Honda CT125, a testing ride around Issan and the north of Thailand.

[chrissables]

Day 35. 13 March.

Mae Sariang to Tak. 317km

A nice road to ride again, R108 to Mae Ramat then over the mountain to Tak on R1175.

https://www.relive.cc/view/vr637gV9D86

[chrissables]

Day 36. 14 March

Tak to Kanchanaburi 432 km

A hot boring ride, but I found a nice place to stay on the river, more than I would usually pay, but for a few days great!

R1 – R333 – R3056 – R3086

https://www.relive.cc/view/vJOKgz25rwO

[chrissables]

Day 37. 15 March

Kanchanaburi to Hellfire Pass Suspension Bridge 193 km.

It was way too hot on a slow bike!

The easiest way to it is to enter from R323 at Hellfire Pass. Ride down to the bridge cross and back from there. There were a few nice tracks at the start of the way back.

Basically head for Wat Dong Phong then head south east.

https://goo.gl/maps/MwEKewdB96Zmm4a98

 

The seat has now become uncomfortable, I think chaffing from the off road riding.

 

https://goo.gl/maps/r1ho8NVpFSZ6CJxR7

 

https://www.relive.cc/view/vdvmD4VJLxq

[chrissables]

Day 38. 16 March.

Kanchanaburi – Bridge over the River Kwai (khwaae) – Tham Krasae Bridge – Burmese border. 176 km

A touristy day today, followed by a ride up to the Burmese border.

After a quick walk on the River Kwai Bridge I headed up to the Tham Krasae Bridge just off R4032.

After a pleasant walk across the bridge and back I headed up small roads as far could towards the Burmese border and only stopped at an army checkpoint.

On my way back I took an off road track that eventually became a bamboo forest, with tracks through, but also vey thorny undergrowth that I kept getting snared in, eventually I gave up and returned to Kanchanaburi.

https://goo.gl/maps/Lpkizo3UMNtu5TVM8

https://www.relive.cc/view/vmqX2JLkVoO

[chrissables]

Day 39. 17 March.

Kanchanaburi to Pattaya 280km

I woke to a flat tyre today, a thorn from yesterdays ride in the bamboo forest.

This resulted in a few km of walking around trying to find a shop to fix it.

With the help of the resort owner I found a hand pump which allowed me to ride back to the shop.

https://www.relive.cc/view/vevWp5gWYGO

 

What a great trip! I found some great places to visit, I rode more off road than I have on my off road bike and enjoyed it more too.

With a lower gear and off road tyres it would really be fun I just need to find small roads to ride on my way to the mountains as 80 KPH is a tad tedious on the major roads.

My total ride distance 7953 km

One accident.

One puncture.

Two repairs to the tool box bracket.

Not too bad considering some of the riding I was doing!

[Curt1591]

Close to 50 years ago, I owned a CT90, one great little machine. It had a 2 stage transmission - 4 low gears and 4 "high" gears. When in low, it could crawl out of just about anything!

It also had a spare gas can. If I was to push it and run out of gas, I could detach the can and add more fuel. 

I wonder if you could change sprockets to increase top speed. 

[chrissables]

2 minutes ago, Curt1591 said:

Close to 50 years ago, I owned a CT90, one great little machine. It had a 2 stage transmission - 4 low gears and 4 "high" gears. When in low, it could crawl out of just about anything!

It also had a spare gas can. If I was to push it and run out of gas, I could detach the can and add more fuel. 

I wonder if you could change sprockets to increase top speed. 

I would actually change to sprocket, for a lower gear if riding off road in the mountains.

But then it would take ages to get to the mountains!

[Bob4u]

Awesome documentation !

 

Why did you pick such a small bike and any major mishaps or things 

you would do differently ?

[chrissables]

1 minute ago, Bob4u said:

Awesome documentation !

 

Why did you pick such a small bike and any major mishaps or things 

you would do differently ?

Thanks ????

One spill which annoyed me, but i was pushing my skill level a lot at time, so to be expected.

I actually bought the bike for a trip like that. I have a CRF Rally too, but for me this was more fun, and for sure i went places i would not attemt on the Rally.

[guzzi850m2]

Thank you so much for taking the time to post this Chris, awesome photos as always.

