This one is from my recent travels to Bali - Kuta, ringing in the new year. I have always wondered what is it that makes step-thrus a.k.a mopeds so famous with the Indonesians. What is their obsession with a cycle like motorbike with a powerful motor between the legs. Especially with the mopeds are thin, almost negligible width fairings, thin tires and bigger diameter wheels.

One has to ride a motorbike there to know the two wheeler scene. That's what I did. Rented a Yamaha Tmax for a day and logged in 120kms. The roads here are narrow with heavy traffic congestion. A small narrow passage is left out on either side of the roads for the two wheelers to pass. Often these narrow passages leads on to the pedestrian pavements.

This is where the not so wide body makes for easy slippery ways and the thin tires mounted on bigger rims make the pavement-road-pavement transition effortless. Me with the Tmax super scooter simply weren't made for this adventurous traffic.

They do love their mopeds and I for one appreciate the big brands catering to this specific need, calls for appreciation for understanding the commute scene and traffic problems.

P.S : I have started to lust on a Suzuki Raider 150. Look it up, it is almost a cycle with a motor in it. 19bhp fuel injected undergone and very active in the drag races and road races there.

Happy new year !
Karthik R