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X-1R, WD-40 and Modenas at Motonation 2017

Among the many vendors during Motonation 2017, a few caught our attention.
There were many vendors during the event but these catered specifically to motorcycle users.
We hope to see more in the next edition of Motonation.

As we reported earlier, the Motonation 2017 finale saw the participation of motorcycle manufacturers, besides automotive-related distributors, suppliers and vendors of every kind. (Click here for the report.)

The most prominent in terms of motorcycle products, however, were X-1R, WD-40 and Modenas.

Modenas’ main pavilion in Hall A was erected over a large area and consisted of their latest motorcycles, including the massively successful Pulsar RS200 and NS200, the latter mounted in a wheelie position as part of the photo booth.

More significantly, Modenas also displayed the customized V15 bikes for the SUPER MOD contest (as part of the Bakat Besi competition). The bikes were then judged by AMD Showmaster, Neil Blaber, who also judged the Motonation custom bikes competition.

Modenas also had a smaller booth at the mall area, next to the main stage. Here, they displayed the Cub Prix race bikes. Their riders made a short demo run during the official launching of the event on Saturday.

X-1R’s booth in Hall A were fully converted to reflect on the lubricant specialist’s famous yellow corporate colour and theme. X-1R supplies lubricants and engine maintenance products, hence their unique products in little bottles were displayed on oil drums painted yellow, that had the front portion removed to form display stands.

Products included the Octane Booster, Small Engine Treatment, Fuel System Cleaner, Engine Flush, Petrol System Treatment and many more.

There were two driving simulators for visitors to try their hands on. There was also a custom bike by Bigcat Customs being displayed centrally and prominently at the booth. Other activities included a huge 50% promotion for their products and visitors stood the chance to win special gifts by spinning a “wheel of fortune.”

Over to Hall B was WD-40, the infamous multipurpose penetrating oil. WD-40 was running a special promotion for the original yellow and blue can product, starting from just RM10 for the smallest can to just RM12 for the largest!

However, WD-40 had also introduced a new line of maintenance and cleaning products during the event, which they had demonstrated their effectiveness in cleaning a KTM 1290 Super Adventure T. The 2-year-old bike looked spanking new when they were through with it.

The products included the Engine Degreaser, Parts Cleaner, Chain Lube and so forth.

Eastern Bobber wins best custom bike at Motonation 2017!

Eastern Bobber and their amazing custom bike will become the first ever Malaysian to compete in the 2018 AMD World Championship of Custom Bike Building in Germany next year.

The custom bike contest organised during the Motonation event in Putrajaya last weekend saw eight entries from The Rusty Factory, Beautiful Machines and many more.

The winner was chosen by AMD Showmaster himself, Neil Blaber.

Eight custom bikes entered and one bike emerged as the winner. Out of all the amazing custom creations that entered the custom bike competition organised by Motonation during their gigantic festival in Putrajaya last weekend, it was Eastern Bobber and their amazing machine who won what we think one of Malaysia’s most interesting custom bike competitions yet. (more…)

A Few Words with Neil Blaber

Neil Blaber of AMD Magazine was brought in to judge Motonation’s custom bike and Modenas’ SUPER MOD contests.
Motonation will sponsor the winning bike and builder to the World Championship at Intermot.
Neil was impressed with the quality and creativity of Malaysian builders.

We had the pleasure of meeting and chatting with Neil Blaber of AMD Magazine at the recent Motonation carnival in PICC. Neil had been called in by the organizers of Motonation to judge the custom motorcycles competition.

It was a high-stakes game as Motonation will support the winner’s entry to the AMD World Championship of Custom Bike Building 2018, in the Intermot Show in Cologne Germany. (Click here to read more of our coverage of Motonation and here for the report of the competition).

Bikes Republic: How does AMD run its bikes shows?
Neil Blaber: We did bike shows and competitions a little bit differently than those in the past. We’ve had people enter their bikes in more than one class, and found out not to ever, ever do it. It’s a nightmare, because how we do the judging is all the competitors vote on their peers’ bikes.

We’ll have a few VIP judges also, but they’re usually builders who didn’t enter their own bikes. There’ve also been trusted journalists who don’t just won’t for their mates (friends), besides other experts in the industry who know what they’re looking at.

It’s done almost like a survey among experts. When you think about it, who are the best qualified to determine which is the best bike than these guys. You’ve got all these experts there and if judging is handed over to just four guys, it’s all wasted.

So, in the end, if people aren’t happy with the results, at least they know it’s fair because it was peer reviewed.

In the end, you could end up with a hundred votes papers returned. Counting the ballot papers was hard work, I’d usually be up until 4 in the morning, tabulating the results. I’d take the feedback from the ballot sheets and key them into the spreadsheet for the results to be tabulated.

They’ll vote for their favourite 12 bikes, the top build will receive 15 points, second place gets 12, third gets 9, then 7, 6, 5, 3, 2, 1 points respectively. What that means is that getting voted as the top isn’t necessarily a huge advantage. In the end, the winning bike is usually the one which was rated reasonably high by all the guys. (What Neil means here is the entries must be good overall.)

You may get a controversial bike which was voted first by three guys but no one else, on the other hand, you get a bike that’s voted for third or fifth by everyone and it will win.

Bikes Republic: Is peer judging carried out in many bike shows?
Neil Blaber: It is carried out in many bike shows now but not many are done properly.

