Mohd. Adib will ride from Penang to China for charity.
The proceeds will go to the St. Nicholas’ Home, Penang.
St. Nicholas’ Home, Penang provides care for the visually-handicapped.
“Ride for Sight” will Mohd. Adib ride from Penang to China for charity from 20thNovember 2018.
The ride seeks to assist the St. Nicholas’ Home, Penang. St. Nicholas’ Home provides assistance for the visually handicapped from ages 6 through 77 irrespective of religion, race and background. They provide programs such as handicraft workshops, handing out low vision aid perscriptions, aftercare and job placement service, home for the elderly blind, among many others. There is also a multi-handicapped program caters to those who are afflicted with other afflictions in addition to being visually-handicapped.
This is why Mohd. Adib’s calls the ride “Ride for Sight.” The ride will take approximately 27 days to complete.
“My ride kicks off on the 20thNovember 2018 and end on 15thDecember 2018.The route I will be riding is from Penang – Thailand – Golden Triangle Border (Myanmar, Thailand & Laos) – Shangri-La – Tibet – Kunming – Laos – Thailand and back to Penang,” said the thirty-year-old Mohd. Adib.
The rider is no stranger stranger to overland rides on his Yamaha FZ150i. Among his achievements were:
Solo ride around Peninsular Malaysia in 2013.
Solo riding in the 7 Nations Expedition which covered Malaysia, Thailand, Cambodia, Vietnam, China, Laos and Myanmar in 2016.
Taking part in the Colombo Bike Week in Sri Lanka in 2017.
Mohd. Adib is raising funds for St. Nicholas’ Home through the sale os exclusive T-shirts. He will donate 10% of each sold to the home. The shirts are available through Mohd. Adib’sand Kembara Jiwa’sFacebook pages. Price for the T-shirts are RM50 (short-sleeved) and RM60 (long-sleeved).
Mohd. Adib can also be reaced at 016-4734748 for further information.
Called the Moto Guzzi Vengeance Challenge Ride, Moto Guzzi Malaysia organised the ride to Penang.
The fasting month did not stop Moto Guzzi riders from riding.
It was an fun ride as the riders got to enjoy their bikes in many different situations.
Many already know that the holy month of Ramadan is when Muslims observe the act of Puasa (fasting). But it goes beyond not eating during the daylight hours of the day. Ramadan is the ninth month of the Muslim calendar and was the month when the Holy Quran was revealed. Fasting is the one of the Five Pillars of Islam, so Ramadan is a time of spiritual reflection, improvement and worship. Muslims are expected to increase their effort into following the teachings of Islam.
It the time to challenge our resolve as Muslims to resist temptation.
Hence this was the reason Moto Guzzi Malaysia decided to organize a special ride on 1st June 2018. Called the Moto Guzzi Vengeance Challenge Ride, it was planned as an iftar (breaking fast) ride over two evenings.
The destination this time was Penang. As usual, the participants congregated at The Gasket Alley first for iftar before riding north at night. Jeya Thevan was the head marshal this time, thus he conducted the pre-ride briefing.
Riding at night during the Puasa month is much welcomed as we didn’t have to bask under the sun. The group of 12 kept a tight formation from the start point.
However, it started to rain slightly as we passed Rawang, cooling the ambient temperature even further. At least it wasn’t the heat causing drowsiness.
We topped off our tanks at the Tapah R&R and got rolling again, under the rain, all the way to another stop at Sungai Perak. It was planned as a relaxing ride, so we took our time to enjoy the fresh cool air, the ride and the soft rumble of the Moto Guzzi 90o V-Twin.
From there it was a straight shot to the Penang Island via the Sultan Abdul Halim Muadzam Shah Bridge (the new bridge). It was 2.30 am when we arrived at the toll plaza and there was no traffic to be seen. As a note to bikers, there is a motorcycle lane from the time you turn onto the bridge’s slip road and it’ll lead you to the toll plaza and all the way to Penang Island. However, please make double sure that you have a Touch ‘N’ Go card with you, especially at night as the counters are closed. Imagine having to turn around to get one or have some amount topped up into your IC at Juru.
Penang being Penang (it’s my hometown, by the way), turned left right, left, right, left countless times before reaching the Vouk Hotel Suites along Jalan Azlan Shah. At 3am.
Yes, we surely took our own sweet time. What’s the hurry, anyway? It’ll probably be even more tiring if we had blasted our way there.
We were given some time to freshen up and head back out to Nasi Kandar Line Clear for sahur (breakfast).
The group was given some free time until check out time at 1pm, but we’re not sure if anyone did go around Penang.
From the hotel, it was to Sheng Fatt Motor, Moto Guzzi’s authorized dealer in Penang, situated along Jalan Dato’ Keramat. The dealership provided top-class Penang hospitality, as the shop’s crew even helped us to park our bikes. Looks like Moto Guzzi owners now have a good home up north.
Mr. Sheng, Boss of Sheng Fatt organized a crew to lead us first to Fort Cornwallis for a goup photography session. The Guzzi’s looked especially great in that kind of setting.
