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Thousands of Litres of Cooking Oil Spilled on Karak Highway

Thousands of liters of cooking oil was spilled on the Karak Highway yesterday.

The spill was caused by a tanker truck carrying a load of used cooking oil when it was involved in an accident at Kilometer 36.8 of the highway near Genting Sempah.

Gombak District Police Chief, Assistant Commissioner Noor Ariffin Mohamad Nasir, said the police received a report regarding the incident at about 9pm.

“The result of the investigation found that the incident happened at 2pm with a 50-year-old man driving the tanker from Kuantan to Port Klang, Selangor.

“It was raining heavily when he arrived at the location. He lost control of his truck and it hit the metal road barrier.”

He said the driver was uninjured and the case was investigated according to Rule 10 LN 166/59.

We would like to advise users of the highway, especially those riding motorcycles to be careful when in the area as the road surface may still be slippery. Anyway, the corners on the Karak Highway are certainly inviting, but there have been many unwanted incidents.

Indian MotoGP 2024 Maybe Dropped due to Non-Payment

The Indian MotoGP 2024 round may be dropped.

Autosport revealed that the local promoter, Fairview Sports has not made payments to the “local vendors and MotoGP rights holder Dorna Sport.” However, Fairview is given time until 20 May to sort out the matter.

The Indian MotoGP 2024 was set to return the second time from 19 to 22 September. Its cancellation could very well mean Kazakhstan taking over the slot. The Kazakh round was to begin on 16 June but was postponed due to massive floods.

The 2024 MotoGP calendar will see a reduction back to 20 rounds should the Indian MotoGP gets cancelled. The Argentinian round was cancelled before the start of the season, bringing the total down to 21.

Last year’s inaugural GP in the country also saw difficulties as the Buddh circuit was only ready and certified at the last moments, but remained dirty when MotoGP arrived. Riders also raised concerns that the track’s undulating and flowing layout had inadequate run-off areas.

Speaking of arrival, several riders’ and team personnel’s Visa approvals were also delayed causing the riders to miss out on several promotional events.

India is currently the world’s largest motorcycle market hence is an important stop for the manufacturers and MotoGP.

8 Reasons why Riding Solo is More Fun

It is true that riding in a convoy has its appeal such as camaraderie among friends who have the same love for motorcycles. However, there are times when riding solo is more fun. Everyone needs some time away, anyhow.

1. Alone with our thoughts

This is the main reason some bikers like to ride solo. It is time to get away from the toxic partner, the screaming kids, the unappreciative boss, etc., etc. Riding solo gives you a clarity of mind and who knows, you may discover the answer to that nagging problem.

2. No peer pressure

Peer pressure is real during group rides and it is not confined to riding fast, but also riding too slow. It is not uncommon for the faster riders to berate the slower ones (who chose to ride at a relaxed pace), or vice versa. We may even get riders who seem to challenge us to a race. Such group dynamics create a dangerous riding environment. Riding solo does away with peer pressure.

3. Our own pace and schedule

Riding solo means we ride at our own pace and adhering to our own schedule (or not). There is no one to harass us if we put on our gear slowly. Or stopping every few minutes. Or having to chase someone else’s schedule.

4. Stop whenever we want

We decide when we want to stop. Or pull over whenever you see a beautiful view such a sunset. Or a green carpet of paddy fields. Just stop, take in the view. No one will complain.

5. Start whenever we want

As much as we like taking our own time, we also hate those who take too much of our time. Strange but true, is it not? We will ALWAYS find that one friend who takes forever to gear up (only to stop the entire convoy because he forgot something). Or that guy who needs to stop and pee every 15 minutes. Or the group that constantly stops to eat even before the engine is anywhere near lukewarm. So instead of taking 4 hours to reach your intended destination, it took 8 hours. The answer? Ride solo.

6. Idiot riders

Sometimes riding in a group sets a rider’s ego loose to show off such as pulling wheelies. Or teasing the local ladies and earning the ire of the residents (It actually happened on one of our trips to Thailand!). Or some guys who decided to go another way, getting lost, and holding up the entire group by hours as we go look for them while they look for us.

7. Safety

The safety aspect is derived from not riding with idiots. We can mitigate our own risks instead of putting our lives and limbs in the hands of others. You may get one rider who constantly speeds up then slotting in, another rider who insists of riding several centimetres from you like as if it is a Blue Angels’ display. Ride solo and ride relaxed rather than worrying about the safety of the others and ours.

8. Change of mind

Imagine riding and you suddenly get a craving for food you have not eaten for some time. Or decide to spend the night in a nice town that appeals to our fancies. Just do it because you do not need to consult with anyone.

