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    SBF
    Fake ‘police’ chase in Johor: What S’pore drivers should and should not do on road trips to Malaysia

    The recent viral video of three men in an unmarked car on Malaysia’s North-South Highway, speeding alongside one travelling from Singapore to Genting and trying to pull its driver over, may have had some wondering: what would I have done in such a situation?
    After all, the men had flashed a blue beacon light similar to those used by the police, and some motorists may have been taken in by the ruse.
    Thankfully, the driver in this case did not slow down. Two men were later nabbed by Malaysian police and are being investigated for impersonating civil servants.
    Here is what to do if you find yourself in a similar situation on the roads up north, and other tips to stay safe.
    1. WHEN IN DOUBT, CALL 999
    If you are being pursued by an unmarked car and feel you may be in danger, call the Malaysian Emergency Response Services (MERS) on 999 immediately, an Automobile Association of Singapore (AA) spokesman said.
      “By calling MERS, motorists can provide their exact location and request directions to the nearest police station or government office,” she said.
    “This allows motorists to be efficiently guided towards these locations, enabling them to seek prompt assistance and receive further guidance from the local authorities.”
    2. BE PREPARED
    Research the road conditions, speed limit and driving culture before setting off on your trip.
    The AA spokesman said that drivers are advised not to stop their vehicle along any lane on the expressway. If they wish to rest or use a toilet, they should drive off the expressway into the special lay-bys or rest stops along the expressway.
    If they must stop on the expressway due to emergencies, they should keep away from the travelling lane and switch on the hazard lights.
    Traffic engineering and safety consultant Gopinath Menon advised that if you are not used to driving at very high speeds, choose a reasonable high speed you are comfortable with, and keep to the left-most lane.
    If you choose higher speeds, keep a longer distance from the vehicle in front, so that you can brake in time without hitting the vehicle in front if it stops suddenly.
    3. STAY ALERT WITH REGULAR BREAKS
    Mr Menon pointed out that continuous driving for long hours can be tiring for those not used to it.
    “You could lose concentration, especially if the surrounding scenery does not change. You become less alert if nothing is happening around you, and you could fall asleep at the wheel,” he said, suggesting regular stops at lay-bys.
    The AA spokesman recommended that motorists drive for no longer than two hours at a time, with a break of at least 20 minutes.
    “On the North-South Highway, lay-bys are located about every 25 to 50 km along the expressway. Facilities include parking bays and toilets. Rest and Service Areas are located at every 80 to 100 km.”
        4. DRIVING IN DARK CONDITIONS
    Drivers may also encounter stretches without street lights, where one has to depend on vehicle headlights, noted Mr Menon.
    “It takes some time to get used to depending entirely on headlights. You have to depend on the lane markings that are illuminated by the headlights,” he said.
    “Use the high beam when the road ahead is not clear, at other times, use the low beam so as not to blind drivers in the opposite direction at stretches where there are no barriers on the road dividers.”
    5. TAKE STEPS TO PREVENT VEHICLE THEFT
    The AA spokesman also recommended tips to minimise the risk of having one’s car stolen.
    “When parking, opt for well-lit and populated areas. Park near pillars and turn your wheel towards them to make it harder for thieves to manoeuvre or tow your car without unlocking the steering,” she said.
    Anti-theft devices such as steering wheel locks, brake pedal locks, and gear shift locks are also useful.
    “These visible deterrents make it challenging for unauthorised individuals to operate your vehicle,” she said.
    Article Credits: tnp.straitstimes.com
     
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    SBF
    Road Tax Late Renewal - How to Pay & Renew Online
    Road tax renewal is an important legal requirement in Singapore. It is necessary to keep your road tax up-to-date to avoid fines, penalties, and legal consequences. However, sometimes we forget to renew our road tax (car or motorcycle) on time or may face unforeseen circumstances that make us renew it late. In such cases, it is still possible to renew your road tax, but you may have to face penalties and fines. In this article, we will discuss what to do if your renewal of road tax is late, how to avoid late fees and fines, and answer frequently asked questions about the process such as where to renew your road tax or what to bring to renew your road tax.
     
    What to Do If Your Road Tax is About to Expire and Due for Late Renewal
    If you realise that your road tax is about to expire or has already expired, here are the steps you can take to renew your road tax - especially if you’re late.
     
