Wahid Ooi, Author at BikesRepublic.com

Risks of Renting a Motorcycle in Thailand and How to Insure Yourself

A Malaysian couple was demanded of RM 400,000 in Thailand after a traffic accident.
They hit and killed a local on a rented motorcycle.
It is customary in Thailand where the foreigner is made to pay up regardless if it’s his fault or otherwise.

This line is oft-repeated, we know, but Thailand is such a hit with Malaysian bikers. However, do remember the risks when you consider renting a motorcycle there. Thailand is the second most dangerous country to drive in.

Our friends at Mekanika.com.my reported about a Malaysian couple who rented a motorcycle in Krabi. Unfortunately, their plans for the perfect vacation was dashed when they hit a local pedestrian. The pedestrian was killed in the accident.

As with local customs, the family of the deceased must be compensated. This is even more true if the party involved is a Farang (foreigner), and it didn’t matter even if it’s not your fault. The couple kena pao (was demanded to pay) more than RM 400,000! The sum was brought down to RM 200,000 after some intense negotiations. The couple needed to also pay for the damaged motorcycle.

This incident wasn’t the first and isn’t likely to be the last, honestly.

We have seen and heard of our riders kena pao for exorbitant amounts throughout his many trips into the Kingdom. Just like the incident above, you are at fault, as long as you are a Farang.

So, how to avoid getting skinned and skimmed?

The best way is not to rent a motorcycle in Thailand. Let’s be realistic, though. Renting one is the easiest way to getting around. But rent it from a shop which offers insurance coverage. The insurance doesn’t break your wallet and you should always get it.

What insurance should I buy when I rent a bike?

Compulsory Motor Insurance (Por Ror Bor): This is a compulsory insurance which covers hospitalization. The shop ought to have insured the rented bike as it is required by the Thai authorities. Try asking for the certificate.
Voluntary Insurance: This insurance covers the vehicle you’re driving, or the third-party vehicle involved, depending on price.
Travel Insurance: Travel insurance has always been overlooked by many Malaysians when they travel to anywhere around the world and not just Thailand. It’s not expensive and is easily obtained online. Check with your insurance agent but get one which covers your personal liability against claims from the other party involved in the accident.

What insurance shall I get if I ride my own motorcycle in?

Compulsory Motor Insurance (Por Ror Bor): This is the insurance we pay for at border crossings, along with the Temporary Import Permit, etc. (Please click here for our article on the documents required when riding into Thailand.) It ought to cost RM 18 to RM 20 for 9 days. It usually covers up to THB 80,000.
Voluntary Insurance: It can be purchased along the way to Thailand. Stop at a shop with “INSURANCE” signboard, along the road in Changlun and all the way into Dannok (if you are entering via Bukit Kayu Hitam or Wang Kelian). It’s available at Betong, too.
Endorsement 101: This extends your Malaysian comprehensive insurance to Thailand. However, do note that it covers damages to vehicles only but not bodily injuries. Additionally, it’s only applicable to motorcycles and commercial vehicles. Lastly, the limit of liability of RM 100,000 is only applicable to third party property damage.
Personal Travel Insurance: Please buy it! This writer usually purchases the AIG Travel Guard during his trips, but you may Google for “travel insurance Malaysia.” It usually costs from RM 30 per trip.

In conclusion, it’s always better to be over-insured than not at all.

Government Abolishes Motorcycle Toll Collection as First Step

The government has stopped motorcycle toll collection.
The tolls affected are at the First and Second Penang Bridges, and the Malaysia-Singapore Second Link in Johor.
The government says it is the first step toward full toll abolishment in the country.

The Malaysian government has abolished for motorcycle toll collection at three locations.

The move is the first step toward full abolishment of toll charges in the country. Finance Minister Lim Guan Eng said that the government could not eradicate all toll payments at the moment due to the large debt accrued by the previous administration. Stopping toll charges would mean the government has to pay the highway concessionaires in order to subsidize the Rakyat’s toll payments.

