Only those riding long enough will have frequented this small shop

As we celebrate our 15th year in the industry we take a quick look back of the key events in the industry, community and sport.

When helmets and motorcycles were not yet in vogue in the Philippines, this small shop located in the attic of a small garage in Petron gas station on EDSA corner Conneticut St. started selling affordable yet stylish quality helmets.

Action Hobbies co-owner Ryan Chao was a keen rider and, although his main store was selling RC cars and other action games, his passion for riding led him to venture into selling helmets and motorcycle safety gears in the early 2000’s.

At that time, he himself had a hard time looking for good helmets and gears locally that were good quality and affordable. His search for his personal gears led to a business that would grow tremendously in just 15 years.

Al Camba of IR was already a motorcycle enthusiast before the magazine started discovered Action Hobbies via the MCP forums and was a frequent tambay. He got to know the first two sales people there, Marian Madera and Arwin Lopez, before he met Ryan.

When IR was restarted in 2004, Action Hobbies was one of the main advertisers with their first brand ZEUS helmets. They were the first brand to promote the flip-up helmet, Zeus 508W, which became ultra popular because it lets air for ventilation when you are stopped in  traffic. Of course, it  was also very popular among smokers. Not to mention it looked very cool when the lid is up even with the monotone colors that it came with. Al Camba bought a grey one and used it to go around in Caloocan and to the many offices of the first few IR clients.

The ZEUS brand started the affordable but good qaulty helmet trend that is now so popular in the local market.

He became the official country distributor and began wholesaling to other small shops. He also brought in more gears other than helmets. These included leather suits, gloves, jackets, boots and protectors. The brands he carried were not limited anymore to affordable products but now included premium brands from Japan and Europe.

Not long after, Ryan opened his first Motoworld store in BGC in Taguig City and the rest is history. Now a separate shop from Action Hobbies, they now import and distribute everthing motorcycle related except the motorcycle unit itself. These include tires, lubricants, exhausts and helmet radio communication.

Motoworld is now one of the longest continuous supporter of InsideRacing not only thru print advertising but also in the annual IR Bikefests and IRGP race.

Through the years they have provided many helmets and gears for Al Camba to use in the first test rides and product  launch events.

Ryan also sponsored many local riders and teams in local racing and they continue to do so giving back to the sport and helping small teams. Local past champions Jolet Jao, Jaime Barcial, Jeff Chan, Danni Daquigan, John Lery Enriquez, Maico Buncio and many more wore helmets and suits provided by Ryan Chao.

More than ten years ago, Motoworld made a gamble and brought in GIVI topboxes for underbones and scooters.

At first, there was a slow repsonse and even resistance from the riders. But after expriencing the practicality and security provided by the top box, almost all riders have top boxes now. InsideRacing was sent twice to the GIVI plant in Malaysia to that we may help educate local riders about the top box. While many top box brands has since emerged, it was Motoworld and GIVI that first pushed it in the market.

Today, Motoworld is the largest chain of motorcycle safety gears, parts and accessory stores in the country with branches all over the Philippines and carry almost a hundred brands including premium brands from Europe,Japan and the US. Most of their shops are conveniently located in big shopping Malls.

Aside from Motoworld, they also have stand alone shops like MotoMarket and MotoStyle outlets in upscale locations and malls not onlynin Luzon but in the Visayas and Mindanao. They are akso very active in on line selling.

Today, it’s impossible to find a bonafide local motorycle enthusiast who don’t know of Motoworld and their products. In fact, it has become the “SM” for pinoy bikers!

Thank you Ryan for making InsideRacing a part of your succesfull endeavor to develop the local motorcycle industry and the use of proper safety gears. The usual Filipino riders are more protected because of Motoworld!