HEADLIGHT REPLACEMENT

 After 10yrs, the clear plastic of the headlight has become so yellow stained even Autosol-ing it as suggested by my mechanic couldn't deliver the brightness of a clear plastic. Upon close inspection, there is a minor crack at the edge of the clear plastic, I still remember, from a flying stone, good enough to cause rain drops to seep in and dull the bulb reflector. The original replacement cost RM180 😵‍💫 so I bought a 3rd party equivalent via eCommerce for RM24 (transportion free). That is 87% cheaper. It has an aluminium case and I choose the chrome plated version, impressed after seeing it on my friend's bobber. It is of basic quality and the photo shows it after being Autosol polished. OK lah. The bracket quality is basic but I believe sturdy enough, well, what do you expect for a budget but functional option? Still, I'll expect the headlight to be very clear and that's the important thing.

PILLION RIDER ACCESSORIES

Ever since I been rejuvenating my bobber to make it road worthy lately, when I told my mechanic wifey is desirous of hitching a ride with me around the local neighbourhood, he laughed and said let her. To him the ride on the solo seat of the hatdtail bobber was hard enough, what more, the pillion rider seat where there is no rear suspension. He said it will most probably be her first and last ride.

 There will be no special custom bracket for my pillion rider seat merely a cushion and suckers onto the rear fender so when she's not coming along I can take it off. I bought the pillion rider footpeg which will be attached to the frame and am thinking of putting it on the lower frame to ease the knee joint. The bobber is now at the mechanic waiting for a change of headlight after a stone cracked the edge of the clear plastic enough for acid rain water to corrode the reflector.

FIRST RIDE AFTER HIBERNATION

After 5yr storage under the balcony and a proper service enough to be get a JPJ PG10 certification, my first ride is not cruising around on a joy ride but to pay my respects to my roots because that is where it all started.

Visit to bapak's grave

Visit to mak's grave

Sheng Wey PD26JS Twin Carburetor Tuning

 For 5 yrs I've sent my bobber to have the twin carbs fully serviced by 5 separate motorbike workshops throughout Klang Valley where all were serviced by the senior mechanics yet after a few thousand km of riding, I found there were much carbon built up on the right plug compared to the left plug. From discussions with the President of the Regal Raptor Owners Motor Group, he said it was generally known the right carburettor tends to be slightly rich but no one could offer a solution like it was live and let live. However, this carburettor is internationally popular, used on a variety of motorbikes and reputed as reliable so I felt something must be wrong probably with our Malaysian batch but business being business, no one in the budiness of selling motorbikes is going to admit it.

After a long hiberation, my Iron Zebra was given a thorough service to ensure it gets the JPJ PG10 inspection certification and it did. Still, there was some petrol overflow. My mechanic said it was very difficult to clean the petrol scum that stuck to the wall  he even used an ultrasonic equipment for my carbs. After a second dismantle and critical inspection of the twin carbs, the mechanic said my valve needle were faulty and couldn't be repaired so were replaced. After a few runs, I acknowedged the carburettors now run more smoothly than before in particularly, cruising at <30kmh, specifically, 20kmh. The motorbike does it so smoothly. not once coughs like it used to before. My new mechanic generally services superbikes and is also a racer so I suspect his motor mechanic is very sound filled with much experience.

Mechanic said based on the Mikuni carb needle valve chart, PD26JS  needle valve looks similar to the one he highlighted

JPJ PG10 Inspection

Waiting for senior officer's approval

Insurance agent located at JPJ canteen

 Insurance companies rejected my request to renew my motorcycle insurance as the road tax was not renewed for 5 yrs and said it needs a PUSPAKOM inspection. Having thoroughly serviced the bobber I drove to JPJ Padang Jawa, the nearest branch that handles request for vehicle inspection and asked an officer from the enforcement unit. He adviced me to make my request at an insurance agent located at JPJ canteen and was confident I'll get mine there.

To my query, I was surprised they do offer insurance coverage for PG10 inspection but on a yearly basis. I was also surprised they offered third party coverage with no questions asked. Thus, I immediately renewed my insurance and paid via online banking.

Secondly, I got the Vehicle Inspection Permit approved as my insurance coverage was active then went home to get my bobber.

The inspection was held behind the main building and took less than 10mins. After the officer took photographs for reference, checked the chassis and engine number against the JPJ grant was the same, I was told to wait a short while for the senior officer to endorse the approval. 

Later, the officer assisted me to renew my road tax via my JPJ app. That was all, literally no appointment needed, just walk-in, FOC, just bring along original grant and active insurance coverage.