The GIVI Golden Triangle Adventure 2017 ride got on the road today.
The GIVI Explorers (participants) rode out of Pattaya City, Thailand into Cambodia.
The convoy stopped in the ancient city of Siem Reap.
13th November 2017, Siem Reap, Cambodia – The GIVI Golden Triangle Adventure 2017 epic ride has finally started today, leaving Thailand behind for the neighbouring Cambodia.
I said “finally” because Ismadi and I have ridden into Thailand since the 9th, hence it was time to release all that pent-up energy.
Participants were allocated their bikes last night after dinner. The convenience of having large-capacity GIVI side and top cases, besides tankbags and other storage accessories was not lost upon us, as we could carry virtually anything be brought in for this ride, with much space to spare.
We got together for the final briefing before the ride began. The 25 participants were split into four groups, each led by a Marshal. “Assistant Marshals” were also picked to help, especially at stop lights to keep the riders from straying and losing their way.
There were two support vehicles, one carrying tools, drinks and essential gear, the other as a medical vehicle.
We rode out of Pattaya and headed to the Thai-Cambodian border town of Sa Kaeo, 209 kilometres away.
The ride out was smooth, with traffic getting thinner and thinner the further we got away from the city. Thankfully, the day was overcast although it was still humid. Excitement and the freedom of the open road was apparent among the riders, smiling and laughing everytime we stopped.
For me who’s grown accustomed to Thailand, the scene at the Sa Kaeo border crossing kind of took me by surprise. There were many people pulling on large wooden carts in and out of Cambodia and poverty shows.
Anyway, the border crossing was painless as Trans Asia, the tour operator contracted by GIVI, had assured so well in advance.
We got our passports stamped and signed the paperwork for all the 25 bikes within 30 minutes and we were in Cambodia, although we had to stop at the Immigration Office a kilometer away for the officials to verify the details of the bikes we rode in.
We were advised repeatedly about what to expect in Cambodia, and how different it would be to ride here compared to in Thailand. We were told to watch out for Cambodian traffic, particularly how chaotic it would be. Traffic in this country is lefthand drive, by the way.
The road was rough at the border crossing but it was actually pretty smooth as we travelled further into the country, heading to our hotel in the ancient city of Siam Reap, 212 km away.
Traffic was thin, but true enough, bikes, car, trucks, even pedestrians will cross everywhere without looking closely. They’ll also pull out onto the road without thinking twice. We kept the group as tight as we dared to avoid being cut off.
The scenery in the countryside was natural and beautiful. Lush rice paddies stretched into the horizon like a green, plush carpet.
Our pace was much slower than in Thailand, although steady. It was dark when we reached Siam Reap, but the Aspara Angkor Hotel was thankfully not too far into the city.
We freshened up for dinner at a large restaurant called Tonle Sap not far away. Here, there was a large selection of cuisines, Cambodian, Thai, Vietnamese, Japanese, Korean.
We split up as a group headed back to the hotel rest, while the rest visited the Night Market and Pub Street.
This is Siam Reap’s nightlife centre. There’s everything from pubs, restaurants, massage parlours, small hotels, bazaars, street food and just about everything else.
We soon called it a night, more than elated that Day One of the GIVI Golden Triangle Adventure 2017 has been a success.
Today is the start of an epic journey through Indochina.
The ride starts at Pattaya, Thailand through Cambodia and Vietnam.
Day saw the distribution of riding gear and motorcycle allocation.
12th November 2017, Pattaya City, Thailand – The GIVI Golden Triangle Adventure 2017 has begun!
Day One was reserved as the day of arrival of the participants, consisting mainly of GIVI dealers from across the globe. There is a record number of entries this year, an increase from the previous years’.
The GIVI Golden Triangle Adventure 2017 is carried out under the GIVI Explorer banner and as the name implies, GIVI Explorer means riding through new and exotic locations around the world, discovering the land’s diverse beauties and cultures along the way.
It is also a platform for GIVI dealers to experience the usefulness and reliability of GIVI’s product line firsthand in the real world. Being designed to be great is one thing, but to actually use them under rain or shine, in various tough conditions is the most meaningful experience (more on this later).
Most participants flew into either airport in Bangkok and were then transferred to The Bayview Hotel in Pattaya City.
In the meantime, the GIVI crew were overworked at X-Speed, one of the largest motorcycle accessories and workshop Pattaya, in getting the motorcycles ready. Working hand-in-hand with them were the boys and gals at the shop.
They had to install different types of side cases, top cases, crash bars, spotlights, windscreens, tankbags, handguards, phone and GPS mounts, any many more within three days on the 21 participants’ bikes, plus another 3 of the marshals’.
GIVI’s Ismadi Ishak and I had ridden out of GIVI’s HQ in Bukit Beruntung on the morning of the 9th first to Songkhla, then to Chumporn and finally arriving in Pattaya on the 11th.
The fleet of bikes for the GIVI Golden Triangle Adventure 2017 consisted mainly of the Kawasaki Versys 650s and Suzuki DL650 V-Stroms. There were also the Honda Africa Twin DCT, BMW R 1200 GS LC (Joseph Perucca, GIVI’s Overseas Operational Director’s bike), and the Yamaha TDM900, Suzuki DL1000 V-Stroms and Triumph Tiger 800 XCA ridden by the marshals.
Participants had started arriving at The Bayview Hotel from morning, hence the customary riding gear and accessories distribution session began at 2pm.
