Wahid Ooi, Author at BikesRepublic.com

HJC RPHA 70 Test & Review

The HJC RPHA 70 bridges full sport and touring helmets
It is built upon the HJC RPHA 11’s principles
Lightweight, comfortable, safe, at a great value
HJC Helmet Malaysia have also introduced other models besides the RPHA 70 – click here to see more

It’s probably needless to say that motorcycle helmets have come a long, long way to where they are now. But along with that progress, helmets have become sub-divided into many categories for different uses. Gone were the days when a rider could almost wear just one helmet for every application (off-road riding notwithstanding).

Nowadays, you’d have specific helmets for the track, sport-touring, adventure-touring, touring, sport classics, cafe racers, customs, urban riding, and everything else in between.

We’ll pick the first two.

A race helmet should ideally be light, stable at high speeds, and snug-fitting. Comfort is relative, as a race helmet should hold tight to the wearer’s face and head, lest it moves around when blasting down SIC’s back straight at top speeds.

A sport-touring helmet, on the other hand, should provide all-day comfort, good ventilation and also good stability at high speeds. The emphasis for sport-touring helmets is comfort, something which is a compromise in racing helmets.

Bridging that gap is never easy, as the resulting helmet is more often than not compromised for either spectrum. So how? You need both.

Or do you?

Built on the solid foundations of the HJC RPHA 11 race helmet (see here for more), the HJC RPHA 70 seeks to bridge those two concepts into one complete high performance package.

As with the RPHA 11, the RPHA 70’s shell is made from a what HJC calls their “Premium Integrated Matrix Plus (PIM+)” material, which consists of carbon fibre, Aramid, fiberglass and Kevlar; resulting in a lightweight but strong shell. The EPS has different densities around the helmet.

Traces of the RPHA 11’s design philosophies are evident in the RPHA 70’s tall chinbar, aerodynamic shell design, optically correct 2D faceshield with the centrally-located lock (which it shares with the RPHA 11), and interior paddings, in addition to the cheekpads that are extractable in emergencies.

Sport-touring features include the internal drop-down sunshield and large vents on the chinbar and crown (top of the head). The are deep cutouts for the ears, closed off by padding. Remove those pads and you have yourself built-in velcro pads to attach your Bluetooth speakers (I really welcome this).

The cheekpads are thick and tall. There are eyeglass “pockets” on both sides – spectacles wearers will welcome this. The crown pad is also thick and seems to float a couple of milimetres above the inner EPS lining.

Our first opportunity to sample the RPHA 70 was during the ride to Penang to cover the BMW Motorrad Nightfuel event (click here for our coverage and pictures). We rode a myriad of bikes including three variants of the R nineT, S 1000 R naked sportbike, K 1600 GT tourer, and G 310 R lightweight roadster. That means we rode on more bikes without fairing for wind protection.

The BMW S 1000 R was fast! You’d drone along at 60km/h in sixth gear, hit the throttle and you’re suddenly flying at 180km/h. But there was no wind protection. This was where the RPHA 70 showed its mettle. It stayed stayed stable without wobbling around, nor did it felt like ripping our heads off when we turned to the sides. Besides that, it resisted lifting and diving

Sep was testing the BMW G 310 R all the way into Penang (with top speeds close to 170km/h) and he reported the RPHA 70 being stable, too.

The HJC RPHA 70 is also relatively quiet at high speeds even without earplugs, which meant that I didn’t have to turn up my Bluetooth communicator’s volume to full blast, and it’s definitely a pleasant experience with earplugs in.

The sunshield dropped down and retracted quickly when activated via the switch at the bottom of the left chinbar. As with the main faceshield, the sunshield is optically correct, which means it won’t give you headaches from bad vision. My only gripe with the sunshield is that the bottom edges drop ever so slightly when its up, although Sep didn’t encounter this problem.

Airflow through the Advanced Channelling System (ACS) can be described as good and satisfactory. Air entering through the chin vents is directed upwards to the faceshield. A secondary and smaller chin vent directs airflow straight to wearer’s chin and mouth (the switch is on the inside). With the top central vent open, the wearer could feel a cooling stream of air moving past his crown.

We had encountered some rain on the way into Penang, and we thought we’ve come through the worst.

On that same evening, we rode from our hotel at Gurney Drive to the event ground next to the new Penang Bridge, when we got hit by the heaviest rainstorm we’ve ever encountered. There wasn’t even time to close the vents but thankfully, no water got through and the faceshield remained clear as we’ve installed the anti-fog lens which came in the box.

We’ve since donned the helmet everywhere we went, including riding around the city in all weather conditions and times of the day. As with most fullface helmets, the air inside could get a little stuffy on scorching hot days but all one needs to do is crack open the faceshield a little or, just ride faster.

Back to the subject about track usage: Not only does the HJC RPHA 70 comply to the ECE R22.05 standard, but it is also approved by the FIM. Approval by the FIM means the wearer could use the helmet for FIM-sanctioned racing events. That’s unprecedented, as most if not all, FIM approved race helmets are without built-in sunshades.

So, there you go. A real two-in-one helmet at one great value.

