Motorcycle news, Motorcycle reviews from Malaysia, Asia and the world

GIVI Explorer Adventure Comes to Malaysia This Year!

The GIVI Explorer Adventure will be held in Malaysia this year.
Called the GIVI Malaysian Adventure, participants will ride from 20^th to 29^th July, covering 2500 km of Peninsular Malaysia.
The ride includes witnessing the GIVI Rimba Raid 2019 at Janda Baik, Pahang.

Called the GIVI Malaysian Adventure, the prestigious ride comes to our beautiful Malaysia this year. For 10 days from 20^th to 29^th July, the convoy consisting of worldwide GIVI dealers and riders will enjoy the best of what this amazing country has to offer.

The adventure is also held conjunction with GIVI Asia Sdn. Bhd.’s 25^th Anniversary in Malaysia. As such the event will begin from GIVI Asia’s headquarters and factory in Bukit Beruntung, Selangor. It is here that most of GIVI’s polymer motorcycle cases are made. The participants will tour the facilities prior to the flag off.

Participants will ride a host of motorcycles including the Triumph Tiger 800 XC and XR variants, the new Triumph Scrambler 1200 XC and XE, Ducatis, Moto Guzzis and Kawasakis.

Particular attention is given to the Scrambler 1200 XE as one of the riders will race it in the GIVI Rimba Raid Janda Baik 2019.

The adventure’s itinerary includes riding to Malaysian landmarks such as the leaning tower in Teluk Intan, Kelly’s Castle, Belum Rainforest and Temenggor lake, Pulau Redang, before heading back to the historic city of Melaka to visit A’ Famosa, St. Paul’s Cathedral, Stadthuys, Jonker Walk among others.

From Melaka, the convoy heads to Janda Baik, Pahang for the GIVI Rimba Raid Janda Baik 2019.

You are welcome to witness the international event. It will be held from 26^th to 28^th July at the Rimba Valley Motorcamp (please see the map below).

The adventure will end at Genting Highlands on 29^th July.

We have participated in the GIVI Explorer Adventure on two previous occasions: South Africa in 2015; Thailand, Cambodia and Vietnam in 2017. Apart from those, the adventure had covered the Patagonia region in Chile, Colombia, and Morocco last year.

The GIVI Golden Triangle Adventure in 2017

While it may seem like vacations in exotic places (indeed, the bywords for the ride are “Explore, Enjoy”), the GIVI Explorer Adventure is the rolling test lab for the company’s new products. This is about taking R&D onto the road, in the real world, before they are further refined, manufactured and finally sold to bikers like you and I. Thus, the GIVI Explorer Adventure is an important event.

So see you on the road!

Malaysian Customs Dept May Confiscate Your Helmet

The Malaysian Customs Dept may confiscate your helmet at points of entry.
It is to stop non-regulated helmets entering the country and made available for sale.
We called the Customs Dept for clarification; details below.

Our friends at Ministry of Superbike posted a picture at a Malaysian airport regarding motorcycle helmets. The Malaysian Customs Dept and JPJ (Road Transport Ministry of Malaysia) are working together on this new ruling.

The poster warned that helmets imported and brought into Malaysia without the UN R22 (ECE22.XX) or SIRIM MS1 standards will be confiscated.

This helmet has a SNELL print but is also a SIRIM MS1 sticker, so it’s okay

BikesRepublic.com made a few (urgent) calls to the Customs Dept. regarding this matter. That’s also because we bring our own helmets and riding gear for overseas test rides.

Firstly, the Customs Dept. recommends that Malaysians leaving the country with a helmet or two to declare the items. We may do so at the Customs office at points of disembarkation.

That’s because we may have a hard time convincing the officers that it was our personal helmet(s) that we brought overseas in the first place. We’ll have to pay a Customs Duty if we couldn’t convince them otherwise.

Secondly, for Malaysians, if we are question regarding a helmet in a box, it needs to comply with the said regulations, even if it’s for personal use. For example, it’s a DOT certified helmet with no other certifications. It will be confiscated if you did not seek prior permit from JPJ. (Due to suspicion of importing it for sale.)

Thirdly, if you are a foreigner travelling to Malaysia with a helmet that doesn’t meet those regulations, make sure it is for personal use. If you bring one together with a box, you may have it detained while seeking approval from JPJ or confiscated outright.

So please bear these points in mind lest you have your MotoGP star autographed helmet end up in the bin at the airport.

These steps by the ministries involved have been a long time coming, since many irresponsible parties have been illegally importing helmets that do not meet Malaysian safety regulations.

You may also reach the Malaysian Customs Department’s enquiry hotline at 1-300-888-500.

German Court Rules Sikh Bikers Are Not Exempt from Wearing Helmets

A German court judge ruled that Sikh bikers in the country must wear helmets.
The decision was in response to an appeal for Sikh bikers to continue riding in their dastaar.
The judge cited safety concerns.

A German court has decided to rule that Sikh bikers are not exempt from the country’s helmet laws.

The ruling was in response to a Sikh man’s appeal that a helmet could not fit over his dastaar (the traditional turban worn by Sikhs).

Federal Administrative Court of Leipzig judge Renate Philip said that the law does not excuse a motorcyclist not wearing a helmet on grounds of religion. He also added that a helmet protects the rider and avoid head trauma. Additionally, riders who do wear helmets can assist others in accidents.

Several countries have exemptions for wearing a motorcycle crash helmet. Malaysia is one among other countries which includes India, the United Kingdom, et al.

Similar appeals have been made by the Sikh biker community in Australia in 2017, where even cyclists are required to wear helmets.

