Driving in Malaysia
Discussion
So, I'm off to Melaca on Wednesday. I distinctly recall crossing from Switzerland to Italy. Orderly precision driving vanished and an extreme moped and car grand prix began in the space of 50 metres. I'm kind of imagining the same for Singapore -> Malaysia.
Crossing : I assume I want the Tuas crossing for ease of getting onto motorway (even though I live on the East Coast.)
Tolls : what do I need for tolls? Are they booths accepting cash? Anything special to bring other than a couple of hundred MYR?
Real Fines : not planning to speed much. I hear there is a revised structure for fines. Any idea what the new limits are? Especially interested in where it goes from a sensible amount to silly money. I understand that the area closest to Singapore is seen regularly targeted for revenue collection.
Alternative Fines @ What's the process for dealing with being stopped to provide the officer with a few bob for his sick goat (when you have done nothing wrong)?
Dangers : Keep doors locked, windows up, don't stop if nudged from behind. Only stop for red and blue lights.
Emergency services : We have AA membership in case of breakdown. Police and Ambulance are 999. Fire is 994. Right?
Anything else I need to know? =)
Crossing : I assume I want the Tuas crossing for ease of getting onto motorway (even though I live on the East Coast.)
Tolls : what do I need for tolls? Are they booths accepting cash? Anything special to bring other than a couple of hundred MYR?
Real Fines : not planning to speed much. I hear there is a revised structure for fines. Any idea what the new limits are? Especially interested in where it goes from a sensible amount to silly money. I understand that the area closest to Singapore is seen regularly targeted for revenue collection.
Alternative Fines @ What's the process for dealing with being stopped to provide the officer with a few bob for his sick goat (when you have done nothing wrong)?
Dangers : Keep doors locked, windows up, don't stop if nudged from behind. Only stop for red and blue lights.
Emergency services : We have AA membership in case of breakdown. Police and Ambulance are 999. Fire is 994. Right?
Anything else I need to know? =)
Wow you have a bad opinion of Malaysia,
Toll allow approx 1 rm for 10 KM, so approx 30 Sing to KL, 20rm to malaca pay cash, just make sure you use the cash lane, not the yellow spanrt tag or the blue touch and go lane.
Fines, I just say where can I pay, can I pay now in cash like i can in France, Rate is Malay 20 Rm Chines 40 Rm White 50 rm double the 50 for a white driven sing reg Porsche.
You will not goet car jacked, if you are hit ina real accident stop if it looks dodge drive away,
Keep spare cash for petrol not all the card machines will work when they have too.
AAM can not attend yu on the highway you have to ring the toll free 1-800 number or 03269200 the number is displayed on the overhead gantries every so often.. and they will tow you free to the exit where you arrange your own tow truck.
Driving in Malaysia is OK
Toll allow approx 1 rm for 10 KM, so approx 30 Sing to KL, 20rm to malaca pay cash, just make sure you use the cash lane, not the yellow spanrt tag or the blue touch and go lane.
Fines, I just say where can I pay, can I pay now in cash like i can in France, Rate is Malay 20 Rm Chines 40 Rm White 50 rm double the 50 for a white driven sing reg Porsche.
You will not goet car jacked, if you are hit ina real accident stop if it looks dodge drive away,
Keep spare cash for petrol not all the card machines will work when they have too.
AAM can not attend yu on the highway you have to ring the toll free 1-800 number or 03269200 the number is displayed on the overhead gantries every so often.. and they will tow you free to the exit where you arrange your own tow truck.
Driving in Malaysia is OK
Berw said:
Fines, I just say where can I pay, can I pay now in cash like i can in France, Rate is Malay 20 Rm Chines 40 Rm White 50 rm double the 50 for a white driven sing reg Porsche.
that's about right!Nome.. You have been talking to too many SIngaporeans, Malaysia is quite a refreshing plLace to drive, the Italian style loons are in Singapore.
Tuas link is defo easier.
