Tag: mel lapid vlogs

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Opinions Random Blips

Two Wheels Are Two Wheels…

This post I stumbled on Facebook ticked me, it really shows the state of the country that I refuse to say at this time. This post is being clamored by the Philippine netizens at the moment, it basically shows that the bike lane is not being used to its full potential which is sad.
Here’s my suggestion on how to properly use the bike lane, which is more in tune with common sense rather than government idiocy.  
If the traffic is in complete gridlock, the rider/biker has the option to use the bike line and ride at a similar speed/follow the flow as the cyclists. Basic common sense, not bureaucratic nonsense.
It is built to cater to anything on two wheels especially when the traffic is bumper-to-bumper. The motorcycle must leave the bike lane once the general traffic flows once again and/or the average flow of traffic exceeds the speed of the average cyclist.
Or the bike lane is just a wasted space if it’s not being utilized to its maximum purpose.
The UK does it, it’s normal in mainland Europe, and it’s been pretty safe and prudent so far.
If not, what’s the point of owning a motorcycle in PH in the first place!?
….oh the Philippine government (esp. Dick Gordon) wants to ban motorcycles.
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Bite Tests

Bite Test: 2020 Star 8 Avant

After my experience with Star 8’s Dart e-Scooter (https://youtu.be/oqOnUL5szQ8), I was receiving messages here in YT and FB if the Dart EV was street-legal in the Philippines.

Turns out to be, I was not aware that the Dart EV is NOT a street-legal scooter!!! (Kinda violating my code of riding/driving all things street-legal, lol.)

So, this Avant according to the Land Transportation Office in the Philippines is STREET-LEGAL. Then this is my first ‘street-legal’ Star 8 EV motorcycle/scooter, what joy! (sarcasm)

How does this 1.5kW street-legal version differ compared to the non-street-legal 1kW Dart from my previous ‘Bite Test?’ Will the Avant be competent enough to keep up the average Southeast Asian traffic sphere? Time to check it out and see!

[NOT AVAILABLE IN NORTH AMERICA]

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Taste Tests

Taste Test: 2018 Triumph Tiger 800 XRt

The Middleweight Adventure Bike category is growing as one of the fastest motorcycle genres right now!

One of the pioneers in this class is the Triumph Tiger 800 series! On its 3rd generation and accompanying the newbie for 2020, the Tiger 900. Along with the recently revamped Tiger 1200 & Scrambler 1200, Triumph continues the onslaught on this genre!

The Tiger-8 I had the opportunity to ‘Taste Test’ is their top-spec on its XR line, the XRt is their flagship Adventure-Touring (road-biased) bike. On the other end of the spectrum, Triumph also offers the Adventure-Dirt (offroad-biased) XC line.

By far, I still haven’t ridden a bad Triumph yet (675 Street Triple R, Bonneville Speedmaster 1200, & 1050 Speed Triple RS). Will this Tiger 800 XRt continue the streak? Here’s what I think of it.

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Taste Tests

Taste Test: 2019 Royal Enfield Classic 500 (base)

Are you sick and tired of seeing all the modern bikes roaming the streets these days? Do you just want to ride an honest, simple, mecha-analog machine on two-wheels?

Well, here’s your bike! This is the Royal Enfield Classic 500, a British brand made in India. I think this might be the closest thing to an old-school as you can get in 2020!

This will be my first-ever time to ride a motorcycle as analog as this one! So I keep an open mind as I look around this classically-designed motorcycle!

I’m just excited to ride bikes like these, as what I always say: #AllBikesMatter, any bike I ride provides a unique experience. This bike is no different!

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Bite Tests

Bite Test: 2019 Honda BeAT 110 (ISS/CBS)

The entry-level scooter game here in the Philippines can be a very crowded affair.

With all these scooters costs less than PHP70k (US$1,385), these 110cc budget scooter classes are one of the most popular forms of motorcycling in Southeast Asia! Along with Suzuki’s Skydrive Sport [UX110] from my previous ‘Bite Test,’ this Honda BeAT [ACH110] competes on this very competitive market!
The 2020 model of BeAT scooter comes with 3 distinct models now (Street, Fashion Sport, & Premium). But this 2019 model is called the ISS/CBS (Idle-Stop System & Combined-Braking System) on which is equivalent to the 2020 Premium model.
How will the BeAT compare to the Skydrive Sport scooter? Since it tough for me to get a hold to even test these scoots, this is all I can manage. I hope you guys will like today’s ‘Bite Test!’
(I will remain to call this scooter “Be-At,” not “Beat” like the old Honda’s Kei-class wonder roadster.)
[NOT AVAILABLE IN NORTH AMERICA]
Categories
Taste Tests

Taste Test: 2019 Harley Davidson Street Glide 107

When you mention ‘Harley-Davidson,’ what model comes to mind? Cruisers, sure it’s a synonymous trait within the motorcycling world!

