Knucklehead Design

Last weekend HOG Dubai organised 4 days Hajjar Rally where riders rallied and stayed 2 nights near Hajjar Mountain in Ras AlKhaimah.

I didnt join because I dont have a bike and even if I got a rental one, I could not take anymore leave. But I was at Festival City to greet their return from the rally. Sharp at 4pm on Saturday 21/11/2009 almost 50 thunderous pipes literally shaken Dubai Festival City foyer. It was a sight I will never forget.

I was there purposely to take pictures and videos of Harley bikes. There were a lot of cool and beautifully designed Harleys, from baggers, bobbers, choppers and stock. The bikers were really a creative lots.

Among my favorites design were a copper coloured Crossbones and white old school design. Both have spring front fork and sprung solo seat. I am thinking very seriously now to buy Crossbones instead of Street Bob.

I also managed to talk to the owner of the old school bike and got his handphone numbers. I told him that once I got my Crossbones I will call him to get some advice and contacts for good workshops in Dubai. He was an Emirati and a very friendly and cool dude.

I have a vision now of my knucklehead bobber.

Until then the dream continues....

Street Bob v Crossbones

I don't know what got into me lately. Since my first demo ride of Street Bob the other day, suddenly I have this thought about softail Crossbones. My vision of a Street Bob is that I will customise it to look like a retro bobber with sprung solo seat, ape hanger, chunky front tire, springer front fork and bobbed rear fender. I realised now that half of the things that I want for a bobber look is already come in stock for the Crossbones model.

So I figured instead of paying more to customise the Street Bob to look like an Old Skool bobber, why dont I just buy a Crossbones where the most I need to modify is the rear fender.

But I am not comfortable in changing decision just like this. I need to think the pro and cons between these two great models. I have been dreaming about Street Bob for queit some times now and changing that dream should take a slighly more time to justify it.

So I probably may not buy Street Bob now. Well, we will see.






Pictures scooped from the WWW.

Street Bob Demo Ride

Yesterday marked my first ride of FXDB Street Bob. I got the idea while browsing HD-UAE website and since I got a motorcycle licence already, why not.

I arrived at the dealership around 11.00 am. I met with the Sale Representative Mohammed Rizal Rahmat who is a Malay from Singapore. It was nice talking about bikes in 'rojak' English-Malay language. It felt like a morning chat with a new friend in downtown KL. He he

Rizal helped me with the booking a week earlier. However the renter of the Street Bob was late in returning the bike and I waited for about 35 minutes in the showroom. But it was fine as I was not rushing to go to anywhere. In fact the waiting cost me AED285 when I made a snap purchase of a tri-fold HD biker's wallet with chain. I couldn't resist the smell of a genuine leather.

I just cannot describe the feeling of my brief ride with a Street Bob. It was like going out with a date for the first time. I became speechless. I brought a camera to shoot some pics and video of my first ride but I didnt do anything except riding. I couldnt let go of her for a second. The sound, vibration, torque and build of the bike make all my thoughts and passions about her to be clearer and more sensible now.

I've got to own this bike !!

Classic Bobber

Ever since I planned to buy Street Bob, I just can't get my mind off from any picture of cool bobber available in the internet. A Classic Bobber style is a tribute to the WWII veterans who removed all frills and left the Harley on its bare essentials. To my eyes, the main features are the use of spring seat and absence of front fender.

Check out pictures of the bobber below with a wide beach bar instead of ape hanger. Very cool ehh !

Classic desert military style !!

Images courtesy of http://brassballsbobbers.com/

I found a Sample !

When I wrote my last post about the new name for my bike "Desert Bobber" I actually had thought someone somewhere out there must have had a similar idea and done it already. In fact I did google for any picture of it if it made it through the world wide web, especially the Youtube.

Today, I found it ! I was "youtubing" for a sound of street bob with big shot and I found this video. Marvellous !





Enjoy..

The Rise of Desert Bobber !

At the time of writing this post I really wanted to jump and scream yahoooo !! Yes, because I passed my riding test today !!

It was not easy at all. After a break of about 3 weeks I found it hard to balance my body on the bike to do the number 8 figure and to memorise all the riding tips on the road. But I gave my best shot and I made it.

At first I thought I was going to fail. The test was conducted on a group of 3 riders. I was the last rider and right behind me was the examiner's car. When my group went off from the centre, the first rider rode so fast and made me looked really riding very slow. I could ride faster and catch up with him but such move would make me clumsy and forget all the signalling details. So I decided to maintain regular speed at 60 - 65 km/h. However after a turning to a straight road back to the centre the examiner's car overtook my bike. I was worried that was a sign that he didn't care about my riding anymore because I have failed.

