the tiring day continues. part two

Apologies for running of topic and making look like a triumph salesman.

so anyway, after the clinic, picking the tiger, we head to Cyberjaya. my cousins wife was doing some gathering at one of the coffee place there called In the Grind. A nice and quaint coffee shop that feels cozy. meet my cousin there with his new ktm duke690.

we had to wait for the rain to stop before swapping bikes and running around Cyberjaya, testing each others bike capabilities. we head off back towards KD to freshen up before going off for some good old teh tarik at jalel pj. and the day ends there. you wouldn't this its tiring, but with those meds and the heavy bike, plus the roads was really jammed up from usj right up to the destination. ahhhh the normal friday jam where everyone decides to take their cars all together for dinner, clubbing, seeing friends, seeing family or teying to run away from other jammed roads only to end up in a bigger congestion.

lane splitting is allowed here in malaysia. only thing is, the cars are doing it too. lorries and buses do it all the time. there are numerous cases regarding bikers ending up kissing the side doors or sprawled on top of the cars hood. some arent so lucky. some thinks that they are visible and all road users knows they are there. best bet is to lane split slowly and use the horn it case some dont see u coming.

just be careful lads when lane splitting.

yes, so the tiring part would be the lane splitting on a highway on a big bike. at that day.

tomorrow is a new day. cant wait to look for more open roads and to try out the tiger on b roads without tcs.

a tiring friday

had to wake up from slumber to get more medicine for my tibi. apparently, it has taken its tol on my body. side effects are shortness of breath, feeling woozie, lethargic, sleepless nights and many more. feeling that the antibotics is doing its job, killing everything,even the soul.

good thing was i was now ok to go out in public now. no more quarantine and no more limiting myself to the front of the house with a surgical mask. my wife is negative for tibi, all malaysians have good immune system except for me.

so today started my official day at 2 pm, picking up a Triumph Tiger Explorer 1200cc 2013 edition from my wife's cousin who, apparently busy and needs someone to run the bike over the weekend. i can help!!!

The day was pretty hot. this was not the first time i have riden it. last time was back last year in December where we took it to Ipoh, which was on new years eve to attend a wedding. we rode 2 up. with a Triumph top box as storage. it was rainy season by the way. did not opt for a side pannier as to shed some weight off and we dont really need that much of space for a day trip.

We were all suited up to embark a 240 km ride that will take us all the way up to ipoh via highway. i am no speed freak especially when riding 2up. life is precious and u have other idiots on the road waiting to just slide in your lane in a heartbeat. i have not started with the lorries and busses yet.

This is what i think of the Triumph Tiger Explorer 2013 with full kitted out adventure gears Triumph can offer. Awesome!!!!!
I have spot lights, adjustable windscreen, engine guard, panniers, top box, hand guards, a nifty meter that loads you up with vital information while on the go and comfy seats. it is really meant for the bmw gs fans out there to consider this bike. a serious contender indeed. The sound is superb with the 3 cylinder engine and the stock exhaust sounds punchy.

Lets just say if you want a superbike like an r1 but without the back ache, you are looking at it. the characteristics of the bike is awesome. gagetry like abs, traction control and cruise control can just put other bikes to shame.

it looks awesome and get the " uniqueness of owning a legend" feel when you ride it..

it seems that i will have to do another part2 for this topic. till tomorrow then. good night.

It has come to my attention that i have been neglecting my fellow reader on my KLR 650 adventures.

i have been busy, but never the less. i have been riding my thumper every day. the torn muscles never did stopped my daily commute.

Year is 2013, and it is getting tougher by the year. financially and also health. this year it was tuberculosis. how the hell did i get that? well thats because of my low immune system and going to uncharted places. poobah.

Time to plan ahead

Had been hospitalized for a torn calf muscle last whole month. That means no walking, no riding and any of that sort. Doctors had strictly asked me to stay in bed till the muscles are fully latched to either another set of muscles or the bone itself. How i got it? Well I think its due to old injuries and that i did not treat if earlier. and now that the anchor is weaken, the head of the muscle just decides to snap off behind my knee and turn itself into a ball on my calf.