Features:

Advanced PIM+ (Premium Integrated Matrix Plus) construction: carbon fiber, Aramid, carbon-glass hybrid fabric for enhanced shock resistance
Anti-fog smoke tinted sunshield deploys quickly
RapidFire system for quick, tool-less faceshield removal and installation
Emergency cheek pads removal
Multicool interior with advanced anti-bacteria fabric provides enhanced moisture wicking and quick drying
Crown and cheek pads are removable and washable
Anti-fog lens prepared shield
Includes anti-fog insert lens
Glasses-friendly EPS design
ECE 22.05 and FIM approved

PICTURE GALLERY

Save money on fuel, buy new helmet. Happy days.

Honda Releases Gold Wing Teaser Video

Honda releases Gold Wing teaser video
New model to comply with new emission standards
Comfort, refinement, utility makes it the ultimate touring bike

After months of heavy speculation, Honda has just released the Gold Wing teaser video.

As Japan’s regulators tighten emissions standards to match that of Euro4 and beyond, Honda will soon stop production of the current model and a number of models. As such, Japan’s largest motorcycle manufacturer went ahead with creating an all-new Gold Wing.

News of the new bike was leaked out into the grasps of the world’s media last month, followed by pictures of what may be the final bike. (Click here for our report.)

Leaked photo of the 2018 Honda Gold Wing

But instead of disproving those photos, Honda has released a teaser video called “Beyond the Standard,” highlighting the evolution of the ‘Wing through the ages.

Ever since its inception in 1975, the Honda Gold Wing has been known as the ultimate touring motorcycle to many of its fans. Creature comforts, utility, chock full of features, refinement are what the bike is about.

The model proved to be a huge hit in the North American market that Honda Corporation actually started a factory just to build them in the USA. The production facilities were shifted back to Japan a few years ago.

There are many Gold Wing owners and clubs here in Malaysia too. You can see hundreds of them when they come together for special gatherings or motorcycle events.

Top Motorcycle Designers (Part 4) – Ola Stenegärd

Ola Stenegärd is the father of the BMW R nineT series
His other projects included the HP2, S 1000 RR, G 310 R, among others
Stenegard’s inlfuences are deeply rooted in classics, cafe racers and customs

Ola Stenegärd is the current Head of Vehicle Design in BMW Motorrad.

Stenegärd studied Industrial Design in Stockhölm, Sweden and is also a graduate from the famed Art Center College of Design in Pasadena, California. His predecessor at BMW Motorrad, David Robb also graduated from that school. He first joined SAAB and then Indian Motorcycles before starting at BMW Motorrad in 2003.

Stenegärd said in an interview that no one was interested in sportbikes at BMW when he joined, hence he was given the HP2 project. The success of the HP2 saw him proceeding to lead the S 1000 RR’s development. Stenegärd could’ve chosen the conservative route for the S 1000 RR’s design, instead he went on to create a motorcycle that’s distinctive and instantly recognisable.

But Stenegärd’s roots are buried deep in the realms of cruisers, cafe racers and classics. He had known the legendary custom motorcycle builder, Roland Sands for many years and approached the latter about building a custom BMW. Stenegärd showed Sands what his team had been working on and the latter was intrigued. They went on to work together on the Concept 90.

Up to that point, BMW Motorrad was without a specific model to commemorate their 90th Anniversary in 2013. In the end, it was Stenegärd’s design for the R nineT which they chose.

The R nineT went into production soon after and it began the the legacy of an entire range of motorcycles based on the R nineT platform. The R nineT family now includes the base R nineT, R nineT Scrambler, R nineT Pure, R nineT Urban G/S and the beautiful R nineT Racer. Furthermore, BMW Motorrad has recently entered the small-displacement, lightweight market G 310 R.

Click here for Part 3: David Robb

Click here for Part 2: John Britten

Click here for Part 1: Fabio Taglioni

BMW R nineT Racer Test and Review – Looks are Everything

The BMW R nineT Racer is the café racer of the R nineT family
It’s a modern retro which draws its lineage to the R90S
Good handling, torquey engine and great looks are its hallmark

I once dated a girl who was gorgeous, smart and independent, all-in-one. We’ve had so much to talk about, so much to share, including our passion for movies, music, the high life and motorcycles.

She was quite tall, had a nice chassis with the right dimensions in the right places. When she smiled, her lips curved bewitchingly. When she looked at me, those eyes burned straight through to my soul, eliciting primal desires I never thought I had.

Everywhere we went, other men would stare unabashedly. They didn’t even bother to grab serendipitous glances at her. I could “read” what was in their heads. Jealous? Yes. Yet I felt proud that she was holding tight onto my arm. Yeah, look all you want, bud, she’s mine. Imma playa and I play for keeps. Nyah nyah.

What more could a man ask for right?

Behind closed doors, on the other hand, it was all her. My opinions never mattered. I gave up on seeing my friends only to find her out partying with hers when I returned home. I bought her the most expensive I could afford, but it wasn’t enough. She complained wherever I brought her, nevermind it cost RM400 for a dinner.

But all those heartaches turned into meaningless gripes as soon as she smiled, and especially when I see the look on the faces of other guys when I’m with her.

