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Car Went into Motorcycle Lane and Causes Accident

A car went into the motorcycle lane at the Woodland Johor Causeway and caused an accident.
The Singapore-registered car was seen reversing in the lane.
A motorcycle rammed into the rear left side of the car.

A car went into the motorcycle lane at the Woodland Johor Causeway and caused an accident.

The Singapore-registered car drove into the motorcycle lane and eyewitness reported that the driver attempted to reverse it back out. But a Suzuki GSX-R1000 was caught by surprise and hit the left rear quarter. The crash threw the rider a few metres away. A photograph showed that he was bleeding profusely from his left ankle.

No other detail was furbished if the car driver drove into the lane by mistake or otherwise.

Such occurrences have happened in Malaysia. Although rare, there were times when motorcyclists were surprised to find a car blocking their way in the motorcycle lane. Often, this was due to confused drivers who mistook the openings at highway on-ramps as the interchange.

This writer encountered a Hyundai Getz occupying the Kesas motorcycle lane, just after the on-ramps to Puchong and Bandar Sunway. When confronted, the driver asked for directions to Bandar Sunway. She then had to reverse her car along that lane while shocked motorcyclists pulled off the road.

The only thing we could do is be vigilant at all times and keep scanning the road as far ahead as possible.

Source and pictures: SG Road Vigilantes – SGRV

Ernie Vigil to Race Triumph Scrambler 1200 XE at Mexican 1000 Rally

Ernie Vigil will now race the Triumph Scrambler 1200 XE at the NORRA Mexican 1000 Rally.
He was injured before the Baja 1000 Rally and the program was shelved.
The Triumph Scrambler 1200 line-up is the most off-road capable among all scramblers.

Ernie Vigil is back and will race a Triumph Scrambler 1200 XE at the NORRA Mexican 1000 Rally.

Triumph announced their plans to return the Baja 1000 Rally following the launch of the Scrambler 1200 XE and XC as they were keen to show that the Scrambler 1200 line-up is the most off-road capable among all scramblers. This was why it is dubbed the “Real Deal”.

Additionally, the rally is a homecoming of sorts for the manufacturer as Steve McQueen and Bud Ekins won there numerous times on the TR6 Trophy.

However, an injury befell rider Ernie Vigil (who’s also Triumph’s stunt rider) and the plans were shelved.

But Vigil has now fully recovered and the program is back online. He has since trained on the Scrambler 1200 for more than 9,000 kilometres in off-road conditions.

The Scrambler 1200 XE that vigil rides will be mostly stock. The only additions are to make the bike safe for desert rallying such as a desert racing seat, lights, grips and extreme profile sand tyres. The suspension, engine, electronics are all stock.

While the NORRA Mexican 1000 Rally doesn’t sound as glamorous as the Baja 1000 Rally, it actually uses the same route as the Baja Rally in Mexico’s Baja Peninsula. As the name suggests, it covers 1,000 miles (1600 kilometres) through the desert strewn with deep sand, rocks and quicksand.

BMW 1800cc Boxer Engine Cruiser Coming in 2020

A BMW 1800cc Boxer engine cruiser is confirmed for 2020.
The news was confirmed by BMW Motorrad.
The prototype engine is now used as the powerplant for custom bikes.

It’s confirmed. A BMW 1800cc Boxer engine cruiser is coming in 2020. The news was confirmed by Timo Resch, Vice President Sales and Marketing for BMW Motorrad.

Resch made the statement during the Handbuilt Show in Austin, Texas where Revival Cycles showed off a custom bike called Birdcage which features an 1800cc Boxer engine.

While we revel at the Birdcage’s welded titanium frame, the built was actually contracted by BMW Motorrad to tease the new engine. The massive pushrod engine will be the platform for an upcoming cruiser in 2020.

The Birdcage was the second motorcycle to use the 1800cc engine, following the Departed R18 built by Japanese Custom Works Zon.

“We will also be showing a BMW Motorrad developed concept bike featuring this engine in the first half-year of 2019. BMW Motorrad will present a series production motorcycle with the Big Boxer for the Cruiser segment in the course of 2020,” said Resch.

An 1800cc, air-cooled, pushrod valve actuation engine surely means that the German manufacturer is taking aim at Harley-Davidson and Indian Motorcycles. However, riders of the two brands are fiercely loyal so it’ll be interesting to see how BMW Motorrad can win them over.

Viral Video: Singaporean Bikers Refused to Stop Smoking at Petrol Station

A video showed Singaporean bikers smoking at a Petron station at the Pagoh R&R.
According to the person who posted the video, he had told them to stop smoking.
However, the group retorted that he couldn’t do anything against them.
But equally worse were Petron and PLUS workers not wanting to assist.