“Abolishing motorcycle tolls at Penang’s First and Second Bridges together with the Malaysia-Singapore Second Link in Johor is the first step to completely abolish tolls,” said Guan Eng.

Singapore will also scrap toll payment for motorcycles on the Republic’s end from 21^stJanuary.

Deputy Works Minister Mohd. Anuar Tahir officiated the removal of toll collection at the Tuas checkpoint. He said that Malaysian motorcyclists will save between RM 24.20 to RM 66.00 per month.

He also reiterated the current administration’s pledge in stopping all toll payments.

The Minister also spoke about fuel prices. While there was no cap (maximum price) before, RON 95 is now capped at RM 2.20 per litre, and diesel at RM 2.18 per litre. New retail prices will be in effect from 1^stJanuary 2019 onwards.

Japanese Man Charged with Attempted Murder for Rope Prank

A Japanese man set a rope prank across a street.
It caused a motorcyclist to hit the booby trap and crashed.
The police caught the offender quickly and charged him with attempted murder.

A Japanese man was apprehended for a rope prank which caused a motorcyclist to crash. He will be charged with attempted murder.

On 26^thDecember in Sagamihara, Kanagawa Perfecture, a man set up a rope booby trap across a street. Fifteen seconds later, a 45-year-old motorcyclist suddenly found a rope wrapped around his neck, causing him to chuck his bike. Thankfully, he suffered only back and hip.

The incident was captured by a security camera, but more importantly, so was the heinous act. Together with the help of the locals, the police acted immediately and tracked down the perpetrator, 41-year-old Koichi Deki. He claimed that he meant it as a prank to relieve stress but had not thought of killing anyone. He also admitted to using the rope and box from a nearby shop where they were used to cordon off the property after closing at night.

It was not clear if Deki saw the bike coming, given that the motorcyclist hit the trap in mere seconds after it was set up.

Kudos to the Japanese police in closing the case, as they had help from the CCTV footage.

On the other hand, we’ve had many cases of cables or wires strung across the motorcycle lanes but there’s never news if the miscreants were ever caught. The main reason was the lack of CCTV or manpower to monitor. Additionally, the authorities here will only act when there’s loss of life or when a VVVVVVIP complains.

Source: Japan Today

Bugatti Shows Off World’s First 3D Printed Titanium Caliper

Bugatti uses 3D printing technology to produce this titanium brake caliper.
3D printing produces intricate parts which cannot be milled or forged.
Bugatti did a demonstration video on how the caliper could withstand heavy stopping forces and extreme heat.

French supercar maker Bugatti has been working on 3D printing technology. This 3D printed titanium caliper is the stunning result.

But hang on, why is a supercar news making an entry here? Let’s look at it this way. Many, if not all braking technologies started out in cars and later adopted to the motorcycle industry. For example, ABS was developed by Mercedes-Benz, but pioneered by BMW Motorrad in the 1987 K 100.

Ten Innovations by BMW Motorrad

So, back to Bugatti’s 8-piston titanium caliper.

3D-printing technology takes over where a part could not be forged or milled from solid billet (aluminium alloy in the case of brake calipers). The Bugatti caliper is made from Ti₆Al₄V (titanium-aluminium-vanadium) alloy, which is impossible to create or mill the intricate parts.

Indeed, its organic, bone-like appearance is only possible through this technology.

To make the caliper, Bugatti employs lasers to melt titanium alloy powder. The “printing” process takes 45 hours to “stack” 2,213 layers of the melted powder.

The caliper is heat- and chemical-treated for additional strength after printing. Next, it is milled to create a surface for finishing and threads. A five-axis milling machine takes 11 hours to complete the job.

Of course, the real proof is in how it works. Check out the video below. A Bugatti supercar is capable of going from 0- to 400- back to 0 km/h in 42. The brakes can generate up 1025^oC.

Will we see the technology in motorcycles? VW owns Bugatti and Ducati, after all.

