A rite of passage for all motorcyclists, I daresay, is to join a motorcycle club. My first motorcycle club is with the NTU Riders Club, and then the Singapore Female Riders Club. I joined SGNC7 a few months after switching my ride to NC750X, since there is a huge wealth of knowledge that I need to learn when it comes to Class 2 bikes…
The big question then is…
Why should you join a motorcycle club?
Even though motorcycling is a relatively “solo” activity, there are actually a lot of benefits to joining a motorcycle group. Riders are oftentimes at the mercy of other bigger vehicles like cars, vans, buses and trucks. There are lots of other non-vehicle hazards like oil spills or road debris, where riders have a higher risk of getting into an accident compared to other vehicles. In Singapore, lane-splitting is a grey area, so riders keep a lookout and honk when a car beside another ride switched lanes without checking their blind spots.
Ultimately, it is this sense of camaraderie, where we look out for each other on the road. To make it stronger, lots of riders join motorcycle groups to primarily make new friends. Clubs are one of the platforms where riders can learn how to maintain their bikes, seek help if they are stranded somewhere (which is quite often!) with a weak battery or punctured tyre, and most importantly…
Go for group rides.
Group Rides? Say whaaaat?
Yes, I meant what I said!
Group rides are actually quite fun. You get to explore new places with a renewed level of confidence, because your bros/sis are there with you during the journey. One important tip is to always ride your own ride, and don’t try to show off too much because it can cause a chain collision. Only do this on the track, where conditions are much more controlled with no other distracting vehicles around!
Just a minute — have you read my trip to Taiwan on two wheels?
SGNC7 Day Trip to Malacca
Recently on 19 August, I went for one of the SGNC Day Rides to Malacca (via B-roads) with 20-something riders. It was really quite fun!
Prior to the actual day trip, we had pre-ride briefing. It was a great way to know each other, as well as riding etiquette. I never had experience riding in a large group before, so this was crucial. The group also had done a trip to Thailand before, and recorded a (now) viral video on convoy riding.
@syafiqbjai (Marker System) -: SGNC Route to Hatyai 2023. This is what we practice for our trip to ensure the safety for all rider! Hope we can learn from each other and do share some knowledge with us. #SGNC #Touring #Hatyai #Route41Thailand #tiktoksg #tiktokmy #tiktokth ♬ original sound – DJ-REMIX🇲🇾🇹🇭
We met at Petronas at Gelang Patah R&R Northbound at 6.30AM. Due to some delay, we only set off around 7.30AM or so. There were riders who rarely entered via Tuas, and I think there was one who have never ridden in Malaysia before. Welcome to the west!
First Pitstop
First, we went to the Pontian Bridge, which leads to Kukup, Johor. The bridge is really huge, connecting two stretches of land. We stopped at the top of the bridge to take a group photo.
Note: Before you rush off to the middle divider, please keep a lookout for traffic!
I also have a TikTok video that documented parts of the ride.
@knchrmia quite fun eh first time in a big grp >20! new things to learn in convoy setting! anw this is micro things i notice LOL #nc750x #bikertok #sgriders #sgrider #motorcycle #honda ♬ Tokyo Drift! – Koto.
Then we had breakfast/brunch at a warung nearby. There was a jetty, so we took photo and took the chance to… leave our mark there.
Our lead biker, Shah, putting the mark on a lamp post! Got the Tuas First Lamp Post feel!
Second Pitstop
Then we drove through Pekan Nenas, and stopped by Putu Bambu Juriah Ayer Hitam. It was quite a long ride through B-roads, and we felt the fatigue.
Address: Taman Ayer Hitam, 86100 Ayer Hitam, Johor, Malaysia
I didn’t purchase the Putu Bambu, but I tried the Coconut Shake. A definite wow, for RM5, plus drinking it in the heat. That shiok feeling for the win!
Third Pitstop
By then, we sort of felt hungry. Someone recommended this place – Cafe Markisa located at Tasik Chinchin.
Address: Kem Lambaian Danau, Kampung Chinchin, 77000 Jasin, Malacca, Malaysia
The view is amazing. However, due to the rain, the paths were a little muddy. I would think that this is a super hip place for people to hangout at night, as there is a mini stage for karaoke. The food is pretty okay. There is also a campsite on the other side of the lake, and a kayak rental. Not too sure if its operational.
We took a longer break to recuperate from the ride, because it rained midway. Just nice also, because there is musollah/surau facilities at the cafe so I could fulfil my prayers while on the move.
Afterwards we went to our…
Fourth Pitstop
Tomistan Cafe! It was the final pitstop. Since the journey from Cafe Markisa and Tomistan wasn’t that far, we didn’t eat a full meal. Some ate ice cream… while one in particular bought a kite, and subsequently had the string snap because he flew it too far and the wind was too strong.
Address: Lot 4933, Parit Pechah, Mukim, 84160 Muar, Johor, Malaysia
To get to the cafe, all of us had to traverse a little bit off-road (gravel). Quite scary, since the gravel was huge. I don’t usually go into this terrain – my kampung house already paved most of the road so this was new for me!
This was where most of us took out our foldable chairs from #Decathlon. (Sponsor us riders, please Decathlon!!)
We saw the sunset thankfully, because the skies were really cloudy. Just a few minutes left of “golden” hour.
I was totally knocked out. Haha!
Then we started to make our way back to Singapore/elsewhere. We went to the petrol station at Parit Sulong, and I separated from the guys to make my way to my kampung at Serkam Pantai.
Hopefully this marks the start of bigger adventures with SG NC7, whenever I can! It’s a nice feeling to be able to be part of a community with a similar interest, and I get to learn more about my own ride especially when I’m not very good with the technicals.
Thank you, guys, for making my first ride with SG NC7 a great one!
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