There appeared to be no unhappy participant during this session, evident from their broad smiles. Well, no surprise here, since we received a Santa Claus-sized bag full of gear! It was like the New Year, Chinese New Year, Hari Raya, Vesak Day, Deepavali, Christmas all rolled into one. We were provided with the latest:
GIVI HPS 40.5 X-Fiber helmet.
Hevik riding jacket.
Riding pants.
Hevik technical riding shirts.
A GIVI Golden Triangle Adventure 2017 event polo shirt.
An event T-shirt.
Hevik summer gloves.
Bucket (fisherman’s) hat.
Rainshoes.
Under-helmet skull cap.
A balaclava (made of silk!).
Trekker fluorescent orange vest.
Hevik lumbar support belt (which looks like a weightlifter’s belt).
A set of Prime rainsuit.
A set of Comfort rainsuit.
Why two sets of rainsuits? Remember we mentioned about using the products in the real world? The Prime rainsuit is an experimental model, so who better to act as testers than us GIVI Explorers, embarking on the GIVI Golden Triangle Adventure 2017?
That’s not all, as was with the ride in South Africa two years ago, a questionnaire on the motorcycle equipment and riding gear MUST be completed and handed back to GIVI as the basis for further research and development.
With the handover done, we prepared for the Welcome Dinner. Everyone was elated to meet their friends from the previous GIVI Explorer adventure rides, greeting each other with loudly and hugs. I can’t lie – I was very happy to see the familiar faces again.
The food was awesome, as always on GIVI’s adventure rides, but we also had our eyes on the final 2017 MotoGP round in Valencia, Spain.
We cheered on the Ducati Team and of course Andrea Dovizioso on his bid to claim his first world title, besides Cal Crutchlow. We were heartbroken when both Ducatis crashed out. (Ducati is also sponsored by GIVI.)
So, we came back to the matters pertaining to the GIVI Golden Triangle Adventure 2017, which was the welcoming speech, programme and safety briefing.
Tomorrow (13th November) we’ll be riding to Aranyapathet, Thailand which is one of the border towns with Cambodia, before crossing into the latter country and onwards to Siem Reap.
We were told to be extra vigilant when travelling through Cambodia as the traffic in Cambodia could be chaotic, but everyone was just excited to be riding under the GIVI Explorer banner again.
Hong Leong Yamaha Motors Sdn Bhd (HLYM) has released two brand news colours for their 2017 Yamaha NMAX scooter.
Called just “Blue” for one scheme and “Black” for the other, justifiably adds two more to the colourful family, while the older colours will cease being produced.
Price remains the same at RM 8,812.14 inclusive of 6% GST (without road tax, insurance and registration.)
Since its maiden launch in 2016, the Yamaha NMAX scooter has gone to become the best-selling automatic scooter in Malaysia. (more…)
Day Five of the KMOG Borneo Ride 2017 took us from Keningau to Labuan.
We rode over the Crocker Range and on to Menumbok for the ferry to Labuan.
Labuan is the end of the first leg.
Keningau, Sabah, 5th November 2017 – We had thought we’d be allowed to sleep in today after yesterday’s “adventure”, but we were told the briefing will be at 7am.
The early flag-off time was because we had planned to ride over the Crocker Range in the early hours when it was covered in mist and possibly fog. Needless to say, riding here was an item in my bucket list.
I’ve heard much about riding across the Crocker Range from riding enthusiasts, so I dragged my ragged body out of bed at 6am into the bathroom to freshen up for breakfast. If anyone thought being a motojournalist is easy, consider the fact that I had slept at 4am in order to work on the previous day’s story. Plus, the food from last night’s dinner didn’t seem to be on agreeable terms with my stomach.Anyway, breakfast done, we loaded up our bikes for this beautiful day. But everyone took their time, no doubt still feeling the effect of yesterday’s hammering.
It seems that the Crocker Range was just in Keningau’s backyard (no wonder it was so cold in the middle of the night). We had travelled less than 10km before the road started climbing into the hills – and corners(!).
The road here was beautiful, a stark contrast from what we have ridden on so far. The road surface was smooth and grippy, but more importantly and surprisingly, the corners were positively cambered.
I’m sure everyone in the KMOG Borneo Ride 2017 smiled as we started sweeping through the curves, cool breeze in our helmets and through our riding gear.
We reached a vantage point and shot photos with the KMOG Borneo Ride 2017 banner. Hills in the yonder were clearly seen. The mist had started to lift.
We had so much fun covering this route that it was over before we had warmed up, especially for me on the 1290 Super Duke GT, and it was its natural home. It’s the first time I’ve switched to the SPORT Ride Mode and SPORT Damping.
With the cinnamon city (Keningau means “cinnamon” in the local dialect. It’s where the spice is grown and exported) and Crocker Range behind us, the heat started coming back first gradually, then to very hot. Yet, I didn’t feel sleepy or stuffy because the air around Borneo is pretty fresh.
We rode on until it was time for lunch. Pauline from Borneo Excursions had caught back up with us at Kuala Penyu town and we were led to Jonathan Freddy P. Bagang’s home at Kuala Penyu. Jonathan is Penang’s Director of the Ministry of Tourism and Culture Malaysia.
There to welcome us was a gamelan band and members of Jonathan’s family and friends, who had prepared a special lunch, which Bear Grylls would’ve been elated.
The lunch was special alright, which included what the locals called butod, the larvae of the sago tree weevil (beetles). These giant larvae were white in colour giving the appearance of monster maggots. They were alive and wriggling in a dish. There was another dish beside that had them fried in soy sauce. It’s a delicacy around here and a 100% source of protein.