    Step 1: Check for Outstanding Fines:
    Before you can do your road tax renewal online, you need to make sure that you don't have any outstanding fines or penalties. You can visit the One Motoring website or the Singapore Police Force e-services to check for any fines and/or notices and see if you owe any money.
     
    Step 2: Get an Auto Insurance Quote Online:
    If you haven't already done so, you'll need to get car or motorcycle insurance before you can do your road tax renewal online. Many insurance providers offer online quick quotes, making it easy to compare prices and find the best deal.
     
    Step 3: Send Your Vehicle for Inspection:
    Before you can do your road tax renewal online, your vehicle may need to pass an inspection. This varies depending on the regulations in your area, but may include emissions testing or safety checks. You can send your vehicle for inspection at any of these LTA-Authorised Inspection Centres (AIC).
     
    Step 4: Number Plate Inspection:
    In some cases, you may also need to have your number plate inspected before you can do your road tax renewal online. This is to ensure that the plate is legal and registered correctly.
     
    Step 5: Renew Your Road Tax Online:
    Once you have completed the above steps, you can do your road tax renewal online. Visit the official One Motoring website and look for the "Renew Vehicle Registration" or "Renew Road Tax" option. Enter your vehicle details, check the renewal fee (which may include late fees if you missed the deadline), and choose a payment method.
     
    Step 6: Renew Your Road Tax Offline:
    If you are paying your road tax offline, you can do it via AXS services, GIRO, or you can submit your documents and payment directly to any Authorised Road Tax Collection Centre near you in Singapore. Be sure to bring all necessary documents and payment.
     
    How to Speed up the Process & Avoid Late Fees Due to an Expired Road Tax
    If you're rushing to do your road tax renewal online, there are a few things you can do to speed up the process:
    a. Check if your local authority offers expedited service for an additional fee.
    b. Bring all necessary documents and paperwork with you to avoid delays.
    c. Consider renewing online, as this can be faster than renewing in person.
    The best way to avoid late fees and fines due to an expired road tax is to renew your road tax on time. Make sure you know when your road tax is due, and set a reminder to renew it before the deadline. If you do miss the deadline, be sure to renew your road tax as soon as possible to minimise any penalties.
     
    Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about Road Tax Renewal
     
    Can I pay road tax in instalments?
    It depends on the regulations in your area. In some places, you may be able to pay road tax in instalments, while in others, you may be required to pay the full amount upfront. Check with the relevant authority to see what options are available to you.
     
    Can you renew road tax without insurance?
    No, you cannot renew road tax without insurance. It is a legal requirement to have car or motorcycle insurance before you can renew your road tax.
     
    Don’t Forget About Your Road Tax!
    Renewing your road tax late may come with some additional fees and penalties, but it is still important to do so to avoid legal consequences such as a fine for the late renewal of your car registration. Follow the steps outlined in this article to renew your road tax – if late – and be sure to check for outstanding fines and get car insurance before you begin the process. To avoid late fees and fines in the future, set a reminder to check your road tax validity and expiry date, renew your road tax before the deadline and stay up-to-date with any changes in regulations in your area. Remember that renewing your road tax is not just a legal requirement, but also a way to ensure that your vehicle is safe to drive on the roads in Singapore.
    Article Credits: DirectAsia
     
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    SBF
    Domino's pizza maker gets 5 months’ jail for stealing deliveryman’s motorcycle, taking girlfriend on joyride without a licence

    TODAY file photo
    Muhammad Irfan Boey Farhan Abdullah Boey pleaded guilty to stealing a motorcycle and riding it without a valid licence The court heard that he wanted to go on a joyride He was sentenced to five months’ jail  SINGAPORE — Noticing that his colleague had left the key to his motorcycle in the ignition switch, a Domino's pizza maker decided to seize an opportunity for a joyride without his colleague’s consent.
    Taking advantage of the fact that his colleague was picking up a delivery order, Muhammad Irfan Boey Farhan Abdullah Boey hopped onto the motorcycle and rode off to pick up his girlfriend.
    On Wednesday (May 3), the 21-year-old Singaporean was sentenced to five months’ jail after he pleaded guilty to stealing a Malaysian-registered motorcycle and operating it without a motorcycle driving licence.
    He will also not be able to hold or obtain all classes of driving licences for a year with effect from the date of his release.
    A single charge of riding the motorcycle while uninsured was also taken into consideration for Irfan’s sentencing.
    WHAT HAPPENED
     