Over in the United States of America, the New York Police Department (NYPD) ordered the Sikh Motorcycle Club members to wear helmets during the Sikh Day Parade in 2017, although they rode a slow, parade pace. The club members decided to park their motorcycles and parade by foot. They cited that it served as a great way to educate children on riding with helmets.

Source: RideApart

Where is the 2019 BMW S 1000 RR?

The new 2019 BMW S 1000 RR has yet to arrive in Malaysia.
The delay is due to the great demand for the M Package S 1000 RR worldwide.
BMW Motorrad is currently working on clearing the supply bottleneck.

Besides the just-launched new 2019 BMW R 1250 GS and GS Adventure, one has to ask where in the world is the 2019 BMW S 1000 RR?

Even we at BikesRepublic.com were hoping to see it launched during the BMW Motorrad Night Fuel Kuala Lumpur lifestyle event a few weeks ago.

Alas, the bike didn’t appear. So, we decided to post the question to BMW Motorrad Malaysia.

Apparently, it turned out that BMW Motorrad’s factory in Munich is overloaded with orders for the “M Package.” Based on the standard S 1000 RR, the M Pakcage adds motorsport paint, carbon fibre wheels, lightweight battery, M Chassis kit which includes rear seat height and swingarm pivot adjustment, sport seat and Pro Mode.

It has to be said that this is the first time BMW Motorrad is offering an M Package for their bikes. BMW cars have had the M option for a long time, in contrast.

It’s due to this demand for the M Package that reduced the number of the standard S 1000 RR.

This delay is worldwide and affects not Malaysia alone.

In any case, you can bet that BMW Motorrad is working to clear the supply bottleneck.

VIDEO: Tiger Chases Motorcyclists

It’s not everyday that motorcyclists get chased by a tiger.
This video came from the Pambra, Wayanad region in India.
The region is surrounded by tiger sanctuaries.

This news may have gotten around somewhat, but it’s not everyday that motorcyclists get chased by a tiger.

In the video, the pillion spotted something moving in the bushes parallel to the road, which suddenly turned out to be the striped apex predator. You can hear him screaming in panic as the big cat lunges out onto the road and started chasing the motorcycle. They got away, fortunately, otherwise this would’ve been a real-life “found footage” news.

The video was shot in the Pambra, Wayanad region in India. The area is flanked by the Nagarhole National Park and Tiger Reserve to the north, and the Bandipur Tiger Reserve and National Park to the east. The former is reported to house 9 tigers for every 100 square kilometres, while the latter is home to another 231 of the majestic cats.

The Nagarhole Park is completely wild, meaning the animals are not caged and allowed to roam freely. This is why two-wheeled vehicles are not allowed to travel through. Instead, they need to go around the sanctuary. However, there are safari tours by jeep and boat.

We don’t know about how these guys felt afterwards, but we’d need new underwear if it were us.

BMW R nine T/5 Commemorates BMW 5 Series

The BMW R nine T/5 commemorates the classic BMW /5 series which made its debut in 1969.
It also happens to be the 50^th anniversary of BMW Motorrad’s Berlin Spandau factory.
There are many classic touches and a badge on the bike.

The BMW R nine T/5 commemorates the classic BMW /5 series which made its debut in 1969. It also happens to be the 50^th anniversary of BMW Motorrad’s Berlin Spandau factory.

As such, the R nine T/5 is finished in Lupine Blue with white pinstripes and features many other classic touches. They include silver and black finishes smattered throughout the bike, such as the chrome mirrors, exhaust manifolds and silencer.

The seat is reminiscent of the BMW /5 with white lining, grab strap and embossing. The forks are covered with rubber gaiters. The aluminium silver wheels and spokes are definitely vintage looking. The footpegs and fork brace are anodized aluminium. The black knee pads on the fuel tank is a nice classic touch, too.

The R nine T is BMW Motorrad’s modern-classic line-up hence they are modern bikes, of course. There are heated grips, instrumentation that combines classic and modern features, ABS and ASC (Stability Control) are standard.

Sure, one could take a standard R nine T Pure and build it too look exactly like the R nine T/5, but the latter comes with a commemorative badge on the tank.

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Latest News

The GIVI Explorer Adventure will be held in Malaysia this year.

Called the GIVI Malaysian Adventure, participants will ride from 20th to 29th July, covering 2500 km of Peninsular Malaysia.

The ride includes witnessing the GIVI Rimba Raid 2019 at Janda Baik, Pahang.

The Malaysian Customs Dept may confiscate your helmet at points of entry.

It is to stop non-regulated helmets entering the country and made available for sale.

We called the Customs Dept for clarification; details below.

A German court judge ruled that Sikh bikers in the country must wear helmets.

The decision was in response to an appeal for Sikh bikers to continue riding in their dastaar.

The judge cited safety concerns.

The new 2019 BMW S 1000 RR has yet to arrive in Malaysia.

The delay is due to the great demand for the M Package S 1000 RR worldwide.

BMW Motorrad is currently working on clearing the supply bottleneck.

It’s not everyday that motorcyclists get chased by a tiger.

This video came from the Pambra, Wayanad region in India.

The region is surrounded by tiger sanctuaries.

The BMW R nine T/5 commemorates the classic BMW /5 series which made its debut in 1969.

It also happens to be the 50th anniversary of BMW Motorrad’s Berlin Spandau factory.

There are many classic touches and a badge on the bike.

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Called the GIVI Malaysian Adventure, participants will ride from 20^th to 29^th July, covering 2500 km of Peninsular Malaysia.

It also happens to be the 50^th anniversary of BMW Motorrad’s Berlin Spandau factory.