Although I have ridden motorcycles all over Thailand and mostly enjoyed the experience , it was a long time ago ( 30 odd years ) and it was not as hot then as it is now and I was a lot younger. 

Although I have the wave ( which has never been more than 25 k from home ) I sometimes fancy the idea of getting something bigger. 

However, then I reflect on the following.

 

1) No really decent roads anywhere near where I live ( lower Petchabun )

2) Although I could afford something bigger I am not so rich than I can indulge every whim if it turns into an unused toy

 

3 ) And this is the big one. Its just tooooooooooooooo hot.

 

Don't think riding without protective gear is a good idea but the thought of getting dressed to ride when it is so hot just does not appeal. Right now I cant even do any gardening as to venture outside is to be met with a blast of heat that this year has even burnt the leaves on our well watered mango trees.

 

How do you enthusiasts put up with it ?? I have wimped out. How do you keep going ?

For under B1000 on Ebay

can get mesh armour.

It's cool.

Has saved papa's meat & skeleton many x.

+ kneepads, gloves, boots & helmet

a course.

You can dump water on yourself too.

Use mesh gear year round - jacket and pants with armor. Ventilated Alpinestars.

When it is hot - and you are moving, no problem. Stopped in traffic you heat up - but I most time ride in the mountains, on second and third roads, so no issue with that.

When it rains, I get wet. When it is hot, I sweat.

But been riding since age 14, is what I do, and will continue until I need a bib because I dribble my soup.

32 minutes ago, Denim said:

How do you enthusiasts put up with it ?? I have wimped out. How do you keep going ?

Between the ages of 59-63 I rode 32,000 kilometers in Thailand on my Kawasaki Versys 650.

Every kilometer was in full riding gear. You must keep moving or you will burn up.

For me I have to plan my trip in advance to include stops every 100 kilometers or so in a PTT 7/11 in full AC for 15 to 20 minutes. 

Drinking water, coconut water, bananas and protein bars for energy and focus.  

I try where possible to avoid main highways.

I never ride farther than 375 milometers a day. 300 is typical so only 3-4 fours on the road. 

I never ride two days in a row unless slower mountain and country roads. 

With a few exceptions I only ride from Mid Oct to mid Feb.  Mountain tops or higher elevations in "winter" are best. 

I only ride alone or with a passenger, not other riders so I make the call if I am 100% ready to go and at what pace.

 

8 minutes ago, canthai55 said:

Use mesh gear year round - jacket and pants with armor. Ventilated Alpinestars.

ditto. I am from the USA and any gear that works in Florida, Texas, Southeast. That is what I brought over with me. 

I have found that on the hottest days 80 kph is ok but at a continual 100 the heat goes into blast furnace mode.

Jeans and a T for me , I have given up wrapping myself in bacofoil , if a hot day I don't need to ride around cooking as I perambulate.

1 the smallest helmet money can buy

 

2 flip flops, t-shirt, shorts

 

3 yellow color plastic sunglasses, protection of eyes is king

 

... profit, enjoy your cool ride

I would estimate the tarmac temp here as my first priority as my big bike days are well over and ended when seeing the driving standard ????

Up to you. 

Tried a bike around Bangkok - just too hot, far more unpleasant when you are driving than when passenger on mocy.

 

Second Bangkok issue is squeezing between cars - bike I was on was medium 2 cylinder and thus maybe 1" wider than the 150ccs everyone rides - means you can't risk gaps they would so you have a line of very pissed riders behind you expecting you to go through the gap.

46 minutes ago, NCC1701A said:

 

I never ride farther than 375 milometers a day. 300 is typical so only 3-4 fours on the road. 

I never ride two days in a row unless slower mountain and country roads. 

 

 

 

I was thinking that last week when I drove to Mae Sot and back on consecutive days. 6.15 hours driving each way. Was tiring enough in the car don't think I could take it on a bike although the new road over from Tak to Mae Sot would be fun on two wheels.

Just spend 15 minutes chopping down an annoying Teak Tree in the garden. That was at 6.15 pm but came in soaked in sweat.

1 hour ago, Denim said:

I sometimes fancy the idea of getting something bigger.

Maybe that's the point. Something bigger but still nothing BIG.

 

I bought recently a KTM Duke 390 with about 45HP. It's fun in the city and on relative short trips out of town. But I wouldn't want to use it on long trips through Thailand.

 

And I have to admit I ride with jeans and t-shirt. Not perfect but I guess I am too long in Thailand and the local habits are strong.

