RidersCorner

The Garmin Montana 600 series is awesome - nothing comes close

https://buy.garmin.c...D=75227&ra=true

We've got the the best for north Thailand, come pick one up from Rider's Corner Bar & restaurant in Chiang Mai if you need one

http://www.riderscorner.net/gps_maps_and_products

Friday 8 JUNE 2012 Chiang Mai ToyRide - Chiang Dao

Todays (8th June, 2012) Chiang Mai Toy Ride event was to the Wat Si Un Mueang & school just south of Chiang Dao, 63km north of Chiang Mai.

Initially looking like it might be a rainy ride north from Tesco Lotus in Chiang Mai, luckily the rain lifted an hour before departure- Dave Early, co-chairman of the Chiang Mai Toy Ride giving a final briefing on the route.

Arriving at Wat Si Un Mueang, it was quite a surprise how beautiful it was, especially the bright colors in the sunlight

After the dancing time for the gift giving

more photo's over on the Ride Asia website under the topic Chiang Mai Toy Ride - Chiang Dao

Gearbox on mine is as smooth as silk, must be specific to Lan's bike.

Is it ok to have a gik? (lover)(aka honda crf250l 4 day off road review)

Ermmmmmmmm! Where do I start? I’m not even sure if this is the correct place to be sharing and divulging this unfortunate predicament I’ve got myself into!! If the post needs moving or deleting please feel free!!

It all started a couple of weeks ago! I have been with my current thai partner for almost 3 years now, we’ve been every where together yes we’ve had a few minor problems along the way but I really am happy with the way she responds to me and very very happy with the way she makes me feel, so why should I need to be unfaithful or why should I feel the need to have extra curricular pleasures?

I feel so guilty and ungrateful, its not as if she’s done anything really wrong or even let me down, I think this is why I feel so bad!!! I know it’s all me, its my fault and my wandering eye!!!!

But when I grasp her b*****s she effortlessly purrs away and knows what’s coming next!!

(missing word was bar-ends by the way!!!)

Ok, more detail

My current partner is a 2009 klx 250, my gik is a 2012 crf250L, all round in better shape, feels tighter, not so tall, a touch slimmer maybe, very responsive, but I know they all are in the 1st few weeks eh?

I have been able to work it, so we are away together for a few days, mae hong son, pai, chiang dao etc yes I know really romantic places too!!, I was sort of hoping that the gik was gonna let herself down, you know, not perform, maybe not like it when I give it to her hard!! maybe even have a breakdown, you just don’t know with these thai girls do you?

I didn’t tell you, I’ve also bought along the klx too for comparison, sure she might have an idea something’s not quite right but we are being careful and I have got a young fit german guy here too to help out with the deceit!!! And also act as a decoy!

So how is the gik doing?

WOW, what a wonderful experience, more responsive and Quicker to respond! Forgiving! and this ones not a pain in the ass too!!

100% reliable and more economical!

Now she really does seem to like it in the dirt too, now that is unusual!! I’m sure that will change after a few times it normally does!!!

I’m not into rubber usually but standard issue are really good even in the dirt!!!! Oops, here we go again!!!

Will the grass be greener? Will the novelty wear off? Is it normal to feel like this at my age? Should I know better?

She really doesn’t seem to mind when I am astride her, at 110 kgs!!! It must be true then that thai girls like pumpui man after all!!! All those times in pattaya I heard it, I just thought yeh yeh yeh!!!

So I suppose I need some advice from my friends, should I forget about my new love and simply put my heart and mind and my effort into my current ride?

ok, I could spend abit of money on her, that always goes down well!!! Take her out even more regularly, don’t look at others when I’m with her, cause they really do see us!!! All that stuff!

But you know and I know when your whistles been wetted!!!! She’s just not gonna feel the same again is she? they never really do, do they?, not so slim , showing her age, even a few strange noises!!! She never did that when we 1st met!!!!

Then there’s that whining noise, Yes I could try more lube!!!!

Or is it just a case of having my head turned by some cheap floozy, a new on the block tart!! and will she just turn out the same as all the others, costing a fortune!, unreliable, not meeting all my needs and getting tired really early and maybe refusing to let me up that slippery dirt track!!!!!!!!

You just don’t know where it’s all gonna lead eh!!!!! It could end it tears, it normally does!!

What we did!

900 kms in 4 days, 4 days of as hard as it gets double and single track, off-road mountain riding in N Thailand, no its not a moto crosser or a gas gas or a quad, it’s a fukin great dualsport, standard equipped Honda with more balls than Marina ladyboy bar on a fight night!!!!!

Time will tell if it can stand the pace, I think it will, I hope it does too, the add on’s and mod’s will be being made faster than a thai girl can call her mum after the lottery’s been announced !!!!

