Motorcycles can now use Expressways

Before we start dancing on the streets, this is still limited to bikes 400cc and up, which still basically excludes the majority of the riding population. From GMA News TV Motorcycles with engine displacement of at least 400 cubic centimeters (CC) can now use expressways but owners must strictly comply with toll way rules and regulation, the Department of Transportation and Communications (DOTC) said Friday. In the latest department order signed by DOTC Secretary Leandro Mendoza, dated October 4, 2007, 400 cc motorcycles will be allowed access in all expressways but they must comply with all the provision stated in Republic Act 4136 known as the Land Transportation and Traffic Code of the Philippines. The order will replace the March 23, 2007 order of the DOTC No 2007-15 that declared all expressways as Limited Access Facilities and restricts all types of motorcycle from entering toll ways. Based on the new order, motorcycles drivers should religiously observe roadworthiness, safety standards issued by competent authorities and licensing requirements. Motorcycles must follow speed limits prescribed by law and toll way operators, must not lane-split and overtake in between lanes and must not use lanes normally used by other vehicles in accordance with safe motoring and practice. The department order added that motorcycles must also travel with their headlights on at all times to improve and enhance their visibility to other toll way users and must ensure that their tail lights and turn-signal lights are working at all times. Motorcycle owners, at the same time, will be allowed only one back rider and must each use protective gears particularly helmets. They will also not be allowed to load extra cargo except for normally accepted saddlebags and for luggage carriers specifically designed for motorcycles. Motorcycle users shall also pay a toll rate prescribed by a current class I vehicles and encouraged to use electronic toll collection equipment (E-pass or...

On Vacation

I will be on vacation until Easter Sunday. Regular blogging will resume Monday after Easter or Tuesday…or….a basta. Bon Voyage!!

Vespinoy is PBA ’07 Finalist

This got me tickled pink! Vespinoy has made it to the short list of finalists in the Philippine Blog Awards 2007. We fall under the Sports and Recreation category, they probably got it right since I wouldn’t know where to place my own blog. We are joined by the following blogs. Sports & Recreation: Be@rbrick Love ChiyoDad Learns Go Sporting Break Who rides a Vespa? Hey John, andito ka din! W00t! Awarding will be on March 31, unfortunately my family and I will be out of town then so I won’t be able to attend this. So John, you can accept the award for me ahihihihi. Seriously though, I never imagined that Vespinoy would be good enough for nomination, and here we are vying for the top prize in our category. An interesting sidenote to this is among the finalists for the category are 2 Vespa related blogs..interesting. Could it mean a renaissance of the scooter scene, now that’s got me excited! The other finalists are: Personal: Bikoy.net Fight Pompe Jessica Rules The Universe Last Leaf Designs and Chronicles Misteryosa Technology: Digital Life by Chin Wong PinoyMacLovers JaypeeOnline Stellify Leon Kilat: The Cybercafe Experiments Travel: Byahilo: Your Journey Begins Here Coconuter Ironwulf.net: En Route Ivan About Town Walk This Way Entertainment: Kiven The Man Blog Pinoy Rickey Retzwerx The Rocketboy Chronicles Home & Living: dessert comes first Finestkind Clinic and fish market MarketManila.com Our Awesome Planet Wifely Steps Socio-Political: Far From Neutral Notions Philippine Commentary Philippines Without Borders Salita Blog Tingog.com – Voice of The Filipino News & Media: blog @ AWBHoldings By Jove! Cyberbaguioboy Inside PCIJ RG CRUZ, Observer Business & Entrepreneur: Jozzua ManuelViloria.com Reflections of a BizDrivenLife Sonnie’s Porch The Unlawyer Fashion & Lifestyle: Beautynomics.Com Bryanboy: Le Superstar Fabuleux GIBBS CADIZ Manila Fashion Observer Nostalgia Manila Photo Blog: The Dubai Chronicles Glance Over Project Manila Senor Enrique The Sleepy Traveler Podcast: Cuying Podcast Happy Slip The Liberal Times Manila Podcast Noypi.com...