When I got back in the centre my instructor remarked that I rode very slow. My fellow rider in the group also commented the same. I almost believed that I was going to fail.

Tonight I am going to celebrate with my wife. Now it is a matter of money to acquire my first Harley bike. But already I had a name for the bike.

It will be named a Desert Bobber !! Hot...hot ..

Waiting

Despite my advance call on EDI not to fix any test during my vacation, I received sms text on Thursday 17 September 2009 informing about my test date on 24 September 2009. I just didn't know how to say to these peoples. They never listen or use their heads. I called up EDI to complain about the test date and they replied that my call was too late since RTA office worked half day that day. So they could only relay my complaint to RTA on the next business day which was the test date itself. According to the RTA policy any postponement must be informed to them at least 3 days in advance. I was furious to think that RTA may fail me just because I will not turn up on the test date. It was ridiculous ! However I tried to calm down and not to let thing bother me so much during my vacation. As a matter of fact I managed to do so. Completely forgot about the test date when I was travelling in Edinburgh, London and Paris.

Today I called up EDI to follow up on this matter. Thank god, they told me RTA didn't fail me for failure to turn up but is processing my request for a new test date. Just now I received a call from EDI to confirm my new test date will be on the upcoming Thursday 1 October 2009.

So this is it. Hope this one will go through smoothly like lubricant on a piston.

Until then I imagined this:

Note: the above is somebody's street bob I copied from somewhere in world wide web. Any credit goes to the owner, of course.

Test of Perfection

Now I have finished 4 Friday classes. I feel more confident with my riding skills and traffic handling. I can do the figure 8 smoothly. I have memorised the test routes. I don't feel hesitate anymore whilst riding on the road. So my instructor told me that I am now ready and all set for the final test.

Last Friday I attended an assessment test conducted by my instructor. He passed me through with a few remarks on my mistake and things which I need to be careful. I looked at his comments and told him that I thought I have done exactly what he taught me.

He replied, "yes you have done everything correct. But my dear, you need to be perfect !".

I am waiting for a call from the driving centre on my date for the final test. It will be a big day for me. I have to perform. I will be tested on my skills and judgment.

It will be the test of perfection.

Cool Rap Song about Harley riders

Hi, I stumble onto this video in Youtube. It is a rap song by rappers Prime Time Players titles It's My Harley.

Very cool beat...

Not that Easy

I went to my second class last Friday. The instructor taught me on how to do the number 8. I thought it should be easy. I couldn't recall how I did it 15 years ago but I thought it was not the hardest part of the test.

I was wrong. The number 8 exercise is annoyingly challenging. My first 3 attempts were a complete failure. I couldn't do it at all. Until my instructor told me that the keys of doing it is to let go the clutch, the throttle and the brake. So minus all other controls I just concentrate on balancing the machine and making sure my front wheel is on the white line. It wasn't easy at all. By the end of my class I still was not satisfied with my skill.

I need to train harder next week.

Who can give me AED60,000?

I checked one of the motoring magazines in Dubai recently and it advertises the current market price for FXDB Street Bob is AED53,900. I figured if I were to purchase a new one I will need around AED60,000 with a few must have accessories like helmet, jacket, boot and maybe some parts.

I plan to check out the Dubai HD dealership this weekend and find out what will be the cost if I buy with auto loan. The disturbing thing is, if I take auto loan, banks here will ask security cheque from the borrower which covers the whole loan repayment amount. Sometime when the borrower defaulted a few payments, these blood sucker banks will not hesitate to cash the security cheque without considering the borrower's outstanding amount. The scary part is, in UAE, bounced cheque is a criminal offence rather than civil and the poor borrower can straight away go to jail without trial if his security cheque bounced.

So I can't imagine spending my time in jail just because of my auto loan. However that is how peoples have to face here in Dubai if they want to buy vehicles with auto loan.

The best option is to buy cash. However trying to save up AED60,000 is easy said than done. Will I have the discipline, the will and the patience to save this amount of money?

I think I just sign that security cheque, ride my harley and keep my job. If worst thing happened, I'll go to prison, serve my time, get a tattoo and by the time I can ride free again, I will have one hell of a character as a harley biker...woohoooo

FXDB Dyna Street Bob

I am focusing all my resources to acquire this motorbike. Focus....focus...focus..

The stock version

And the mod version...hell yeahh !!!

First Day Lessons

Last Friday I went to EDI for my first three classes. I thought it is going to be boring theory classes on traffic signs and rules. I was hoping they will just let me ride a motorcycle as I was really anxious to find out whether I still can ride or not. I last rode a motorcycle about 10 years ago. I gave my bike away to my younger brother after I graduated from university.