Also shown to us was a large Horlicks jar containing a cow’s stomach, mouse deer embryo, pangolin embryos and other “stuff” soaked in a colourless liquid. That liquid turned out to be rice wine. The family had kept that recipe for 50 years, topping up the wine when it ran low.
Of course, there were other dishes too, including vegetables, fowl and fish. Fresh fruits were especially tasty, no doubt due to being grown in places of low pollution. I downed cup after cup of Sabah tea and Tenom coffee.
Jonathan’s neighbours Raineh and her husband also came by to assist and they invited the participants to take part in their traditional Sumazau dance performance.
Soon it was time to say goodbye. KMOG President Ong Ten Sun presented KMOG Borneo Ride 2017 memorabilia to Mr. Jonathan and family.
We rode on to the Menumbok Ferry Terminal and spent some time awaiting our turn to board the ferry to Labuan. It was quite a wait as the ferry operates on fixed intervals.
The ferry was large and could fit all 38 bikes at one go, and still had room for other large vehicles. There was an air-conditioned deck for passengers above the vehicle deck, where most of the participants retreated to.
The ferry ride took one-and-half hours. As we got closer to Labuan, we could see many ships of different fit outs, but the majority serving the oil and gas industry at Miri. Our hotel, Billion Waterfront, was situated right next to the sea.
Dato’ Chia Beng Tat, Chief Executive of KTM Malaysia had joined us for dinner that night. We sat at the table with Captain Ganesan, the tough pilot set a Guiness World Record by riding his motorcycle continuously for 5600 kilometres over four-and-half days straight! He had also ridden 1,500km from Kuching to Kota Kinabalu for the KMOG Borneo Ride 2017 briefing on 1st November! We are not worthy!
Labuan signaled the first leg of this epic journey, and it was also the location where a few of us had to say goodbye to the rest of the participants. I had to fly home on the 6th to prepare for another engagement on the 9th. The group stayed over for another night before departing to Miri through Brunei.
At the time this article went “live,” they had arrived safely in Miri.
The KMOG Borneo Ride 2017 had been an astounding success on many fronts.
Firstly, it provided an important activity for KTM motorcycle owners to experience the KTM lifestyle firsthand. Secondly, it would’ve extinguished any doubt about the reliability and capabilities of KTM’s motorcycles to not only the owners themselves but also to the world at large, since not a single bike broke down. Thirdly, it provided an enjoyment unlike any other, as participants experienced every aspect of riding and the environment in which they rode through. Fourthly, participants experienced the many wonders of Borneo, in terms of the roads, weather, environment, sights, culture, people, food.
But most of all, the KMOG Borneo Ride 2017 participants experienced the freedom of being on the road (and also off) on the orange-coloured machines from Austria.
The Ducati Panigale V4 made its long-awaited appearance at EICMA 2017.
Every aspect of the bike points towards form-follows function.
The Ducati Panigale V4 is the Italian maker’s weapon to reclaim the World Superbike Championship crown they once dominated.
Ducati’s V-Twins have finally been outgunned in the World Superbike Championship for a few years now, evidenced by the drought of a championship title since Carlos Checa’s domination and victory in 2011. Chaz Davies came agonizingly close in the past two years but there’s no hiding from the fact that Ducati’s V-Twins have reached the end of their competitively development.
So here it is, the new Ducati Panigale V4, which will spearhead Ducati’s assault on the championship to reclaim what has been traditionally theirs.
Styling remains along the lines of the Panigale 1299, except for many changes. Yet, it’s actually more compact than the V-Twin. The front is sharp, neat and features larger intakes underneath the aggressive headlamps.
The chassis is an evolved from the V-Twin’s cast aluminium monocoque structures, called “front frame.” It is now leaner and lighter, with more built in torsional and flexional rigidity to handle the power of the new Desmosedici V4 engine.
Rake is 24.5 degrees, with just 99 mm of trail for ultra-quick steering. Ducati claimed a kerb weight of just 195 kg. The Panigale V4 wears Pirelli Diablo Supercorsa SP shoes, 120/70-17 in front and a fat 200/60-17 at the back.
The standard Panigale V4 uses 43mm Showa forks and Sachs shock, both fully adjustable for preload, rebound and compression.
The Panigale V4 S, on the other hand, uses Öhlins suspension front and rear, forged aluminium wheels, lightweight lithium-ion battery.
The seat is trimmed in luxurious Alcantara leather, both fenders are carbon fiber.
The V4 weighs just 2.3 kg more than the 1299. The V4 produces 216 bhp, but Ducati offers an Akrapovic titanium racing exhaust which boosts the power to an eye-watering 226 bhp.
The engine is the definition of a big bore motor, at 81 mm, with a stroke of 53.55 mm. Lubrication is carried out by four oil pumps, two of them for crankcase scavenging.
Fuel-air charge is inducted via variable-length oval throttle bodies, corresponding to 52mm round units. Valves go up to 34mm intake and 27.5mm exhaust and compression ratio is 14:1.
The TFT instrumentation is also the latest technology, including the Ducati Data Analyzer and Ducati Multimedia System.
In terms of rider aids, the Ducati Panigale V-4 employs the latest in electronic warfare, and some named EVO: Cornering ABS EVO, Ducati Traction Control EVO, Ducati Slide Control, Ducati Wheelie Control EVO, Ducati Power Launch, Ducati Quick Shift EVO, Engine Brake Control EVO, Duacti Electronic Suspension EVO.