A viral video surfaced in which a group of Singaporean bikers refused to stop smoking at petrol station despite being told to. The incident took place at the Petron station at the Pagoh R&R.

In the video, a biker was seen smoking in the petrol station’s compound directly beneath a “No smoking” sign. The person who posted the video went by his Facebook account name as Thiagarajah Nesan. According to him, he had admonished the group for smoking in a petrol station but was told the group retorted that Thiagarajah could not do anything against them and continued with their dangerous act.

But what happened next was equally shocking.

Thiagarajah informed the workers at the station, but they told him that the manager was away at the time and it was not their responsibility.

Failing to raise any concern with the station staff, Thiagarajah reported the incident to PLUS workers. The PLUS workers also told him that they could not do a thing about it. However, they suggested that Thiagarajah video the offence and share it on Facebook.

Now, the surely the bikers know that smoking at a petrol station is dangerous. But Petron and PLUS should also answer for their workers’ “inability” to act. The government was serious in fining smokers at eateries and prohibited areas, but why couldn’t anyone act against these miscreants?

Source: Thiagarajah Nesan

Allianz Motorcycle Plus Offers Extra Benefits at No Extra Cost

Allianz Motorcycle Plus offers protection for the motorcycle and accident protection for the rider.
One could look at it as a 2-in-1 insurance scheme.
The Comprehensive coverage also covers the bike for natural disasters.
The product is only available for motorcycles from 245cc and below.

Allianz Motorcycle Plus insurance will offer the additional benefits of a personal accident insurance under one package at no added cost.

“Traditional” motorcycle insurance covers only the vehicle in the case of accidents or theft. Vehicle owners purchase this insurance when he renews his road tax. However, that insurace does not cover for personal injuries, disability of death.

Thus, in order to protect oneself, the vehicle owner needs to purchase another personal accident insurance policy.

This is where Allianz Motorcycle Plus differentiates itself. One could call it a 2-in-1 product which insures the motorcycle as well as the rider. However, the premium (price) remains the same as the same insurance for your motorcycle only.

There are two types of cover, of course – Allianz Motorcycle Plus (Comprehensive) and Allianz Motorcycle Plus (Third Party).

Aliianz Motorcycle Plus (Comprehensive)

Accident Cover of RM 5,000 for permanent disability or death.
Hospital income of RM 50 per day for up to a maximum of 60 days.
All Special Perils Full Sum-Insured Protection which provides protection for flood, landslides and other natural disasters.

Allianz Motorcycle Plus (Third Party)

Accident Cover of RM 5,000 for permanent disability or death.
Hospital income of RM 50 per day for up to a maximum of 60 days.

What drew our attention was the protection for “acts of god” (industry speak for natural disasters). None – if any – insurance covers your motorcycle for natural disasters.

While the accident cover and hospital income aren’t as high as provided by personal accident insurance, Allianz Motorcycle Plus (Comprehensive) makes it easy for riders to have such coverage. Many people, much less riders, in Malaysia aren’t covered by personal accident insurance or any type of insurance at all.

Including those benefits under one insurance also makes it easier for the policy holder to claim for injuries. There are many cases where the accident victim’s family members forget or are unaware of claiming from the insurance provider.

Allianz Malaysia will roll out Allianz Motorcycle Plus beginning 1^stMay 2019. The insurance covers motorcycles from 245cc and below, only.

Please visit https://www.allianz.com.my/ for more information.

Kawasaki Jumps on Radar Bandwagon

Kawasaki is the latest manufacturer to work on equipping their bikes with radar.
Their patent filings show a system with front and rear radars.
The system works together with the brakes and throttle.

Kawasaki is the latest manufacturer to work on equipping their bikes with radar.

It is learned that Kawasaki’s system will either warn the rider or engage automated braking if it senses an imminent collision. In their patent filing, the system utilizes a front and rear radar detector. In turn, the radars control the brakes and throttle.

The front radar will scan the road ahead and apply the brakes if there are hazards. The rear radar, on the other hand, will detect fast approaching vehicles and alert the rider to take evasive action.

Kawasaki isn’t the first maker to develop a radar system.

Suzuki is working on equipping their bikes with radar reflectors to make them more visible to radars in other vehicles. Whereas Honda may equip the next Gold Wing with automated braking. All 2020 Ducatis will have front and rear radars in addition to cornering ABS. KTMs will feature adaptive cruise control and blind spot awareness system by 2021.

Vehicle radar technology isn’t merely experimental, as all new European-made cars are mandated to be fixed with automated or emergency braking systems in 2020. The decision follows joint studies by European NCAP and Australasian NCAP that automated brakes can reduce collisions by 38%.

So yes, bikes will definitely be equipped with radars soon.