More track activity…

It was pretty busy weeks, track wise. I planned to participate for the next series of Superbike/Supersport National Championship race in our local track, thus the bike need to be ready. Need more track time also to learn about the new track surface as many parts of its apex are heavily patched. Yet the preparation was not according to plan, as I crashed on the slippery S Kecil chicane while testing the bike new gearing, the bike was not heavily damaged though and I hope can be ready for the race.

The new Multistrada… love at the first sight :)

Finally it was revealed, the New Multistrada 1200. The detail is still scarce when I post this, but I must say it was Love at the first sight!

Thanks to Asphalt and Rubber, a fantastic blog I must say, for the pics. More pics bellow.

Me and Multistrada…*updated*

When I write this post, the all new Ducati Multistrada is about to be unveiled at 2009 EICMA Show in Milan. After the show my 1000 Ducati Multistrada will suddenly become an “old” model or the “previous” model of Multistrada. The much anticipated (at least for Multistrada lover ) 2010 Multistrada (which may be called Multistrada Aperta) will have totally new look yet still bear its DNA as a “Multi Road” or “Dual Sport” version of Ducati motorcycle.

With this new dawn of the new Multistrada or Multi, I would like to share some of the memorable pics and experience I have with the Multi, it was and still is an enjoyable experience but I must admit it was not love at the first sight.

Track day Video

With the CBR’s clutch replace now some track time. Check out the video above. Need to work on the cam view though, it pointed too low. Anyhow I hope you enjoy the show

Finaly some track time!

It has been a while since my last track time, my local track was close for resurfacing and continue with Ramadhan month break. After Ied celebration finally I got some track time.. Woohoo..:)

Both the bike and my skill riding on track (if there any) were rusty already! The CBR was failed first time I started it, the battery run out since it had not been run for a while but not too worry the mechanic quickly fix it  and the sound of the inline 4 come to live!

West Sumatra Earthquake… :(

For news about Padang earthquake do follow these Twitter topics in this link.

Ranah Minang and the lost one will be in our prayers, our hearts and minds will be to the victims.

Video Clip: Bukittinggi to Banda Aceh Ride.

Check out the video clip of DDOCI Bukittinggi to Banda Aceh ride… Hope you enjoy watching it as much as we enjoy ride it..

Ride Report: Bukittinggi – Parapat (Part 2)

A first long ride on this trip. From Bukittinggi (Point A Google map above) West Sumatra to Parapat (Point F), we stop along the way for gas at Pasaman (Point B) near the border of North Sumatra, another refueling near Sipirok (Point C). We had lunch at Sipirok (Point D) and a long break before the final refueling of the day at Tarutung (Point E). Distance of 503KM in total from Bukittinggi to Parapat.

We reached Parapat late in the afternoon around 8 PM and it was raining. I must say this was one hard ride, we had minor accident, some of the worst road condition after Tarutung, the rain and riding in the dark, but did I mention about the food? The best things in this ride was the Minang Melayu food, hmm… so exquisite!

Ride Report: Bukittinggi – Banda Aceh (Part 1) Lambah Harau

Google Maps shows a distance of 1,274 Km from Bukittinggi to Banda Aceh. Ride across the heart of Sumatra Island, to Toba Lake and finally to the great Tsunami stricken area of Banda Aceh, Nangroe Aceh Darussalam. We will split the route in to 4 main stages, ride around Bukittinggi, from Bukittinggi to Parapat. Parapat to Medan and finally Medan to Banda Aceh.

We planned that 4 days should be sufficient to cover such distance and more; with the bike already being shipped to Bukittinggi we start our trip with a short flight from Jakarta to Minangkabau Airport about 80 km south of Bukittinggi.

Bukittinggi – Banda Aceh ride completed…

We finally made it to Banda Aceh after about 1200KM ride from Bukittinggi West Sumatra. Above was me in front of the famous Banda Aceh’s Baiturrahman Mosque just after we arrived in Banda Aceh from Medan. The ride was not without incident, fortunatelly nothing major. From 15 bikes, 13 made it to Banda Aceh. Most of the time the weather was awful to say the least, some of the road condition was the worse I have experienced riding in Indonesia. But there were section where it all worth it, the long (very very long..!) and smooth (very very smooth..!) curvy road near Banda Aceh, the  serenity of Lambah Haraw in West Sumatra, the delicious and distinctive spice in Minang Melayu food from Green Chilly Duck to Ayam Tangkap of Aceh, to the companion of friends enjoying the ride to celebrate our Independence Day!

Stay tune for the trip and photo report!