[Trip Report] The Twisty Tour - Ride to Gerik : 9 to 12 Aug 07

[biking nomad]

09 Aug 2007 to 12 Aug 2007

 

Day 1 - Singapore to Kuala Terengganu via Route 3 - 544Km

 

Day 2 - Kuala Terengganu to KL via Gerik Highway (Route 4) & N-S Highway - 730 KM

 

Day 3 - Kuala Lumpur to Singapore via N-S Highway- 320 KM

 

Estimated total mileage – 1600 KM

 

http://i226.photobucket.com/albums/dd87/Biking_Nomad/Malaysia%20-%20East%20Coast%20-%20Gerik%20Ride/NationalDayRide-Route.jpg

 

A plan to ride the coastal route 3 and the Gerik Highway had been brewing since I got my Fazer in January. Unfortunately, a good opportunity never presented itself until the National Day weekend. Very unpatriotically, we decided to escape these stifling shores to ride the roads and hills of Malaysia, the country my biker’s heart keeps returning to.

 

We had been planning this for more than a month but as the date of departure neared, we had no formal itinerary or destinations apart from the vague plan to ride the coastal road from Johor to Kelantan, ride the twist-ies on the Jeli-Gerik Route 4 and end up in Penang.

 

However, a day before the trip we almost came close to calling the trip off. The plan was for 3 bikes to ride this trip - my friend (rajoana) on his FZS1000, my brother on his Super4 and myself astride my FZS600. Unfortunately, twenty-six hours before our departure my brother had a bad crash. His bike was near totaled but praise to the almighty, he escaped without much injuries. With his bike out of action, he was out of the trip.

 

This incident was enough to fill the two of us with much trepidation and raise the usual ire and concern of loved ones at my persistence to carry on with the trip. As the saying goes, the adventure begins when things stop going according to plan.

 

Without being able to sleep much, I woke up at 0230 to meet my riding buddy at the Tuas Link. We had to ride in via the Second Link to get a Malaysian Visa for my friend’s pillion from India. That explained the start at the ungodly hour.

 

We completed the visa formalities and rode on to GP Esso to tank up for the first leg. It was quite a sight. Before the first light of dawn, and a group of BMW bikers and other riders were already there doing their final preparations for their respective rides. It seems there is a unspoken feeling that the best way to celebrate our island state’s independence is to ride the country that ended our Federation with them in 1965.

 

The rumble of thunder and the streaks of lightning cast a burning orange glow in sky. The impending rain clouds sparked and immediate frenzy to suit up, crank the engines and gun out of GP Esso before it poured. Alas, we did not make much headway before the rain caught us.

 

We rode on in the rain in the direction of Kota Tinggi to hit Route 3. We rode this route all the way to Pahang and the Islamic states of Terenggau and Kelantan. Route 3 is wonderful country road which hugs the east coast all the way to one of the borders with Thailand. It has some nice bends to jolt you awake and kept us alert even though my teeth were chattering. Thankfully, traffic was quite sparse in the early morning.

 

Our first stop was Mersing for breakfast – a coastal town in Johor famed for its kelongs (fishing houses on stilts built out at sea), seafood and the ferry terminal to Pulau Tioman. We reached Mersing just as the sun started shining but I was still quivering in the saddle form the downpour earlier.

 

http://i226.photobucket.com/albums/dd87/Biking_Nomad/Malaysia%20-%20East%20Coast%20-%20Gerik%20Ride/Mersing.jpg

 

After some warm prata and squeezing rainwater out of our socks, we were on our way. We rode on, stopped for petrol once we rolled into Pahang and topped our stomachs off at Chukai.

 

After lunch, we decided to head for Kuala Terengganu and stay the night there. Pulling into Kuala Terengganu we checked into the first hotel we came across, had dinner and called it a early night since neither of us slept much prior to our departure.

 

http://i226.photobucket.com/albums/dd87/Biking_Nomad/Malaysia%20-%20East%20Coast%20-%20Gerik%20Ride/KualaTerengganuDusk.jpg

View from our hotel in Kuala Terengganu. The city seems to go sleep at 7 PM. We were rushed thorugh our dinner for them to close in time for prayers.