KYMCO launched the new XICITING S 400 at EICMA 2017.
The KYMCO XCITING S 400 features the best power in its class.
It will also have the first ECE-approved LED Daytime Running Lights for scooters.
Milan, Italy, 7th November 2017 – KYMCO has a good presence in Malaysia with their maxi scooters, but they also make motorcycles and ATVs. KYMCO has just added a new member to their family at EICMA 2017, called the XCITING S 400.
The KYMCO XCITING S 400 is the successor to the successful XCITING 400, which is renowned for its agile handling and the best horsepower in its class, apart from its smooth and quiet power delivery. The XCITING S 400 is designed in KYMCO’s “Win My Heart” spirit to surpass all that. KYMCO claims that it meets the stringent demands of riders seeking the best “sport touring scooter.”
The design of the new XCITING S 400 is built upon the “Powerful Simplicity” philosophy, combining the riding comfort and high-speed stability, perfect for the city commute and weekend excursions.
The new bike features the industry’s first ECE-approved Daytime Running Light for scooters to provide maximum visibility to other motorists, besides highlighting its identity.
The smoothly powerful engine produces 35.5 bhp (26.5 kW) and 37.7 Nm of torque. It guarantees responsive acceleration in urban traffic and high speed sprints.
Having a powerful engine also requires features to harness the power. KYMCO redesigned the hanger axle for a more rigid mounting point for the engine to the frame. The double bridge front suspension also increases rigiditiy. All these features add up to a maneuverable yet stable motorcycle.
There’s further proof of KYMCO’s desire to make the XCITING S 400 more accommodating.
The front seat tapers for easy feet placement during stops. The rear seat has a backrest to support the passenger. Instead of opening the entire seat to access the storage compartment underneath, the XCITING S 400 features a unique two-seat opening design. The windscreen is adjustable to accommodate different physiques and riding conditions. The handlebar is V-shaped to allow better line of view to the instrument cluster while riding.
KYMCO is also looking forward to adding the newly developed Noodoe Navigation feature upon the release of the XCITING S 400 next year. What distinguishes Noodoe Navigation from the rest is that it’s the world’s first rider-centric navigation system. Noodoe Navigation will be formally launced at the Tokyo Motorcycle show in March 2018.
Day Four of the (KTM Malaysia Owners Group) KMOG Borneo Ride 2017 consisted of the longest route.
We rode through everything from hot weather to heavy rain, flat land to the mountains, good roads to “no-roads,” from slow corners to fast flowing ones.
Not a single KTM broke down despite the trashing.
4th November 2017, Sandakan, Sabah – Anticipation, excitement, fear, doubt, sleepiness was on the faces and in the smiles of the KMOG Borneo Ride 2017 participants as we gathered for breakfast at 5am.
As mentioned in the earlier parts of our coverage, this was possibly going to the most epic day of this epic ride. We were to cover more than 640km today, first from Sandakan to Tawau past Lahad Datu, and finally to Keningau through Kalabakan.
While 640km is an easy target for seasoned Malaysia-Thailand riders, it’s not about the distance that scared us. Instead, it was because of the road conditions we have encountered thus far, in an unfamiliar territory.
Indeed, Ong Soo Yong had briefed us during the welcoming dinner that this would be the toughest leg of the KMOG Borneo Ride 2017.
For the first time, we left the hotel when it was still inky black. But the sun came out soon enough and we were seared by the sunlight by 9am. A few riders were concerned about having to ride under such weather for the remainder of the route. The road was thankfully smooth between the two towns.
We reached Tawau at 11.30am, well ahead of time, which took the restaurant owner by surprise. The staff scrambled to ready the tables and chairs, while the cooks jumped into overdrive. They didn’t even have water or Chinese tea in the beginning.
The sun had come out in its earnest by then, hitting 41 degrees Celcius, and no one could stand out in the open for more than five minutes. We charged into the restaurant like a swarm of angry bees.
One of the bikes had picked up a puncture, which sent the owner and Chris O’Connell out on a hunt for a tyre shop. So, all we could do was wait until they returned.
When we left the restaurant and out of Tawau, the sky ahead had turned ominously black and we hit a heavy rainstorm about 10km from the town. We stopped at a petrol station further up the road while taking shelter at the same time.
With every bike filled to the brim, a few of us donned our rain gear, while a few didn’t because they didn’t bring theirs. We pushed on anyway, all the while being lashed by the relentless rain.
The rain stopped after a few kilometres but dark clouds still dominated the horizon, so I kept the rainsuit on despite getting hotter and hotter underneath.
We were led by the marshals through a small village and ended up at an old Petronas station in Kalabakan.
It looked as if it had been built when Petronas first started business and has never been refreshed. The two 990 Adventures had to top off their tanks, unless they run out of fuel just outside Keningau and this was the last petrol station.
It started to drizzle again as we left the station. We rode through an oil palm plantation and it was offroad. The route was pockmarked with so many holes it looked alien.
We rode along at a brisk pace. I noticed the scenery and vegetation had started changing from flat farmlands to high hillsides.
Soon after I noticed an orange coloured sign that said, “AWAS. KAWASAN TANAH RUNTUH,” (CAUTION. LANDSLIDE AREA.) followed by another sign of the same colour with just the exclamation mark. The lead marshal started pumping his left arm up and down furiously, and it soon became apparent that the road had become “no road.”