Once in Malaysia, there is a toll booth about 100yards after, take the far left lane, and buy. touch and go card, give them rm100, this will be enough for KL and back, after that just use the touch and go lanes.
You can also use the card for the rail in KL.
Most people will be doing 100 -130kph, and plod do t really worry you at that speed, if you are stopped, use your UK license.
Have fun!
Very good point about the loons. I narrowly missed taking out an auxilairy pork van when he cba to look before pulling out at a junction last week. However for people with no aparent fear of crashing, they do seem to slow down for rain (unlike the UK!).
Thanks for the other tips, very handy.
Are tires significantly cheaper in Malaysia? I was looking at the fronts last night and the shoulders are looking decidedly scrubbed with about 2mm across the rest of the tyre. Not great for the torrential downpours here.
Thanks for the other tips, very handy.
Are tires significantly cheaper in Malaysia? I was looking at the fronts last night and the shoulders are looking decidedly scrubbed with about 2mm across the rest of the tyre. Not great for the torrential downpours here.
Like John said, you've been speaking to the Singaporean's too much.
I ride upto Sepang once every 6-8 weeks, not once have I been stopped (maybe going too fast for those Proton's) but I've not experienced any issues yet. The expressways are freedom!
ps. lock your doors as you might get hi-jacked by a sword wielding Malay soon as you leave Tuas immigration
I ride upto Sepang once every 6-8 weeks, not once have I been stopped (maybe going too fast for those Proton's) but I've not experienced any issues yet. The expressways are freedom!
ps. lock your doors as you might get hi-jacked by a sword wielding Malay soon as you leave Tuas immigration
Bike never get stopped for speeding, I've seen 170 mph on the ZXR, (M5 on the rev limit going backward in the mirror) and the police don't stop you. I've been throught loads of speed traps a over 120 mph no problem, cars are diffrent they will get stopped.
Tyres are cheaper if you buy a local made one, my experience I would not buy a local made good ear, I find the compound to hard for wet grip.
Driving and ridding in Malaysia is OK, watch out for being tailgated in the wet and having your braking gap filled up by people pulling in to it, they have no idea of wet stopping distence
Tyres are cheaper if you buy a local made one, my experience I would not buy a local made good ear, I find the compound to hard for wet grip.
Driving and ridding in Malaysia is OK, watch out for being tailgated in the wet and having your braking gap filled up by people pulling in to it, they have no idea of wet stopping distence
Berw said:
Bike never get stopped for speeding, I've seen 170 mph on the ZXR, (M5 on the rev limit going backward in the mirror) and the police don't stop you. I've been throught loads of speed traps a over 120 mph no problem, cars are diffrent they will get stopped.
Tyres are cheaper if you buy a local made one, my experience I would not buy a local made good ear, I find the compound to hard for wet grip.
Driving and ridding in Malaysia is OK, watch out for being tailgated in the wet and having your braking gap filled up by people pulling in to it, they have no idea of wet stopping distence
Lucky for you as well. Quite a few of my local buddies have been stopped many a time, but no doubt for Mr Policeman to collect his morning kopi money.Tyres are cheaper if you buy a local made one, my experience I would not buy a local made good ear, I find the compound to hard for wet grip.
Driving and ridding in Malaysia is OK, watch out for being tailgated in the wet and having your braking gap filled up by people pulling in to it, they have no idea of wet stopping distence
Which ZXR have you got? I clocked 299kph on the 'blade and she wouldn't go anymore.
Berw said:
Never seen a bike stopped for speeding in 15 years, must be sing plated ones who get stopped.
I've got a F2 ZXR 900 with a few mods to the brakes and exhaust, its up for sale if you know any one wants a well maintained Malaysin bike, as I've bought a cruisetr
Suspect rich is talking about the Saturday morning sepang crowd, a great fund raiser for the local JB plod, once you get north of Senai then things become a bit more normal, even for an s plate!I've got a F2 ZXR 900 with a few mods to the brakes and exhaust, its up for sale if you know any one wants a well maintained Malaysin bike, as I've bought a cruisetr
XJSJohn said:
Suspect rich is talking about the Saturday morning sepang crowd, a great fund raiser for the local JB plod, once you get north of Senai then things become a bit more normal, even for an s plate!
