T_Dog

Wait.. let me guess.... !

I saw those being printed up somewhere, except it said "Buy this man a beer" right under the photo.

Couple of other choices: In Panthip on one of the empty floors - I think the top floor (food floor) there is a print shop which does industrial sizes. I also think the one in Airport Plaza (3rd floor opposite the Yamaha music shop) also does industrial printing ()there are a few on that floor that do normal prints that may also do larger prints to order if you ask too).

Thanks Wolf... Will check those out as well. The one Keo recommended is more of a high end banner shop and they are not set up well to do medium size paper so it gets pricey. But... If you want a 3 meter wide by 10 meter print, they can do it! Unreal machinery.

There's a print shop on the soi that leads to the back of Kad Suan Gaew that has an industrial size print machine. It's on one of the sois that runs from the road parallel to Nimmanheiman to KSG. On the right hand side, just before the entrance to the shopping mall car park.

I know that soi and will head there today. Thanks!

Looking for a print or design shop that can print off ANSI E size documents (34 inch by 44 inch). Just needs to be black and white on plain paper, nothing fancy. Thought I would post here before I start on a foot search. All help appreciated.

Some of these street elephants are chained up in random places during the day without food and water until the mahouts take them out for the evening. Had some friends wake up with one in their back yard last year. No water until they brought over a tub which it finished in seconds. Cops came to investigate but the elephant was tied up in another place the next day. Some mahouts probably take very good care of their animals but I would reckon the majority don't.

30.30 USD Super Rich.

Yep. Nudging right up there against 40 again........

Ok guys i need some help my dealer finally confirmed i will get mine on tuesday. I wanna replace the pipe asap. so what the science on pipes? I have to be careful by choosing a local made pipe so what is important or do i just throw the one i like on my bike? And should i wait to change the pipe until motor is break in?

I may gonna get that one from praram2bikes anybody know about this guys are they good?

Check inside to see how the weld penetration is. I have had to repair my Faddy pipe 3 times and if you look at the joints on the inside, there is definitely a space there with no metal. The repaired joints have a bead even on the inside the completely fills the void. I should have just taken the pipe to the repair shop and have them do every joint at the outset. The outside looked beautiful.

DLock.... Thanks again for the help on the PMs. Wife just got a quote this morning that was exactly in line with your experience. He has all the equipment and we start on 5 February.

One more question.... What kind of garden shop stocks the grasses that you planted? I want to plant those as soon as possible once the pond is dug and cover them up with rice stalks to stop the erosion you encountered.

These are called rot itan. They are normally powered by single cylinder Kubota diesel engines. Most use the 14 horse power size but some use the smaller horse power engines. There are also Chinese copies of the Kubota available. Yanmar also makes a similar engine and are the equal of the Kubota. The Chinese copies are much cheaper but the farmers much prefer the Kubota or Yanmar because they will run for many years with little or no maintenance.

I often follow them heading to the village and the 14 horse powered itan will run about 40 KPH. They use the same engine as the tak taks. A tak tak is the two wheeled tractor used in the rice paddies. They often swap that engine back and forth.

Thanks Gary. Is there a hydraulic PTO or is it just belt drive to the tractors and trucks? I'm familiar with the Kubota engine and they do run forever.

Are you trying to say "Venerable"?

"Ubiquitous"?

Picture doesn't show up in IE7

Boy humor is tough on this forum! Check out the urban slang dictionary. I admit it is a bit twisted. Still curious about those E-Dan vehicles. Wondering if anyone on TV has one.

One of the most common vehicles you see in Thailand is the E-Dan. You can always tell when one is (slowly) coming your way by the "bhop-bhop-bhop" of the power plant. Anyone know what they use for power? Is it shaft connected or hydraulic PTO?

Building up a new mountain bike and need a set of chain rings for a Shimano XTR external bearing bottom bracket. Anyone go down this road lately that could shed some light on the best shop/best prices?

Dlock.... The pond sure looks great! Congrats! I sent you a PM as we just got a quote for a much smaller dig and it was way too high.

OldSailor..... Where can you get the sealing clay that you mention? Is it a common material around Chiang Mai? I think it is called bentonite if I remember.

sorry but that is just plain ugly- if you need to carry loads of items, go to honda and order a tank bag- more than one size and when you dont need it, it is gone...

If you need space to carry stuff all the time- buy a scooter...

