Renting a scooter in Southeast Asia is so easy! For only $5 a day you can ride a motorbike through the countryside. Don’t worry if you don’t know how, you can practice driving it in the parking lot!Except I too was one of those fools… Before I came to Southeast Asia, I had these romantic ideas of exploring places on the back of a motorbike. Wind blowing in my hair, rice fields as far as the eye can see, stopping in rural towns along the way for a little break… I know, I know, I think back now and shake my head at that girl with those naive ideas. If she only knew back then what driving is really like in this part of the world… Renting scooters is something that Sam and I went back and forth on for a while. I wanted to ride a scooter around northern Thailand; he kept telling me how dangerous the roads were and how drivers (in bigger vehicles) had little regard for measly scooters on the highway. I, of course, thought he was being overcautious and scoffed at his lack of adventure.

Well, yesterday sealed the deal for me. I’ve been travelling around SE Asia for four months now and I’ve seen my fair share of hazard on wheels, but it was yesterday’s trip from Chiang Mai to the Thai-Burmese border, that really made me see how reckless it would be to ride a scooter along the roads we were travelling on.harley davidson 48 for sale miami I was travelling in a 14 person minivan and I basically spent the entire journey holding onto the hand rail in front of me for dear life.motorcycle clothing in maidstone kent Our driver sped uphill, downhill, around curves, onto oncoming traffic, nearly nicked a motorbike, passed trucks and buses as he continued speeding down the wrong side of the road, braked last minute tossing us into the seat in front, nearly nicked another vehicle…motorcycle helmet size 3x

I knew I wasn’t overreacting when the laid back German backpacker in our minivan decided it was time to strap on his seat belt, tight. It was four hours of torture there, and four hours of torture back. The signs along the highway which stated ’40 km/hr’ and ‘use low gear’ were invisible in his eyes, as was the yellow line dividing oncoming traffic.motorcycle trailers for sale chattanooga tn Sure, seeing the countryside by motorbike sounds like a great idea, but the problem is that in a place where drivers don’t follow rules, THEY are putting YOUR lives at risk. motorcycle shops in abingdonYou might think riding a scooter looks easy as pie, but what about the other motorists around you? two stroke 500cc motorcycles for sale

They’re not going to be looking out for you and slowing down just because it’s your first time riding and you want to have a nice holiday. And then there’s the girl I saw a yesterday returning a motorbike at a rental shop in Chiang Mai with the nastiest burns and scrapes ALL OVER HER BODY. She had clearly toppled over and you could tell it was a nasty skid by all the marks on her forearm, elbow, shoulder, calf, and knees. full face motorcycle helmets under $50But she’s not the only one. If you’ve spent any time in SE Asia, you’ve seen them too – travellers with bruises, exhaust pipe burns on their legs, bandaged elbows, and even arm casts. Chances are that was a motorbike accident. I’m not trying to scare you into not riding a scooter or motorbike around Southeast Asia, but the reality is that a lot of travellers get hurt every day, so don’t go into it blindly thinking it’ll be like getting on a bicycle.

Riding a motorbike can be trickier than it looks, so do yourself a favour, if you’re really keen on doing the motorbike thing, take a few lessons back at home. That way you’ll at least know how to deal with sharp curves, gravel, wet roads, and you’ll know how to kick the bike away should you fall while riding. Also, wear appropriate clothing – shorts, flip flops and a sleeveless shirt aren’t going to do you any favours. Sure, maybe I am being a bit too ‘safe’ and I’m missing out on having a great time, but at the end of the day, I know I don’t have the skill to ride a scooter or a motorbike on these roads. Plus getting on a highway where people are driving like it’s NASCAR would be asking for trouble. Have you traveled on a scooter/motorbike around SE Asia? Do you have any tips for people who want to do so?Over the years, Marilaque has been a favorite weekend destination for some riders. Some even call it their playground. For some, it is a place to unwind, enjoy the scenery that the Sierra Madre has to offer, or simply just ride in a well-paved road with lots of zigzags for everyone’s riding pleasure.

One of only four Baroque churches in the Philippines recognized by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site Commonly known as the Miag-ao Church, the Church of Sto. Tomas de Villanueva was declared in 1993 as part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site “Baroque Churches of the Philippines.” For me riding is an outlet to feel re-energized, revitalized, and to clear my mind. So during this trip I was looking for a spiritual type of feel while I was in Cebu, with my weary soul seemingly tired from all the traveling and the hustles and bustles of Metro Cebu. Having lived in Cebu for a brief moment in time, I had the opportunity to visit some of the finest tourist spots in Eastern Visayas. Although not my favorite destination in Cebu like the Simala Shrine in Sibonga or the Yap – San Diego Ancestral House in Parian, the Philippine Taoist Temple should be in my top 10 list, and will be a worthwhile trip for some. Besides, who can refuse a good view of the city while having that calming effect on your body, mind, and spirit?

