So when I picked up the motorbike (China designed Malaysian assembled SuperMotard but who cares it’s a fun ride!) last Tuesday (that’s like 7 days ago) from Wee Bikers the Chief Mechanic Ah-Fai casually mentioned that he and his mates are going to Kuala Klawang for a short Sunday morning ride on their Demak. When I express doubts about my ability to keep up (a little bit of history here, I was away from the motorcycling scene for about 10 years, only for the past couple of years I’ve been slowly easing back into it via contributions to myChopperz magazine and thru Kapchai magazine and attended both Burapa Pattaya Bike Week 2011 and Phuket Bike Week 2010 and the recent KL Bike Week 2011 lah), some more, I’m still running in the motorbike, havent even clocked up the kilometres yet, the Ah-Fai fella, and me bro, Tunerman, mentioned that he gonna join in the ride, plus assurance from AH-Fai that he gonna reined it the faster riders on the highway section of the ride, I said , YES lah, I’m in.
1st stop, LEKAS Highway...
..ha’ah! “Reining the faster rider konon”, from Sg Besi the average speed as indicated by the motorbike readout (yes, it’s LCD display. Reminded me when Suzuki releases a 4-stroke 150 single model to replace the TX-R 150 2-stroke single model they dubbed it “Cyber bike” becoz of the “Digital” LCD display *sniggers*) was at 70km/j but I was the last rider in the pack (is that a correct word? “Peloton) is reserved for cyclist only, no?) and the 3 Marshall (they wore bright day-glo Fluorescent bib with the word “MARSHALL” emblazoned at the back of the bib and me bro the Tunerman motioned me to “go faster!”.
Right. This “Old Man” is sticking to 70km/j only thank you very much.
At rest, Jeram Toi Recreation Forest, Kuala Klawang, Negeri Sembilan...
Later, at the 1st stop right after the RM1.00 tol of Putrajaya-Semenyih Link Highway, the Tunerman walk up to me and mentioned, “Ehh, my Speedometer indicated you only ride at 80km/j when mine is at 90km/j yo”. Aaaar? I reached 90km/j while still running in my motorbike? A shiver runs down the back of my spine, I was very careful about running in my motorbikes, some more, Japanese marque, ini pulak “Made in China ni kualiti bagus ka bro? – Mr T, another bro of mine, Laichee (Yamaha 135LC moped Rider on weekdays, Honda CBR100RR aka “Rabbit” on weekends)” motorbike.
Then I remembered, this is Project:Orange, my side project to see how much improvement can I made to the bike. So what the heck, jalan ajer laarr! It’s considerably a cheap platform (let’s see if I can upgrade a Kawasaki Versys… errr, I need to throw a significant amount of Ringgit Malaysia at it to see a marginally increases in “improvement and such”, no?), at a RM1,500.00 downpayment (with RM296.00 monthly instalment, phew, I can buy a used Proton at that monthly commitment oso!) forking out another RM1,500.00 for a tendered licence plate number, Racing Boy aloy rims and Pirelli’s (front 110/80-17 rear 140-70/17) while not exactly “kachang putih”, one only need to closed both eye and chanting “Monopoly™ money, Monopoly™ money” while handover the cash eases the pain somewhat. The trick is applicable whenever I travel oso. Funnily, all foreign currencies look like Monopoly™ money to me whoah hahahahah.
Okay, putting accounting bit aside, one kennot measure “seat of the pants” experience riding a motorbike with the “expenditure” incurs (I should have used the word “expenses” I think, neve rmind lah, as longas we unnerstand *sic* each other I think we’re okay), so how is it like riding a Demak DTM 150 Supermotard?