What is it with tough love?

When BMW Motorrad’s chief designer Ola Stenegard approached Roland Sands to “do a BMW,” the famed customizer built the Concept 90 Prototype which drew inspiration from a famed BMW roadracer, the R90S.

We were excited when we saw the R90 Concept, resplendent in that classic metallic orange paint, retro half-fairing housing a single round headlight. But when production of R nineT got underway, we wondered if BMW Motorrad will ever produce a café racer like the R90 Concept.

Well, here it is. The BMW R nineT Racer, complete with a frame-mounted half-fairing, clip-on handlebars, small seat, seat hump, and vintage BMW Motorsport paint scheme. Each component seemed to enhance the beauty of another.

The BMW R nineT Racer is another variant built on the R nineT platform, to complement the base R nineT (click here for our review), R nineT Scrambler, R nineT Pure, and the just-launched R nineT Urban G/S (click here for our review). That means the R nineT Racer shares the 1178cc oilhead Boxer and frame but there’s where the similarity ends.

Unlike the base R nineT, The R nineT Racer’s forks are conventional telescopic, non-adjustable units while the fuel tank is steel instead of aluminium. The wheels are 17-inch cast aluminium ones, instead of cross-spoked ones.

Behind that fairing’s bubble are two analog dials with LCD screens to display different info. No fuel gauge, tho’. Thumb the starter button and the Boxer-Twin comes to life just like the others – with a kick to starboard. But’s that’s the character of the Boxer through the decades. The charm is in how it vibes and rocks the mirrors, reminding you that it’s alive rather than merely “ON.” It fuels impeccably throughout the rev range, which puts more emphasis on torque rather than all-out horsepower.

On the handling front, the Racer isn’t a bike you’d just throw into a corner. The long wheelbase, generous rake and trail, low height produces a bike that absolutely revels in long, high speed sweepers like those you find near the Menora Tunnel and Karak. But once it’s on its side, it’s battleship steady. The suspension is supple to deal with road irregularities despite being “low tech.”

Those Brembo front brakes are strong, though. Give it a hard two-fingered squeeze to suddenly and it would seem that your breakfast disagrees with your stomach.

True to its Racer name, the seating position is stretched out – long reach to the handlebars, torso low down onto the tank, feet back, knees up and bum offered to the sky gods. Just like a 70’s and 80’s racebike. Or a road race bicycle. Mass centralization be damned. Having owned a Cagiva Mito and Ducati 916 in the early 90’s, the R nineT Racer’s riding position didn’t seem too foreign, unless compared to contemporary sportbikes such as the S 1000 RR.

Of course, it’s more tiring compared to bikes with sit up riding position. With all that tank gripping, upper torso being supported by muscles in the lower back and core, you need to stretch yourself out when you stop after riding for 150 kilometres or so.

Still, I rode the bike from Penang to the Sg. Buloh R&R with a bagpack filled with my laptop, camera, clothes and toiletries strapped to my back, but I didn’t come away looking like the Igor from Notre Dame.

The engine is already good, but what really makes the R nineT Racer a great bike is its awesome looks. And it is drop dead gorgeous. The Malaysian populace at large has mostly grown familiar to big bikes and not many superbikes will grab their attention anymore.

But not the R nineT Racer. There seems to be an aura surrounding it.

We would return to a crowd surrounding the bike wherever we parked. Conservative uncles would circle around the bike, with huge grins on their faces. Even other bikers will crowd around and started asking a whole bunch of questions. Park the bike anywhere and it seems to light up those premises. Stop at a set of traffic lights and everyone will stare at it like it was Claudia Schiffer.

The main question we encountered was, “Isn’t it uncomfortable to be draped over the bike like that?” “No, it’s alright,” was how we answered. And if we were asked which of the R nineT range we would pick, we would answer, “The Racer,” without hesitation.

Guess looks beat tough love anytime.

TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS

ENGINE
Engine type	Air/Oil-cooled, 4-stroke, DOHC, 4 valves per cylinder, horizontally-opposed (Boxer) Twin
Compression ratio	12.0 : 1
Bore X Stroke	101 mm X 73 mm
Displacement	1170 cc
Fuel system	Electronic intake pipe injection
Maximum power	110 bhp (81 kW) @ 7750 RPM
Maximum torque	116 Nm @ 6000 RPM

TRANSMISSION
Clutch	Single dry plate clutch, hydraulically actuated
Gearbox	Constant mesh, 6-speed, shaft drive

CHASSIS
Front suspension	43mm telescopic forks, 125mm travel
Rear suspension	Single central shock absorber adjustable for preload and rebound damping. 120mm travel
Front brakes	Two 320mm floating discs, Brembo four-piston calipers
Rear brake	Single 265 mm disc, Brembo two-piston floating caliper
ABS	BMW Motorrad ABS, front and rear
Front tyre	120/70-ZR17
Rear tyre	180/55-ZR17

FRAME & DIMENSIONS
Frame	Three-part frame consisting of one front and two rear sections; load-bearing engine and transmission; rear set frame removable for single rider
Swingarm	Cast aluminium single-sided swingarm with BMW Motorrad Paralever
Trail	103.9 mm
Rake	26.4 degrees
Wheelbase	1491 mm
Seat height	805 mm
Wet weight	219 kg
Fuel capacity	17 litres

PICTURE GALLERY

How to Ride Through Flash Floods

Here are tips on how to ride through flash floods (or deep water)
Cardinal rule is to go slow
Throttle control and a cool head applies

The weather has been mighty unpredictable in the Klang Valley lately. The days invariably start with burning white sunlight and scorching heat, only to give way to sudden heavy downpours. If the downpours continue for more than two hours, we could find ourselves caught in flash floods.