Yup, Sing plated machines. 
I leave Sing at 4.30am when riding up to Sepang (on Friday's), just covers to police shift change so all is quiet normally.
Seeing the sun rise and the mist over the Malaysian hills on the ride up makes me appreciate why I live in Asia.
4.30! I never do that have you seen the accident statistics for the highway, they go up somthing like 12 times in the night, mainly people hitting slow vehicles without lights,
I assume you come up for track days, who does them on a friday? I've dome a few days on my old 750 ZXR but find the 900 a bit frightning, but I do a lot in the cars.
I assume you come up for track days, who does them on a friday? I've dome a few days on my old 750 ZXR but find the 900 a bit frightning, but I do a lot in the cars.
Berw said:
4.30! I never do that have you seen the accident statistics for the highway, they go up somthing like 12 times in the night, mainly people hitting slow vehicles without lights,
I assume you come up for track days, who does them on a friday? I've dome a few days on my old 750 ZXR but find the 900 a bit frightning, but I do a lot in the cars.
Yes, often seen cars/trucks parked in the ditch on the way up. The road is generally very 'dead' at that time, so can easily motor up so Sepang in a few hours. Average speed is circa 190-200 however in the group I ride with. I never used to filter traffic above 30mph back in the UK. Filtering at 240kph because I'd left my bag at Machap services was ermm interesting! Silly I know.... however I got my bag back (and the $400 Brembo pads I'd left in it!)I assume you come up for track days, who does them on a friday? I've dome a few days on my old 750 ZXR but find the 900 a bit frightning, but I do a lot in the cars.
I do trackdays with SBR (run by a guy from Ducati Sg) - http://www.sbrtrackdays.com/index.htm
Sepang is ace for the bike, fast, technical in places and mass run off. 900 isn't out of place, just try it! I only tracked with a 600 before I moved to Sing. 1000cc is ideal for Sepang, especially the main straight, turns 3 and 5. Assume you've been on Sepang with the 750?
(Sorry OP, bit of hi-jacking here....)
Edited by Rich_AR on Wednesday 1st February 02:23
Rich_AR said:
ps. lock your doors as you might get hi-jacked by a sword wielding Malay soon as you leave Tuas immigration
It wasn't him I was worried about. What about the guy with the hunting rifle and necklace of expat ears?Rich_AR said:
Which ZXR have you got? I clocked 299kph on the 'blade and she wouldn't go anymore.
299 GLOL. That last kph would drive me nuts!Survived it. Once you get used to the lane etiquette including swerving around potholes, it's a nice place to drive. So much more courteous than the kaisu drivers this side of the border. =)
We thought our luck was in with the bumper pack of juicyfruit "accidentally" imported. Until we discovered it was GREEN TEA FLAVOUR! Nooooo!
If anyone is thinking of Malacca, I'd recommend it. The Holiday Bin is surprisingly nice (infinity pool etc.), inexpensive and closeish to the town centre. Both it and Malacca exceeded our expectations.
See we told you it wasn't that bad.
To answer Ar, done loads of track days on the 750, and afew on the 900, I just prefer the 750, I agree Sepang is agreat place, I have acouple of pure tracl race cars, which I run at the Malaysian Super Series Weekend,so got loads of laps in at Sepang, I just find the 900 a bit to much for my yellow streak.
To answer Ar, done loads of track days on the 750, and afew on the 900, I just prefer the 750, I agree Sepang is agreat place, I have acouple of pure tracl race cars, which I run at the Malaysian Super Series Weekend,so got loads of laps in at Sepang, I just find the 900 a bit to much for my yellow streak.
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