AllanB

A stuffed belt doesn't normally whine, so suspect gearbox. Does it happen all the time and vary in pitch with road speed?

What we have done before is to leave early 5/6am, knock off a 100km then find breakfast still before 8am, and in this case 1/4 of our riding is done already. After breakfast do 150km and then an early lunch, say 11am, tank up and that leaves the whole afternoon to do 150km, then stop early.

Being on the Mittapap road, Route 2 so early has to be a good idea and 90kph will keep us ahead of the trucks.

Then the afternoon run can be done in 3 or even 4 short stints, knowing we have up to 6 hours to do 150km and find some digs.

That's the theory but never done 400km before, even solo....

They only gave me another I year licence as I didn't have visa, only an extension, however, a friend of mine didn't even have his passport and was given a 5 year one from the same office in Khon Kaen. He gave them some old pony about his passport being at the consulate, or something and he was in and out in 15 minutes.

TIT, I guess.

When we were in Vietnam on the little Wave we did 300km on our very best day on good roads, max speed probably 60/70kph, so I thought 400km on a bigger bike and that's it.

The last time I road the NV 90kph cruising felt good as a maximum, so thought 80-90 would be comfortable 2 up on the open road.

The reason I am contemplating a new bike is reliability, but with most renewable parts replaced (plus a couple more that will be) and the rest of the bike is strong and should get there. The NV is quite comfortable for a passenger, being a semi-cruiser and I have struggled to find anything on the market to compete.

We also have my brother in law as emergency back up, he has my old 2 door Toyota and could come get us if we breakdown big-time.

Last year I did an easy 300km round trip on the NV, accompanied by a mate on a PCX150 and comfortable speeds were about the same, I thought we were doing 80kph, but found the speedo was out on my old bike and that we were actually doing 90.

So I am still thinking about 400km as a maximum.

When the weather gets cooler later this year I plan on as many trips as I can, as usual with Mrs AllanB, possibly on the old NV400, if not a new CB300... So I wonder what the rest of you would consider a days riding, assuming mainly main roads and not busting a gut. How fast do you ride as a maximum on such a trip and how many hours per day, early morning, late evening riding?.......oh and the bike you ride, solo/pillion, alone or with chums?

My first trip is to be a 600km trip from Khon Kaen to Kho Chaing, easily my favourite island, I know how far it is as we just got back from a family holiday in the truck and was just longing to be on the bike. So, as I say 600 doorstep to ferry.

The second the Mae Hong Song Loop, which is also 600km away, to the start point that is, but stopping at my mates house in Uttaradit at km410, hoping to do that hop in a day after an early start.

After that Laos, so possibly Vientiane, which should be easy at 200 plus crossing.

A common thread here seems to be the CBR250 and having ridden one for a very short time, I understand why. I felt that my whole body was distorted and cramped, upper and lower, it was almost impossible to get comfortable, even for a short while. This bike is too small for a 6 footer, but maybe not that suitable for shorter people either, it seems.

I was looking at buying a CB300 later this year, but will definitely rent one for a while first, my back is not too bad these days (FLW) and would like to keep it that way.

Having a bad back is not gangs of fun.

Weather wise only.....I used a mates bike [H D Dresser} one day only,i had no rain to test it, but he said it was quite good for rain protection....Worst thing for me was, as i had a full beard, was that because a negative pressure area formed behind the screen my beard was being sucked forward and covering my face and vision a lot and i had to put a couple of rubberbands and make like a ponytail with it...bloody distracting for sure. ..I also felt that a lot of extra heat from engine was sucking up into the zone behind the screen when riding...seemed that way anyway...to me it also seemed to catch a lot of wind eg when passing trucks etc went by it seemed to react more in the turbulence...just my experience.. and i guess if you don't have a beard its not a big issue...my mate swore by the screen...said it was the best thing ever for him and did as a screen should do..

Those are my worst fears, the heat that is, not the beard problem.

I am not going to fit anything that makes the heat worse, summer or winter. I guess I kind of expected that since my missus always complains about being hot when I am cool on a longish ride. I am her windscreen.

I don't ride much in the rain, not on my big bike anyway, I find it a bit scary being invisible and not being able to see clearly, plus the damn thing is so hard to clean afterwards. The Wave is easy to ride slowly, more maneuverable and hoses down afterwards.

So I guess no then, thought I would check. Thanks

I was thinking about fitting a windscreen to my bike, either my NV400 or it;s replacement, possibly a CB300 and have a few questions.