 

If you want a real big bike and long trips then I guess you need the real and hot riding gear. Up to you to decide...

To all those who ride in jeans ...

Motorcycle body armor is essential to your safety during your motorcycle ride.

https://www.motorcyclelegalfoundation.com/truth-motorcycle-body-armor/

Saw a guy in Pattaya with a pronounced limp. Riding a scooter on Sukhumvit Road in shorts, flip flops, and a wife beater.

During the slide the skin on his foot, hip and knee was abraded right down to the bone.

Over a year later, still not healed.

UP 2 U

I had a CBR250 which is far from a big bike but nice little ride. Even that at traffic lights there was a fair bit of heat coming up from the engine. I think doing anything here in the current heat is unpleasant but if you want a great all round bike and super comfortable tourer have a look at a Honda Forza. For many would be considered a grandpa bike but very safe, riding position like a cruiser on the open road. Plenty of storage. Only 300cc but can easilly sit on 120km hour all day. ABS brakes. I love mine

Full perforated Dainese leathers and SIDI calf length boots for me....tend to stop more often for drink stops when the temps are too high.....when the temps approach almost 40°C I stay home. 

The heat is awful... not quite a show-stopper... 

 

Even in the city I ride with the following: 

 

1) Motorcycle Boots all the time (just trainers if I'm going to the nearest 7-11)

2) Re'vit Airwave mesh Jacket (with back protector) all the time

3) Re'vit Jeans / or protective MC pants (with Cordora & Knee & Hip pads) most of the time, or just normal jeans (never shorts)

4) Always a proper pair of MC gloves.

5) Modular helmet (Shoe Neotec - full face flip up)

 

 

Damn, it gets hot and I'd love to just be in trainers, shorts and a T-shirt - but I 'try' to wear all the gear all the time as I never know when some tool is going to knock me off and the gear means the difference between getting up and walking away or spending a few nights in hospital followed by a month of missed work (which would get very expensive for me in lost earnings). 

 

As a consequence - whenever popping over to a friends or going somewhere I'm going to spend a good few hours, I'll bring some spare clothes (shorts, T-shirt etc). 

 

I'm still trying to find the lightest & most cooling pair of MC pants which maintain a level of impact and skid protection... 

 

 

 

 

 

5 minutes ago, richard_smith237 said:

The heat is awful... not quite a show-stopper... 

 

Even in the city I ride with the following: 

 

1) Motorcycle Boots all the time (just trainers if I'm going to the nearest 7-11)

2) Re'vit Airwave mesh Jacket (with back protector) all the time

3) Re'vit Jeans / or protective MC pants (with Cordora & Knee & Hip pads) most of the time, or just normal jeans (never shorts)

4) Always a proper pair of MC gloves.

5) Modular helmet (Shoe Neotec - full face flip up)

 

 

Damn, it gets hot and I'd love to just be in trainers, shorts and a T-shirt - but I 'try' to wear all the gear all the time as I never know when some tool is going to knock me off and the gear means the difference between getting up and walking away or spending a few nights in hospital followed by a month of missed work (which would get very expensive for me in lost earnings). 

 

As a consequence - whenever popping over to a friends or going somewhere I'm going to spend a good few hours, I'll bring some spare clothes (shorts, T-shirt etc). 

 

I'm still trying to find the lightest & most cooling pair of MC pants which maintain a level of impact and skid protection... 

 

 

 

 

 

That <deleted>  stuff is ok if your "putting" around town....doesn't and wouldn't cut it on the open roads doing some serious biking IMHO

1 hour ago, canthai55 said:

To all those who ride in jeans ...

Motorcycle body armor is essential to your safety during your motorcycle ride.

https://www.motorcyclelegalfoundation.com/truth-motorcycle-body-armor/

Just looking at the picture in that link makes me sweat.

Obviously in principle you are right. But that's like saying you should always obey the speed limit. Sometimes we just don't want to do it...

58 minutes ago, Kenny202 said:

I had a CBR250 which is far from a big bike but nice little ride. Even that at traffic lights there was a fair bit of heat coming up from the engine. I think doing anything here in the current heat is unpleasant but if you want a great all round bike and super comfortable tourer have a look at a Honda Forza. For many would be considered a grandpa bike but very safe, riding position like a cruiser on the open road. Plenty of storage. Only 300cc but can easilly sit on 120km hour all day. ABS brakes. I love mine

They are the size of bathtubs. But maybe that makes the rider feel like he is in a cool bath.

Sorry, forgive me, I hate these bloody big things.