3 different riders this week, no real complaints, no problems, no shortfalls, no whinging!!! Fuk that’s a miracle for farang in Thailand (thank fuk this is not a post on thai visa!!!!!!)

I think we’re gonna be hearing more good reports on this baby!!

What would I modify? Not that it needs owt doing desperately!!!

Klx style gear shifter

metal sump/bash plate

Higher bars, I really do miss standing up on this bike

Proppa knobblies as most of my riding is off road, but it was more planted with standard issue than the klx with full brandnew knobblies!!

a slightly bigger rear sprocket (I reckon this will make a big difference and be awesome)

Rear rack for my tools and overnight bag!!!! A must for me!

Maybe bark busters, not that I actually bust much bark, maybe just cut the levers down a bit and then watch where I’m fukin going!!!!!

Today I rode the CRF for about 2 hrs of hard riding, single track mainly, it was really really good, cant believe how good the tyres are and we’ve had loads of rain! Power delivery is instant and smooth, 2nd gear doesn’t have much engine breaking so that’s why I would change the rear sprocket, I prefer to engine brake going downhill in the slippy stuff!

When I got back on the klx, it felt sort of agricultural, lazy, you know the feeling I’m sure! It does sort of feel appreciative though (yeh, just like an ugly fat girl!!!)

One thing that stands out for me is when you make a mistake on the klx it sort of shakes it’s head and makes you feel all nervy ( bit like the ex missus in UK) but the CRF, just deals with it but also rises to the challenge and puts a fukin great smile on yer face at the same time and even makes you feel like a better rider!!!

Seriously, I think I rode the CRF at least 25% quicker than the klx, due to the above but also it feels so light and nimble and please remember this is a standard set up, out of the showroom bike!!!!!!

On my klx I was lagging behind the pack all twitchy and edgy, on the crf I was waiting for them to catch up, both the other guys in my opinion are excellent riders, I am an average but regular rider that doesn’t like wet, red or green stuff on the trails!

I do also think though that I could be led astray with the CRF, riding faster etc etc

Note

There was some slight noise in the gearbox/final drive region, it's not getting any worse infact it’s quitened down, the gearbox doesn’t feel as good as on the klx , in my opinion that is the only area the klx has the edge, but watch this space!!!!!

So there you have it, I have spoken to the other guys, who rode the CRF more than me (as I’d already ridden it for a day last week) both were very very impressed.

I think it will beat the d tracker all round too, as is!!!!!

One word of advice though, is be careful as I think all your mates (even your true mates) will want to ride her!!! They might not admit it or come clean with their intentions but when your back’s turned!! They’ll be sneeking a look and a touch!!!!!

stay safe

this life is not a rehearsal!!!

Great idea

Tony,

How about posting a sticky about various rides around Thailand, with comments about pros and cons, level of difficulty (whether suitable for beginners or advanced riders only, a bit like grading ski slopes), recommended overnight stops, restaurants etc etc?

Everyone can then post their own observations as well.

Ray - I've taken a Thai registered bike, in a Thai registered pick-up from Nong Khai, Thailand, northbound, across the friendship bridge into Vientiane, Laos. As not many people do this is can be confusing for the Thai Customs official and actually at first they said it can't be done, I think the Thai Customs officer was new. Her boss got involved and figured it out. What they do is, on the Thai Customs temporary export document for the car, at the bottom there is a section for notes. In the notes section they make notation that a Thai registered motorcycle is being temporary exported from Thailand with the pickup with the frame VIN and engine number noted.

Its kind of hit and miss --- currently they are letting Thai registered bikes north-bound into Laos at Nong Khai, Thailand.

Ray - Fuark over in Vientiane is an excellent mechanic, not so far from you, any way you can get the bike there?

Quit wasting money on shade tree mechanics and get your bike to someone who knows what they are doing, or fix it yourself. You're retired, so I imagine you should have plenty of free time on your hands. The virago engine is not very complex. One cylinder has spark but doesn't fire could be any number of problems. Are you sure the cylinder is getting fuel? Have you checked the timing? Eliminate the simple possibilities first. And it should go without saying- don't ride the bike if it's only firing on one cylinder!!!

Sorry Mai Dai, I'm no mechanic. I think it's timing. Shade tree mechanics is all we have in UDON

Vientene woud be great, the bike has a real book on it. But the last I heard you can't enter Lao from Nong Khai with a bike although you can come into Thailand there.

Ray - Fuark over in Vientiane is an excellent mechanic, not so far from you, any way you can get the bike there?

