Technician Embarks On Solo Thai Adventure With Classic 80s Motorcycle

By Mohd Afiq Zulkifli

KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 28 (Bernama) --Riding a vintage Honda from the 1980s, an IT technician recently set off on a solo journey to northern Thailand, covering over 5,500 kilometres.

Muhammad Nazarudin Radzi, 35, began his journey in mid-September from Kajang, Selangor, on a Honda C86, known as the Honda Round Headlight or Honda Cub. Over 14 days, this 45-year-old motorcycle took him across the Bukit Kayu Hitam border in Kedah and through various parts of Thailand.

His route in the Land of the White Elephant included stops in Hat Yai, Chumphon, Kanchanaburi, Mea Sariang, Bangkok, Uttaradit, Prachuap Khiri Khan, Mae Sai, and the Golden Triangle, a region connecting Thailand, Myanmar, and Laos.

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Reflecting on the journey, Nazarudin shared that riding to Thailand had been a longtime goal, fuelled by past motorcycle convoy experiences across Malaysia, including a tour of Peninsular Malaysia.

"I enjoy riding and joining convoys with friends. After touring the Peninsular, I wanted to venture across borders. Hearing and reading about other Malaysian riders’ journeys only intensified that desire," he said.

"The more I read, the more excited I was to experience their journeys firsthand. When I finally arrived at places that were once just a dream, I felt proud because I finally achieved it, even though I was only riding a low-powered motorcycle," he told Bernama recently.

Muhammad Nazarudin shared that he averaged 400 km a day, maintaining speeds between 70 and 80 km/h, and only stopped to rest as needed before reaching his hotel for the night.

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"Throughout the journey, I was grateful not to encounter any issues, and the motorcycle held up without any mechanical problems or flat tyres. Maybe it was because of the thorough preparation, including a complete overhaul before starting the trip," he said.  

The father of four recalled that he bought the motorcycle eight years ago (in 2016) from his friend’s father, who also lived in Kajang, for RM600. He then repaired it himself until he felt it was safe for long-distance travel.

"At that time, the motorcycle was in pretty bad shape, and it wouldn’t be wrong to call it a ‘junk bike’ because of its rusty appearance from years of neglect. The engine wouldn’t start, as it hadn’t been used in over three years.

"I started (repairing it) by replacing several parts, including the engine and tyre rims, to get it running again. Once it was functional, I made further modifications to prepare it for long-distance journeys," he said.

--BERNAMA