While it’s safest to sit out from riding in pouring rain and flooded roads, there’s no escaping it at times, especially around flood-prone areas where the roads remain flooded even after rain has stopped.

Here are our tips for riding through flash floods (and deep puddles of water).

1. Stop and Inspect

It’s just like adventure riding. No sane adventure rider will just banzai headlong into an unknown body of water without first inspecting its depth, potential hazards underwater and exit on the other side.

While you may not have to get off your bike and walk through floods on the road you travel on each day, you do need to stop and look for clues. If there’s another vehicle pushing through the water, note how deep it is. Observe if there’s a strong water current from one side of the road to the other.

If the water’s too deep or current’s too strong, forget it. Just wait for it to subside.

If you don’t already know the location of your engine’s air intake, now’s the good time to start. Check if it’s high enough above the water.

2. Stand Up

Riding through floods is no different from riding through a river when adventure or trail riding, so stand for better low-speed stability, meaning there’s more control when you crawl ahead at 10 to 20 km/h.

3. Go Slow and Straight

This goes without saying.

Throwing up a big splash may look spectacular in pictures but it isn’t a good practice in real world situations. Hitting a deep body of water at speed would most likely have the water act as a liquid brake/barrier. The bike will cut through the first few metres easily before coming to a sudden halt and causing the rider to lose control (or even thrown off).

They need to go a little slower than this. Courtesy of thestar

Keep your speed as low as possible and steady to keep the water’s bow wake below the height of the engine’s air intake. Remember, you’re riding a motorcycle, not a jetski.

It’s also best to stay off the sides of the road and ride in the middle of the lane.

4. Keep Moving

Don’t pull in the clutch or slam the throttle shut.

Maintain a steady throttle and speed in the gear you are in right now, even if you should feel a tyre or tyres kicking loose when contacting something in the water. In fact, you should open the throttle a bit more if that happens.

Roll off the throttle smoothly if you need to slow down more and stay off the brakes.

5. Exiting

Don’t gun it immediately after exiting the flood. You may increase your speed, but don’t slam open the throttle, without first giving the time for the water or whatever debris collected on the bike to “drop off.”

Also, with the bike still moving, drag the brakes lightly to clean them.

6. Kill It!

But what if you hit, for example, a pothole and the bike goes down?

Make the effort to kill the engine before you lay the bike down into the water. You’d most probability have the time to do so, since you were riding at a slow speed, right? Right? Regardless, the engine should be shut down as quickly as possible.

An internal combustion engine is basically an air pump which sucks in air, adds fuel to it, compresses the mixture and sets it alight. But water is incompressible and non-combustible (duh!), and therefore has the potential of causing catastrophic engine damage.

Do not immediately attempt to start a motorcycle that has been lying underwater. Instead, you should pull out the spark plugs and the airbox cover to check for water ingress. If the spark plug electrodes are wet, do not reinstall them, but turn on the bike’s ignition and crank the starter a few times to push the water out of the combustion chamber.

Reinstall only when it’s sufficiently dry.

Conclusion

Riding through a flood isn’t difficult but one should do it with care and logic, obviously. Sticking to the above steps will have you home way ahead of car drivers, instead of ending up swimming in that filthy water. Think of it as urban adventure riding.

Pink October Charity Ride 2017

The Pink October Charity Ride 2017 went off without a hitch today
The ride is in conjunction with October being the Breast Cancer Awareness Month
About 200 participants joined the ride

Organised by Hawa Motor Club and Ipoh Road Clan together with support from the Malaysian Cancer Society, and hot on the heels of the Distinguished Gentleman’s Ride (DGR) last month, the Pink October Charity Ride (POCR) 2017 proceeded well today.

While DGR sought to raise awareness towards prostate cancer in men, POCR’s objective was a campaign to highlight breast cancer research.

About 200 participants congregated at the Malaysia Handicraft Development Corporation’s (Perbadanan Kemajuan Kraftangan Malaysia) grounds for the flag off.

There was a good mix of motorcycles: From mopeds and scooters, to standard bikes, naked sportbikes, adventure-tourer and 1000cc superbikes; besides the large number of customs and café racers – including the famous Puting Beliung (“tornado” in Bahasa Melayu).

Participants were provided a white T-shirt with the words “Pink October Charity Ride” emblazoned on its back, patches and stickers. They may also donate to the Malaysian Cancer Society (Yayasan Kanser Malaysia).

As more and more riders, young and old arrived, it soon became apparent that this wasn’t a ride which encouraged only female participant. There were as many men as there were ladies. It’s encouraging and heartwarming to see that both the Pink October Charity Ride and DGR transcend the gender barrier, despite both rides sought to raise awareness for afflictions common to respective genders.