    Deputy Public Prosecutor (DPP) Regina Lim told the court that the incident happened on Feb 11 this year when Irfan was working as a pizza maker at a Domino’s outlet along Yishun Ring Road.
    That day, Irfan “came up with an idea” of taking the motorcycle belonging to his colleague, Mr Mohamad Hafiq Aiman Abdullah, DPP Lim added.
    It was not stated why Irfan wanted to go on a joyride, but the court heard that he targeted Mr Hafiq because he would usually leave his motorcycle near the shop.
    At around 9.30pm, Mr Hafiq parked his motorcycle outside the outlet and left the key in the ignition switch because he was intending to use it again after collecting a delivery order.
    When Mr Hafiq entered the shop, Irfan got onto the motorcycle and rode away with it and headed to another Domino’s outlet around Woodlands Rise where his girlfriend was waiting.
    It was not stated whether Irfan’s girlfriend, who was not named in court documents, was also an employee of Domino’s.
    DPP Lim said that the duo went for a joyride around Woodlands before heading to the woman’s home and then riding the motorcycle out for supper at Woodlands Waterfront.
     
    After supper, the pair “roamed around” on the motorcycle until 4am or 5am, before they returned to their respective homes.
    Irfan, who had parked the stolen motorcycle near his home, used it again to pick up his girlfriend from her home that afternoon and they “rode the motorcycle until they were tired”, DPP Lim said.
    He was eventually arrested by the police on the afternoon of Feb 13, and the motorcycle was recovered.
    During the course of investigation, Irfan made several false statements, DPP Lim said.
    This included saying that an “unknown male on TikTok Live had offered to lend the motorcycle to him for three to four days”, and that this individual “did not mind” that Irfan did not have a motorcycle licence.
    TikTok Live refers to a format on the social media platform that allows content creators to interact with viewers in real-time.
    Irfan also lied that an acquaintance, who went by the name of Aslam, bore a grudge against him and wanted to get Irfan into trouble.
    Irfan added that he suspected Aslam could “have set a trap for him by getting someone to approach him on TikTok Live”.
    DPP Lim said that Irfan later “recanted his falsehoods” and admitted that he had stolen the motorcycle.
    It was not stated in court if Irfan is still employed by Domino's and TODAY has sought clarification from the pizza chain.
    Anyone found guilty of stealing a motor vehicle can be jailed up to seven years and fined.
    For driving a vehicle without holding a valid licence, Irfan could have been fined up to S$10,000 or jailed up to three years, or both.
     
    Article Credits: todayonline
     
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    SBF
    HOW TO CLEAN YOUR MOTORCYCLE HELMET
    Innuendos aside here is a step by step guide to cleaning your lid Cleaning your helmet is something we all think we can take care of, but do you really know how to do it properly? If you’re nodding your head smugly while reaching for the furniture polish and an old rag, think again. We’ll show you everything you need to know to maintain the life and looks of the most important piece of your riding clobber this summer.
    Before we begin you will need:
    An old toothbrush A soft nailbrush Some cotton buds Four lint-free cloths A non-abrasive sponge Cleaning products Step 1: Prep
    First things first. Wash your hands, make sure all of your cloths are clean, the last thing you want to do is damage the paintwork on your helmet because a piece of dirt was hidden in a cloth. Lay out your tools on a clean work-surface, the kitchen side should do it. Take pictures of the inside and outside of your helmet if you need to, these will help when you are trying to put the thing back together again.
    Step 2: Strip
    Strip down your helmet. We’ve used an Arai for this feature but the same rules apply to any make of helmet. Carefully remove anything that you know you can remove, if you are unsure consult the manual that came with your helmet. If like 99.9% of bikers you lobbed it in the bin get on the phone to the helmet manufacturer, ask for the technical department and find out what you need to do to strip it down. Don’t be too heavy handed, if it feels like it’s about to snap, it probably is.
    Step 3: Bare essentials
    If you are confident you can unscrew and remove base plates etc, do so. Lay out what you have removed in the order you need to put them back in. Don’t get carried away and strip the thing down to nothing, just remove what you need.
       
