Motorcycle Rider and a Driver

April 8th, 2009 by gearspeedmotorsports3

Motorcycle Rider and a Driver

Some Things I Observe and Found Out

Words by: Kevin Dimaculangan

 

We have seen more and more people are using motorcycle as a mode of transportation.We all know it is because of the rising fuel cost and would make delivery of documents or some items faster.Some of the advantages is maintenance is cheap,fuel is enough for the budget and it is faster from point A to point B.

 

Modifying the Motorcycle

I am not against modifying the motorcycle because we all love racing and making it fast but the rider shouldn’t mount his/her plate on the muffler side because it can scratch off some other vehicles.They shouldn’t change their tail light into colored blue,white, a single contact or not have a brake light at all.Since they are small any vehicle can’t tell if the rider is braking or not.

They shouldn’t change the fork of the motorcycle.This tends the removal or making the side mirror smaller just to show it to his other friends. Yes side mirrors destroy aerodynamics but it is for their safety as well.

 

Accidents involving a rider

In television almost everyday there is a motorcycle involving in an accident from a private vehicle to a public transportation most of who is at fault involving a motorcycle accident is the driver of a motoring vehicle.Sometimes I find it hard to believe that it is the vehicle driver is at fault. There is even a situation that mostly happen they say is “who came first on that lane”.This is the reason why most of the drivers is at fault.

Another example is involving a truck.A truck as we all know is huge and it is difficult for the driver to tell if there is a motorcycle or even a car near him.

Another reason is cutting.Most of the riders cut other vehicles where when they miscalculate they will automatically blame the driver of a vehicle for not avoiding them.

If the rider is at fault in an accident.Sometimes the rider won’t pay the cager and would just give excuses like “I have no money”,”This is all the money I have in my wallet”,”it is your fault not mine” and would ended up arguing for hours until the driver gives up.Another is they tend to escape the accident just to avoid payment the damage they have made.

 

Wrong doings of a rider

Some of the things I observe while on the road is the rider does

 

1. Short cut on the humps which they do is instead of going through the humps they avoid it by going either to the far right or far left of the humps just to do some “bangking”.I find this wrong because the cager or any vehicle driver can get suprised.

2. First in line while on red traffic light I’ve seen this most of the time were the vehicle is on the first in the line then all of a sudden a rider comes along to overtake it.I find it wrong because the one who is at front is the one who is first in the line.The rider should fall inline.

3. Cutting is dangerous especially in a motorcycle because once you make a mistake you can get injuried or it can be fatal.I’ve seen most of the motorcycle rider cut in other vehicles on the road like there is no tomorrow especially while traffic is moving or slowly moving.

4. Not keeping in distance. Riders most often do is pressure the vehicle by not keeping in the correct distance.This is what the riders do especially while in traffic.

5. Failure of road courtesy. This is what a driver and a motorcycle are involved in an accident.They fail to give way. Motorcycle does not have an airbag.Both the rider and a driver should know that.

6. Counterflowing I often see this if there is no center island on a street.They do counterflow which the driver or an incoming vehicle will avoid instead of a motorcycle should avoid since they are the ones counterflowing the lane.

 

Again a motorcycle is fast and light.We all have to give way sometimes.Unless it is a emergency.I find some riders aggressive like they are high on drugs.I don’t really know why they kept doing wrong things on the road.Aren’t they afraid of losing their life? Do they need more discipline? I respect more people riding a big bike not just because a big bike is big enough to see on public road but they know what is right and wrong.In the end we can’t compare everything to a motorcycle and a car but we have to say cool and have discipline follow the rules while on public road. As far as a rider they should be more careful using their bikes because like they say it is just an underbone.

