Despite the kingdom’s cheap roads and expensive taxes, super sport bike enthusiasts are enjoying a roaring time in Cambodia
14 June, 2010
By Charlie Lancaster
CNNGo.com
“I call it The Beast,” says Lee of his 2006 Yamaha R1. He is one of the founding members of Independence Monument Riders, Cambodia’s first super sport bike club, which meets at Independence Monument in central Phnom Penh. The informal club is made up of people from different backgrounds, but are all connected through their love of bikes. And money. Some of the 1000cc beasts can cost as much as US$20,000, and the net worth of the bikes in the group is estimated at over US$150,000. Malaysian-born Aru is the proud owner of an Aprilia Haga 1000R, one of only 300 in the world.
Since the first super sport Suzuki RF900 was spotted in Phnom Penh in 2000, the number of 600cc big bikes in the capital has reached around 100. However, as riders look to challenge themselves further and keep up with the rest, Lee expects the number of 1000cc bikes to increase in the coming years. For now though, they remain something of a rarity in Cambodia.
If you’re tempted to join them or just fancy checking out the bikes, head down to Independence Monument early evening at the weekends. Don’t forget to take a camera.
Feeling inspired to ride the open roads or get off the beaten track but don’t have your own wheels? Head down to The Bike Shop to hire a dirt bike from US$25 a day or a Harley Davidson from US$200 a day.
The Bike Shop, No 31, Street 302, Tel 023 211 610 www.motorcyclecambodia.com
Phnom Penh-based journalist, Charlie Lancaster has been scouring the region’s countryside for stories and adventures since 2007
14 June, 2010
By Charlie Lancaster
CNNGo.com
“I call it The Beast,” says Lee of his 2006 Yamaha R1. He is one of the founding members of Independence Monument Riders, Cambodia’s first super sport bike club, which meets at Independence Monument in central Phnom Penh. The informal club is made up of people from different backgrounds, but are all connected through their love of bikes. And money. Some of the 1000cc beasts can cost as much as US$20,000, and the net worth of the bikes in the group is estimated at over US$150,000. Malaysian-born Aru is the proud owner of an Aprilia Haga 1000R, one of only 300 in the world.
Since the first super sport Suzuki RF900 was spotted in Phnom Penh in 2000, the number of 600cc big bikes in the capital has reached around 100. However, as riders look to challenge themselves further and keep up with the rest, Lee expects the number of 1000cc bikes to increase in the coming years. For now though, they remain something of a rarity in Cambodia.
If you’re tempted to join them or just fancy checking out the bikes, head down to Independence Monument early evening at the weekends. Don’t forget to take a camera.
Feeling inspired to ride the open roads or get off the beaten track but don’t have your own wheels? Head down to The Bike Shop to hire a dirt bike from US$25 a day or a Harley Davidson from US$200 a day.
The Bike Shop, No 31, Street 302, Tel 023 211 610 www.motorcyclecambodia.com
Phnom Penh-based journalist, Charlie Lancaster has been scouring the region’s countryside for stories and adventures since 2007
16 comments:
Super bikes in a country with twice the rate of traffic accidents for the region. A country with shockingly bad roads. You want to enjoy a 1000CC motorbike? Why not spend some money and really have a great time on a track or something - really do some speed? Superbikes in Cambodia - almost as stupid a decision as hummers in Cambodia. Well done for doing something stupid. Hats off to you. Why not give some of your money to charity and stay at home? Idiots.
Agree with you, 10:47 AM. these are a bunch of show-off idiots. Even with good roads and traffic rules, these things can cause bad accidents.
I thought he was Cambodian but he is an Indian.
10:47 AM and 10:51 AM,
I am in total agreement with both of you.
They are there just to show off.
You need good roads and less traffic-accident places to ride these bikes with full enjoyment.
It's a kind of pretty crazy man in the world.
In the West, my friends with serious bikes (750CC in those days) would go to one of the racing tracks (like you see on tv) and for a modest amount of money (if you can afford a super bike, it's a modest amount of money) they could ride at top speed on an international race track without worrying about the other road users , except for other superbike drivers, and without risking their own life or anyone else's life on public roads.
Those that did try to ride at full speed on public roads suffered terrible accidents and in some cases died. If these people can afford a superbike, the leathers, helmet, cost of importing the bike, etc., then really why not spend it being able to really open up the bike up and do serious speeds as it is designed to do - which is a wonderful experience. Driving on Cambodian roads even on a 125cc is not a wonderful experience. You can't safely ride at top speeds here, and anyone who would try is insane and obviously shouldn't be allowed to own one of these superbikes and certainly not allowed to ride them.
This is why I call them idiots - racing bikes are for race tracks not public roads. They know this which is why they come here because they can't ride in that manner in their own countries.
This kind of event could make Cambodia more known and bring more tourists then more job for Cambodians ?
I just wanted to see the beautiful scenes of Cambodia.
In 2YK street racing now long gone. In 2010 bikes every corner coffee shop every morning and restaurant nor basketball court every weekend. My friend got killed in street racing nor bike crashed.
10:47AM 10:51AM What else have you guys got apart from criticise everything about cambodia?
8:19Pm! if youlike criticise come here! If you like praise go to Ah Kwack.shit!
If you think we are criticising then please come and look at the children's hospitals in Cambodia and find out how many children are there because of traffic accidents.
I've nothing against superbikes and love riding them but riding them here is simply insane as the roads are not suitable and other drivers usually have very little knowledge of road rules and may behave in ways that will not allow a driver of a superbike travelling at speed to stop in an emergency.
I think it would be great to have the facilities in Cambodia to attract superbikes but until the facilities are available I'll stick to driving 125s and 250s.
Some people in here rather see them driving ox cart.
don't they know that in cambodia roads aren't built for speed, really! they can run people over like that. i hope they get fined!
8:19 PM,
You are way off, dude! It is not about Cambodia, it is about these riders who could potetially hurt others or themselves riding these fast bike on small Cambodian roads that are shared by people who walk, ride slow and less protected vehicles. The very first guy in the video said he liked to ride there because he would not get tickets or be bothered by the laws and the cops. So, in a way, he said there is no traffic laws he would have to worry about in Cambodia. I was there, some of the moto-dop drivers in phnom penh disliked these arrogant idiots. They predicted some of these show-offers will either die from bike accident or at the hands of angry people.
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