Cheers!

Completed my first two-way bike commute today. Yay! The early morning ride was regular, pleasant even. The night ride however, was a challenge. What a night for the street lamps along the route to be flickering on then off, then staying off. It was a joke, probably a prank on me, the newbie. Coming from a mountain bike  the gear range of the foldie felt lacking. I was often shifting from end to end and pumping the handlebars. Part of learning I guess. I also need to learn to navigate traffic and especially pedestrian commuters. Practice, and patience needed. Overall, today was a great riding day. Hoping to log more and more miles on the foldie, though I'm tempted to take the mountainbike on the commute next time. We'll see. For now, it's time to relax.

posted from Bloggeroid

My First Bike Commute.

Started bike commuting to the office today. It took me 50 minutes at an extremely leisurely pace. Some route planning improvements would probably cut the travel time a bit more. The ride was pleasant as I left the house at sunrise and cars on the road were sparse. Though jeepneys passing by make me want to get a filter mask.

Riding was a bit awkward though. I was used to the mountain-bike riding position which I maintained. I think I need to raise the handlebar a bit more and go on a more upright riding position. The new bike lost all of its "squeaks" on the first 20 minutes. Steering was a bit fidgety, as minor handlebar movements caused me to over-steer. The bike was surprisingly light and nimble, though the hard tires and the lack of suspension jarred me a bit.  

I'll do a half-and-half today as I'll bring the bike home by car after work. I don't want to push it on the first day, and I still don't have night-time riding gear. It was a great first day, like the first day of school, exciting, awkward, a bit scary, but really great nonetheless. Can't wait to do it again next week.

New Ride, New Adventure.

This summer, I'll start bike commuting to the office. I got an inexpensive folding bike to try out. I still maintain the full-sized mountain bike for the weekend leisure rides, and of course, the ever dependable KS8 for other trips. My journey on two wheels is taking a new turn. Let's see how it unfolds.

V-Power Nitro+ for the Price of Unleaded.

Got this flyer today as I was filling up my bike. I think its a great deal, whether for your car or motorbike. Though there are some who don't subscribe to getting higher octane fuel for their smaller, lower compression scoots. Though for me, if my machine can burn it, then its good. 

You can buy Shell V-Power Nitro+  for the price of Unleaded Fuel. Schedule your fill as the promo is valid only from Fridays to Sundays until August 26, 2012. You can avail of the promo at the Shell Station at the corner of Connecticut St. and Ortigas Ave. near Greenhills.

View Larger Map

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Measuring Fuel Economy

One of the reasons for me getting a motorcycle was the hope of saving funds spent on fuel. Obviously, a 1.3/1.6/1.8L car would down more gas than a 125cc bike. It would also get stuck in traffic much more, which needlessly consumes more fuel.

Whatever my bike consumed, I'm sure that it's less than if I would have taken a car. I know, as I only spend about 200 pesos per fill-up on the bike and which would last me a week, making the daily commute to and from work for 5 days, and minor errands on the weekends. Two hundred bucks of gas for the car on the other hand, probably wouldn't even last me a day. To add, the car gets filled with "Xtra Unleaded" while the bike gets "XCS".

Xtra Unleaded - Premium Grade Ethanol-blended Gasoline (RON 93+)

XCS - Premium Plus Grade Ethanol-blended Gasoline (RON 95+)

(From: http://www.petron.com/what-we-offer.html)

If it was consuming less, how much less? I was intrigued and wanted to get an empirical answer. I found and downloaded an app for Android called "Mileage". It was probably designed to monitor fuel consumption for multiple cars but works as well for a single motorcycle. You can get it free, here.

The app provides an easy and straightforward input format. Units can be customized and comments added.

The full "statistics" are also provided. If you want  to see the nitty gritty.

Here are the results from a month's worth of fuel fill-up data for the Kymco Super 8. This was the KS8's second month, and I hope that it's gas consumption has stabilized after the one month break-in period.

So if the calculations are correct, the Super 8's Fuel Economy runs from 25 to 30 kilometers per liter, with an average of about 27 kilometers per liter. Not bad, not bad at all.

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Call of Duty

Earlier today we had to respond to an emergency. We were driving home when we saw the scene of a vehicular accident involving a motorcycle and an SUV.

According to bystander reports, the speeding SUV whose driver was DUI, sideswiped the motorcyle as it was merging into the lane from a junction.

