Local Custom Bike Makes The Cut For International Event

By Sakini Mohd Said KUALA LUMPUR, March 21 (Bernama) -- The sound of high-powered motorcycle engines revving reverberated around Dataran Merdeka during the Wilayah International Motofest 2018 event from Feb 23 to 25. Clearly, the big bikes showcased during the exhibition commanded the attention of the motorcycle enthusiasts and "mat motor" who thronged the three-day event, organised by Kuala Lumpur City Hall and Kepala Kuasa Motorcycle Group. One particular model that was exhibited in a booth located near the Sultan Abdul Samad building caught this writer's eye as it looked unique and different from the other two-wheelers on display there. Many of the visitors also appeared to find it fascinating and did not miss the opportunity to ride the bike and pose for photographs. Meet Bone X, a motorcycle customised from scratch by avid custom bike maker Omar @ Maharani Jumiran, who hails from Kajang, Selangor. Omar's creation is already making waves as it is the first Malaysian-made custom bike to make the cut for the prestigious AMD World Championship of Custom Bike Building, to be held in Koelnmesse in Cologne, Germany from Oct 3 to 7. The international event will showcase custom motorcycles from all over the world, with the best ones being selected based on their design and engineering quality, as well as originality and handcraftsmanship. THE MAKING OF BONE X The 48-year-old father of four, who only has SPM (Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia) qualification and learnt the ins and outs of motorcycle construction on his own, is thrilled to participate in the AMD World Championship of Custom Bike Building. "It has been my dream (to take part in this championship) since 1995 after I developed a passion for creating my own motorcycles. "For custom bike makers like me, the AMD World Championship is the equivalent of football's World Cup," Omar told Bernama. It took Omar six months and RM30,000 to build Bone X. Sporting a mix of futuristic and classic 1950s and 1960s features, Bone X is definitely Omar's best-customised motorcycle to date as 90 per cent of its parts were handcrafted. "I built Bone X from scratch. I personally built the motorcycle frame, swingarm, rims and other parts. The only components I bought were the engine, tyres and brake cable," he explained. Bone X's 1967 AJS single cylinder, 350cc engine was loaned to Omar by a friend. "One of the criteria for the AMD World Championship is that we have to use engines that have become rare now," he added. Putting his self-learnt engineering and mechanical skills and creativity to good use, Omar has crafted a bike that highlights Malaysia's heritage too as the pattern on its seat and handlebars resembles woven mengkuang (screw pine). "I wanted this pattern as it was unique and beautiful and a symbol of Malaysia," he said, adding that he had to use a more malleable form of steel to successfully create the woven mengkuang pattern. BANKING ON EXPERIENCE Don't bother asking Omar to provide detailed specifications and measurements of Bone X or, for that matter, any of the 150 motorcycles that he had built all these years. "I've none," he declared, laughing. "I'm just an SPM school-leaver and I build my bikes using the knowledge and know-how I had gained from my years of experience." Each time he gets an inspiration for a motorcycle design, he would sketch it in his notebook without any specific measurements in mind. As a schoolboy, Omar enjoyed modifying normal bicycles into racing cycles and as he grew older, he switched to "toying" with motorcycles. In 2009, he set up a company called Eastern Bobber to build custom motorcycles and modify motorcycles. He also had a separate business specialising in making iron grilles, which was his main source of income. However, he sold his business in 2012 as he wanted to open a motorcycle workshop in the United States. His did not succeed in his venture and three months later, he returned to Malaysia. In 2015, he left for Abu Dhabi in the United Arab Emirates to work at a workshop that specialised in modifying motorcycles. It was here that he came up with the idea of making Bone X. Since home is where the heart is, Omar returned to Malaysia after six months and started his iron grille/motorcycle modification business all over again in Kajang. "Since the motorcycle modification business is not all that profitable, I still have to make iron grilles to earn a living and look after my family," he said. Most of his customers seek his services to get their two-wheelers modified in the likes of a cafe racer, boardtrekker or bratstyle motorcycle. "However, I don't do any modification that can endanger the life of the rider and is not fit for use on our roads," he added. IN NEED OF FUNDS While he is looking forward to showing off his prized Bone X at the prestigious global event in Germany later this year, Omar is still not satisfied with his bike's finishing. However, he would need another RM40,000 to spruce up Bone X and put all the finishing touches so that it met the required standards. "About 80 per cent of the finishing touches have yet to be completed and I have to do it by July," he said, adding that he hoped to get some sponsors to help him get Bone X in tip-top condition. To raise funds, Omar displays Bone X and his other creations at various exhibitions to attract the attention of the public, who are encouraged to give a donation if they wish to ride one of his bikes or pose for photographs with them. Another well-known creation of Omar is the Batpod, built along the lines of the motorcycle made popular by the comic superhero Batman, on which he had spent tens of thousands of ringgit. -- BERNAMA