A Malaysian couple was demanded of RM 400,000 in Thailand after a traffic accident.
They hit and killed a local on a rented motorcycle.
It is customary in Thailand where the foreigner is made to pay up regardless if it’s his fault or otherwise.
This line is oft-repeated, we know, but Thailand is such a hit with Malaysian bikers. However, do remember the risks when you consider renting a motorcycle there. Thailand is the second most dangerous country to drive in.
Our friends at Mekanika.com.my reported about a Malaysian couple who rented a motorcycle in Krabi. Unfortunately, their plans for the perfect vacation was dashed when they hit a local pedestrian. The pedestrian was killed in the accident.
As with local customs, the family of the deceased must be compensated. This is even more true if the party involved is a Farang(foreigner), and it didn’t matter even if it’s not your fault. The couple kena pao(was demanded to pay) more than RM 400,000! The sum was brought down to RM 200,000 after some intense negotiations. The couple needed to also pay for the damaged motorcycle.
This incident wasn’t the first and isn’t likely to be the last, honestly.
We have seen and heard of our riders kena pao for exorbitant amounts throughout his many trips into the Kingdom. Just like the incident above, you are at fault, as long as you are a Farang.
So, how to avoid getting skinned and skimmed?
The best way is not to rent a motorcycle in Thailand. Let’s be realistic, though. Renting one is the easiest way to getting around. But rent it from a shop which offers insurance coverage. The insurance doesn’t break your wallet and you should always get it.
What insurance should I buy when I rent a bike?
Compulsory Motor Insurance (Por Ror Bor): This is a compulsory insurance which covers hospitalization. The shop ought to have insured the rented bike as it is required by the Thai authorities. Try asking for the certificate.
Voluntary Insurance: This insurance covers the vehicle you’re driving, or the third-party vehicle involved, depending on price.
Travel Insurance: Travel insurance has always been overlooked by many Malaysians when they travel to anywhere around the world and not just Thailand. It’s not expensive and is easily obtained online. Check with your insurance agent but get one which covers your personal liability against claims from the other party involved in the accident.
What insurance shall I get if I ride my own motorcycle in?
Voluntary Insurance: It can be purchased along the way to Thailand. Stop at a shop with “INSURANCE” signboard, along the road in Changlun and all the way into Dannok (if you are entering via Bukit Kayu Hitam or Wang Kelian). It’s available at Betong, too.
Endorsement 101: This extends your Malaysian comprehensive insurance to Thailand. However, do note that it covers damages to vehicles only but not bodily injuries. Additionally, it’s only applicable to motorcycles and commercial vehicles. Lastly, the limit of liability of RM 100,000 is only applicable to third party property damage.
Personal Travel Insurance: Please buy it! This writer usually purchases the AIG Travel Guard during his trips, but you may Google for “travel insurance Malaysia.” It usually costs from RM 30 per trip.
In conclusion, it’s always better to be over-insured than not at all.
The government has stopped motorcycle toll collection.
The tolls affected are at the First and Second Penang Bridges, and the Malaysia-Singapore Second Link in Johor.
The government says it is the first step toward full toll abolishment in the country.
The Malaysian government has abolished for motorcycle toll collection at three locations.
The move is the first step toward full abolishment of toll charges in the country. Finance Minister Lim Guan Eng said that the government could not eradicate all toll payments at the moment due to the large debt accrued by the previous administration. Stopping toll charges would mean the government has to pay the highway concessionaires in order to subsidize the Rakyat’s toll payments.
“Abolishing motorcycle tolls at Penang’s First and Second Bridges together with the Malaysia-Singapore Second Link in Johor is the first step to completely abolish tolls,” said Guan Eng.
Singapore will also scrap toll payment for motorcycles on the Republic’s end from 21stJanuary.
Deputy Works Minister Mohd. Anuar Tahir officiated the removal of toll collection at the Tuas checkpoint. He said that Malaysian motorcyclists will save between RM 24.20 to RM 66.00 per month.
