20 hours ago, jvs said:

I always try to pack my heavy stuff as low as possible on the bike but

you are not carrying a lot so you should have no balance problem.

I carry around 30kg or so,tent,sleeping bag,mattress and food and water.

I considered buying a new bike also this year but the CT125 is too expensive

for me and the Suzuki J crossover took too long to become available.

The Suzuki Raider J Crossover would make a good base for this kind of light-adventure touring.  I bought the first one in Phuket and did a few modifications by replacing the rims, tires (Michelin Anakee Street), shocks (YSS gas shocks), and adding a rack and box. It comes with 31mm front fork tubes.  NMax fork tubes are only 30mm. The wide handlebars give lots of leverage for tight handling. This seems to be Suzuki's idea of a heavier-duty street scrambler version of the Wave class of bikes. I ride it mostly on the road here in south Phuket where we have a good amount of twisty, tight roads. I have owned over 40 motorbikes/cycles in my lifetime and I don't remember any that were as much fun as my new Suzuki Raider J Crossover. 56900฿ before modifications.

1 minute ago, Issanman said:

The Suzuki Raider J Crossover would make a good base for this kind of light-adventure touring.  I bought the first one in Phuket and did a few modifications by replacing the rims, tires (Michelin Anakee Street), shocks (YSS gas shocks), and adding a rack and box. It comes with 31mm front fork tubes.  NMax fork tubes are only 30mm. The wide handlebars give lots of leverage for tight handling. This seems to be Suzuki's idea of a heavier-duty street scrambler version of the Wave class of bikes. I ride it mostly on the road here in south Phuket where we have a good amount of twisty, tight roads. I have owned over 40 motorbikes/cycles in my lifetime and I don't remember any that were as much fun as my new Suzuki Raider J Crossover. 56900฿ before modifications.

Yes it is a very nice bike!The handle bars are ideal if you go off road and

they are also adjustable somewhat.

I really have no idea why There are not more types of bikes like this.

In the Philippines they have had this type for a long time already and they are very popular there.

I saw this bike there many years ago.

 

14 hours ago, Issanman said:

The Suzuki Raider J Crossover would make a good base for this kind of light-adventure touring.  I bought the first one in Phuket and did a few modifications by replacing the rims, tires (Michelin Anakee Street), shocks (YSS gas shocks), and adding a rack and box. It comes with 31mm front fork tubes.  NMax fork tubes are only 30mm. The wide handlebars give lots of leverage for tight handling. This seems to be Suzuki's idea of a heavier-duty street scrambler version of the Wave class of bikes. I ride it mostly on the road here in south Phuket where we have a good amount of twisty, tight roads. I have owned over 40 motorbikes/cycles in my lifetime and I don't remember any that were as much fun as my new Suzuki Raider J Crossover. 56900฿ before modifications.

Cool bike , good price.

113cc.?

A 150cc Raider d/s version would be super-duper.

10 hours ago, papa al said:

Cool bike , good price.

113cc.?

A 150cc Raider d/s version would be super-duper.

 d/s, what is that?

dual-sport

On 11/26/2022 at 6:50 AM, jvs said:

Sliding rack on this 135,the old one has a hinged rack.

What are the rocket launchers for?

Thank you for a fantastic thread! And now is the perfect time to ride, with the rainy season on its last legs, keeping the smog from the Asian burning culture at bay. The surroundings are still lush and green, very nice driving conditions!

 

Time to take a week or two off from wife and house!

But my low-underbelly Forza touring scooter prefer paved roads haha.

So far about 1000 km on the Kanchanaburi trip.
I just told wife I won`t come back until next week or so????

58 minutes ago, Pooreye said:

Thank you for a fantastic thread! And now is the perfect time to ride, with the rainy season on its last legs, keeping the smog from the Asian burning culture at bay. The surroundings are still lush and green, very nice driving conditions!

 

Time to take a week or two off from wife and house!

But my low-underbelly Forza touring scooter prefer paved roads haha.

So far about 1000 km on the Kanchanaburi trip.
I just told wife I won`t come back until next week or so????

Thanks, it's always fun travelling around whatever the bike. Some of my best memories were from my PCX rides. ????

