Of late, there has been a disturbance in the Malaysian web sphere about motorcycle modifications, especially after the police and JPJ have come out to say they will be cracking down on transgressors. This includes detention and identification of those who use modified motorcycles on public roads, as reported in local media.
This is not a new development. There are no new regulations or laws about motorcycle modifications that has prompted the authorities to pursue those who modify their rides.
Where this comes from is the popularity for modifications and accessorising motorcycles that, of late, has gone viral from videos involving celebrities that the powers that be have taken as an affront to their authority. It has to be remembered, the police and JPJ have always had the power to take action against illegally modified vehicles, two- or four-wheeled.
The authority is given to them under the Road Transport Act 1987, which allows for action to be taken against those who knowingly modify their vehicles. Let’s take a look at what the Act says, and how does it affect modders and their motorcycles.
In general, any vehicle used on public roads that has been modified in contravention of its Vehicle Type Approval (VTA), is deemed to be illegal and the user has committed an offence. By definition, VTA is the approval from JPJ that certifies the vehicle is in compliance with Malaysian laws, regulations and standards and is allowed to be sold for use on public roads.
Should any modification be made after VTA has been issued, the modified vehicle has to be inspected and approved by JPJ before it can be used in public. Can you modify your motorcycle in contravention of the VTA?
Of course you can. Just don’t get upset when you get stopped and your motorcycle confiscated.
In this article, we examine some of the main modifications made to motorcycles and how they flout the law so that readers have an idea of, well, how far they can go.
Noisy Exhausts
This is the most obvious modification made. In most cases, it takes the form of a straight pipe with muffler baffles removed.
The reasoning given is it allows car drivers to hear the bike and realise there is a motorcycle near them. The “loud pipes saves lives” excuse.
But, if the exhaust noise exceeds the legal limit, it is still against the law. A noise level of two to three decibels more than what is approved in the VTA might be allowed, at the discretion of the enforcement officer, but above that, action will be taken.
Narrow Tyres
Otherwise known as “tayar sotong”, many modified kapchais use narrow width tyres to reduce rolling resistance and obtain more speed. Smaller tyres than what is approved in the VTA is dangerous because of the reduced grip as well as not being able to bear the load.
For example, if a rider and pillion are on a motorcycle with narrow tyres, the performance demanded may exceed the tyre’s load limit, leading to unsafe operating conditions. This is probably the main cause of accidents for small displacement modified motorcycles, especially in corners.
Oversized Tyres
Of late, a trend of installing oversized rear tyres on smaller motorcycles has emerged, referred to as “Geng Tayar Gemuk” or Fat Tyred Gang. Mimicking the look of oversized rear wheels used on big cruisers like Harley-Davidsons, the fat tyre boys are placing stress on the suspension and frame of their motorcycles.
Installing a fat rear tyre usually involves making frame and rear suspension modifications. However, the condition of this particular trend is there must be no modification to the front suspension and the original swingarm must be used.
Since putting on a fat tyre usually involves modifying the rear brake calliper and pedal location, this contravenes the VTA and is thus an offence.
Changing Coversets
Should the motorcycle owner change the bodywork or ‘coverset’ and it is of a different colour to what is stated on the registration card, JPJ has to be notified of the change within seven days. If the coverset changes the original silhouette of the motorcycle, that is deemed to be an offence.
No Rear View Mirrors
Rear view mirrors are an essential part of a motorcycle’s standard equipment and has a direct impact on rider safety. Therefore, it is clear not having rear view mirrors is a clear violation.
Number Plates
‘Fancy’ plates, as termed by the authorities, is another regulatory offence. The requirements for motorcycle numbers are clearly laid out in JPJ rules and any deviation is an offence.
This includes fancy fonts, reflective plate surfaces, undersized letters and numbers and others. While the offence is usually compoundable, the maximum penalty is RM300.
Cable upgrades
Another popular modification is upgrading brake and clutch cables, or installing braided steel brake hoses. Since this modification improves performance without affecting other technical aspects of the motorcycle, this modification is allowed, provided the cables function as intended and are not routed in a manner that is dangerous.
Engine modifications
This is something of a thorny issue, as most engine upgrades are in the interest of engine reliability. However, this also means the power output of the engine is increased, especially in the case of oversized pistons, porting, ECU swaps and the like.
