DualSportBiker

Soi 4 to Karn is a pain, especially on weekends. Traffic can be heavy and the road is not big enough once you get passed Nakhon Pathom (323)

There is no truly direct route. There are back roads like the 338 and 4006 from south of Bang Bua Tong that connect to just the 4 before you get to Nakhon Pathom. Those are more useful when the weekend traffic into Bkk is fouled up... There is a route around the north of NP my wife found along the train tracks that dumps you back on the 3094 and then the 4006 all the way to Kanchanapisek ring road.

For just 14 extra k.m. from S.Soi 4 you can take the expressway to Chaeng Wattana and then find your way to the 340 (Suphan) and 346 (Bang Len). The road is significantly quieter, and although it does have a fair volume of large trucks, it is a less stressful route. Obviously, if you leave in peak traffic you'll have to endure the nose-to-tail expressway to CW first... I live on CW, so that is the only route I use, truck or bike. I've never met traffic on the way out, but its get heavy, although keeps moving, on a Sunday evening after crossing the Ta Chin river all the way to the junction of the 340, 9, and 345. The inside lane is usually empty, 'cause it is a mess with potholes, so I make good time in my flying brick (Series III) or on my GS.

Enjoy!

Ridden on a bike in Bangkok and drove aa car into and out of the city no big deal. When I drove the car out it was to Kanchaniburi from Sukhumvit Soi 4 bit of a piss just because there doesn't appear to be a direct west road out like there is to the north and east. If someone knows a direct route out west I would like to know about it Thanks.

I heard that Triumph are planning a new smaller bike better suited to Asian markets - anyone else heard this?

Great info liddelljohn.

The questions seem to be the same. I was talking to an official and he told me there are plans to change, but not for a few years... I let my licenses lapse and had to re-sit twice! I passed the first (car I think) and failed the second! The official let me retake it several times until I passed - not a problem. I told the guy I could not understand the question because the English was not clear - he understood and his translation included the answer

There is only nothing to it if you don't get complacent...

I rarely ride in town these days, but commuted from Rachada to Rama IV for around 5 years on a 650 Yamaha "Special". Went down twice; once between cars when a scooter clipped my front wheel precisely when it was on wet paint, and once on mud from a building site...

Don't ride slower than the main flow - spend to much time managing cars and bikes overtaking you. I ride just a little faster to allow me to concentrate on all that could cross my path up-front. Get extra lights if you can - being seen is a good thing...

I may start a cross-town commute for a project in Hua Mark. It takes me an hour at 06:30 in a Series IIa Landy right now, but at least I get time with an audiobook...

Ride safe!

2 hours everyday is too much

Agreed...not more than once per week is considered the rule among Thais.

Not true. Alternate days with a two day break is considered a max by the teachers in Prachinburi... once per week allows enough time for conditions to relapse.

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Nonsense ! That would depend on the individual, the circumstances and nature of the issue.

You cannot generalise in that way. One does not fit all with muscular skeletal issues.

Point taken. I was generalizing for the normally fit...

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^

a honda wave is up for anything in this world i think!

that is why it is the best selling motorbike in this world.

I did it on a Honda Click but I'm sure a Honda Wave would be fine... who needs a big bike anyway.

Indeed, who needs one... Some prefer not to take 14 hours to do 850 km - not a need, but a butt-saving option.

Sounds like you had a great trip - where are the pics?

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2 hours everyday is too much

Agreed...not more than once per week is considered the rule among Thais.

Not true. Alternate days with a two day break is considered a max by the teachers in Prachinburi... once per week allows enough time for conditions to relapse.

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I will be riding across to Siam Reap in Feb, not clear which day yet...

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Your bike choice is sub-optimal; consider a dual-sport as many of the roads leave much to be desired. Even in Thailand, you can be caught out by a trench across an other wise perfect road - and hidden behind a blind corner of course...

If nobody here steps up on your point 3, I can connect you with local trainers who do private lessons and have been teaching for years, and speak English well enough.

I've been riding in Bangkok since 1994 (I think) and would not consider teaching bike skills - training is a skill, and I don't have it...

Note that the 320SP shop carries mostly fake reproductions of name brands. You can't get a real Alpinestars jacket for 2500 baht- the armor and safety stitching will be vastly inferior in comparison with the real thing.

As far as the back of the jacket goes, for most you need to buy a separate back protector if you want a higher level of protection.

Point 1: Oh, great. Thanks for the tip about 320sp -- guess I won't be going there. So I am thinking of having a friend in the US buy it and send it via a container of his other stuff or bring it personally. That being the case, if I am getting something from the US, what can I get -- suitable for Bangkok -- with adequate back protection -- without having to buy inserts or modifying it. I was recommended Joe Rocket from cyclegear, for the US$189 jacket. Anyone have suggestions of stuff in the US I can get for around US200 or less?

Point 2: Is it better to get good airflow light jacket and put in your own back inserts, for use here?

Sorry I'm asking so many questions about all the variables available.