Next, the Sheng Fatt boys ran point as they guided us to the first Penang Bridge to Harley-Davidson of Penang at Juru Autocity. The dealership is now fully operational for sales and aftersales.
We bade farewell and got back on the road again, this time towards our first stop at Sungai Perak. The weather stayed clear and hot all the way to that particular R&R before turning cloudy. That cooled down the air and road.
Although most of the riders fasted, none seemed to show signs of fatigue. Instead, they were smiling and laughing as they joked with each other.
It was over to the Foods Project Restaurant in Ipoh for iftar. We arrived ahead of schedule and that allowed us to rest up first. We kicked back a bit more after our dinner before getting on the road again, straight to the Tanjung Malim R&R.
A few riders went their separate ways from the R&R as they didn’t need to ride all the way to Moto Guzzi Malaysia. Not a single Moto Guzzi broke down or encountered any serious problem. But more importantly, everyone got home safe and sound without a single untoward incident.
In conclusion, it was a pleasurable ride. However, we didn’t visit many historic sites in Penang as it was just not practical to explore during fasting, then continuing with the ride after that. Moto Guzzi Malaysia has promised a ride which includes visiting places of interest in Penang in the near future, so stay tuned!
BMW Motorrad Malaysia brought Nightfuel to Penang.
BMW Motorrad Malaysia launched the new R nineT Urban G/S, S 1000 RR, R 1200 GS Rallye and K 1600 Bagger.
Hundreds showed up despite the heavy rain.
One of the best parts of motorcycling is the lifestyle. Now, while the word “lifestyle” usually describes fashion, a motorcycling lifestyle goes deeper than the superficial.
A motorcycling lifestyle encompasses loving the motorcycle you own, loving to ride whether going solo or with your buddies, strengthening the bond amongst your riding buddies while making new ones, and many more latent personal reasons. It’s a way of life, regardless of your level of passion and to what lengths you express that passion.
But there is one inescapable aspect of every biker’s life and that’s the weekly get-together, called TTS for Teh Tarik Session, among Malaysian bikers.
That’s why BMW Motorrad Nightfuel roadshows play an important role to not only showcase that lifestyle but also to present it as part of BMW Motorrad’s “Make Life a Ride” way of life. Featuring “friendly gathering, food and music,” attendees can be assured of the best TTS in their calendar.
BMW Motorrad Nightfuel visited Penang on 9th September 2017 and it was the first outside of the Klang Valley. The event site was situated just off the on-ramp to the Sultan Abdul Halim Muadzam Shah Bridge (better known as “The new Penang Bridge.
There were already hundreds of bikes when we arrived, consisting of BMWs and a good number of other brands, as well.
Pretty girls smiled sweetly and welcomed us at the BMW Motorrad Nightfuel registration desk despite the heavy rain blowing into their tent. Kudos, girls. Each participant received a BMW Motorrad dry bag and ticket for the lucky draw. There was already a long line for the food – typical of us Malaysian bikers!
In the main pavilion, tables and chairs were laid out to surround the centre stage, flanked by BMW motorcycle display stands. The Penang channel and bridge provided the breathtaking backdrop.
Head of BMW Motorrad Malaysia, Owen Riley, welcomed attendees and launched BMW Motorrad Nightfuel Penang.
One of Malaysia’s most famous sessions band, NRG, made sure everyone got rocked by expertly belting out famous hits such as Highway To Hell, Highway Star, Sweet Child O’ Mine, Sejati, among others.
Speaking about the food, the row of stalls served iconic Penang street food such as ais kacang, cendol, Penang assam laksa, rojak buah, char koay teow, and satay. There was also a mini BBQ. The laksa was among the best this writer has ever tried (I had three bowls!).
There was also a Ride & Style Shop operated by Auto Bavaria Penang which sold BMW Motorrad riding gear and paraphernalia.
The site was buzzing with high octane activity, despite the rain still crashing down. Many more motorcycles continued to appear through the maelstrom.
Soon enough, it was time to launch the new bikes, starting with the updated S 1000 RR superbike. Although the engine and design are untouched, the new S 1000 RR now features ABS Pro for more secure hard braking in corners. It is priced from RM 106,900.
Next was one the most anticipated motorcycle, the new R 1200 GS Rallye. Priced from RM 105,900, the GS has been redesigned with new radiator flanks. The engine remains the same (why fix something not broke), backed up by six comprehensive Ride Modes.
The night continued with more great food and music as old friends hung out together and made new ones. A few rounds of lucky draws were held as BMW gave away a few amazing gifts such as sets of Lego R 1200 GS.
The other two bikes were unveiled soon afterwards.
The R nineT Urban G/S harks back to the design of the R 80 G/S of yesteryears but with a modern twist. Built upon the R 1200 engine and R nineT’s frame, the Urban G/S is given longer travel suspension, tapered handlebar, 19-inch front wheel, and the classic headlight fairing to complete that classic enduro look. It is priced from RM 87,900.
Soon, it was time to unveil the main star of BMW Motorrad Nightfuel Penang – the K 1600 Bagger.
