Tires: The Rubber That Can Save Your Life

I am not going to mention those popular brands that I assume you all know. With these small motorbikes, most people do not spend so much on tires. They would rather opt for a tire with a lower price tag.

I think the most important criteria for tires here are their price. The second most important criteria are their ability to withstand long and torturous riding. The third most important criteria are their ability to perform in the rain.

I am sure many of you do not agree with me. But I know my neighborhood very well.

I am using Kenda 130/70-12 for my rear tire. It has a wide tread. The compound is rather hard. It is reasonably good in overall performance but I have to forget fast cornering. It is no noisy but it is pretty good in a rain. It does not make me 100% satisfied but I get me from home to office safely. What else could you want from a tire?

Tires prices are going up and soon more tires from a non popular brand will appear in the market. Of course, they will attack the market with a very affordable price.

How Durable Are These Small Wonders

Anyone can assemble small motorbikes here. Make it nice looking and sell it at really good price. You can sell many of them. But wait; can you sustain a sale volume over long period?

It can be beautiful. It can be cheap. But if it breaks down often, chances are, you will have to close down your assembly line after a year.

It had happened to a number of assembler before. They gain the market quickly but their lost their customer also quickly.

Why? Their motorbikes break down soon after their leave the showroom.

It does not matter much if you do not have the latest design. It does not matter much if it does not run so fast. It does not matter much if it is a little expensive. But it is really a big matter to have it strong and durable.

The engine should be able to run for hours without any problem. The motorbikes should be able to travel thousand of kilometers every month for many month. It should be able to carry loads without causing the engine to overheat or to simply will not move.

Riding a motorbike between 150 to 200 kilometers a day is quite normal here. Everyday throughout the year. In the hot sun or in the rain.

This type of riding requires durable motorbikes.

The Taiwanese scooters

The war is ON!

It uses to be the Japanese whom conquer the market. They have been around for more than 50 years. Honda, Suzuki and Yamaha are the most popular. Kawasaki also has their share of the market but a little smaller portion.

In the past few years, there are some changes in the local market for small motorbikes and scooters. The Taiwanese have started to come in. They have flooded the market with various models in the scooter category.

How do they gain the market so quickly? The most significant factor that could influence the market is the price of the scooters. The Taiwanese machines are a much cheaper compare to the Japanese machine. In a place like my ‘home’, every cent counts.

But how good are these Taiwanese machines? From my observations, believe me, there are good. I own one and I am very satisfied.

Beware of the Korean!

Bikers vs riders

Which one are you?

Have you ever thought about it? Look around you. In one hand, you will see people whom are always watching for new model. In the other hand, you will see people whom keep on riding their years old motorbikes.

The first group I named them ‘bikers’. They like motorbikes but only the latest model. Only new models satisfy them. This group of people spends a fortune on their hobby. Their want the latest model and the most powerful.

The second group I named them ‘riders’. They like motorbikes but enjoy them most during riding. It does not matter if they own an older model but their machines are always ready for another one of those rides. This group of people spends hours on their motorbikes and travel miles with joy.

Me! Well, I would rather be in the second group. What ever motorbikes I am on, I will always enjoy the ride.

You! You do not have to decide now. Which ever group you decide to be in later, the only thing that I will say, ride with me!

Why Do I Ride

Many people said that I am not being reasonable to myself. Staying so far away from my office and going to office on a “dangerous” vehicle.

Many suggested that I should drive a car to my office. They said cars are safer. I will be protected from the hash weather and many more good reasons.

I took these advises openly. I think they mean well but I keep on riding my motorbike.

I ride because I like it. I love being on the road with the nature. The motorbike, the road, the wind, the sun and the rain are my companion. I have been riding for years and I am still enjoying it.

To all of you out there! Ride with me!

Riding Distance

Do you know how far are these motorbikes being ridden everyday?

Well, they are small. They are built using a simple technology. But yet, they are being fully utilized, ridden to commute, ridden to move goods from one place to another.