I will start riding again soon and posting more photos.

Me too have very fond memories of PCX riding up on mountan tops!
I start with looking at paper maps, both new and old ones. And internet maps too. Sooo many stunning looking mountains I don`t know where to start!

Very nice curvy steep uphill paved roads at first, then higher up on mountain turns into even steeper stone-filled dirt trails.
 

Pics from different mountains. And after taking them, the real fun starts!

Hours of crawling speed climbing for the poor burnt smelling PCX.

 

In retrospect, its unbelievable that nothing broke on all those trips, not even a flat! But one have to have a sense for when to babying the bike, otherwise it will be a long walk down in the dark. Always pack good shoes and 3 flashlights????

 

 

51 minutes ago, Pooreye said:

Me too have very fond memories of PCX riding up on mountan tops!
I start with looking at paper maps, both new and old ones. And internet maps too. Sooo many stunning looking mountains I don`t know where to start!

Very nice curvy steep uphill paved roads at first, then higher up on mountain turns into even steeper stone-filled dirt trails.
 

Pics from different mountains. And after taking them, the real fun starts!

Hours of crawling speed climbing for the poor burnt smelling PCX.

 

In retrospect, its unbelievable that nothing broke on all those trips, not even a flat! But one have to have a sense for when to babying the bike, otherwise it will be a long walk down in the dark. Always pack good shoes and 3 flashlights????

 

 

Great photos, where was that?

I can`t tell exactly where, since I have not linked the pics to a specific place… 

Maybe if I scratch my head long enough I can remember some of them.

But back then I lived in Chiang Mai, and most of my trips was daytrips so up there somewhere haha. 

On 11/25/2022 at 10:57 AM, VocalNeal said:

Falling of while going backwards???? I thought only Goldwing riders did that maneuvering in Taco Bell parking lots? 

Your trip does encourage me to build a Wave based farm track explorer. There are a few around town here. But I'm still looking for a donor bike.

Without a hand operated rear brake, one need two right legs to prevent this if going backwards on a steep slope????

11 hours ago, Pooreye said:

I can`t tell exactly where, since I have not linked the pics to a specific place… 

Maybe if I scratch my head long enough I can remember some of them.

But back then I lived in Chiang Mai, and most of my trips was daytrips so up there somewhere haha. 

Helpful ????

I am the same, but now if an interesting place if i remember note where.

Today was my first day back on the bike since my fall. I rode up to Doi Pui viewpoint Chiang Mai, and carried on until the road turned to track and then doubled back. Good views but Thailand’s highest point Doi Inthanon was hidden by clouds.

https://goo.gl/maps/rX6HTzuqqvasWeV37

Good to start small scale after recovering! Nice drivable roads there, many times I drove up on Suthep to escape the heat downtown a few hours. 
But I think I never left the main tracks on that mountain, too many tourists around and maybe signposted not allowed to ride bike out in the jungle?

 

9 hours ago, Pooreye said:

Good to start small scale after recovering! Nice drivable roads there, many times I drove up on Suthep to escape the heat downtown a few hours. 
But I think I never left the main tracks on that mountain, too many tourists around and maybe signposted not allowed to ride bike out in the jungle?

 

If you pass Doi Pui viewpoint eventually it turns to rough track, if you continue you come out at Huay Tueng Thao Reservoir.

Yes a nice track down to there, at least partly haha. This pic I`m 98% sure is from after just turned right, about 1 km after Ban Khun Chang village junction.

Still main track for PCX???? But not very lush, no rain for a long time. 

And if one don`t turn right, after a few hundred meter a sharp left bend with some views too. I wish I was up north right now!

21 minutes ago, Pooreye said:

Yes a nice track down to there, at least partly haha. This pic I`m 98% sure is from after just turned right, about 1 km after Ban Khun Chang village junction.

Still main track for PCX???? But not very lush, no rain for a long time. 

And if one don`t turn right, after a few hundred meter a sharp left bend with some views too. I wish I was up north right now!

It was wet yesterday already slipping a little which is why i turned back, will try again. Some shots from last year.

