Cambodia Motorbike Road Trip 2019 The good, the bad and the painful!

[chrissables]

Part of the old road to the top of Bokor mountain!

[chrissables]

Day 29. 31st Jan. Kampot to Koh Kong 254km 265

A horrible, dirty, dangerous ride along the coast which only got better when I turned off the main road for Koh Kong.

[chrissables]

Day 30. 1st Feb. Koh Kong to Pattaya 380km

I left early and the entry back to Thailand was easy.

Once back in Pattaya I stopped at my local shop to enjoy a cold beer. Some idiot reversed into my bike and knocked it over.

A great trip even allowing for the accidents.

Total distance 6,201km

[chrissables]

2 hours ago, thaiguzzi said:

 

1. Looking fwd to the full trip report as usual Chris.

2. Cambo drivers are the nuttiest in SE Asia.

3. Once home, bin those hard panniers.

Pain in the arse as you are finding out.

Sell them on here or B&S.

I have always preferred soft panniers and luggage on any type of motorcycle.

Can't stand those big hard boxes.

Makes you look either like a policeman or a dreaded GS owner.

Edit -

Look at the width!

Forgot how ridiculously wide hard boxes make the bike and how much more difficult filtering in traffic is.

Since the Cambodia trip i went to Koh Chang, just a top box and new suspension, far better!

[chrissables]

1 hour ago, thaiguzzi said:

 

Those goddamm hard panniers again Chris!

Soft bags next time.

They look like Formas Chris?

Forma Adventure?

Jeez, i've got Forma trials boots, different sole and method of sole attachment (stitched as well as glued), and they are great, but those boots of yours quality control is dreadful. Or they forgot the glue.

Designed in Italy.

Made In Rumania....

Carry on. Excellent thread as usual.

Yes, soft panniers from now on. But i was stuck with the hard boxes for the trip.

 

Forma low boots. I contacted them and they were helpful. But the nearest stockist was in Bangkok. They would have replaced them. But as with the panniers i was stuck with them for the trip.

[chrissables]

1 hour ago, jmd8800 said:

Excellent thread!!!

Cheers 

[chrissables]

55 minutes ago, taninthai said:

Nice trip and nice report...I have heard shanokville has completely changed been taken over b Chinese......on one pic I notice ..you ride with only one pannier that must really upset balance of bike.

Actually i rode with two except for days out. Very little in the pannier, just a camera and the weight helped stop the bike from being too vertical.

[tlandtday]

nice trip report thanks for posting

[NCC1701A]

2 hours ago, chrissables said:

My recent trip around Cambodia on a Honda Rally

do you mind if I ask how old you are? I am curious because I am 63 and ride a Kawasaki Versys 650 and did a 30 day 3500 kilometer trip in November in Thailand that pushed me to the limit physically. All these dirt roads must have been a lot of work for you.       

[brokenbone]

1 hour ago, NCC1701A said:

do you mind if I ask how old you are? I am curious because I am 63 and ride a Kawasaki Versys 650 and did a 30 day 3500 kilometer trip in November in Thailand that pushed me to the limit physically. All these dirt roads must have been a lot of work for you.       

i made a custom very high back support,

it made all the difference, the wind pushed me towards it

so i didnt need to use muscles at all above 60 km/h

[chrissables]

2 hours ago, NCC1701A said:

do you mind if I ask how old you are? I am curious because I am 63 and ride a Kawasaki Versys 650 and did a 30 day 3500 kilometer trip in November in Thailand that pushed me to the limit physically. All these dirt roads must have been a lot of work for you.       

Hi, I'm 57.

 

I also have a Versys 650. It is a heavier bike, so depending on your confidence levels could make you tense when riding, that will wear you out.

 

My friend borrowed it for a trip to Koh Chang, and i am sure he would have enjoyed it on a scooter more.

 

Now the Rally has decent shock and is lower, it would be a dream to ride there again. Off to the north soon.

[NCC1701A]

1 hour ago, chrissables said:

I also have a Versys 650.

thanks for the trip report. can you talk a little about the process at the border getting the bike in Cambodia? paperwork. whatever.

[chrissables]

10 minutes ago, NCC1701A said:

thanks for the trip report. can you talk a little about the process at the border getting the bike in Cambodia? paperwork. whatever.

Easy, but a bit disorganised.

Need to show the green book, they write some paperwork.

You give the paperwork to another kiosk across the road.

You get your passport stamped out. (make sure you have a re-entry if required).

At the Cambodia side they asked nothing about the bike at all.

Just fill in the entry card (same as a tm card) Or they fill it in for a fee and through.

[MadMuhammad]

34 minutes ago, chrissables said:

Easy, but a bit disorganised.

