Singapore to Malaysia
One Last Ride
In Singapore a motorcycle comes with an expiry date: when its COE runs out, the bike is done, no matter how healthy it is. December 2023, my KTM RC 200 had weeks left on the clock. It deserved better than a quiet trip to the scrapyard, so it got a fresh service, new tyres, and four days across the causeway. One last ride.
The Route
Day 1: Toa Payoh, Singapore → Mersing (coastal ride)
Day 2: Mersing → Malacca (UNESCO heritage city)
Day 3: Malacca → Johor Bahru (exploring JB)
Day 4: Johor Bahru → Singapore (go-karting & return)
Total Distance: ~800 km over 4 days
The Experience
Earning in Singapore dollars and spending in ringgit is the travel hack nobody talks about enough. This was not a trip about roughing it; it was about eating like a king on a small bike.
Mersing brought salt air and jetty seafood. Malacca brought UNESCO streets, Peranakan shophouses, and chicken rice balls worth the queue. Johor Bahru closed it out with street food and a go-karting session: one last hit of speed before the causeway home. Four days, one small bike. It earned its retirement.
If You Go
- •Paperwork: A Vehicle Entry Permit (VEP) is mandatory for Singapore-registered vehicles; sort it before you cross.
- •Tolls: Load a Touch 'n Go card before leaving Singapore.
- •Fuel: Fill up in Malaysia. RON 95 costs a fraction of Singapore prices.
- •Timing: The east coast has a monsoon season from November to February. We got lucky in December; you might not.
Eat Here
- Mersing: Grilled fish and butter prawns at the jetty
- Malacca: Chicken rice balls at Hoe Kee, satay celup at Capitol, cendol on Jonker Street
- Johor Bahru: Banana cake at Hiap Joo Bakery, laksa Johor
Highlights
🏖️ Mersing
A fishing town that doubles as the gateway to Tioman Island. Coastal views, fresh seafood, nobody in a hurry.
🏛️ Malacca
Dutch colonial architecture, Peranakan culture, and Jonker Walk street food. A UNESCO site you can eat your way through.
🏎️ JB Go-Karting
A session at KF1 Karting Circuit: the right way to end a trip built around speed.
🍜 The Food
Nasi lemak, chicken rice balls, laksa Johor. This trip was as much about eating as riding.
Gallery