He also reiterated the current administration’s pledge in stopping all toll payments.
The Minister also spoke about fuel prices. While there was no cap (maximum price) before, RON 95 is now capped at RM 2.20 per litre, and diesel at RM 2.18 per litre. New retail prices will be in effect from 1stJanuary 2019 onwards.
The Moto Guzzi Tuscany Experience is a unique ride put together for owners and dealers to properly experience the values of the brand.
A number of Malaysians joined the ride to explore the Italian countryside on various Guzzis.
Taking place over four days at the historic town of Siena, the ride covered a few hundred kilometers with plenty of stops for great food along the way.
Participants not only get to experience riding in a foreign country with breathtaking views, but also get to experience different Moto Guzzi models.
Video highlights from the ride.
“You have come to the right place to ride motorcycles. Southern Italy is too influenced by mediterranean culture, and Northern Italy is influenced by the Germans and the Swiss. Central Italy is still uniquely Italian, everything from the culture to the landscape,” said the cab driver at the Siena train station, en route to Hotel Montaperti, located about 20 minutes out of town.
Siena is an old medieval Italian town which can trace its history back for centuries, up until 900BC actually. Typical of old Italian towns with a storied past, Siena boasts old brick buildings, a central square, a tall clock tower and of course a huge intricately designed Catholic Church.
I had just arrived after a grueling 25 hour journey from KL. Though tiring, I had an entire day to recuperate for the ride ahead. Jet lagged, I decide to call it a day at about 7pm Italian time (1am back in Malaysia), but not before scrutinizing the beautiful Guzzis that dominated the hotel carpark.
Lined up neatly, there was every single modern Moto Guzzi you could think of, including the gargantuan MGX-21, the all-dominating Audace, the entire range of the V7 III as well as the V9. I knew happy days lay ahead, but first, I needed to lay my head down. Oh and there were a few Aprilias too, for the marshals to chase down anyone who strays away from the group.
Moto Guzzi has been enjoying a resurgence in Malaysia. The Italian bike maker is one of the oldest in the world, was the first to have a wind tunnel at its factory, was at one point the best selling motorcycle in the world, and is also the first bike maker to use a transversely mounted V-engine, a feature still seen today in all Moto Guzzi motorcycles.
So as the sun rose the next day, warming up the farm lands and gently lifting the fog from the night before to reveal the beautiful Tuscanian country side. I walked among the Guzzis, deciding on my stead for the day.
On my left was the MGX-21 Flying Fortress, a behemoth of a bike with plenty of carbon-fibre that didn’t do much to lighten the bike. I thought it looked cool, but despite being a fan of baggers, it just didn’t appeal to me all that much but I did end up riding it later. On the right were the range of V7s and V9s, which I thought I’d reserve for another day since I had four full days of riding ahead.
And so came the Audace, a bike that had just been launched in Malaysia and I had heard good things about from the many dealers who were also present at the ride. And so I settled on a Audace in Guzzi’s Matte Impetuoso Red. Placing my helmet on it confirmed it as mine for the day, a gentleman’s agreement everyone understood.
The first day was more of a “familiarization” ride for everyone – since the ride brought together riders from the UK, Australia, New Zealand and from other parts of the world, day one was a chance to get used to riding on the wrong side of the road, and to acclimatise to the chilly end-of-summer weather. And so we rode about 150km’s on the first day, but it was spectacular no less, we rode along the “Crete Senesi” region, across rolling green hills, through ancient villages, and a stop at the Abbey of Monte Oliveto Maggiore, which was founded in the year 1313.
Officially called the ‘Moto Guzzi Tuscany Experience’, the ride takes place at different places around Europe at different times of the year. After Tuscany, the organising team headed to Sardinia for a similar ride there but for a different group of owners and distributors. The Moto Guzzi Experience of Tuscany was just one chapter of three separate rides, each designed to give owners the ultimate Moto Guzzi experience, with some of the most stunning landscapes a biker can experience.
