SOME find comfort, freedom and even excitement in the simple act of mounting a motorcycle and hitting the road.
Muhammad Nur Hakeem Yusop, who owns a Yamaha X-Max 250 is among this select group of people who ride these machines to live out their dreams.
As a teenager, Hakeem’s motorcycle rides were a solitary affair, a quiet exploration of the kampung near his mother’s home in Jalan Astana; later in life, his interest evolved, shifting from the peaceful solitude of the kampung to the adrenaline-fueled world of street racing.
By the time he turned 18, it wasn’t the thrill of speed that drew him to the motorcycle community but the diverse individuals from all walks of life who, like him, found solace in relaxing long-distance riding.
To Hakeem, riding brings a unique feeling of freedom and escape, revealing that it’s not about reaching the destination but the journey itself.
Unpleasant Experience Is A Great Teacher
However, not all his riding experiences were pleasant; from his experience with accidents, Hakeem learned the importance of being aware of his surroundings after a 2009 incident in which he collided with and flew into the back of a car because the driver was brake-checking, forcing him to hit the emergency brake.
He added that he once broke his shinbone in a self-accident while returning from work late one night, recalling how he was riding at a steady speed of 40 kilometres per hour when he encountered a swarm of flying termites.
From his wealth of experience, he learned the importance of safety and has since adopted the three-second rule, such as using indicators three seconds before changing lanes or turning into a junction and constantly ensuring the functionality of his braking system.
Importance of Safety
While the thrill of the ride is undeniable, Hakeem emphasised that prioritising the safety features on his motorcycle is crucial for safe riding, alongside regularly servicing the machine to maintain its optimal condition.
In addition, he said that riders should feel a sense of duty to themselves and others to ride safely, as it is all about striking a balance between getting to a destination and caution.
“It is important not to be reckless when riding on the road, and I have noticed that many riders on the road tend to ride irresponsibly, switching from lane to lane while riding at speed.
“Despite your urgency to reach your destination, it’s crucial to acknowledge that others share the road with their destinations; recklessness not only jeopardises your life but also endangers the lives of others,” he cautioned.
The Unforgettable Challenge
Hakeem recalled a ride he and his friends embarked on where they intended to ride to Bintulu in the morning and return to Kuching on the same day, but things did not go as planned.
“If I remember correctly, we departed from Kuching at 4:30am to reach Bintulu before noon. However, it began to rain upon reaching Sibu, prompting us to take a brief stop, which resulted in a delay.
“So, we continued our journey and only arrived at Bintulu at 6pm. Since we arrived later than planned, we decided to stay for the night, but the challenge was not the Bintulu-bound ride but our ride back to Kuching the next day.
“The ride from Bintulu to Sibu was smooth, but it started to rain again as we got to Sibu at 4 pm. In Sibu, we noticed that we had enough petrol to get to Betong, but alas, upon our arrival at 6pm, the Petronas kiosk we were supposed to stop at was closed for renovation.
“Luckily for us, we had spare fuel tanks and used some of the petrol to get to Sri Aman, but unfortunately, the petrol station in Sri Aman had already closed for the day.
“Therefore, we divided it evenly with our remaining spare fuel and rode slowly towards Serian. Upon reaching Gedong at 10pm, our petrol indicator began blinking, indicating we were now on our reserve tank.
“With no alternative, we opted to push ahead and gamble on continuing our journey towards Serian, maintaining a maximum speed of 120 kilometres per hour. As it turned out, we ran out of petrol as we arrived at the 24-hour Petronas station in Serian at 12:25 am.
“Just imagine how nervous we felt at that moment, considering the distance from Sri Aman to Serian, which is 140 kilometres, contemplating the vastness of that stretch, with nothing but jungle and villages all along the way and no hotel in sight for accommodation.
“We filled our petrol, and despite starting with a full tank, we expected a smooth ride. However, we encountered a sudden obstacle when our convoy nearly skidded at Siburan due to an oil spill stretching from Siburan to the Suspension Bridge in Satok ( March 25).
“It was a challenging ride for all of us with the slippery road conditions, forcing us to ride slowly and carefully manoeuvre our bikes to avoid skidding from Siburan back to Kuching.
“I only got home at 1:45 am,” Hakeem recalled.
Motorcycle Riding Is Not His Only Motorcycle Related Passion
Riding is not the only thing Hakeem has done; he has also participated in many auto shows this year, where his Yamaha X-Max 250 has won Best Paint twice at the Meludam Bike Week and the Sibu International Bike Week.
“I am grateful for the supportive friends who encouraged me to participate in auto shows despite my initial lack of confidence,” he said, reminiscing about his first experience participating in an auto show under that category.
He also noted that being part of the motorcycle culture had another meaning to his life as a motorcyclist, and that is to help people.
“There are times when you come across someone pushing their motorcycle because their bike may have run out of fuel; as a fellow rider, you can lend a hand by towing their bike. Though it may be against the law, offering assistance out of kindness can make a significant difference.
“And at the end of the day, there is a sense of satisfaction when helping another fellow rider,” he said.
Upgrading Hope
Hakeem expressed his fondness for his Demak DTM150, a scrambler, among the motorcycles he has owned, citing its durability to handle any road conditions; however, he had to part with it when the motorcycle company shut down as it is no longer easy to get spare parts.
He aspires to own a BMW R1250 GS due to its excellent functions for long-distance riding and advanced safety features.
Other Interests
When Hakeem isn’t riding with friends or participating in auto shows in Sarawak, he enjoys gaming on his computer and PlayStation.
“Gaming is therapeutic for me, and ironically, I love playing car racing games like The Crew Motorfest and Need For Speed Unbound,” he said, laughing.
However, when he is not playing games, he is busy washing and polishing his customers’ vehicles at his auto spa, MaxiAutocare x AH Custom Design.
“We’re open daily, including Sundays, from 9am to 5pm, offering auto detailing services. So, if you’re participating in auto shows, whether driving or riding, we can provide the detailing you need for a sparkling clean vehicle,” he said, promoting his business.
Hakeem’s business is located at Lot 309, Lorong Rubber 7, off Jalan Rubber, Kuching.
