Spick and Span

Clocking the 4th month of having Orlulu (My bike's name meaning Black All Over), been deligently washing it and not abusing it. Had a windshield, HIR bulb and bar risers fitted. Becoming uncle bike by the minute, but I like it. Some people drive sports car, some people drives mercedes. I choose comfort over impracticality.

Bike is giving me a average FC of 22.8km/L, with the best of 23.7L over the previous two tank. ESSO 8000 FTW!

Next imminent upgrade will be a main stand for better parking choice, and a fresh set of rubber.

Getting used

Having my bike for little over a month now. I had been clocking a mileage of 23km/L on average. Almost went on an overseas ride to Mersing, but it was cancelled prior to departure due to foul weather.

No complains with the bike so far, it gives me adequent power when I need it. It is very smooth, engine whirr nicely. All I need is a windscreen and I am still considering what side luggages I should get.

Had been diligent in covering it, even in multi storery carpark, to ward off soots and unwanted attention. Planning on disc brake locks when I'm free, probably this weekend.

Almost on wish list is a Shoei Multitec. Had been eyeing it since I was L-plater, now finally decided to purchase it after so many helmet change.

Got aquainted with a group of avid bikers inclined on riding for the ride. Enjoys the almost weekly Saturday sessions. Oh yes.. mentioning weekly, reminds to catch up on bowling soon.

Bike report!

Had pushed out a Honda CB400 REVO within the week of me passing my practical test. Been riding it consistently for a fortnight already. I have to say, the condition is really good. I somehow have the luck to get good bike and price from Mr Lee at Looi's motor, and I am not the nego-seeker, I just pay what is stated usually. haha! The REVO is a ABS version, which are more expensive, all in all, the bike is 1 year 10 months from first registration, and I got it for SGD$12000.

A little on my bike, it is black, the mileage when I ride out from Looi's is 9413km. I got a pretty nice registration number, 6667. The previous owner had retained the number of '10'. I had fixed scottoiler, a voltmeter and a GIVI topbox so far. More projects in future, but all on practical uses. I will get them as time goes by: GIVI windshield, bridgeport air valve at my next tire change (the valve are angled 90° for ease of pumping air), gear indicator.

The bike is way smoother than the S4 in driving school. Nice whrrr when moving, and it's silent! I'm not a noisy exhaust, "here I am announcing my arrival" type of guy. I like to zip around without annoying people.

Still learning more about my new bike as time goes, need to be comfortable to the extent that it's an extention of me. I have lots of time to do so, I simply love this machine and likely to keep it for a long time.

Incoming! Super four REVO!

Wheee! Passed my 2A on my second attempt on the 3rd. First attempt failed due to a massive accumulation of 28 points. Ordered a REVO from Looi's Motor 5 days before TP... and I'm getting it this Saturday, when all paperworks completed.

If you asked me, what about my small bike, well, I post a sales thread in SBF and got a response on the 2nd day, and I sold it on the 3rd. Now, with no car and 2B bike in my possession, I'm all out to ride a decent proper bike.

Will post pictures of it in my facebook, wu_shunwen@hotmail.com is the address to add me, and also my MSN.

I would be planning a trip up to Malacca soon, just to get a feel of foreign riding, ops1tour will preceed when I'm really comfortable. It's just a matter of when, and not if.

2A Learning Journey Begins

Been 4 months since the last post, there's isn't anything significant so I rather not bore myself or others with post fillers. The wait is finally over, 365 days, on 18th June 2010, and I enrol myself at the new Singapore Safety Driving Centre at it's new location in Woodsland. It was a breeze to locate it, as it was near my former Sembawang Camp.

I enrolled and got myself the first lesson on the day itself. It was a 3 hours wait, but what's 3hours compared to the 365 days I had endured. I even found myself losing my student booklet an hour before the lesson starts, but thankfully, someone had returned to the service counter and it was promptly returned to me when I was there to take a queue number to obtain a replacement.

The lesson went well, the bike was low enough for me to flat foot on one side. the power is similar to the output from my car, so it wasn't too much caution warrented by my friends who were 'surprised' by the power a 400cc generated. Braking was excellent, way better than 2B's spongy brake, one press and that's it.

I booked the second lesson the day after, it was quite arkward doing the Fig.8 course, it had always been my weak point. Luckily, I passed the lesson as well, and on to my last lesson which is next Thursday, 24th. I intend to take a couple of Circuit Revision to get used to the Fig.8 and Crank course. Hopefully, I can book for a Traffic Police Practical Test by July.