When we arrived at the scene, the rider was flat on the ground. He was wearing rubber slip-on shoes, jeans, a regular jacket, and thankfully, a relatively good helmet. I say relatively, as I didn't recognize the brand, but it was well padded, and had a good fit, though it was matte black which I personally dislike.

All of his articles of clothing were actually dark, if not black. The shoes, jacket and helmet were black. Only his jeans weren't black, though they were a very dark blue.

The victim was fully conscious, though he complained of back, leg and knee pain. According to the rider, when he was sideswiped, the impact back-flipped him before he was thrown to the ground.

Due to the mechanism of injury, I feared that he may have sustained spinal injury. Nevertheless, I asked if he can wiggle his fingers and toes and if he can squeeze my fingers as I held his hand. His responses were all good. Just to be sure, I asked him to keep very still and maintain his in-line position.

Together with other concerned citizens, we directed traffic, kept the victim under an umbrella, constantly monitored his vital signs and checked for other injuries. 

Rescue services were quite fast. They arrived within about 15 minutes. I was particularly proud that in Manila, we have immediate ambulance services during these emergencies. 

There was a quick endorsement of the patient, then the rescue crew took over to apply a cervical collar, put the patient on a spine board, then on a gurney, then wheeled him off.




Analyzing the situation based on observations, I suppose that the driver, which may have been DUI, would have impaired reflexes and response time. He may have seen the rider, particularly as it was broad daylight, but it was already too late. I think the rider also would have been better off if he was more visible, particularly if he had reflective gear and body armor. Please note that this is purely my opinion and that I do not claim to be an expert on scene investigation.

I do hope that some good will come out of this, hoping that the rider would fully recover, the driver be charged if found to be at fault, and that all of us would realize that we share the road with other motorists and that we should have mutual respect for each other.

Be safe everyone!



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Helmet Confusion

As the deadline for compliance to the Helmet Law draws near, many are bewildered on what are the rules to be followed. The regular rider, may he be an  office worker, messenger, or just uses his motorbike for the daily commute (such as myself) are keen to follow. It's just that the provisions of law to be followed have not been clearly stated and circulated. Its not the law per se, its about the Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR).

Don't get me wrong. I am all for this law. I was surprised that this was not implemented earlier. I have always been a staunch advocate of safety. In my view, if you don't have a good helmet (or as some claim, can't afford one) then don't buy a motorcycle.

A good helmet need not cost much either. Its just like your preference for your bike, you can buy a Ducati or a Honda. Both can get you from A to B. Same as helmets, as long as they're certified, they're all meant to protect your head. The price difference may be due to branding, shipping costs, taxes, added features and other stuff not directly related to its safety aspect.

I've had some questions of my own regarding the IRR of this law. What is deemed as a "Standard" helmet? Is a half-faced helmet okay? Or is a full-faced helmet mandatory? Do you need to have your helmet re-inspected even if its "branded" and bought at authorized distributors?

Also, it seems that the basis for checking that a helmet is "good" is the presence of a certain Import Commodity Clearance (ICC) sticker which really does not say anything about safety. It just says that the product went into the country through legal channels and "hopefully" passed through proper testing.

I looked around online for some info on these and this is what I gathered:

Here's a clip of an Article from www.snipcebu.com:

Here's a list of  of DTI-certified motorcycle protective helmets: (Link)


I assume that if the "prescribed" and "approved" type is a half-faced helmet, full-faced, modular or other more protective types are likewise allowed. Here's a sample of an approved helmet as posted on the DTI website. (http://dtincr.ph/pressrel.php) 

UPDATE:

(From: http://www.keywordspeak.com/2012/07/motorcycle-helmet-sticker-law-suspended.html)

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The Philippine Helmet Law

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Republic of the Philippines
CONGRESS OF THE PHILIPPINES
Metro Manila

Fourteenth Congress
Third Regular Session

Begun and held in Metro Manila, on Monday, the twenty-seventh day of July, two thousand nine.

REPUBLIC ACT NO. 10054

AN ACT MANDATING ALL MOTORCYCLE RIDERS TO WEAR STANDARD PROTECTIVE MOTORCYCLE HELMETS WHILE DRIVING AND PROVIDING PENALTIES THEREFOR

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in Congress assembled:

Section 1. Short Title. - This Act shall be known as the "Motorcycle Helmet Act of 2009".

