2008 Kawasaki KX250 & KLX250

Looks almost the same. But they far off two different bikes. I still want to find out more about these two bike. I've been wanting for a dirt bike for quite sometime now. The KX250 is a motocross, and the KLX250 is a dual-purpose enduro style machine. So which one to get? If you planning to slam this bike to the fullest, KX250 is the answer. Power and suspension are design to tortured you, not the bike. KLX250 has a street legal advantage. You can ride around town since it can be registered for road use, while the KX250 are meant only for offroad.



I sat down at Mok a few hours today, some paperwork to do for my claim submission. Since there's no bike my the porch except for my scoot, it felt kinda weird. So my interest to get a bike does push me a bit to know more about these two bikes. The KLX are price at RM23K and the KX is around RM26K. No registration needed for the KX, thus no insurance and roadtax. If those figure isn't that high, I know I'll bought one.



Doesn't looks much different. So why opt to get the KX? Mok and Kelana was there. Hohoho... it's totally different, said them. KX is a beast compare to the KLX. The KLX is dog, it'll obey.



KX has no meter, no lights, no panel, no switches, nothing. Even no battery. I'm liking it even more. >:)



Now you can see the real difference. Chassis are more solid. Engine looks more muscular. Suspension I was being told that the KLX couldn't stand extreme off-roading.

Tok Mat has been waiting for us to get one of these. I was told we could get it for the sum of RM5K-7K from a half-cut shop, but that seems a bull talk. My pocket aren't deep enough to spend RM20K for a toy. Even if it's RM10K, I has to consider twice. But I want one. Hmm... Then again. I want it ALL (Queen style). Right?

Akrapovic Hexagonal Slip-On + Optional Link Pipe for ZX10R 2008 Part II

Here's how the Akrapovic Hexagonal Slip-On with the link pipe sounds like. Noise reduction insert are removed. Who install them anyway? Huhu...


Yummy!

Related Links :
http://300kmj.blogspot.com/2008/10/akrapovic-optional-link-pipe-for-zx10r.html

Insurance Claim

Accident do happens. Sometimes we try to kept alert all the time on the road, but if it's matrix, we can only plan ahead from the tragedy. I just got hit by a Blue Proton Putra on the KL-Seremban highway. Bad news for me that I'm not wearing my suite. I end up getting scratches all over my body. My bike slides but the damage has been done. Huhuhu... But it's nothing that can't be fix again. Another bad news is, the driver isn't a gentlemen at all, he or she hit and run, and I had no chance on getting the car's number. Another huhuhu... I have accept that riding a superbike might have some bad consequences. Alhamdulillah, I'm left with no broken bones and I'm recovering as I'm blogging.

So... it's pretty frustrating to had damage your bike. Right? Hmm... not really. I'm more sad to see my Akrapovic muffler damage and my Sony DSLR camera are totally lost. Two things that I can't get back from my insurance. As for me and the bike, we'll both recover to a 100% shaped anytime soon.


This what happens when a 200 pounder guy sandwiched his camera on the tarmac. Waaaaaaaa!!!

The claiming procedure is not that complex. Same as any other car accident, but cars insurance claim here is much faster. You can get back your car in just a few days. Of course, depends on the damages. For big bikes, I would gave it at least a month.

The first step for claiming the bike after the accident is to make a police report. It has to be done within 24 hours. If you not able to do so, like you a badly hurt on the accident, don't worry, a prove that you not able to do so like an m.c. from the doctor, will help you to delay the report. The nice policemen would understand.

If you go down by yourself, you'll get a fine ticket from the policemen. If you go down involving other parties, the policemen will then be the judge on who's fault was it. The fault party would then be fine.

After this, get your bike to the police station to get them photo-ed. If you in no shape to ride you bike, ask someone else to do it for you. If your bike couldn't the ride, get a transport to get the bike to the station. It is compulsory to have you bike snapped. The insurance agent will then acquire the photo from the police file.

When you done with this. Take to the bike to the workshop. The workshop will standby a list of item to be repaired and replace and will then submit it together with the claim form to the insurance company. You need to fill out the claim form and describe again how the accident happend. A simple drawing to explain the whole story helps.

