Off Road Adventures in Gua Musang

Gua Musang is a transit city that connects Kelantan to its neighboring states. People traveling into Kelantan from Pahang and Perak will definitely passes through this town. It is also an important transit city for about 11 orang asli (indigenous) villages that nestled in the range of Titiwangsa surrounding Gua Musang town. During monsoon season (November to January), most of these villages are inaccessible by road making life more difficult for orang asli.

Fresh from the adventures we had in Kampung Mat Daling in September, Syahril and I decided to join this ride to Pos Bihai, about 50km northwest of Gua Musang. The ride is in conjunction with a relief mission designed to send supplies and aid to orang asli villagers along the route for the upcoming monsoon season starting in November. About 13 riders has agreed to join the mission, which is the 3^rd mission organized by Kay Adventures Team.

Out of 13 registered names only 10 shows up as 3 others made a last minute decision to pull out. Our captain, Mr. Ivan is a well-known rider with vast experience in off road adventures in the past and well-connected in the off road rider’s circle. That is why when I checked the weather forecast prior to the event, 3 days of expected showers throughout Friday, Saturday and Sunday (the days of the event) didn’t alter my earlier decision to join this ride.

We gathered in BHP station in Karak that Friday morning around 5am before making a move towards Bentong around 5.30am.

Haji Azmi, Syahril and I made a quick detour at Bentong mosque for Subuh prayer before rejoining Ivan and Aznal at our first checkpoint, Petron station in Kampung Limau Purut near Kuala Lipis. After a light breakfast and refuel we continue towards Gua Musang and was greeted with a light shower of rain around 9am.

The air in Gua Musang is much fresher than we used to in Klang Valley.

We joined other participants in IPD Gua Musang parking lot for a quick briefing, speeches and a flag-off ceremony.

Ivan interviewed by media as a spokeperson for our group

We unload most of our supplies here onto a backup vehicle (Hilux).

We had a flag-off around 12.30pm and made a quick stop for lunch and refuel.

At the end of the tarmac road in Kuala Betis, we stopped to reduce our tyre pressure and checking our equipment getting ready for off road action. At this point, all participant spirits is high and light shower of rain didn't seem to bother any of us.

The first few kilometers into the route to Pos Bihai is a palm oil plantation road and eventually we reached into active logging area.

It was raining again as we enter these logging road and the road is getting very slippery. Haji Azmi slipped a few times in this area.

After a few falls, he had just enough and calling it a day. He parked his bike in one of the house of orang asli on the roadside and hitch a ride in Mr. Salam's (from Kay Adventure Group) Mitsubishi Triton towards Pos Bihai.
The rest of us continue our journey along the slippery road.

The rate of bike falling started to increase tremendously especially on the Versys (Syahril and my bike).

We started climbing about 15% and slippery road condition filled mud and water holes made the journey very difficult.
Rosaini here giving motivation to Syahril to push on.

While Khidir gets some juice from him : )

Catching his breath, just after an amazing climb

Ivan ride my bike in a few occasions to get it passed through hard & climbing terrain

At this point, all 4x4 vehicles has passed us, including our very own support vehicle (Hilux). The Hilux is on AT tyres and according to Macques (driver), it has to follow other more equipped vehicles for rescue as it is unable to made it by its own.

Shahidan striking an off road post - Pos Bihai specials

Around 5.00pm, we are making a very slow progress and has travelled about half of the 45km off road route. The intermittent rain made the route even more slippery and at this point, most riders are already exhausted and felt the strain from the continuous bike fall.

Khidir keep everyone's spirit high and is always available for help.

One of the 4x4 Marshall (Pajero) waited and assist us when we get to the rubber estates plantation (Ladang Rakyat). My choice of 130/80 17 front tyre did little to help and both Syahril & I have to get the front fender removed as it’s began to collect mud and tend to stuck.

Bro Lim Soon Hoi who’s riding the lightest bike when off very quickly and he made it to Pos Bihai. 3 other local riders arrived in their MX bikes and support us to get through the climb.


Ivan played a great role as captain and assist anyone who is in need. He is seen riding my bike with help from Rosaini at the back.

Our food and water supply are completely depleted (most of it is on the support vehicle) when we pass the Ladang Rakyat until we are completely relying on limited supply of water and snacks from the Marshall’s Pajero.

During one of the climb, I fell and twisted my wrist and it is very painful. This made navigating the slippery route nearly impossible. I choose to ride in the Pajero as Rosaini offered to ride my bike and one of the marshall will ride his KLX250.

It continues to rain and we are losing sunlight but still far away from any Orang Asli village. Around 6.45pm, a hilux carrying water and packed rice stopped by and that food really felt like the best food we had in the entire world.

The route gets very dark as the rain continue to pour heavily. 6 other riders pushed on to Kampung Remau while I continue to Pos Bihai in the Pajero.

About 3km away from Pos Bihai, we passed by the Triton carrying Haji Azmi and Mr. Salam, who had an engine mounting and radiator fan problem. I finally reached Pos Bihai around 10pm and it is still raining when I set up my tent.

The next morning, the weather is clear and I met with Haji Azmi who told me that the Trition had another problem as it plunges into a side drain while navigating down the slippery route towards Pos Bihai. He only reached the campsite around midnight. We are very concerned about the other riders and decided to pack and leave the campsite and hitchhike anyone going out from Pos Bihai before regrouping in Gua Musang. My wrist is cleared of any serious injuries but had began to swell.

6 other riders with one marshall made it safely to Kampung Remau and stayed there for the night.

(Left to right) Yusaini, Zaini, Syahril, Khidir and Aznal. Ivan is the cameraman?

Top class accomodation by Tok Batin

This is where the bikes were parked for the night.

1st class service from the villagers..

My bike was parked at the junction of Kampung Remal and made a request to my joined convoy to transport it onto a single cab Hilux. I failed to locate my keys and it took around 10 people to get it onto the Hilux.

The bike is transported to Gua Musang where it was cleaned and checked for damage. I have to leave it at the car wash to wait for the spare key to arrive the following day from Rawang.

The second night, we rejoined in Gua Musang and started recalling our own experiences. Later that night, 4 of the riders went back.

Haji Azmi is the first to make a move the following day

I went back after lunch and arrive home just before sunset. The bike also earns much respect as it only suffers a broken foot peg despite being dropped so many times in the jungle.

  

Although the event (Misi Bantuan Kemanusiaan) was successful, only 3 out of 10 riders made it to Pos Bihai. The muddy and slippery route proved to be impossible for a 2 wheeler to navigate. Despite all the hardship and injury that I endured during this adventure, it is a very good experience and life's story. I have gained a lot from many great individuals who participate in this mission.

My advice to other riders trying for off road is never try to challenge the Mother Nature unless you are completely physically and mentally fit. However if you are willing, the reward in term of the experience is great and it will be a very worthy life experience.

My millions of thanks to all participants especially to Ivan, Khidir & Rosaini that helped and aided me, to Marshall in Pajero who supplied me a seat when it is most needed and others who helped to transport back the bike safely to Gua Musang. In addition to Kay Adventures and My Landy team who lets us join this event.

Ride snippets

Riders:

Shahril Zulkifli & Myself VERSYS 650

Macques Ong Hilux 4WD

Ivan Yong TENERE XT660Z

Shahidan TENERE S10 1200

Haji Azmi TENERE S10 1200

Khidir KTM990 ADV

Ahmad Zaini KTM990 ADV

Aznal Ali F800 GS

Peter Lim KLX150

Mohd Rosaini KLX250

Distance: 580km

Duration: 3 days

Petrol: RM120

Date: 30th October - 1st November 2015