Section 2. Declaration of Policy. - It is hereby declared the policy of the State to secure and safeguard its citizenry, particularly the operators or drivers of motorcycles and their passengers, from the ruinous and extremely injurious effects of fatal or life threatening accidents and crashes. Towards this end, it shall pursue a more proactive and preventive approach to secure the safety of motorists, their passengers and pedestrians at all times through the mandatory enforcement of the use of standard protective motorcycle helmet.

Section 3. Mandatory Use of Motorcycle Helmets. - All motorcycle riders, including drivers and back riders, shall at all times wear standard protective motorcycle helmets while driving, whether long or short drives, in any type of road and highway.

Standard protective motorcycle helmets are appropriate types of helmets for motorcycle riders that comply with the specifications issued by the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI).

The DTI shall issue guidelines, which should include the specifications regarding standard protective motorcycle helmets.

Section 4. Exemption. - Drivers of tricycles shall be exempted from complying with the mandatory wearing of motorcycle helmets as provided in this Act.

Section 5. Provision of Motorcycle Helmets. - A new motorcycle helmet which bears the Philippine Standard (PS) mark or Import Commodity Clearance (ICC) of the Bureau of Product Standards (BPS) and complies with the standards set by the BPS shall be made available by every seller and/or dealer every time a new motorcycle unit is purchased and which the purchaser may buy at bis option. Failure to comply with the requirements provided under this section shall constitute a violation of this Act.

Section 6. Implementation. - The Department of Transportation and Communications (DOTC), with its attached agency, the Land Transportation Office (LTO), is mandated by this Act to issue guidelines necessary to implement the provisions of this Act.

The DTI, through the BPS, is mandated to utilize the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE) Protocols with regard to the standards that will be applicable to the approval or disapproval of motorcycle helmets that will be sold in the Philippines.

The DTI, through the BPS, shall conduct a mandatory testing of all manufactured and imported motorcycle helmets in the Philippines. All manufacturers and importers of standard protective motorcycle helmets are required to secure a PS license or ICC prior to the sale and distribution of their products. The BPS shall issue periodically a list of motorcycle helmet manufacturers and importers and the brands which pass the standards of the BPS to be published in a newspaper of general circulation or in its website.

Upon the effectivity of this Act, only those standard protective motorcycle helmets bearing the PS or ICC mark shall be sold in the market.

Section 7. Penalties. - (a) Any person caught not wearing the standard protective motorcycle helmet in violation of this Act shall be punished with a fine of One thousand five hundred pesos (Php1,500.00) for the first offense; Three thousand pesos (Php3,000.00) for the second offense; Five thousand pesos (Php5,000.00) for the third offense; and Ten thousand pesos (Php10,000.00) plus confiscation of the driver's license for the fourth and succeeding offenses.

(b) Any seller and/or dealer who violates Section 5 of this Act shall be punished with a fine of not lees than Ten thousand pesos (Php10,000.00) but not more than Twenty thousand pesos (Php20,000.00).

(c) Any person who uses, sells and distributes substandard motorcycle helmets or those which do not bear the PS mark or the ICC certificate shall be punished with a fine of not less than Three thousand pesos (Php3,000.00) for the first offense; and Five thousand pesos (Php5,000.00) for the second offense, without prejudice to other penalties imposed in Republic Act No. 7394 or the "Consumer Act of the Philippines".

(d) Tampering, alteration, forgery and imitation of the PS mark and the ICC certificates in the helmets shall be punished with a fine of not less than Ten thousand pesos (Php10,000.00) but not more than Twenty thousand pesos (Php20,000.00), without prejudice to other penalties imposed in Republic Act No. 7394 or the "Consumer Act of the Philippines".

Section 8. Nationwide Public Information Campaign. - The LTO, in coordination with the Philippine Information Agency (PIA), the Department of Education (DepED) and private agencies and organizations, shall undertake a nationwide information, education and communication (IEC) campaign for a period of six (6) months for the attainment of the objective s of this Act.

Section 9. Separability Clause. - If any provision or part hereof is held invalid or unconstitutional, the remainder of this Act or the provisions not otherwise affected shall remain valid and subsisting.

Section 10. Repealing Clause. - All laws, decrees, orders, rules and regulations or parts thereof inconsistent with this Act are hereby repealed or modified accordingly.

Section 11. Effectivity Clause. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its publication in at least two (2) newspapers of general circulation.