For most superbikes, all damage item usually will be replace. A performance machine will need tip top repair condition and can't easily be knock straight back up again. The workshop and insurance company know this. They also wouldn't want be responsible if other incident would happen if the repair job is not done perfectly.

After submitting the claim to the insurance, an adjuster will come an see the bike and confirm the part which will be repaired. For new bikes, most of the time the insurance will pay a 100% value of the parts. For machine which is more than a year and so on, they have an adjustment which they called it betterment. The percentage on the adjustment depends on the year. An example, a 5 year machine will have 25% cut off from the parts original value. I don't really sure the exact calculation, but it is not debatable. The figure is been studied and agreed by government and insurance company. The owner will have to bare the differences.

The list of repair bill will be prepared by the workshop. All the parts and repair work will be claim on their retail price. An insurance company is also smart. They will find and check themselves the repair cost so that there will not be any dispute on the price later on. I say this is fair.

Within a week of submission, an approval letter will then come out from the insurance company. The repair work can be done after the shop received the approval letter. Some shop can start their work after the adjuster had had a visit to your bike, but any claim that can be rejected means it will have to be bare by the workshop. So they try to let this not come to them. Parts then will be outsource and will take days or weeks to arrived. This is where Kawasaki is superior than any other brands here in Malaysia. They are prompt and spare parts are easily available. If it not available locally, it'll take Kawasaki just few days to sent them over from Japan. For other bikes like Suzuki, Yamaha and Honda. They don't have local distributors. Workshop will depends mostly on Singapore and if it's not available there, it'll take you some time to get you bike back.

An insurance company will try to pay the least possible amount to you. If the you're not happy with the amount, an appeal is possible. All these process will take about a month if it's been done promptly. Heck... I knew a guy who waits for 10 months to get his bike ready again. I can't imagine the suffering.

Since my camera is a totally whacked. This blog might turn out to be more text for sometime. I lost my Lowepro pouch bag as well, a serious repair needed for my Arai RX-7 RR4, another lost on the Manfrotto G clamp, a torn jeans, shorts and my inner suite wear. Quite some figure that I need to recover back, but again I left out breathing perfeclty, a scar to remind me to always wear a suit, and all bones and joints are AOK. That's likely are more and most important. Alhamdulillah.

Akrapovic Evolution Full System for 2008/09 Kawasaki ZX-10R

Having tried the Akrapovic Hexagonal Slip-On with Akrapovic optional link pipe, I can say they are pretty awesome and worth the upgrade. I'm planning to upgrade to Akrapovic full system maybe early next year. There are two types. Racing and evolution. To summarized the differences with these two system, the Racing Line is made from a stainless steel pipes and the Evolution series is fully titanium. You can have two choices for the ZX-10R for racing which comes with Titanium mufflers or Carbon Fiber. And for the Evolution series, you can have the same choices with the Racing Line, but another special model is the CZ type, it comes with a conical shaped muffler.


The CZ Type Akrapovic Evolution Full system.


One that I had in mind. Carbon Fiber muffler looks awesome on an orange ZX-10R. Carbon is my first choice for my previous slip-on actually. But since they only had the titanium muffler at that time, I don't really mind. This time I would like to get as what I prefered to have.

Akrapovic claims an increase of 14.9hp compare to stock model and a weight saving up to 7.28kg. Hmm.... I wonder why do I even consider to spend all this money just for an exhaust system? Too much poison.

Sepang Track Day : 14.12.08

I mount my Sony DSC-V3 on the right slider with the Manfrotto G clamp. The wind force kept the camera pointed up every time I went on the straight line. Must correct this error on the next track day.

Some more I couldn't find my MemoryStick Duo adapter to the MemoryStick Pro. Damn!. I left using the CF card to record this. V3 limits the recording in fine mode when uses the CF card. Huhu... Tought the picture quality could be much nicer.

Could only manage to record on both first lap. Other laps you could only see the sky and how I play with the throttle. Huhu.. Disappointed. But there are always next time right?


I love the Sepang Circuit sticker on the bike.


It's the most enjoyable track day for me yet.
Excellent!

Michelin Power Race : Just Awesome!