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First In Line

January 22nd, 2009 by gearspeedmotorsports3

First In Line
Motorcycle Riders Can’t Wait
Words by: Kevin Dimaculangan

We have seen motorcycles cutting, bungking like they are in moto GP,plate numbers mounted on the muffler side like they want to scratch someone’s vehicle while passingby,muffler sound like there is racing going on and many others that they want to do on their motorcycles while on public roads.I was cruising along in Madrigal Ave until I saw the traffic light in red in the intersection of Madrigal Ave and Alabang Zapote Road.I was going to go and fill up gas in a nearby gas station along Alabang Zapote Road.Then this traffic officer wearing a green uniform approach me and saying

Traffic officer: “Sir the traffic is red which mean it is stop”
I answered: “Yes I know I just wanted to go forward because some motorcycle rider might cut infront of me once the traffic light turn green.”
Traffic officer: “Sir this is dangerous”
I answered again: “Why don’t you flagged down those motorcycle riders as well? Since you flagged me down already.”
Traffic officer didn’t gave me an answer.

When it was green he saw what happen one rider cut on my right side and while I was about to move to turn left I was pointing already to the rider. This is just my observation on the road especially in an intersection.I know you have seen this most of the time in an intersection while you are on stop a couple of seconds one,two or three motorcycle riders are now infront of you and it is on the pedestrian way.I don’t think just because a motorcycle is small and can accelerate fast he can be first on the line or in any intersection.It is like falling in line in a fast food chain where you can’t go first since there is a line infront of you.We have to follow rules and fall in line because you’ll never know accidents can occur in this situation whether we are using a vehicle or a motorcycle.

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The Ego of Pamparegla

October 31st, 2008 by gearspeedmotorsports3

The Ego of Pamparegla

Two Friends, A Girl and his 125cc Borrowed Motorcycle.

Words by: Kevin Dimaculangan

 

There were these two friends named Pampregla and Ken. Ken who doesn’t go out that much inside the village while Pampregla who often hang out with his friends met a girl in a street in Alabang. The girl was named Misty. Pamparegla told Ken that he doesn’t like the girl. So he decided to pursue Misty. A couple of weeks he then introduced his other friends to Ken while they are hanging out in his friends’ house. Ken started to hang out with the friends of Pampregla at Rea’s house Jerry’s girlfriend until in the middle of the night. One is even a member of an apo hiking society. The three became good friends. They even hang out just the three of them every night near the house of Ken and sometimes in the house of Pampregla. They even cut classes and go to a mall just to watch a movie with Pampregla’s friends. Ken even teaches Pampregla how to drive and race.

One time Pampregla challenged Ken to play one on one basketball Ken doesn’t completely know how to play basketball. Pampregla gave some handicapped to Ken. After awhile Ken won which Pampregla couldn’t believe and he wanted to challenge Ken again and kept on saying “let’s play again come on” again and again.

Little does Ken know Pampregla and Misty are mysteriously seeing each other. They even had sex in a SUV of Ken’s vehicle while cars pass by. Ken even went to the house of the girl to say to his parents that Misty is cutting classes and is with Pampregla.

Pampregla got angry and went to the house of Ken with his friends. Then there is the he said she said like Pampregla said something that he didn’t said while Misty was just like playing along which ended up Ken losing the argument because of Pampregla has his friend’s on his side. Later they became enemies and Ken taught the friends he has and Pampregla is not a real friend instead was just a user while Misty was more like a gold digger.

Pampregla one day went near the house of Ken and was showing off his 125cc Honda Motorcycle. While Ken was there Pampregla said “Let’s drag race just the three of us. Ken didn’t say anything and was just quiet like he heard nothing at all. Ken later knew that Pampregla’s motorcycle was just borrowed from one of his friends.Little does Pampregla know Ken is already doing something to his car that Pampregla doesn’t know about it.

 

 

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If There Is a Motoring Journalist There Should Be A Shop Journalist

September 23rd, 2008 by gearspeedmotorsports3

If There Is a Motoring Journalist There Should Be A Shop Journalist
Words By: Kevin Dimaculangan

We’ve known motoring journalist do is they test drive different vehicles to see how it handles, quality of the vehicle and fuel economy. They also become media partners in car shows and car events, attend new vehicle releases and even go out abroad to test drive a vehicle.
As the population grows business here in the Philippines starts to grow as well. Plus more and more shops today are being created most popular as of now is carwash and auto-detailing second is sound set up and third is performance. Others are all pack into one shop.

