THERE are many fascinating stories surrounding Gunung Jerai — myths, legends, and tales tied to that iconic peak that has long been one of the standout landmarks in the Kedah rice bowl region.
Standing at 1,217 metres above sea level, straddling the districts of Kuala Muda and Yan, the mountain is said to have once served as a navigational landmark for merchant ships making their way toward the Straits of Melaka.
From the Modenas factory in Gurun, Kedah, the peak of that legendary mountain is clearly visible on the horizon.
And every Modenas owner — whether they realised it or not — has been carrying a piece of Gunung Jerai with them on every single ride. The mountain has been the quiet inspiration behind the Modenas logo since 2002.
The first-generation Kriss 110 was the first Modenas model to make its debut during the National Day parade in 1996, before full-scale production kicked off by the end of that same year.
Modenas has also previously achieved the milestone of breaking into numerous international markets since 1997 — starting with the Kriss 110, followed by the Kriss 120, X-Cite, GT128, Kristar, and the two-stroke Dinamik 120.
THE ‘ROAD STAR’ TAKES OVER
But the journey of the Gunung Jerai badge has now reached its final chapter. Modenas officially unveiled a new logo yesterday — one that will be applied across all future product lines going forward.
The first model to carry it is the Modenas Kriss 110 Euro 4 fuel-injected version.
I was among the motorcycle media invited to sit down with Modenas CEO Roslan Roskan for a clearer picture of the reasoning and purpose behind this rebrand.
Roslan explained:
“The Kriss model was first introduced in 1996 and Modenas will be celebrating its 30th anniversary next year.
“To ensure we remain relevant and continue to innovate — and to expand our products to the global stage — we are undertaking this rebranding exercise.
“This is not just about continuing our domestic legacy. Rebranding and refreshing our products demonstrates our commitment to new technology and new products.
“At the same time, our new products in the coming months will be geared more toward younger generation buyers. That is why we are doing this rebrand.”
THE M STAYS BUT GETS A SHARPER EDGE
The rebrand introduces a new typeface for the Modenas wordmark, while the logo itself retains the letter M — but reimagined with sharper, more angular geometry resembling the points of a star. Modenas has named this the ‘Road Star’.
This is actually the fourth iteration of the Modenas logo in the brand’s history — following versions used in 1996 to 2000, 2000 to 2002, and 2002 until yesterday.
According to Roslan, the letter M was retained to represent Modenas as a Malaysian product — but refreshed into a design that signals a brand looking well beyond its own shores.
“This logo is the result of brainstorming by several individuals internally, but we also gathered external input.
“Kawasaki was certainly involved, but I would say more than 90 percent of the design decisions came from us.”
Roslan added that the M is more modern and fresh this time around — reflecting a Modenas that no longer sees itself purely as a domestic player, but increasingly as a global one.
“From today onwards, all our new products will carry the new logo. Existing models currently in production will continue using the existing logo — including Kawasaki products under the Modenas brand.
He noted that the strategic planning behind this rebrand began two years ago, involving input from selected individuals, the internal Modenas team, market surveys, and business partners.
“I do not have a specific cost figure for the rebrand, but the amount is not small,” Roslan said.
REBRAND TARGETS YOUNGER BUYERS AND EXPORT GROWTH
The rebrand rollout will be done in stages — starting with major dealerships before extending progressively to medium and lower volume outlets.
One of the key objectives of the Modenas logo rebrand is to attract more young buyers — particularly Gen Z riders.
Roslan also shared that the rebrand is accompanied by several parallel activities — including partnerships being forged with global collaborators, and the anticipation of locally developed Modenas products to be produced by their own R&D team in the future.
On the topic of exports, Roslan said:
“Modenas has been exporting to the Middle East, Türkiye, and several other ASEAN countries — done in collaboration with our partner, specifically Kawasaki.
“The Kriss is also being planned as the next model for export to the Philippines. At the moment, we have a business partner who will help us expand the market to other countries beyond the Philippines.
“As you know, Kawasaki has an extensive network across the ASEAN market.”
The Modenas rebrand signals that Malaysia’s national motorcycle manufacturer is serious about growing its footprint beyond home soil.
In fact, Modenas has already opened a new market in China this year through the export of the supersport ZX-6R. The Modenas Karisma 125S scooter has also been rebranded as the Brusky 125 specifically for the Philippine market.
The Gunung Jerai inspiration may no longer be embedded in the new badge — but I have no doubt that loyal Modenas fans want to see their national brand soar even higher through fresh, relevant products that keep pace with the times, right alongside the birth of the Road Star.
Here is to the next chapter, Modenas. Godspeed.