Uh..uh..uh... It would be bored to get the Pirelli Corsa III for the third time. I don't plan to get ride my bike in distance for a little while. I would be Awana, Klawang and Sepang for me this coming months, so I decided to get a race tyres and try to lean my bike to the fullest.

I might had considered the Bridgestone Battlax BT-003 and Pirelli Diablo Supercorsa. I've tried them Supercorsa on my ZX6R, which it just amazing, so I might have well skip the Pirelli for this time. BT-003 would be price slightly around RM 1,500.00, the Power Race is RM 1,300.00. I had read good feedback on both tyres but my heart wants the Power Race. So I go and get them.

First look, my my my.... these tyre are looks to sharp. Not that round as the other competitors, it much more oval shaped. I'm excited cause that would make it much stable in the corners. I could sacrifice the straight performance for these, but I was wrong. It is great on both. These might be due to the air pressure recommended for these tyres. The front power race is to be put on 29psi and the rear on 24psi. 24? Are I'm reading these correctly? I guess that what everyone would ask. Yup... it just 24.


Since the recommended pressure is 29/24. On the street, I tried 31/28. It felt good. I'll update how the 29/24 would feel like.


I'm ready to kill the Michelin man on the edges of the tyres.


There are 7 compound altogether for these tyres. Each one uses two compound. The soft compound on the front tyre is much softer then one on the rear tyre. You can get them in 3 types. Soft-Soft, Medium-Soft, Medium-Medium. I ordered the Medium-medium, but it turn out getting the medium soft. They only have this option for time being. Oh what the hell. The compound for these tyre clearly stated after the Power Race stamp on the tyre.

I get them fit last week. So I'm very excited for today track day. The tyre was simply awesome. It doesn't misbehave at all. I lean with full confidence. It felt good on wet too. But I wouldn't want to experimenting much more on that condition. Hehe..


Tyres condition after 20 laps in Sepang circuit. I parked my bike with the side stand, after a day look how the small rocks on the tarmac shaped up my tyres.


I told you I'll kill the Michelinman. Huhuhu...


Looks awesome!

BMC Air Filter for 2008 Kawasaki ZX-10R

Getting the best isn't that necessary. Getting that fit you requirement most is.

I option for a BMC Air Filter than K&N since word around is BMC is much better. And there are two type of them, a race version and a street. Hehe.. I go for the race version. It was claim to have 25% more air flow than the street. I guess the air that flow through the air is too much now. I had backfire when install the BMC compare to the standard air filter. Cool!


Fitting the BMC is now that complicated. Take out the tank, and open up the cover than swap it in. 1,2,3.


You can't tell much the different between the race and street version. Even the part number written on the filter shares the same number with each other. The yellow marking line differentiates them. Race version has this marking and the street one doesn't.


Guarantee limits.


Kawasaki ZX-10R OEM filter. Cost you about RM100.00. Recommended To change every 20,000km. But the BMC last for a lifetime.


My standard filter. After 11,000km of usage. These direct ram air system really gave the filter a hard time.


Neatly tuck in. They made them red so it'll be noticeable. Hmm... Correct ah?

So is it good? It's great!

I just took my bike for a track day today. The difference in noticeable. My bike sound better than before. It had that Darth Vader gene a bit. But I might say that to get full potential of this mod, you need to dyno and add up the PCIII. My air suck in to the bike has increase, so you need to play with them fuel injector to balance it back. The back fire I'm experiencing proves that.

Tyre Choice!

OK. Every 3 or 4 months, I'll back on this dilemma again. Which one to choose and which suites me best for riding in few months to come?

This is my final list.

1. Pirelli Diablo Corsa III
I had been 2 sets of this tyre on my ZX10R. It is great and absolutely wonderful. It is a real balance between street and track. I get 5,500km mileage on this tyre until it reaches the marker. It is retail at RM 1,300.00 for 120/70 & 190/55. I search for these tyres a year ago when it is still not brought in. Mok says it would cost me RM 1,700.00. The jump on the price is due to the stock, the Pirelli distributors doesn't keep them. Now they do and you can get them at the retail price. Corsa III is totally a different character than the first Corsa from what I heard. I haven't tried the Corsa, but Corsa III has my recommendation.