     
     
    Step 4: Get wet
    Most helmets have at least removable cheek pads, some will have fully removable linings. Once removed, soak them in warm water with a small amount of PH neutral baby shampoo. Massage all the parts thoroughly and then rinse. You’ll be horrified at the black slime that comes out. Lay a towel in the bottom of the sink or bath, rest your helmet on the towel and shower it out with warm water. Get the helmet soaked, add a little of the shampoo and work it into everything. Rinse thoroughly with cold water at least five times. Now put the helmet and any wet parts in front of a cool fan for half a day. Don’t be tempted to use a hairdryer or the airing cupboard.
    Step 5: Visor
    Clean your visor with a non-abrasive cloth. Soak it in warm water and rub some mild soap solution into it. Use your fingers to remove the dirt if you can, it will reduce the chances of scratching the surface of your visor. Allow the visor to drip dry naturally, stood up. Take care with your visor if it has an anti-fog coating. Once dry carefully re-apply any anti fog coating.
     
    Step 6: Clean
    Clean the shell of your helmet with a non-abrasive cloth and some mild soap solution. Avoid using petroleum based cleaning products, they will eat into the lifespan of your helmet. Again, use warm water and be careful not to be too heavy handed. Use the cotton buds to get into the vents if you need to. Use the toothbrush or nailbrush in the hard to reach places, repeat the process two or three times. Cover up small stone chips with touch up pens designed for cars. This won’t completely remove the chip but will disguise it and will prevent water ingress, which will degrade the quality of your helmet over time.
     
     
    Step 7: Lube
    Lubricate the working parts of your visor mechanism with silicon grease, remember to wipe off any excess to prevent further damaging your helmet. You also need to lubricate the seal around your visor aperture. Do this sparingly and wipe away any excess.
    Step 8: Re-assemble
    Re-assemble your helmet (carefully). Take your time to reposition your visor properly. Baseplates on most helmets are adjustable, treat it like suspension. Try little and often until you get it right. Clean and replace side pods/covers. Ensure they are all properly reconnected to the shell, if you have any screws left over you have definitely done something wrong.
       
    Step 9: Polish
    Once rebuilt, polish the whole helmet with a suitable polish, do the visor as well. A mild abrasive is okay to use on the helmet. Lay it on fairly thick, leave to dry and then buff. A good layer of polish on the shell and visor will help water to bead and roll off easier in the rain.
    Article Credits: visordown
     
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    SBF
    2 Men Hit Each Other With Helmets At Woodlands Checkpoint, Arrested & Investigated For Affray
    The Singapore Police Force (SPF) confirmed the arrest of the two men caught fighting with helmets at Woodlands Checkpoint and are investigating them for the offence of affray. You may read the full updates below.
     
    On days when there’s heavy traffic, it can easily take a few hours to get from one end of the Causeway to the other.
    And when that happens, it’s easy for drivers’ tempers to flare.
    That’s presumably what happened when two men were seen fighting at Woodlands Checkpoint.
    Source: Facebook
    In a short viral video, the pair were spotted hitting each other with motorcycle helmets as other riders watched.
    Men fight with helmets at Woodlands Checkpoint, ends hilariously
    The TikTok video was reposted on the Malaysia-Singapore Border Crossers(MSBC) 马新过境者 Facebook group and has garnered over 500 shares at the time of this article.
    In the 10-second clip, a man in blue starts by slamming a motorcycle helmet on the back of a man in a purple t-shirt.
        The swing was filled with so much vigour that the helmet ricocheted off the man in purple.
    Source: Facebook
    Without flinching, the man in blue threw one more punch before realising he was unarmed.
    The man in purple then got back on his feet and checked over his shoulder for his assailant.
      Source: Facebook
    Realising his attacker was scrambling for his helmet, the man in purple took the chance to hit his foe.
    However, just like his attacker, he lost grip on his helmet and after a single strike, was also left unarmed.
    Source: Facebook
    Now vulnerable as before, his attacker took the chance to smack the other man’s head with a helmet.
    The impact seemed to have awoken a new side in the long-haired man as he skillfully dodged the next blow.
    Trying to end the altercation, the man in purple pulled his attacker’s jacket over their head.
    Source: Facebook
      The video ends with the attacker stumbling around the crowded motorcycle lane at Woodlands checkpoint with a jacket over his head.
    Authorities detain 2 men after fight at Woodlands Checkpoint
    The duo did eventually end up in trouble with the law. In a media release on 5 May, SPF shared that they detained the two men while they were entering Singapore on Monday (3 May).
    This was after the police received a report past midnight the night before, of a video capturing their altercation.
    Early investigations pointed to “queue-cutting along the viaduct leading to the departure motorcycle zone at Woodlands Checkpoint” as the likely cause of the fight.
    The men then allegedly pushed their motorcycles against each other before getting off their vehicles. The face-off with the helmets, as seen in the video, subsequently ensued.
      Following their arrest, they are now under investigation for the offence of affray.
    The police noted that if found guilty, both men may face up to one year in jail, a maximum S$5,000 fine, or both.
    Featured image adapted from Facebook.
    Article Credits: mustsharenews
    SBF
    COE prices close mostly lower; motorcycle premiums plunge in wake of new measures
    Motorcycle premiums closed at S$5,002 - a sharp drop from the S$12,179 in the last exercise.
     