Point 3: On another point, I checked with Honda Training for big bikes and it's only in Thai. Would anyone in Bangkok be wiling to spend a couple of hours on a Sunday -- we live by a large empty carpark -- and just share 'from the voice of experience' some safety pointers about big bikes? It'd be my two sons and one of their girlfriends who also rides a CBR 250. In return, beers and a barbeque -- food fest of some sort....??

I'm sure there are some seasoned hands in this forum who could help -- could be the first TV motorbike safety meet! Ha!

On a short ride, I will pass on my touring trousers and maybe swap my MX boots for steel-caps or touring boots, but gloves, jacket and bash-hat are not optional for me.

All the gear, all the time, otherwise I'm in my SUV in flip flops, shorts,T-shirt & AC on. To be kind of blunt though, I don't really give a monkeys about what other riders decide to wear or not wear, their choice. I'll take a broken bone over road rash any day of the week. My gear just has to work the once and its paid for itself for the 1, as RSD termed it.

Do you wear all the gear all the time on a short trip of say 2 Kms?

I don't do short bike trips, even for 2 kms, as that is not what I bought my bike for, but definitely what my SUV is for. I only go on long, planned rides or track days on my bike. Hence all my gear, all the time.

Okay my question is " if you suddenly decided to go on a small trip of 2 Kms or under( maybe to the shops, would you kit up in all your gear?

My bananas were rather warm, but consumed at the restaurant on the reservoir...

Yankee, I hope you mean the ride to CM sucks, 'cause if you don't like the 1339, then you're a different kind of biker from many of "us"

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Fair cop...

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No complaints here either.

14 years of marriage, but no kids. I've never been treated like an outsider. MIL was cool but passed away 10 years ago. FIL was dead for 6 years before I turned up... Five siblings have always treated me like one of the lads and the elder sister left CP to work with us at our start-up.

Prior girlfriends of more salubrious backgrounds had parents who could suck blood from stones at 20 paces! Rather fortunate not to have pitched my lot with them.

The road is finished - the last time I rode it was just before it was complete. Love this road... most of this clip is that very road

i say petchabun - nan - phayao - chiang mai.

perfect roads for riding.

From petchabun to nan, make sure you take the 1339 including the ferry crossing. Good roads, no cars

I am headed to Prachantakham and could do with some advise. We have property and relatives to assist.

I am taking two Landys and can wade to around 1.2 meters, more if I can get the second snorkel on in time... I've been told I need to head to the large roundabout north of Prachin town on the 33 and there are directions to get to Prachantakham. Do you have any further information? The alternative route is 304 but Srimahaphot is flooded as far as I know.

Thanks in advance.

Minivans and buses no longer able to get through to Kabin/Sakeo/Aran on Road 33.

Waiting out the storms? Whatever for? Riding in the rain in Singapore was one of just a few pillars supporting my sanity living in that void...

Were it not to clash with visitors...

I have two rides coming up; Bkk-CM-CR-CM-Bkk over 4 days this month and Bkk-Chumphae-Nong Khai-Bkk over 3-4 days in November. That will keep me sane for a month or two... Then my work gets busy and I'll be entertaining family so sorry, can't assist.

Rode to Pai from CM the other day. The road it just getting worse and worse. There's literally sections of bitumen that have been cut out and left huge chunks of mud to ride over. Pot holes big enough to swallow a medium sized dog.

Is the rest of the MHS loop as bad?

Hence choice of dualsport bike...

There are no 'good surfaces' that last for long here. eventually they all get potholed and eroded. Last thing you need on a street bike is to round a corner into a dog-sized pothole! Having said that, the Thoen-Li road was like that when I first rode it in 2010. I used all but 1 inch of the range of my front forks...

"I also took them to a hospital and asked a Dr. to count of the number of bike related accidents he had dealt with that week. That had a big impact on them" now you are talking, this should be included in the driving test and at the very least a video shown at schools, then they would at least have learned something at school. I showed an accident video on another thread and was chastised for it, but watching it made me change my riding habits, especially in traffic.

Standard "Introduction to Driving/Riding" when you start learning in Singapore is a 20 minute video of multiple accidents where the instructor explains how simple omissions end up as serious accidents. When you pass your test, you are required to watch another video compilation of bike or car accidents before you collect your bike/car license.

I've been chastised for talking about things that can go wrong - I am apparently inviting disaster. This osterich-like approach to teaching safety has to be changed; people only avoid what they know to be dangerous.

I will post a list when I get the time for sure. Better selection and prices in Singapore and specifically, smaller sized boots and jackets are easier to find with more choices. Plus brownie points for the trip...

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It maybe true, there maybe move small sizes than in Thailand. If Singapore was on my travel list I would wait buying the rest of the gear until going there, or even change my plans and travel there earlier, but it's not on my list, I've been there many times (work) and the last time I was there with a GF, we aren't going there again.

Just trying to help...

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I took this on my return from Bang Pahan on 5 Nov 2011. You can see the engines are partially submerged.

I will post a list when I get the time for sure. Better selection and prices in Singapore and specifically, smaller sized boots and jackets are easier to find with more choices. Plus brownie points for the trip...

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