2. Michelin Power Race
This is the new addition to the tyre line up here. It would be best for track use. Retail at RM 1,400.00 (I'm talking about the same size for the tyres here) and I am tempted to have this tried. Great feedback from users around the world. I'm not sure how much mileage you can get on this, but I doubt it can last longer then the Corsa IIIs. It's main rival would be the Diablo SuperCorsa. I found this on the net, Who should buy these tyres? - Track day riders and racers all compounds based on personal preference & street riders who ride “near the limit” medium compound.

3. Pirelli Diablo Supercorsa
For track, this would be absolutely amazing! For street use, you have to have a deep pocket cause it'll last only for about 3,000km and retail at RM 1,600.00. I love them so much. I use them before on my previous ZX6R and I swear I wouldn't want to get out from the track with this tyre on. It's useless on wet condition. The rubber is so sticky and soft, you can even see the rubber shaped if you pinched the tyre even when it is cold. This tyre only design for one thing, to make you faster on your bike.

4. Bridgestone Battlax BT016
Favorite tyres among all bikers here. I never used them before, but from what I see, it's a perfect balance for street and track as well. Street price tag at RM 1,100.00, it's a real bargain, so no wonder it's the favorite among superbikers here. I'm sure it has the most mileage among all fours. I got 8,000km with the BT-015 on my previous ZX6-R, so it kinda predictable. You can be extreme using this tyres, not that you can't. So it would pretty hard to leave this tyre from my wish list.

So to sum it up,
1. Pirelli Diablo Corsa III vs Bridgestone Battlax BT-016
2. Pirelli Diablo SuperCorsa vs Michelin Power Race
3. Track oriented use or Street/Track use
4. Twisties and short distance ride or Long Way Up and Long Way Down.

Hmm.... So if I get the Supercorsa or the Power Race. I would only concentrate on track riding for a while. Corsa III and BT-016 would suites more for street riding and some track day. I'm not sure we'll going for a long ride for a while, so the time is kinda perfect to try and test those track tyres. My heart wants the Power Race cause I never tried them before ...and I love experimenting. The Corsa III has been excellent on my ten. Supercorsa is too expensive. If I were to get the Battlax... I think I better get the Corsa IIIs. Hmm...

BMC Air Filter Coming To Me In 10 Days!!!

I've ordered the BMC Air Filter for the 2008 ZX10R. Should arrived here in 5-6 days, but make it 10 days to be safe. Muahahaha... another 2hp up for my ten! There are two types, race and street. The race version are claimed to give 25% more than the street version, and the street version are claimed and have been proven to be better than OEMs. We will see.. I'll blog and review them for you. A dilemma between this two type thou.


From BMC website :
"Following the F.1 successes and the very good performance obtained by the Team Yamaha Belgarda and Team Suzuki Alstare Corona in the World SuperSport Championship and the AMA Yoshimura Suzuki Team, BMC air filters have proved to be the leading product in the category for its quality in material and construction. BMC air filters have been used in Race in the worst conditions to test performance and reliability. Current production uses the same materials already tested. BMC air filters range includes all the more popular sport street bikes, and it always increases including all the new models.
BMC air filters are designed and produced to ensure a higher air flow than original paper filters. BMC air filters, made in cotton, minimize the loss of air flow pressure passing through the air filter; this way ensures the best conditions for full exploitation of maximum power. Therefore, the benefits of replacing the original paper filter with a BMC cotton air filter in your motorcycles are evident.
Qualified engineers using advanced software and expert technicians using the latest technologies produce the BMC air filters. A F.1 air filter, for example, must be very light, must be made of the best materials and must improve performance. For this reason, also for motorcycles filters we use only alloy mesh with epoxy coating to ensure protection from petrol fumes and from oxidization due to the humidity of the air. The filtering material is composed of a special cotton gauze soaked with low-viscosity oil to give you the best air permeability."

Laos and Beyond : Part II - Imagine

Now the fun part begins. Compare this with the NEC ride. Do you know where we're heading?



I tiled up google map together so there's more details on it. My zumo can calculate the map because it's not bind together. So will have to do it manually. How many miles do you think we will travel? So imagine...

Sticky : Ride to LAOS 2009!