But, the real question is, how far?

Just take me as an example. Distance from my home to my office is about 72km. That means I rode 72km in the morning and 72km in the afternoon. My average working day is 22 days every month. So, that is equal to 3168km every month. I am using only a 150cc scooter.

Some people ride further than me.

• fast food delivery services
• dispatch riders
• small built traders
• spare part suppliers
• and many more

They use the motorbikes to support their business. Their people ride more kilometers than me. They do it all year long. They do it in all type of weather, in the sun, in the rain.

To me, it may be long and hard, but I love every minute of it, I enjoy every miles of it. I hope you do to.

Type Of Engines

What type of engine being used for these small motorbikes?

Two of the famous engines are used. They are 2 stroke engine and the 4 stroke engine.

A few years ago, 2 stroke engines were very popular. This engine was very powerful and very easy to maintain. All makers were producing good model.

Then was an issue about 2 stroke engines were producing smoke and causing pollution. The government started campaigning about the better 4 stroke engine. Soon, most manufacturers started to comply with the government campaign.

Now, most of the new models are powered by a 4 stroke engine. Their capacity ranges from 100cc to 175cc. Many of the scooters are using 125cc and 150cc engine while a local assemble cruiser is using a 175cc engine.

Photo inserted above is a 150cc 4 stroke scooter.

Popular Maker

When it comes to motorbikes, Japanese maker concurs most of the market. Why? It seems like they manage to produce motorbikes that are reliable and can be used for a long time with minimum maintenance.

Honda is very popular but minimum choice. Their machines are very durable even though not very good in design.

Yamaha is almost as good but have a better design and very good resale value.

Suzuki has got followers even though is suffering from a second hand value.

Kawasaki refuses to compete in the moped and scooter section but have got a few good models in the 250cc class.

Gilerra is very expensive and very difficult to maintain. It is having problem with the hot and humid climate of the tropics.

Momos is new in the market but it is doing very well in the local racing team.

Other European maker like Ducati, BMW and Triumph are not very popular. They concentrated in the higher capacity ranges from 650cc to 2000cc.

Why small motorbikes?

Why we are using small motorbikes? Well, I think the reasons are quite obvious.

1. Cheaper initial cost – as a developing nation, our monthly income are very much lower compare to countries like America, Briton and the European countries.
2. Cheaper maintenance cost – small motorbikes requires small parts. Smaller part often cost less. Small motorbikes also produce less power, thus do not require super high quality parts, which is a lot cheaper.
3. Lower fuel consumption – the ever increasing price of fuel have really affected the lower income people. Small motorbikes seems like the best option to travel.
4. Smaller physical size – so, we require less power to keep us moving.

All bigger motorbike, are imported as a complete built unit (CBU). This is also another reason why the initial costs of a big motorbike are very much higher and become less popular.

Small Motorbikes

I live in a rather moderate community. We are not really third world country, but we are not so advance either.

So, what sorts of motorbikes do we have here? Most of them are small capacity motorbikes. It ranges from 100cc to 650cc. But the most popular are 100cc, 110cc, 125cc and 150cc.

A few years back, the road was dominated by a moped category (here we call it 'kapcai'). Recently the trend changed. We have a new bread which started to take over the road. It is the scooters. These scooters come in various made and model. They are in the 125cc and 150cc.

There are some bigger cc motorbikes, but are quite rare. These group often are weekend riders. Only a few of tehm are regular commuters or travelers.

Welcome To My Blog!

Hi! My name is Hisham. From where I come from, motorbikes are very important vehicles.

People use them for commuting from home to office and vice versa. Other use them to transport goods and some, use them purely for pleasure.

Me, well, I am using motorbikes for a little bits of all those reasons. But, the most important, I always love being with a motorbikes.

I hope you will enjoy my blog. I will write all sorts of issues, adventures, local trend and other related to motorbikes. Do communicate with me.