Today I decided to go to the Maning Tea Estate area again near Chiang Dao exploring. The areas I wanted to ride were impossible as very steep off road beaten up single track I would not even want to walk up. The good part was the cloud cover broke and I had wonderful views of Chiang Dao from the south side.

https://www.relive.cc/view/vrqDgxAE2L6

I rode the long way to Nan today R118 turning onto R1252 winding through the mountains until riding north at the end on R1035 and various roads that are in the video below. A total of 359km.

https://www.relive.cc/view/vYvE3PdXJw6

Wow, great views.

32 minutes ago, rhodie said:

Wow, great views.

Up Norf, Innit????

1 hour ago, rhodie said:

Wow, great views.

Everywhere it seems.

I saw you got the CT125 up to 115 km/h true gps speed?? That`s pretty good considering lower gearing and knobby tires????

23 minutes ago, Pooreye said:

I saw you got the CT125 up to 115 km/h true gps speed?? That`s pretty good considering lower gearing and knobby tires????

Surprisingly fast.

!

 

Went on a similar trip on the loop… on moto it’s awesome way to see the countryside ..our ride was 6 days.,. Me , my son and a guy from Canada… luckily only stayed at one tourist town along the way 

due to getting dark… You’ve some awesome pictures and story to go with them…. Tha folks ate some of the nicest and accommodating people … really good people. I’d like to go riding up that way again

but a bit of a ride from here inn NE Isaan to Chang Mai… thank you for sharing your journey absolutely awesome…

10 hours ago, Pooreye said:

I saw you got the CT125 up to 115 km/h true gps speed?? That`s pretty good considering lower gearing and knobby tires????

When loaded up and on long descents it picks up speed eventually. ???? 

As always Chris well presented and wonderful photos and "  picks up speed down hill  loaded" made me laugh.

1 hour ago, Randell said:

As always Chris well presented and wonderful photos and "  picks up speed down hill  loaded" made me laugh.

????

I decided to ride east of Nan today again with no actual plan but I wanted to ride some of R1243 that heads south following the Laos border and is a favorite road of mine.

On the way I turned off to ride some farmer tracks. I was not in high mountains but its surprising how steep some of these tracks are, basically first gear riding but enjoyable. Anyone wanting to improve their green lane riding should volunteer working with the locals, you will learn a lot!

On one section through a rubber tree plantation a guy ran out to stop me stating the track impassable. I parked up to take photos and for sure the path ahead was a steep downhill ride with no sign of recent tracks. It was probably washed away in the rainy season.

After riding out and onto paved road I went to one viewpoint

https://goo.gl/maps/abCFtNp3v9ZfGfUf6

 and then looped back to Nan, a great ride today.

https://www.relive.cc/view/v8qkGVgL53q

What size rear sprocket are you using now?

10 hours ago, VocalNeal said:

What size rear sprocket are you using now?

45 come from a click or similar bike, can't recall at present.

Whoa big jump. I am thinking of 36 to 39 you went from 39 to 45. How much do you weigh? I'm only about 75 kgs. But my explorer bike is only 110cc.

9 hours ago, VocalNeal said:

Whoa big jump. I am thinking of 36 to 39 you went from 39 to 45. How much do you weigh? I'm only about 75 kgs. But my explorer bike is only 110cc.

Maybe i must check, but i think size 45.

Today I met up with a friend Mike from Pattaya and his lovely lady to ride to Phu Chi Faa.

For some reason some garages were out of fuel so we filled up before needed a few times when we spotted fuel for sale.

Our first stop was the viewpoint at Phaya Phiphak Forest Park viewpoint for a few photos. As I parked up my side stand fell off, at least no crash this time!

https://goo.gl/maps/rcPsceTB7ALenck46

From here we carried onto Doi Pha Tang.

https://goo.gl/maps/n18b1WhLunLxruuV9

After a few photo’s we back tracked to ride up Phu Chi Fa.

https://goo.gl/maps/1h5XrejmUwdwMEYq6

Here it got interesting! Mike rode ahead and as I started the climb I check I was in first gear but it was riding as if in second and came to a stop. This led to my third attempt at riding downhill backs with the front break locked on. I managed to control the bike and hit the rear brake and slide to a halt after about 7 meters of skidding.

I rode to the start of the hill and Mike came back to laugh, which was hard not to do.

He decided to ride up to take a photo at the top parking area and I started wondering what happened. I went down through all the gears when stationary then back into first. For some reason now first gear felt to be a lot lower gear. (If someone has any ideas what happened please advise)

So with the low first gear I rode up ok in first gear but no problem.

We decided not to walk to the sumit and returned by the same route. Honda Club in Chiang Rai fitted a new aftermarket side stand and all is good.

https://www.relive.cc/view/v1vjkx9PBYO

 

My ride today was to explore some tracks alongside the River Kok west of Chiang Rai. I have ridden in this area before, but now a lot of the tracks have been concreted or graded ready for concrete I presume.

