This video starts on the highway heading away from the Batu Caves with Mig from Ride Adventure Kuala Lumpur in front. At about the 40 second mark, we start to enter one of the toll bypass lanes to the left of most of the toll booths. I manage to get past the old man on an outside pass at the 50 second mark.
I love these bypass lanes! Two things: no (rare) tolls and (mostly) at speed transit lanes for motorcycles. Unlike Australia the number of bikes on the road requires "special treatment" at flow and choke points.
The turn off to Pusat Bandaraya happens around 1:45, clearly signed (it helps if you know where you are going). As we pass under a bridge and I am in a right hand turning lane going forward, at around 2:40 Mig gives me a warning of some speed bumps ahead. After the first speed bump, we take the bikes along the white line from about 3 minutes with my personal favourite at about 3:40 when I squeeze past a white van and an oncoming white car. This is real Malaysian driving and it was what I was loving.
Mig and I have an obligatory chat at the lights around the 3:50 mark. He is making sure I am OK as I am still getting used to the clutch and the power of this bike. I am making mistakes in gearing up and down with respect to the road, but it is all just me getting used to it and the weight distribution was different. Accelerated like a snap even at high ends. Breaks seemed a little spongy. Nothing serious.
At the 4:50 mark, we take the bikes up the left side at a set of lights and you can see the general filtering culture. At about the 6 minute mark, we approach a right hand turn at the lights up the outermost left shoulder to get to the front of the pack. Using the indicator and following the white line on the outside, the only thing you need to worry about is how many have done this before you.
Mig and I have an obligatory chat at the lights around the 3:50 mark. He is making sure I am OK as I am still getting used to the clutch and the power of this bike. I am making mistakes in gearing up and down with respect to the road, but it is all just me getting used to it and the weight distribution was different. Accelerated like a snap even at high ends. Breaks seemed a little spongy. Nothing serious.
At the 4:50 mark, we take the bikes up the left side at a set of lights and you can see the general filtering culture. At about the 6 minute mark, we approach a right hand turn at the lights up the outermost left shoulder to get to the front of the pack. Using the indicator and following the white line on the outside, the only thing you need to worry about is how many have done this before you.
As you can see, this is not unusual and we take off at the head of the traffic when the lights change with a handful of other bikes ahead of the bulk traffic.
You have the first glimpse of the Petronas Towers in the top left of the image at around 6:25. This video also shows the terrible smoke from the Indonesian fires. At the 6:40 mark, I take a look at the towers and glance for the sun. This is good around 7:40.
You have the first glimpse of the Petronas Towers in the top left of the image at around 6:25. This video also shows the terrible smoke from the Indonesian fires. At the 6:40 mark, I take a look at the towers and glance for the sun. This is good around 7:40.
We pass under the red banner announcing entry into the Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre region of KL at around the 8:45 time stamp. The traffic here seems subdued. At 9:10 we round the final corner and come onto the home stretch as the Grand Hyatt appears gradually from the smoke. I love watching that building just come out of the smoke but it does show again the amount of smoke. At 9:45, Mig shows me the traditional motorcycle parking method at the Impiana Hotel in Malaysia and I dismount at the 10:20 mark.
This clip provides a good introduction to some of the quirks of driving in Malaysia.