What is a shop journalist?
A shop journalist is a journalist who does straight talk and supports shop who does good work and being honest to their clients. They do a research, interview the shop owner and look for feedbacks on a particular shop. It is like getting to know a car as well. It will help people from getting to know a shop and the behavior of a shop owner and his people on a client.

My Experience Being Cheated
I’ve experience being cheated as well. It was a couple of years ago. I bought this peanut bulb at banawe Quezon City it says its colored amber. I even ask if its amber. They answered “yes sir it is amber”. I had it installed. When night came I saw it was not amber it’s even colored yellow. This is just one of a couple of experience I was cheated by a shop. I too became frustrated because of this kind of shop. It is also no wonder why some people wanted to do DIY (Do It Yourself) or build their own shop.

Business Is Business
This is what most of us say and even our friends’ say to us but you don’t have to do cheating just to get more money. What’s wrong in being honest? You can be honest and that honesty will be given back to you.

A Feedback Is a Feedback
This is what set a good shop and a bad shop apart. It may sound like a gossip but it is written all over the internet. It is an unending feedback. Even in the internet forums you will see people posting that they have been cheated by a shop or asking about a particular shop. They even often get pissed off and frustrated which they have to go back and forth to the shop or just transfer it to a different shop. It will also the same time help the good shop especially if you have done good work to your client. As far as the bad shop goes it affects the good shop’s reputation around the metro.

Government
We can’t blame them on this one because they all have other things to do. It’s not like they are useless. It will just take years and from those years your complaint might be able to be forgotten. It may not be even be a priority to them but I still believe they will still listen and once they do shops will be aware that they have to do the right thing.

Motoring journalists have their part in the motoring scene but this what sets apart of motoring journalist and a shop journalist. Even in other clubs in the internet hasn’t done what we are doing. We don’t have to be afraid to say something. We have to stand by our right as a client. We are not asking that there should be a perfect shop we just want good shop for people who wants to use their money where it it is supposed to be. This is our share not just to make ours different but to save people from what we call a “cheater shop owner”.

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The True Nature of K20a

May 9th, 2008 by gearspeedmotorsports3

The True Nature of K20a
Surplus Engines at its best and worst
By: Kevin Dimaculangan

We all love the B series engines B16, B18c, B20 & H22. The parts are easy to find. B20 became the fastest all motor with the time of 10.2 sec. B18 turbo ran the fastest in Cebu with the time of 9.88sec.  Today 2008 I’ve seen more and more are getting the k20a Type R. From Fit, FD, EG & Ek. Some of the specifications of the k20a engine. It has 6 speed manual transmission. Power output is 190hp at 8,000rpm that is just stock ECU. Some of the cars with the k20a engine onboard are the DC5 & EP3.

Experiences
I first went to a shop in Las Pinas It is a good shop. I saw the k20a although it was too dark for me to see the embedded of the engine. They said it came from a civic. One of the employees also warned me about getting one from other people who are selling k20a engine. She said that I have to look first what is embedded in the transmission and in the head second check the whole engine if it’s complete and tax paid.
The next one he is selling different engines, parts etc. When I arrived with the team I saw that he has a complete k20a engine. One of my teammates said “get that one now”. The complete one has everything you needed including disc brakes. It’s even straight PRC. I later found out its already sold. Then I looked at the other stocks he has. I found out the embedded portion of the engine is PRC. The sticker is PRC but when I looked at the transmission it’s PRB. The head is even leaking oil already which from what I saw needed to replace a head gasket.
Lastly I went to banawe to look for a k20a engine.There is a shop who sells engine unfortunately you have to order it first. During the time I went there I saw a k20a but it was sold already. I saw it came from DC5 I look for the embedded it is PRC but when I look at the transmission the sticker is gone but the transmission code is there.

Half cut
This is what mostly your friends would say to you. The advantage is there a lot of freebies you might get like the seats, the whole 4 brakes, wiring almost everything you need. The disadvantage is it will be difficult for you to transport it unless you have a truck for it to be brought to your friendly neighborhood shop. Papers sometimes may take sometime. Some of which doesn’t have one.
It is quite difficult to find one here in metro manila. You can only get one at Cebu which they say is not strict when it comes to selling half cut.
The selling of k20a today is around 190k-250k which includes ECU, transmission, harness and axle.