An entire section was nothing but gravel and mud, as if the tar seal had been scraped off. Through MX training, my instinct kicked in and stood up. The 1290 Super Duke GT’s semi-active suspension was still set to “STREET” and I feared it may be too bumpy.
Instead, the bike which was meant to be a road-only sport-tourer took it all in its stride. I took it painfully slow in the beginning but it soon showed itself as being more capable than that as it allowed me to swerve past water filled potholes. It rolled over the loose gravel and mud as without drama. (It also helped that I stood up, of course, so do that when you have to ride over poor surfaces. Check out our tips for adventure riding here.)
It was tarmac again after that, followed by another no-road section, and another, and another. And it started to pour down again. This route is often used by logging trucks, hence the level of damage we encountered.
The rain came on and off as we slogged through one section after another until I lost count.
I started to experiment with the GT as we rode along. I had switched the WPs to “COMFORT” to let it soak up the bumps better and RIDE MODE to “RAIN,” for a smoother torque output. In the tougher no road sections, I left the transmission in third gear, let go of the clutch and regulated the throttle.
However, as a fast as I went in the offroad section, this was where the KTM adventure models truly stood out. There was a good mix consisting of the 990 Adventure, 1050 Adventure, 1190 Adventure, 1290 Adventure T, and both the new 1290 Adventure S and 1290 Adventure R. All of them, for want of a better word, flew through those sections.
Let’s also not forget that KMOG had organized training classes called Defensive Riding Program (DRP) to prepare their members for this type of adventure. (We covered a DRP session a few months back. Click here for DRP Vol. 2 Day One and here for DRP Vol. 2 Day Two.)
In the meantime, the rain had gone constant by now. It’s nearly 5pm and light’s starting to fade. I’ve stopped to record a video as a few bikes passing through a rough section and I was now left alone (although the last man was well behind).
I came up to an area where it appeared to be a small stop for the logging trucks. A dog wanted to cross the road from left to right, but it stopped when it saw me, so I swerved to the right to give it some room. But it suddenly bolted into the middle of the road and into my path. I grabbed the front brakes and the bike slowed so hard I felt like I was doing a push-up with 200 kg on my back. Even then, the brakes didn’t lock and trigger the ABS, plus there was still much room left for braking. Amazing!
Believe me, I was tempted to stop. My Dainese Rainsun jacket has two thick layers and the rainsuit over it but it was still cold. I could only imagine what those without rainsuits were going through. And for the first time in Malaysia, I switched on the handlebar grip warmer to HIGH. However, I pushed on as I didn’t want to be riding out here in total darkness.
I soon saw a bike ahead and made it out to be the 1290 Adventure T ridden by Captain Nanda. We buddied up. There’s a certain relief to ride together with someone else, sometimes even with complete strangers when the going gets tough.
We finally made it to Keningau’s city limit. We stopped and waited for the rest to catch up.
The final leg into Keningau was awesome, featuring cambered sweeping turns. All of us cut loose. The Super Adventure S in front of me kept throwing sparks from its panniers through the corners!
We stopped for dinner at the beautiful Mee Woo Resort & Spa’s restaurant, but the service sucked. Yes, you read that correctly. First, they directed us to park at the entrance, then chased us away to park elsewhere after we’ve sat down to eat. Apart from one sweet usher, none of the crew ever smiled or greeted us. But never mind, because we were dirty, hungry and tired. The mood became increasingly jovial as hot food and drinks entered our systems. Everyone was relieved that toughest part of the journey was over.
From there it was a short three-minute to the hotel.
We did a final tally. Not a single bike had broken down despite all that trashing. Apart from a minor crash due to distraction (rider okay), no one had gotten hurt and that was the most important news.
The Benelli TRK 502 was launched as a budget option for those who seek a simple, midrange sport-tourer.
Simple as it is, the Benelli TRK 502 is prettily designed with Italian flair.
It was comfortable and frugal on fuel.
We Malaysian motorcyclists love to tour and we’d do it on any sort of bikes. I had an ex-colleague who along with his friends, rode 135cc kapchais all the way to Chiang Mai, Thailand and back. There are those who completed the Thousand Corners at Mae Hong Son on classic Vespas. Another group rode the Ducati Scrambler to the Chinese border. I’ve joined cross-border where the participants rode sportbikes. Also, consider the fact that the record holder for the longest continuous motorcycle ride at 5,600km was a Malaysian, who rode non-stop without sleep for four-and-half days.
It’s for this very reason that Malaysia is also a hotbed for sport-touring and adventure-touring motorcycles.
However, these 650cc and above machines cost from just below RM 40,000 and up, putting them out of the reach of a large number of enthusiasts.
Well, that’s changed with the addition of Benelli TRK 502. Priced from RM 30,621, it’s a price point that’ll appeal to a few.
The Benelli TRK 502 is certainly pretty when viewed. It has that aggressive signature Benelli dual headlights, swooping lines and large diameter brakes. The long “snout” reminded us of another Italian sport-tourer.
Getting on was easy as the seat was low, so both feet touched ground. But the reach to the handlebar was a bit “different.” At 167cm tall, I found the wide handlebar was further in front than most bikes. But that wasn’t the whole story. It was also high up, therefore lifting both my elbows and the shoulders up in the air. Adjusting the handlbar backwards by just a smudge had the control housings banging on top of the fuel tank, so it may as well be fixed. The footpegs were set to the front which meant the knees almost didn’t fold at all.