Approved,

(Sgd.) PROSPERO C. NOGRALES Speaker of the House of Representatives

(Sgd.) JUAN PONCE ENRILE President of the Senate

This Act which is a consolidation of House Bill No. 6924 and Senate Bill No. 1863 was finally passed by the House of Representatives and the Senate on November 16, 2009 and December 16, 2009, respectively.

(Sgd.) EMMA LIRIO-REYES Secretary of Senate

(Sgd.) MARILYN B. BARUA-YAP Secretary General House of Representatives

Approved: MAR 23 2010

(Sgd.) GLORIA MACAPAGAL-ARROYO
President of the Philippines

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KS8 with the new Givi 300B

All cleaned up and with the new gear.

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Installing a Givi Box

Unlike in other bikes, the Kymco Super 8 doesn't need a bracket to mount the storage case. The rear carrier of the bike serves the purpose and looks great as well, though there is some drilling involved.

After the holes have been drilled, it's just a matter of placing the screws into the mounting plate, through the rear carrier and installing the plate cover.

If you're not the DIY type, just ask the service technicians to install the case on your bike. They did it on mine, free of charge.

GIVI E300B. Product and Installation, Php 3,500 (at Motomarket, Libis, Q.C.)

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Giving in to getting a Givi Box

I've been fixating on getting a storage box (top case) ever since I got the bike. I like the look and feel of a scooter with a rear storage box. I however couldn't justify the need for it, until now.

I put off getting one for a bit as I use the KS8's floor space for my bag and other stuff I bring along. And besides, the underseat storage fits everything else.

But as the rains set in, I was increasingly troubled trusting my backpack's rain cover for protection. So I finally gave in and decided that it was time to get a box.

As I went to the bike store, I was quickly attracted to the white-topped E300B. It matched the red-white-black color scheme of the KS8. It was a bit pricey-er than the other options but it was a great match. It also had a better latch position than say the E26 Series, which can be pried open with bare hands.

(Photo from: http://www.giviusa.com/cases-top-case/Monolock-/E300B)

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Riding Boots

I have no plans of buying dedicated riding boots. I didn't feel a need a pair as I go on a casual (slow) daily commute to and from work. Also, I find riding boots on display at the shops, too costumey, and ultimately, too expensive.

Nevertheless, I still needed sturdy shoes with enough protection during my ride, just in case. Something that I was willing to bust up, scrape on the pavement, get wet, get dirty, and didn't cost a whole lot.

The best solution I found, was to use my company-issued Safety Boots. Had several of these throughout the years, though I preferred the slip-on boot versions.

I didn't like to rough up the "Red Wings" so I went for the "Safety Jogger" in the stash.

The Safety Jogger was great for riding. It had a comfortable fit, it was light, waterproof, and had a "rubber sneakers"-kind of bounce, unlike the Red Wings which had more of a "cowboy boots" feel. It also had a steel toe and a stiff shank that prevented much flexing, probably most useful in preventing foot and ankle sprain.

Surprisingly, it was cool to wear even if it was full leather and extended about 11 inches high. Best of all is, I got it for free! Even if you had to buy it, the cost is only a sweet 1,800 pesos.

(Bestboot "Newer" Model. Photo from http://www.safetyshoesjogger.com/)

Though the one I have (2010 Model), has the small yellow (lower) label at the top and the branding is in reverse, yellow text on black. 

Three people had already asked me about these shoes for riding. The third one, which inspired me to write this post, I met just this morning. He was a cop who cut me across the road, and asked me to pull over. Naturally, I was worried that he was going to fine me for something. To my surprise, he just wanted to ask where he could get these shoes! Whew! 

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KS8 Logo

(Couldn't resist taking a snap after cleanup.)

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Keeping my Hands Dry

I recently got myself a Givi Rainsuit, and it was great. It kept me dry, well, at least most of me.

When I finished my first ride in the rain, my hands felt cold. Then I realized, they weren't cold because of the weather, they were cold because they were wet!

The rain had soaked my gloves. It's not a big problem except if you need to use them again before they were completely dry. The thought of donning wet gloves, which felt like putting on wet socks, wasn't the least bit appealing.

Then I thought of getting waterproof gloves, but didn't know where to get them. Also, I wasn't willing to spend another thousand bucks or more, on another set of gloves just for the rain. Then, as I went to the mall and looked around at the hardware section, I found a great solution.