I'm proposing a ride to Laos through Thailand. Any takers? We don't need to have a Dual Purpose bike to accomplish this ride, Damien ZX14 has proved that sportsbike can go there. Yes, its going to be long and hard but I think we should be able to make it.

The plan is to travel to Laos and on the way back stop in Phuket Bike Week during Songkran. It's going to be fun guys. If anyone has any other plan please share.

-BedahNooB-

Confirmed Participants :
1. Mat - kalau sempat aku beli GS la...
Tapi aku nak propose lain sikit, daripada kita patah balik, kita masuk Vietnam lepak Ha Noi pulak, lepas tu masuk China all the way to Guanzhou. Masuk Hong Kong boleh beli gear, balik kita naik kapal, kena 5 hari jugak atas kapal, sampai Port Klang terus.

2. BedahNooB -KLR650 / ZX6-R

Laos and Beyond : Part I - Planning A Long Ride

Few times I sat down with experience bikers who has done thousands of miles. Thought I would share it with you. In summary, there are only 3 things that will let you start your journey and kept it going :
1. Money
2. Bike
3. Health

1. Money
No money, no talk. Sounds a little harsh, but we are facing reality here. Let's go to basic first before we crunching the calculator for the long way ride. How much money do you think maintaining a superbike in a month? Or let it be a year so you divide and plan your income monthly? I'll draw down what's it needed for a brand new liter bike, but not much difference for a 600cc or 1400cc bike too :

1. RM 1,000.00 for the tyre, average 3 swaps in a year if you're a regular rider.
2. RM 250.00 for for engine oil and filter, average of 4 times in a year.
3. RM 2,000.00 + RM 350.00 for road tax and insurance.

The basics will had you RM 530.00 for a month. And in every 2 years, you need another RM 1,000.00 for the chain & sprocket. Some more hundreds for the bearing & prepare another RM 2,000 for doing a valve clearance. This is maintenance, you can option to skip it of course, but this will not leave your bike in tip top form. So that will make us save about RM 650.00 per month. Did you notice, I did say to maintain a bike, means you already have one right? So do you buy it cash? If you do, this wouldn't be much a problem since you pocket is that deep. I had to finance my bike, couldn't afford to get it in cash, an depending on your loan, average guy pay RM600.00-RM1,000.00 installment a month for their bike. Teh tarik and fuel, let say it would cost RM50 a week, so altogether, RM 650 + RM 750 + RM 200 = RM 1,600.00 is an ideal amount for you to spend on a your bike monthly.

I wouldn't want to go how much more you need for a track day, gears, and accessories for your bike because it just ain't basic and you'll always have a choice to have them or not. What I'm stressing is the necessities. So, to sum it up, you squeeze out RM 1,600 from your pocket monthly... just for enjoyment. If your eyes widen reading this figure, I'm sorry to say, it's not your time yet... Not to mean that you can't own one, but you have to wait until you find this is OK. InsyaAllah. I'm struggling myself, but if you asked me why? The enjoyment is priceless!

So let's get to the long ride. RM 6,000.00 is the minimum for a 10 days Laos ride. How do I know the figure? Ask them who had been there. That would covers accommodations, foods and fuel for you & the bike. I would love to breakdown the figure, because I too want to know, but that'll take me sometime. I'll be back on this article. A 14 days trip to the Golden-Triangle cost a friend of mine RM15K. Gulp... That would be me swallowing back my saliva.

So, to plan a trip there. Start saving... and do plan for some contingencies too.

2. Bike
No bike no ride. It's easy, right? But if you reverse it, Got bike, got ride. It not necessary to be true. Would you think my Zx10R would survey that long ride. I doubt it, may be, but I need some more money for the repair bills. A supersports was meant for the track. An environment that's clone a track is a good paved tarmac road with twisties. A long straight highway doesn't do justice for the bike too, especially for the tyres. An ideal bike for this ride would be to get a dual-purpose. That's it for me. And easy riding bike like a Sportstourer, Street Naked, & Cruiser will be fine up until you find a gravel & mud that you have to come to. You'll curse and grief.

So, let save ourselves some more money and get a dual-purpose. Just for the sake of this ride.

