Since the day I started working in Kuala Lumpur in 2004 up until about a week ago, my daily commute had been one of the biggest sources of stress in my life. Throughout that period, I would spend roughly two hours each and every workday being stuck in traffic, both hands clenched into tight fists in my lap, just inches from losing my sanity.
I think it was around 2011 when I first toyed with the idea of riding a motorcycle to and from work. I remember changing my desktop wallpaper to a picture of a white Triumph Bonneville parked on the side of a posh street in London. That picture remained my wallpaper for a couple of years before the company gave me a new computer, after which I decided to go with a solid, all-black desktop wallpaper – an abyss of blackness so deep it (temporarily) swallowed my dreams of learning how to ride a motorcycle.
The Midday Express, perhaps?
Fast forward to today, I am pleased to say that I just recently passed the motorcycle test and now hold a Class B motorcycle licence. Since the whole process of obtaining the licence is still somewhat fresh in my head, here’s a condensed guide for those interested in going from total n00b (like me) to a Class B licence holder in Malaysia (as of early 2016).
- Pick a good riding school – Since I was a complete beginner when it came to riding, a competent and patient instructor was critical to my success in obtaining a motorcycle licence. Based on the recommendation of a close friend, I went with Rakan Ehsan Driving Academy (RE) under the tutelage of Cikgu Jamal. Although the school is quite far from where I live, RE is also a JPJ Test Centre, which means that I learned my riding chops on the same grounds on which I was tested.
- Compare costs – The total cost of obtaining a Class B licence varies from one riding school to the next. Expect to pay between RM800 and RM1,200. RE charges about RM900 (as of early 2016). I will break down the cost of each item in the following points and include a summarised table of all associated costs at the end of this post.
- Attend the Safe Riding Theory Course / Kursus Teori Penunggangan Selamat (KPP01) – This is essentially a 6-hour lecture on safe riding. A lot of younger riders scoff at this, but as a mature beginning rider, I found it very useful. The lecture covers a variety of topics, mostly the Highway Code for road users. Cost: RM290 (includes a small curriculum reference book and exercise book); Format: Lecture; Duration: 6 hours
- Sit for Part I: Road Law computerised test – After attending the 6-hour lecture, I booked a spot for the Road Law computerised test at one of the MyEG Approved Test Taking Sites. I thought I had crushed it with a 49/50 score, but my friend scored a perfect fifty. What a nerd. Cost: RM28; Format: Computerised test, fifty multiple-choice questions, 42/50 passing score; Duration: 30 minutes
- Apply for a Learner’s Licence (“L” licence) – After passing the computerised test, I applied for an “L” licence at the JPJ Office in Petaling Jaya. You can do it yourself at any JPJ Office or get your riding school to do it for you. However, since it would take RE about two weeks to do it and since I could only begin practical training sessions after obtaining an “L” licence, I decided to do it myself. Cost: RM20 for a 3-month validity; Format: N/A; Duration: A few hours if done yourself
- Complete the Circuit and Road Practical Training Sessions / Latihan Praktikal Litar (KPP02) dan Jalan Raya (KPP03) – This was the most fun and also most challenging bit of the whole learning process. Cikgu Jamal helped me go from zero experience to being comfortable with riding an explosive machine between my legs. The most difficult bits for me (and for most beginning riders) were getting used to the heavy weight of the motorcycle and completing the bridge, or titi, part of the circuit in over seven seconds. From my experience, it is prudent to schedule weekly sessions in 3-hour chunks. I was so eager to finish that I scheduled a 9-hour session on one of the Saturdays, which ended with my left leg pinned underneath a 200 kilogram hunk of metal. In retrospect, I should have paced myself and managed the fatigue by scheduling shorter sessions. Cost: RM488 (includes motorcycle helmet and gloves rental); Format: Practical training on a motorcycle; Duration: Minimum of 16 hours
- Sit for Part II: Circuit Test and Part III: Road Test – This was the motherlode, the kraken, the Big Boss at the end of each video game. In the spirit of full disclosure, I passed Part III but failed Part II the first time around, so I had to come back two weeks later for a re-sit. It was the dreaded titi, man. Cost: RM95; Format: Two-part, practical test on a motorcycle; Duration: Approximately from 8 a.m. until around noon, depending on the number of candidates on the day
- Apply for a Class B Licence (“B Full” licence) – Similar to the application of an “L” licence above, I applied for the “B Full” licence at the JPJ Office in Petaling Jaya myself. Since I already hold a Class D driver’s licence, the cost of adding a new class to my existing licence was minimal. Cost: RM5; Format: N/A; Duration: A few hours if done yourself
If you are still on the fence about going for a motorcycle licence and switching over to riding for your daily commute, I encourage you to just go for it. Like everything else, it is quite daunting in the beginning, but I truly believe that with proper technique and by putting safety as the overriding philosophy over our motorcycling endeavour, riding is one of the practical answers towards a more efficient and stress-less commute.
h.i 