The combination of footpegs set low and forward, low seat and high handlebar way up front, made me felt like I was riding a bagger with lowrise ape-hangers. On the other hand, taller riders should find it alright. That said, your body will get used to its riding position in no time.
It was also due to this that the bike felt heavier than it really was when lifting it off the sidestand, riding and idling at the stoplights.
The engine started up within a few revolutions most of the time. I said most because there were a few times when it just cranked and cranked without catching, and only to start after calling it a few choice words. Good thing the battery was new and strong otherwise I’d be stuck. I even got laughed at by a couple, “Hahaha, the guy’s big bike couldn’t start,” they said in Chinese, not realizing that I understood them.
I came across the same issue when I tested the TRK 1190 and TnT 302 years before. Hope Benelli fixes this issue. The TnT 600 I reviewed didn’t have this issue.
But when the bike ran, it was comfortable. The large-sized windscreen and bodywork kept windblast off the face and torso.
The handling was commendable, although it wasn’t that agile. It was stable due to its long wheelbase and low seat height, however. The rear shock pumped up and down when slamming the bike through fast corners, but the bike maintained its line. Both front and rear suspension coped well to road bumps by clunking loudly over them.
Did someone abuse this demo bike before we tested it?
The brakes were really good, without a fault. I rode it in pouring rain a few times and they grabbed hard without sending the bike into a death wobble. The ABS worked as advertised when brakes are applied hard over wet speedbreaker lines.
The engine accompanies you with the combination of a roar and howl. It revved slowly but it held its speed effortlessly at higher speeds. Torque was good too, given the capacity. Passing other vehicles was done briskly with the right amount of revs.
However, I couldn’t escape the fact that finding NEUTRAL while the engine idled was like trying to find a billion ringgit without resorting to breaking the law. Against, this was just like the previous models, except for the TnT 600
What I truly welcomed was the addition of the large Coocase panniers and top case. What I didn’t appreciate, though, was rain leaking through the top case and inundating the contents inside which included my camera. To fair, it seemed that someone had dropped the bike on box or the box on the ground before. But for a complete peace-of-mind, just opt for those from GIVI.
All in all, the Benelli TRK 502 was alright. I did what it meant to do, despite the few niggles we mentioned. It’s priced to offer Italian styling and some performance at an accessible value, so that you could take it on an extended trip. Being a 500cc bike, it’s touring on a budget for everyone.
The KMOG Borneo Ride 2017 entered entered Day Three.
We rode from Kundasang, through Ranau, to Sepilok before stopping at Sandakan.
Highlights included the Sabah Tea plantation and Orangutan Rehabilitation Centre.
Kundasang, 3rd November 2017 – Day Three of the KMOG Borneo Ride 2017 started from the Mount Kinabalu Heritage Resort & Spa in Kundasang, for Sandakan. Today’s ride reminded us the meaning of “adventure riding.”
As usual, we got early for a simple yet hearty breakfast at the hotel. The exception though, was the crisp and chilly mountain air, which accompanied us. Almost everyone went outside afterwards to draw lungfuls of it.
As we arrived after dark last night, we couldn’t see what was beside the roads. Well, Kundasang didn’t surprise at the break of day. The hotel was situated on a hilltop tall and was surrounded by tall pine trees looked. Looking around below, were lush valleys, interspersed with little houses.
However, there was a pathway which led to a viewing platform just outside the restaurant, and there, we stared at Mount Kinabalu’s crown.
Ranau, the site of the devastating 2015 Sabah earthquake, was just 20km away. Looking up the side of the mountain, there were massive patches of light-coloured rocks, evidence of landslides due to the quake. Still, the mountain was beautiful and I could only wished we had scaled it to the top during this trip.
The KMOG Borneo Ride 2017 convoy pushed off at exactly 8.30am, the efficient marshals made sure of that.
It took just a few kilometres out of Kundasang for us to realize that the road was very narrow, much like the old Gombak-Genting Sempah road, without the landslides (and cyclists).
Traffic was wonderfully light, except for a number of big trucks we encountered.
However, the road’s condition increasingly deteriorated the further we rode. Many sections were uneven with plenty of potholes and patches thrown in. Legacy of the earthquake?
KTM Malaysia had graciously loaned the 1290 Super Duke GT to me for this ride. There was another GT ridden by Mr. Kan and we pulled away from the middle pack to enjoy the corners. I rounded a corner and came face-to-face with section which resembled a motocross double jump! I clamped down on the brakes hard and triggered the ABS but I was too close, so I the brakes go and yanked on the throttle, because I didn’t want the rear to kick up hard and endo me into road.
The bike flew but the “landing zone” was badly rutted. I caught a rut and it drove me to the road’s shoulder. I gave the bike some gas and the bike recovered itself smartly.
I had set the riding mode to STREET and the damping for the electronically-controlled semi-active WP suspension to COMFORT. However, the road surface was so bad it caused the bike to wallow in midcorner. Switching to STREET helped somewhat, it was too harsh in the rough sections. Going faster than 120 km/h, helped though.
I watched with jealously as the 1290 Adventure Duke T and the 1290 Super Adventure S’s suspension (also electronic) soaked up the bumps as if they weren’t there. A few riders could even relax one arm while riding.
We rode past the town of Ranau, but there wasn’t time to check out the view as we concentrated on the road and traffic.
We reached the Sabah Tea Resort Restaurant 36km away without incident. We got the real taste of freshly brewed Sabah tea.
It was lovely. Good aroma with a full body and just the right amount of acidity. Slightly sweet, slightly sour, but not bitter. With a great view to boot!