As far as the authorities are concerned, there are all against the law and might result in the motorcycle being confiscated for inspection. Should the motorcycle pass inspection, then it will be returned for use.
Penalties
If a motorcycle on a public road is stopped for a check and found to be modified, the authorities are empowered to confiscate it. Over and above the confiscation, the owner will have to pay a penalty of up to RM3,000 before beign able to reclaim their motorcycle with the additional requirement the vehicle has to be returned to original condition within seven days and re-inspected by JPJ.
If this is not complied with, the owner of the motorcycle is subject to a maximum RM20,000 penalty.
It must be noted these regulations apply to vehicles used on public roads. For custom and racing motorcycles being transported for show or competition and the like, there is nothing illegal about any modification made.
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Too many abang2 flouting the law. They disregard polis and JPJ orders.
Their biggest goal is to race in the night at Kesas. Boredom and no goals in life.
Mainly because they come from big families with many kids and the parents have no time to give them attention
kutu kutu mat motor very prevalent in Putrajaya. Night time empty streets like to race and lepak. Lepak culture. Mostly Putrajaya residents
mat motor shud apply to JPJ b4 modification then sent puspakom and sirim for certified…
How u know…..dont tell me u conducted a survey….or u are one of them?
Kesas highway I frequently see lalabeng Vioses & Cities with underneon lighting plus fengtau music racing & crashing.
Privileged spoilt kids are really making a nuisance & danger to every road user. I wish Loke would do something about this and not just give face to their rich parents.
Kesas highway my weekly cycling jaunt. just gotta beware of speeding and mat ragut
wow! so clever in commenting
Because he never seen the real Kesas at night bro.
How about adding a Givi box?
How about drums to brakes conversion/upgrade?
Givi box should be okay, however according to the author, this changes the silhouette of the bike, so it may not be fine? No idea.
Drum to disc would be considered a mod but allowed, even without prior approval. (JPJ website) Others include installing windscreen, changing headlight and engine fairing.
Despite this, all mods you do if it is legal, just send it for inspection and all is done and dusted.
Motor modifications are like Myvi & Vios ahbeng mods. Both sama saja teruk
Stupid Malaysian rules as always.
The rules are not stupid, the bikers who flouted the rules are stupid. simple rule like plate no. specs also don’t want to follow. You go to Indo & Thai, all their plate numbers are standard, how hastily or oversize they look.
Kereta also don’t follow plate no. specs why you don’t catch them? Kereta is easier to catch & saman what. Dont go double standard la!
You can’t control the Mat Rempits and yet now you want to crack down on the motorcycle modifications? There must be enforcement and not just say crackdown just for the sake of saying it.
Mod Accessories ok look nice.
Mod Box- working men
Mod Exhaust ok, sikit2 noise actually safety, cars aware bike behind, nearby, little mod no difftent with std Duke,RXZ, ZXR etc.
but too noisy take action.
Mod kapchai engine dangerous, (normally short sighted youth) – frame not design to hold impact.. Y15 vs R15 absorb differently.
Do you think driver will listen to your noisy exhaust when songs music radio is play loudly inside car?
Don’t waste your petrol revving up your puny lawn mower ok.
not all driver love hard music with big subwoofer..
-hi rev can penetrate any insulation except earbud
– there are standard cutting exhaust produce standard sound at low rpm and litle bit noisy at high rpm. That few times save my bike or life. esp at 3 junction corner when stupid driver asking direction via phone call.
Of late, I see a lot of kapchais with flickering headlights. Is there a modification to make the bulb unstable and bounce around in the housing?
If jpj and police are really serious in this matter, they should have banned the aftermarket parts from being sold in the 1st place.
Etc: Seller can import aftermarket swingarm, Kastam Malaysia even charge tax, which means it is legal to sell it. When buyer purchase the swingarm to use it, booommm kena saman. Wtf? Got supply got demand laa, and it will never end no matter how many saman given out.
In the end of the day, even those police & jpj officer also have a modified car/motorcycle at home. And you know they will never kena saman at those small roadblock, sama geng.
Agreed with JPJ to crack down the alteration motorcycle, but, please look over also on vehicles (cars & lorries) to much modification, with tayar besar and loud exhaust.