Quit wasting money on shade tree mechanics and get your bike to someone who knows what they are doing, or fix it yourself. You're retired, so I imagine you should have plenty of free time on your hands. The virago engine is not very complex. One cylinder has spark but doesn't fire could be any number of problems. Are you sure the cylinder is getting fuel? Have you checked the timing? Eliminate the simple possibilities first. And it should go without saying- don't ride the bike if it's only firing on one cylinder!!!

Sorry Mai Dai, I'm no mechanic. I think it's timing. Shade tree mechanics is all we have in UDON

Another great road in the Nan region that hasn't been explored much is R 4001, about 66km north of Nan city, great windy bends with fantastic views.

Map Copyright RideAsia dot net

This is what the road looks like

A friend just took a CRF 250 L on a 500km test ride up to Chiang Rai & on the Chiang Rai monthly group ride, great thing to do if you're in the area, now on the 10th of every month. He's now sold on the bike and will be ordering one..

He's done a full report on the ride asia website... i think the heading is : The Honda CRF250L on the 'saddlebags' Ride (his photo's wont copy over) take a look - interesting read.

You'll make it back

I am very sorry to hear your bad news. May i suggest that before you see a lawyer you ask yourself if it cannot be sorted out without one, as I fear they will only cost you a lot of money and do nothing to help the situation. Presumably the house is hers anyway, 50% of everything that came into the marriage after you were married is hers, do you want custody of the child (you are unlikely to get it anyway), can you not agree a maintenance provision yourself?

Never, ever DIY when assets and children are involved.

If you make a stupid deal at the Amphur office without advice, it becomes legally enforceable.

For example child main by court order, 100bht a day to the person having the child plus 50/50 on health and school.

So if you do 50/50 custody (very usual) neither pays child maint.

If you use government health and school, only a couple of thousand baht a year each.

You won't believe the number of guys I meet that voluntarily gave up their right to custody (forever) for their kids, with a huge monthly pay off, and a free house and car for mum at the Amphur office. In Thailand men have rights over their children and their property, not like the west AT ALL.

If you paid for a house, you can get at least half back, no matter what papers you signed to say it was hers. If you kept records of transferring in money you may well get it all back. Same for the car, doesn't matter whose name it was in, if you were married at the time of purchase.

I am so much in agreement with this... so true.. it happened to me.

If you and your wife are on reasonable terms then sketch out a settlement that you both are OK with then together go to a lwayer.. prewarn him this is not a acrimonious split and that you are both coming to just get it in place and legal.

Good luck I lost over 1.5M AUD in property on mine.. poor as a church mouse now but still whistlin....

You can get 3rd party insurance for bike that have the excise tax paid

I presume any insurance company will not insure, unless said motorcycle is fully legit. ie issued with a green book.

Socks would be tricky!

We all should be happy that biking in the north becomes popular for the masses. Maybe we can also get "I rode the 1148" socks in future? I wouldn't mind riding my scooter in Bangkok in shorts, flip-flops showing my great new socks

There's a lot of new interest in riding the Nan region, this was released to today, brand new Nan riding related product, apologies if it diverted you.

I was enjoying this thread as well until a sponsor just totally hijacked it,bang out of order!

Trying to source some decent quality hats as we type. It's a brand new concept, seems to be getting a lot of interest.

"I rode the 1148" T-Shirt. Is there also a baseball cap available? What price?

On the subject of riding in the Nan region, Thailand, R 1148 is this area, with its perfect curves, great road surface, spectacular views & light car traffic, is one of the best motorcycling roads in south east Asia.

A friend came up with the idea of creating a R 1148, Nan riding t shirt to commemorate this awesome motorcycling riding road. So they have just been finished this week and will be available through Rider's Corner Bar & Restaurant, Chiang Mai, a Thai Visa sponsor. They are made in 100% cotton, prices start from 350 Bht.

T-Shirts copyright GT-Rider.net/ Golden Triangle Shirts

If you can't get to the restaurant to pick one up, any of the following URL's will take you to the webstore where you can purchase a t shirt:

http://golden-triangle-shirts.net/

http://goldentriangleshirts.com/

http://www.gt-rider.net

http://golden-triangle-shirts.com/

http://goldentriangleshirts.net/

The Nan region has some of the most fantastic motorcycle roads in Thailand, it's still pretty much unknown to most unless you live and ride in Thailand. We've got the Nan region mapped pretty good and the road and trail data is available on the RideAsia road and off-road gps map, available on ThaiVisa in the link below:

Great report Tony!

Some of the roads you rode shown on our map, zoomed for the Nan region.

We're currently working on a Nan printed map as I type this which will be available before high season.

Great days racing on Sunday 28th May, 2012 at the Bira Circuit (race track) Pattaya.