So there i was just laying there in bed and only allowed minimal movement. No load bearing and i would have to do it with crutches. Thank god for internet and a lovely wife who never fails to take care of me with all the whims and complains about pain and boredom.

I do sometimes sneak out to warm up Thumper. Being in bed most of the day make time for some great ideas and great planning , an EPIC planning. I have joined a group of enthusiastic bunch of people who are passionate about adventure riding. only thing is, they ride 250cc and below to do this. As of last week, they went for a recee around Malaysia in 8 days. covering approximately 2,500km in total distance, travelling at an overall average speed of 70km/h.

You can find the information here:
http://www.facebook.com/events/239770662784909

How i would love to go and join them. How i would love to do that sort of stuff. I had always dream of taking those adventure rides; across countries and ending up in places you cant even pronounce the name of the town you're in. But here i am, lying in bed with a torn muscle. Probably it would have to sell of Thumper as i will not be able to ride it anymore. This brings tears in my eyes just thinking about it.

Another sad News is that my favorite KLR VBlogger is leaving Panama and going back to the States and he couldn't bring his KLR back to the US. So he is selling. HalfThrottle is his name.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4YvYBwBNwhU&list=UUAAE2VwSG-OHoaUDrap1o7w&index=7&feature=plcp
 

So after a long sleep, on meds, i decided that after all this and i am able to get back up and regain what is left of my right knee strength, I will plan out my route, on a quarterly basis to travel. Lets just start a simple one and go on further after that.... as for now, a good night and  have an adventurous dream.

KLR, i salute you!

Yesterday i was riding down to see my daughter in Bukit Sentosa. It started at 3:30pm with the day being very hot and sunny. there i was suiting up for the ride. I had the Speed and Strength jacket, gloves and them hiking boots. i did contemplate if i might need to get some accessories in near future for protection. a Proper riding boots and some Knee protectors are good. But that would be on another day. To day i had a mission to go see my Lovely Daughter near Bkt Sentosa, halfway between Genting and Kuala Kubu Bharu. I rode alone today and did not bring anything along as i would love to think that it will just be a a short trip and back home straight after that. The ride on the PLUS Highway was wobbly at 110km/h. I did fill up the tires before when i was refueling before that . Stop and the side of the road and let some air go on my front tire. the rest was less wobbly. I think this was due to my Knobby tires on the front. The rear was sitting on a Michelin road tires. So no a good combo. But after the deflate, it was all okay. Cruising speed was at 110km/h. Reached Bkt Sentosa but no one was home and found out that they were out for some kenduri and had brought my daughter with them. Ah well , I think i;ll just have a cup of coffee and some mee goreng at the road side stalls on the way out. As i was waiting for my late lunch and sipping my iced coffee, it hit me that i need to do some adventure riding of my own. Now and Now. So i cancelled the food. Paid for the drinks. ( Food was too slow or i was drinking really fast.) And i off i go for another great andventure, all by myself, all by my own. I was not really familiar with the roads there, but somehow i knew where to go . I knew i was between Genting and Kuala Kubu Bharu. and the roads are quite straight forward and i had passed there once with my Scooter earlier this year.. Ok . So off we go towards the North till i see sign boards that says Kuala Kubu Bharu. Then i see another sign that says Kuala Kubu Baru. Oh S**t, there is 2 KKB now, so i would be guessing that the nearer one is where i would like to go . Ariving at KKB i see familiar Sights. Time now is 4:45 PM . I decided to go up Frasers Hill. what a nice road it was, too bad i had bad tires on my KLR. but i made time on the straights by 5:30 i was already up and back down without stop. Next destination was Genting, If i can make it before the sun goes down. By the time i reached the top of Genting, It was exactly the moment where the sun gives out its last rays and you can see the streaks of red and amber just streaming across your head and you watch. It was 7:28 pm. Headed to the Coffee Bean cafe and took a slow sip on a hot latte. Smoking and just admiring the wild and raw power of Thumper. KLR, i salute you. At a glance, i think i saw the KLR smiling and gestured the same, I smiled back. This is really awkward. There was no complaining, there was no hesitation. It feels like the KLR was built for a purpose, a working horse. A working breed. There is no flair or how beautiful it look. It wont attract chicks with it nor will it attract dudes who like bikes. Its big, clumsy, blue. Not a showpiece or rare. Its just ... mine.... Time to go home and down Genting. and end the day with a smiling face. http://youtu.be/M62y6BgvO-0

