The Motorbike Directory Project

[LivinLOS]

UPDATE:

Link>>> Thailand Motorcycle Directory

.

OK folks, I floated this idea back after the new year but as usual got side tracked and let it slide for a while. However I have been checking and the basic idea is actually fairly easy to implement using google maps.

The idea was back in this thread in Post 19. The relevant part of it was.

Also an idea I have been meaning to mention, this occured to me when in Chiang Mai, as a non local, who needed to find a good mechanic. We need to create a database of big bike mechanics, and suppliers and use google earth / google maps tools to make it easy to find them.. In this age when many people have GPS's and in a couple of years they will be in every phone, its about time we made a map / location database of all the Thai spots. I would bet theres not more than a couple hundred real big bike places but it needs to be a collaborative effort.

When I thought about it, the ideal solution would be a wiki format, where the data could be collaboratively maintained. The site could contain sales, parts, mechanics, even bike friendly bars and or accommodations, rentors, or even rides. Its really easy to slap a wiki together, google maps lets us bookmark locations and put them onto the site, google earth kmz's are downloadable / exportable from the site and can be converted into garmin / mapsource or nokia waypoints easily. It just needs everyone to pitch in and help put placemarkers around thier local area to get the project started.

So I have been out this morning as a proof of concept made the following KML (google earth) file. It should be downloadable at the bottom of this post. As you can see its a little sparse it was simply a mornings ride and some of the places I dont have a card to hand for the full contact info and didnt go and get street addresses and tel numbers. To be truly useful it would be good if each entry could be exact location, street address, tel number, and any web info like site URL or email.

Then also as a proof of concept I have used this KML to create a group collaborative google map. That means anyone with a google account can edit and adapt the place markers (this throws up some issues with vandalizing existing POI's and editing 'rights' but I havent looked deeply into this yet. I still like a 'wiki' framework as it has some rollback controls, plus a wiki can become a more searchable database much easier). So with a mornings work theres a simple framework there for adding POI's, listing the business, adding info.

The google maps link is here Thai Motorcycling POI's I am a bit unsure how that will look as I am logged in but it seemed to work with a different browser.

If everyone took the time to look and add any businesses they know, and place them on the map, in very short order this could become a very useful map. We could use different markers for different types of POI's perhaps, biker friendly bars and lodging being a different icon from sales and service ??

One of the big mysteries in Thailand is where to go, who to call, where to get some specialist job done, if we all collaborate and pitch in this could really help us longer term..

So Bangkok guys... How about locating fast corner, red baron, dirt etc onto the map ?? CM guys.. Tonys, piston shop, etc all need to be put on...

Motorbike_Directory___Phuket.kml

[LivinLOS]

To add a POI on that google map link, simply click 'edit' next to the Thailand Motorcycle POI's title and you should get a toolbar float over the map.

From there the rest should be obvious.

[Pikey]

Just saw this thread and added a couple of places (including mine! ).

Cheers,

Pikey.

[LivinLOS]

Cool man.. And of course no problem listing businesses, thats kinda the whole point !! Some CM bits expands it out of just my area.

Need to get some Bangkok spots in there.. Tony (Kawker HQ), dotcom, etc.. You guys must know where and have contact info for Baron etc..

Whose down Patts way (Bard ??) for Siam, road machine, Etc etc.

Thailand Motorcycle POI's

[Netfan]

Great idea, I added a couple- Ducati, Panda, CP Bike shop in Hua Hin. And the Seacon Sq. track - not sure of the proper name, maybe someone else does and can edit.

[LivinLOS]

Added a couple more and the Phuket DMV location and contact info.

Will get the missing phone numbers this next week.

Pattaya still empty.

[Meridian007]

Great idea LivinLOS, this is the perfect way to save some of the BKKriders info that I'm afraid is just going to disappear one of these days!

PeaceBlondie: Can this thread be added to the "important topics" area?

Updated 6 more points on the map:

Red Baron

Somchai Alai

Dynamic Motors

Dr. Bike

Jammers

Powerstation

To the other Bangkok members: Please add places you've been to, you can easily just cut and paste info from the BKKriders page: http://www.geocities.com/bkkriders/shops/index.html (that's what I did! )

Oh, I adjusted the location of the Paddock, it's closer to Huay Kwang station.

[LivinLOS]

Thats great man.. Helps fill out some of the BKK info.

[Bard]

Added Mitoyont Pattaya and Rayong. Will do more when I get home, don't remember the names, and some soi's are secret

[LivinLOS]

Cool thanks bard..

I have a few more to go and waypoint on the island and then AFAIK Phuket is done for big bike stuff..

I have a couple of numbers for things like an anodizer and powdercoater in Chiang Mai that I am told is the best in the country, some more 'out there' stuff like that who would be nice to have thier tel number listed, and then I will have a go at adding bike friendly bars and accommodations too.

Its slowly filling out.