    File photo of cars and other vehicles on a highway in Singapore. (File photo: CNA/Jeremy Long)
    SINGAPORE: Certificate of Entitlement (COE) premiums closed mostly lower on Thursday (May 4), the first bidding exercise under the new quota for the quarter.
    Premiums for Category A, which is for smaller cars, closed at S$101,001 (US$76,037), down from S$103,721.
     
    Premiums for larger and more powerful cars in Category B fell to S$119,399 from S$120,889.
    Open category COEs, which can be used for any vehicle type but end up being used mainly for large cars, also fell to S$124,002, from S$124,501.
    COEs for commercial vehicles, which include goods vehicles and buses, rose to S$75,589 from S$75,334 in the previous bidding exercise.
    Motorcycle premiums closed at S$5,002 - a sharp drop from the S$12,179 in the last exercise.
    This is the first tender involving new measures for motorcycles, requiring bidders to put down a higher bid deposit of S$1,500, up from S$800 previously. The validity period for motorcycle temporary COEs has also been cut from three months to one month.
    A total of 2,226 bids were received, with a quota of 1,621 COEs available.
     
    Join SingaporeBikes on Telegram for more of the latest news, special offers, reviews of motorcycles, and more!   The COE quota for May to July is 9,575, a 1.5 per cent overall increase from the previous quarter.
    COE PREMIUMS

    Article Credits: CNA
    SBF
    TOP TEN THINGS NO BIKER SHOULD EVER DO... BUT PROBABLY HAVE
     
    Whether new to biking or not, you may benefit from reading these top ten things no biker should ever do…

    REGARDLESS of how long you have been riding motorcycles, there is always something new to learn about this fantastic way of life. On this journey of discovery, you'll pick up many good and not-so-good habits. In this top ten, we cover the top ten things no biker should ever do.
    Ever. Don't do them, and stop thinking about them! Top ten things no biker should EVER do | Motorcycle Dos & Don'ts!
    1. Take inadequate security measures
    Some bikes are stolen by skilled, determined thieves who would probably bore through solid rock if that’s what it took. Others go because the owners are naïve to the level of risk. In fact, loads do, every year, putting up insurance premiums for everyone.
    The factory-fitted steering lock will take seconds for an opportunist to break. Rely on it and there’s a very good chance you’ll never see your bike again after day one.
    Get a disc lock, get a ground anchor (or two, one for each wheel), get big chains - and use them. You’ll never regret taking too many security precautions.
     
    2. Use a disc lock without a reminder
    A disc lock reminder adds a little extra inconvenience to locking up your bike, especially if it’s cold and wet and you’re in a hurry – and it’s easy to tell yourself you don’t need it.
    You do. Maybe not every time you unlock your bike, but we promise at some point you’ll be distracted and won’t remember that lock until it wallops into your brake caliper as you try to pull away.
    If you’re lucky it might only be embarrassing. If you’re not, it could cost you hundreds for a new disc and caliper. You could even get hurt – and it could all be prevented by a £2 plastic coil with one end looped around the lock and the other around the handlebar.
     
     
    3. Ride at anyone else’s pace
    He got around that corner, so physics says I can too, right?
    Not necessarily, because a crucial variable is ignored in that hypothesis: the rider.
    He may be well within his comfort zone, while any sense of confidence you’re experiencing is vicarious and apt to take flight if startled.  
    With a lifetime’s experience, there will still be some riders that you are unable to keep up with, and you don’t have to, because you’ll never be at your best when you’re over-reaching your ability.
     