My KLR has a new stable mate. The SYM VTS 200

My KLR has a new stable mate. The SYM VTS 200. It is a scooter, a big one. 175 cc that can launch 2 averaged sized human to 100 km/h effortlessly. with a few tweaks here and there, some say that it can reach up to 140km/h. i was looking for my wife a bike that she can ride comfortably and she can follow me in long distance journey and adventures down the b-roads of Malaysia. We were thinking of getting an Aprilia Mana 850..... but that would be too much for a beginners bike. We opted for a scooter instead as we had one and it was fun to ride it. I had a Modenas Elegan and buy was it hard to kill it. Due to the lack of maintenance that I myself has deliberately forgot and the long hauls of going to and fro to work with an estimation of 50 KM per dah . i managed to wreck it by going oil dry for amonth before the piston jammed up, later to find out that you need to use an original piston with ceramic coating and not one of those aftermarket ones which lasted only 6 months before it jammed up again . so thats 2 piston heads and 2 overhauls. Scooter as it is named, is a very functional bike . more of a Start and Go bike , especially great when running errands as it has storage space under the seat which comfortable fits a helmet, rain coat and some extra space for takeaways. As it is, it can fit in a 10 kg sack of rice. So we got the VTS 200 assembled by M-force bikes in Kedah. The maker of the bike is SYM, a Korean Based company that ships their product all over the word. Their Sister company, KYMCO is also in the scooter business and is well known all over the world. The Bike was smashing as i picked it up. Came home and my wife rode it a few times just to get familiarize with it. She was quite good at it, if only there was no traffic at all on the road. I do not blame her, the traffic here is scary. Cars whizzes pass you in break neck speed. As if motorbikes do not exist in their vision. So the limit of bike riding for her will only be around a 5KM radius from our home. We joined a bikers group called the SYM Owner Club and we had our first Free ride. So i was the pilot, riding 2 up with my wife. Started from Empangan Batu and ending up in Kuala Selangor taking the long way around. Route details, E.Batu> Kuala Kubu Bharu> Tanjung Malim> Sg Besar> Down to Kuala Selangor. The Ride was Epic as we were closed of by a fast rising flood, cutting us off in the frond and the back of us. This was in Sg Besar where the river water had swelled up due to the rain up river. So there was no turning back as the road behind us was no longer there, there was only water and it was rising fast. At a rate of 1 inch per minute, our group decides to carry on . We reached a standstill traffic where the cars and the lorries had no where else to go, The water has reached more than 1 feet of water and the wattery path was almost 200 m . It could be deeper in the middle, but we would not know. Our brave Marshall, Iezzad was a gung Ho person and passed to safety. Others was reluctant to go. Time was not on our side as the water from the back was coming in fat and our frond road slowly sinks. A car decides to trudge on . Without any thinking and some wise but panic words from my wife ( She has a good point, to ride closely behind the car as the car splits the water). I quickly shouted to the others that im going through while my wife behind explained to them why we need to do this. Off we go with 7 other bikes behind us trailing our lead. Thanks to the cars wake, the water level was just below our exhaust and intake system, Lets just hope the car in from up us does not stall. Alas, we made it and the excitement from the other members was so over whelming that we took a 5 min stop just to admire the adventure that we had passed as we looked behind us a grand river with its blackish water and a lorry that is now stuck as the water had reached almost a meter deep since we passed. Now that's a quick thinking. Damn, I had the scooter for a week and i had a damn good experience and adventure with it. I had my KLR for a year now and still no adventure. Well. KLR time will come. Overall, I think my scooter and the KLR is now in the same rank and has earned its place next to it.

as i recall,there was so many things that has happened since. my wife was recovering from stroke and it made me think of all the time she would say that she wants to travel around the world. Seeing the state that she is in.. i vowed that we will travel one day around the world. this will be my epic ride. this will be our epic moment. me,my wife and thumper.