1. What is it like riding with a screen this weather, much hotter, a little hotter, very little difference?

2. Are they easily removable?

3. Where can I buy a screen and what sort of cost?

4. Are the screens interchangeable/transferable between bikes, these two for instance?

5. They seem good for touring, but what about for city riding, are they much of an impairment?

And any general advice SVP..

75mm bar risers on my cbr helped a lot.

Slightly off topic, did the bar risers get the riding position anywhere close to the CB250/300? I know you have a 150 but the principle is the same.

Nothing spells cool in Thailand like a middle aged guy astride a noisy motor bike. Get looks of envy and lust from all the security guards and road painters.

Steady on mate, having a motorcycle means you have a bit of money and a pulse, that's why you get looks.

As for the geezers they are all on 100cc puddle jumpers, so anything above that is a hoot for them.

As for those "construction workers" looking at you lustfully , well I will leave that to you to deal with, whatever you deem fit, "wearing leathers" helps in that situation, so I am told. ​

Are there any YMCA's in Thailand?

If it is a new bike try some back strengthening exercises and those for loosening the hips, these are perfect because Karate is all about loose hips https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DYJyfL3c2W8.

Don't laugh but trying riding with you legs open which will cause you straighten your back slightly.

Works for me, had back problems right up until I began doing Karate, don't do it now but practice the warm ups when feeling a bit jaded.

Jo Modify in Khon Kaen seems to know what he is doing, always big bikes in there.

My bike exhaust is loud. When I come up to a light people stare back at my bike though when they hear it. Often get smiles and thumbs ups. One older gentleman rolled his tinted Benz window to give me his approving thumb's up. If the light says over a 100 seconds I shut it off as the heat is not comfortable and even i don't want to hear it idle for a long time. I think the HD's have a different exhaust note which is quite loud. Often the riders wear ear plugs. And the 2 Strokes are very twangy and in your face for 5 city blocks. The 4 strokes that have huge fart pipes that has no power band and sounds like it's farting the whole time for 2kms. A sports bike has the sound of sex, similar to Ferrari, lambo, etc. most people like that noise.

The interesting thing about 2 strokes is just how far that sound travels, in the UK we used to have a kid who had a little bike and every Saturday morning the little sod would wake everyone in the street up. One morning I decided to find him and tell him off, I was surprised to find him close to a mile away from our street and you could hear it way above the same sized lawn mower engine, used by the guy right next door.

We used to build off-road Karts (160cc) and Dune Buggies (650cc) for the corporate entertainment market and had to submit a noise report to some councils, the big issue was not how noisy the Karts were, it was how far the sound carried. Our machines all employed low rpm 4-strokes and passed easily on both counts, but our clients were advised against any mods to the silencers, or they would lose their licences. Our main competitor, the Honda Pilot was a 2-stroke and were only quite because they were heavily governed, but then suffered from running and starting issues as a result.

Most of the HD's I have heard are not unduly or startlingly noisy, especially on tickover and I am inclined to agree that the sound can quite pleasurable (though I wouldn't have one myself) and in any case riders tend to be using the low rpm torque curve, at least for city riding and that does sound cool.

The problem with overly loud exhausts is that is a distraction and any distraction is bad for other road users. People look around at you instead of what they should be looking at, or they may be startled by the loud noise and perhaps deviate from their normal course, endangering people around them, even the guy making all the bloody noise himself.

Balance this against any slight advantage to the noisy git himself (perceived or otherwise) and you have a pretty selfish person. IMO opinion a selfish person living in a fools paradise, thinking everyone will jump out of his way and let the "big boy" through.

I agree that a distinctive exhaust note could also be a distraction, but less so, less startling and in any case where do you draw the line?

I question if a driver who is easily startled by an overly loud exhaust thereby endangering other road users should actually be on the roads.

I agree that a rider with an overly loud exhaust is a d**k but disagree with the rest of your post.

So you have never been startled or distracted by a loud engine, perhaps you are stone deaf? As to your point about those easily startled shouldn't be on the road, I agree those with a nervous disposition shouldn't be allowed on the road, but they are and who is going to ban them? TIT.

And how are these poor scooter girls supposed to hear when they on their mobile phones, with all that racket?

The problem with overly loud exhausts is that is a distraction and any distraction is bad for other road users. People look around at you instead of what they should be looking at, or they may be startled by the loud noise and perhaps deviate from their normal course, endangering people around them, even the guy making all the bloody noise himself.

Balance this against any slight advantage to the noisy git himself (perceived or otherwise) and you have a pretty selfish person. IMO opinion a selfish person living in a fools paradise, thinking everyone will jump out of his way and let the "big boy" through.

I agree that a distinctive exhaust note could also be a distraction, but less so, less startling and in any case where do you draw the line?