Day 2 involved riding about 240km with a stop at the Piaggio Museum for lunch while admiring new and old models from Vespa and Aprilia but very little of Moto Guzzi, which was understandable since the brand is based in Mandello del Lario, which is closer to Milan.
I selfishly stuck to the Audace for a little while longer, it was perfect for the narrow country roads, obviously designed and built for leisurely cruising but with a wild side to it too. It is powered by a 1380cc V-twin engine that puts out 96hp and 121Nm of torque. Fast and comfortable, the Audace was probably the favourite of the lot as everyone seemed to not want to give it up for the next person, yours truly included.
After exploring the countryside, we stopped at the walled town of Volterra, another ancient town that has been continuously inhabited since at least 8th century BC. After some gelato and racking up the step counter, we swapped bikes for the ride back to the hotel. This time I jumped on the V9 Bobber.
I own a Harley-Davidson Sportster 48, and in my opinion, it is the most genuine Bobber in the market despite other brands having their own interpretation of it. The thick 90 section front tyre may give the 48 a clumsy feel up front, but there is just something about big fat tyres that add visual drama. The V9 Bobber however was a revelation of sorts, despite not having the visual appeal of the 48 or even the Triumph Bobber.
It too has a 90 section tyre up front but you sit upright with your feet resting on the mid-placed foot pegs. The sitting position is comfortable and borderline sporty even, which makes this Bobber surprisingly enthusiastic in the twisties. But naturally, handling is let down with that burly front tyre.
The V9 Bobber has the same 853cc V-twin engine as the Roamer with the same 55hp and 62Nm output. Though not terribly quick, the Bobber can be quite fun to ride, and quite comfortable despite the thinly padded seat. In terms of technical features, the V9 Bobber does not offer much, suspension set up consists of telescopic hydraulic forks up front and dual shock absorbers clutching a lightweight alloy swingarm with adjustable preload. The braking system is made up of a 320mm single disk up front with a Brembo four-piston caliper and a 260mm disc with twin piston caliper for the rear. ABS is offered as standard.
The one part where my 48 really sucks at is fuel range because of that tiny 8-litre peanut tank. I get range anxiety every time I ride long distance on the 48 so end up refuelling more often than I need to, and that is also partly why I am thinking of selling it for something more usable. And that is a problem the V9 Bobber does not have with its 15-litre fuel tank. It goes further and has the capability to carve a smile on anyone’s face.
Day 3 – 200km ride. The MGX-21 Flying Fortress is all about visual drama. It turns heads wherever it goes, and fans of sports bikes will appreciate the generous use of carbon-fibre almost everywhere you can think off (check out that carbon-fibre front wheel, below). And yet, despite being loaded with one of the lightest element in the world, the MGX-21 still somehow manages to weigh in at a stonking 336kg! That is seriously heavy, and trust me on this one, the Flying Fortress was not easy to ride, especially at low speed through traffic.
I found the bike to be clumsy, and because of its weight, it wasn’t a lot of fun in corners. It was fine in a straight line, comfortable and relaxing to ride, but not so at low speed. The bike is unlikely to make it to Malaysia, but as far as dramatic presence is concerned, the MGX-21 Flying Fortress looks like something out of a marvel comic.
I hopped on to the Moto Guzzi California next, for the ride to the wine producing town of Montelpulciano.
Like the rest of the towns we visited, Montelpulciano too has been around for millennia, and is surrounded by breathtaking landscape. The town was built on a limestone ridge 2000ft above ground, so you can imagine the views. Despite that, the town is better known for the wine it produces, specifically its ‘Vino Nobile’, which is considered to be the finest Italian wine.