BONUS: Practice your riding skills

Trying to practice your skills during a group ride is not a smart thing to do since there are other bikes around. Also, we can bet there will be several others around to impart the wrong advice which would be detrimental to our riding and safety. Riding solo lets you practice your own skill sets.

Q1 2024 Motorcycle Sales Dropped by 20 Percent in Malaysia

Q1 2024 motorcycle sales dropped by 20 percent in Malaysia.

The figure was reported in the MotorCycles Data website which tracks the sales to customers, rather than sales from manufacturers and distributors to dealers.

A total of 135,717 motorcycles were delivered in Q1 2024, representing a -20% decline compared to the same period in 2023. All major brands recorded double-digit decline. On the other hand, sales for the entire 2023 was also a -11.9% decline from the high in 2022.

Yamaha’s sales were down by -18.3%, Honda saw a -11.9% decrease, and the top domestic brands such as SM was down by -35.8% and Modenas hit -51.0%.

The downward trend was possibly a consequence of the many long holidays during the first quarter, as Chinese New Year was in February, continued by the month of Ramadan through March, and Hari Raya Puasa in April.

Although Bank Negara expects the economy to grow between 4 to 5%, hence an improvement in sales, several subsidy “rationalisation” (just a high word for “reduction”) plans will surely impact the spending power of many citizens in the months to come.

The high sales figure in 2022 was partly due to the government of the time allowing for withdrawals from contributors’ Employee Provident Fund accounts. This was what some experts called “spurring a false economy.” The present government has just allowed the same now, albeit through a different withdrawal structure. Will this improve motorcycle sales for several short months?

Malaysia is the 13th largest motorcycle market in the world. The Top 3 now are India, China, and Indonesia. Truth is, almost all markets reported a decrease in sales in Q1 2024.

French Red Bull MotoGP Rookies Cup 2024, Hakim Danish on the Podium Again

Malaysia’s young racer, Hakim Danish Ramli was once again on the Red Bull MotoGP Rookies Cup podium, this time at the French Grand Prix. It was his second podium finish in the 2024 season, after scoring a second-place finish in Spain, previously.

The 16-year-old had led much of Race 2 after a good start. He had also changed his riding style, which allowed him to match the front runners.

“This time I changed my riding, I had my body further forward and pushed my elbow down, I was scraping it through the corners and tried to open the throttle earlier in the corners and it worked very well.”

However, he was overtaken by the eventual winner Brian Uriarte and second place finisher Màximo Quiles just moments to the end of the race. Quiles, the winner of the Race 1 a day earlier was leading when Uriarte lunged inside at the final turn, surprising Quiles and caused him to slide his front tyre. Quiles managed to save it and finished just ahead of Hakim.

“In the last lap I tried to lead but two people overtook me, That’s OK I tried to overtake again. Into the last corner, I almost wanted to try a pass on Maximo and Brian but I was just too far away. I already overtook another rider the turn before and that cost me a little bit, I couldn’t go for the win at the last corner,” continued Hakim who finished 3rd.

Hakim had finished in 6th in Race 1 on Saturday, and admitted that he could not match the front runners’ pace. Still, it was a positive result overall as he had targeted a podium finish in this round.

Lambretta is Back, but Who are the New Lambretta?

As we posted earlier, Lambretta is making a comeback to Malaysia and it has since showed lots of interest, not to mention sparking nostalgia among ex-Lambretta owners and fans. In fact, my late-Dad rode a Lambretta in the 60’s and he was like a rock star among his peers!

However, one comment had us thinking too. “Is the engine made in China?” one of our followers asked.

So, we decided to do some digging.

The beginning and peak of Lambretta

Let us start with the history of Lambretta, because we do not know where we are and where we are going if we do not know where we have been.

Italy was in ruins after World War 2, and her people were looking more affordable forms of transportation. Vespa was the first to recognise the opportunity and began in 1946. A year later, Dr. Ferdinando Innocenti who owns an iron and machinery works in Milan which made steel tubings, realised that it was indeed a great time for his firm to profit. He ordered his technical staff to design a two-wheeled vehicle to be produced at a low cost.

Instead of going the Vespa route, the Innocenti staff drew inspiration from the Cushman Model 53 foldable scooters used by American and British airborne troops when they landed in Italy during the war. Hence the single downtube frame to which everything else is connected to.

Now they needed a name and in the age-old Roman/Italian fashion, they chose one after the mythical water sprite that lived in the Lambro river near where the company was located. Lambretta was born.