Well it feels “fast” at 90km/j. The motorbike will let you know so via the vibrating handlebars (which I gonna ditch the stock handlebar for a set or Renthal fatbars) and footpegs. heck, when I got home from Wee Bikers (Shah Alam – Kajang via Sprint then SKVE) at an average (indicated) speed of 60km/j, I think I lost all sensation in my nether regions. A manual check indicates that I still got it down there *phew* and slowly the numbness went away replaces by a short tingling sensation and then all is well. Happy to report it still function well *grins*
..at Jeram Toi, Kuala Klawang, Negeri Sembilan...
Not fast enough? Hehehe you got the concept all wrong bro! At 150cc engine displacement, tak lari punyaaaa. If you want to go mad on the street get yourself a Myvi with ultra low profile tyres and gargantuan rims. Oh, dont forget the “tuned by razo” sticker and the big chrome exhaust at the back oso. This Demak DTM150 motorbike is the one to annihilate Kajang rush hour traffic when picking up my litlle 9 year old girl from skool. This Demak DTM 150 motorbike is the one to run down to the 7-E at the bottom of the hill from where I live to get the latest Kapchai mag from the shelve or to get the little pack of Maggi™ Cup when the hunger pang hits at 3am in the morning (which for sure hits when you’re busy Facebooking all night long).
Sure a souped Honda EX-5 (engine displacement, 98 cc) can do all that but it can’t beat a Demak for attacking mountain twisties all out full throttle on 3rd gear (Wee-hoo!) all day long!
..friends of Ah-Fai DTM 150s, at Jeram Toi, Kuala Klawang, Negeri Sembilan...
Where’s the fun riding an LC or an EX-5? I ridden both, it feel ‘pedestrian”, a Laiche may hit 135km/j (documented Garmin GPS reading) on the highway, but as a motrbike, visual wise, it’s kinda bland. Opened any issue of Kapchai magazine and you see them everywhere. They all look about the same too, even the “made up” one. Nothing against LC tho, they’re fast, they get you from point A to point B super kwik, everyone has them, so they’re “blended in” well with the crowd but ahh yes, you’re just another faceless dewd in the crowd.
And anecdotally speaking, LC got stolen more often than any other motorbike too. No peace of mind there bro…
United Colours of Demak DTM 150...
Can’t go fast on the streets? No problem, make yourself visible then. Afterall. Hollywood celebs rides Harley to make themselves “more visible”, no?
“Show” ajer no go (pun unintended), tak boleh lari, janji handling mari. First thing that I did was to ditch the stock FungKiong tyres for the said Pirelli’s…
Stock standard Demak DTM 150 on the left and a friend, both with Pirelli 110/80-17 front ...
"okay, we're ready for close ups now..."
..after a “proper” photo session, I gonna start upgrading the parts of my Project:Orange , (Monopoly™) money permitting. Next item to upgrade: performance tuning, Renthal handlebars, performance pipes, graphics. In that order 
..impromptu photo session at Kuala Klawang Petronas station...
I made new friends on the sunday ride…
New friends!
download a bigger file here bro!
More new friends!
download a bigger file here oso!
Well, on my next ride, I gonna try to capture some part on video, looks like it’s time for me to get some GoPro HD cam. Adoi, kopak lagik!
Some image made during the ride…
Marking the "official" return to motorbiking after a decade... key tu nak cover janggut separa putih tu haarr..
Some beauty shot…
A pair of FZ riders who went along in the ride oso, yesterday…
The Tunerman and Friend, FZ riders, yesterday...
Met some nice dewd on KSR, they said they’re from Kajang too!
Met some nice dewd on Kawasaki KSRs, they said they're from Kajang too!
reviewing the days ride…
".. that fella haarr, the one on the small orange bike with the fat tyres, oversteer a lot at first, later in the day dia attack the corners like Kevin Schwantz vs Wayne Rainey masa jaman racing dolu-dolu..."
More beauty shots…
Demak DTM 150 beauty shot (siap in-camera flare lagik)
Rear view in the golden evening light...
Front view...
..overall experience of the ride?
#TedAdnanBilang manyak shiok! Therefore…