For 134.75 pesos, I had waterproof gloves which didn't look like I was dissecting something, or going to wash clothes. They were industrial grade, thicker than the usual rubber gloves and had a grippy texture. They extended far from the wrist so they overlap the rainsuit cuffs well, keeping the rain out. As with the rainsuit, I got several sizes larger so they fit nicely over my regular riding gloves.

UPDATE: (July 18, 2012)

This is how it turned out.

Sweet.

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Rain Gear

Since its been raining on and off since I got the bike, and was determined to ride to and from work, I needed to get some rain gear.

At first, I was hoping to get the 'regular' plastic/tarpaulin raincoat and pants from the hardware store. When I was already there, memories of my childhood raincoat went flashing back. I remember these things were so stiff, and eventually broke at the seams, especially under the arm and at the crotch. The worst part was these now cost nearly 600pesos a set! I wasn't willing to shell out this much for this kind of quality.

Did some research and found a Komine Rain Suit which was great as it had a  reflective colored jacket and black pants. It looked really cool. The downside was it cost around 2,500 bucks! And I wasn't willing to shell out this much, period. Though you may want to check it out as its a great looking product:

(Image from: motoworld.com.ph)

I found a reasonable compromise with a Givi Rainsuit. It came in all black with reflective stripes. It looked nice, fit was great, and allowed full range of motion. It looked like something you can wear outdoors, not just when riding. And it was priced at 1600pesos. Reasonable enough.

The test came the following day as I rode in the rain. The pants were kinda hot to wear as these did not have vents. So I was dry from the rain but a bit sweaty on the legs. 

The jacket was great! It was vented and allowed the wind to keep me cool. I got a size twice larger so my riding jacket fit nicely inside. The cuffs and neck were snug and didn't let rain through. The nice thing was the high neck area which nearly touches the bottom of my helmet. This near overlap prevented rain from trickling from the helmet and entering the jacket. Here's a photo of the Givi Rainsuit:

(Image posted at Motorcycle Philippines Forum)

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My First Practical Ride

It's a Monday, had no night class and as I'd logged about 60 kilometers riding around the neighborhood, I decided to bring the scoot to work. Started early at about 7am to avoid the rush hour traffic. It was a little challenging riding on open roads but you quickly get the hang of it. Even more so as there are few cars on the road and it was a nice, bright day.

I rode as if I was driving a car. Stayed on my lane the entire time while other motorcycles whizzed by along the gutter and sidewalk. I was actually worried that I was pissing off the cars as I may have been a bit slow.

Had a really busy day at work and it was raining the whole afternoon. But I was determined to ride the scoot back home today. This was a practice run of my planned daily commute to night class. At least today I wasn't hurrying to arrive on time.

As it was raining, I thought of getting a raincoat of some sort and scouted around where I could get one today. But that is stuff for another post.

The ride home was bit gruelling, being already tired from a day at the office, with the slippery roads from the rains that day, compounded with the heavy traffic.

Nevertheless, I managed the ride home safely, albeit with some close calls, nearly falling off the bike.

At home, I felt pretty good with today's ride. Had a boost of energy so I started cleaning off the mud on the bike and did eventually wash the entire bike.

Pretty happy on my first day. Cheers!

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Getting the Kymco Super 8 (Part 2: The Caloocan Experience)

(Continued from: Part1: Serious Buyer?)

Over at 10th Ave. Caloocan, it felt like the "Banawe" of motorcycles as the entire street was lined with shops and stalls of all sizes selling bikes, gear and all sorts of accessories (though I doubt if all of them are genuine).


I went to another "prominent" store which distributes Kymco Motorcycles and asked around. What a big difference in service! Well, they don't have A/C, it was dusty, and noisy with all the motos driving by. But the place was great and the nice sales lady was very accomodating asking which model we liked and if we were buying in cash or installment.


Getting via financing was appealing with a low downpayment and even lower monthly amortization. It was like paying for your celphone bill. The catch was they required several documents, you'll undergo a certain C.I., and if approved, then you come back another day to claim the unit. Now, this feels more like buying a car (without the snacks at the lounge).


