlan Razali, the CEO of Sepang International Circuit said that such expansion requires certified and skilled mechanics, who are disciplined in their work ethics. He is confident that these are the very sort of technicians who are produced by TOC through the Superbike Technician Course, which also encompasses motorsports as part of their syllabus.

Indeed, as part of TOC’s “Enriching Lives” theme, the college seeks to provide the best talent development program through Bina Bakat. The program builds the students’ development path through 80% practical work, preparing them for potential job placements after graduation. Obviously, SIC is an attractive goal for many students.

To rehash, Bina Bakat program offers 100% education loan to eligible student to follow the Superbike Technician Course. They will then repay their loans after they have found job placements.

The announcement was made during a special get-together event at the TOC Automotive College’s campus in Petaling Jaya. Present were Hafizh Syahrin (MotoGP), Adam Norrodin (Moto3), Zulfahmi Khairuddin (Team Manager), Dato’ Ahmad Razlan Razali, Oh Kah Beng (TOC Motorsports Director), Jeffrey Oh (Oh Kah Beng’s brother and co-ordinator for the Asia Talent Cup and British Talent Cup) and Habibtullah Fuad Mohamad (Moto2 Mechanic), among other dignitaries and well-known figures in Malaysian motosports.

The guests were given a guided tour of TOC’s facilities and they signed autographs for their fans after the press conference.

Bikesrepublic

TOC

Motorcycles are complex machines and working on them needs expertise.

But motorcycle maintenance is not just about changing the oil and filter.

Here are the four most overlooked aspects of motorcycle maintenance.

1. For God’s sake, service your brakes!

2. Give your forks a chance!

3. Valve clearance is vital!

4. Keep cool with coolant!

5. Certification guarantees satisfaction!

The inaugural round of the TOC Desmo Cup was held during Round 2 of the 2018 Pirelli Malaysia Superbike Championship.

This new series was the result of the cooperation between TOC Automotive College and Desmo Owners Club Malaysia.

The competitors’ bikes were worked on by facilitators of the TOC Superbike Technician Course.

PICTURE GALLERY

Round 2 of the 2018 Pirelli Malaysia Superbike Championship saw see-saw results for the TOC Automotive College-backed TOC-HKM Racing Team.

However, the team’s technicians did a great job to restore one heavily and another slightly damaged bikes.

Team rider Amirul Hafiq Azmi won the Superstock Race 2 and finished 2nd in the Superbike Race 2 at the Sepang International Circuit.

Round 2 of the 2018 Pirelli Malaysia Superbike Championship (MSBK) went off without a hitch.

It was an exciting day as the riders and their teams showcased their effort and skill at the Sepang International Circuit (SIC).

Race 1 for all classes (except the TOC Desmo Cup) were held today. Race 2 is due tomorrow.

IDEMITSU ASIA TALENT CUP (ATC)

TOC DESMO CUP

SUPERSPORT

SUPER 250

SUPERSTOCK

SUPERBIKE

Trusting your bike to a certified technician is a no-brainer.

There are great “traditional” mechanics out there but motorcycles are getting more complex.

A certified technician invariably means official training, discipline and knowledge.

Our new column, TechTOC with Foreman Oh seeks to assist you with your technical questions or issues with your motorcycle.

The winning question earns the sender a complimentary session at Most Fun Gym (MFG) worth RM300.

Prizes are also available for 2nd and 3rd placed questions.

TechTOC is a weekly technical column moderated by “Foreman” Oh Kah Beng (KB).

KB is now the Motorsports Consultant at the TOC Automotive College’s motorcycle racing venture and Principal Trainer at his Most Fun Gym (MFG) MX-school

Send in your technical questions, and the winner receives a complimentary session at KB’s Most Fun Gym MX-school!

Question:

Answer:

TOC and SIC have partnered to develop talents through Bina Bakat program and Superbike Technician Course.

The announcement was made with Hafizh Syahrin, Adam Norrodin and Zulfahmi Khairuddin in attendance.

The partnership augurs well for both parties as SIC is actively expanding into motorsports.

PICTURE GALLERY

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Team rider Amirul Hafiq Azmi won the Superstock Race 2 and finished 2^nd in the Superbike Race 2 at the Sepang International Circuit.

Prizes are also available for 2^nd and 3^rd placed questions.