Many years ago, motorcycle riders were exempted from paying road tolls. Bridge tolls followed. B2 riders were exempted. Very soon followed the government’s decision to reduce road tax. Road tax for motors become RM2 only.

But if you think that’s all the authorities are doing for motorcycle rides, you’re wrong.

A few months ago, 135,000 Sirim approved safety helmets were given free in exchange for old helmets. The above campaign had to be carried out. Motorcycle riders, it seems, were using old and worn out helmets, which the authorities claimed were dangerous.

Each Sirim approved helmet, mind you, cost approximately RM80 – RM100.

If you were to be a motorcycle rider, what more can you expect from the authorities?

Unfortunately, how have these youths who ride motorcycle repaid the authorities? By becoming “Mat Rempit”, which is becoming a major headache for the government today.

Even Section 81 of the Road Transport Act 1987 has failed to deter youths from participating in illegal racing. The above act carries a RM2000 fine. It has even been suggested in Parliament that machines be confiscated. All these have failed to prevent the menace of illegal racing in this country.

In spite of all these developments, the authorities came out with the biggest surprise of all just recently. A bonus for all motorcycle riders, I should say.

A directive to all driving institutes all across the entire country, that potential candidates opting to secure a B2 (below 250 cc) motor license cannot be charged more than a sum of RM211.

Irregardless of whether the institutes make a profit or otherwise, the regulation now stipulates that’s the maximum amount a motorcycle rider can be charged.

This tantamount to encouraging and assisting more and more youths, especially from the kampung areas to secure a motor driving license to ride motorcycles.

To tell you the truth, I would be happier if it had been the other way around. The authorities, it looks, has made a rather unwise decision. Instead of raising the minimum age of riding motorcycles to say 18 years, it has gone out of its way, to introduce recommendations to assist motorcycle users again and again.

Lest it be said that I am against those who ride motorcycles, the fact it, I am not.

What does the sum of RM211, recently announced by the authorities encompass? Basically, the amount covers:

1) The “L” driving license.

2) Attendance of the K.P.P. course (5 hours).

3) Attendance of the theory class (6 hours).

4) Sitting for the highway code test (once only).

5) The Q.T.I. test conducted by the J.P.J. authorities.

6) The “P” driving license.

Be it reminded that should you fail the highway code test the first time around, most driving schools and institutes would charge you RM50 for test and service included the next time around.

Potential candidates should also bear in mind, no service like fetching the student to learn practical lessons and training purposes are accorded. Likewise for all other tests and practical tests conducted, a student has to fend for himself.

The instructor or driving schools or institutes provide no service whatsoever to the students.

Be it also be known, that the profession of driving institution is a service oriented business. Besides levying fees approved by the J.P.J. authorities, a driving school proprietor is permitted to charge a reasonable amount of what is termed as service charges.

It should be reminded the driving school entity has to bear overhead and assorted charges. And for that, service fee has to be taken into account.

I have chosen to explain this to the readers, as a failure to do so might lead those interested in taking up driving lessons, be it car or motorcycle, to misconstrue the manner in which the fees are charged and calculated.

If a person can ride a bicycle, learning to ride a motorcycle would be easier.

This article, would concentrate on instructing a student, how to ride a manual motorcycle.

In such a vehicle, the rider changes the gears himself. Foremost, remember a motorcycle is powered by petrol or fuel. It is therefore dangerous.

A slight twist of the throttle, will cause the machine to surge forward.

Before teaching a rider how to ride, it’s important that we introduce him to the controls itself.

A new rider, assuming he or she has never ridden a bike before should know:

i) The handbrake is on the right side of the handle. Use the right hand / fingers to depress it.

ii) The foot brake. Also situated o the right hand side where your right foot rests.

iii) Then there’s the gear control on the left side of your left foot.

Smaller motorcycles today have no clutch control. The gears are changed automatically, without the help of the clutch.

Let’s proceed then to the gear control.

Gear Control

Normally, a motorcycle has the following gears: Free gear, gear 1, 2, 3 and sometimes 4.

To make it easier for riders, the latest models of motorcycles, have “gear and free gear” denominations on the handle bars. You can look at the handle bar denominations to help you.