And despite gutter politics kicking up religious and race issues, everyone rode together for a common cause, regardless of religion, ethnicity and creed. How common is it to see a 150cc café racer ride alongside an R 1200 GS? Or a Triumph Street Twin next to an S 1000 RR?

The participants were briefed by the Chief Marshal and Royal Malaysian Traffic Police escort, before being flagged off.

The convoy proceeded at a steady pace until it reached Naza Auto Mall in Petaling Jaya.

There were lucky draws and a helmet bidding session throughout the day. Participants were also offered a free health check-up, free of charge.

Seeing the success of this Pink October Charity Ride 2017, we hope the event will continue next year with even more participants.

Yamaha Y15ZR SE GP Edition – From RM8,891.28

The Yamaha Y15ZR SE GP Edition is set to hit the market
Features the colour and graphics of the factory Yamaha MotoGP team
Basic sales price of RM 8,891.28 with 6% GST but without roadtax, insurance and number plates.

Yamaha’s Y15ZR is by no doubt a popular kapchai, seen everywhere throughout the country. Launched in Malaysia in 2015 (click here for the launch event), sales have been and are still going strong. Similarly, there are already many Y15ZR owners clubs, consisting of thousands of owners.

Since then, there has been one update for the model earlier this year whereby new colour schemes were introduced. The Y15ZR remains mechanically the same as there is a need to – the design is sound and reliable.

That is why the Yamaha Y15ZR is hailed as “The King of the Streets.”

To commemorate the 2017 Malaysian MotoGP and Yamaha’s long-time active participation in the pinnacle of two-wheeled motorsports, Hong Leong Yamaha Motor Sdn. Bhd. (HLYM) is set to introduce the Y15ZR GP Edition. This special edition is bedecked with the new Movistar Yamaha MotoGP Team colour and graphics.

The bike will be available in the market beginning next week onwards.

Recommended Basic Sales Price with GST (without r/tax, no. plates & Ins) is RM 8,891.28.

Biker Stories (Part 3) – The Wall

I was working as soon as I finished my SPM examinations. Didn’t go on a long holiday with friends, didn’t even bum out at the beach night after night with a cold drink. “Time to earn your own money, Son.”

Through the help of a few friends, I became a waiter in a hip new pub in Penang, called “20 Leith Street.” The place has since been converted to a hawker centre and it’s just next door to the blue-coloured Cheong Fatt Tze Mansion, which is now a boutique hotel. Back then, the latter was overgrown, run down and pitch black like a haunted house. I didn’t dare step near it.

Anyway, one morning after work, the five of us guys stood outside, just chilling, talking gibberish and smoking. Our supervisor whistled at and teased the transgenders who walked up and down the street outside. A homeless man in torn shirt and pants sat on the sidewalk opposite ours, mumbling to himself (hoped he didn’t see dead people). Yeah, those were the bad ol’ days.

Anyways, we talked about all sorts of stuff. Fishing, camping, hiking, swimming… There was no such thing as Astro and PlayStation in 1998.

Boys being boys, we got around to talking about cars and motorcycles. (About girls too, of course, on how we don’t understand them – and we still don’t today – but that’s for another story).

Among us, only Poh Keat owned a bike, a used Honda C90.

The rest of us wanted a bike for ourselves too, but we haven’t ridden one before. Then Chris got super-enthusiastic and wanted to learn how to ride at that very moment. The compound was huge, tarred over as a parking lot and there’s no one around to be a bother

After much cajoling, Poh Keat gave in to Chris’ requests. He pointed out on how to get it in gear, roll out and stop.

As Chris got moving, we started throwing insults at him. We were his buddies, right. But he ignored us and started doing pretty descent by his second orbit around Poh Keat, who stood in the middle and barked orders.

We lost interest in teasing him so we went back to talking about girls. I was still single, okay. All the while, Chris passed by like clockwork, getting a little faster each time.

Then on one pass, Chris gunned the throttle a little too much, casuing the bike to roar forward. Surprised, he instantaneously chopped the throttle, which resulted in the rear hopping and squirming (he must’ve been in first gear). His arms went straight immediately and his legs came off the footpegs, looking like a character from The Flinstones trying to brake by dragging his feet on the ground.

The bike now went straight, instead of turning into the circle and headed for the tall wall separating 20^th Leith Street and Cheong Fatt Tze!

Poh Keat yelled while running toward Chris, “WOI!!! STOP STOP STOP!!!”

At this point, we heard “BEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEP!!!” all the way to the wall. THWACK! The bike’s front tyre tapped the wall like how when someone walked into a glass door.

Chris and the bike plopped over like sacks of potatoes stacked too high. And the horn was still on! BEEEEEEEEEEeeeeeeeeeppppp….. its sound tapering off as it got hotter.

Poh Keat had caught up to Chris and tried to lift the bike up. We ran over to help too.

“WHY DIDN’T YOU BRAKE?!” yelled the unfortunate bike owner.

“I did try to brake!” replied Chris in defiant defense. “But instead of stopping, your stupid bike only went beeeeeeeeeeeep!”