Results from the SB1 (1000cc class)

1st Stamp (24)

2nd Colin Butler (33)

3rd Bell (55)

4th Luke Stokes (70)

There's a full report on the Ride Asia website (the images won't copy to here) look for the "round 1 of racing at Bira Track" heading ---some great photo's of the Pirelli track girls!

The green Kawasaki ZX10 in mid-crash, no serious injuries in either crash

.

Take a look in the Laos Ride Reports section on the Ride Asia website .... there's a sticky at the top with all the Laos border crossings

All well and good until you have a warranty claim on an expensive, parallel imported, new bike, or just want to get it serviced. Remember all these new bikes are extremely complicated and need authorized service centers proprietary computer software these days.

Try get Ducati Thailand to service or do warranty work on a grey imported Ducati.

"Freedom to offer great prices"? Really?

Not sure what cave you live in, but here in the real world when they released the new CB'r' 250 we witnessed many greedy Honda dealers in Thailand completely ignore the AP Honda MSRP and charge huge markups on the new 250cc thumper.

The MSRP was perhaps a "great price", but how many dealers ever sold the bike at the AP Honda MSRP?

So far we see with the CRF250L the same pattern of price gouging that occurred with the CB'r' 250. Some greedy Honda dealers are trying to charge as much as 150k baht for the new CRF250L. (Compared to the fixed price of 152500 Baht for the Kawasaki KLX250).

With these cheap new 250's Honda can certainly beat the competition on price, but with some of their dealers taking the piss on pricing it really doesn't do much for the brand image. It's probably smart that AP Honda chose not to announce an MSRP for the new CRF250L. This way the Honda customers don't know how badly they're getting gouged by their dealer...

I find it awful similar to how Red Baron can import new bikes from abroad, pay all the duties and taxes, and still undercut Kawasaki...at least with APe Honda's setup you have the option to shop around. Kawasaki's prices that exceed an importers are set in stone and purchasers either get raped with a restricted model or go the RB route and get less of a warranty for a 'real' Kawasaki.

I'm not defending either practise; however I would rather let market forces decide (which they have demonstrated in the CBR's instance) as the less distasteful options.

What Kawasaki motorcycle can you buy at Red Baron for less than what Kawasaki, Thailand charges?

Answer: None

Red Baron doesn't import any of the Kawasaki models that are sold by Kawasaki, Thailand.

They sure do undercut AP Honda though!

Red Baron sells the 2012 Honda Goldwing for 1,280,000 Baht

AP Honda price is 1,539,000 Baht!

Red Baron sells the US Spec CBR1000RR for 680k Baht

AP Honda sells the RESTRICTED CBR1000RR for 799k Baht

I guess these are the "great prices" that sTROLLing was talking about?

Way to go Red Baron!

Ally took the CRF to Doi Tai yesterday - she did a write-up for us

The person i've lent my Honda CRF 250 L to has just done a comparison against their D-Tracker on Ride Asia

Certainly for the kind of gentle trail riding you did in your "shoot out" one wouldn't notice the lack of clearance and might not notice or care about the lack of adjustable suspension.

Some interesting pictures of the wart of a linkage for the CRF250L rear suspension, looks like it only hangs down 3" or so.

I asked earlier- does Honda provide a special tool to reach the adjuster rings on the rear shock or do you have to use an extra long drift and a hammer to adjust the rear pre-load?

Maybe in your next review you can take the two bikes across some actual obstacles like downed trees and boulders and see how they do.

Happy Trails!

T

When we did the shoot out between the Honda CRF 250 L & the Kawasaki KLX 250 a few days back, both Alex & I agreed that Honda CRF 250 suspension tracked better than the Kaw KLX through the tree ruts and loose rocks, which is where you'll know. So the fact that the Honda CRF's suspension isn't adjustable, doesnt seem to be that much of an issue.

Have to agree this has been going on for at least a year and half with bigbkiebkk posting the same worn out comments and pictures to flame anyone or anything to do with Honda why he feels the need to do it I don't know

I have my views on the er6 and Pcx and I read the threads but do not make comments as I neither have the bike or Like it and am not in the habit of putting other riders and their bikes down it's a shame really because in other threads he obviously has some good knowledge and info.

Shame we can't have a nice civilized polite debate about two very similar bikes.

I don't know why you think I'm putting down the CRF250L. I don't think there's anything wrong with it.

The CRF250L is a bit heavier, shorter and features more basic suspension than the KLX. These aren't put downs, they are facts. I suspect a stock CRF250L will be a lot more fuel efficient than a stock KLX250. If price and fuel efficiency are your primary concerns, then the Honda CRF250L is probably the better bike. If adjustable suspension, clearance, weight and available mods are more important, then the KLX250 is probably a better choice.

The CRF250L is a bit cheaper than the KLX250 for a reason.

Peace dudes!