Will brake manufacturers such as Brembo, J. Juan, Nissin et al employ 3D printing too? They may soon, we think.

Petronas Station Reopened After Causing Vehicles to Break Down

The Petronas Solaris Besraya petrol station at Serdang has reopened.
A number of vehicles broke down after refueling there.
Water had seeped into an underground storage tank.

The Petronas Solaris Besraya petrol station at Serdang has reopened for business.

In news that made waves in social media, around 20 vehicles broke down just yards after filling up at the station. A number of owners had also complained online about their vehicles stalling after refueling there.

Petronas Dagangan Berhad (PDB) issued a statement later that day. They soon found that water had leaked into the underground storage tank. The carried isolated the contaminated tank and flushed it.

Petronas carried out further integrity tests after remedial works and a team is available on-site for further assistance.

PDB apologized and added that they will bear full responsibility for the incident, and will compensate the affected vehicle owners. They also gave assurance that other Petronas stations are not involved.

On another hand, the Director of the Enforcement Unit at the Ministry of Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs (Kementerian Perdagangan Dalam Negeri dan Hel Ehwal Pengguna – KPDNHEP) Datuk Mohd. Roslan Mahayudding told Utusan Malaysia that he had sent a number of officers to the station following the complaints online.

His officers found the same problem as Petronas did. But Datuk Mohd. Roslan added that “KPDNHEP have obtained petrol samples. We will look at this incident from the side of the law. We will take action if laws were broken.”

Habits to Excel in the Automotive and Motorsports Industries

There are certain habits to be successful in the automotive and motorsports industries.
Here we spoke to Harun Zainal, one of TOC Automotive College’s Trainer in the Superbike Technician Course.
Do you have what it takes?

It’s just like reading the book “Millionaire Success Habits.” There should exist certain habits to be successful in the automotive and motorsports industries, too.

We decided to speak to Harun Zainal, a Trainer in the Superbike Technician Course at TOC Automotive College.

Bikes Republic: Surely TOC Automotive College welcomes every student. But what do these students need in order to excel?
Harun Zainal: First of all, it’s passion and patience, especially in motorsports. It’s because we don’t know how our team will be. A team is made of different personalities and attitudes, so we need to be strong.

Other than that, as a technician, we should love to look at machinery in motion. We can’t take it when we see a broken or motionless vehicle. In motorsports you want to see the vehicle become faster.

It is the technician’s mission in making that vehicle go faster. But how do we do that? You need to work with the team.

There must also be a willingness to learn. There’s no such thing as you stop learning in the industry. There is always something new that you will learn. You learn at every single race.

Bikes Republic: What make motorsports tough?
Harun Zainal: It’s not just about making the vehicle go fast. We need to learn about the regulations and make it work within that set of rules. Not adhering to the rules means disqualification. (Getting DQ’d wastes everyone’s effort, time and money – Editor.)

Bikes Republic: What kind of motorcycle racing is TOC involved in?
Harun Zainal: TOC is involved in racing the Malaysia Superbike Championship (MSBK), the TOC-Ducati Desmo Cup and Malaysia Speed Festival (MSF).

We supply the pit crew to these teams involved (so the students may learn).

Bikes Republic: How about the TOC students who are graduating? What qualities should they have when entering the workforce?
Harun Zainal: Based on my own experience, it’s not about the salary, it’s about loving what you do. It’s about having a vehicle running optimally.

To me a technician is like a motorcycle or car doctor. You should not think about money, instead you should focus more on helping people. That shouldn’t only apply to my students, but also to all the technicians in the country.

Bikes Republic: There are many workshops that still lack in proper workshop practices. Does TOC inculcate the correct workshop practices?
Harun Zainal: Yes, of course. We already teach the students about proper workshop ethics from their very first classes on the first day. It’s about training up self-discipline good attitude.

We hope that they could spread this culture among other technicians. I think a big number of workshops are gradually beginning to change their ways.

Vehicle owners are increasingly aware about sending their vehicles to workshops that are clean, have proper tools, etc. This is a good culture. I can foresee that the workshops in our country will head towards being better in the next few years.