We rode back down the hill, whose road was a no-road. It was an unpaved gravel road with some big rocks. The GT did well, never threatening to throw away a tyre despite being more of a sport-tourer, with the emphasis on sport.
It was a straight shot to Sepilok from there.
We reached the Banana Cafe just in time for lunch.
The food was simple yet tasty, and enjoyed the great hospitality. The restaurant’s owner had even treated us to the “UFO tart,” unique to Sandakan.
From there, it was a quick jaunt to the Sepilok Orangutan Rehabilitation Centre.
The facility is located at the fringe of the Kabili-Sepilok Forest Reserve, and as apparent from its name, it rescues orphaned orangutans and rehabilitate them for life in the wild.
It opens at certain hours to the public called, during feeding time. The orangutans are fed twice daily.
The facility features a boardwalk raised above the swampy land below. It leads to the main viewing area, where the orangutans get together for their meal time.
That done, we got back on our bikes and made our way to the hotel in Sandakan.
We were given a couple of hours to freshen up before we headed out to dinner at the famous Tai Lau steamboat restaurant.
“Dinner” was the inappropriate word for it. It was a 10-dish feast as KMOG had ordered a multi-meal course consisting of steamed fish, squid, mussels (lala), braised vegetables, kung pow chicken, stir-fried green vege, prawn platter, crabs fried with salted egg and fruits for dessert!
With our tummies full, it was time to fill up the bikes ahead of tomorrow’s long leg. The final stop is Keningau, but instead of riding back through the route we had come in on, we are going to ride south to Tawau, before turning west, over the Crocker Range. It promises to be the most epic part of the KMOG Borneo Ride 2017.
PICTURE GALLERY
Outside the hotel at Kundasang
Phillip Ho and his roaring 900R Adventure
Mount Kinabalu. Note the evidence of landslides due to the 2015 Ranau earthquake
Group photo before continuing on the ride
Stopping at the Sabah Tea Plantation for tea
…and pictures
At a restaurant in Sepilok
The owner of restaurant treated us to the UFO cake
Day Two of the KMOG Borneo Ride 2017 took us to the Tip of Borneo and Kundasang.
The last batch of participants’ bikes arrived just in time for the Kota Kinabalu to Kundasang leg.
The ride will first stop at the Orangutan Sanctuary at Sepilok, on the way to Sandakan.
Kota Kinabalu, Sabah, 2nd November 2017 – Day Two of the KMOG Borneo Ride 2017 dawned early. The 6am sky in Sabah was already as bright as 8am back in West Malaysia. The weather has cleared this morning, giving way to bright sunshine and high heat by midday.
The KMOG’s Committee and KTM Malaysia’s crew were sleepless the entire previous night and day, in the hopes of receiving some good news from the port. The participants’ motorcycles were still in containers on a ship, anchored off the coast to weather the storm. (Click here for Day One.)
The hardworking (read: overworked and stressed out) committee KTM crew had to make a decision to either make the participants wait at the hotel until the bikes arrived, or find some way to let them visit the intended destination. Rather than moping around, they hired a tour coach which transported us to Tanjung Simpang Menggayau, more popularly known as the Tip of Borneo.
As the name suggests, it’s the northern-most cape of the Borneo island which extends into the South-China Sea. There’s breathtaking view all-around, as we stared into the great ocean. There, over the horizon is the Filipino Archipelago.
Apart from a few longhouse-type chalets, there’s very little else infrastructure.
I spotted a few photographs of the Milky Way, our home galaxy, posted outside the reception centre. That’s a great interest to stargazers and astronomy enthusiasts such as myself. Light pollution at popular tourist destinations has caused us to lose sight of nature’s most beautiful night show.
We left the cape and had lunch at a small beachside resort on the way back to the hotel. The tour operator, Borneo Excursions was amazingly professional and ensured all arrangements were fuss-free.
We were expected back at The Palace Hotel in Kota Kinabalu by 3pm. However, heavier than usual traffic put paid to the plans and we arrived at nearly 5pm, instead.
But you know what they say, every cloud has a silver lining.
The third and final container was in the process of being offload as the bus pulled into the hotel’s driveway. The other bikes have been offloaded, fully fueled and tyre pressures optimized.
A blur of activity enveloped the otherwise peaceful hotel, as participants scrambled to get changed, load their bikes and suit up for the ride.
While the skies turn bright early each day, it also means that it gets dark early. Make that very early and very dark.
It had started to look like 8pm at 6.30pm, during the safety briefing and when Ong Soo Yong (one of the hardworking committee members mentioned earlier) waved us off. He advised us to look out for one another along the dark road. Thus began the KMOG Borneo Ride 2017 in earnest.
We had to squeeze through the heavy traffic with large-capacity panniers and all. We made our way up the Gunung Kinabalu mountainside, passing the site of a recent landslide.
The marshals did their best to guide us and we finally arrived at the Mount Kinabalu Heritage Resort & Spa in Kundasang, safe and sound. We headed directly to the restaurant for dinner, before checking in and calling it a night.
We’ll be heading to the Orangutan Sanctuary at Sepilok on our way to Sandakan, tomorrow.
PICTURE GALLERY
One for the moment
Group shot with the cove in the background
I’m the Queen of the world!
The current may be a bit rough but it was clear
Participants visited the Tip of Borneo 2nd November – by bus – as the bikes have yet to arrive
Great view of the sea from the rocks below
Romantic setting
Group photo at the special plaque
Down at the cove
The third and final container of bikes arrived just as returned to the hotel!