Epic Ride to Lucban – Tayabas By The Pinoy Rider It was a cold uneventful day and I wanted to eat something fresh seafood for a change. I’ve been to Real previously where I immensely enjoyed their fresh catch but I didn’t want to go to the beach again so I researched and ended up choosing this popular yet quiet restaurant in Tayabas – Lucban road in Quezon. Pagkatapos ng 1286 kilometrong puno ng antok, pagod, malakas na ulan, nakakatakot na kurbada sa madulas na daan sa Nueva Vizcaya, rough roads in Cagayan, road repairs sa La Union, 30 kms of zero visibility fog in Naguilian, gutom, time pressure, 8 hours left at nasa Laoag pa lang, pagdadalawang isip kung tatapusin pa pero napagisipan kong mas magsisisi ako habambuhay kung di ko itutuloy. Preparation can only lead you so far, in the end it’s about pushing yourself. Finally, 2016 BOSS Ironman sakin ka na! Para sa lahat ng sumuporta at naniwala! Wow what a once in a lifetime opportunity I had today.

I did a full one on one interview with the 2015 reigning MotoGP Champion Jorge Lorenzo. I must be really blessed to be given a chance to do this. This is the first time that a current MotoGP champion has visited Philippine shores let alone ride around one of our local race tracks for a good 10 laps! Jorge Lorenzo is a 5-time world champion with 3 wins in the premiere MotoGP class. Again, once in a lifetime! Some of you might be thinking why bring a very small scooter on a long ride but don’t let the small gas tank fool you though. In spite of the small 4.4 liter capacity, the Zoomer X will bring you a long way, as what I experienced during my most recent gastronomic trip to Angeles, Pampanga. Manila to Angeles via Mc Arthur Highway is about 110 kilometers one way, and believe it or not, I only had to gas up once in this long ride. It seemed like the scooter isn’t consuming any gas at all as the fuel gauge appeared to be stuck at times, only it wasn’t. The handling of the scooter proved to be the best part of my riding experience as in spite of the different road conditions I experienced, the bike never wavered a bit.

Check out this video that I documented during our ride to Cavite via the newly opened MCX. I was on a 2014 Kawasaki ER-6N. I was conscious of not getting carried away after finally changing the stock tire of my 2014 Kawasaki ER-6N with a Nankang Roadiac pair, both carrying an OEM size of 120/60x17F and 160/60x17R. I will be taking you guys to the coastal town of Brgy. Instead of just riding around on a weekend, I decided to go on a food trip ride. I was already getting tired of eating the usual fastfood meals that I have everyday and I wanted to give my body a break as well so I decided to try something else on a weekend. Previously, If I wanted to just go out on a relaxing ride to a not so far away place from the Metro, my 2-wheeled companion would either take me to Tagaytay or to Marilaque in Rizal. That’s alright with me as I definitely enjoy riding whether it’s near or far however, I would almost always end up eating bulalo at Mang Vic’s in Antipolo or in Mahogany Market in Tagaytay.

Although not fastfood, it is still not at all healthy for me, as bulalo would be your best source of cholesterol and fat, with all the sebo you want included hehe. Rainy trip…but who cares? 4 wheels move the body, 2 wheels move the soul. Best time to ride here is on a Monday. No Racing kolokoys, only disciplined riders. Sharing photos from my refreshing trip (both literally and figuratively!). I also had the privilege of testing out the new Honda Click 125i and Kymco Grand Dink 300i So blessed to experience this everytime I ride. by The Pinoy Rider The perils of long distance riding Being a long-distance traveler and a strong believer of preventive maintenance, I am very picky on what I use on my bike. Solo Ride to Negros Occidental – The Bacolod and DSB Experience The second part of my Negros island journey brings me to Negros Occidental. By this time, I am already tired, not just due to the number of kilometers I have traveled but also because of the unforgiving weather.

I could feel the sun and rain alternating, with the sky supposedly having an identity crisis of sorts, seemingly now knowing what kind of weather to give for this trip of mine. Not only will it affect the way I ride, and the length of time needed to cover my route, but it also is taking a toll on my body already. If you have been following my regular column here in Inside Racing Magazine, you would know that I came from Manila, then toured Cebu then took the coastal highway to reach the southernmost tip of Cebu, which is the small town of Santander. From there, I had to board a Roro via Maayo Shipping in order to reach Sibulan, Negros Oriental. Last issue featured my Epic Ride to Dumaguete wherein I toured the place dubbed as “Motorcycle Capital of the Philippines.” Dumaguete is located at the southern part of Negros Island, and as part of my Negros tour, I will now have to travel at least another 200 kilometers or so in order to reach the other province in Negros, this time Negros Occidental.

One of the items in my checklist is to ride and experience the twisties of Don Salvador Benedicto – Western Visayas’ own version of Marilaque. Since it was basically the same distance going to Bacolod, I still chose to stay in Bacolod, for obvious reasons – it’s at the center of all the other popular spots, and it will be easier for me to take care of my accommodation. Also, I wanted to try authentic Chicken Bacolod so for me it was an easy choice anyway. Still a long way to go As some of you might know, I consider Cebu as my second home so I wanted to do a long ride that is outside of Cebu. The first thing that came into my mind was the island next door – Negros. Personally, I felt I still had some unfinished business with Negros because the only time I was there before, I stayed for a total of four hours only. Yes that is correct, four hours only. It really sounds ridiculous for me not to explore the 2 provinces there as I used that time to cross to Cebu 2 years ago.