       
    4. Panic brake
    And here’s what can go wrong when newish riders push too hard too soon. It’s such a textbook error that an experienced rider will probably be able to tell you what went wrong even though you may not be sure (and examples of it, like the one above, are all over YouTube).
    You were taking a corner. Suddenly your brain decided you were going too fast and told your fingers to grab the front brake. As a result, you went off-road or into the opposing lane, either because you locked the front and crashed or because braking caused the radius of your turn to increase.
    Don’t grab the front brake. Unless you’ve got cornering ABS, it makes a crash more likely, not less. If you can’t train your brain to resist the temptation, slow down until you can.
     
       
    5. Get too cold
    Everything’s more difficult when you’re really cold, including concentrating and spotting hazards in good time.
    Twenty years ago, perhaps, we had an excuse. With the riding gear that’s available now, we don’t.
    A £100 heated vest will help make even sub-zero motorway rides entirely bearable. Warm and waterproof textiles are available to suit a range of budgets (although Gore-Tex probably remains the most reliable option for keeping you dry).
    Heated grips will make any winter ride so much nicer.
    It’s all no-going-back stuff – once you’ve had it, you’ll never be without it.
     
     
    6. Assume anyone has seen you
    There’s a bike somewhere in the picture above. Okay, so the Department for Transport edited the road safety image to make the bike even harder to spot.
    The fact is, you’re really looking for it – and car drivers are not really looking for you.
    Hi-vis kit does no harm but there’s no substitute for riding like you’re the invisible man on a dark night.
     
     
    7. Ride when angry, stressed or upset
    When Yamaha released this promo video for the Tracer 700, some Visordown readers commented that riding after an argument probably wasn’t to be recommended. And while we don’t think Yamaha intended the video as road safety advice, we sort of agree.
    Having a bad day? A really bad one? Then think about not getting on your bike. Feeling angry, stressed or otherwise upset can lead to bad decisions, as well as effecting concentration. Motorcycles are as safe as you make them. Make yours safer by putting someone else in control for the day, like a bus driver.
    8. Take things personally
    Some drivers resent motorcyclists slicing through traffic, blind to the fact that by doing so we’re reducing their journey time as well as ours.
    So they’ll try things like sticking to the car in front, to deny you any gap to pull into should you need one.
    Let them. Back off, pull in behind and then overtake them and a dozen other cars at the next safe opportunity.
    The battle to stop motorcyclists filtering is one that angry driver can never win – but which you could lose by making it a personal stand-off.
     
       
    9. Join the back of the queue
    Quite apart from easing congestiong for everyone, there’s another reason why filtering is a good idea. It’s when moving traffic suddenly slows that some numpty on his phone is most likely to plough into the vehicle in front.
    If you’re filtering through the queues instead of at the back, it won’t be you that bears the brunt.
     
     
    10. Don't be that armchair bore
    You know every bike ever made, and you’ve probably ridden most of them. When you go for a ride with your mates, you have to stop and wait for them every couple of miles. Knee down? You’ve had your elbow down, and you once scraped the cylinder head on an R1200GS.
    You can precisely diagnose any serious mechanical issue from 1,000 yards and probably fix it before lunch. 
    In short, you have nothing new to learn about motorcycling.
    Wrong.
    Like every good hobby, motorcycling attracts some people who are determined to be the world authority on it.
    You’re not the world authority but you have become an armchair bore. Just ride.
    Article Credits: visordown
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    SBF
    COE : Higher bid deposit among new measures for motorcycles
     

     
    File photo of cars and other vehicles in Singapore. (Photo: CNA/Jeremy Long)
     