[biking nomad]

http://i226.photobucket.com/albums/dd87/Biking_Nomad/Malaysia%20-%20East%20Coast%20-%20Gerik%20Ride/KualaTerengganu.jpg

Leaving Kuala Terengganu

 

http://i226.photobucket.com/albums/dd87/Biking_Nomad/Malaysia%20-%20East%20Coast%20-%20Gerik%20Ride/KualaTerengganu-Ontheroad.jpg

Leaving Kuala Terengganu

 

We set off at about 8 am to find our way to Jeli. Our early start came to naught when we backtracked because we thought we were on the wrong road. Alas, we had actually picked the right road. We detoured back to the road to Tanah Merah, which would lead us into Jeli.

 

http://i226.photobucket.com/albums/dd87/Biking_Nomad/Malaysia%20-%20East%20Coast%20-%20Gerik%20Ride/ToRoute4.jpg

 

Looking for breakfast along the road in Kelantan proved to be surprisingly difficult. Being and Islamic state and Friday being the day of prayer most places were closed. Thankfully, we managed to find some surprisingly good mee goreng for breakfast at a stall along the road.

 

Satiated and with tanks filled it was on to the hills for the twist-ies on the Jeli to Gerik Route 4, commonly known as the Gerik Highway. This is a fantatstic road that starts from Kelantan and deposits you in Perak state.

 

It involves some awesome 30-50KM (guestimation as I was having too much fun to look at the odometer) of non-stop left and right sweepers in hilly terrain and some of the landscape is amazing. We did not stop for much pictures though as the twist-ies were the main draw for us.

 

http://i226.photobucket.com/albums/dd87/Biking_Nomad/Malaysia%20-%20East%20Coast%20-%20Gerik%20Ride/Gerik-Sweeper.jpg

The only place we stopped for pics. This was already half-way down from the height of the hill.

 

http://i226.photobucket.com/albums/dd87/Biking_Nomad/Malaysia%20-%20East%20Coast%20-%20Gerik%20Ride/GerikHighway-Landscape.jpg

Is this a cliff? But gorgeous all the same!

 

http://i226.photobucket.com/albums/dd87/Biking_Nomad/Malaysia%20-%20East%20Coast%20-%20Gerik%20Ride/LuggingLogs.jpg

The road was smooth and traffic was light but we had to maneuver past the usual coach or lorry lugging logs.

[biking nomad]

Part of the highlight of the Gerik route is Tasik Banding which is a man-made lake. It was created because of the construction of a dam at Temenggor in Perak. Very scenic and tranquil. Well, at least until we and another group of Singapore bikers tore through the hills.

 

http://i226.photobucket.com/albums/dd87/Biking_Nomad/Malaysia%20-%20East%20Coast%20-%20Gerik%20Ride/TasikBanding3.jpg

Some other SG Bikes we happened on at the Tasik Banding bridge

 

http://i226.photobucket.com/albums/dd87/Biking_Nomad/Malaysia%20-%20East%20Coast%20-%20Gerik%20Ride/TasikBanding2.jpg

Tasik Banding

 

http://i226.photobucket.com/albums/dd87/Biking_Nomad/Malaysia%20-%20East%20Coast%20-%20Gerik%20Ride/TasikBanding.jpg

Tasik Banding

 

The hills were alive not with the sound of music but the roar of engines.

Upon exiting at Gerik we headed in the direction of KL to show my friend’s guest some of the sights and sounds of the capital city. We decided to save Penang for the next pilgrimage to the race track in the clouds.

[Al-Simmons]

good trip report!

 

I must say the route to Gerik is one of the nicest i've seen in Malaysia.

[blackbirdlover]

These pictures here are just a small testament to how great this trip really was. I was the unlucky dude who met with an accident the day before our trip!

 

 

And oh my sainted lord! the pictures of the bends were simply breathtaking! Imagine hitting speeds of 120 km/hr at those bends (read: speed limit 60 km/h)! Incredible corners and delightful scenery to say the least...really kicking myself for not going!