 

A few questions, well you already answered one regarding why such a small bike for the very long trip; it can go anywhere where bigger bikes can't, understand low weight is king when doing serious off-roading.

 

I think you had a BMW GS1200 at some stage? I could imagine it will be way to big and heavy for such an undertaking. Assume the GS is sold?

 

How do you plan the routes you are going? I can understand you use Goggle maps but are you using a particular app?

 

Which camera are you using?

 

Thanks again for posting, I really enjoyed reading though it.

[chrissables]

25 minutes ago, guzzi850m2 said:

Thank you so much for taking the time to post this Chris, awesome photos as always.

 

A few questions, well you already answered one regarding why such a small bike for the very long trip; it can go anywhere where bigger bikes can't, understand low weight is king when doing serious off-roading.

 

I think you had a BMW GS1200 at some stage? I could imagine it will be way to big and heavy for such an undertaking. Assume the GS is sold?

 

How do you plan the routes you are going? I can understand you use Goggle maps but are you using a particular app?

 

Which camera are you using?

 

Thanks again for posting, I really enjoyed reading though it.

Hi, thanks for the compliments. ????

 

I have never owned a BMW, i have a Versys 650, CRF Rally, PCX and the CT, and besides long stretches of highway, the CT has given me the most fun. Probably as i am terrible at riding off road, but i can just take a slow pace and enjoy the views.

 

Planning, well i just enlarged google maps on a large monitor and looked for the scenic place camera icon to guide me. Also reading different forums, a few were recommendations too.

 

I use Gaia app to record my routes, and relive which shows a short video of the route, you will see i posted some.

 

I treated myself to a Fuji Xpro 3, and straight out of camera most shot are good, i just crop most of the time. I am terrible a editing and really don't bother. But i have all the RAW files to play with if i ever feel like learning.

[Kwasaki]

Great trip and pix, well done. ????

[Kinnock]

Wow,!  Such a great trip and wonderful photos.  Thanks for posting.  I saw a youtube video where 'Worro' upgraded the suspension on his CT and lowered the gearing for off-road use.

 

I'm also a Fuji shooter as I don't want to mess with raw editing.  Also have a CRF 250 and was planning some similar (but shorter!) trips, but now thinking a CT 125 may be better.  Just change the tyres I think.  Bit disappointing the tool box bracket broke, but I guess it's not surprising something snapped.

 

Have you tried the CT two-up for normal 7-11 type trips?  I think you can get a rear seat and pegs?

[chrissables]

2 minutes ago, Kinnock said:

Wow,!  Such a great trip and wonderful photos.  Thanks for posting.  I saw a youtube video where 'Worro' upgraded the suspension on his CT and lowered the gearing for off-road use.

 

I'm also a Fuji shooter as I don't want to mess with raw editing.  Also have a CRF 250 and was planning some similar (but shorter!) trips, but now thinking a CT 125 may be better.  Just change the tyres I think.  Bit disappointing the tool box bracket broke, but I guess it's not surprising something snapped.

 

Have you tried the CT two-up for normal 7-11 type trips?  I think you can get a rear seat and pegs?

Thanks.

 

I was planning to change the tyres, but my local shop never ordered them and i took a chance the rains would not arrive, they did not except in Buriram.

 

The tool box really needed the extra brace, now is it fine. and at least i always have a spare tube and some tools. But seeing how difficult the guy repairing my puncture made it look (removing the rear wheel and sprocket etc) i will always try and find someone to help.

 

I am just terrible off road, a CRF is the better bike for off road riding, but for me the CT was great and suited me, i was in no hurry, just relaxing.

 

No, this bike is for me alone, but yes you can but the foot pegs and rear seat.

[Curt1591]

2 hours ago, chrissables said:

I would actually change to sprocket, for a lower gear if riding off road in the mountains.

But then it would take ages to get to the mountains!

That's what made the 2 stage tranny of my CT great. The low range was ridiculously low. In 4th, a person could practically walk faster!

[Agusts]

Thanks for this great report, and what an epic trip, you should send it to Honda, I'm sure they can use it for their CT 125 marketing and give you some royalty...!

 

It seems your Shad box disappeared in later photos, what happened...!?

 

I saw you reached 112kph in one of your Relive sections, quite fast, must have been going downhill, or you weigh 45kg...!????

 

Last question, doesn't that exhaust pipe going up under the right thigh start feeling hot and burning it sometime...!!!? 

