Southern trip/ route

[Hili]

Hi,

I am planning a trip to the south for christmas/ new year; not only riding but it will be a part of it. So the route i was thinking of is

1st day: BKK - Chumphon

2nd day: Chumphon - Khao Lak

3rd day: Khao Lak - Suratthani

Then going via ferry Samui - Phangan to relax and heading back straight back to BKK. Any suggestions on the routes? Anything to void or not miss on the way there?

Thanks

[DualSportBiker]

Not many choices for most of the route south - Thailand is too thin...

Consider the Ranong road just for variety. There is a road that connects the 4 to the coast road - I just checked, and can't extract a road number, but I rode it in 2008 and was blown away at how much fun and how scenic it was. Once I get off my iPad and can more easily multitask, I'll post routes that form a loop around the hills there - very dramatic roads and views.

I bought my bike in Phuket and road to Ranong before deciding which route to take back to Bangkok. Asked a truck driver at around 09:30 which he recommended. Went the opposite way to him as he skulled a can of Chang and a M150 before getting back into his cab...

Enjoy.

[off road pat]

Try the coast road from Pran Buri to Chumpon......take a good detailed map or use a gps.....sometimes you have to leave the road and take another to find the right way....at some places you need to go back to the Petkasem road witch is the highway...go south for a few km's....and back to the beach road....also no petrol stations on the coastal road....but I like this road....both ways....lots of places where you can swim......some nice restaurants....Expensive Resorts...to find affordable accommodation you have to go more inland.... enjoy..it's a adventure...

[wrinklynomad]

Suggestion only for the BKK to Chumpon stage. Train BKK to Pranburi then by bike to Paknampran on the coast and cycle through scenic Sam roy yod park to Prachuap - about half a day cycling - or similar train to Prachuap and then along the coast to Wakor, back on Phetkasem until Thapsakae - left turn to scenic coast of Ban Krut and Ban Saphan. Practicality will depend on train timings if that is your other means of travel - BKK to Champon is pretty well a days journey on its own by train. Hope this helps.

[cornishcarlos]

I would stop at Prachuap Khiri Khan on the 1st day, Chumpon is just a little bit too far to be enjoyable. The highway down that way sucks btw, super pot holed

Take a right at Chumpon and head for Ranong, very nice route. In fact all the way to Khao Lak is nice.

The road across to Suratthani is a cracker, takes you past Khao Sok national park, very scenic.

Enjoy it...

[ll2]

you can go all the way from coast to chumporn starting right after samut songkhram instead of highway. except 50 km around prachuab khiri khan and cha am - hua hin section.

slower but worth it if you have time. and lots of nice restaurants full of fresh sea food along that route. roads are not bad.

Edited December 4, 2014 by ll2

[ggt]

Man...you are a very trusting soul...watch your back as Thai roads are hazardous enough for motor vehicles...much less a bike...good luck!

[smotherb]

Man...you are a very trusting soul...watch your back as Thai roads are hazardous enough for motor vehicles...much less a bike...good luck!

Yes, and instead of risking anything, just stay in bed all day.

[Hili]

Thanks for the suggestions so far. I know roads along the coast down south are stunning and i rode them sometimes down to baan krut, this is why i will doing bkk – chumphon quick and then after will enjoy more and see some new routes. Chumphon – khao lak i might do via ranong, but ranong itself is a bit too fishy for me yep in the end not so many options in the south but still cant wait for it.

And yes i am aware of thai roads; that why i will ride faster than anybody else so i am voiding any contact with other vehicles.

[ALFREDO]

And yes i am aware of thai roads; that why i will ride faster than anybody else so i am voiding any contact with other vehicles.

Right

What kind of bike you will drive?

[Hili]

And yes i am aware of thai roads; that why i will ride faster than anybody else so i am voiding any contact with other vehicles.

Right

What kind of bike you will drive?

Panigale 899

[ALFREDO]

Panigale 899

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ducati_899

Lucky you,

Regarding

"And yes i am aware of thai roads; that why i will ride faster than anybody else so i am voiding any contact with other vehicles."

But be careful to, with cross traffic and U-turners

and not to forget the people, who suddenly, drive to the right to avoid a pothole or a bad piece of road surface.

Such a maneuver, during my over taking, brought me to an over braking a highsider

and broken wrist and fingers, fixed with Kirschner wire in my bones.

Edited December 6, 2014 by ALFREDO

[Hili]

Thanks alfredo; been long enough on thai roads to be aware of all the risks, do and do nots but still iam enjoying it nothing can take it away from me right now...

[robblok]

We have just done this route with a car. I can tell you there is a lot of dual carriage way where cars just come on your lane in blind corners.. hills whatever. They do respects cars (a little bit) but bikes will be pushed into the curb for sure by that kind of idiots. I advise you NOT to drive too fast because if you do that you will have a problem.

[Hili]

We have just done this route with a car. I can tell you there is a lot of dual carriage way where cars just come on your lane in blind corners.. hills whatever. They do respects cars (a little bit) but bikes will be pushed into the curb for sure by that kind of idiots. I advise you NOT to drive too fast because if you do that you will have a problem.

Thanks i will watch out, even though this is a common practices by the talented thai drivers. iam just in khao yai and the same applies here.

