Motorbike: Pattaya to Korat City

[dddave]

A fiend with a Honda 160 (double front wheel) is planning on driving it from Pattaya to Korat City.  Seems a terrible idea to me, all secondary roads populated by illiterate truck drivers.  Has anybody actually done this?  Is there a reasonable route? 

[The Cyclist]

Steal and hide the keys until your friend sobers up or you talk some sense into him.

[NanLaew]

If he's breaking the journey into two or three stages, it's feasible. If he's an experienced rider who is also aware of the hazards of driving in Thailand, even more so.

Edited November 13, 2023 by NanLaew

[bignok]

Whats the problem? 

[dddave]

1 minute ago, NanLaew said:

If he's breaking the journey into two or three stages, it's feasible. If he's an experienced rider who is also aware of the hazards of driving in Thailand, even more so.

Experienced rider in terms of local riding and touring countryside and mountain roads but urban hi-way and secondary, not so much.

Breaking it up into bite-size segments makes good sense but we all know how that goes, once we get going, we hate stopping.

[scubascuba3]

i would do it if he's a careful rider, not reckless, not too fast, as suggested break it up and plenty if stops so concentration remains good

[biervoormij]

He could go up through Nakhon Nayok and then ride through Khao Yai National Park. This would be the long and slow way and he would have to pay the national park fee but should be a good ride. I went from Pattaya up through Nakhon Nayok and around the outside of the park this year and the highway was not bad. I spent 2 nights before getting to Phimai but I made a lot of stops on the way and was on my 155 scooter.

[VocalNeal]

Should be OK on side roads.  Via Klong Hat and Sa Keao. Short unavoidable squirt across the hills on 348. then to Korat.

Edited November 13, 2023 by VocalNeal

[Woof999]

1 hour ago, NanLaew said:

If he's an experienced rider who is also aware of the hazards of driving in Thailand

 

Just my opinion of course, if he's experienced like that he wouldn't attempt this journey. If he needs the bike shipped from one town to another, busses will take it. Also available via many Post Offices.

[chrissables]

It's an easy ride but a busy road. I have ridden it on my PCX and CT125 many times.

Look at google maps and take country roads, it will take longer but nice countryside.

A suggestion

 

https://maps.app.goo.gl/yabn1hkTd27JzxVx6

[Moonlover]

3 hours ago, Woof999 said:

 

Just my opinion of course, if he's experienced like that he wouldn't attempt this journey. If he needs the bike shipped from one town to another, busses will take it. Also available via many Post Offices.

Nonsense, he's a motorcyclist, with his own motorcycle and this is the motorcycle forum.

 

And motorcycles are meant to to be ridden! Tell your pal to get out there and have some fun @dddave. You only live once, enjoy it while you can.

[Dan747]

Experts said last month that, on average, 5,500 motorcyclists die annually – or 15 deaths a day, making Thailand the world’s deadliest country for two-wheelers.

“If you take motorcycles out of the equation, Thailand’s roads will be as safe as (those in) Switzerland, the United States and Britain,” Dr Liviu Vedrasco, health cluster chief at the World Health Organisation (WHO) in Bangkok, told The Sunday Times.

In a 2015 report, WHO said there were 26.3 motorcycle-related deaths for every 100,000 people in Thailand, the highest in the world.

Motorcycles are a common mode of transport for Thais. Last year, they bought 1.74 million motorcycles compared with only 768,788 cars, according to the Thai Automotive Industry Association.

In the first quarter of this year, 461,783 motorcycles were sold.

CSIP director Adisak Plitpolkarnpim said the practice of allowing children to ride motorbikes is prevalent, especially in provinces.

“Children ride them to school, for fun, or to run errands for their parents,” he said.

Under Thai law, those who are 15 years old can get a driver’s licence for vehicles with engines less than 110cc, but Plitpolkarnpim said this is widely violated.

Plitpolkarnpim said about 15,800 children get into motorcycle-related accidents annually, resulting in an estimated 700 deaths.

Reducing these numbers will take more than a road safety video.

The Asia Injury Prevention Foundation (AIPF) starts them young through the Street Wise Programme, which teaches schoolchildren the importance of wearing helmets.

Thailand’s helmet law is not strictly enforced, especially in provinces and among pillion riders.

AIPF said the government should pay attention to motorcycle riders as most motorbike deaths were due to fatal head injuries among pillion passengers.

A 2013 survey showed only 19% of pillion riders wore helmets compared with 53% of riders. — The Strait Times/Asia News Network

This road safety awareness video, released by Ramathibodi Hospital’s Child Safety Promotion and Injury Prevention Centre (CSIP) last year, has resonated with many in Thailand, where 73% of traffic-related deaths involve motorcycles.

Article Credit: Chiang Rai Times.