Our wisecrack Supervisor spoke up, “So did the wall move out of the way when you honked at it?” Apart from Poh Keat and Chris, I believe the other three of us have never laughed any harder than that morning until this day.

Click here for Part 1.

Click here for Part 2.

Custom Harley-Davidson XL1200 by Thrive

This classy custom Harley-Davidson XL1200 is built by Thrive
Thrive is based in Jakarta, Indonesia
Dubbed the Kuzuri, it drew inspiration from traditional Japanese custom bikes

Pictures of a custom Harley-Davidson XL1200 by Thrive showed up on the internet lately, and for good reasons.

Thrive Motorcycle is based in Jakarta, Indonesia with the reputation of building some of the most beautiful custom bikes. This example, dubbed the Kuzuri is a prime example.

The project began two years ago when the custom builders were looking for a stock Harley-Davidson engine which was to be used as the testbed for developing their T/H/R/V brand of parts and accessories. A friend of theirs had 2000 XL1200 Sportster, by coincidence. The builders started fitting the new parts to it initially, handcrafting more along the way.

As an overall theme started to take shape, the Thrive team visited the Yokohama Hot Rod Custom Show and found discovered many great designs and, the traditional Japanese chopper. It was also here that they found the inspiration for Kuzuri, or wolverine in Japanese.

The team ordered a custom rigid frame from another custom garage and started shaping the aluminium panels, aiming for a bike with “timeless and streamlined looks” that’s clean, sleek and minimalist.

Thrive built the gas tank, headlight fairing, tail unit, oil tank and electrical in-house around the frame and engine. The forks were shortened to allow the bike to hug the ground. Custom accessories such as switchgear, footpegs, gullwing handlebars, brakeless front hub and Mooneyes grips were installed.

The Sportster’s stock belt final was converted to a chain drive. A chain-tensioner fashioned out of a skateboard wheel was installed underneath the drive chain.

Another cool feature is the stop light, modified from a Softail and hidden beneath the rear fender.

As the final touch, Thrive sprayed-painted the frame and body in sapphire blue and silver.

HJC Helmet Malaysia Introduces New Models

HJC Helmet Malaysia introduces new models to its already extensive 2017 lineup
The lineup includes additional Marvel comics characters
Be sure to follow the HJC Helmet Malaysia weekly giveaway contest

HJC has long been known as the helmet maker who produces world-class helmets and offering them at lower prices to consumers.

The Korean helmet manufacturer have tied up with Marvel Comics and Disney Films in recent times, resulting in helmets with rightly distinctive designs and graphics from famous franchises such as Venom, Iron Man, Spiderman, and Star Wars characters Kylo Ren and Boba Fett. Find out more by clicking here and here.

It didn’t stop there and HJC Malaysia showed off a few models and graphics recently

CS-15 “Spiderman”

The CS-15 is HJC’s entry-level helmet which replaced the popular CL-STII range. Comfortable and relatively quiet, the CS-15 range it earmarked for riders who are moving up the motorcycle capacity ladder and want a full-face helmet that doesn’t break the bank. However, in terms of classification, HJC calls the CS-15 a sport-touring helmet.

Features

Advanced Polycarbonate Composite Shell is lightweight
Removable and washable interior pads with NYLEX
Anti-UV and anti-fog faceshield
Quick-release faceshield mechanism
Advanced Channelling Ventilation System (ACS) ensures cooling airflow
Glasses groove
Micro adjustment buckle
ECE R22.05 certification

IS-17 “Deadpool”

With advent of Marvel Comics’ graphics, many HJC and fans of the movie have been asking if there will ever be a Deadpool helmet.

Well, your prayers have been answered.

Shown here is the IS-17 Merc-with-a-Mouth aka Deadpool. The IS-17 is more of a jack-of-all-trades, standing in as the helmet for all riders from the daily commuters to sport-touring to track riding. HJC has invented much in building their own wind tunnel and as a result, the IS-17 is built to be aerodynamic and relatively quiet. The helmet includes a one-touch drop-down sunshield.

Features

Advanced Polycarbonate Composite Shell is lightweight
One-touch integrated sunshield
Anti-scratch anti-UV faceshield
RapidFire Shield Replacement System for ultra-quick faceshield replacement
2-stage faceshield closure system with one-touch centrally-located lock
Advanced Channelling Ventilation System (ACS) ensures cooling airflow
SuperCool interior with anti-bacterial, moisture-wicking fabric
Crown padding and cheeckpads are removable and washable
ECE R22.05 certification

RPHA 70 ST “Grandal”

Want a helmet that’s comfortable, stable and quiet while touring, but also one which is lightweight, stable while blasting down the straight at top speed, and certified for trackdays? You have to choose from either type to fit your requirements but the RPHA 70 ST has bridged that gap. Built on the principles of the RPHA 11 race helmet, the RPHA 70 ST is certified by the FIM for track use, making it the true 2-in-1 helmet.