Long sleeve T shirt. Jeans. Boots and a 3/4 helmet. The sleeves are for the sun burn on my arms and upper torso. Believe it or not, sunblock blocks more than sun. It blocks pores, so you can't sweat. The long sleeves allow you to sweat. Jeans for below the waist. Boots for solid grip on whatever surface. Sun block for the back of my hands. I use ladies hair bands to hold my sleeves down to limit how high my sleeves can ride up my arms. I leave the lower end of the sleeves hanging loose to get more airflow in the sleeves. I have even opened the fly of my jeans and propped my legs up on the pegs to let air flow through.

The helmet is for my nose ears and face. Sunblock will just not do the trick. I even had some Banana Boat SPF 110, Still burned.

I agree regarding sunblocks, but noooooooooooo! not a T Shirt. Your neck/shoulder area will burn like buggari, may even get sunstroke, get a shirt with a collar and then put the collar up.

Not sure about riding around Thailand "Biggles Flies Undone" with legs akimbo style in public, not the right message I suspect. Still if you think the Police will buy it, who am I to criticise?

Suppose you will know when your chain needs adjusting? 555

Not a honda i know,but on the subject of chain check out the chain deflection on this beast....immagine how much pipe would be left on the honda

https://youtu.be/hDlGHVeH8Io

I don't think there will be much damage at all, the instant the chain touches the exhaust, the almighty racket with cause any sane person to leave the bike on the side of the road and walk.

There is a plonka born every minute.

A friend of mine is thinking of buying one , but they are very small bikes, 150cc seems quite suited to this especially with a lightweight young Thai guy/gal on board. They seem quite well finished and the style is good, as to the long term, who knows, but anyway I don't fit one , so not at all for me.

I am also a sweaty mother and burn easily, wearing a long sleeved shirt, cargo pants, socks and shoes is the only answer around town and gloves too. That is about as cool as you can be, collar up and sleeves buttoned down and then get a silk balaclava. I probably don't look cool but really I am.

I was one of the pioneers of windsurfing fully clothed (okay shirt and shorts) in Australia in the early eighties, a few people laughed, who gives a ship? Back then us Brits were all pretty stupid in the sunshine, probably because we hadn't seen it before, I got burned once/twice and learned. Then the Ausis bought out "Slip Slop Slap" after seeing me setting the trend.

I have never heard of anyone earning a reward here for being the best dressed, so that's okay by me.

Sunbollocks are expensive, greasy and wear off without warning.

I only ride on the hard shoulder if it is clear ahead and then give myself plenty of time to move out when I see something that looks anything like a problem. There are lumps and bumps in the road too, so it don't make much odds.

The "keep left" law here doesn't get enforced so as far as I am concern it doesn't exists, I ride where I think it is safest at all times.

200baht fine is in no way a sanction worth anything at all.

Anyway glad you are Okay mate.

That's what I did. I was the only one on the road, if I did anything wrong it was not stopping at the obstruction, and coaxing my bike on the the first lane before I arrived at the obstruction. That's what I did the rest of my journey home.

Listen mate, I am not and would not criticise anyone's driving in this situation, we are all doing our best out there. The point I am making is about the law and that if it isn't enforced it doesn't count and even if it were enforced I would still do things my own way in order to stay safe. The fuzz here don't always have my own personal safety in mind.

One day I will get stopped and fined for going through the underpass, so what, I will still continue until they make the alternative safer.

Thanks for sharing your experience, I for one will store it in my memory bank for another day hence.

I only ride on the hard shoulder if it is clear ahead and then give myself plenty of time to move out when I see something that looks anything like a problem. There are lumps and bumps in the road too, so it don't make much odds.

The "keep left" law here doesn't get enforced so as far as I am concern it doesn't exists, I ride where I think it is safest at all times.

200baht fine is in no way a sanction worth anything at all.

Anyway glad you are Okay mate.

Hats off to guys that put some thought and work into these bike, almost Cafe Racer philosophy, but with the cash of today. Very nice job though.

We need an Ace Cafe in Thailand, where are the entrepreneurs? This bike would look good turning up there.

My HD is too loud. It has HD pipes but they are not stock. I bought it new (DEMO) from HD like that.

I am planning some baffle rework to quieten it up a bit.

That's the ticket...

I doubt that any thai will notice that my bikes are stock and dont create noise. Usually its the opposite. So how can i "set an example" Alan?

Yes, unless you are making an almighty din, no one will notice...errr?

If you not making an almighty din, then you are setting an example...

The fat bloke (Dutchbike) with the tattoos, bandanna, beard and roll-up pictured above is a bad example...sorry mate no offence.