 

 

 

[Woof999]

1 hour ago, Moonlover said:

Nonsense, he's a motorcyclist, with his own motorcycle and this is the motorcycle forum.

 

And motorcycles are meant to to be ridden! Tell your pal to get out there and have some fun @dddave. You only live once, enjoy it while you can.

 

It's a 160cc Honda with a double front wheel.

 

If it was a Duc or something interesting I'd understand.

[Haveasay]

I've done it and continued to chaiyaphun and later the return. To laem chabang to the road from rayong to chaechongsow and then usual drag over mountains, kabinburi to nakon. Kept fuel topped up, would do it again. Plus I was loaded with belongings, suitcase and a few bags, took it easy and still beat the nakonchaiair bus that left after me. A challenge but had to the desire. 

[scubascuba3]

Bare in mind people cycle longer distances no problem so if careful a scooter will be no problem. I cycled to Cambodia border, much safer than a minibus

[Moonlover]

8 hours ago, Woof999 said:

 

It's a 160cc Honda with a double front wheel.

 

If it was a Duc or something interesting I'd understand.

I'm assuming that the O/P is not a motorcyclist and therefore not very knowledgeable on these matters. My eyebrows raised somewhat when I read that.

[bbko]

Perfectly doable if the bike & driver are in good shape.

[Henryford]

What Honda 160 has a double front wheel?

[dddave]

3 hours ago, Moonlover said:

I'm assuming that the O/P is not a motorcyclist and therefore not very knowledgeable on these matters. My eyebrows raised somewhat when I read that.

Assumed wrong.  Been riding motorcycles for 60 years. Motorbikes I've only used locally and for short day trips.  If my friend was riding a proper road motorcycle, 500cc+ that could keep-up with all traffic and comfortably withstand crosswinds and buffeting as well as rough sections of road surface, I would not have had the same concern.  

Motorbikes are a far different conveyance and often not well suited for difficult road conditions, thus my question which actually focused more on route than machine.

At this moment, my friend is on their way so time will tell.

[dddave]

19 minutes ago, Henryford said:

What Honda 160 has a double front wheel?

My error, it's a Yamaha Tri-City

[Moonlover]

20 minutes ago, dddave said:

Assumed wrong.  Been riding motorcycles for 60 years. Motorbikes I've only used locally and for short day trips.  If my friend was riding a proper road motorcycle, 500cc+ that could keep-up with all traffic and comfortably withstand crosswinds and buffeting as well as rough sections of road surface, I would not have had the same concern.  

Motorbikes are a far different conveyance and often not well suited for difficult road conditions, thus my question which actually focused more on route than machine.

At this moment, my friend is on their way so time will tell.

My apologies. Hope he has a great ride. I've done a few long runs on my Aerox which has the same engine as the Tricity. I stay away from main highways as much as I can and seek out the country routes. I've some great adventures, but never more than 150kms per day. That's more my own endurance rather than the bike which is well up to it.

[dddave]

Following up: my friend completed the journey without any incidents or scary situations.  The weather held nicely and it was a rain free trip the whole way which was a big bonus.  I don't know the exact route taken but they said it was really beautiful.  Thanks for the many helpful responses.

[Moonlover]

8 hours ago, dddave said:

Following up: my friend completed the journey without any incidents or scary situations.  The weather held nicely and it was a rain free trip the whole way which was a big bonus.  I don't know the exact route taken but they said it was really beautiful.  Thanks for the many helpful responses.

That's really good to know. May I ask how many days he took over the journey?

 

Thanks for giving us the follow up. Not many people seem to do that on this forum.

[papa al]

papa planning Patty to Korat ride next week Friday.

prolly leave about 9AM to ensure getting there b4 dark.

[via 331 / 304.]

thence will hop on the late sleeper train w/

ol' '09 ceeber in cargo for Nong Kai.

heard Loi Kratong up there is fun.

;-)

Edited November 15, 2023 by papa al

[dddave]

On 11/15/2023 at 6:37 PM, Moonlover said:

That's really good to know. May I ask how many days he took over the journey?

 

Thanks for giving us the follow up. Not many people seem to do that on this forum.

Actually a she and she completed the trip in 9 hours, taking three 45 minute breaks along the way.  The bike performed flawlessly but she was surprised her gas consumption was nearly the same as when she has driven her brothers Nissan Versa between the same destinations though not the same route.

[papa al]

On 11/13/2023 at 9:44 PM, Woof999 said:

 

If it was a Duc or something interesting I'd understand.

 

dukatty sucks

bow-ring

160cc Tri = koolio.

 

[PJ71]

On 11/13/2023 at 8:39 PM, Dan747 said:

If you take motorcycles out of the equation, Thailand’s roads will be as safe as (those in) Switzerland, the United States and Britain,”

Total nonsense.