Features:

Advanced P.I.M. Plus (Premium Integrated Matrix Plus) construction: carbon fiber, Aramid, carbon-glass hybrid fabric for enhanced shock resistance
Anti-fog smoke tinted sunshield deploys quickly
RapidFire system for quick, tool-less faceshield removal and installation
Emergency cheek pads removal
Multicool interior with advanced anti-bacteria fabric provides enhanced moisture wicking and quick drying
Crown and cheek pads are removable and washable
Anti-fog lens prepared shield
Includes anti-fog insert lens
Glasses-friendly EPS design
ECE 22.05 and FIM approved

PICTURE GALLERY

CGK Apologises to Thai Government – Is it Enough?

GCK (Chopper Garage Kelantan) has apologised to the Thai government
Marshals caught on video stopping traffic
What are the potential repercussions?

Last year, we had just checked into our honeymoon suite, freshened up and were in the midst of renting a scooter for some gallivanting until we saw the news on TV: “Malaysian biker shot dead” in Hatyai. (Click here for the coverage.)

We cancelled our plans for the scooter that evening, although we knew we were just being too careful. But how could we be sure since we’re now in another country where conversing with the locals was not as easy? Whose cultures and sensitivities are different from ours?

The Thai police acted quickly and caught the shooter. The reason of the shooting was because he didn’t “like the way the (Malaysian) rider rode.”

I was also in Phuket two months prior to the shooting, first for the Phuket Bike Week and then back in Phuket again on a ride a week later.

We were covering the festivities at the bike week when a video captured by a Thai driver on his dashcam had made rounds in Facebook, showing a group of Malaysian bikers stopping traffic at an intersection for their riders in their group to pass. He was courteous in his comments however, hoping this doesn’t repeat the next time.

But on the next trip to Phuket two weeks later, we had this one guy who raced against every Thai who overtook him. His reason, “no-face” to lose against the 100cc scooters on his 1000cc naked sportbike. Additionally, there were a few others who couldn’t stop harassing young Thai ladies on their scooters from the moment we crossed the border, all the way to Phuket, and back. We warned these buffoons, but habits die hard, right? I won’t be riding with them any longer, that’s for sure.

I thought it’s all buried and done.

Then this video showed up on Channel 7 News in Thailand, just a few weeks ago.

Recorded on another Thai driver’s dashcam, it showed four Malaysian riders blocking an intersection for their buddies to blow past the red lights.

A firestorm of criticism blew up in social media. Non-bikers called these guys a whole bunch of undesirable names, and some even criticized all Malaysian bikers. Bikers also joined in the fray in criticizing those chumps, partly in attempt to distance themselves from that selfish act.

Stopping traffic by marshals, unless by police riders, has already been outlawed in Malaysia by the authorities, but what in the world were these cretins thinking when they did so in Thailand?

They’ve not only sullied the reputation of bikers, but the nation’s as a whole.

But even then, there were those who defended the indefensible, by claiming that the Thais drive without manners at our border towns. But hey, did they stop traffic for their friends to pass? Were there videographic proof?

I’ve met those drivers on the road many times and yes, they were FAST. But they didn’t stop traffic, race with the locals or harass our adiks and aweks, did they?

Let’s face it, we’ve seen how belligerent some mat sallehs can be in the way they treat the Thais or any populace of developing countries, but at least they don’t stop traffic the way these guys did.

We’ve even ran into members of the Bandidos MC during Phuket Bike Week, a 1-percenter bike group (means outlaws) bike group with affiliations to the Hell’s Angels, but they didn’t stop traffic for their buddies, did they?

The offending “marshals” were part of a group from Choppers Garage Kelantan (CGK). They have since done the right thing and handed a letter of apology to the Thai consulate to Malaysia. (Click here for the report on MyMetro.)

But what about the repercussions? Is it so easily solved? I wonder if the apology was picked up by Thai networks at all.

The Thais are among the most hospitable people in the world. Most, if not all, are genuine in their welcoming attitude, correctly earning them the title The Land of Smiles. Go to places like Buriram or Chiang Mai and they’d wish you everytime they see you. School kids smile and wave when they see you riding a big bike. Restaurant owners welcoming you into their premises with the wai and a bow of the head, as if you were the king.

Tourism contributes up to 10% and beyond to the Thai economy and the locals know this. Most turn a blind eye towards the uncouth “traditions” of some tourists. The cops also tend to be more lenient towards visitors.

In recent times, Chinese tourists have taken over as the majority to visit the kingdom. According to Association of Thai Travel Agents website (click here for more details), the Chinese constituted to 59.29%, equivalent to 2,576,129 visitors, from 1^st January to 30^th September this year alone. But their failure to observe and adhere to local traditions have driven the Thais to respond in kind. Chinese tourists now have to be driven into Thailand.

Malaysians contribute a smaller number of visitors to the kingdom. 26,723 made their way across the border in the same period, but even then, the Thais still regard us Malaysians as friends from afar. They’d usually ask, “Where are you from?” and cheer up when we mention, “Malaysia.”

But if we kept treating them with a sense of us being the master race, what’s to stop us being treated like the Chinese and Middle Easterners before this? Or see our entry requirements tightened or being harassed by the Thai authorities?

Or worse, stare into the barrel of a Beretta 9mm.