Law got, no enforcement only.
“Everything is legal and OK in Malaysia, until you get caught”. Even if get caught, there is always ways to “kawtim”. The Bolehland.
Illegal mods (be it car, motorbikes, or even bicycles) have been going around for many DECADES. The illegal mods are becoming rampant, daring and more nuisance every year. Growing number of autoshows and car blogs, car videos aren’t shy and seem to be supporting such illegal mods (they prefer to call this “car culture”). The easiest way to find these, try youtube.
So, for the decades, what did the authorities do then, now and future? Regardless of old govt or the PH govt…
Please, BS no excuse from the authorities, (like the usual “not enough man power, equipment, no budget, no resources, etc”).
IF the authorities are not effective and unable to solve the problem, just “close shop” and let other do it. Wasting tax payer money and “eat-money blindly”.
Until then, more life will be lost, more damage could be done, more nuisance and problem will come. That is for sure.
Anyone here staying next to a road or highway and is bothered by loud modified exhaust from motorcycles?
is there something that we can do about it? e.g. complain to relevant department etc.
Geng Tayar Besar lagi gila
rempits earning less than RM1.5K month can only afford a kapchai but dreaming for a superbike performance has to resort to illegal modifications. it’s just like to basikal lanjak boys hoping to have a fast aero bicycle like my Cervelo S5. this wouldn’t happen if our country is a high income country.
even at other countries not everyone can buy Cervelo S5 laaaa!
I’m a Malaysia citizen. Sometimes I saw some police officer use their motor with modify. If police use no wrong if public use means wrong it’s really unfair. When a police officer, jpj or traffic police officer make a road block for checking vehicles or motorbikes please use stop sign and cons by the law make a road block . I saw so many police officer and traffic police make illegal road block and stop vehicles and motorbike check and they choose people stop almost Indian and Chinese alot Malay never check , why malays all have license or have road tax . At Penang in front smk Padang polo school traffic police always making illegal road block . Government wanna public follow the law please la government also must follow the law la . Ang Tak nak follow law tapi Tanya public follow the law Ang semua nampak public macam Babi ke . First go settle Malaysia problem bring the Malaysia up Abit then ask public to follow the law . Government you guys useless but always turn the wrong to public . First ask your government officer talk properly with public whenever checking them . Because alot police use hard words to checking public almost Malay police women’s . Before ask road tax please go check all roads you guys have make properly or no .
Would’ve been easier to put them through Puspakom, charge them with premium road tax, and have all their modifications listed on their VOC, while imposed age limited to the modified vehicle owners (no school students should own a modifed kapchai)
Wow!… it seems like salesmen are now flocking Paultan blog, while it were the petrolheads before… Now it’s up to Paultan if it choose to be petrolheads advocates or prosecutor…
Then why allow sell all the accessories in malaysia.
government have the power to do that right. they wont do that. they let it until the mods arrive to the shop and we buy it then they will saman. doesn’t make sense.
If goverment really need public safety and peace they wont let the things come into malaysia. BUSINESS!!!!
Hey, how about cafe racer/custom culture kind of bikes? I was wondering if that kind of bikes are allowed on Malaysia roads. Let’s say, you customize a Virago 535 until you cannot identify the original chassis. How? Is it still considered ‘haram’? Just a humble question.
Is half track vehicles street legal
Have u ever seen any gang tayar besar doing racing? Increase size will give stress to the motorcycle frame and will effect safety? That bullshit.. stupid law. Bigger tyre will affect performance that the reason but rempit use smaller size tyre..lighter. but bigger will ensure more contact surface and it is havier. It for cosmetic purpose only. More safety and less performance
There are reasons for the manufacturers fitted certain tyre size to the bikes according to CCs and frame design. Increase or decrease the tyre size definitely affect the performance and safety too. As mentioned in the article, oversized tyre will put a lot of strain on the kapchais it self especially the swing arms, chains, gears, chassis. Failure on any of these parts might lead to fatal accidents.
Can we modify the outlook to be a kamen rider bike?
If my motorcycle uses wet clutch and I’d like to convert it to dry clutch. Is that allowed?
Is it ok for a sports bike to not have turn singles and is it acceptable to just have a sticker number plate