Personal Review : KTM 390 (ABS) 2016

This is the 2016 KTM 390 Duke. As we all know, in 2012 Duke 200 was the first of her kind follow up with the RC 200. In 2013 KTM introduced the Duke & the RC 250 and 390.

Weighting about 150 kg, this duke 390 does delivered a good kick in the ass, the torque is powerful for a light bike and it is a fast small orange machine. 

Inverted fork for the 390   

The Duke equipped with desirable features like the digital dash, aluminium swing arm, tapered aluminium handlebar, inverted fork, radial-mount front brakes, braided-steel lines and Striking black orange colour. But back to what’s made the 390 Duke a star player in the lightweight category. It’s faster than most of its rivals, and if it isn’t, it’s a better handler. 

The little 373cc Single powering the Duke 390 punches way above its weight class, the Duke’s 373cc single-cylinder mill is either punchier or smoother or both than any sub-400cc street engine. It has considerably more torque than its 300cc rivals, and it kicks out the power to the rear tyre. It does safe a lot of petrol with 10 litres, it still can ride about more than 130KM.

Overall, I enjoyed this stunning orange bike, and I do felt like a panda 🐼 riding a small bicycle 🚲.

Personal Review : Yamaha MT-09 SE (2018)

Shine bright like a diamond

I just took this bike out from the shop, as you still can see that the tyres are brand new, clean pipes and still the 09 has no accessories on it. Master Of Torque, the incredible 847 cc, 3 cylinder engine that really put a grin on my face every time I twist the throttle and kick it to first gear. Striking colour aswell

First ride on this great machine

The riding position I found it aggressive, yet comfortable, (a little stiff) and how I love the seat without the split. Where I can slide my ass easily. At only 193kg, the MT09 is not that heavy. In fact it does feels surprisingly light and easy on the go. I rode the MT07 not long ago(in my previous Instagram post) cornering with 07 is a bit tough compare to 09, the adjustable inverted telescopic fork absorber really give a good response, 09 also equipped with TCS and ABS, riding mode always aggressive. With 14 litres tank the 09 offered a "Eco" mode and track mode (Mode A). I guess, because it goes really fast, the torque always kicks in and it's easy to manoeuvre in traffic too. Ohya it also come with QS! Roll at the right speed, shifting without pulling the clutch.

Yamaha MT 09 2018. I  love this colour, for somehow it look good.

But what impressed me the most was the fact that while ridiculously easy to ride, the 09 is also quick to turn into an absolute hooligan. The 09 is wild, it keeps pulling and telling me to do wheelies, but I have to say no. Because someone is watching, and he personally said "won't allow it"

The MT09 2018 it's a great bike indeed, value for money. It is light, friendly, fun to ride and powerful enough to suit various groups of riders. As a middleweight motorcycle, it makes far more sense for a market out there to compete with the Z9, Street Triple R, and I guess Honda goes with CB1000? 

P/s: ignore my elbow size because I was using elbow padding under my Dainese inner shirt.

Engine type

Liquid-cooled transverse triple

Displacement

847cc

Max. Power

113bhp (115PS) @ 10,000rpm

Max. Torque

65lb-ft (87.5N.m) @ 8500rpm

Gearbox

Six-speed (Quick shifter)

Brakes

Front: 298mm, monobloc four-piston calipers

Rear: 245mm, single-piston caliper

Tyres

Front: 120/70-17

Rear: 180/55-17

Seat height

820mm

Wheelbase

1500mm

Fuel capacity

14 litres

Weight (wet)

193kg (full tank)

Sibu Bike Week 2018

Because everyone taking photo at the main banner but not here at the main stage on the first day. Took me 5 hours to reach Sibu from Bintulu, heavy traffic and "Excellent" road conditions along Selangau - Sibu road. Thank God I reach safely. Congratulations Razz Chopper Malaysia!  Another great event, great hospitality, excellent committee and entertaining stage performance!

Hey Cassie! We Made it...

(SD 1290 M) Everyone knows.

On my way up, out of so many places. Why selangau Ngau Chap Rider? He was on my tail along the way till the petrol station. I was surprised to meet him. It's great to meet another great biker/ videographer. 

Once I reach Sibu Bike Week located at Town Square Phase 2 (Dataran Sibu Fasa 2) it like in the middle of the town itself. I met my friends, my groups and more bikes!

With Abg Bro Mirzan and Jho Low 

With this great team that tag along with me to Sibu. Yes That is Jho Low.

