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Art of Speed, Malaysia’s premier Kustom & Counter Culture event, returns for 2023 and promises to be bigger and better than ever before.

  • The AOS 2023 will take over every event hall at MAEPS, including a 350,000 sqft indoor venue and an 8.6 acre outdoor venue.
  • he event will feature a variety of activities for visitors, including the ThunderCircus Brotherhood Rally, the Hot Wheels Collector Convention, the Off The Grid outdoor camping and lifestyle area, and the Hail Vintage showcase.

After a record-breaking crowd response in 2022, the event will take place on July 29 and 30 at Malaysia Agro Exposition Park, Serdang (MAEPS), which boasts a 350,000 sqft indoor venue and an 8.6-acre outdoor venue. The event will take over every hall and feature even more activities to satisfy fans and visitors.

This year’s event will see an impressive guest list from the international custom community and media, including MOONEYES from Japan, Cycle Zombies and Geoff from Return of Cafe Racer from the USA, Vondutch from Indonesia, and Ya Seat from Thailand, among others.

New for 2023, Art of Speed will introduce the Outdoor ThunderCircus “Brotherhood Rally,” a fully dedicated open area for motorcycle riders and enthusiasts that will feature a motorcycle stunt show performed by professional riders and a mega ride-in and gathering of various motorcycle groups from across Malaysia and the region.

Another exciting new feature is the 1st Official Hot Wheels Collector Convention in Southeast Asia, which will take over Hall B for the event. Visitors will be able to enjoy even more Hot Wheels activities, diorama displays, including the Hot Wheels Rare and Collectibles Exhibition, and a Hot Wheels Skate School.

Hot Wheels fans will also have the opportunity to meet and greet famous Hot Wheels designers from the USA, and there will be a record attempt at the largest Hot Wheels formation in Malaysia.

Returning features include Off the Grid outdoor camping and lifestyle, Hail Vintage showcasing a large variety of vintage collectibles, and Show & Shine featuring the best selection of modified cars and custom motorcycles.

The event will also include additional activities such as the Streetware Con streetwear fashion vendors, the Pinup Pageant presented by Cherrybomb Pinup Parlour, and La Cultura, which celebrates Malaysia’s Chicano culture appreciation gathering.

To end the show on Sunday, one lucky ticket holder will win the lucky draw giveaway for a fully customized 1979 Toyota Celica with an air ride suspension by Art of Speed.

We explore the world of custom culture in the first episode of the BikesRepublic.com video series!

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Art Of Speed lucky draw winner receives brand new Triumph Street Twin from Fast Bikes Sdn Bhd.

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Art Of Speed 2016 (AOS 2016) ready to celebrate fifth edition with all Malaysian custom culture fans.

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Art of Speed 2016 (AOS 2016) will include the first ever Painthead Asia exhibition for creative artists.

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A peek into the southern styles of Johor Bahru-based custom bike builders called Radical Machine Garage. (more…)

The annual KL Bike Week returned for its 2015 edition last weekend. Marking its seventh annual running, KL Bike Week 2015 celebrating the best of the maturing Malaysian motorcycling culture over the course of two days in the heart of Kuala Lumpur.

As always, the event was organised by local custom bikes institution Red Garage Malaysia. It is here that some of Malaysia’s finest custom bike builders and artisans come together and put some of their best stuff on show. Also present here were custom culture artisans from elsewhere around region such as Indonesia, Singapore and Thailand.

If you weren’t there last weekend, then you missed quite a spectacle indeed. Nevertheless, here’s our extensive gallery of images to show you just what KL Bike Week 2015 was all about.

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KL Bike Week 2015 hosted perhaps one of the largest motorcycling gathering ever hosted in KL city. Of course, this brings lots of attention, thus the crowd.

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Plenty of vendors, big and small, were present during KL Bike Week 2015. Whether it be apparels, accessories, parts (new and old), as well as souvenirs, the visiting two-wheeled enthusiasts weren’t disappointed.

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Of course, no one wants a dirty bike, which explains the presence of several specialist motorcycle detailers offering on-site cleaning and detailing services.