 

[guzzi850m2]

1 hour ago, chrissables said:

Thanks.

 

I was planning to change the tyres, but my local shop never ordered them and i took a chance the rains would not arrive, they did not except in Buriram.

 

The tool box really needed the extra brace, now is it fine. and at least i always have a spare tube and some tools. But seeing how difficult the guy repairing my puncture made it look (removing the rear wheel and sprocket etc) i will always try and find someone to help.

 

I am just terrible off road, a CRF is the better bike for off road riding, but for me the CT was great and suited me, i was in no hurry, just relaxing.

 

No, this bike is for me alone, but yes you can but the foot pegs and rear seat.

Thanks for the answers.

 

It's very impressive that you did over 650km's in one day on the little CT125, long hours in the saddle.

 

The CT125 is way too small for me, I am thinking getting a Yamaha Tenere700 but are well aware that it can't go places you can on smaller bikes like the CT125 & CRF250/300, it's all about keeping the weight down. Not a very good off-roader myself either, haven't done it for ages.

 

I am also a Fuji shooter: XPro1 & X100T. The XPro1 sometimes produces JPEG's that makes angles sing but auto focus is a hit or miss.

[VocalNeal]

The guy from Chiang Mai from whom I bought my Versys 300 replaced it with a CT125. He has been down past Hua Hin to Songkla etc.. 

He is a big fan of the CT for touring around. 

[canthai55]

My AH Sole hurts just thinking about it !

[Randell]

Chris I just wanted to add my congratulation for an epic trip. The KM's and elevation covered were impressive to say the least. Your incredible photos and down to earth texts are so very enjoyable . Thanks again for taking us  vicarious adventurers along with you.

[chrissables]

4 hours ago, Agusts said:

Thanks for this great report, and what an epic trip, you should send it to Honda, I'm sure they can use it for their CT 125 marketing and give you some royalty...!

 

It seems your Shad box disappeared in later photos, what happened...!?

 

I saw you reached 112kph in one of your Relive sections, quite fast, must have been going downhill, or you weigh 45kg...!????

 

Last question, doesn't that exhaust pipe going up under the right thigh start feeling hot and burning it sometime...!!!? 

 

Maybe Honda would give me another bike to try ????

 

It was not a Shad top box. It was with me the whole trip, but on days out i stopped fitting it and used my soft baggage.

 

Relive seems to be optimistic on my speeds for sure, and no way 112 kph, maybe 100 but rarely.

 

No, it was hot though, but i never had any issue at all from the heat.

[chrissables]

3 hours ago, guzzi850m2 said:

Thanks for the answers.

 

It's very impressive that you did over 650km's in one day on the little CT125, long hours in the saddle.

 

The CT125 is way too small for me, I am thinking getting a Yamaha Tenere700 but are well aware that it can't go places you can on smaller bikes like the CT125 & CRF250/300, it's all about keeping the weight down. Not a very good off-roader myself either, haven't done it for ages.

 

I am also a Fuji shooter: XPro1 & X100T. The XPro1 sometimes produces JPEG's that makes angles sing but auto focus is a hit or miss.

That was too long a day the 650 km for sure, but nowhere looked interesting for me to stop over, so i just got on with it.

 

I have a Rally and some of the tracks i was on i was glad i was riding the CT. Every village you go to however remote, they ride the scooters with off road tyres, best to follow them ????

 

Fuji, a great camera, i will endeavor to get get better with it.

[chrissables]

36 minutes ago, Randell said:

Chris I just wanted to add my congratulation for an epic trip. The KM's and elevation covered were impressive to say the least. Your incredible photos and down to earth texts are so very enjoyable . Thanks again for taking us  vicarious adventurers along with you.

Cheers Randell, it was a great trip and many more to come too i hope.

[Rsteeltje]

Chris, I'm bloody jealous. What an epic tour. I could not do it. Not that I do not have the time but I lack the balls. Hat off.

 

R'tje

[chrissables]

4 minutes ago, Rsteeltje said:

Chris, I'm bloody jealous. What an epic tour. I could not do it. Not that I do not have the time but I lack the balls. Hat off.

 

R'tje

Thanks ????

I not some great off road rider, in fact the opposite, so i plod along slowly taking in the views and enjoy a cold beer after ????