I had to back track to the suspension bridge after missing the turn in the road works, but an easy and nice ride with good views.

https://goo.gl/maps/dtVRMHvcbgps3Ror7

https://www.relive.cc/view/vJOKxAenew6

 

On 1/9/2023 at 6:11 AM, chrissables said:

45 come from a click or similar bike, can't recall at present.

Honda Click---

Automatic

no chain

no rear chain sprocket.

//

Cool side-stand.

Maybe some lock-tite.

//

????

10 hours ago, papa al said:

Honda Click---

Automatic

no chain

no rear chain sprocket.

//

Cool side-stand.

Maybe some lock-tite.

//

????

I will add a nut to lock it. ????

I went exploring the mountains south of the river Kok today, again an area I have been before.

It’s a nice ride south from Chiang Rai then heading west on R1208 and then north up into the mountains, the coffee growing area. After Huai Chomphu

19.969417, 99.616250

I missed a correct turn point due to adding a waypoint in the wrong place. From high in the mountains I went down to the valley floor on very steep sand and clay tracks to where there was a small stream crossing. Not long after I realized I had gone wrong and needed to back track. This was too much for the bike even with a larger rear sprocket and in first gear. I came to a halt a few time and just managed to paddle my way up. By this time I decided to ride back rather than ride further into the wilderness.

I am now definitely considering a big bore kit. Being alone on a track you may not be able to ride out of is not fun for me!

But there were great views!

https://www.relive.cc/view/vPOp3j4XeRv

 

Yes fantastic views and the air was very clear. Have seen a YouTube on the big Bore Kit being just what the doctor ordered for that extra bit of power for exactly those situation. Cheers.

14 hours ago, Randell said:

Yes fantastic views and the air was very clear. Have seen a YouTube on the big Bore Kit being just what the doctor ordered for that extra bit of power for exactly those situation. Cheers.

Hi Randall, yes i have seen Eddie Bright who has a youtube site out of Chiang Mai, "Lazy Dog Productions" And have ridden his bike, but not up steep mountain tracks.

 

 

Today’s ride was to the Thai National Radio Observatory. Which is located in nice park area.

https://goo.gl/maps/RwsTXrqJ9tA1AeCS6

For some reason It was not open to the public. From here I rode to Mae Muang view point here.

https://goo.gl/maps/RwsTXrqJ9tA1AeCS6

There was a barrier to stop further exploring unfortunately.

https://www.relive.cc/view/v36A3mB8mZv

 

Yesterday I spent a few hours sightseeing in Tweechol Botanical Garden, nice place.

Today I went riding on small roads north alongside the Mae Ping River followed by riding up to Kaeo reservoir and back to Chiang Mai.

https://goo.gl/maps/DRShVcrrUQL9YnS19

https://www.relive.cc/view/vNOP4dzJd2O

 

Today I left Chiang Mai and rode to Pai as I start my ride home the long way.

An easy ride and after checking in to my hotel I went to a viewpoint I have never been to before just outside of Pai. Yun Lai viewpoint.

https://goo.gl/maps/oUQQYsyWQJuVpxbZ6

It was well worth the short ride up to it and great views.

https://www.relive.cc/view/vE6JXJJJgxv

Down in Mae Sariang corner there is a nice paved loop, and locals told me they very rarely see any foreigners there… maybe you know but for me it was new territory. Coming from north on 108, turn left into 1266, right into 4006, right again into 3035/5020 towards 3010. Then right into 3010 heading south.

 

8 hours ago, Pooreye said:

Down in Mae Sariang corner there is a nice paved loop, and locals told me they very rarely see any foreigners there… maybe you know but for me it was new territory. Coming from north on 108, turn left into 1266, right into 4006, right again into 3035/5020 towards 3010. Then right into 3010 heading south.

 

I may have ridden some of that route, i will check on google maps. Thanks, i'm always looking for new roads to ride.

A lot in that area a getting paved it changes all the time. ????

8 hours ago, Pooreye said:

Down in Mae Sariang corner there is a nice paved loop, and locals told me they very rarely see any foreigners there… maybe you know but for me it was new territory. Coming from north on 108, turn left into 1266, right into 4006, right again into 3035/5020 towards 3010. Then right into 3010 heading south.

 

Hi, do you have any way points, town or village names?

After 1266 and 4006 i cant see on my google map the other road numbers.

I will check more later, thanks.

It`s signposted Ban Tun, and in a village so you won`t miss it. And if you do miss it, just continiue and turn back after some 10 km of very nice road which suddenly turns into dirt. You can continiue on that dirt road too, maybe 2 km of dirt and thru a village and out on 1270, BUT this route (after it turns into dirtroad) is not nice either scenerywise or pavementwise, 1270 have zillions of potholes.

Here you turn right if you like well paved looparound roads.

Ps. I just spent one week in that corner of mhs loop, driving 300-500 km per day????