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If there’s one common strain with all the bikes that were present, it is none other than the fact that most are not stock. The Malaysian custom culture is alive and very eclectic to say the least, but it is showing healthy signs of maturing as well.

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What goes well next to bikes? Babes of course! There were plenty to be found during KL Bike Week 2015.

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And some even brought their pets! Though we were rather unsure if the snake was merely for show, or perhaps a ‘security’ measure of sort. Whatever it is, we wouldn’t mind trading places with ol’ snakey anytime.

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The wide variety of bikes are a clear reflection of their owners. Whether you own a classic Vespa Lambretta in ‘survivor’ condition, a tricked- and chromed-out performance naked, a proper British icon, or even a prized custom-built creation, all were welcomed during KL Bike Week 2015.

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Motorcycle enthusiasm is blind towards race, culture, religion, or even physical disability. This bloke is one prime example of the latter indeed.KLBW_2015_SUN_-52KLBW_2015_SUN_-46

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Have a thing for the arts? These artisans would’ve fulfilled your needs and demands.

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Have an old Vespa Lambretta? Why not give it a proper makeover? Or make chic office furniture out of it?

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Competitions were held for best bike across several categories, as well as best custom helmet paintjob.

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Making an appearance was the Deputy Minister of Tourism and Culture, YB Datuk Mas Ermieyati binti Samsudin. The deputy minister was given a proper tour of the show grounds whilst riding shotgun with one of the members from the Malaysian Lady Bikers’ Club before officially launching KL Bike Week 2015 on the main stage.

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Though it is well known as a gathering of choppers, KL Bike Week has since opened itself up to enthusiasts of other types and groups such as superbikers and dirt bikers. Making their presence felt here were the Ducati Club of Malaysia.

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KL Bike Week 2015 was also an event where enthusiasts can spot some true rarities like this classic WW2-era BSA. Not only is it period-correct paint, there’s even period-correct and matching accessories primed as well.

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Another rarity we spotted was this Suzuki GSX650S Katana. This modern classic from the 1980s invoked a lot of nostalgia, especially with its pop-up headlight feature. FYI, this modern classic is one of many up for sale by specialist importer Sri Changgong.

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Another rarity we spotted was this, the Confederate Motorcycles X132 Hellcat Combat.

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Together with our friends from Shell Advance Malaysia, BikesRepublic.com were also present at KL Bike Week 2015. Visitors at our booth took part in our special simulator time trials to win exclusive prizes from us and Shell.

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It is hard to believe that this custom-built supermoto started out life as a mere Modenas Kriss moped. What was even more unbelievable was the fact that it was built by a bloke who’s barely 17 years old!

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The festivities continued into the night where competition winners were awarded.

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The evening soiree ended with the arrival of rockstar and actor Awie. Awie took to the stage with his band, Wings, to give KL Bike Week 2015 a fitting end.

KL Bike Week 2015

Once again, KL Bike Week returns for its 2015 edition. Organisers Red Garage Malaysia is hosting the annual two-wheeled soiree in the grounds of Lanai MaTIC off Jalan Ampang, Kuala Lumpur. The two-day event starts today and will run until tomorrow (Dec 19).

Image courtesy of Red Garage Malaysia
Image courtesy of Red Garage Malaysia

This year, KL Bike Week 2015 organisers have arranged with city officials to have parts of Jalan Ampang leading towards the event grounds closed the hopes of making things easier for bikers coming in and out. Worry not as you can still visit the event by taking a train to either KLCC or Dang Wangi as both stations are just 10-minute walks from Lanai MaTIC. You can refer to the map we’ve attached below.

Another key highlight of the event this year besides the mass show of all things two wheeled are the presence of several local bands tasked at providing the event’s soundtrack from its main stage. Of course, the main highlight of the roster this year is none other than legendary local rock band Wings who will headline the stage on Saturday evening.

We took a tour in the early hours of the event earlier today to see what you can expect from KL Bike Week 2015 (#KLBW2015).

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First of all, you’ll see plenty of Harley-Davidson motorcycles. Much of the local Malaysian Harley-Davidson owners community will be present in full force.

