Can't Give Up My Bike

As up to now, I haven't been thinking of giving up my bike since riding has given positive effects to my soul. I always feel fresh and energized every time I came back from a short riding trip. Seriously, the thought of giving up my bike scares me a lot and I'd experienced anxiety and frustration over my failure to commit riding once a week. But still, it's much better than a drug addiction. 

The love for motorcycle was and is always there. After getting my driving licence in 1994, I bought a motorbike from my senior in college. He was due to leave for the United States so, he sold his bike to me for RM1,000. It was a Yamaha 100 Sports. 

Source: Google

The bike was fully utilized until 1999. I used it to go around the campus, gatherings and night classes. I even rode it until 2 am for church activities. I really thought it was the best decision I made because when I had the money from my sponsorship, I was divided between purchasing a brand new desktop computer or a bike. Well, you know the answer right?

So what happened after 1999? My friends and I graduated from university and I got a job in Nilai, Negeri Sembilan. My roommate, a Sabahan decided it's time for him to return home. So he offered me to continue paying for his bike loan. A Kawasaki Super Kips 150 as pictured below;

Source: Google

Since the bike was beautiful and sporty, so, I agreed to it. Of course, in order to own that bike, I sold my 100 sports to my fellow colleague in Nilai. It's the bike I used to go to work from Monday to Saturday. I beat all the tolls and traffic lights with it and reached my destinations faster than a car. However, just like many of my friends, It's time to return to my homeland, Sarawak. My homecoming was backed up by the job offer in one of the colleges in Kuching. I hardly found anyone interested with my Kawasaki Kips so I humbly asked the "Towkay" in Kajang to accept the surrender of my bike without penalty. Thank goodness, he was kind enough to let me go peacefully. 

For 3 years (2000-2003) I had no bike when I was in Kuching. I began to feel the financial pinch when I started building a family and the government set the petrol price at RM2.70 per litre. To save cost and with the little savings I had, I bought a second hand Suzuki VR125 cash from a motorcycle dealer in Batu Kawah. It gave me a temporarily relief because after two years, the scooter became unwell,  having all kind of complications. I tried saving it but failed. Sadly, it ended up in a Recycling Centre in 2011.

In 2012, I made another decision to own a bike. But this time around, my choice of bike was largely influenced by my brother. I bought a Kawasaki er6F. A 650 cc bike. I didn't have a B Full driving license but the company helped me in getting the L license, before going for the test. With RM21K for the down payment, I only paid RM280 per month for four years installment. 

Source: Google

The bike was not used for me to go to work, that's why I called it as a weekend bike. It was a good bike: agile, stable and fast. Unfortunately, as my interest grew into a 4 cylinder bike, I began searching for a new bike but affordable. My accidental visit to Huat Bing Motors, MJC was worth it. I felt in love with a Benelli 600 c.c. An affordable 4 cyclinders bike. So, I traded in my Er6F with it and top up RM6K. 

Source: Google/Bikesrepublic.com

It is a nice bike but has many petty issues. In terms of design and sound? No problem. Nice to see and nice to hear. That's the end of my bike story. Now, I am a BeneLLi 600 rider. More riding experience coming my way. Oh yeah...

Logging off

11.13 PM

23/1/2018