This was the age of pioneering engineering and manufacturers looked for distinguishing features rather than copying and pasting them like they do these days. Again, Lambretta did not want to follow Vespa’s methods, such as connecting the engine directly to the rear wheel. Instead, they sent the engine’s power through a three-speed gearbox and a sealed oil-bath chain. The engine and gearbox were placed along the frame’s axis.

This designed was what started Lambretta’s success and their fan’s fierce rivalry with Vespa. Lambretta riders mocked Vespa’s off-centre construction (the engine’s to one side) which made them “look like sailboats.”

So, to make the story short, Lambretta released several groundbreaking models such as the LD in 1950, followed up by an evolved LD in 1951, and the LI series which began in 1958 until 1973.

Other great Lambrettas include the 175 TV Series 3 which became the first scooter equipped with a disc brake in 1962.

The peak of the Innocenti company was the 1969 with the 200 SX 200/200 DL Electronic, which featured electronic ignition, disc brakes, and an 11 hp 200cc two-stroke single. It was the most powerful engine in a scooter at the time. Heck, even the current 2024 Ysuku (Yamaha Y15ZR) does just 15 hp.

The decline of Lambretta

The brand actually outsold Vespa for many years but ran into a crisis when cheap cars such as the Fiat 500 started becoming more prominent.

Vespa, on the other hand, weathered this critical juncture partly due to aggressive marketing and unchanging image. Lambretta sought to market their bikes as more sophisticated and upscale products and even hired Italian designers such as Bertone (who designed Ferraris, Lamborghinis, Lancia, Citroën, amongst other famous marques) to refine their bikes. However, this only added costs, while the majority of buyers were still seeking cheap modes of transportation.

Innocenti sells Lambretta

The production lines to the Indian government, who in turn created Scooters India Limited (SIL), who used the Lambretta name until 1998. SIL produced the LI 150’s derivatives, Lamby and GP150 for export. We have seen many Lamby in classic Bollywood movies.

SIL then sold Innocenti to BMC (British Leyland), who began producing the Mini in Italy, shortly after. The Italian market responded positively, and BMC planned huge investments to increase manufacturing capabilities.

But it did not occur to BMC that Fiat is the taikor (big brother) in Italy, which had the Italian government blocking BMC’s projects. As such, BMC Innocenti went bankrupt.

The company’s assets were transferred to one Alessandro de Tomaso who had connections in the Italian government. Yes, the very same Tomaso of the legendary De Tomaso Pantera. However, just as other de Tomaso firms, Lambretta suffered and was shut down for good.

Lambretta has a new owner

The following years saw the Innocenti and Lambretta brands going around from one court to another embroiled in the fight for ownership.

Finally, a longtime Ductch Lambretta owner and investor Walter Scheffrahn got hold of both brands. He went on to establish a new operative headquarters called Innocenti SA in Lugano, Switzerland. Innocenti SA finally launched three Lambrettas, the V50, V125, and V200 in 2017 that received success in Far East markets.

This led to a partnership with Thailand’s Gaoking company. So, to answer our readers: the current Lambretta’s headquarters in Switzerland is home to their R&D department under Scheffrahn’s personal control and leadership. The Thai partners are in charge of manufacturing.

Lambretta Returns to Malaysia

26 Motorcycles Destroyed, 10 Damaged in UniMAP Hostel Fire

26 motorcycles were destroyed while another 10 were damaged due to a fire at the UniMap hostel early this morning.

Almost all the motorcycles were owned by students of Universiti Malaysia Perlis (UniMAP) and were parked in the basement of a dormitory block in Pauh Putra.

The incident is believed to have happened at 4.41 am at Block B, Pauh Putra Housing Complex (Residential College).

A spokesman for the Malaysian Fire and Rescue Department (JBPM) Perlis said that a total of six members led by Senior Fire Chief II, Megat Zairilnizam Ahmad from the Arau Fire and Rescue Station were deployed to the scene of the incident.

“When we arrived at the scene, we found that the fire had spread and destroyed and damaged 36 motorcycles parked there.

“Criminal investigation officers have already visited the scene for a preliminary investigation,” he said.

A victim of the incident said he was woken by a friend while he was sleeping who said that their dormitory block was on fire. “I live on the fifth floor. When my friend said there was a fire, I thought this dormitory block was on fire.

“So I took whatever items I could salvage including a laptop downstairs but when I stepped down, I saw my motorcycle, a year-old Yamaha Y16, engulfed in flames.

“I was unable to do anything to save my motorcycle because the situation there was hot and the fire was raging and I estimated the loss to be RM14,500,” he said.

His friend, Muhammad Muaz Mohd Sofi, 25, also did not have time to do anything to save the Honda RS150 motorcycle that he had been using for more than five years when the fire spread quickly.

