Longer Cross Country

My current bike is KHS XC904R Team, which has 3.5 inches of rear travel and 4" of front travel. With not-so-light component, the bike weight is about 25.6 pounds. See my first blog in November 2006. I love it because of the horst-link suspension setup and slightly relax headtube angle (70 degrees).

Call me selfish.. but I always wanted to have 2 bikes. If possible, a similar setup, for the "just in case situation"

I was saving my money for Titus Motolite. The reviews on Motolite were all excellent. I also tried a few Motolite from various riders at Bukit Kiara, Kemensah and Thailand. Every time I went to the LBS at Taman Tun Dr. Ismail, I will admire at the Motolite frame.

On 2 January 2007, I was surfing the KHS website to look for the part number for my XC904R. Suddenly, I found out all the 2007 KHS full suspension bike are now featuring horst-link suspension setup. Wow...!!! This is an option. Open your mind.

So, I started to look around at LBS in Malaysia. No LBS carried them except one simple bike shop at Sri Damansara. I asked for the XC904R Team frame, but unfortunately the local importer for KHS bicycles does not import it into Malaysia. What a shame?

But, I know the XC604 bike offer horst-link and 4.2 inches or travel, with only 1/4 pound of extra weight. I immediately put my deposit to order the frame. Five days later the frame arrive. With help from my friend, Asri, we started to assemble it.

[Complete bike - New KHS XC604: Just before the first Bukit Kiara ride]

[Horst-link setup]

[4.2 inches of travel Manitou Radium with Platform Plus pedalling platform]

After about 75km of riding, I'm impressed with the peformance of the Manitou Radium with Platform Plus pedalling platfrom. It firm when I'm pedalling, but once it hit the bum it started to react. I would say it perform as good as the Fox Float RP3 on my XC904R Team bike.

[Control center - Equipped with Ritchey WCS 90mm stem, Syntace low riser carbon handlebar, SRAM trigger shifter, foam grip and VDO wireless computer]

[Hayes 9 brake - similar setup to my XC904R Team bike]

[Fork - Rockshox Reba 100mm]

[Crankset - Truvativ Stylo, Pedal - Crank Brothers Candy SL. Notice the downtube is made from double-butted 6061 aluminium]

[Rear shock - Manitou Radium with Platform Plus in close up]

[Cassette - 2006 XTR 12-34T, Rear derailleur - SRAM 2007 X9, looks like 2006 XO and perform like 2006 XO.]

Kiara Underseige

Since the installment of the new Agung (The King of Malaysia - the honourable Sultan Mizan), in late 2006, the majestic Bukit Kiara trails are underseige.

Why...??
1. He is an avid horse rider and wants to ride at Bukit Kiara Equestrian Club and its surrounding.
2. The Kuala Lumpur City Council (DBKL) is widening the mountain biking trails for horse riding.

I fully respect the honourable Sultan Mizan's passion for horse riding, but I'm against the DBKL action of widening the EXISTING mountain bike trails for equestrian.

The possible consequences:
1. The horses will consistently damage the existing mountain biking trails on each step they take.
2. A lot less singletrack, a lot more doubletracks. This means less technical, hence less fun.
3. Most of the trails were built by the rubber tappers and mountain bikers for hiking (rubber tapping) and biking respectively. They understand the concept of trail building.
4. I wasn't amazed to witness DBKL cut down several trees that were at least 15 years old to widen the trails.

Bukit Kiara is recognized by several magazines and avid mountain bikers as one of the best trails, perhaps the best, within a large metropolitan. What can we do to preserve that?

Building trails are relatively easy. To maintain them is another challenge.

Please visit Fakawi Tribe or KLMBH website for more information.

I'M ON THE NET AGAIN

After some hickups on my laptop, I managed to blog again.

Yeahhh.....