BTW in case anyone doesnt yet know this. If you are already 'collaborating' (logged in) on the project, if you click the edit button, you can 'view in google earth' which downloads a KML file to your home PC of the whole directory. I am doing this every few days as a backup in case anything happens to this data.

[BigBikeBKK]

This is coming along nicely!

Just added http://www.kawasakibigbike.com/

Happy Trails!

Tony

[BigBikeBKK]

Added Yamaha Big Bike on Ratchadapisek.

Can someone add DIRT SHOP? I understand they moved and don't know where the new location is.

Thanks and Happy Trails!

Tony

[Meridian007]

Just added the pertinent buildings at the Department of Land Transport in Bangkok, as per suggestion.

Trying to keep this on the first page until it gets stickied!

[LivinLOS]

Thanks.. DMV's round the country will hopefully work thier way onto there.

[BigBikeBKK]

Still waitin' for someone to add the new location for DIRT SHOP- anyone?

This map isn't doing it for me... I was on Onnut yesterday and didn't spot it...

[basjke]

Roadmachine Pattaya added.

[dotcom]

Tell us in laymans term how to add a POI. Thanks

[BigBikeBKK]

Tell us in laymans term how to add a POI. Thanks

Here ya go- Free of charge!

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  Google Maps
  
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[LivinLOS]

Tell us in laymans term how to add a POI. Thanks

You need to be signed into a google account (gmail will do fine)..

Then you click collaborate to be involved with it.

Then click edit and map editing tools float over the map top.. You can add a point. etc.

While in the edit screen you can also click view in google earth to download a KML file with all the data that can be viewed in GE.

Also while in edit mode you can see an import button which does the reverse for importing a google earth kmz file and description data to the map.

[CroBiker]

Great info here, topic pinned.

[Zzinged]

Could someone please add Fast Corner?

[dotcom]

I put it on there for you Chat.

[Zzinged]

Thanks.

[PeaceBlondie]

I froze this topic for a day or two. Then I resolved the debate over dropping URL's to commercial sites by eliminating all posts that had such links, and the debate itself. Now the thread is open again. I did not want to get involved in this. You can contact any of the admins for clarification.

Thank you.

[robinhill]

Tell us in laymans term how to add a POI. Thanks

You need to be signed into a google account (gmail will do fine)..

Then you click collaborate to be involved with it.

Then click edit and map editing tools float over the map top.. You can add a point. etc.

While in the edit screen you can also click view in google earth to download a KML file with all the data that can be viewed in GE.

Also while in edit mode you can see an import button which does the reverse for importing a google earth kmz file and description data to the map.

<snip>

Whilst "collaborative" maps are easy for anyone to work on, they are unfortunately just as easy for anyone to destroy...

<snip>

Google Maps also has limitations in respect of the amount of map data which can be displayed, and also in respect to the appearance or not of the map data.

Google Earth, however, has far more flexibility and less limitations for dealing with maps and map data.

So, there is an alternative approach which is worth a mention here....

It is possible for all contributors to create their own Google maps, and then to use the "View in Google Earth" hypertext on the Google Maps page to save a kml file which links to their map data, and then submit this map to the Organizer to be included in the overall ("non-collaborative") map. (Note here that the Organizer should not use the Google Maps "Import" hypertext to achieve linkage to the individual maps since this also has its constraints in relation to the organization of the map data. Instead you have to write a simple bit of kml code which links to the maps and determines if and how they will appear initially when the map is loaded into Google Earth).

Having a new map which links to a number of individual maps is equivalent to having a new web page which links to number of other web pages. Just as those other web pages are not copied and placed within the new web page, so the map data itself is not copied or filtched and placed within the new map, merely linked to by the new map's kml code.

The Google Earth software is extremely flexible, allowing for all of the individual maps to be viewed at once on the same screen, or, with the use of check-boxes, allowing you to view only a selection of the maps to suit your needs.

If you take this approach then it has the advantages that no one can edit or destroy the existing Placemarks data apart from the creators of the individual maps on which those Placemarks reside. Also, the individual map data which is submitted can be screened for its relevance and accuracy, and anyone who attempts to abuse the map by subsequently placing irrelevant, inappropriate, abusive or sexually explicit data onto it can be reported and have their map removed.

Therefore, this approach, although not as simple, offers a more secure means to achieving the goal set out in this forum topic.

<snip>

[LivinLOS]

Just wanted to say well done and thanks to the contributors to this project.. Its really taken shape and while I would like it to have better contact detail for the businesses listed on some submissions its a great starting point.

I have backed up the KML files and will continue to do so.

[bazmlb]

I have added a lot to the new Thaivisa Directory http://directory.thaivisa.com

Please add any listings here now.

[KhunAussie52]

Supurb idea and well executed.......thanks!!!

[LivinLOS]

Been playing with a new android phone..

The mapping system and GPS all are integrated with google maps, exactly as I hoped it would be back when the project started.

[rick625]

Updated Pattaya with the following.

Updated Iron Horse

Added Hot Rod and East Coast Choppers

Great Idea. Let me know if you need more info on anything down this way.