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.
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? 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.
Photo from nwt3k.com
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.
Photo from nwt3k.com
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.
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.
Scorpio Electric Model X
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.
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.
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.