Please click here to find out more about the TOC Automotive College. Please click here if you are interested in the Superbike Technician Course. TOC has a programme called Bina Bakat to assist potential students in need of an education loan.

TOC Automotive College can be reached at (+603) 7960 8833

Boon Siew Honda Introduces New Colour for 2019 Honda X-ADV

Boon Siew Honda rolled out a new colour for the 2019 Honda X-ADV.
The X-ADV is a cross-platform motorcycle.
It features a 750cc engine and Dual Clutch Transmission (DCT).

Boon Siew Honda introduced a new colour for the 2019 Honda X-ADV line-up called Matt Moonstone Silver Metallic. It complements the present Grand Prix Red and Matt Bullet Silver colours.

The Honda X-ADV is a groundbreaking cross-platform motorcycle. It incorporates a number of features that are only found in individual motorcycles in the body of a scooter.

First up, the liquid-cooled, 745cc engine produces 54 bhp (40.3 kW) and 68 Nm of torque. It means that the bike isn’t a run-of-the-mill scooter.

Secondly, it is equipped with Honda’s proprietary Dual Clutch Transmission (DCT). The DCT is a 6-speed manual gearbox but can be operated in Drive and Sport full-automatic modes or in fully manual model.

Thirdly, the X-ADV has a Gravel model for off-road riding, hence the knobby tyres. There’s no other scooter which boasts such capability. The front wheel is a 17-inch unit for tackling the rough.

With such engine power and capabilities, the Honda X-ADV makes for both a practical daily commuter and long-distance tourer. We have ridden the bike all the way to Kuantan and back in comfort. The adjustable windscreen it tall in its highest adjustment, keeping windblast off the rider’s torso.

The underseat storage compartment is large and supplemented by cubby holes up front.

The new colour is available from December 2019 onwards at Honda Big Wing Dealers. The Honda X-ADV is priced from RM 63,229 for standard colours and from RM 65,499 for special colours.

Boon Siew Honda Announces New Colours for the 2018 Honda Rebel 500

The Honda Rebel 500 is a lightweight cruiser.
The engine is punchy and smooth, making the bike accessible to most riders.
Boon Siew Honda has introduced two new colours to the range.

The 2018 Honda Rebel 500 lightweight cruiser gets new colours, as announced by Boon Siew Honda.

The Rebel 500 made its debut in Malaysia in 2017. Many have taken a liking to it since then. Priced from just RM 32,399.00, it represents a great value for money.

It is a good-looking bike by any account. Styled like a bobber with a wide front wheel, owners can look forward to customizing it to their hearts’ content. The 471cc, liquid-cooled, parallel-Twin engine provides punchy torque yet linear in its response.

Being small in size also means the bike is accessible to a wide variety of riders. The Rebel 500 features a seat height of only 690mm and a kerb weight of just 191 kg.

Front and rear disc brakes take care of braking duties. The rear Showa shocks are adjustable for two-step preload.

Boon Siew Honda have added new colours to the 2018 Honda Rebel 500 range. The new colours are Matt Axis Grey and Pearl Cadet Grey. The existing Graphite Black and Millennium Red are retained.

The new colours are available from December 2018 onwards at all Honda Big Wing dealers.

(Click on this link to read our full review of the 2017 Honda Rebel 500.)

TESTED: 2017 Honda Rebel 500 – “The Practical Bobber”

2019 Aprilia Shiver 900 – More Updates

The are more updates for the 2019 Aprilia Shiver 900.
There’s a new exhaust, ECU, TFT display and colours.
Will it come to Malaysia?

We’ve ridden the Aprilia Shiver 750 in many occasions. We came away impressed with its handling, performance, reliability and value for money. But none of the new Aprilia Shiver 900 made its way to Malaysia. We hope that will change now that Aprilia is under a new custodian.

The Shiver 900 enters its third year of production in 2019 (introduced in 2017). As such, the Noale-based manufacturer updates it for the new year, although not by much. Why change perfection?