Disadvantage on buying just the engine
Some who are selling k20a or any engine doesn’t include all unless you say it to them. They would tend sometime to cheat you. Some of the disadvantages are LSD is not included, wiring, brakes, shift cable, shift box the black circle one near the valve cover.

Some of the rules
Some who are selling them are as is where is rule which means if there is something broken in the engine he can’t replace it but he will only replace electronic parts like the ECU. It would still depend on the deal between you and the seller of the engine.

Some of the problems
Some of the parts are not yet available here in the Philippines. Aftermarket parts are quite rare.The transmission is used by a cable which once you mis shift the transmission might easily be broken.  You need to buy and order a Hasport engine mount for the k20a in the U.S.

You might still end up buying just the engine. It’s difficult to find one right now unless you really wanted it so.Better have a higher budget on this one because its an expensive engine and its a surplus engine. You can’t really tell if some of the parts are still intact and working. If you are getting just the engine get the fresh one and not being build here. The papers and tax also needed to be checked. It doesn’t matter if you are getting just the engine or the half cut. It’s a mere of being careful on getting one especially if you don’t know the person who is selling this kind of engine.

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Scheme Made by D.

May 9th, 2008 by gearspeedmotorsports3

Scheme Made by D.

A cheater shop owner

Words By: Kevin Dimaculangan

We often see vehicles like pajeros, delica, odyessy and many others carrying the plates of Y,R, X or B and we often say “hey a converted car”. Here is a shop in Evangelista that sells engines, surplus parts and cars. Their name came from a popular anime. The cars they are selling Ek hatches, starlets and other vehicles that are converted. He said that there is a scheme which he later discovered that is getting parts and then build a vehicle just by welding it together. Then sell it to people. From the look it looks nice the body is shiny, has a clean interior but underneath those carpets it is just welded. They will also convince you to buy it and even have some of his friends convinced you in buying that vehicle. It will then lead you to buy it. Yes the papers are clean but you will soon discover that the conversion is messy, has no air-con and most of all you will see that the flooring is just welded together.

According to him a lot of people have been victimized by this shop. He also gets parts there before He shared this scheme because he couldn’t take it anymore and was concerned for the people who are getting vehicles from this shop. So once you buy a converted vehicle just beware of some shops like this one and the problems in the long run. Better buy a vehicle who sells vehicles and it is recommended by your good friends. Do a research or at least have a mechanic to see the car or vehicle you are buying is really good.

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The World of Forums

May 9th, 2008 by gearspeedmotorsports3

The World of Forums

Words by: Kevin Dimaculangan

We all started by browsing through the internet like sports, current events and cars. Then came forums then we started to be interested by reading and posting on a thread. There are rules we have to follow some of which is not followed but some are just a small thing someone can violate. We may hear from some people who have been there for a long time heard someone gave warnings or even ban a person. Administrators have powers while moderators have powers only its limited we all have to agree on that but some just use their powers and others do the right thing.

Taken by an example of a proud writer on a forum a car enthusiast just like us and loves his job. He also offered something to make the forum more interesting but as they said they don’t want it. He continues to write even though there are problems like not giving gas, salary nor allowance from what he is doing. He continues to help to promote the forum like giving contacts to other people but the owner is just seen sometimes during E.B and rarely seen in the forum. In short the writer does everything. The administrator doesn’t even know cars. He just continue to put ads just for the sake to be more known, more traffic rather than be known as a forum of test drive vehicles. To add more they even hired a new one.

The second is just a person who just posts in the forum. He is a loyal former just like the writer. He then encountered a forumer who said something that clearly violates the rules of the forum. He then contacted the administrator. The administrator just said “I’ll look into it”. Then after a few days the administrator answered “I have to investigate into it and you have to show me what he said”. The forumer gave all the information the administrator wanted. After a few days still nothing happened to the violator. It even went onto weeks. These are just a few of probably the thousand we might not know who violates in a forum. We all know the rules are meant to be followed but for some gets away with it and some abused it because of power.