[biking nomad]

good trip report!

 

I must say the route to Gerik is one of the nicest i've seen in Malaysia.

 

Tks Al-Simmons! Always enjoyed your ride reports too.

 

The Gerik route is very well constructed. Hardly a pot hole and the bends have a nice apex and clearance is good in most places. But still not a place to make a mistake.

 

Another one of the reaons why I love Malaysia and one of the things that makes being in Singapore bearable. Thank god for Malaysia! Malaysia bloeh!

[rAjOaNa]

Imagine hitting speeds of 120 km/hr at those bends (read: speed limit 60 km/h)! Incredible corners and delightful scenery to say the least...really kicking myself for not going!

 

Well unlucky dude perhaps some other time. we dun imagine 120....we did it. hehe

[Danesious]

Excellent write-up. to u buddy. Word of advise-->You won't get this kind of good road conditions in Mae Hong Son 1864 corners. See ya ard.

[rAjOaNa]

Been looking through this thread many times since it was 1st posted here. It keeps my memories fresh of this trip we did a mth ago. This has been my best trip and most memoriable one. Hope to do more rides with you later this year n hope blackbirdlovers wld get some bird n join us then.

[endlessloop]

Nice ride writeup on Gerik.

 

I have been to Gerik twice. They are the clock-wise direction versus the anti-clocwise direction.

 

There is the writeup of the ride and pictures in these two entires:

 

Ipoh-Gerik-Terranganu-Mersing route:

http://loudexhaust.blogspot.com/2006/06/road-to-gerik-day-1-to-gerik-with-love_11.html

 

 

Ipoh-Gerik-Betong (Thailand) route:

http://loudexhaust.blogspot.com/2007/08/ride-to-gerik-betong-thailand-how-to-be.html

[biking nomad]

Been looking through this thread many times since it was 1st posted here. It keeps my memories fresh of this trip we did a mth ago. This has been my best trip and most memoriable one. Hope to do more rides with you later this year n hope blackbirdlovers wld get some bird n join us then.

 

 

My exact sentiments, bro! Its good we have the pics n this thread to keep the memories fresh. If we do this again, we need to do it East to West from Betong n then West to East n then East to West from Kota Bahru! haha!

 

Let's plan for the GP and then Samui this year! Iron-butt qualifier? hehe!

[biking nomad]

EndlessLoop,

 

Tks for posting the links to your blog. You've done some awesome rides! Will take some time out this weekend to read your trip reports.

 

I believe I read about your first Gerik ride sometime back but I didn't recall it when I was trawling for information. Re-reading it I could fully understand the climate and roads you were writing about. Brought be back to Route 4 all over again!

 

Sweet!

 

And I saw a comment in one of the posts by a rider called KISS abt first having done Route 4 in 1989 when the Commies were still active there. Reminded me of sth I came across when I was doing research.

 

One of the reasons a dam was built n which created Tasik Temenggor and Tasik Banding is that the Commies were hiding out in the jungles and with the building of the dam a lot of the forest was flooded and it flushed the communists out of the area.

 

Nice to know the history of the places you ride. n SG, this episode of our history is almost never mentioned.

 

Once again, my usual refrain goes, thank god for Malaysia!

 

Gerik is Gerek!

[SBR750]

Some biker once said " If u haven't been to Grik, U haven't been touring in Malaysia".

[endlessloop]

EndlessLoop,

 

Tks for posting the links to your blog. You've done some awesome rides! Will take some time out this weekend to read your trip reports.

 

Gerik is Gerek!

 

 

Thanks Biking Nomad

[GuiNNeSS]

Guys be careful. At Lake Tasik Banding, theres a sort of Army camp. Someone was unlucky enough to 'look like' taking picture of the camp when he was taking a picture of the bike AND the lake/hill as background.

 

The camp is hidden in the hills I think. Anyway awhile later a whole lot of army guys came down with rifiles, asking for our particulars, want to confiscate camera and all that jazz. Held us up for around 2 hours.

[biking nomad]

Neo,

 

Now that would have been an exprience in itself!

WHen did this happen?