First of all, there is a new exhaust system to liberate gasses more efficiently. Engine power remains unchanged at 95 bhp and 89.5 Nm, but the real gain is in smooth throttle and predictable engine response.

The Aprilia Shiver 750 was the first production motorcycle fitted with a Ride-by-Wire throttle. The Shiver 900 continues this legacy, hence the inclusion of ride modes. However, the 2019 model gets the Marelli 7SM ECU (which is shared with the RSV4 and Tuono 1100 V4). It allows adjustment of traction control levels or turned off entirely.

ABS is a standard Continental dual-channel unit but there’s no IMU-based cornering ABS. The 4.3-inch TFT dash (same as the RSV4 and Tuono’s) now features multimedia connectivity, music and navigation.

The 2019 model is offered in Challenging Red and Innovation Dark colours.

Used 2017 Suter MMX 500 Two-Stroke for Sale

The Suter MMX 500 is a two-stroke, V-Four racebike built between 2017 to 2018.
It is a real two-stroke racer, designed from the ground up.
The company built only 99 MMX 500.

This writer needs a new year resolution soon. I ought to stop smoking. Well, that was before I came across this used 2017 Suter MMX 500 two-stroke racebike for sale on a site which lists rare sportbikes.

We reported about the Suter MMX 500 before (please click here for more details). To rehash, Eskil Suter and his bunch of guys who thought about giving up smoking 2T exhaust fumes but never did. So they built this bike.

This isn’t some donor engine stuffed into the company’s frame like a Christmas turkey, either. The MM X500 is THE real thing. (Suter is a frame specialist and used to race in Moto2. They made the BMW S 1000 RR HP4 Race’s swingarm.)

The V-Four engine actually displaces 576cc, compliments of its undersquare (long-stroke) 56.0 x 58.5mm (bore x stroke) cylinders. Suter chose the arrangement to provide the bike more midrange punch. The engine is based on the Swissauto/MuZ500 raced by Suter in 1998 and 1999. It has two counter-rotating crankshafts.

Electronics and fuel injection are modern items. All the better in trying to tame a 195 bhp beast which weighs only 127 kg. Otherwise, the rider would be launched into lunar orbit!

Got USD 115,000 lying around? Of course you do. Just forget about sending your kids to college or university and sell the house. They’re just small sacrifices compared to this bike. Only 99 were ever built.

As for my new year’s resolution, forget about giving up smoking. I should comb more sites like this one!

Source: raresportbikesforsale
Pictures: raresportbikesforsale

Jarvish Offers X and X-AR Futuristic Helmets

Jarvish is a helmet maker from Taiwan.
The firm offers the X and X-AR futuristic helmets.
Both are technology packed, with the X-AR including cameras and HUD.

Jarvish, a helmet maker from Taiwan is offering two technology-packed and futuristic helmets via Kickstarter.

The two helmets called X and X-AR are made of carbon fibre. According to the them, they have been supplying the original product to the public and hundreds of police officers in Taiwan.

Both models feature a built-in 2K camera up-front but there are differences in other features. Audible directions are available in both helmets and the features are rider voice activated.

The key features of the X-AR model include a heads-up-display (HUD) which shows speed, weather information and navigation via the Jarvish app. Data is stored on a removable 16GB memory card. The rider can insert up to 256GB. Bluetooth and WiFi capabilities are also available. The battery lasts up to four hours.

According to Jarvish, the features allow the rider to concentrate on the road with distraction.

The two Jarvish helmets comply to the ECE 22.05 standard. The helmets are expected to be available through Amazon. The X-model is expected to cost £500 while the X-AR should cost £1000.

Triumph Thruxton R TFC Coming Soon

The Triumph Thruxton R TFC is part of the Triumph Factory Custom range.
As the name suggests, it will be a limited-production, high-end flagship.
Only 750 will be built.