Just to let you all know- yes- i have one on my PCX- just for that purpose, carry stuff around!!!

Sportsbike with a box?? My god, what is next? Panniers? Saddle bags? Sidecar?

Ok- you can all have a go at me now!

LOLZ! For once I actually agree with you!

Tank bags are nice. Mine was 800 baht from a roadside helmet shop, has a nice map pocket on top, and it comes right off the bike when you stop or go for day hops. The CBR-150 seems more stable as you add weight so no issues there.

Took a long trip up north last month and the bike ran great, but three days ago something got sucked through the valve train. (Still trying to sort out what that was.....) Trying to decide today between a Versys and the CBR-250. I'd go for the Versys if it wasn't twice as expensive to buy, more expensive to run, and bulkier. Trips on it would sure be a lot nicer. The CBR-250 looks like a better deal for an all-around bike. Then again a buddy has a cherry CBR-150 for sale. Choices.....argghhhh....

Errr... Buy a shirt?

After mini's, dirt & trail bikes, my first "big bike" was a Honda Dream 305. After a year on that I moved up to a Norton 650. Great bike, when I could keep it out of the shop. lol

It's amazing that you still see those old Honda's on the streets of Chiang Mai! And I have a lot of time on a Norton 850 Commando... Of all the bikes I've ridden, I would love to have one of those today.

But back to CBR150's.... mine left me on the street today. Bogged down and then would not run. Seems like no compression so I am wondering if I finally blew a valve. In four years, this is the first time the bike has let me down and luckily it happened in town and not up country.

CBR150 - I've been telling people good things about the CBR - they seem to be powerful, economical, well handling little fun things in Thailand and Australia.

Strange that they are seen as just common commuters here in Singapore. I get strange looks when I told them some Australian teenage racers made their CBR150R several seconds faster than their Aprilia RS125... (wider powerband = overall better lap time?)

It's been about half a year since I've rode with the CBR150 riders as they had ditched their little bikes for CB400s some time ago. They're now paying for twice the gas and going no faster! Here's an old video I had from those days:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6sJTm_mGtUo

Kalyan... Yes, they are very economical to drive and to service. I just had my cooling system flushed and filled with 50% antifreeze/50% water like I do every two years, drained and cleaned the gas tank (had some water that was causing stalls), and the total cost was 248 baht or about 8 dollars US. I was thinking of getting a Kawasaki Versys next year but with the predictions of fuel costs rising, the CBR-250 might be a better choice.

Canuck... Those are some great photos!

If you want to get off the beaten path:

Mong Pearle - Huay Gaew Road (Best hot latte and hamburger in CM)

Mo'C Mo'L - Huay Gaew Road (A bit upscale but good.)

Wan Wann - Suthep Road/CMU (Good eats too.)

Groon - Soi Wat Umong/CMU (Engineering hang out that was better when the design mags were there.)

Kata - Soi Wat Umong (Spaghetti too.)

Luang Prabong - Wat Pong Noi (Small but very friendly.)

EBerry - Back sois of Nimenhemin. (Popular with trendy visitors from BKK.)

In Chiang Mai, there must 50 ways to get your coffee......

I got 32000km from the original IRCs almost down to the wear indicator. The Pirellis have now done 15000km and due for replacement. From memory about 3400 Baht for the pair.

I would find it hard to stomach only 8000km from a set of tyres as I do over 3000km per month.

I was up to about 10,000km on my Michelin Sporties and still had a few 1000km left in them. Easily up to 12k km.

They cost 2,100 a pair at a Honda dealer. 110 rear, 90 front.

Your Pirellies at 3400b for only 15-16,000 km are more expensive.

2,100b every 4 months. Or 3,400 every 5 months.

Cheers chaps.

You must be a light rider. I've put on a new Sporty on the rear three times now and never over 7000 km. The front replaced after 9000 km. We ride two up a lot with a fair amount of mountain time. I'm not putting on any more Sporty's on as they don't seem very puncture resistant.

Is there any difference in the ease/difficulty of the loop between clockwise & anti-clockwise - on a bicycle ?

Clockwise defo easier on a treader.

I agree with jackr. The steep switch backs going CCW are a killer even with my low MTB gearing. Clockwise is better too because you can stop at the Pong Yang Resort for a nice lunch by the waterfall before down-hilling back to CM.