Very glad to see that your well on the recovery road and frothing at the bit to get back at it Chris all the very best Rand

Great photos, I recommend a trip to Doi Inthanon if you want cool to cold. King and Queen's garden well worth some camera time.

 

I'm just wondering how you manage to maintain concentration for hours, particularly on dirt roads. I'm sure I couldn't.

 

Safe travels.

1 hour ago, Randell said:

Very glad to see that your well on the recovery road and frothing at the bit to get back at it Chris all the very best Rand

Thanks mate ????

39 minutes ago, Lacessit said:

Great photos, I recommend a trip to Doi Inthanon if you want cool to cold. King and Queen's garden well worth some camera time.

 

I'm just wondering how you manage to maintain concentration for hours, particularly on dirt roads. I'm sure I couldn't.

 

Safe travels.

Thanks, due to the amount of spills or near spill i have i think lack of concentration is my problem. ????

An easy ride after having my Sena headset repaired today (Chang Moto sorted it for free, great service) to the suspension bridge Mae Kuang Dam, Chiang Mai. The route in was confusing as due to high water levels I had to ride a different track in. I intended to cross the bridge and continue on a bigger loop, but the were signs stating the road was closed for building work.

https://goo.gl/maps/SxZj1GWnHWqoBdDT6

On 12/6/2022 at 4:59 PM, chrissables said:

An easy ride after having my Sena headset repaired today (Chang Moto sorted it for free, great service) to the suspension bridge Mae Kuang Dam, Chiang Mai. The route in was confusing as due to high water levels I had to ride a different track in. I intended to cross the bridge and continue on a bigger loop, but the were signs stating the road was closed for building work.

https://goo.gl/maps/SxZj1GWnHWqoBdDT6

Looks great,

on the way.

 

Today’s ride was a loop via Mae Ngat Dam, Ban Paa Khao Lam

A busy road leaving Chiang Mai this morning that go quiet when I turned of towards Mae Ngat Dam. Where you can ride up to the top to take the views in.

https://goo.gl/maps/QPA4nTwYUkPbRmfCA

From there I rode to R3052 which is a narrow road through the jungle with many Elephant camps along it. I turned north to Ban Paa Khao Lam which is a single track road that slowly turned poor road and cay and sand tracks. It was about 34km of green laning there and back. I then continued along R3052 to R1095 and R3009 back to Chiang Mai, a wonderful days riding.

https://goo.gl/maps/DMzxLz3KgE3Apkti6

https://www.relive.cc/view/v36A39njVZv

> Nation Geography. 

 

++

Today my ride was south from Chiang Mai to road R3033 towards Ban Khun Pae. From here the road turned to farmers track. I followed this for about 5km before deciding to turn back. The track was getting harder and it was still damp in the forested areas making it a little slippery. But the issue was I had no idea at all how far the track went or its condition.

I decided to return and road up toward Doi Inthanon on R1009 and R1284 taking the scenic route back to Chiang Mai.

If anyone has ridden R3033 through to the next good roads in the north please advice on how difficult it would be on the CT125.

https://www.relive.cc/view/vxOQ41WozMv

Very nice pictures and it makes me want to go out again.

Did some work to the bike today and nearly ready to go.

Anyone feel like going on a camping trip?

Maybe we can organize a tour and go camping for a few days,hotel is also ok but not as much fun.

Sorry Chris,i am not trying to steal your topic.

 

12 hours ago, jvs said:

Very nice pictures and it makes me want to go out again.

Did some work to the bike today and nearly ready to go.

Anyone feel like going on a camping trip?

Maybe we can organize a tour and go camping for a few days,hotel is also ok but not as much fun.

Sorry Chris,i am not trying to steal your topic.

 

I know people who do like camping, when young i did too. I also lived in one for quite a while, not too keen to do so again, i like my comforts ????

But riding of course i'm open to ideas. ????

You found nice tracks yesterday! Have you been up on the mountain north of R118, before the R120 junction? Turn left down in the small town, just a few km before R120. May be hard to find the right way at first. Pics from the mountain temple. I started exploring the smaller tracks from there, enough riding for at least a week, and no risk of tourists????