What do we want to be? Do we want to be bikers who are cultured, learned, courteous? Or do we want to be modern-day barbarians on steel horses? If anyone chooses to the be the latter, please do so after you lose those Malaysian number plates and whatever other thing that will identify you as a Malaysian.

May this episode be a lesson.

Fake GIVI Rainsuits Seized in Raid

A total of nearly 500 fake GIVI rainsuits were seized in a raid this morning
The raid was carried out by KPDNKK officers with representatives from GIVI Asia Sdn. Bhd.
The business owner sells the counterfeit products online

Kepong, Kuala Lumpur, 4th October 2017 – A raid was carried out by the Ministry of Domestic Trade, Co-operatives and Consumerism (better known as KPDNKK – Kementerian Perdagangan Dalam Negeri, Koperasi dan Kepenggunaan), under the jurisdiction of Tuan Haji Wan Mohd. Yusof bin W. Taib, Chief Enforcement Officer of the KPDNKK for the state of Wilayah Persekutuan.

Trustees of the GIVI brand had tipped off KPNKK after finding the suspect selling fake GIVI rainsuits on the 11Street.com online shopping platform.

KPDNKK proceeded to stake out the business owner’s modus operandi since May 2017, discovering that he had stored the fake GIVI rainsuits at his personal premises before transferring them to the rented warehouse in Kepong where they will be dispatched to the respective customers.

A total of nine uniformed KPDNKK officers descended upon the warehouse at 11am, which they found locked by with a keycard access. The GIVI representatives who were present identified themselves to the workers at the premises but were refused entry. The business owner showed up 15 minutes later and was requested access by the KPDNKK officers.

Upon gaining entry, the officers called upon the GIVI representatives to identify the products, at which point the business owner became belligerent and cut off the power supply, in an attempt to make off with the fake products through the backdoor. He even tried to provoke the parties by threatening that he had gangsters in two cars on standby to intervene.

A negotiation ensued among the officers, GIVI representatives and the businessman, resulting in the fake GIVI rainsuits being seized and a hefty fine issued.

The owner will be charged under Sec. 8(2) of the Trade Descriptions Act 2011 (Akta Perihal Dagangan 2011), pertaining to counterfeit goods with intellectual property infringements.

Under the Act, the business owner stands to face a fine of up to RM10,000 per item, or a jail sentence of not more three years, or both; for the first offence.

A total of 445 pieces of fake GIVI rainsuits were seized, worth RM22,500 on the market.

As a piece of advice: Buy GIVI goods from GIVI Point concept stores or official GIVI dealers. Please follow GIVI Malaysia’s official Facebook page (click here) to identify the original items. And remember, if a product is too cheap to be true, it usually is.

Bikesrepublic

Wahid Ooi

The HJC RPHA 70 bridges full sport and touring helmets

It is built upon the HJC RPHA 11’s principles

Lightweight, comfortable, safe, at a great value

HJC Helmet Malaysia have also introduced other models besides the RPHA 70 – click here to see more

Features:

PICTURE GALLERY

Honda releases Gold Wing teaser video

New model to comply with new emission standards

Comfort, refinement, utility makes it the ultimate touring bike

Ola Stenegärd is the father of the BMW R nineT series

His other projects included the HP2, S 1000 RR, G 310 R, among others

Stenegard’s inlfuences are deeply rooted in classics, cafe racers and customs

The BMW R nineT Racer is the café racer of the R nineT family

It’s a modern retro which draws its lineage to the R90S

Good handling, torquey engine and great looks are its hallmark

TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS

PICTURE GALLERY

Here are tips on how to ride through flash floods (or deep water)

Cardinal rule is to go slow

Throttle control and a cool head applies

1. Stop and Inspect

2. Stand Up

3. Go Slow and Straight

4. Keep Moving

5. Exiting

6. Kill It!

Conclusion

The Pink October Charity Ride 2017 went off without a hitch today

The ride is in conjunction with October being the Breast Cancer Awareness Month

About 200 participants joined the ride

The Yamaha Y15ZR SE GP Edition is set to hit the market

Features the colour and graphics of the factory Yamaha MotoGP team

Basic sales price of RM 8,891.28 with 6% GST but without roadtax, insurance and number plates.

Click here for Part 1.

Click here for Part 2.

This classy custom Harley-Davidson XL1200 is built by Thrive

Thrive is based in Jakarta, Indonesia

Dubbed the Kuzuri, it drew inspiration from traditional Japanese custom bikes

HJC Helmet Malaysia introduces new models to its already extensive 2017 lineup

The lineup includes additional Marvel comics characters

Be sure to follow the HJC Helmet Malaysia weekly giveaway contest

CS-15 “Spiderman”

IS-17 “Deadpool”

RPHA 70 ST “Grandal”

GCK (Chopper Garage Kelantan) has apologised to the Thai government

Marshals caught on video stopping traffic

What are the potential repercussions?

A total of nearly 500 fake GIVI rainsuits were seized in a raid this morning

The raid was carried out by KPDNKK officers with representatives from GIVI Asia Sdn. Bhd.

The business owner sells the counterfeit products online

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**Dubbed the Kuzuri, it drew inspiration from traditional Japanese custom bikes**