Benelli Keeway TX200, Ride To Genting Highlands.

Benelli TX200 on a less traveled road.

After a ride to Fraser's Hill, my CBR friend wasn't very happy. Had already made arrangement to ride up Genting Highlands on the Fraser Hill ride itself. Received a call from him 9.30 am and requested to meet at 10.30 at MRR2 Safari. I got myself prepare, my motorcycle riding gear and waited for him. Got a call from my friend, says he shall be late, so I change the meeting place to the Shell station just before we enter Karak highway. Started off slowly. When I arrived, surprise, I saw 2 shell station side by side. I choose the second station, since there is a 7/11. Bad choice. I did a fill up on the TX 200, the pump did not stop automatically, over spilled petrol all over the tank. RM$ 9.30 (RON 95, no fill up from prevoiuse Fraser ride). Had to clean up with clean water, but the smell is still there. Check out the tire pressure, then went for a drink and an ice cream.

Benelli, cool air, clear sky.

My CBR friend arrived at 11.00 am and off we go. He fill up after the karak highway toll. There is a BPH station with a Oldtown White Coffee outlet. I guess this should be a better meeting point. Shall meet here on any Eastern ride.

Bamboo Orchid with Benelli TX200.

Riding on MRR2 and Karak highway was a breeze. Gear 4 & 5 cruising at 90 ~ 100 km/h. On an up hill over taking, lots of heavy truck/buses, I dropped it to 3rd. Most of the road are wide, but traffic is rather heavy.

Benelli, abandon mill.

We took the bypass before the tunnel. Going up to Genting, road are wide, long sweep, uneven (certain section). There were also lots of traffic, some high power cars, taking fast long sweep corners. I couldn't maximize the the corners and have to bank on keeping much to "my" lane. Being inexperience on the Benelli TX200 I just couldn't find the correct gear. 1st being too tall, no speed. 2 & 3, not enough torque to power out of corner. Was struggling. My CBR friend was having a good time. Having plenty of torque, he can maximize the corner, taking the outer lane, bank in, then powering out. Upon reaching the mid section, it's some down hill, here the TX 200 perform better as it has sufficient torque to power out of the corners. The 2nd up hill section, I had the same problem again but it's getting better, still wrong gear most of the time, also am worrying about those fast cars. Today it's rather cold, but no fog.

Keeway Benelli.

Stayed for a while. Couldn't find a good spot to park and have a drink. We made arrangement to lunch at Gotong Jaya. It rained and we chat for a while. Met up with a Singaporean motorcyclist, BMW GS 1200. Riding Singapore, Genting Highlands, Malacca, Singapore. We exchange Motorcycle stories, compared bike / motorcycle parts prices...... Our new friend left when the rain got lighter as he was in full (rain) gear. We stayed until the rain stopped. Eating in Gotong Jaya is rather pricey, maybe it's tourist's price or Big Biker's price. A fried Fresh Prawn Mee (very big prawn) for 2 person, with Chinese tea cost us RM$ 63.00.

Started off the down hill ride very slow as the road was wet. It was much better, but there are just too many speed breaker for motorcycle. It's before and after all corners. Some even have double speed breakers. It's still ok being a light bike, I can maneuver over those. I wonder how my friend handle those speed breakers. Had to slow down to even 1st gear. Stand on the foot peg ease going over the speed breaker.

My CBR friend over took me on a straight and off he went. Met up with him when he slowed down along the Karak highway and signal that he's going off. He then speed off. It was so hot after the cool weather at Genting. Riding home was hot, as it's going down hill to the Klang valley. I tried 110 km/h, there wasn't much vibration (downhill). I rode home using MRR2, traffic were extremely heavy. Stopped at Petron (MRR2) did a fill up, slowly as I don't want it to spill again. RM$8.30 (RON 95). Home I went.

Riding up to Fraser's Hill Benelli Keeway TX 200 & Honda CBR1000rr.

Took a joy ride to Fraser's Hill with a friend. Started off after meeting up at R&R Jejantas Sg. Buloh. Fill up our tank. Pump up the tires, 210 kpa front & 200 kpa rear. My friend says he knows the way, so he lead. We head up the North South Highway. As he was leading, I just followed. Traffic was heavy as it's a Saturday, plus school holidays. I ride on a relax mode, cruising at 100 Km on the highway, and 60 ~ 90 Km on the trunk road. When we stopped at a traffic junction, I check with him why are we taking a detour. He said, heavy jam at Rawang, need to avoid. Anyway, we reach Kuala Kubu Baru, did a refill as was told there are no petrol station in Fraser.