 

I didn't really notice a camp there. I only stopped at two points. Once was somewhere in the middle of the corners and the other at the Tasik Banding bridge. Is the camp visible from the bridge?

 

Personally, I've only had good experiences with the Msian Armed forces. Hitched a ride with them in their tonner when my coach broke down on the NS Highway just before Ayer Keroh. Took me and some othe pasengers all the way to outskirts of KL where their camp was.

 

Of course, at some point we drove through a pitch dark area which turned out to be a cemetary and I did entertain thoughts that this is where my trip was going to meet its end.

 

Thankfully, all turned out well and they even helped us with directions to a cab to town.

[gurumachaz]

Guys be careful. At Lake Tasik Banding, theres a sort of Army camp. Someone was unlucky enough to 'look like' taking picture of the camp when he was taking a picture of the bike AND the lake/hill as background.

 

The camp is hidden in the hills I think. Anyway awhile later a whole lot of army guys came down with rifiles, asking for our particulars, want to confiscate camera and all that jazz. Held us up for around 2 hours.

 

Leh...chakde phadthe !!

[KISS]

Some biker once said " If u haven't been to Grik, U haven't been touring in Malaysia".

I used to say these words to bikers after my first trip in 1989.

 

Biking nomad, if I knew you would be doing this trip, I would join you.

I was actually organising this 4 day trip to Grik for a bike shop, but alas there was only 1 participatant. So I called off the ride. The last time I rode there was in 2005.

On Saturday morning, I join about 25 bikers riding up to Kuala Trengganu and back on Sunday.

 

If anyone interested in riding up to Grik, let's ride together.

[SaintDuDu]

Guys be careful. At Lake Tasik Banding, theres a sort of Army camp. Someone was unlucky enough to 'look like' taking picture of the camp when he was taking a picture of the bike AND the lake/hill as background.

 

The camp is hidden in the hills I think. Anyway awhile later a whole lot of army guys came down with rifiles, asking for our particulars, want to confiscate camera and all that jazz. Held us up for around 2 hours.

 

 

its the longest trip (riding duration) i ever had.. haha..

[biking nomad]

I used to say these words to bikers after my first trip in 1989.

 

Biking nomad, if I knew you would be doing this trip, I would join you.

I was actually organising this 4 day trip to Grik for a bike shop, but alas there was only 1 participatant. So I called off the ride. The last time I rode there was in 2005.

On Saturday morning, I join about 25 bikers riding up to Kuala Trengganu and back on Sunday.

 

If anyone interested in riding up to Grik, let's ride together.

 

KISS,

Thats a real missed oppurtunity! Would have loved to ride with you. Perhaps, at a better time in the future.

 

And I can't imagine how any biker can't be keen to ride the Gerik route. Missing out some of the best biking!

[moccajava]

did u happen to chance upon this beautiful pencil-like bridge thingie along Gerik route? and this phantom tunnel? scary as shyt...

 

thanks for relieving my memories too!

btw pls avoid venturing thru the middle of pahang... u'll regret it hehehe

[biking nomad]

moccajava,

 

I can't really recall seeing the bridge or tunnel cos we were rushing so much.

Real pity that if we did pass it I can't recall!

 

We took the ride from Jeli so if its between Jeli to Gerik we must have passed it. If it's on the way down from Kota Bahru we would have missed it.

 

Could u advice which part of the route this was? Would love to ride there again!

[GuiNNeSS]

If you guys happen to go again, try the stretch of road between Baling and Gerik. Last time I was there the tarmac is Race track condition.

[moccajava]

neo: yeaps the route from Baling to Gerik is super new. nice and dry.

would look damn good if ure travelling with a partner, he could stop his bike some distance away and record you coming out from a corner. sweet!

 

biking nomad... unfortunately i was travelling in the opposite direction towards Jeli from Gerik so you may have overlooked it coz u're on the opp side of the road.

 

i had the scariest time riding thru this route in darkness and rain. both deadly combination... especially so when there's no mobile phone reception.

 

but hey... thats the fun isnt it!

[zasrock]

hows the traffic at the gerik highway... it is as bad as ns highway