Triumph Motorcycles are definitely on a roll in debuting many exciting models in a short space of time. The Triumph Thruxton R TFC is the next model being tested on the road.

In October, Triumph launched the 2019 Street Twin and 2019 Street Scrambler at Intermot, followed by the new Scrambler 1200 during the Global Dealer Conference (GDC) in London. It was during the conference that the manufacturer laid out their plans to introduce additional models in 2019. The new bikes included the 2019 Speed Twin (launched in early December), new 180-bhp Rocket III and this, the Thruxton R TFC.

The Thruxton R TFC is part of the Triumph Factory Custom range. The range consists of limited edition, flagship bikes. The TFC Bobber and Scrambler show bikes were first revealed in 2014.

The Thruxton R TFC features a hotted-up Hi-Power 1200cc parallel-Twin engine. The use of titanium Vance & Hines exhausts and remapped ECU raises its power from 96 bhp to 106 bhp.

In the chassis department, Öhlins NIX 30 forks replace the Showa BPFs. It should create an even better pairing with the Öhlins dual shocks currently in place. The Brembo front brake calipers will have the fluid pumped into them by a Brembo radial master cylinder. If that’s not racy enough, the Thruxton R TFC will wear Metzeler Racetec RR tyres.

Triumph has also pared nearly 5kg off the bike’s weight.

The Thruxton R TFC will be fitted with a carbon-fibre “bullet” fairing as standard. Only 750 examples will be built. Lucky owners can stare at the production number on the billet top triple clamp.

We named the Thruxton R as the funnest café racer we’ve tested. The TFC should be even better!

Triumph Thruxton R Test & Review

Bikesrepublic

Wahid Ooi

A Malaysian couple was demanded of RM 400,000 in Thailand after a traffic accident.

They hit and killed a local on a rented motorcycle.

It is customary in Thailand where the foreigner is made to pay up regardless if it’s his fault or otherwise.

So, how to avoid getting skinned and skimmed?

What insurance should I buy when I rent a bike?

What insurance shall I get if I ride my own motorcycle in?

The government has stopped motorcycle toll collection.

The tolls affected are at the First and Second Penang Bridges, and the Malaysia-Singapore Second Link in Johor.

The government says it is the first step toward full toll abolishment in the country.

A Japanese man set a rope prank across a street.

It caused a motorcyclist to hit the booby trap and crashed.

The police caught the offender quickly and charged him with attempted murder.

Bugatti uses 3D printing technology to produce this titanium brake caliper.

3D printing produces intricate parts which cannot be milled or forged.

Bugatti did a demonstration video on how the caliper could withstand heavy stopping forces and extreme heat.

The Petronas Solaris Besraya petrol station at Serdang has reopened.

A number of vehicles broke down after refueling there.

Water had seeped into an underground storage tank.

There are certain habits to be successful in the automotive and motorsports industries.

Here we spoke to Harun Zainal, one of TOC Automotive College’s Trainer in the Superbike Technician Course.

Do you have what it takes?

Boon Siew Honda rolled out a new colour for the 2019 Honda X-ADV.

The X-ADV is a cross-platform motorcycle.

It features a 750cc engine and Dual Clutch Transmission (DCT).

The Honda Rebel 500 is a lightweight cruiser.

The engine is punchy and smooth, making the bike accessible to most riders.

Boon Siew Honda has introduced two new colours to the range.

The are more updates for the 2019 Aprilia Shiver 900.

There’s a new exhaust, ECU, TFT display and colours.

Will it come to Malaysia?

The Suter MMX 500 is a two-stroke, V-Four racebike built between 2017 to 2018.

It is a real two-stroke racer, designed from the ground up.

The company built only 99 MMX 500.

Jarvish is a helmet maker from Taiwan.

The firm offers the X and X-AR futuristic helmets.

Both are technology packed, with the X-AR including cameras and HUD.

The Triumph Thruxton R TFC is part of the Triumph Factory Custom range.

As the name suggests, it will be a limited-production, high-end flagship.

Only 750 will be built.

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