Then by chance, I asked if they accepted credit cards (which even the other prominent shop did not accept). And they said, YES! And they even have a Promo! The promo goes like this:

• No Documents Required  (Well, they asked if they can photocopy my driver's license)
• No Downpayment
• 0% Interest for 12 Months on the Unit Price (Though I think they give a discount for outright cash sale so the unit price for card sale is a bit higher)

For real? I was skeptical at first and thought it was a scam. Well until I gave my card and they asked us to inspect the unit as they installed the battery and loaded some gas.


That was a great deal. I didn't give pay any cash out whatsoever for that sale. And that really made my day.



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Getting the Kymco Super 8 (Part 1: Serious Buyer?)

As I was decided in which bike to get, I together with couple of guys went around the metro looking for motorbike shops and checking the prices.


I particularly preferred a certain "prominent" shop on EDSA as it was near the office. Although their prices were generally higher by couple of thousand, with the convenience of having the shop nearby (for processing papers, eventual servicing, warranties, etc.) it seemed like a good deal. Well, until I actually went to the shop.


It was a generally nice place, with a large selection of bikes on display with service bays on one side. As we were looking around, I noticed that the sales agents didn't mind us being there, nor did they offer any assistance (at least at first). We didn't mind either.


When we started handling the bikes, on occasion me getting on and off to check if it "felt" right, an agent approached us asking us not to sit on the bikes and stop taking photos of me on them. Well, as I can't see how I looked on the bike, I asked a friend to take photos of me so I can see how my body proportions to the bike's size.


Okay. But how would I see if its a good fit? Not as if they had a large mirror in front of the bike.


Also, when I asked about the bike's specs, handling, features, their suggestions, etc. an agent even said that their opinion doesn't matter as I was the one who will be buying.


Huh? Some customer service you have. Humor the customer at least, ei?
That's that. Off to another shop. I can't help but wonder, maybe they have so many clients already and a few minutes with a newbie is a waste of their time. Didn't I look like a serious buyer?


I remember buying a car, the agents even had snacks prepared in an airconditioned lounge even turning the pages for you as you sign the sales agreement. Not the case here, and I wasn't buying a car.


So I guess I had to follow what everyone was suggesting, go buy in Caloocan. I hestiated at this idea as this was far from, well everywhere I go to and I was worried to ride the new bike home from an unfamiliar place. But when a friend offered to ride to bike to my house, I became eager to go...

(See Part 2: The Caloocan Experience)


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Selecting my first Motorbike

I was decided to get a motorbike. The question now was, which one. As going into motorcycle shops was overwhelming, with a virtual "sea" of motorcycles to choose from. 


My criteria was simple. First, it had to be automatic. I didn't want to fiddle with a clutch and shift gears. I just wanted to "twist and go". Lazy, yes, but that at least ensured that for a newbie, I had to think on one less thing, and focus on not falling off.


Then, I wanted something with a flat floor. I didn't want to be straddling a horse. I actually tried getting on a couple of those (bikes, not horses) and by the third one I tried, my thigh was already cramping.  


At this point, my choice was narrowed down to a scooter. Though the wifey suggested that I get a Honda CB or CBR, as we went to a Honda 'Prestige' Shop to look at their selection.

Comparison Chart from: http://www.motortrade.com.ph/

Third, I wanted something big. Well, at least bigger than the usual fare of scoots plying the streets with bicycle-sized tires and a short wheel base. I actually sat on a Yamaha Mio in one of the shops and I felt like a fat kid on a stroller. But darn, that thing looked nice. But still, it wasn't a good fit.


I then took interest in a Suzuki Skydrive. It had nice angles, was a better fit for my size, and was a lot cheaper than the Mio. But still, the tires looked small.


Then after looking around shops and on the net, I saw something that I truly fancied. A Kymco Super 8. It had all the qualities I was looking for, bigger than all of the scoots I tried in the same price range, wider tires. It had a nice design, sporty look, and a big compartment. And all the online reviews for the Super 8 I've read were positive. And most of them were in the US,  or Europe. My confidence in the KS8 was boosted as this was an internationally-released model.


I asked a friend whom I knew was into motorcycles what he thought of the KS8. It turns out that aside from his other bikes, he had a Super 8 too! And as on the net, he too gave a thumbs up to the KS8, though he was taking a particular interest in the Kymco 'Like' which he suggested that I also look into.

Check out: http://www.kymco.com.ph/html/super8125specs.html


I was sold. I wanted a KS8 and was getting one. Next up would be canvassing for the best price and deciding where to get it... 


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