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KL Bike Week is also a mecca for many custom bike owners and enthusiasts. You’ll see them at every corner and perhaps resting under a tree like this threesome.

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KL Bike Week is also the perfect place to hunt for bargains. Plenty of vendors are present here offering various things from souvenirs to apparels, as well as various bike parts, riding gear, not to mention services as well such as on-site bike detailing.

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The amount of kits on sale are impressive too, and would please just about any DIY biker buff. What caught our attention today was this, the VOLO Advance Braking Indication system.

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However, should you fancy some of the finer things the two-wheeled world can offer, you can also indulge in artisan crafts. This selection of custom-made helmets and wood paintings made by Indonesian bike artisans Riders Rules are one example.

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Should you be the type who’s always carrying a cheque book in your pocket with a finer taste for bikes, then you might just find yourself oogling over some rarities up for sale by specialist importers present. We absolutely love this Ducati Paul Smart we found on display by specialist importers Sri Changgong Sdn Bhd.

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Besides that, Sri Changgong’s collection also includes a range of classic Japanese GP-derived two-stroke sports bikes. The Yamaha RZV 500R and the two TZRs next to it have indeed reignited our love for two-strokers.

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Sadly though, some bikes you’ll see on the grounds of KL Bike Week 2015 aren’t for sale, like this rare Honda NM4 Vultus maxi-scooter. Yes, you read that right, this blacked-out thing is a SCOOTER. And beleive it or not, it is taking all the limelight away from the blacked-out MV Agusta parked next to it.

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Of course, KL Bike Week isn’t all about two-wheels. There are plenty of independent food vendors and stalls or gerai with a rich selection of F&B. Even bikers need to fuel up too, and so should you.

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Our visit during the early hours today was short, so no sights of massive biker groups mingling around just yet. But this bloke walking around with a fiesty-looking parrot on his shoulder was interesting to say the least.

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Also making an appearance is the 1Malaysia custom cruiser built by the famed Orange County Choppers. Was this budgeted using the hotly contested RM2.6 billion? Hmmm…

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Got the need for speed? Well then, let BikesRepublic.com and Shell Advance remedy that for you virtually! Yes, we are present this year together with our partners Shell Advance Malaysia and you can win exclusive prizes in our simulator tournament just by visiting our booth!

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So? What are you waiting for? Come on down tonight and experience some of the best of Malaysian motorcycling at its finest!

See you at KL Bike Week 2015 folks!

 

With its 10th anniversary fast approaching, the hip and cool custom motorcycle brand Deus Ex Machina has made a significant mark in the two-wheeled scene thanks to its visionary founder, Dare Jennings.

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(Image source: Airows)

Today, the Deus Ex Machina brand’s works at building custom bikes and its line of bike-themed and surf-inspired fashion apparels are highly sought after worldwide, resulting in the opening of the brand’s destination stores in Sydney, Bali, Japan, Los Angeles, and Milan.

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(Image source: Airows)

With that in mind, it is easy to understand why Europe’s largest luxury brand conglomerate, LVMH SE (Moët Hennessy Louis Vuitton), has been rumoured to be in talks with Jennings in acquiring the chic and cool brand. Credible sources online are reporting that LVMH, via its private equity arm called L-Capital, are already in talks with Jennings to purchase the brand.

According to 65-year-old Jennings, Deus Ex Machina presently generates AUS$25 million annually in revenue, making worth roughly the same amount in the investors market.

MTMzMjgxMTEwMjU0NzIxNTAy(Image source: Airows)

It is widely presumed that whoever buys the Deux Ex Machina brand will likely expand its portfolio beyond its current chain of five stores with a focus on artisanal motorcycle enthusiasts. How this will actually pan out is something that only time will tell.

If this deal is successful, Deus Ex Machina will join a prestigious list of luxury brands owned by the LVMH consortium that includes Moët & Chandon, Dom Pérignon, Henessey, Dior, Louis Vuitton, Marc Jacobs, TAG Heur and Bvlgari.

Sources: Financial Review & AutoEvolution via Asphaltandrubber

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