The Pros and Cons of Riding in Singapore

1. Motorbike is cheap.

I guess in Singapore where COE is ridiculously prized (pun intended), majority of us cannot bear to afford the luxury of owning a brand new car piece of paper. A Chery QQ now costs up to $75K these days (SIAO ONE!), while a motorbike on average cost around $5K.

2. Petrol cheap, parking cheap, ERP cheap.

My scooter’s tank is only 4 litres big and each full fill-up costs $5 and can last me about 120km (3 – 5 days). One bike parking coupon costs 65 cents and is valid either for a day (7am – 10.30pm) or a whole night (10.30pm – 7am). ERP ranges from 25 cents – $2. There are methods I know of to cao geng for free parking or ERP but cannot anyhow share here later gahmen fine me.

3. Squeezability.

I can’t beat you in speed, but I can beat you in traffic. Having the ability to weave between cars is extremely useful especially during peak hours. It feels pretty troll and it’s even more troll when those ah beng cars rev their engines so hard but end up stopping at the same traffic light as me while I happily throttle my way to the front.

4. Excuse to not drink.

Ever since I started riding, I can siam all the alcohol when I’m out with friends, ‘cos I don’t enjoy drinking to begin with. Too bad for you if you’re a drinker.

5. Alertness.

I have a class 3 license and I’ve driven a car (about five times?) before, but I don’t like the fact that I can’t really see the edges of the car and it’s difficult to check blind spots. I just feel so cooped up yet comfortable in a car (with air-con leather seats and all) that it tends to make me blur and sleepy. I dunno, maybe it’s a girl thing, or a 156cm thing lol. On the other hand, I feel much more confident on a bike due to a wider field of vision and better gauge in traffic. And I cannot NOT be alert because I am exposed all the time, which brings me to my next point.

6. Exposed.

Scorching sun, pelting rain – you gotta take it all. Sometimes there are random flying insects or sand from lorries so be sure to have your visor on.

7. Many cheebai drivers out there.

I hate it when those irritating cars tailgate me or force their way into my lane causing me to change lane abruptly. They bully you just ‘cos they can and motorbikes are always on the losing end. We can’t stop nasty drivers from being nasty, so we can only try to stay on the ball and not speed.

8. Meat cover metal.

The direct translation of 肉包铁. When shit happens, the first thing that kena is your skin and flesh, then your bike. No airbags or metal to protect you unlike a car.

9. But still, riding can be safe if you’re safe.

I know I’ve repeated many times, but maintaining alertness and not doing stupid things like speeding shouldn’t land yourself in an accident too major. They say even if you be careful also no use, other people not careful you die. Ya lor, then you suay lor. When a crazy Ferrari comes ramming by, taxi car motorbike also die. If you’re meant to die, walk also will die. Then what, don’t leave your house? Maybe your roof crash you also die.

10. Don’t need style hair!

You use wax / clay / gel / hairspray put one helmet on end up only got one style – helmet style HAHAHAHA! Don’t style better la, save time save money.