I started my biking experience quite late, which was when I first got my motorcycle licence when I was 19. Most of my friends obtained their motorcycle licence when they were 16 and proudly rode their Honda cub (be it 'lampu bulat' or 'lampu petak') and other 'kapcais' to school.
It all started when my late dad agreed to 'inherit' his old and faithful Honda CB175 to me in 1992. As my late father was stationed in Chendering, Terengganu at that time, we rode from our home in Kuala Ibai to Penang on that bike. It was my first experience riding in a long distance as a pillion.
The distance was approximately 500km - bear in mind, at that time neither Grik highway nor Butterworth-Kulim Expressway nor the Baling-Kulim highway existed yet. It was such a wonderful and unforgettable experience, riding across the Peninsula Malaysia from the east coast to the west coast through the Banjaran Titiwangsa, at an altitude of 1,100 meters above the sea level.
Honda CB175 (1971 model) with my Arwah Ayah. Thanx for everything, ayah. Al-fatihah.
In 1993, I bought a brand new Honda EX5. It was the trend at that time where EX5 ruled the streets in Penang. Even though it was not as powerful as the 2-strokers, but the EX5 presence were almost everywhere.
As you can see, the photo was taken on the middle span of the Penang Bridge. The traffic then was not congested as it is now. If I were to take a photo at the same spot today, I would either be summoned by the police or being cursed by other motorists for obstructing traffic or being 'swept away' by other heavy vehicles. LOL!
1995 - came the year of 150cc 2-stroke sportbike era. With a little year end bonus I got after joining a new company, I bought a Yamaha TZM150.
My TZM 150 in its original colors.
My TZM150 after some minor stickers touch-up and re-painted rims.
It was quite a powerful bike compared to the 4-stroke EX5. I was very young and inexperienced when it comes to handling such a powerful bike. Somewhere in May 1995, I was involved in an accident with my TZM and suffered serious injuries. I broke my right leg. Both the tibia & femur bones were broken. I had to walk with crutches for 7 months. The first 3 months with a pair of crutches and the following 4 months with a single crutch.
Photo of me with my sister and my mom at Sungai Ndui waterfalls, Teluk Bahang. The place is gone now, submerged in the Teluk Bahang Dam.
These are the plates & screws which were removed from my right femur & tibia bones after I've fully recovered.
A total of 17 screws and 2 stainless steel plates were embedded on my tibia & femur bones. I guess that's the only similarity I had with Mick Doohan at that time. LOL!
During my temporary 'handicapped' period after the accident, I learned a lot on how to properly handle a motorcycle, theories on defensive riding and so on, through a lot of reading (as I had had a lot of free time to read). My elder brother also contributed a lot as he used to buy me lots of US, UK and Aussie motorcycle magazines. I can only afford local motorcycle magazine - 'Roda-Roda' as it's cheaper :D
1996 - Boon Siew Honda launched the NSR150RR. OMG! This was my dream bike as I've seen it in the magazines since 1994. Yes, I had been drooling for this model for many years before. This was the bike that took the championship in the Asian Road Racing Championship for several years by Thai riders. Direk Archawong and Kristmas Vilairoj, to be precise.
Please don't get me wrong, I didn't mean to undermine Chia Tuck Cheong and Yasir Said, they were great riders at that time. It's just that the Honda had an obvious top speed advantage while the Yamaha was fast on the turns. That's why when in the chicane, Tuck Cheong and Yasir always at the tip of the tail end of the Thais' machines but loses ground on the straight line. Furthermore, Thailand's Honda Team was backed by HRC.
Please don't get me wrong, I didn't mean to undermine Chia Tuck Cheong and Yasir Said, they were great riders at that time. It's just that the Honda had an obvious top speed advantage while the Yamaha was fast on the turns. That's why when in the chicane, Tuck Cheong and Yasir always at the tip of the tail end of the Thais' machines but loses ground on the straight line. Furthermore, Thailand's Honda Team was backed by HRC.
OK, let's get back to the main topic here. In actual fact, NSR150RR was launched quite late as compared to the Thailand market. When Boon Siew Honda launched NSR150RR in Malaysia, Honda Thailand launched the NSR150SP with more horsepower and single-sided swingarm. I wonder why Malaysian market always several steps behind the Thai market?
At my friend's place in Cheras, after watching MotoGP in Batu 3, Shah Alam in 1997.
After a few years with my NSR150RR and after I was involved in another accident, where I suffered a minor injury on my right elbow and at the same time, my first unborn child was 'on the way', suddenly something struck my mind... gosh, I'm going to be a father soon!
I decided that I need to change to a less powerful bike cuz I tend to ride my bike on full throttle. With a heavy heart, I traded-in my NSR150RR to a Honda EX5 Class (which was later known as Honda Wave 100).
Sorry, I couldn't find any photo of my Honda EX5 Class / Wave 100 to post here except a similar model which I took from the internet.
And finally, in 2004, I changed to another 'kapcai' - the Yamaha Lagenda 110. Initially, when I bought this bike, many had criticised me as they claimed that Yamaha had a bad reputation in its quality. I don't care about what others said as it's my money and it's up to me what bike that I wish to buy. It proved that I made a right decision. Heck yeah!
The bike in 2004
The same bike in 2014.
End of January 2014, my Lagenda 110 has turned 10. How time flies. It has served me well with no problem or hassle. To those who had criticised my decision to buy this bike 10 years ago, I have proved them wrong.
I guess that's all with the story of my bikes. Later on I'll share about where I've been with these bikes.
Cheers!