Malaysia Needs Motoring Schools – Jorge Lorenzo

Three-time MotoGP world champion Jorge Lorenzo said Malaysia needs motoring schools for two wheels to develop talent to compete competitively on the global stage one day.

Lorenzo said the schools needs to be guided by some former champions and also to organise a series of championships to discover and further develop talented riders.

“I think Malaysia and Indonesia need this school with some champions who can share their experiences and organise some championships for children.

“Only with this, they can improve because the organisation of the championship is not very strong and there is no champion who can give advice to the children,” said Lorenzo who is also the ambassador of the electric motorcycle brand Vmoto Brand, on last Wednesday.

Malaysia at the time is seen to be on the right track to produce good riders with grassroots programs such as the Malaysian MiniGP Series Championship run by former rider in the World Motorcycle Championship, Zulfahmi Khairuddin.

Is there a Waterproof Rating for Rain Suits?

Is there a waterproof rating for rain suits? Or do we just trust the maker? Or do we keep changing them until we find one that works? And NO, THIS IS NOT A PAID OR SPONSORED ARTICLE.

We admit, buying a motorcycle rain suit is not an easy task, especially when every maker claiming to make the best rain suit, usually along the lines of being “fully waterproof” and “breathable.” Just head to online shopping platforms such as Shopee and Lazada and you will see what mean. (And we have not begin to touch on fake ones yet.)

So, back to the question: Is there such a rating? Well, yes.

Fabric waterproof ratings

Waterproof Rating (Water column in mm)	Level of water resistance	Conditions
0-5000 mm	No resistance to some resistance to moisture.	Light rain, no pressure.
6000-10000 mm	Rainproof and waterproof under light pressure.	Light rain, light pressure.
11000-15000 mm	Rainproof and waterproof except under high pressure.	Moderate rain, light pressure.
16000-20000 mm	Rainproof and waterproof under high pressure.	Heavy rain, some pressure.
20000 mm+	Rainproof and waterproof under very high pressure.	Heavy rain, high pressure.

Please refer to the table above.

So, the higher the water column rating, the more waterproof that fabric is.

“Pressure” as described above is the force which presses the water column against the fabric, which simulates wind. This is why certain rain suit and/or winter clothing makers specify their fabrics’ waterproof rating in PSI (pressure per square inch). The conversion rate is 1 psi = 704 mm of water.

How is the fabric tested?

The technical term is hydrostatic pressure test.

First, there is a reason why the rating is called “water column.” It refers to a vertical tube filled with water and graduated in mm, thus resembling a column.

A piece of fabric is pulled taught, like the skin of a drum, and the tube is placed on top of it. Water is then added into the tube until its pressure permeates through the fabric.

For example, if water starts to permeate at 3250mm, that particular fabric has a waterproof rating of between 0-5000mm, hence it is somewhat resistant to water and suitable for very light rain.

Simple so far.

Problem is…

However, not all manufacturers publish their rain suits’ rating. There are those who mimic (ahem) or utilise the same materials used by other manufacturers to create their own.

There are several resulting eventualities here:

A rain suit that has no waterproof rating, but is really waterproof due to good materials and design. You will be surprised to find certain branded rain suits that are rather thin and light yet offers great waterproofing and lasts for many years.
A rain suit that not only lets water in, but it is as much water as not wearing a rain suit. It could be due to a bad design such as no velcro seal, no “rain channel” to cover the jacket’s zipper, or bad seam seals (especially in the crotch area), or bad materials, or the combination of any or all these factors. And good luck trying to get your money back from the Shopee seller you ordered from!
But… there are also manufacturers who actually tested their rain suits yet they leak like a sieve. Clock these up to bad design and materials.

So how do we know?

The best bet, unfortunately, is to experiment with rain suits from several brands. Our favourites thus far are from RS Taichi and Komine. The former does not have its waterproof rating published, while the Komine’s level is 32000mm. They are light, long lasting, breathable, and very waterproof. NO, THIS IS NOT A PAID ARTICLE, instead it is from our own experiences of having owned several rain suits.

No, BYD is not Making Motorcycles

Rumours, half-truths, even outright lies are rife in social media these days, because people love controversies, and that drives views and engagement. And the main problem is trying to distinguish between genuine and fake news, at least until the relevant party clears the air. Such as allegations that BYD will be making motorcycles. So no, BYD is not making motorcycles.

Rumours began circulating of a “BYD electric motorcycle” when an unofficial video was published in social media. The video also highlighted the cost savings of owning a BYD motorcycle.