MBI 2007 Awards For The Motorcycle Industry

Nominated by the public, voted upon by the public, moderated and organized by MBI! Motorcycle Bloggers International (MBI), announced the winners of the 2007 Riders Choice Awards. The awards, voted by thousands of riders in 88 countries, recognize significant achievements and serious lapses in judgment during 2006 by motorcycle and related product manufacturers, persons and organizations. This years winners are: MBI Riders Choice – Star Awards A rider’s dream — To ride the Silk Route, from Istanbul Turkey to Xian, China Best concept motorcycle or scooter — Ducati Desmosidici RR Best exhibition of 2006 — Intermot Best looking new in 2006 motorcycle — Triumph Daytona 675 Best manufacturer’s website — BMW Motorrad Best motorcycle or scooter blog — Scooter in the Sticks Best new in 2006 every day motorcycle — BMW F800S Best new in 2006 motor scooter — Piaggio MP3 Best new in 2006 motorcycle — BMW F800ST Object of lust — Ducati Desmosedici RR Wish we’d thought of that — Piaggio MP3 Women riders booster of the year — Ardys Kellerman Standing ovation — Ardys Kellerman MBI Riders Choice – Fallen Star Awards Thumbs down — Billy Lane What were they thinking — Speed TV Superbikes Worst manufacturer’s website — Icon Motorcycle Gear The Riders Choice Awards are unique in that the nominees and winners are chosen by every day riders around the world. The awards reflect the judgment of the motorcycle buying public, not motorcycle industry insiders. Anyone could vote, there was no restriction on age, gender or country. Even non-riders could vote. No registration, nor email addresses were required. However, a system of storing and analyzing IP addresses was put in place to minimize duplicate voting. After the success the first Awards had last year, membership in MBI skyrocketed from 12 to 96. Millions of readers worldwide read about the 2006 Awards. About MBI MBI (whose motto is “Riding and writing is what we do”) is a group of 96 international motorcycle weblog authors from China to Chile. Membership is open to any motorcycle rider who maintains an active motorcycle-related Internet weblog or news web site with original commentary. With a combined readership over 2 million readers per month, the awards represent a true feeling what lives amongst the biker communities. The awards are not given by professional journalists, commercial publications or companies, but by the public. More information about MBI, its members and the complete list of nominees will be found at the MBI web site http://www.mbiweb.org/ . MBI Website: Http://www.mbiweb.org/ MBI Awards 2007:...

Piaggio Fly: A Comprehensive Review

A comprehensive review of Piaggio’s newest addition to it’s lineup, the Piaggio Fly. Review and photos by Gerdie Francisco. Three weeks after I looked at the Piaggio Fly 125 at 2211 Works, I was ready to take it home. I felt like bringing a new born baby to its new home. Well of course, I don’t know what that feels like but taking home “Firebird” seemed to feel that way. Oh yes, my new red scooter’s name is Firebird. I named it after Igor Stravinsky’s opera. Before taking it home, I had a taste of test-driving the unit just so I’d be familiar with the controls. It has been seven months since I’ve driven a scooter and so I wanted to make sure that I could still ride and control one. 🙂 Robby, from 2211 Works explained the basics which I needed to know in driving Firebird. The throttle, the breaks, the switches, what to expect, etc. The Fly is automatic. Having gotten used to riding a geared scooter, I had to slowly learn to drive an automatic. Of course it was much simpler but it takes time to unlearn the old and adapt to the new. It’s got an electric start and a kick start. Of course, the electric start is easier to use. Squeeze the left or right break controls, squeeze the throttle and press the start button. Sounds simple but believe me, it takes some kinda ’style’ to do all these. 🙂 The throttle. Don’t squeeze it too hard. Just a little bit and let the scooter work up speed on its own. Gently squeeze to your desired speed. The rear break is on your left and the front break is on the right. Robby said not to squeeze the front break too tight as it really stops immediately. Actually, it was a bit confusing for me as I am used to the bicycle break controls positioned vice-versa. Left and Right Signal light switch on the left side of the handle bar. Push to return to neutral position. This control is neat. 🙂 Ok! I’m ready to go. Oh, don’t go beyond 60kph till you reach 1000km. That’s called break-in period. Wow, I thought that was slow. 60kph. Anyway, follow the gurus and it will result to a better running scooter. From Manila to Quezon City. That’s the trip for the night. So, I started the engine and off I went. I gently squeezed the throttle and was very cautious about it. The Fly just glided...