The California is powered by the same 1380cc engine as the MGX-21, and also produces 96hp and 121Nm of torque. It too weighs in at 326kg, but unlike the MGX, the California does not have an inch of carbon-fibre anywhere. It is more of a laid back cruiser with a tall windscreen up front and huge foot boards. Handling was similar to the MGX, but somehow the California was more comfortable, perhaps it was the seat, or that my expectation was lower for a bike that did not come dripping in carbon fibre. Either way, I had a splendid time with the California, letting it soak up everything the road threw at us, gently squeezing the throttle without kicking down a gear, taking in views. It was perfect.
I rode the new V7 III Rough on the final day, which was a 100km ride to the town of Siena. The Rough can be interpreted as Guzzi’s attempt at creating a Scrambler of sorts, complete with knobby tyres, a purpose built handle bar and slim aluminium fenders reminiscent of scramblers of old. Some even see the Rough as a response to Ducati and Triumph, but unlike the models from the competition, the Rough is not a standalone model.
Like all V7 III’s, the base bike is always the same with the same 744cc V-twin engine powering all bikes, the same frame, the same wheel size, the same forks, every technical bit about the bike is the same for all V7 III models. And so the Rough is no different, it is the visual parts that differentiate one bike from another.
The Rough rides similarly to all other V7 models, though the knobby tyres require a little extra attention in and out of corners. But on the cobblestone roads around town, the tyres were perfect, giving the bike a level of confidence unlike any other V7 model, and this is with the traction control turned off. And that is the point here for the Moto Guzzi V7 range of bikes, each V7 III may have the same underpinnings, but ride the lot and the difference is clear as day.
After parking the bike at the cathedral at the centre of town, I ventured off with the rest of the Malaysian team to explore the inner workings of Siena. And that’s when I heard someone say:
“Hey man, nice t-shirt, do you ride a Guzzi?” came a voice from behind with a southern twang typical of southern US states, the type you usually hear in old John Wayne movies. I didn’t even get a chance to turn around when this guy sporting a cowboy hat and a thick ‘stache came up next to me. “Yes I do, we all do,” I said to him, gesturing towards the rest of the riders there, who after four days had become more of a family.
“I am from Texas and I ride a Moto Guzzi, we are rare but people who ride a Guzzi are a special bunch. They know their motorcycles, they simply do not like to be mainstream,” he quickly surmised. I laughed in agreement and after a few quick words and a handshake, he disappeared in the crowd of tourists.
And that got me thinking, there are lots of Moto Guzzi fans out there who appreciate the finer workings of a Guzzi, such as the 90-degree V-twin engine, or the ingenuity of its engineering, or perhaps they love the history of the brand. Either way, the love and passion for the brand is spread far and wide, and it was fantastic to spend a few days talking and learning from like minded people, some a lot older than me with decades more experience with Guzzis.
Back in KL and on my very own Moto Guzzi V7 III Anniversario, I found myself appreciating the bike a lot more than I did previously. Having met the people from the company who build these bikes and those that love the brand, there was a certain sense of pride riding a Moto Guzzi in Malaysia. It may not be the most advanced of motorcycles or the fastest, but it is a Moto Guzzi and everything about a Guzzi has come from nearly 100 years of pain staking engineering and board room meetings to keep the brand alive. And I appreciate that and the fact that it is still proudly built in Italy.
For more information about the Moto Guzzi Experience or to sign up for the 2019 ride, visit www.motoguzzi.com or theclan.motoguzzi.com or you can drop an email to motoguzzi@motoguzziexperience.com.
It caused a motorcyclist to hit the booby trap and crashed.
The police caught the offender quickly and charged him with attempted murder.
A Japanese man was apprehended for a rope prank which caused a motorcyclist to crash. He will be charged with attempted murder.
On 26thDecember in Sagamihara, Kanagawa Perfecture, a man set up a rope booby trap across a street. Fifteen seconds later, a 45-year-old motorcyclist suddenly found a rope wrapped around his neck, causing him to chuck his bike. Thankfully, he suffered only back and hip.