I was proven wrong on my skepticism. There was no theory class ! After I have been introduced to my instructors Mr Ikmal Khan and Mr Aijad Khan they asked me to choose my helmet and jacket. After a brief introduction on the switches and levers on a bike, the remaining 1 hour was spent on my bike making circles, stop and riding in real traffic together with my instructors and other students.

I was very satisfied to find out that I can still ride and have not forgotten all the skills. In fact my instructor commented that he was impressed to see my performance in my first day.

Last night I downloaded and watched Peter Fonda's Easy Rider (1969) movie. The film was really about riding and the scenes in Midwest US. I didnt really enjoy the story (as there was no story to watch except two cool dudes go out riding) but the Captain America and Billy Bike harley bikes were really revolutionary in its design.

But riding one will sure can tear both arms apart from the shoulders.

Emirates Driving Institute

I went to Emirates Driving Institute (EDI) headquarter office in Al Qusais yesterday for registration of my motorcycle classes. Last Thursday nobody from EDI turn up to call or collect document from me as the guy told me in the phone. What a liar ! But anyway if they did turn up, I forgot to bring my original passport and didn't manage to get my eye test result for that day. So no complaint.

So I found EDI to be much.. much better than Dubai Driving Centre (DDC) in term of counter courtesy and facilities. Like for example, they have token system to queue for the counters instead of standing and crowding the counter to be picked up first by the counter staff like in DDC. Totally uncivilised ! Also in EDI the waiting area is spacious and quiet and everybody proceed silently smoothly. In conclusion it was a stark contrast than facilities and services in DDC. I wish I went to EDI for my car driving licence. WHat a waste of my time and money to be treated so unprofessionally in DDC last time !

After I paid AED2100 for 16 classes (4 Fridays) I saw a framed notice over my head which boast that EDI is the first driving intitute in the world to be certified as ISO 9001 compliant. No wonder. But AED2100 for motorcycle licence !?? WTF ! These guys really squeze the money out of my pocket in consideration of the comfort and smiles I got whilst in their office.

I will see if this fees is worth it for my next 16 classes.

Good luck to me.

How To Apply Motorcycle Licence in UAE

Today I received the No Objection Letter from my boss. Canteekkk...

Then I called up Emirates Driving Institute (EDI) to check on the documents required and procedures. I had not so impressive experience dealing with Dubai Driving Centre last time when I was obtaining my car driving licence. So this time I want to try with EDI. Why them? because their institute is near my house, behind Al Bustan Shopping Centre. From their website, they also have facilities like children play area, eye test centre, photocopy centre, cafe and spacious waiting area. These features seem way better than Dubai Driving Centre. So it should be a good start.

I have to call EDI twice. In the first call, I asked the staff what type of motorcycle licence is required if I want to ride a big bike like harley? He replied one moment sir...and then made me waited for almost 15 minutes. I soon realised he had no clue for the answer but so ashamed to say I dont know sir. Hmm cilaka punya budak!!

But nevermind lets try another guy, and I said that first guy better pray he will not be the one who pick up my second call. The second guy gave me a conclusive and firm answer. That there is only one category of motocycle licence in UAE for all types of motorcycle. That's good ! The guy even told me that to save me a lot of hassle, he can arrange to send a staff to collect my documents and they will do all the registration. I just need to get ready my eye test result, original passport, other copies of documents and of course money AED600 first. The total charge for Friday classes only is AED2865. There will be 16 classes altogether divided to 3 Fridays of 4 classes each. That means I'll be commuting to the institute during Ramadhan. Thirsty weii...!

Here is the list of documents required:

1) Letter of No Objection - checked
2) Original passport - will bring tomorrow
3) 2 passport copies - will bring tomorrow
4) 7 photos - checked
5) Eye test result - will get one today

Alright..smooth.

First Entry

Today I registered this blog. I think it may be too early but who cares. I am going to embark on a new chapter of my life. This should be very exciting. I should record it somewhere and hence - this blog !

At the moment, I restrict this blog only to myself. This will be my diary, a log book on my journey towards acquiring and embracing the lifestyle of this two-wheeled machine called Harley Davidson.

So what do I want to report here?

Day 1

I have decided to apply for UAE motorcycle licence. So I have emailed my boss's secretary asking her to get a Letter of No Objection from my boss. This is one peculiar requirement for expatriate in this country. I must get my boss "OK" first before I can get a motorcycle licence. It feels like asking a permission from my dad to ride BMX bicycle last time.

So this is it, first step for a very long exciting journey to be a Harley biker !!

Until the next report..