For example, you got have enough bikes for representation, because if you just ask for which is your favourite bike, you’d probably end up with the same result. However, if there are enough bikes, and if a certain or a few judges don’t like a certain type of bike and put it as last, the bike still earns a point.

Some shows look for the Top Three and the spread is just not enough in order to get a true representation of what people sincerely feel.

Some people don’t like not winning and the World Championship is the worst feeling. They may have spent two years or more working on their bike then ending up 50^th is, well, you know how it’s like.

We award down to 10^th place for the Freestyle class, and the Top Three of the other classes, as the latter classes attract smaller entries.

Bikes Republic: What’s your thought on what you’ve seen this weekend?
Neil Blaber: Honestly, I had no idea to see what Malaysia had to offered and I surprised and impressed at what I saw this weekend. Those eight finalists had some truly wonderful material.

FNG Works wins SUPERB MOD Challenge with amazing custom Modenas V15

The SUPERB MOD Challenge 2017 organised by TERAJU and Procara Entertainment saw custom bike builder FNG Works emerging as the ultimate winner.

Five participants were given a Modenas V15, RM10,000 and 30 days to build the best custom bike for the Motonation festival organised at PICC.

Ipoh locals FNG Works and Rusty Factory emerged victorious and took home the RM30,000 and RM10,000 grand prizes respectively.

Six custom bike builders from across the country were chosen to create their best rendition and customisation works using the Modenas V15 as their basic platform. Based on public votes collected via the videos posted up on Motonation’s official Facebook page together with a panel of professional judges, the boys from Ipoh took the hole shot with FNG Works emerging victorious followed by Rusty Factory. (more…)

How 2018 marks the return of Kawasaki modern classic motorcycles

2018 has marked the return of Kawasaki modern classic motorcycles with the introduction of the 2018 Kawasaki Z900 RS and Z900 RS CAFE.

After years of having the Kawasaki W900 as their only heritage option, Kawasaki returns with two of the most anticipated modern classic bikes for 2018.

Both the Z900 RS and Z900 RS CAFE are expected to show up across showrooms worldwide early next year.

The past decade has shown that Japanese company Kawasaki proving itself as one of the major powerhouses of the world when it comes to manufacturing motorcycles. Not only do they have one of the most diverse selection of motorcycles that’ll cater to any motorcycle enthusiast but also some of the best the world has ever seen. (more…)

Motonation 2017 – The Grand Finale

Motonation’s roadshow and carnivals concluded today (3^rd December) at PICC.
The event drew the interest of a large number of corporations, vendors and clubs.
The winners of the AMD World Championship for Custom Bikes has been concluded.
The winner of the Bakat Besi competition has also been determined.
The event’s lucky draw winners will be announced on this Friday (8^th December).

1^st – 3^rd December 2017, Putraja International Convention Centre (PICC) – The Motonation 2017 roadshow that has been touring the country for the past few months came to a grand conclusion over this weekend.

From having just a few vendors and vehicles being displayed at the initial shows, the event at PICC was certainly grand – occupying the main concourse, multiple halls, and all of the outdoor areas – featuring everything pertaining to the automotive lifestyle, regardless is directly or indirectly influenced.

That meant different family members could occupy themselves with different activities and attractions, while not bore the others.

For example, while the main display areas were occupied by automobiles, motorcycles and related products, there were smaller vendors who sold watches, sunglasses, toy motorcycles and cars; JKJR was present to convey the message on road safety, there was a dance competition, and outdoor concerts featuring local bands such as the infamous Indy-band, OAG. There was also a vendor who displayed their awesome feat of completing a replica Harley-Davidson Evolution engine completely from Lego blocks! Tayman Chua decided to show his airbrush skills by “tattooing” visitors – FOC!

The major players in the automotive industry were present, including Petron, X-1R, WD-40, Modenas, Shell, Brisk, Audi, Ricoh, etc.

Besides the specialist car and motorcycle customizers such as Eastern Bobber, Beautiful Machines MC, FNG Works, The Rusty Factory, Taymen Airbrushing and many, many more.

Speaking of Modenas, the competition based on their motorcycles, called Bakat Besi saw FNG Works’ creation winning the contest, with a novel creation which even carried a skateboard.

Besides that, run for the first time in Malaysia, Motonation had invited Neil Blaber of AMD Magazine to judge the custom bikes in the running to representing Malaysia during the AMD World Championship of Custom Bike Building 2018. In the end, it was Eastern Bobbers’ ultra-radical entry which won the ticket to Intermot, beating the entries by Beautiful Machines by a whisker.

The event started slowly on Friday, before picking up on Saturday and had the crowds packing into the halls and outdoor areas on Sunday as the news got out.

There was a trial riding demonstration by Acoi Pangkolo Riders on Saturday evening, while today saw pocket bike races.

Motonation is also holding a lucky draw for ticket holders to the event, which the Grand Prize is an Audi A3, iPhones, iPads, amongst other great prizes. The winners will be announced this Friday.

There were of course voices of criticism, as the event areas were too spread out over such a vast area, besides other teething problems, but do remember that this is only Motonation’s first year in the automotive event segment and being able to draw the massive number of prestigious corporations, vendors, motorcycle and car clubs, hold a custom motorcycle competition is more than commendable. Motonation will learn and will improve for the next one.