3. Health
Ho..ho..ho... Start exercising. The long way ride test you only one thing. Endurance. Your body and mind should be clear. Getting excited with the trip is good. But would you be that excited as well to get back? That just a test for your mind. You're body should be kept fit as well. Epol advise us to prepare an international medical card. Hmm... should get advise from Bro Fino about this. To say, you have to stay healty for the ride. I'm very pleased that we played futsal every week now. If we keep this up, I bet all of us is ready for the ride by the end of next year, right? We also have to consider our families and our commitment to them. It might not be a problem much to get a two week leave. But let us prepare for it a well. Our mind should stay focus all the time.

So I guess you'll get the point. I never been to a very long ride before, so all of this is from what I heard and think what is should, not from experience. I may sounds more cons than pros, but this is just a tips to make it be a pleasant trip. A great adventure is one without plan. The hassles, the difficulties, the stressfulness and all the wrong ones if much more enjoyable to remember, but would not be pleasant at that moment, would you like to share them to the one you love and care? I love traveling, I always want to do it without the money, but that'll make me selfish for myself. If it was me, and I'm not obligated to anything, I'll start my bike and head north all the way now.

To be continue...
1. Part II - Imagine

2008 ZX6-R Chassis Set Up

Kawasaki recommended chassis set up for the ZX-6R. The suspension settings are for road and track use for optimum performance. They are as follow:

Front fork
Spring preload 5 turns from fully open position. 5 turns in
Fork protrude 8.5mm above upper fork bridge
Compression damping (bottom of fork adjuster) 1.5 turns open
Rebound damping (top of fork adjuster) 1.25 turns open (1.5 for road use)

Rear suspension
Height adjustment 6mm spacer
Spring preload 178.5mm
Compression damper for high speed (hexagon screw on rear shock) 2.5 turns open
Compression damping for low speed (screw on the rear shock) 2 turns open
Rebound damping (adjuster at the lower end of shock) start with 19 clicks open and adjust to suit closing up to 17 clicks open or if really necessary close to a maximum 14 clicks open.
Settings are for an average rider of between 75 – 85kg.

Helmet Kura-Kura di BAN!!

The Half-shell helmets may soon be taken off shelves in motorcycle accessories shops and ban from being use on the road as early as January next year. - NST Online

I agree that half-shell helmet (helmet kura-kura) is not a proper and safe helmet and it should be ban but the Road Safety Department director-general Datuk Suret Singh made a very stupid comment. He said its a favourite among superbikers for its comfort and light weight.

WTF since when superbikers like to wear 'helmet kura-kura'?


Datuk Suret Singh we just hope you wont make another mistakes by banning our THOUSANDS RINGGIT helmets that your department and that F#%!@ SIRIM didn't approve.


Do you want to ride your Superbike wearing this? This helmets is reserve for the 'Motor Kangkang' not the 'Motor Tunduk' hehe

Motorbike riders risk impotence, say doctors

This report was published in The Sydney Morning Herald on November 23, 2008.

MEN who ride motorcycles are at risk of impotence and urinary problems because the vibration of the engine damages nerves in their penises, a study has found.

A survey of more than 230 motorcyclists who rode their bikes for about three hours every weekend found almost 70 per cent had problems gaining an erection or emptying their bladders.

Vibrations from the engine also caused a decrease in two growth hormones in the bladder and prostate related to bladder relaxation.

But all men should avoid sitting on hard bicycle or motorcycle seats, particularly seats with thin, pointed ends, for long periods to prevent compression of pelvic floor muscles, Impotence Australia chief executive officer Brett McCann said yesterday.

About 76 per cent of riders aged 40 to 49, and 93 per cent of those aged 50 to 59, reported severe erectile dysfunction, compared with 37 per cent and 42 per cent respectively among those who did not ride motorcycles.

LU PIKIR LA SENDIRI

A food for thought

Saw this quote on the net, thought I share it with you guys.

