Travelmate

Looks like it been made to look awful!

Good luck selling it.

There is another 440 Mini Coopers for sale on a local website.

Guess they have gone out of fashion.

The more vents a helmet got, the more noisier it is.

Try the top of the line Arai helmet.

Why not buy a proper sportsbike? ie ZX6R.

Congrats on yet another bike, Khun Tony.

Throw some knobbies on your KTM and join us! Frank will be out on his KTM tomorrow. WOOT!

Frank got his KTM already! Thought I saw an Enduro R in the shop last week, when I stopped by to collect my new helmet.

Fantastic afternoon tearing around Bo Din with Frank and his unstoppable KTM 690 Enduro R!

Dinner and beers at the floating lakeside restaurant were a perfect end to a perfect day!

Happy Trails!

Tony

Ah sorry wrong Frank.

Congrats on yet another bike, Khun Tony.

Throw some knobbies on your KTM and join us! Frank will be out on his KTM tomorrow. WOOT!

Frank got his KTM already! Thought I saw an Enduro R in the shop last week, when I stopped by to collect my new helmet.

Congrats on yet another bike, Khun Tony.

It's all on the type of corners.

Quick hairpin type turns, stick a leg out, long sweepers knee down action.

But it's still a matter of preference to the rider. Whatever makes you feel comfy.

Drift is just a side effect of knocking down thru the gears.

You should have felt it on any of your bikes if entering a corner hot. A slipper clutch will help prevent it some.

Around Bangkok, it's two fingers on the brake lever (most times). None on the clutch. I do clutchless upshifts, but downshift it's a single finger when required. Only need to pull it in slightly. Some days I don't bother just downshift without clutch.

Trackdays, I need all my fingers on the throttle and none on the brakes. It's the only way I stay off the brakes.

No fingers on the clutch. Only when shifting down. Shift up I don't bother with clutch.

First race is the middle of May. They started the 600cc class at the middle of last year but there was only 1 or 2 bike entered each race, hopefully more will show up this year.

Thanks- would you happen to know how many races there are in a season? I need to figure out if I can budget enough tires to get through the season!

How many tyres do you need for a ten race season?

IF I race SB3 it will just be for fun and I don't see any need for new tires for every race, but even so, you know how fast BIRA eats tires.

I reckon I'd need a new rear every 4-6 track days, front should last roughly double the rear, so you figure 10 races plus hopefully a couple track days every month and you're looking at around 30 or 40 track days in the season which would translate to roughly 10-20 rears, 5-10 fronts... It certainly adds up! >.<

Wow! That's a lot of rubber / baht!

First race is the middle of May. They started the 600cc class at the middle of last year but there was only 1 or 2 bike entered each race, hopefully more will show up this year.

Thanks- would you happen to know how many races there are in a season? I need to figure out if I can budget enough tires to get through the season!

How many tyres do you need for a ten race season?

Perhaps a Thai made 1199 Panigale for 300K???

The track days is enormous fun. I suggest all to try it.

It's a great way to improve your riding skills and learn more about your bike capabilities.

If I can work out how to keep cost down on tyres, fuel, transport and bike maintenance then I would happily take up the addiction again.

Its definitly not a cheap hobby and the faster u get the quicker the tires wear out.

I'll still be racing my cbr1000 but will just have help from team mechanics plus some free stuff from sponsors. Not really sure of all the benefits yet but thought I'd give it a try.

I'm still getting the cbr250 up to race spec, but if I can get the lap times down to 1:13 I'll give a go.

Access to the team's tyre rack would be good

The track days is enormous fun. I suggest all to try it.

It's a great way to improve your riding skills and learn more about your bike capabilities.

If I can work out how to keep cost down on tyres, fuel, transport and bike maintenance then I would happily take up the addiction again.

Riding the Zee above 120kmh is a pain in the neck!

we needed to be in Nan in the afternoon.

Hence pitstop in CM.

I and another rider don't slow down for much

but we did stop for a tyre change and breakfast and got chatting to a lovely waitress. Though I failed to get her card.

once left Bkk at 6am and arrived in CM 11am.

(Tony was not in the group )

When's the last time you went to CM by bike?

Late last year.

It was the big trip to Nan.

I had to take a detour to CM to get a brand new rear tyre, no stock in BKK.

So I and one other rider went to CM, the others to Nan.

Hit CM at 11am, drop by Yamaha shop for tyre, went next door for brekkie.

Hour later back on the bike, headed over to Nan. Got there late afternoon.

I think Neil McSprint was the creater of this trip.

once left Bkk at 6am and arrived in CM 11am.

(Tony was not in the group )

It's the fastest accelerating naked bike I have ever ridden.

Adrenaline kicks in big time when riding this thru the mean streets of Thailand.

It's an urban superstreet bike.

Rookie sensations Colin Butler (left) and Luke Stokes went from raw beginners to pro-superbike racers in seven months

Wow, how does that work? Must be very talented, are there many good Thai riders doing stuff like that?

Looking at the videos, BIRA appears to be in not such a good shape and not have very large run offs, is it a good track for learning on?

Well, Luke has always been crazy-fast on anything with two wheels, so I certainly wouldn't call him a beginner. You could call Luke a beginner to the Thai race scene but he's certainly no beginner. Colin on the other hand was a complete track novice and only started racing about a year ago- his evolution has been nothing short of amazing!

BIRA is a bit rough and they lost their FIA certification some years ago, but it's still a fun track. It's a great track to learn on, though personally I prefer Thailand Circuit and Kaeng Krachan as they both offer up more variety than BIRA which is an endless series of right handers and only one left.

Definitely give it a try, but beware! It's very easy to get the track day addiction!

Ride on!

Tony

Track days is extremely addictive.

I used to remember going to track when even no one else bothered, lapping Bira alone.

There was a time when track tyres were scarce, so to make sure I could always ride track. Once paid TB90,000 for a healthy stock of track tyres piled high in my apartment. Making the place smell like a tyre shop.

That's when I realised the addiction gotten too far.

Hung my track boots, sold the track bike and went touring instead.

Now I hear the regular track rivals are lapping 1:08 thanks to better tyres and bikes.

1.14 is not to be sniffed at, 1.04 is sensational, respect.

I'm thinking about maybe giving SB3 a try

Tony

What's your current lap times at BIRA now Tony?

Congrats.

The pic remind me of Laurel & Hardy. ....(Is that right?)

Triumph Tiger 1050 TB20,000

KTM 690 SMC R TB25,000

What tires are you running? Riding solo or with pillion?

These variables are important when deciding what pressure to run, though at the end of the day, for a road tour it's not going to make a huge difference if you're a few psi high or low.

Solo with pretty new Pirelli's

just don't go below 30 or over 40 and you'll be just fine. Have a great trip! T

My touring bike 34 Front 42 rear, never drop below 40 on the rear if touring. Pirelli Angels

My hooning around bike 29 front, 29 rear never go above 30 Conti Attack SM

795 or 796?