Had a short stop to chat after Kuala Kubu Baru. It's refreshing after Highway & trunk roads. After KKB, it's B & C roads. There is a water catchment, Paretak Dam, with a few scenic stop points. As this is a riding trip, I didn't stop. Maybe on my next solo trip I shall. After passing the dam, the road got narrower, C road. I started to experiment with the TX200. Playing with the gears. For flat road, the gears are well spaced for a relax rid. Doing 60 to 90, no stress to the bike.

After a while, my friend start to lag behind. I overtook him. The road got narrower and twistier. Road surface is also bad, uneven, small pot holes and sandy corner. Being a light weight bike it's easy to maneuver and avoid those. I had a fright hitting Chilling Waterfall. It was a sharp left bender, a narrow old bridge, the suddenly lots of vehicles parked by the road side and plenty people (Saturday & School holidays). Stopped for a moment to regain my composure. My friend then over took me. I played chase up for a while, then over took him again. The road is getting twistier, fun is beginning. Was having some difficulty maneuvering the bend. This is when I decide to switch my riding pasture, from relaxing to aggressive motard style. Sat nearer to the fuel tank, crank up my arms (crab style) and stand pushing the handle bar on the corner. It was a great feeling, taking on endless bends. These bends can even scrap my toes. Also be caution on the right hander. It's quite easy to scrape the rear break when you corner and brake. It's so pleasurable.

Had another stop just as we climb the Fraser Hill. Another short chat. My friend says he is struggling with the CBR1000rr. Being a heavy bike, narrow C roads, short sharp corner, uneven corners and unfamiliar road. Starting here it's a one way street, all vehicles in 1 direction. I guess we were early and we're the only bikers. We make arrangement to meet up at Fraser and ask me not to wait for him. Again the climb is extremely "funtastic" Sharp short  uphill bend. Shifting between Gear 2 & 3 offers the best ride. Down shift to 1st gear made the TX200 skid at the rear, accelerating out of a corner is too slow & stressful. Met a couple of cars going up along the way, all of them were very "gentlemenly", give way for me to overtake even on sharp corners. I guess they must had seen me having so much fun enjoying the ride. My mind was already thinking, how would a KTM 390 feel on this uphill road? Felt that the climb is just too short, reached Fraser's Hill. Park and waited for my friend. Had a short chat, my friend insisted his bike is not suitable for this trip. it's so tiring for him and the bike. Him hands are trembling, due to the weight of his body (sport position), also very tiring negotiating the slow sharp corners. The temperature of the bike is also high, the twin cooling fan was blowing fanatically even is parking. The Benelli on the other hand was just fine, not hot as there is an oil cooler. The my friend pointed out the exhaust cover.  

One screw had dropped off and the other screw is loose, about to drop. Thank goodness it's still holding the cover. Tried to find the tools and didn't know how to open the seat. Finally found a small tool box tuck on the left rear mudguard. Tighten the screw just to hold it temporary. Need to find a screw when I'm back in KL. My friend suggested stainless steel screws.

Went for lunch at the golf club, they had it rented out to a malay restaurant. It was self service. Had rice and chicken, with a couple of vege. 2 Pesi Cola to go with. Amount to RM$ 18.00. As we were having lunch, other bikes started to roll in.

This Versys has a gear lever "socks" installed. It's a rubber based sock, covering the gear lever, non marring, so as not to leave a mark on your shoes.

This Honda VFR 12000 really caught my eye. Check out the exhaust, it's so sexy. Single swing arm, shaft driven.

Going down hill, the road started as a 2 way street, until we reached a school. After that, it's 1 way street. Met a couple of vehicles along the way, again they make way for me. I played with 2nd, 3rd gears, slipping the clutch, brakes front and rear. It was so exciting. Sound of the blabbering exhaust of Leo Vince Cobra was ecstatic  Made me feel that I'm young again (ahem), thinking of my teens. Return trip is also fun, motard style. I started to enter and exit corners at a higher speed and higher angle as my confidence is back. Wishful thinking, a gear indicator and a tachometer should be nice. Again wondering how a KTM Duke 390 would fare on this trip. Slowed down to a relax ride after I reach Chilling Waterfall. My friend caught up, we ride together. When we reach Paretak Dam my friend signal that he'll ride off. I signal back that I'll need to refill up front. Off he rode went.

Met him again at KKB Petronas. Told me that he's riding off home, so we said goodbye. It was a boring ride back to KL for me. Made my way via the old road and hit the highway at Bukit Beruntung.

I stopped by a motorshop at Pudu to look for the screw. Couldn't find 1 that fit. Went to another shop, managed to find an old screw. Doesn't matter, screw it up 1st as it's almost 5 in the evening.

When to Jalan Loke Yew, Asia Bolts & Nuts bought the sample. Got 2 sets of stainless steel with spring washer, RM$1.50. No more rust.

Hope to go riding again soon. Oh yeah, just received a call from my friend, this time Genting Highlands.