Hi there....

Lots of things happened while i was absent from the blogging world.

I will recap this for now and will elaborate more in the chain of events since March 2011. It is November now and i should upload my stories before the year ends.

So lets start off after my river crossing experience shall we?

Me and my wife decided to ride a gung ho run from Ampang to Malacca. This was not planned out until the very last minute that my wife decided that being home is boring and mundane. So we suited up,  and packed 1 bag with clothes, and off we go towards south using the back roads with sweeping corners and a sense of adventure.

We rode from Ampang towards Hulu Langat , thinking that we would take the more secluded road, i was a bit sceptic to go there as it is getting dark and the raid clouds were looming above us. We took a detour to take the new LEKAS highway down to Seremban. From where we were, we had to pass the Semenyih Dam and the view was superb as the sun slowly creeps away, leaving the lake with glistening hue of amber.

After that, it was all dark and the sky was starting to open up. We had our jackets and rode down till we reached Semenyih town and joined the LEKAS highway. from there we traveled down to Seremban town and stopped for a while, taking shelter from the rain. Wet and cold we took our time to gain strength and off we go again towards the historical town of Malacca. My wife is already starting to complain that her back is killing her, the seats arent the most comfy seats and the vibration from the thumper is almost numbing.

NOTE to self : Next farkle will be a nice aftermarket seats like Corbin or Seargent  seats as they make ones that fits the KLR 650. I think there are more products out there but i see them mentioning more of the two brands in the forum often.

Reaching Malacca, we stopped for dinner at 10:30 pm in the famous asam pedas joint just behind Jonker Street.
We didnt really eat much as as the food came, my wife had a call from her dad and her brother. i dont know what happened but i can see that she was cyring after that and she was very very stress, must be work of family matters. So we ended up to what wa supposed to be a good stress free weekend turns out to be a real bummer. We walked the almost the whole length of the Malacca river just talking and discussing. We were supposed to stay 1 night there but she decided that we should go home as she felt uneasy and suffering from a potential migraine. So we did the R&R ride back where we stopped at each Rest Stop to have a 15 minute break before going to the next rest stop.  We left Melacca at 2am and reached Ampang at 6am. It took some of the stress away just me and her and the open road. Reminds me the days where i can go anywhere with her. Pity the seats arent so comfy (refer to NOTE to self above).

THAT was the end of the ride.

KLR 650 Specs

Whether your path takes you through urban chaos, mountain serenity or desert enchantment, the Kawasaki KLR™650 motorcycle is the platform world travelers have chosen for over 21 years. With its legendary reliability, long distance fuel efficiency, usable performance and startlingly low price tag, the Kawasaki KLR650 is simply a smart choice for today’s rider.

The rugged and proven 651cc motor is the foundation of the KLR650’s globetrotting prowess. An all-around performer, the single-cylinder four-stroke engine provides quick throttle response and healthy low-end grunt – ideal for tight trails or dealing with traffic snarls. Equally impressive, the KLR’s composure at highway speeds makes long distance travel a pleasure.

Matching the engine’s abilities every step of the way is the KLR650’s suspension. The 41mm fork with 7.9 inches of suspension travel up front and UNI-TRAK® linkage system with 7.3 inches of wheel travel in the rear combine to make the KLR650 a fun, functional commuter during the week and an adept back road blaster on weekends.

Braking duties are handled by a dual-piston caliper gripping a 280mm petal-style disc at the front and a 240mm petal-style disc squeezed by a single-piston caliper at the rear. This suspension and brake package boosts the KLR650’s on-road performance, without diminishing its versatile off-road capabilities.