The incident was captured by a security camera, but more importantly, so was the heinous act. Together with the help of the locals, the police acted immediately and tracked down the perpetrator, 41-year-old Koichi Deki. He claimed that he meant it as a prank to relieve stress but had not thought of killing anyone. He also admitted to using the rope and box from a nearby shop where they were used to cordon off the property after closing at night.
It was not clear if Deki saw the bike coming, given that the motorcyclist hit the trap in mere seconds after it was set up.
Kudos to the Japanese police in closing the case, as they had help from the CCTV footage.
On the other hand, we’ve had many cases of cables or wires strung across the motorcycle lanes but there’s never news if the miscreants were ever caught. The main reason was the lack of CCTV or manpower to monitor. Additionally, the authorities here will only act when there’s loss of life or when a VVVVVVIP complains.
Bugatti uses 3D printing technology to produce this titanium brake caliper.
3D printing produces intricate parts which cannot be milled or forged.
Bugatti did a demonstration video on how the caliper could withstand heavy stopping forces and extreme heat.
French supercar maker Bugatti has been working on 3D printing technology. This 3D printed titanium caliper is the stunning result.
But hang on, why is a supercar news making an entry here? Let’s look at it this way. Many, if not all braking technologies started out in cars and later adopted to the motorcycle industry. For example, ABS was developed by Mercedes-Benz, but pioneered by BMW Motorrad in the 1987 K 100.
3D-printing technology takes over where a part could not be forged or milled from solid billet (aluminium alloy in the case of brake calipers). The Bugatti caliper is made from Ti6Al4V (titanium-aluminium-vanadium) alloy, which is impossible to create or mill the intricate parts.
Indeed, its organic, bone-like appearance is only possible through this technology.
To make the caliper, Bugatti employs lasers to melt titanium alloy powder. The “printing” process takes 45 hours to “stack” 2,213 layers of the melted powder.
The caliper is heat- and chemical-treated for additional strength after printing. Next, it is milled to create a surface for finishing and threads. A five-axis milling machine takes 11 hours to complete the job.
Of course, the real proof is in how it works. Check out the video below. A Bugatti supercar is capable of going from 0- to 400- back to 0 km/h in 42. The brakes can generate up 1025oC.
Will we see the technology in motorcycles? VW owns Bugatti and Ducati, after all.
Will brake manufacturers such as Brembo, J. Juan, Nissin et al employ 3D printing too? They may soon, we think.
What do you do on a weekend before the New Year? The same thing you have done consistently throughout the year, throw a leg over your bike and go for a ride of course. And the usual solo morning ride took me to The Gasket Alley today to check out an event that was apparently put together specially for Harley-Davidson owners.
Called ‘The Big Weekender’, the exclusive but not so exclusive event is open for HD owners and non-owners alike. For fans of the brand, there is a 60% discount on apparel, riding gear and accessories, perfect for those who like to show their brand affiliation.
And for owners of HD bikes, there is a special 20% discount on bike parts and accessories. But if you are a member of the legendary Harley-Davidson Owners Group, you get to enjoy a further 5% discount for a total discount of 25% to beautify your bike. It would be worth mentioning now that this promotion is not applicable for servicing and motorcycle repair.
I ended up spending time browsing around Harley-Davidson Petaling Jaya, but ended up riding home empty handed since I had just bought a new HD jacket and t-shirts just a few weeks ago. But I figured that sharing such great discounts with fans and owners alike would bring me good karma. I did however sign up for the latest Sportster service campaign called “Beli Satu, Dapat Dua” (Buy one, get two) where owners just have to spend RM549 for one major and one minor service. Click here for more information on this superb service campaign.
I was told that ‘The Big Weekender’ takes place today and tomorrow from 10am till 7pm. Probably worth the visit if you have not bought a Christmas gift for someone who loves HD’s, or like me, just had some time to kill.