My Wingman, Mr Sepul Ribut. To bad he had to leave to Johor, but atleast I can meet him for a selfie.

I had a great dinner with Hafiz, Pak Ya and Bang J. I had Bulls Penis soup. Yes, Bulls penis. I didn't choke on the skin. 

With my PDRM friends. Brother Afiq, Tuan Razif and Brother Azri

Met Cikgu Sabli, aka Cikgu Lee Kapit. Off-road riders. Its been awhile cikgu, great to catch up with you.

After the 8th Sibu Bike Week Annual function, I caught her riding solo on our way back to Bintulu somewhere in Sibu. So she asked if she can join the pack back to Mukah since we're using the same road.

Sai Hai to Ein!

I was enjoying myself on that road, left the pack behind about 20 minutes. As I stop at the road side and let them passed I tried to catch Einfarahin Nahuri up as she was leading the pack. And she was fast! I've been using this road for the 9th times. I guess it was every day for her. Well it is her turf, and the road is just like back of her hand.  It was great meeting you Ein! Take care on the road.

Be Safe always Ein! Looking forward to ride with you again.

People says "Bike week is always the same" if you treat it the same it will be the same. But not for me, I enjoyed most of the bike weeks or Bike Festivals especially here in Borneo. I get to meet my biker buddies all around Borneo even from the west. Not to forget our neighbors from Brunei, Indonesia and more, and especially when they rode their bikes hundred kilometers just for that weekend. I met a lady rider from Sri Aman, Yes she rode her bike here for Sibu Bike Week 2018. Missing in the photo is  Timothy, her riding buddy

Her Crown is her helmet. Another good adventure friend, looking forward for our Sabah trip.

It was a pleasure to meet Krystel Ellaine finally we met (she look smaller than I thought. Maybe I'm just too tall) we had a great biking conversation and also whom I'm looking forward to have a riding adventures in the future. Sabah await us. Next!

Pan Borneo Tatau - Selangau - Stapang - Sibu.

The road along Tatau - Selangau - Sibu is getting worst by hours. Yes hours! I even saw few places was flooded.

Thank God my journey along this "Pain-Borneo" is safe. God is great. Till we meet again Selangau road.

p/s : This time, my bike week was focus meeting my friends. No bike photos, but mostly with my friends and my journey. 

Personal Review : XRV 750 1993 Honda Africa Twin

The 1993 Africa Twin, this is one of my favourite bike in Feast and Furious Cafe, The V twin engine of 750 cc is a great engine for it! Throttle response is totally linear and instant.

The seat for the rider is tall. It's relatively narrow in the front, which permits my height to step a foot on the ground, I'm 180cm tall so I do feel a little bit of a confidence there. As the rider seat is placed high, the traffic surveillance is unobstructed.

Introducing Alex Wong and the AT XRV 750 

My hands are kept wide on the large handlebar. The comfortable riding position places me little in, mostly over the bike. The width of the bike as well as the bulk is average compared to modern 1000cc category standards.

The bike feels and looked heavy, around 210 KG while centre of gravity is high, riding with it is totally fun. It produces a heavier sensation than modern bikes. The suspension is soft. The steering lock is really huge, turning radius is little. The AT is a great advantage in traffic congestion, manoeuvring the bike or off-road explorations, if that will ever be necessary. The leisured power output is another advantage for stress-free town rides. Most of the times, the increased agility compensates for the bike’s heavy feeling. Manoeuvring is easy as the height of the handlebar is higher than car mirrors, except from the huge SUV/twin cabin car.

Finally we took the XRV750 out from the cafe, it's been there since opening (2016) I remembered it feels like yesterday me and Alex pushed the bike to the garage and I took it home for few days, when Alex is riding another XRV750 in Thailand.