    SINGAPORE: The supply of Certificates of Entitlement (COE) will go up slightly for the May to July quarter, while the bid deposit for motorcycles will be raised from the next tender.
    Announcing this on Friday (Apr 21), the Land Transport Authority (LTA) said the COE quota for May to July will be 9,575. This is an increase of about 1.5 per cent from the 9,437 COEs in the previous quarter. 
    Two changes to motorcycle COE bidding will be made to "improve allocative efficiency", said LTA.
    The bid deposit will go up from S$800 (US$600) to S$1,500, and the validity period for Category D temporary COEs will be cut from three months to one month. The expired COEs will be returned for bidding sooner.
    This is the second time in two years that LTA is adjusting the bid deposit and validity period of temporary COEs for motorcycles.
    In an attempt to encourage prudent bidding, the agency announced in March 2022 that it would raise the motorcycle bid deposit from S$200 to S$800. At the same time, the validity of the temporary COE was shortened from six months to three.
    The measures then were implemented to mitigate concerns that dealers were speculatively bidding for and holding on to temporary motorcycle COEs in light of rising premiums in the category. 
    LTA noted on Friday that from January to March this year, 457 Category D temporary COEs had expired without being used for the registration of motorcycles and were forfeited.
    "These will be returned for bidding in the upcoming bidding exercises from May to July 2023," it added.
    The new Category D measures and the new COE quota will start from the bidding exercise that kicks off on May 2.
    COE premiums ended mostly higher in the last bidding exercise on Apr 19, with prices for cars in Category A and B breaking records for the third consecutive tender.
    Premiums for Category A, which is for smaller cars, breached the S$100,000 mark to close at S$103,721.
    Premiums for larger and more powerful cars in Category B rose 2 per cent to S$120,889.
    Open category COEs, which can be used for any vehicle type but end up being used mainly for large cars, rose to S$124,501, exceeding its previous all-time high of S$118,990 by about 4.6 per cent.
    Motorcycle premiums closed at S$12,179, up from S$12,001 in the last exercise.
    Article Credits: CNA
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    SBF
    How to: Change your motorcycle engine oil
    The oil in your engine is its lifeblood: it lubricates the moving parts and stops them wearing or destroying themselves; it helps keep everything cool, particularly on ‘air’-cooled engines; and it removes harmful deposits and helps prevent them from building up again.

    Oil eventually deteriorates as a result of heat cycles as well as its intended purpose of carrying dirt and debris away from key parts of the engine, and so it needs changing regularly to make sure it can keep doing its job. But changing it is a very straightforward process and is well within the scope of the average home mechanic.
    There are different types of oil; mineral, semi-synthetic and fully synthetic. The former is derived entirely from crude oil and is well suited to lower-specification engines that don’t run at high revs. Semi-synthetic uses a mixture of mineral and synthetic oils to add a range of qualities that help offer higher performance for more complicated engines.
     
    Fully synthetic is, as the name suggests, man-made and can be tailored to give whatever qualities are required but is the most expensive option of the three.
    There are then several identifiers for the compatibility of oil for your bike. The first is the American Petroleum Institute which rates oil for performance, the ‘higher’ the letter, the better. So, for example, an oil rated API SN means it is certified for a spark-ignited engine (the S) and performance level N, which is higher than M or L.
    The second rating is the Japanese Automobile Standards Organisation (JASO) rating that indicates whether an oil is suitable for a bike with a wet clutch – which runs in the same engine oil – or not. An MA rating means oil that will maintain the engine and transmission and allow the wet clutch to operate effectively.
     
    Oils also have a viscosity rating expressed by numbers and letters as part of the SAE (Society of Automotive Engineers) rating. For example, SAE 10W30 means the oil works in ambient temperatures down to -25°C (the number before the W for ‘Winter’ is the coldest working temperature) up to 30°C. Note these are ambient, not the engine, temperatures and the higher the numbers, the higher the temperatures.
    You may also see 4T and 2T on the bottle – this means they are designed for four-stroke and two-stroke engines respectively.
    Here’s how to change your oil and keep your engine happy.
    Step 1:
     
    ©PHOTO: BAUER MEDIA Look in your owner’s handbook or workshop manual; these should tell you the specification of oil you need and the quantity. Get yourself online and order the necessary quantity as well as the relevant replacement oil filter and a new washer for the drain plug.
    Step 2:
     
    ©PHOTO: BAUER MEDIA Run the engine for a short while to warm the oil up but not get it too hot. Warming it up will help it drain so as much of the old oil comes out as possible. Place a drain tray underneath the drain plug and, having put a pair of protective gloves on (old oil is fairly unpleasant stuff), loosen the drain plug and remove it by hand.
    TIP: While you are undoing it, push it in to get the threads to seal as much as possible and don’t try to remove it until you feel the last thread come loose – this will help prevent warm oil running down your arm. Leave the oil draining for now.
    Step 3:
     
    ©PHOTO: BAUER MEDIA Now you need to think about how you are going to remove the old oil filter. There are two main ways to do this – with a cup-style filter wrench that fits the flats on the filter and drives from a socket handle or a strap (or chain) wrench that tightens onto the filter body as you rotate it to loosen the filter. The choice comes down to personal preference or what’s available for your bike.
    Step 4:
     