The Street Glide is one of Harley’s best-selling models in its line-up! With its eye-catching colors, a plethora of electronic goodies, and with enough creature comforts for the long haul without the extra weight of a full-on Tourer like the Ultra Limited series!

This bike also shares with the Sport Glide with the ‘smallest’ Milwaukee Eight V-Twin engine, the 107 cubic inches (1.75L) spec.

Will the extra heft of the Street Glide hinder its capabilities? Will the 107 struggle? Guess you have to watch and see!

Take note, this is the ‘regular’ Street Glide model, H-D also offers a more brutish model called the CVO Street Glide!

Categories
Taste Tests

Taste Test: 2020 Ducati Supersport S

Ducati’s are very well known for their many good motorcycles, but their forte is its super sports bikes.

But one of Ducati’s faired wonders that are often overlooked is the ‘Supersport’ series. This Supersport is at the moment, the smallest displacement faired, sporty Ducati on its line-up.

Just looking at Ducati’s current lineup globally, Ducati does not offer a mid-displacement sporty bike. I would think that the Supersport is the only bike that fills that niche!

As my first ever faired Ducati ’sporty bike.’ Some of its racing DNA has been trickled down to this model.

How will I react to this? Especially I haven’t ridden this class of bikes! 

 

Host Dealer:

– Del Amo Motorsport (Redondo Beach, CA, USA)

https://redondobeach.delamomotorsports.com/

https://www.facebook.com/delamomotorsportsRB/

(424) 304-1660

 

– Ducati Worldwide

https://www.ducati.com/ww/en/home

https://www.facebook.com/Ducati/

 

– Access Plus Group

https://ducati.com.ph/

https://www.facebook.com/AccessPlusGroup/

 

– Ducati Manila (Quezon City, NCR, Philippines)

https://www.facebook.com/Ducati-Manila-209206042835606/

(632) 8532-1624

 

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Taste Tests

Taste Test: 2018 Polaris Slingshot SL

 

Three-wheeled cars, 3-wheelers, tri-cycles, tri-cars, reverse trike, and Autocycles. These are the names associated with vehicles like this. Much like the Morgan 3Wheeler, Campagna T-Rex & V13R, and Vanderhall Venice within this group; the Polaris Slingshot is by far the bestseller on its segment!

Polaris claims that the Slingshot as a ‘motorcycle’ in the US. But I consider this as a 3-wheeled car (although the name ‘Autocycle’ sounds right too).

On actuality, how does this vehicle drive!? Does it deliver the same fun factor as a typical sports car? Or is this vehicle serves as an excuse for Polaris just to enter the sports car genre and dance around US regulations? Either way, this will be a completely curious experience!

Want to turn you Slingshot into a 4-wheeler or more:

Bullet Speed & Design

Maintenance Page


https://www.facebook.com/bulletspeedanddesign/

DF Kit Car Project 324
https://dfkitcar.com/index.php
https://www.facebook.com/dfkitcar/

Trak Hamr

Trak Hamr


https://www.facebook.com/slingshotconversionmichigan/

Alpha Powersports
https://www.facebook.com/alphapowersports/

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News Opinions Rev Bites

Rev Bites: Why The Lack Of Fun Cars And The Swift Sport PH!?

Last April, Maruti-Suzuki of India was caught testing the exciting Suzuki Swift Sport.

That got me thinking. Since Suzuki PH offers cars mostly from Maruti-Suzuki of India, why can’t they import this hot hatch in the Philippines!?

Plus I point out the lack of fun affordable sporty cars in the Philippines.

(This video was originally recorded live on Facebook last April.)

[UPDATE] Two weeks ago, Maruti confirmed that The Swift Sport will not arrive in India.

 

Categories
Bite Tests

Bite Test + Philippine Debut: 2020 TM Racing SMR 450 Fi

 

First, I thought Beta Motorcycles was the only Italian dirt bike manufacturer. That is why I was so giddy on ‘Taste Testing’ Beta’s street-legal flagship, the 500 RR-S!

A few months later, I found out another enduro bike specialists from the same country. That company is SWM; although I haven’t ridden any of their bikes yet, I’ve heard good things about them! And I thought I was done of identifying these Italian dirt bike marques, I was wrong, definitely wrong. This is TM Racing, I would think they’re the least known of the three.

But TM has a very colorful racing history on motocross, enduro-cross, and karting competitions. But TM is very well-known in the field of supermoto! With 8-straight championships on the S1GP, the MotoGP-equivalent of supermotos!

So I am very excited to get my paws on this ‘Ferrari of Dirt Bikes!’ I was so excited, in the end, I got nervous. See what happened!