"You start the game with a full pot of luck and an empty pot of experience... The object is to fill the pot of experience before you empty the pot of luck." - Unknown

Awana Regulators

Well, I had foresee (hehe..) that sunday ride will be off this week. Abg Suindra just left the hospital, Mie and Yan are still bikeless, Pojie, Eddy, Najib, Amir & Epol where on their shooting trip, Fino tyre still unchanged, Sifoo Is gone AWOL, tough luck for the others too.
I'm at my inlaws place in Klang that night. A call on 1a.m. says trouble on my worksite in KL. Since it's late, I promise to take a look early next morning. I arrived there at 8a.m. and it turn out to be a false alarm. I thought I'll be skipping the ride this week, but looking at the clock, I think I could joined the early guys. They group at Mobil Jalan Kuching at 9a.m. I called them regulators because they never skip Awana. And most of these guys are fast rider.

I reached Mobil at 9.25a.m. Just enough time to fuel up my bike and shakes a few hands. Anyone are welcome to join. My case are just an example. If you need a ride on Sunday, just join in. They welcome you always. I shooked another group hands actually. By the time I saw Hj Dwen and greet him, they are all ready to move. There were like 10 of them at first. The count then add up when we reach Awana.


One of the most respected guys up there. Hj. Dwen left the Dwentinno Rossi image when he change his R1 to K6.


Another Otai who never misses Awana. Capt. Nik.


The fast guys. :-)


Chit and chat.


More chit and chat.

About an hour, the next stop will be Bukit Tinggi. Unlucky for all of us, rain start pouring heavily at Janda Baik. Everyone u-tuns at the BHPetrol station and I see they all wouldn't want to miss enjoying Karak while it's still on a sunny day.


Group back at Tol Gombak before everyone leave to their own business.

And it'll be the same agenda in next week.

MOBIL 1 RACING 4T 10W-40 ROAD TEST

Tester: Gong Kawasaki ZX14 '07
Tester: BedahNooB Kawasaki ZX6-R '08

It’s Friday afternoon and I just remembered I haven’t serviced my beloved Zixxer it was almost 6000km since my last oil change and I have a long ride plan this weekend. So I went home and pack, soon after I head out to Mok for my ritualistic oil change. At Mok’s workshop I met Mat and Gong who was there to get his ZX14 oil change.

For those who missed a lot of the 300kmj TTS almost everyone in our group is using Mobil 1 right now and so far I haven’t heard any complaints yet. So when it’s time for me to get my oil change I went to Mok’s and ask for well you guessed it’s the Mobil 1 Racing 10W-40. I ask Gong to try Mobil 1 but he told me he’s a strict Motul man but after some convincing from Mat he reluctantly agreed to try the oil.

Like Mat told you before Mok doesn’t carry Mobil 1 and it takes my Zixxer and Gong ZX14 to persuade Mok to outsource it from Ah Meng. After the bike’s got their oil changed and serviced, I was ready to begin my 1000 km journey and at the same time figure what makes this oil different than other makes.

Accompanying me on this road test is Gong, so after figuring the ‘routes’ we decided to go south because it’s been a while since we travel there and since this is not a scientific test we will only test the oil for engine noise, gear changes, clutch response, engine temperature and performance.

We’re going to do this is on two parts, one is done during noon when the temperature is at the highest while the other part is during the night because for us Malaysian it's the coldest time of day. During this test we are going to abuse the bike, low gearing high revving extremely hardcore shifting kind of abuse. Hehe Yeah right we wouldn’t abuse the bike just for the sake of your enjoyment.

So after some 2 days of rigorous testing on 1000km of asphalt this is our verdict.

Pros: Cheap, Engine Temperature
Cons: Engine Noise, Gear Change, Availability

Conclusions: This oil seems to work very well for a very short while, after doing 650 km the engine starts to become noisy and gear changing is not as smooth as it was earlier. This problem is also shared by A.D’s 08 Z1000 and Pojaman 08 ZX6-R.

We rate it 2.5/5

-BedahNooB-

Kneedown Lesson @ Turn 17, Nilai

I think everyone will make a question, "Where the hell is turn 17?". Well, the place was discovered by Epol, Ehermm... Sifoo Epol, and the name was given when me and Epol where a little bit frustrated for not having the opportunity to play Sepang on one fine day. That's because it was a little bit raining and I remember seeing a well experience rider smacked his R1 on the Sepang straight speeding on about 240km/h. As we not dare to join in the fun, Epol asked me to practice the kneedown at one quite roundabout. Since Sepang has 15 turns, the exit from Sepang we count as a turn, hence, the roundabout is the 17th turn.