That prompted the company to reply formally, with the General Manager of the Brand Public Relations Department of BYD Group, Li Yunfei, stating that the bike does not exist, nor being developed. He also stated unequivocally that any “news” of BYD developing any form of two-wheeled vehicle as “all false.”

It is not to say that BYD does not have the experience with electric motorcycles.

BYD signed an agreement with Singaporean brand Scorpio Electric back in July 2023 to assemble the former’s electric scooter called the X1 for the Chinese market. However, the X1 does not use BYD’s LFP battery, and utilises Samsung’s powerpack, instead.

Going further back to 2022, BYD developed and supplied LFP batteries to the Spanish motorcycle maker Nerva for their Nerva Exe E-Scooter (main picture).

Yes, that is correct: BYD also supplies batteries to several automakers, as well as other industries, and are researching and developing safer batteries for motorcycles.

BYD is now one of the largest vehicle manufacturers in the world, and especially in the electric vehicle (EV) sector. Their meteoric rise has caught out several manufacturers, including Tesla who saw their sales slide worldwide, causing the American company to conduct a massive layoff recently. It is perhaps not surprising to see some folks who get over-excited at the prospect of BYD making motorcycles.

Motorcycle manufacturers can now breathe a little easier. For now.

KTM 990 RC R Incoming!

Ever wondered why KTM has not produced another fully-faired road-going sportbike since the RC8 ended production post 2010? It was because the CEO of KTM thought that sportbikes are getting too fast and they wanted to be responsible for rider safety. Yet, they produced the absolutely mad Super Duke supernaked. Well, nevermind that because here comes the KTM 990 RC R sportbike for the streets!

That is the great news because the RC 8C was a limited run unit for the track only, to the consternation of many KTM fans. On the other hand, the KTM 990 RC R sportbike is fully confirmed by KTM themselves, with Riaan Neveling, Head of KTM Global Marketing issuing a statement:

“The KTM 990 RC R is a groundbreaking innovation for those who live for the thrill of cornering. It’s for those who lean close to the road, almost brushing their knees, and then push the limits, dragging elbow to the tarmac on the racetrack. This bike offers power and prestige without the exorbitant price tag. At last, we can unveil our KTM 990 RC R and introduce a truly exceptional motorcycle to dealerships in early 2025, fulfilling the anticipation of countless riders and race enthusiasts. Our DUKE Range and other Street products have garnered a loyal following for their distinct character; we believe the KTM 990 RC R will quickly attain cult status because it excels at the two things it was designed for so remarkably well.”

Although the prototype (and rider) here wears a dazzle camouflage, the bike’s shape is strikingly similar to the KTM RC16 MotoGP race bike, and that of the RC 8 R’s, too. Hence a fuel tank designed to provide great support while cornering. Peeking through the fairing is part of the steel trellis frame, mated to a curved swingarm.

While there is not much technical details, it is not a full monty sportbike as the numbers suggest. “990” should mean the new bike shares the same engine as the KTM 990 Duke R. What that means is 126 hp and 103 Nm of torque.

Still, the bike looks lithe and we hope for a favourable power-to-weight ratio, although do not hope to chase down 200hp, 1000cc superbikes.

The KTM 990 RC R will be revealed in 2025 so cross your fingers and start saving now.

US Seeks to Ban DJI Drones

First Huawei, then ZTE, followed by TikTok, and now the US seeks to ban DJI drones.

According to the New York Times, DJI is already on the US Department of Defence’s watchlist, “DJI is on a Defense Department list of Chinese military companies whose products the U.S. armed forces will be prohibited from purchasing in the future.”

The saga goes back as early as 2021, when the U.S. Treasury Department put DJI on a list of companies suspected of having ties to the Chinese military. DJI was also allegedly complicit in the surveillance of a minority group.

Back to 2024, Congress is now aiming to put DJI on the Federal Communications Commission Covered List. Companies on this “blacklist” cannot operate on the country’s communication infrastructure. Huawei and ZTE are among those listed.

The bill called Countering CCP Drones Act has already received bipartisan support in Congress, citing national security risks. The bill was introduced by Congressperson Elise Stefanik (Republican – New York), which pointed out security vulnerabilities uncovered by researchers.

On the other hand, DJI continues to deny the allegations, saying “The lawmakers driving this legislation continue to reference inaccurate and unsubstantiated allegations regarding DJI’s operations.” They have also refuted claims that DJI is a Chinese military company.

The bill has experts and enthusiasts up in arms as it would cause DJI drones to be useless in the US. The major contention among them is that no other company makes drones of the same quality and with the same features.

We have to add that the US Government is also looking in steps to curtail the import of Chinese-made cars, specifically EVs.

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