One mor 2B kaki

My childhood friend have obtained his 2B and finally riding his Pulsar after purchasing it and letting it sleep at the car park for so long. He's another touring and safety conscious guy, probably will have more in common than those 'modder' and comestic 'zenger' who do everything nice yet everything inside 'chui'.

Finally ride after about 2 weeks since the ignition incident, wooot! Never forgotten how to ride, the feeling of control and freedom is unmistakenly familar. I'm really looking forward to my bigger CC ride so I can actually bring it out to highways without too much worries.

REMEMBER TO DUPLICATE KEYS OK!

Sorry for not updating much. I haven't been riding much due to work.. I don't like to ride with less than a 5 hours of sleep or if I can't leave my home at 6am. It's a Ybr and I don't like to lane-split.

I lost my bunch of vehicle keys recently, car and top box keys have duplicate but not the bike's. I have been putting off duplicating it because not every shop can do it, most neighbourhood shops don't give a hoot about bike keys and only have blanks for car or keys around your household.

I had to arrange for a tow and to change ignition for just a freaking key. Surprised and suaku that the tow was only $20. I've been driving for 6 years and tow is automatically $40 onwards to me. Don't like the stain left on my white fuel tank though.... can't wash away... knn...

Had managed to spot Pplater's exit message from hov gang due to conflict of principles, but on the bright site, managed to know about a www.moto-v.sg from him. It's exactly the group of people I need to talk to... touring up north..

Currently.. awaiting the new instalment of Race to Dakar video on youtube.. the Long Way Round song still stuck in my head. I FREAKIN WANT TO RIDE A BIGGER CC!

Stupid Instruction by Stupid People

Haven't be really riding for a while. Only used the bike for nearby NTUC and punggol trips. My sqn suspended riding again.

Anyway, in the midst, I have made a definite decision and will now move towards it. I've decided to get a CB400 Bol D'or. It's the fairing version of S4. Still comtemplating to keep it in original or all white with side boxes.

Had my first pillon training recently, I think I faired pretty well with my 80kg friend. This pave the way to zai cha bor who are surely way lighter. HAHAHA!

Decision

I have decided to get a 2nd hand s4 considering the fact I may be interested in a eventual Fazer. Even not, it makes more sense to lay a commitment to a permanent bike when all classes of bike are opened up at the obtainment of Class 2.

$$$

Just did my sums... I got to offload my car by August, if not, I may not be able to get a 2A bike this year. Still have other expenses to handle, dang... Hope the bonus in July will be at least average. I don't want to eat grass just to support a machine. No worries, the tour will still go on, it's just a matter of time. I will still continue to research and collect information about it.

I fucking hate cars.

First Post!!!!

Heya people, thanks for even bothering to come and take a look. haha! This blog will depict the preparations for a long distance ride and other biking stuffs will come in here.

I ride a motorcycle not to commute, because I love to ride. I don't see myself selling off a bike and getting a car when I got a family some do. I don't see why people would quit riding, such an expression of freedom and returning to the stupidity of being caged. I was pondering a trip up north for some time, but due to the limitations of my Class 2B (<201cc), I just simply toyed with the idea and that's about it.

I chanced upon a thread by "drrags" and was impressed by how he was willing to just plan a long trip down South America from the States with a friend, straight after been retrenched. Here's the thread which kicked my senses. He had a mishap in the trip, but after recuperating, he went down again, and stayed there for a bit in a spanish school, to brush up his spanish. haha.. what a life...

This is his personal blog apart from his updates on the forum. It's super long, I spent 3 hours glued to it, page by page... admiring their landscape, their land, their humour.

Back to myself, my trip is just a humble road trip when compared. What I'm worried about is the languages. You can't speak english in too much of SE Asia, in fact I should say Asia. It kinda irked me at times, what progress can they make keeping to their turtle shells.

I will keep a note of logistics and procedures to prepare in here. Now there's just a few I can think of. Please advice me of more if you can. Do email me at ops1tour@gmail.com if you know what I must add and procedures like border crossing between the 'developing' countries I'll be in.

Things to have:
Bike, WP GPS, Camera, Riding gears, Spare Batteries for every electronic equipments, universal travel adaptor, MONEY, credit/debit card, phone, air pump?, tire repair kit, (please add if you know).

Signing off here, I hope I will get my licence by Oct 2010, else the trip's screwed. Haha!