As what BMW Motorrad Malaysia’s Product Specialist said during the presentation, a bagger means a cruiser which features touring gear and luggage. Built on the K 1600 engine and touring frame, the K 1600 B uses the platform’s impressive size and is given a sloping tail end to great effect, turning it into a beautiful motorcycle which only the best customizers could dream of building. But don’t be fooled by its size: The K 1600 series consists of superbly agile motorcycles! Priced from RM 159,900, it is not cheap for most of us, but that pricing is competitive when compared among high-end baggers in the market.
The Nightfuel party carried on until late and we bid our goodbyes. As mentioned before, this was the first BMW Motorrad Malaysia’s Nightfuel outside of the Klang Valley and it turned out to be the best. Not even the big storm could derail is status.
Walk around video of all three new Benelli motorcycles including engine start up.
The design of the Benelli TRK 502 has obvious influences from BMW, especially the fuel tank, sitting position and the shape and angle of the handle bar.
The damping is cushy so there is the usual dive under heavy braking typical of softish suspension, but the rear does a decent job at soaking up speed bumps and such, which gives it a comfortable ride.
Taller riders will find the TRK a bit cramped, but it makes up for that with good low speed handling, and a big comfortable seat.
Benelli Malaysia made quite a wave in the local motorcycling scene when it launched three new models last weekend. You can read about the launch here, but M Force Bike Holdings Sdn Bhd, the local importer, distributor and soon to be assembler of Benelli motorcycles, also gave us an opportunity to sample all three bikes the following day.
The test ride route was just a small loop around the Equatorial Hotel in Penang, maybe about a kilometer long at most, which wasn’t exactly the perfect scenario to truly sample the capabilities of any motorcycle, but it was good enough to judge the basic handling and engine response of the new motorcycles.
We started the ride with the TRK502, Benelli’s new adventure bike. I must say that I was surprised with this bike, so surprised that I will go so far as to say that among Benelli’s new motorcycles, the TRK is the best.
The design has obvious influences from BMW, especially the fuel tank, sitting position and the shape and angle of the handle bar, but who can blame Benelli when the BMW GS is quite obviously one of the benchmark’s for almost all adventure bike builders.
Taller riders will find the TRK a bit cramped, but it makes up for that with good low speed handling, and a big comfortable seat.
It does not have a lot of technology, in fact it skimps out on things like cruise control, traction control, and tyre pressure monitoring sensors, but it does have ABS. And Benelli knew exactly what kind of motorcycle it wanted the TRK 502 to be, so they also threw in a well placed button (on the left handle bar, right within reach of your thumb) that allows you to completely switch off the ABS system. This is handy when you want to tackle dirt and mud off-road. Well thought out Benelli!
The TRK 502 isn’t exactly big on power either, the twin-cylinder, liquid cooled engine produces just 48hp at 8,500rpm and 45Nm of torque at 5,000rpm. There’s good grunt lower down the rev band, but there’s a feeling that more power will be needed on the highway, especially when you want to just squeeze the throttle and accelerate out of a situation. We’ll get to that when we actually get to ride this bike on a highway.
Gear changes are nice – short and precise. The final drive is of course chain driven which makes the TRK quite well suited for global riders who want to ride a bike to the end of the world without worrying about complicated or shortage of parts and such.
Suspension feels good too – the front consists of an inverted fork with 150mm of travel while the rear is made up of a steel swing arm with a single telescopic oil damped coil spring with 45mm of travel. The damping is cushy so there is the usual dive under heavy braking typical of softish suspension, but the rear does a decent job at soaking up speed bumps and such, which gives it a comfortable ride.
Brakes too are decent and are made up of twin 320mm discs up front grabbed by twin-piston calipers. The rear is made up of a single 260mm disc. Tyres are 120/70ZR17 up front and 160/60/ZR17 at the rear.
All in all the Benelli TRK 502 seems to be the ideal adventure bike for those looking to get into the segment with a unsophisticated machine with proven old-school technology. It is cheaper than the Kawasaki Versys 650 and there is still no news of Yamaha’s 700 Tracer, so that makes the TRK 502 the cheapest Adventure bike you can get in the market right now.
Complaints? Well I don’t quite like the patchy welding job and the frame could do with a bit more attention to detail, but that does not make this a bad motorcycle. Aesthetics aside, the TRK 502 seems to have it all, now we are just waiting on M Force Bike Holdings Sdn Bhd to make this bike available for a review so we can rack up about 1000 kilometers on it. We will be back with more on the TRK 502.
This week’s Weekend Ride highlights the superb mee sotong (fried squid noodles) or mee rebus (stewed noodles)
Good lunch option located at the Esplanade Park Food Court, just 20 minutes from the first Penang Bridge
Opens Mondays to Saturdays (Closed on Sundays, probably to watch MotoGP or WordSBK races too)
Welcome to another ‘The Weekend Ride’ segment right here on Bikes Republic. This week, we’re featuring one of the most iconic dishes ever to be produced from the little island of Penang; the incredible Mee Sotong (squid noodles) from Hameed ‘Pata’ food place located in Esplanade Park Food Court near Padang Kota Lama. (more…)