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Newer Cars has Newer Defects

May 9th, 2008 by gearspeedmotorsports3

Newer Cars has Newer Defects

Words by: Kevin Dimaculangan

Do you believe that the newer the cars the greater the defects that will appear?

We all know that it is better to have brand new vehicles but based on experience it is getting difficult to maintain than the cars 1998 below. We even heard recalls and other bad experience from casa. Small defects that you may think it’s just an isolated case but it’s still a defect.

It started when we bought a Japanese vehicle. During that time we never had defects on windows, tires, rims and the whole car itself, Then we bought a Korean vehicle. It had defects like the car every time I shift to second the car slowly goes slow until the whole car shuts down. The rims have a damage portion. It needs to reprogram the ECU just to save more on gas.

Then another korean vehicle. Bought in casa to fix the stereo and went back to get it while waiting they fix the window because pulling up and down the window on the driver side gets harder and harder. Muffler gets rusted just only after 2 years of using it.

American vehicles has also some defects that you couldn’t imagine why they have it.

If you are going to see the new vehicles yes they look great handles well, great features but the quality seems forgotten. It is not Japanese cars are better than the other it’s the quality. That’s why they bought brand new vehicles because they believe the newer vehicles the less it prone to defects. Until today I heard that Japanese vehicles has now defects like in the window which is hard to pull up and down. In the end we all still love new cars because it’s not just new but because it will save us more gas and less prone in going to shops.

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A Scary Experience

May 9th, 2008 by gearspeedmotorsports3

A Scary Experience

A converted vehicle straight from a well known shop in Evangelista

Words by: Kevin Dimaculangan

We have experience getting cheated by other shops or doing some mistakes of some shops around the metro like in Banawe or at Evangelista. Here is an experience you can’t even imagine someone would sell to a customer.

I have this friend who bought his ek hatch just last year. His other friend saw it in a buy and sell. So they met and went to the location of the owner of the ek hatch. The owner owns a shop and a Filipino. They are the only ones selling ek hatch at Evangelista. They are selling engines and surplus parts. They even joined a drift event which is the Lateral D. He test drove the car around while his friend checks if the papers are ok. It was clean and no problems. The steering wheel has no problems. Next couple of days he went back to buy it. When he got home saw the 3 tires have a long line. He even went to Goodyear to vulcanize one tire and they said “Sir your tires might explode because of the long line it has in the tread.” He went back to the former owner of the vehicle to let them change the tires. So they did change it which was a good thing.

But it didn’t stop there. Then he started to use it one day and drove it. He then reached more than 100 kph. He went right and left to over take a vehicle in the highway and to his surprise it automatically turned right(which he felt the steering wheel went from tight to loose) while he steered it to the left but to no response. Luckily he bumped to a private vehicle along the way and the steering wheel went to the left and bumped to the gutter of the bridge. He gradually was braking during that time and came to a full stop. He went to Pren’s to have it checked. He found out the rear disc brake was locked.

Now everytime he use it. He just reached the speedometer to 80kph not because of the brake that got locked but because of the bad conversion the owner of the shop made.

They even said that the car reached to Batangas which it has no aircon and has a long line in the tread of the tires.

Well as for me I can’t believe a shop owner would do this. If I was a shop owner I would fix it because those people are customers or clients that you have to a good reputation or at least be honest with it. They would even go back to you and recommend your shop. The life and safety of the next owner is at stake here. What if he or she died? What if that person is your relative or maybe someone you know? Wouldn’t you be concerned?

If you are a seller and you have conscience you would fix it or at least be honest with it. You are one lucky person if you have a shop (which I dream of having one someday).

Well if you are going to buy parts. I think its ok but buying a vehicle from that shop better think twice.

To Those who are buying an converted vehicle to check the ff (This is from my observation)

1. Conversion – ask or request to them that you need to see if the rack and pinion is been replaced or just repaired.

2. If you can’t see the conversion or you won’t notice it like someone did. Let them reach more than 100kph.Turn left and right during that certain speed and then brake suddenly.

3. Try turning the steering wheel

4. Papers like if its tax paid, LTO CR and OR

5. Chassis number and engine number – some are just tampered like it is scratched out you have to see the number clearly and it is well written in the wall in the engine.

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