Today’s bikes use electronic starters. Upon switching the ignition switch, press a “starter” button to start the machine.

The steps are:

i) Ensure first of all, the motor is in free gear.

ii) Gear one is engaged by stepping down or forward with your left foot once.

iii) Accelerate slightly the throttle on the right hand side of the handle bar.

iv) With this, gear one will move the machine forward.

v) Keep accelerating the throttle and when the machine has moved approximately 10 – 20 meters, step the gear down, with your left foot for the 2nd gear and thus move faster.

To step, pull the handbrake and simultaneously step the foot brake with your right foot.

Next, is to free the gear. Look at the gear mechanism on your handle bar for help.

Learn to switch off the ignition key.

Start all over from step (i) to (v) and soon enough you’ll be on your way to riding a motorcycle eventually.

Gear 3 and 4 can be learnt at a later stage, when you mastered gears free one and two.

If one were to list down all the mistakes usually made by motorcycle rides, I believe it would take an extremely long time to finish them all. What is suggested is to pick a few of the mistakes normally made by most riders and highlight them.

1) Involved in illegal racing or “merempit”. Merempit or to be involved in it is an offense. In reality, you have gone against Section 81 of the Akta Pengangkutan Jalan ‘87. The fine is RM2000 or a 6 months prison sentence. Or you might even get both. Your license may even be suspended.

2) No helmet or helmet not tied properly. Not wearing a helmet while riding a motorcycle is “wrong”. Wearing a helmet but not tying a helmet properly is also an offense. You could easily be fined to the tune of RM150 for it.

3) Driving without a license. Sometimes, some drivers forget to bring their license with them while they are driving. As a matter of fact, having no license at the time the authorities stop you is deemed an offense. You could be summoned under Section 26 (1). The summon is RM150.

4) L.D.L. (Learner’s Driver’s License) ferrying passengers. “L” drivers are prohibited from bringing passengers. If you should be caught for the above offense, you could easily be fined a tune of RM200.

5) Carrying or ferrying more than the permitted number of persons. A motorcycle is meant for 2 persons. Normally we observe parents bringing 2 – 3 children with them on their motorcycle. This is indeed an offense.

But anyway, the Police in this country are a kind and friendly lot. From my observation, not many police personnel relish summoning the wrong doers.

6) Not using the “P” or the “L” plate. If you are in possession of an “L” or “P” plate, failure to affix the “P” and “L” plates on your motorcycle would be considered an offense. For your information, this offense carries a fine of RM150.

7) Front and rear lights are not “on”. In Malaysia, motorcyclists must have their front as well as rear lights on no matter day or night. That’s the law.

If you happens to be arrested by the authorities for the above offense, you will definitely be fined for it. So do remember, put on both the front and rear lights.

The better idea would be to align the lights with the ignition switch to enable it to be automatically switched on when the motor is started.

8) The right hand side handle mirror is considered a compulsory item for a motorcycle. While the left hand handle mirror is optional, the right hand side mirror is something “compulsory”. Not having the right hand side handle bar mirror will therefore become a offense.

9) Using of the hand-phone while riding a motorcycle. Believe it or not, some do use the hand phone while they are riding a motorcycle. It’s dangerous. In case you don’t know, it is actually an offense, just like cars. It’s dangerous, let me repeat!

If this is your habit, mark my words one fine day, you’ll be landed up knocking into someone else’s back! It’s a matter of time. So, stop by the side of the road if you need to talk.

10) Not remembering to bring along your license along while riding your motorcycle. Not remembering your license is something very normal. Human beings are a little bit “absent minded”. It’s something that is not unusual.

Whatever it is, your action contravenes Section 26 (1) of the A.P.J (Akta Pengangkutan Jalan ‘87). The following section actually reiterates you have “no license” or “do not possess a license to ride”. You actually posses a license. But at the time the Police or J.P.J. stopped you, literally you do not have a license on you.

This article contains some of the most frequent and common mistakes that are committed by motorcycle riders, not only in Malaysia but other countries as well.

As you read this blog, remember what you have read. It might very well assist you to avoid being “summoned” by the Police, no matter whether you are in Singapore, Australia or Hong Kong. As it is, the law is approximately the same all over the world.

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