    ©PHOTO: BAUER MEDIA The wrench fits over the end of the filter housing and is very easy to use – you locate it like a large socket and use a ratchet or handle to undo it until it is hand tight and you can remove it. Be careful of the oil spill as you do so and lay plenty of rags or paper towels under where it locates, particularly if it is angled downwards as you work on it.
    Step 5:
     
    ©PHOTO: BAUER MEDIA A strap wrench tightens itself on as you rotate it until it grips the filter housing and begins to rotate it until you can again, remove it by hand. These can be useful if access is tight or you can’t get a wrench over the top of the filter and get a handle to it directly.
    Step 6:
     
    ©PHOTO: BAUER MEDIA Once the filter is off the engine, remove it and when convenient, drain its contents into the drain pan that now contains the contents of the engine. Use some carburettor cleaner or degreaser to clean the mounting face ready for the new filter.
    Step 7:
     
    ©PHOTO: BAUER MEDIA Before fitting the new filter, smear a thin layer of oil around the rubber ‘O’ ring - this will help it seal properly. If the filter is mounted directly from the bottom of the engine, you can fill it with new oil to ‘prime’ it. If it isn’t then fit it empty and it will fill when you first run the engine.
    Step 8:
     
    ©PHOTO: BAUER MEDIA Fit the new filter to the threaded section where the old one was removed from. Tighten it as per the instructions in the owner’s or workshop manual – this may be a torque value or a specific process.
    Step 9:
     
    ©PHOTO: BAUER MEDIA Before you refit the drain plug so you can refill the engine, have a look at it to see whether there is evidence of worrying wear – metal particles, for example. If not, give it a clean and remove the old washer, replacing it with a new one.
    Step 10:
     
    ©PHOTO: BAUER MEDIA Now refit the drain plug and tighten it to the relevant torque figure, as per the owner’s or workshop manual.
    Step 11:
     
    ©PHOTO: BAUER MEDIA It’s now time to refill the engine with lovely clean oil. Using a funnel – to actually get it into the engine – or a measuring jug, either apply a measured quantity, taking into account any you may have already added to the filter before fitting it or fill to a level in the sight glass or on the dipstick, depending on your bike. Make sure the bike is upright and level when checking oil levels.
     
    Step 12:
     
    ©PHOTO: BAUER MEDIA If filling to a level, check this with the sight-glass or dipstick and fill until you are roughly halfway between the upper and lower marks. Stop, then run the engine for a moment to circulate the oil, then shut off and wait until the level has settled and check again, as per the manual. If necessary, add more to compensate for filling the filter and there you go – job done.
     
    Aricle Credits: motorcyclenews
     
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    SBF
    Thai man travels 300km with cats in sidecar back to hometown
    A Thai man travelled some 300km from Bangkok to Korat with his 11 cats in tow on a motorcycle, attracting praise and “likes” from cat lovers online.  

    Choowong Thepkoh, 65, who sells amulets and other knick knacks at flea markets in Bangkok, had travelled to Korat to sell his goods at a popular annual flea market. 
    Choowong also hails from Korat, and wanted to bring his “kids,” or his cats, to visit his birthplace.
    Facebook page, Kingdom of Tigers – dedicated to cat lovers, and whose followers know of Choowong as an ardent fan of cats – raised funds to buy the man a sidecar motorcycle, so he could travel with his feline friends.
    On Friday, March 17, the page also urged its followers to donate cat food to Choowong as he was about to travel to Korat. 
    In an interview, Choowong revealed that he left his hometown 26 years ago, and worked in flea markets in and around Bangkok to support himself and the cats that he would adopt over the years. 

    All of his cats were strays, he said, and he would often bring them along everywhere he went. 
    He also shared their names: Thong Kwak, Thong Ek, Thong K, Thong Daeng, Thong Kam, Thong Heng, Thong Pradab, Si Nuan, Si Som, Si Suay, and Si Baitong.
    “Someone once offered to buy Thong Kwak for 20,000 baht ($780), but I refused to sell, fearing that the person would one day become bored of him and abandon him. I want to take care of him until the day he dies.”
    Choowong said he was grateful to everyone who supported him and his cats. He received a lot of cat food from people he met along the way.
    Article Credits: tnp.straitstimes
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