Helping make the KLR650 a worthy touring companion is an expansive, saddlebag-friendly, rear luggage rack that can be fitted with a tail trunk. A large 6.1-gallon fuel tank and exemplary fuel economy mean the KLR650 can cover an amazing amount of ground between fill-ups.

That fuel range can translate into a long day in the saddle, so good wind protection is a must. This important job is handled by the frame-mounted bodywork, which includes a tall windscreen and large shrouds. Rider comfort is enhanced further by the seat design and plush urethane foam. A high-capacity 36W alternator pumps out enough juice for a high-output headlight and has the extra capacity to power the add-on electronic gadgets no touring rider can live without.

FEATURES

Long Distance Minded 651cc Four-stroke Single

• Cam timing and tuning combination aid in producing a broad user-friendly powerband
• Smooth bends on the one-piece exhaust pipe permit exhaust efficiency at all rpm
• Light, silent cam chain contributes to a quieter engine
• Double engine balancer helps engine run smoothly from idle to redline for less fatigue on long rides
• New piston ring design helps prevent oil consumption
• Oillevel window permits easy and accurate inspection

Four-valve Cylinder Head

• Compact combustion chamber allows increased compression ratio with less detonation yet provides maximum valve area for optimum flow
• Boosts low-end torque and its easy breathing means power at all rpm
• Secondary air (ASV) system helps reduce harmful exhaust emissions

Liquid Cooling

• Thin and lightweight Denso radiator fitted with a lightweight and thin cooling fan for maximum cooling efficiency, even when speeds are low
• Maintains consistent engine temperatures for long engine life and sustained power during hard use
• Allows tighter engine clearances for quieter running
• Includes a temperature gauge

Fully Transistorized Ignition

• Fully transistorized ignition unit precisely controls timing no matter how fast the rpm changes
• Long, trouble-free lifespan

Electric Starter

• Easy and convenient starting

Handlebar-mounted Choke

• Convenient location makes starting and warm-up easier

Five-speed Transmission

• The engine’s broad torque curve means only five speeds needed for off-road sprinting and relaxed highway cruising
• O-ring drive chain for reduced maintenance and long chain service life

Capable Suspension

• Beefy 41mm front fork with 7.9 inches of travel is rigid and plush enough to tackle on- and off-road terrain and provide all day comfort to the rider
• High-mounted front fender for any adventure-touring situation
• Rear UNI-TRAK® suspension features a five-way preload shock absorber with four-way rebound damping and 7.3 inches of rear suspension travel
• Progressive rate provides a smooth, controlled ride
• D-section swingarm contributes to the bike’s excellent traction

Strong Wheels

• 4mm spokes provide wheel stiffness, further enhancing handling performance and improving steering response

Chassis

• Semi-double cradle frame made of high-tech, round-section, high-tensile steel

• Detachable rear subframe provides access to the rear shock, airbox and carburetor for easy maintenance
• Large rear cargo rack included

Engine Guard

• Protects engine from rocks and trail debris when the going gets tough

Front and Rear Disc Brakes

• Lightweight 280mm front and 240mm rear petal discs offer excellent braking

Lighting

• Dual-bulb headlamp offers great night illumination
• Rear taillight, parking light and the high-mounted turn signals improve the KLR650’s visibility at night or in poor visibility conditions

Large 6.1-gallon Fuel Tank

• Generous capacity permits serious adventure touring

Additional Comfort and Touring Features

• Bodywork includes a large fairing contributes to increased wind protection

• Alternator output is 17A, with a total capacity of 36W to provide ample power for the headlight as well as add-on grip heaters and other accessories
• Easy-to-read instrument panel is mounted to the frame – contributing to lighter steering – and includes a large-face speedometer, tachometer, odometer, trip meter and water temperature gauge