Got another call on the phone today saying that our K Bank Account has been accessed and if it is us, do nothing, otherwise, call this number. It is a scam and comes from country prefix "88". This happened a few months back and we happened to be near a bank and asked a teller. They confirmed this is a scam to get your account details and some have given it all, thinking it was real call. Might want to pass this along to your Thai partners to be very skeptical about anyone wanting account details. It rides on the shirt tails of the bonafide notification system that banks provide so it is rather clever.

jkfkr... Nice pics! This December has been very clear and you can sure see it from your pics.

As for more rides, check out www.gt-rider.com, and pick up a few of their red-yellow maps at bookstores. The fellow that makes the maps and runs the tours has really opened up Thailand for a lot of us. One ride you might consider if you want an incredible one is to go up to Doi Angkhan via Arunothai. The route follows a ridge with stunning peaks in view the whole time.

Congrats on the new bike appropriate! You must have been a good boy last year.

Thanks. I always am.

How about a report on the vibration.... Is it noticeable, and can you comment on it versus the CBR150? It sure is a meaty looking bike!

I guess I can comment. Put 530km under it's belt today.

I haven't felt or noticed one vibration. Not a single one. Not at 10kph, and not in the 140s. Nothing whatsoever.

Some quick notes from today. It's so sturdy out in the outside lane of the highway. That's where I was for about 250km today.

The 150 speedo was 10% optimistic, I seriously doubt this is in anyway. 110 on the 250 and 110 on the old 150 are worlds apart. And there's just endless power up into the 130s. And these feel like real 130s and not like 130 on the 150.

Over 130 and there's just too much wind smashing into your face. I took the wrong helmet - faceless and slightly loose, as my tight ful-facer can't be put on with the face mask I use for the BKK smog. A big mistake once on the highway at 140kmph, not having a tight fullfacer.

Took it up 140kph a few times but mostly cruised the outside lane at around 125kph. It's extremely comfortable at this and still got good instant power to shoot you up to 140. Best to forget what 140 feels like on the old 150 because it feels twice as fast and thrice as comfortable on the 250. Simply no comparison. I smashed everything on the highway back into BKK. I won't even say that they were eating my dust when left at the lights because it would have settled by the time they got to it. This was one extremely good aspect, the power, acceleration and stabilty in how it gets from zero to 140, it just roars it and keeps on going and going and going.

If you were pinning it in perfect conditions I would guess you'd get it into the 150s, but I just couldn't with the loose faceless helmet I had on. In that aspect it is slower than I imagined it would be, with people saying pinning the ninja gets around 170kph. But the indicated speed feels far more accurate than the old 150. I think I read the ninja is optimistic too. I would be surprised if this is saying your going faster than you are coz at 130 (with a good bit of power left) most of the cars are being left behind and your just whumping past them in the outside lane. Even at 120 most were being left behind. And at that you just pull back and you're up to 140. It feels very different to the indicated speeds of the old 150.

The first 70km today was city driving with the missus on the back, this included in the first 435km I did cost 450b in gas. the rest was up to Kanchanaburi on the highway then around some of the mountains. This is very cheap, almost as cheap as the old 150, mainly due to the price of benzine91 (old 150) and Gasohol91, and the FI I guess.

Am very, very happy with it, the feeling of power (engine and size) as it dominates the outside lanes of the highway is fantastic. The stability at 140kph is amazing too, there is simply nothing that indicates any instability at that speed, the bike just gobbles it up effortlessly, and can do it all day no worries.

cheers chaps.

Nice report! Thanks. You might be the first one with 150 and 250 experience now!

Yeah T, Thanks for joining me. Now you know why I like living out here, to have track like that out my front door.

I'd sure like to know if anyone knows this area better than I do and can help me find a through route that I've heard about, where we can ride for a couple of hours or more up into the hills.

Dr... I am sure there is a single track trail from your turf that goes all the way to the road that passes from Mae Taeng's Bua Tong Waterfall to the dam near Doi Saket. We've taken that road on the motorcycle and then ferried across the dam after calling the ferry from Sa Luang Nua. Next time we ride, we should just keep working our way north and see where we end up. Great ride the other day, and surprising how little interest there is in riding single track. Guess we have it all to ourselves! You might try the GT-Rider website to see if any trail riders know this area better than you do. You might just be the only expert out there!