A Singapore Biker’s Life

One of the "major" problem about buying a second hand bike / car is… you never know the exact condition of the vehicle.

Since last weekend, my bike has been having some problems in the first 5 - 10 mins of traveling.

The bike’s torque would be "retarded"… In the past, that I would have guessed the Fuel Cork, basically, a device which prevents the bike’s fuel from flowing back into the fuel tank, causing the pick up to be "sluggish"

Anyway, after some checks and some calls to some friends who were technically versed with the bike, it wasn’t the fuel cock but some possibilities were
1. Carbs tuning
2. Fuel Pump
3. Spark Plug
etc…

From my last "experience" with Looi’s, I decided to try the other Top ST mechanic. Gopa.

Anyway, sent in the bike on Fri evening and have managed to collect the bike in the evening today.

Here’s the damage.
Tuning of Carbs
Changing of Spark plugs
Fuel Pump
Total Cost - $265

A brand new Fuel Pump costs around 3-400. But luckily for me, Gopa had a spare from a scrapped ST which was working.

So he let me have it for $130 including installation.

Thank God.

Initially, my thought was… Since it was free for him, why should he charge me so much??
Then it came to me… I may have paid more if he wasn’t honest and told me that it was brand new.

What impressed me which no bike shop I know does was… he tests the bike personally after every repair. I don’t mind him doing it coz he rides an ST himself.

Many people asks… why is he called Gopa when he’s a chinese??

well…. coz his bike’s number is 500

Yes it is.
Coz I saw a TP, errmmm 2 TPs "chasing" a lady driver who was driving while using her mobile.

Here’s what happened, while riding home from work, I came to a stop @ a traffic junction (Cross junction). Then 2 TPs came by beside me. One on a Diversion & the other on a scooter.

Well, what happened was, on the left of us, the traffic was making a right turn towards the opposite direction of my lane (Hope you can imagine this). @ this time, we (The TP & I) saw / witnessed a lady driver who happened to be using her mobile making a right turn.

If you can imagine this, this lady was basically driving "across" us (Me & the TP) from our left to right whilst using her mobile.

*Again, imagine this, the lady was holding the HP with her left hand and she was making a right turn with her right hand. Both hands was basically "crossed". What was she thinking??

Guess what, the TP turned on his (yes, HIS) police siren & gave chase.
(If you can imagine this) The TP made an U turn and gave chase. *Both TPs did.

**Sorry, this is not a lady driver bashing but this was really a lady driver.

http://www.myconfinedspace.com/2007/09/13/wheelie-gone-wrong/

http://www.myconfinedspace.com/wp-content/uploads/2007/08/3272fef82c36acfff9b59061cd28baa0.gif

Sometime ago,

I have posted this

To park or not to park

in
http://bikers_b.blogs.friendster.com/a_bikers_life/2007/07/index.html

Anyway, after that, I written in to HDB & the Town Council in regards to this.
1. The size of bike lots
2. The space between the bike lots
Being alittle hard for bikes my size…
and provided some suggestion to be considered as lots … and this is what was done.

These lots were wider and unobstructed.

A biker’s dream come true.

Excellent work Aljunied TC.

Last weekend, I saw this lorry on the road and took a quick pict of it.

Honestly, with the kind of damage that the "container" has suffered, should this still be considered road worthy?

look @ the holes in the back, what if one of the steel rod were to fall through?

If it were to hit the car, the car will prob only need cosmetic repairs @ least but if it smashes through the car’s windscreen…

What if it was to hit a biker??

Should a heavy fine be imposed to such irresponsible company / owners / drivers of these lorries?

She authorities also "inspect" containers that goes on the road as well?

The other funny thing is that the TP HQ is only a couple of KM from where this pict was taken. Who is the authority for such an issue?
LTA? TP? Who??

Should we be proactive about safety or reactive about it?

Proactive - Paranoid?
Reactive - Must someone die before action is taken?

Where should the line be drawn?

There seems to be one or 2 of them there everytime I go there…

Sigh…
SFJ 1638 E (Nice plate… How much did you pay for it??)

GV 7698 S (Nice going, 6 bike lots @ 1 go)

SBT 1426 U (Better Still, hich bike can park there now??)

Lesser of the 2 other evil?? only 2 lots?.

Benjamin is a colleague from JnJ.

Recently they have had a bad experience on the road… this was what happened.

http://evangelinesio.multiply.com/journal/item/3/I_was_almost_killed_today?replies_read=4

But what I don’t understand is even reports like this have been made… is anything done about it??

Does the authorities like the TP or LTA or whoever keep a record of these drivers?
If there is, if they have "accumulated" up to a certain amount of "complaints" are action taken?

What is being done to such reckless drivers? Authorities taking enough "action" to prevent such incidents?

Bikers "不是人吗?"

But it’s bad experiences like this in the past that made me "decide" to buy an ST.