I was quite frustrated when I know there wouldn't be any Sunday ride. I get frustrated every week if I were to miss one. So the plan was to join in the regular Awana's rider if there is no one wants to join. But Epol and Bedah are available, and Awana is not quite on their favour. So I think practicing a kneedown would be just great. It turn out to be fantastic. And I was pushed by Bedah everyday since then to write up this Blog today. Don't worry Bedah... I quite understand. :)

The match against Chelsea and WBA finished around 4a.m. And Bedah still keep SMSesing me about tomorrow's ride. Hmm... I'm a little unsure that he'll get up 8.00 o'clock in the morning. But turn out to be a surprise, at 8:38a.m., "Jumpa kt ner? Wat time?" came an SMS from Bedah. I'm quite happy with his spirit. I first told those guys to meet up at 8.45a.m. at Epol's place, but that morning I left the camcorder in my office and the battery a still flat, so I gap the appointment to 9.45a.m. That saves me some time to charge it, and we all meet promptly after. We had our breakfast and at 10.00a.m. we move to the endless turn.

Bedah are still short on the pants. So I brought my Taichi pants together with me. He borrowed it before at his first trackday few months before at it is kinda loose. On this day, it fits him well. So that kinda another proof biking doesn't slim you down, futsal does! SO COME PLAY FUTSAL LA TOMORROW!!!


Before Epol.. Sifoo Epol gives Bedah the green light, we taught him some of the tips that Bedah should know.


The concentration Bedah gives was amazing. Hehehe...


Gearing up. After this, he'll be heading to Pak Su's to get his own pants and a pair of racing boot. By now he thinks it worth getting one. Huhuhu...


Sifoo Epol show a sample move, where and when to slice.
He looks very comfortable on the Zx14 doesn't he?


I think he kinda nervous. So I take the 2nd role.

Some might say I have a whole lot of the riding technique. But I don't think that's true. I only manage to get a kneedown when I lean low enough. And I am quite OK on a left turn, but on the right, I still feel uncomfortable with my position, sometimes I put a lot of thought on my position while cornering, but most of the time, I don't care much, just to enter the corner as fast as possible. So there is little of technique that I know, and I still have a lot more to learn.


It my turn to suite up.


That's like 4 inches from the ground. Right?


And the speed is still ain't right.


It get lower by every circle.


And when you get it right, it's touchdown.


A little scratching add up to the slider.

It's Bedah turn now.


The body language speaks Bedah determination.


On first first few rounds...


After his first few rounds... Hahaha... Awesome man!


..and it looks good from the ass view too. I really meant the bike la.. Gish!

I remember getting my first kneedown. And Bedah share the same satisfaction. Bedah describe it as good as getting 8As on your SPM exams! Hahaha..


Another new scratch.


Epol then show some more example in reverse order.


Then he shows some fireworks display along the way.

We practice on a 2nd gear with speed around 60km/h. It's tiring to control a torquey bike at that pace.


I enjoy seeing them practicing.


We get comfortable by every turns.
Yippy!

Epol said any beginner would get his knee down average on his 10th laps. I would agree on that.
So don't worry, relax yourself and try it. It's really fun.


I can wait to get my glove and gear off. We played for about 2 1/2 hours. Each of us do 7 to 8 laps on each of our turn. I'm really exhausted by this time.


That's more kneescrapping.


Bedah looks most confortable by the end.
He looks awesome. This is his first kneedown session. And he scores!. In the end, he's not just kneedown, he's kneedragging! The feeling get better when you can do it again.. and again.. and again!


This looks like doing 200km/h on Sepang's turn 3. I'm betting he'll be a regular trackday person from now on. Hehehe..


That is justice to the slider.


Unbelievably satisfied.
I think he'll keep on this subject for a little while. Hahaha...


And I'm just loving it!

Kneedown is just another step of getting to know your bike. This is not just getting to know your body position. You learn to control your throttle as well. And the next step, controlling your suspension with your throttle. Sounds kinda weird? Ask Keith. Ride save guys!