currently plotting a few route options as suggested by apisfires.
will post them later for comments. using maps.me. platform.
200, thks for invite n may say hello.
fastreader, interested to know more about your moto shop n bikes available either new or pre owned. pls pm me.
tq all.

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This post has been edited by myred: Dec 12 2018, 03:36 PM

I would like to recommend a few suggestions / detours.

1. KK to Ranau, to change it to KK to Kota Belud, then either go back to KK or from Kota Belud to Ranau. both roads have great views.
2. Kunak to Semporna, then to Tawau.


From Sarawak side:
Lawas to sindumin via the Lawas-Merapok ferry route, and not through the not-so-newly-minted Lawas-Sindumin trunk road. Its one of the rare moments to ride a ferry across the river (its a short river, but still).


As for roads, its not like what you're used to be in Peninsular.

I speak from experience since I attempted a "ride" from Semporna to Kota Kinabalu on a MZ Moskito (yes, that scooter) and burned out my piston rings (the good old folks in TBBOC can verify that I did it), and I have numerous experiences on ER6N (also again, Semporna-KK-Sindumin then back again)

The most notorious patch of road will be Tamparuli-Kundasang-Ranau route. If you don't ride it properly your brakes will warp, your engine can get busted. Make sure its sufficiently cooled, or you'll end up with a busted piston ring like mine (and I had to overbore the block later, much to my chagrin) and the bike's as good as gone because it'll never feel the same way anymore.

I would suggest staying in Kundasang, someplace like B-Inspired Abode where you can get a GREAT view of Mt. Kinabalu. You can also visit some tourist hotspots, you may end up having a 1-2 days there. Beluran is an empty town, but there are forumers there and i'm sure they'll be very happy to meet you (as you've seen in the replies).

Sandakan has some great spots to visit, so take your time.

Kunak's good for their Kunak Payau (venison, Kunak style cooked). Semporna has great islands, lots of homestays and hotels. Good cheap ikan bakar (may not be as flavourful as the ones in Peninsular). Tawau's great as an end stop, but you may want to to try going to places like Hoko muzeum, Bukit Gemok, Felda Kalabakan (just because) and have a maggi there (because me and my friends once did that on our scooters from Tawau, just for giggles and because we can).

Always have hotline numbers to call to in your next / previous destination. You never know when you'll need it.

Don't travel at night, watch out for the bulls on the road if you do, and the goats in the wee hours.

I'll think up of others when I can remember.

TQ hfirepower for additional info, paricularly on Sabah.
the Sabah portion of the ride needs tweeking.
plan to ride in daylight hours only n cover average 200 km per day with frequent overnight stops.
noted the difficult sections n maybe see if can route around them.

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hello boyz,
now that both New Years are over, time to firm up on my Kuching - Tawau kapcai ride.
have planned the route with inputs from apisfires n firepower. tq.
planned 15 overnight stops including Bdr. Seri Begawan n Labuan with a total of 33 trip days. mid March to mid April.
first night out of Kuching will be Maludam, n following the coastal road to Bintulu.
will ride up north to Kudat n then cut back to Kinabalu Park / Kundasang.

Preferred bike is the Honda Wave 110 (non fuel injected).
hve contacted several bike dealers in Kuching for a used model.
Tropicana Motor World, HBM, GHC Bikes, Tay Motors n Stephen Goh.
no response from fastreader on his bike offer.

Stephen Goh seems to hve fairly new bikes which interest me at reasonable prices.
he advertises in mudah.my but i do not know if he operates a physical bike shop or not (no address).
any Kuching bikers know him or hve done business with him?. pls adv.

my planned route is as below :

i have contact with Tay Motor directly if you want
i pm you
your planned road is nice
better you change Sibu Selangau Balinggian Tatau Bintulu
Sibu-Bintulu road very bad
i will ask some ktard advice you

This post has been edited by apisfires: Feb 16 2019, 04:02 PM

can tell me where you take overnite?
dun ride on nite ya... 7am till 7pm is safe

thanks for info re Tay Motors apis.
will look at the Sibu - Bintulu leg again.
ride itinerary is to start off after breakfast at around 8 am n reach destination by noon. this should give about 4 hours riding n with distances between towns less than 200 km apart, it should be doable.
definitely no riding at night n in the hot afternoons.
btw, i am on Maxis. how is their coverage in Sarawak/Sabah re voice n data.
tq.

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go to celcom lol
ohh ride for 4 hour per day? not bad

Sincere apologies for the late response. I have PM you regarding the bike arrangement.

Will be most happy to assist and support u in any way i can. Cheers!

Just to share, Rider Chris managed the same trip last year. You can read all about it here

tqvm for the info.
noted that Chris is an Iron Butt rider and his Peninsular ride was published in the Kapcai magazine.

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yeah he is and he has done lots of trips to thailand

Please take note that construction is ongoing for the Pan-Borneo Highway on Sarawak side. Please be extra careful on the road.

the ride has started from Kuching, heading north towards Miri.
the bike used is a 2013 Modenas Ace 115.
Kuching to Sibu via Maludam, Triso, Pusa and Saratok. Two ferry crossings. this coastal road was free from road works but very undulating.
unable to avoid the short stretch of the Borneo highway from Sibu to Selangau on the way to Bintulu. that part was bad. road works galore. after Selangau, continued back on the coastal road.

Pixs are of the route, bike used, the rider, first ferry crossing Lupar River to Triso and Sibu and Bintulu towns.

many thanks to Apis from Kuching who is continuously updating me on road conditions ahead n the must see attractions in each of the towns i pass through.

to be continued ...........




This post has been edited by myred: Mar 27 2019, 12:21 AM

waahhh nice... ride carefully bro.. keep it up...

Wow... nice journey.. keep us update bro.

ride safe and enjoy the trip .

This post has been edited by Zack Styler: Mar 27 2019, 03:20 PM

........... continuing the ride from Bintulu to Niah National Park, once again using the two lane (one in each direction) coastal road. this road is fairly straight with some gentle bends through green fields and forests. watch out for the bumps as you ride over small bridges. a comfortable speed of under 70 kph on the kapcai has the bike under control at all times. best is the complete absence of any road works.
cheap hostel accommodation is available at the National Park. a four single bed, room with private basic bathroon/toilet facilities is rm40 per room nite. book and pay online thru the Sarawak Forestry Dept.
the walk from the hostel to the great cave is 3 km each way on wooden plank trial.
crossing into Brunei by motorcycle is not a hassle so long as you hve applied for their Vehicle Pass online before hand and given a unique QR code for your bike. you can keep the QR code on your smart phone and use it to scan at the border crossing.
btw, foreign vehicles can only buy petrol in Bandar Seri Begawan at designated Shell stations. Shell Gadong is one of them. since fuel is also subsidised in Brunei, locals pay Bcents 51 (Ron92) and Bcents 53 (Ron97) per litre whilst foreign vehicles pay B$1.10 (Ron97 only). multiply by 3 to convert to ringgit.

to be continued .........

Omar ‘Ali Saifuddien Mosque in Bandar Seri Begawan.
Nasi Katok is their version of our nasi lemak.
Sungai Kebun Bridge in BSB.


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nice sharing..

keep good work bro
keep update