Need to show the green book, they write some paperwork.

You give the paperwork to another kiosk across the road.

You get your passport stamped out. (make sure you have a re-entry if required).

At the Cambodia side they asked nothing about the bike at all.

Just fill in the entry card (same as a tm card) Or they fill it in for a fee and through.

Thank you for explaining the process. I’ve wanted to do some exploring on a bike mystic across the border but couldn’t find anything definitive regarding crossing on a bike 

[chrissables]

10 minutes ago, MadMuhammad said:

Thank you for explaining the process. I’ve wanted to do some exploring on a bike mystic across the border but couldn’t find anything definitive regarding crossing on a bike 

Google gtrider.com border crossings. Lots of information there.

[jmd8800]

20 minutes ago, chrissables said:

Google gtrider.com border crossings. Lots of information there.

the link appears broken.

[chrissables]

11 minutes ago, jmd8800 said:

the link appears broken.

https://www.gt-rider.com/

[chrissables]

Just now, chrissables said:

https://www.gt-rider.com/

https://www.thegtrider.com/touring-information-overview/s-e-asian-border-crossings

[JaiLai]

Amazing trip & report.

Plan a trip to SR at some point.

I always find it a bit safer with at least one or two companions when I’m away.

You’ve done a lot of riding in that month, some brilliant photos.


Sent from my iPhone using Thaivisa Connect

[jmd8800]

Thanks!

[guzzi850m2]

Yes thanks for an excellent trip report.

 

I take that this type/size of bike is about perfect for a trip like that. I assume it's a 250cc Honda?

 

Lovely photos, you are using a real camera and not the usual phone photos, nice!

[chrissables]

13 minutes ago, guzzi850m2 said:

Yes thanks for an excellent trip report.

 

I take that this type/size of bike is about perfect for a trip like that. I assume it's a 250cc Honda?

 

Lovely photos, you are using a real camera and not the usual phone photos, nice!

Hi, a Honda Rally 250cc.

 

I have ow changed the suspension and it is lower and better

[villerupt]

hi,

getting the bike in Cambodia, you don't need a "international permit transport" (a small book, 9x13 cm, color purple)?

last year, i have to show it to go in Laos with my car

btw, thx for this very interesting adventure report, i enjoyed it!

thx

philippe

 

[chrissables]

24 minutes ago, guzzi850m2 said:

Yes thanks for an excellent trip report.

 

I take that this type/size of bike is about perfect for a trip like that. I assume it's a 250cc Honda?

 

Lovely photos, you are using a real camera and not the usual phone photos, nice!

Yes, i am using a good camera, still learning though ????

[Lokie]

Great post, Thank you 

re luggage I have owned soft throw overs and hard, and as Guzzi said easier with soft and myself just a tote bag over rear of seat bunge'ed on does me (don't like the height with a top box)

[chrissables]

11 hours ago, JaiLai said:

Amazing trip & report.

Plan a trip to SR at some point.

I always find it a bit safer with at least one or two companions when I’m away.

You’ve done a lot of riding in that month, some brilliant photos.


Sent from my iPhone using Thaivisa Connect

Thanks.

 

I ride alone mainly because nobody to ride with me. But also i prefer it. Of course if a problem arises things are more difficult.

 

Use Siem Reap as a base and find some of the other temples, they really are remote and interesting too.

[chrissables]

8 hours ago, villerupt said:

hi,

getting the bike in Cambodia, you don't need a "international permit transport" (a small book, 9x13 cm, color purple)?

last year, i have to show it to go in Laos with my car

btw, thx for this very interesting adventure report, i enjoyed it!

thx

philippe

 

Thanks

 

As you say, that was for your car.

 

Just the green registration book is needed.

[chrissables]

4 hours ago, Lokie said:

Great post, Thank you 

re luggage I have owned soft throw overs and hard, and as Guzzi said easier with soft and myself just a tote bag over rear of seat bunge'ed on does me (don't like the height with a top box)

Thanks

 

Yes, heading that way ????

[JaiLai]

1 hour ago, chrissables said:

Thanks

 

As you say, that was for your car.

 

Just the green registration book is needed.

I was also under the impression a bike 'passport' was needed from L & T dept....

 

Be a nightmare to turn up at the border with the wrong docs at the start of a trip...

 

[canthai55]

2 hours ago, JaiLai said:

I was also under the impression a bike 'passport' was needed from L & T dept....

Unless it has changed, last trip to Singapore just needed green book, and an Official English translation of same.

Got two pages from Thai customs - One you turn in leaving and one you turn in returning.

Buy Malaysia insurance and it comes with an English translation of the license plate in a white on black sticker. This must be displayed at the front of the bike.

I cut mine in 2 pieces - one on each fork leg