• Urethane seat foam offers all-day comfort for long-distance riding

• Optional extended warranty

SPECIFICATIONS

• Engine : Four-stroke, DOHC, four-valve single
• Displacement : 651cc

• Bore x stroke : 100.0 x 83.0mm

• Compression ratio : 9.8:1

• Cooling : Liquid
• Carburetion : Keihin CVK40
• Ignition : Fully transistorized
• Transmission : Five-speed
• Final drive :Chain

• Frame : Semi-double cradle, high-tensile steel

• Rake / trail : 28 degrees / 4.4 in.
• Front suspension / wheel travel : 41mm telescopic fork / 7.9 in.
• Rear suspension / wheel travel : UNI-TRAK® single-shock system with 5-way preload and stepless rebound damping / 7.3 in.
• Front tire : 90/90×21

• Rear tire : 130/80×17
• Front brake / rear brake : Single 280mm petal-type disc, two-piston caliper / single 240mm disc, single-piston caliper
• Overall length : 90.4 in.

• Overall width : 37.8 in.

• Overall height : 53.1 in.

• Ground clearance : 8.3 in.

• Seat height : 35.0 in.
• Curb weight : 432 lbs.
• Fuel capacity : 6.1 gal.

• Wheelbase : 58.3 in.

• Color choices : Ebony, Sunbeam Red, Oriental Blue

River Crossing by School of Hard Knocks

Lets recap the last post, so i have nearly mastered the art of river crossing only to be certified true and tested when i least expect (ego) that things might go wrong. The last 9 crossings were very good, one of the crossing did not go well.

As confidently as i might say, the KLR can swim. I knocked one of the boulders underwater and my front tyres slipped to the right , only to get me off balance and was holding up the bikes weight with my right foot. the sand gave way to my footing and i had no choice but to down the bike in the middle of the river, which is about 2 feet of water. Slowly letting the bike slump to its side and cutting off the engine with the kill switch. Note that the Exhaust, air filter and the T-Mod bypass was all on my right side of the bike.I don't want the engine to be gulping water so turning off the engine would be the best way to do it.

i watched the bike for a quick second before picking it up, letting all the water drip down before starting up the bike... voila!!... the engine started with water spurting out from the exhaust for a few second and it was purring like a kitten and rode it across up to the other side of the river.
I let it run for a whole 5 minutes, praying that the engine will not stall. It didn't.

I don't know if i want to be proud or panic or stupid, but the fact that i just galoshed my bike in the river seems pretty normal. The bike can take it and i have seen many KLR cross deeper rivers than this. Apparently, the engine can be submerged and run under water for about 5 seconds before gulping water as the air box has a chamber big enough for this. I wouldn't want to experiment that on my bike.

Basic maintenance on the bike is needed.= after a river crossing.
Few pointer i got if there was such a case where you have to cross a river.
1. remember the lube spray?.. you will be needing to spray on the chains, bolts , nuts, carburetor, electrical stuff, sensors.
2. after letting the bike sit upright to drain all the water out, check the hoses that runs throughout the engine especially the T-Mod hoses.
3. Make sure that you open up the airbox and let the air filter dry fully. Keep on spraying parts where you can see water droplets on the engine.
4. Check spark plug well for water. Do not open up the spark plug as water will seep in to the engine block. Let it dry fully. Use a dry cloth to dry it up.
5. start back the engine and let the engines tempreture boil of the water. Caution, steam may develop and its hot.
6. Remove the 4 bolts located underneath the exhaust, and start engine, debris and water will flow out it he 4 holes. Careful as exhaust temp is very hot. You will need effort to remove those bolts, make sure the bike is warmed up first.
7. Get your local mechanic's number handy.
8. An unorthodox method is to turn the bike upside down and let it stay there for a few hours to drain. This has been done by one of the KLR world forumer.
9. Dont belive everything you hear or read in the internet. Some are good and some are just downright nasty. Saying this, i will have a disclaimer claiming that i will not be responsible if anything goes wrong to your bike or to yourself as it is just my suggestions based on experience and experience alone.