RIDER'S PASSION: MechaniKalikot Motovlog

Rider's Passion: MechaniKalikot Motovlog and how his fascination with motorcycles and vlogging started.

Motovlogging has been one of the mainstream things that motorcycle riders has been doing other than going on rides for a while now. Big or small, some documents their adventures, reviews rides and gears, tackle issues revolving motorcycle riding or just plain lifestyle recording. In the sea of these vloggers, you would seldom see a vlogger who would be doing a video that is worth your while. More often than not, the videos nowadays revolves around accidents or videos of riders blatantly disobeying road rules. This is the reason as well why vloggers who wanted to feature a channel where you can always learn a thing or two gets overshadowed, let's get to know a rider and a motovlogger who advocates motorcycle knowledge first and foremost this time.

Alfred Igban or MechaniKalilot Motovlog behind his cameras and his ride Kawasaki Rouser RS200 (A bike that has been featured by us before) is a 28 years old Mechanical Engineer and a full time washing machine and electric fan Product Development Engineer for Panasonic Philippines.

Why ride a motorcycle? "In all honesty, at first, I was not a firm believer of motorcycle riding" According to Alfred, he was raised by his parents' strict guidance not to ride a motorcycle due the dangers that the two wheels entails. As a resident and growing in Taytay, Rizal where motorcycling community has been buzzling to the point where even minors ride one and people consider it as one of the major ways to travel, his friends who are mostly a total enthusiasts of two wheels finds Igban weird that a resident of Taytay didn't own a motorcycle and worst, didn't know how to ride one.

This poked his interest of motorcycles and he started to gain more influence from two of his colleagues who owns a Kawasaki Ninja 650 (Oliver) and KTM RC200 (Russel). These are two of the people who have influenced him greatly, the two are eager to let Igban learn how to ride a motorcycle and gain the passion to the point where they would insist on Alfred to ride their bikes which was always turned down due to the fear of crashing a bike that he does not own. After a few thoughts, Alfred decided to get himself a bike that he can use to practice without the guilt or fear of crashing a borrowed bike as he finally owns one.

"Tip ko for people that do not have any experience and are getting interested to buy and learn about motorcycling, sundin n'yo ang puso niyo! Hindi kayo magsisisi sa pagmo-motor." -Alfred Igban

"Being a car guy at first, I really enjoy very long road trips. I felt very safe within the four corners of my car." But this all changed when he realized the severity of the traffic condition in the Philippines is. Late time ins for work and missed appointments and commitments are some of his worst experiences of car riding. This made his love for motorcycling and riding grow even stronger, according to him "What I loved the most about motorcycling is that exhilarating feeling when you sit on the motorcycle and hear its engine start. As you engage the first gear, hindi mawawala yung anxiety not to crash and as you set the gear higher, the adrenaline keeps you going. When approaching a corner, downshifts and cornering lean angles are a thing of beauty."

Igban has been a part of the motorcycling community for a while now and there hasn't been a thing that he didn't liked about it. This is specially true when his circle of friends grew because of his ride, this is the community where he found a loyal group who have the highest support for what he does. "Shout out sa inyo, Team Goku! It was a pleasure knowing you all. Sobrang solid n'yo!"

Why is it MechaniKalikot Motovlog? "MechaniKalikot derives from 2 words: Mechanical, since I am a Mechanical Engineer by education and profession, and Kalikot, due to my fascination na magbutingting ng mga bagay bagay". Igban Found it very appropriate for his page and channel to name it as it is as he wanted to integrate the things that he has learned in college and in his profession to his vlogs and content creations. He has been a huge fan of Engineering Explained YouTube Channel and he Alfred wanted to follow this steps and share his knowledge to his channel in a Filipino way.

It was the early days of the pandemic and lockdown around March 2020 when the plans and the decision to make a motovlogging channel sparked for Alfred. When his job decided the assess the CoVid situation for a month where their whole operation halted, he got stuck at home and the majority of his time became filled with with watching vlogs on YouTube. Motodeck and Motour Pilipinas is his go to place for these videos and since he finally owned a motorcycle and he enjoys travelling, he asked himself "Why not document my memories?". He bought a cheap action camera which he straps on just anywhere on his bike and helmet and started recording and eventually, vlogging.

Motodeck and Motour Pilipinas became his inspiration for what he has been enjoying now. He sees the two just carefree enjoying what they love and documenting each moment to tell a story about that day. Other than the travel vlogs, Alfred loves to research and review things that are motorcycle related. He is a bookworm when it comes to motorcycles, he didn't just studied about the motorcycles and it's parts, he studied it well. The engine, the oils and lubrications, tires and gears like helmets, boots and jackets were the focus of these studies and researching. This became a habit making him over cautious on the things that he puts or use on his ride. To add to his contents, the vast knowledge that he gained on this researches became of the things that he wanted to share other than his adventures. He wanted to make the time that his viewers were alloting him worthwhile by sharing the things he knows and Technikaalaman was born! A segment on his Facebook page discussing and sharing knowledge of motorcycles and anything related.

We asked Alfred what MechaniKalikot will look like in the near future and where he'll be, we're not surprised to hear his response "Definitely riding and motovlogging, for sure! I can see myself still enjoying my soon to be Kawasaki Versys 650. Guys, you better watch it out kasi di ko talaga palalampasin ang February 2022 na hindi ko nakukuha!"

He hopes as well that he becomes a successful educator and influencer in the future sharing everything that he learned experience wise or technically to the motorcycle community. "I just want to make the world a better place and educate people one by one in my own way". He wanted to eradicate the fake news and false information and prevent the existing ones from spreading.