Kota Kinabalu, Sabah, 1st November 2017 – The KMOG (KTM Malaysia Owners Group) Borneo Ride 2017 starts today.
The ride will travel from Kota Kinabalu, Sabah to Kuching, Sarawak over ten days.
This KMOG Borneo Ride 2017 will surely confirm the capabilities and reliability of KTM’s adventure bikes.
We reported on the KTM Malaysia Owners Group’s (KMOG) Defensive Riding Program (DRP) Vol. 2 in August (click here for Day One and click here for Day Two). The program’s objectives were meant to demonstrate the limits of their machines; and to be comfortable at those limits.
The culminated objective of DRP, consequently, was to prepare the participants for this epic event: the KMOG Borneo Ride 2017.
KMOG has been actively organizing rides to many exotic places, including to Cambodia, Laos, Phuket, among other locales in the past. The group decided on Borneo this year.
The KMOG Borneo Ride 2017 will fully demonstrate the capability and reliability of KTM’s adventure bikes as the convoy travels through every type of road imaginable, including certain unpaved sections.
The simplified plan calls for starting the ride in Kota Kinabalu, Sabah, and travel to Kuching, Sarawak. But it won’t be as straightforward, isn’t it?
Instead of travelling directly southwest to the capital of Sarawak, the participants will first ride north to the Tip of Borneo, before turning back south then east to Sandakan, south to Tawau, back west to Keningau, and to Labuan for a one night, one day rest.
The convoy will resume on Day 7, riding through the eastern portion of Brunei and re-enter the kingdom for a stop at Bandar Seri Begawan. From there, they will ride along the coastal road to Miri and Bintulu, continuing towards Sibu and finally Kuching on 10th November.
The KMOG Borneo Ride will total distance to be covered is 2,613 kilometres, over 10 days.
Participants will travel through various breathtaking and historic sites, including the Sepilok Orang Utan Sanctuary, and crossing over the Crocker Range.
Day 1 (1st November 2017) is considered a free-and-easy day as the organizers waited for the arrival of participants and guests. KMOG had also expected the owners’ bikes to arrive at the port, having been shipped over from West Malaysia.
The weather has been scorching hot in Kota Kinabalu during the previous week. However, it was already raining heavily when the plane touched down.
As such, it wasn’t safe for the container ship to berth at the docks and that wrecked the organizer’s plans to retrieve them.
Regardless, we will still visit the Tip of Borneo tomorrow, and continue with the ride afterwards.
A welcome dinner was held tonight for the members, where the committee members of KMOG, representatives of KTM Asia Pacific and KTM Malaysia briefed the participants on the plans of the KMOG Borneo Ride 2017.
There is a total of 40 motorcycles with 45 participants.
PICTURE GALLERY
Among the hardworking KMOG and KTM Malaysia crew
These guys have many kilometres of touring experience
Kudos to this McDelivery rider (in GIVI rainsuit) who sent the food in heavy rain!
These guys have many kilometres of touring experience
Pretty Sabahan girls welcomed us to the dinner
All smiles as the participants were welcomed with traditional bead necklaces
Hafizh Syahrin is slated to be Malaysia’s first MotoGP rider in 2019.
He will join the Petronas Sprinta Racing team next year, managed by the Sepang International Circuit (SIC).
SIC CEO, Datuk Razlan, is confident Hafizh will do better next year.
The Sepang International Circuit (SIC) is determined to groom Hafizh Syahrin for the big time: MotoGP.
As was reported earlier, Hafizh Syahrin’s long-time team Moto2, Petronas Raceline Malaysia had split ways for the 2018 Moto2 season (click here for our report). Hafizh will join the Petronas Sprinta Racing Moto2 team next year. The team is managed by SIC.
SIC’s Chief Executive Officer, Datuk Razlan Razali has expressed the intention of having Hafizh in MotoGP with Dorna and MotoGP teams. “We have expressed our interest with Dorna and also discussed the matter with a number of MotoGP teams this past week,” he said.
Datuk Razlan Ramli, courtesy of gpmalaysia
But the 2018 slots have all been taken. “There are still slots available for new satellite teams in 2019,” added Datuk Razlan.
Datuk Razlan is confident that Hafizh will do better with Petronas Sprinta Racing, before making the leap to the top class.
The fact that Malaysian racers, including Hafizh, have traditionally done well in wet weather is not lost upon Datuk Razlan, “We also need them to do well in dry races. Hafizh has done well (in mixed weather races) here at and this is what we want.”
Hafizh at SIC, courtesy of Pescao55
Datuk Razlan believes Hafizh will do better in 2018 as Petronas Sprinta Racing (read: SIC) will provide him a better bike and mechanics.
The target for Hafizh Syahrin is to finish in the overall top five in the Moto2 class next year. Syahrin is currently in 11th this season, with one race to go. He had finished 9th overall in 2016.
Difficulties saw Hafizh finishing last Sunday’s Shell Malaysia Moto2 race in sixth, after qualifying in tenth.
And have you heard that Petronas wants to give some lucky people a year’s worth of engine lubricants? You can be one of those lucky people too by taking part in a simple contest. For more information on the contest, you can visit www.mymesra.com.my/pengejarimpian
For me who’s grown accustomed to Thailand, the scene at the Sa Kaeo border crossing kind of took me by surprise. There were many people pulling on large wooden carts in and out of Cambodia and poverty shows.
