Category: Biking

One week out of the showroom, my bike finally took a beating. It fell while it was stationary.

The biggest misconception about handling a big bike is that, it’s light. It’s not. It weighs 200 kg with full tank of gas. Therefor, it shouldn’t be taken lightly. Always, always, always get the bike owners to move it even if you’re good with one.

1. The first thing you need to do. Remove it’s plastic cover (if any).

2. Unlock the disc brake locks and the steering lock, as per instructions in this article.

4. Get on the left side of the bike, the one with the stand.

5. Mount or tilt the bike slowly with right hand on the brake.

6. Start moving it carefully.

Last night my bike fell. My mom was trying to open her car door but couldn’t because my bike was blocking it. My younger brother proactively went to remove the bike while I was still searching for the keys to unlock the bike. Without removing it’s cover and on the right side of the bike (the one without the stand), he tilted and pushed the bike.

BAM! The bike fell and he fell on it too. I was bloody pissed, who wouldn’t? I should’ve stop him before he starts touching the bike.

Visible scratch on the bike.

A little zoom in, there it is. Scarred and probably loses it’s ecstatic value.

The fairing/fender is made of glass from Autoglassguru, so it’s pretty easy to catch a scratch.

Close up, you can see the paint has chipped off.

Even the engine took a beating too. Though very tiny, it managed to scrap the paint off the engine and the metal part is visible. I just hope it doesn’t rust in the long run.

Mom volunteered to pay for the damages, she didn’t want us to fight. That’s not possible. Why would I want to take my mom’s money? It’s not her fault that the bike fell. I did an online search, it’s gonna cost at least RM800 to replace with a new fairing. Plus it’s a 2012 version, I doubt it’s easy to find parts.

After the incident, I walked to my brother and told him, next time ask me personally to move the bike. He snubbed. That was rude, considering he put a dent on the bike. He did apologize but sounds half hearted, but whatever. Once I repair this, I’ll ask money from him.

The main thing here is, don’t touch a bike if you have no idea how to handle it.

Here are a few reasons why your key is stuck in the ignition and how you could fix it.

The quality of mom’s camera is pretty decent, provided there’s enough light. Olympus VG 140

When I was young my uncle stayed with us. I never liked reading story books, to me those are fantasies,  fairies and might I say, a bit sissy. I don’t remember any of Enid Blyton stories though I’ve read them a couple of times (but I do read comics/mangas). I was raised as a realist. The only reading material was my uncles’, and young men likes sports bike and car. They were like ecstasy.

I guess that somewhat influenced my childhood.

As I grew older, the passion for bikes and sports car got diluted. I started thinking about the risks, financing, weather, it’s practicality and all other bull shit excuses. Soon my boyhood dreams slipped through my fingers. Everything needs to be logical. Dreams are just dreams, what’s important is the ‘now and future’. I became an adult, I am responsible for my own actions.

When I got married, I realized, life is not about going to work 9 to 5, make kids, walk them down the aisle and be an angry old man. Some things got to change. I needed a game changer. The sort of things that’s awesome, fulfilling and out of my league. I needed a bike. Although I’ve talked about it many times, I never had the guts to pursue it.

Until one day, I told myself the thinking has to stop. That lunch, I went directly to the bank and asked for a loan. A couple of visits to the bike shop and I got myself the bike on June 1st, 2012.

A few sweaty and choking ride, I asked myself, what have you gotten yourself into?

Whether it’s a problem or solution, it doesn’t matter anymore. I am satisfied and I have fulfilled one of my long wish list. This is it Edwin, this is real. This is your bike and welcome to the biking world.

ps: It’s amazing what length you’d go through when you were a kid to achieve something.