ENGINE                : Liquid-cooled 4-stroke SOHC 52˚ V-twin

CARBURETTORS: 36mm flat-slide CV-type × 2

STARTER: Electric

TRANSMISSION: 5-speed

FINAL DRIVE: ‘O’-ring sealed chain

SEAT HEIGHT: 860mm

GROUND CLEARANCE: 215mm

FUEL CAPACITY: 23 litres

WHEELS: Aluminium rim/steel spoke

TYRES   

Front:  90/90–21 54H (Bias-ply)

Rear: 140/80 R17 69H (Radial)

SUSPENSION:

Front: 43mm leading-axle fork, 220mm axle travel

Rear: Pro-Link with aluminium swing arm, 214mm axle travel

BRAKES:

Front:  276mm dual hydraulic disc with dual-piston callipers and sintered metal pads

Rear:  256mm hydraulic disc with single-piston calliper and resin mould pads

DRY WEIGHT      208 KG

Bintulu Bike Week 2018

For the first time after 10 years I left home. This is my first bike week here in Bintulu! What can I say? It was crowded! And I love the street mall concept here at Paragon Bintulu, I think Bintulu is the only bike week where I can park my bike in the street mall. It was cooling, I don't have to worry of running to take shelter from the rain, and I don't have to be under the hot sun. The Bintulu paragon is a very strategic place for the bikers. There's basement for cars / visitors to park. The place is huge enough for everything, the main stage is huge! Thanks to Hj Saifful for taking photo of me at this banner, well I'm a solo rider. He gave me an idea to get some stick with bluetooth remote. I'll put that in my "to get list."

First BIBB Kuching team to reach Bintulu

With Fudge

Selfie with this gentleman’s is a must, every bike week in Borneo. Thanks Fadzillah Mohamad as event protocol (I guess) who instruct me where to park my bike. Our first met was in Samarahan Bike Fest 2014. It's great to keep in touch always! Also not forget the man who make it happened, Mr President Tuan Haji Awang Haikal of the BINTULU BIKERS CLUB (BBC). Great person, funny and he's a good cook too. I miss the "Kambing Bakar" back in Sri Kandi. Congratulations once again to BINTULU BIKERS CLUB (BBC) for organizing the Bintulu Bike Week. You guys are the best! And alot more selfie photos that I put at my Facebook account page.

With BBC President Tuan Haji Awang Haikal

With Vespa Bintulu President Awang Herni

This handsome young man was my schoolmate since form 1 until form 5. A very fast and talented rider. 

Do you believe that this guy was my teacher from
SM Teknik 

Award winning custom bike "Melati"

Amie with his half Miss Reena. Also my schoolmate.

With my man Pyn Tiger a.k.a Mus May, all the way from Kuching.

Met a motovlogger Apai Nia. It's great to meet someone doing the same thing as what I did. Mine is blog his is Vlog.

My Nephew Azariaz. 

A Special Escort this time to Paragon Bintulu. 

3 days, 2 nights. We seat at the same table, for 3 days. Until the waiter and shop owner knows some of our name. Basically we kinda owned the place. From right is ZaiBrunei PH Ahmad, Haji Ramdan Terengganu Bikers, Abg Eswandy Ismail, Hafiz Nazuwaan and Azri. Great people at great event.

Was at the same table with Augustine Albert, Miri Vespa President. He owned a Harley Davidson Sportster, and he choose to ride his Vespa to Bintulu. Congratulations once again to BINTULU BIKERS CLUB (BBC) Mr President Haji Awang Haikal and all BBC members for this once in every 2 years event. You guys are the best. A Momento exchange with Mr President of BBC and myself as representative of BIBB Sarawak.

Momento Exchange ( BIBB and BBC) Congratulation BBC

At the same time, I met up with the Borneo Pygmy Elephant Group riders in Bintulu. We had a great breakfast and great meet up before they rode off back to Kuching. Congratulations to all Borneo pygmy elephant group riders, the organizers, the BMW Motorrad group, and the guy who made it happen. And check out facebook page Project Seratu Aatai for more information. You guys did it! Thanks Silas Dema Michael for the breakfast and for the great photo.

With the mission group riders.

I met Yoi from PEMODA Brunei early this year during the Borneo Island International Big Bike Festival in Kuching. Road Runner Saifuddin Juli and AbgBro Mirzan Bin Bisel /AbgBro Bakso / AbgBro Burger / MirzanMarley / Abg Mirzan Z1K / Mirzan Kancil (This guy have alot of name) the last time I saw them was 2017 Kuching International Bike Week. It's great to see them all again!

It's never about bike week is always the same. To me it's about meeting our friends once again. And beside you don't get to see me using riding attire all the time, well maybe you do. I don't usually post formal. This is the 10^th Anniversary of Bintulu Bike Week 2018, and it started at 5^th of October 2018 and end at 7^th October 2018 here at Paragon Bintulu. So Where to next? Coming soon, Sibu Bike Week 2018.

Till we meet again Bintulu Bike Week. Next will be in 2020.