31 minutes ago, cranki said:

That <deleted>  stuff is ok if your "putting" around town....doesn't and wouldn't cut it on the open roads doing some serious biking IMHO

Kind of agree... although the Re'vit kid is rated to CE Level 2...  but CE ratings are not the be all and end all... 

 

The kit has anti-abrasion (not quite as good as leather though)... and CE2 impact rated knee and hip pads and elbow, shoulder and back pads.

 

It's the same standard of kit as I would wear in the UK on the roads (short of full leathers), but with air-flow mesh instead. 

 

44 minutes ago, OneMoreFarang said:

They are the size of bathtubs. But maybe that makes the rider feel like he is in a cool bath.

Sorry, forgive me, I hate these bloody big things.

Just not true.i could see someone thinking that having never ridden one or only been on one for 10 minutes. I live in Khon Kaen, very congested and it feels no different to me than the scooter I used to have. The balance is perfect and very low. I go in out and between traffic easilly. The bath tub u talk about probably saved my life. I got t boned by a stupid 15yo girl on a wave. Her front wheel was turned into a figure 8 which pierced the head of her motor and then exploded. She hit me side on just behind my leg at at least 80kmph. Knocked my bike and me down. I didnt get a scratch and my damage total cracked panel...1000 baht. I was glad I had a bathtub around me that day. Without a doubt on a normal bike or scooter i would have lost a leg if not my life. Cool yes. No engine heat at all

4 hours ago, canthai55 said:

...But been riding since age 14, is what I do, and will continue until I need a bib because I dribble my soup.

Get a biker bib.

 

17 hours ago, Denim said:

1) No really decent roads anywhere near where I live ( lower Petchabun )

No decent roads in Petchabun?  You've got the best part of Highway 12, one of the best riding roads in the country, right on your doorstep.

Not really no, except on commutes and in traffic the heat can be quite difficult when it's not moving and you're surrounded with concrete and black smoke spitting buses, but on longer tours, as long as you're moving and properly equipped (sun visor + gloves +  long sleeves) it's fine. The wind tends to cancel it off.

18 hours ago, richard_smith237 said:

The heat is awful... not quite a show-stopper... 

 

Even in the city I ride with the following: 

 

1) Motorcycle Boots all the time (just trainers if I'm going to the nearest 7-11)

2) Re'vit Airwave mesh Jacket (with back protector) all the time

3) Re'vit Jeans / or protective MC pants (with Cordora & Knee & Hip pads) most of the time, or just normal jeans (never shorts)

4) Always a proper pair of MC gloves.

5) Modular helmet (Shoe Neotec - full face flip up)

 

 

Damn, it gets hot and I'd love to just be in trainers, shorts and a T-shirt - but I 'try' to wear all the gear all the time as I never know when some tool is going to knock me off and the gear means the difference between getting up and walking away or spending a few nights in hospital followed by a month of missed work (which would get very expensive for me in lost earnings). 

 

As a consequence - whenever popping over to a friends or going somewhere I'm going to spend a good few hours, I'll bring some spare clothes (shorts, T-shirt etc). 

 

I'm still trying to find the lightest & most cooling pair of MC pants which maintain a level of impact and skid protection... 

 

 

 

 

 

May I ask for the name of those pants and where you have to order from?

18 hours ago, richard_smith237 said:

I'm still trying to find the lightest & most cooling pair of MC pants which maintain a level of impact and skid protection... 

I wear these. With hard knee and shin protector underneath.

Road tested by David of GT Rider

http://asserogear.com/assero-tropical-motorcycle-jeans/

2 minutes ago, canthai55 said:

I wear these. With hard knee and shin protector underneath.

Road tested by David of GT Rider

http://asserogear.com/assero-tropical-motorcycle-jeans/

thank for the quick tip but I am a 42 and they don't outfit fat old bast***s like me I will continue my search. I have the same problem with the gear out of China too

The hottest place on earth is "generally" considered to be Death Valley? Wrong - totally and utterly wrong 

The hottest place on earth is the traffic lights at Asoke/Sukhumvit on a summers day, waiting 10 minutes for the lights to change along with another 250 bikes, wearing a full face helmet, stout jeans and a jacket - the killer is when the radiator fan kicks in just when you think it is not possible to get any hotter ☀️

55 minutes ago, Randell said:

thank for the quick tip but I am a 42 and they don't outfit fat old bast***s like me I will continue my search. I have the same problem with the gear out of China too

They go up to 44 waist, any leg length

I bought the 42 W 32 L and they are too big at the waist, but use suspenders. Lets all the farts out of the loose waist too.