[H1w4yR1da]

We have just done this route with a car. I can tell you there is a lot of dual carriage way where cars just come on your lane in blind corners.. hills whatever. They do respects cars (a little bit) but bikes will be pushed into the curb for sure by that kind of idiots. I advise you NOT to drive too fast because if you do that you will have a problem.

Punching off their wing mirror usually has the desired effect.

[robblok]

We have just done this route with a car. I can tell you there is a lot of dual carriage way where cars just come on your lane in blind corners.. hills whatever. They do respects cars (a little bit) but bikes will be pushed into the curb for sure by that kind of idiots. I advise you NOT to drive too fast because if you do that you will have a problem.

Punching off their wing mirror usually has the desired effect.

Good luck with that.. when a car is coming at you on your lane pushing you in the ditch. Last time I checked cars win from bikes in a crash.

[H1w4yR1da]

Most highways I've ridden on outside of Bangkok have a left side area either as a motorcycle lane or for stopped vehicles. It's not just road then ditch. The actual technical name for it escapes me atm as it's Saturday night and I've had a few bevvies.

Haha, my Galaxy Note 3 autocorrected 'bevvies' to 'beavers'. I've got a phone that reads minds as well!

Edited December 6, 2014 by H1w4yR1da

[robblok]

Most highways I've ridden on outside of Bangkok have a left side area either as a motorcycle lane or for stopped vehicles. It's not just road then ditch. The actual technical name for it escapes me atm as it's Saturday night and I've had a few bevvies.

Haha, my Galaxy Note 3 autocorrected 'bevvies' to 'beavers'. I've got a phone that reads minds as well!

You are right but what i mean is your so called punching of mirrors is something I dont believe you can do that easy in the given situation. Coming up behind a car and punching would be ok.. but a car going fast pushing you off your side of the road and then punching one sounds a bit unbelievable.

[H1w4yR1da]

Well its not something I do unless my safety is seriously threatened but the cars do tend to slow down upon seeing a bike in the oncoming lane though you're right, aiming is difficult. Most cars will try to move back into their own lane but some follow the 'might is right' mantra and don't care if they force you off the road.

Edited December 7, 2014 by H1w4yR1da

[Hili]

will start tomorrow, anybody have details on the flooding in Surat Thani area? I will go from Khao Lak to Don Sak Pier via 44 - 401 - 4142 would appreciate if anybody could let me know if these areas are passable.

Thanks!

[cornishcarlos]

No issues that I know of...

We are 45k outside Surat on the way to Donsak.

Think you will be fine as the rain has eased off the last couple days.

Stay safe..

[Hili]

No issues that I know of...

We are 45k outside Surat on the way to Donsak.

Think you will be fine as the rain has eased off the last couple days.

Stay safe..

Great news, i was a bit worried. Thanks alot

[Shurup]

Punching off their wing mirror usually has the desired effect.

I've been thinking of doing just that to some especially dumb <deleted> but then if you apply logic, 2 vehicles each traveling at a 100 kmh in opposite direction will net in 200 kmh or more. The contract with a something even as small as a wing mirror would result in a broken first/leg/etc and will send you flying off your bike. Or do you carry your Lance on your bike? Lol

[Hili]

Punching off their wing mirror usually has the desired effect.

I've been thinking of doing just that to some especially dumb <deleted> but then if you apply logic, 2 vehicles each traveling at a 100 kmh in opposite direction will net in 200 kmh or more. The contract with a something even as small as a wing mirror would result in a broken first/leg/etc and will send you flying off your bike. Or do you carry your Lance on your bike? Lol

not true works really well but you should use the flat hand not a fist....

[H1w4yR1da]

MotoGP pro-quality high protection gauntlet gloves help.

[mania]

Punching off their wing mirror usually has the desired effect.

I've been thinking of doing just that to some especially dumb <deleted> but then if you apply logic, 2 vehicles each traveling at a 100 kmh in opposite direction will net in 200 kmh or more. The contract with a something even as small as a wing mirror would result in a broken first/leg/etc and will send you flying off your bike. Or do you carry your Lance on your bike? Lol

I think we as riders here have all had our moments

But a healthy dose of Mai Bpen Rai is best I think.......

I know I was 99.9% close to doing just that ( whack mirror deal) a few times but resisted

once & surprisingly??? it was a older falang driving.... One of those that for what ever reason

get indignant at a bike passing in the space left of them when they are stuck in traffic...

I saw him look at me in his left mirror then purposely jerk his car left almost smashing me into a parked car.

For the simple reason of he was not moving so neither should I

Well when able to I pulled on his left with that mirror thought in mind

There in the passenger seat sat a young Thai woman who looked at me

with such a "I'm sorry he is an idiot look" that the anger fell right out of me. I nodded at her & just left.

Another that happened right here in CM was on youtube..gone now due to violence I guess?

( front story from Thai in comments section)

But in that one the car driver knowing he could not catch the bike must have just tailed from a distance till bike stopped

car parked next part was on youtube because someone did a phone vid

Guy must have called his pals on his cell & while the rider stood off bike outside a coffee place a car pulled up

& out jumped guys with a bat & a machete. It was not pretty & thankfully they used the machete only on its side/slap

But it was never the less brutal & the bat did its job...Also this was a Thai bike rider.

So.........I think Mai Bpen Rai works best in the long run

Sorry for the sidebar & I know from reading Hili's posts he knows the score here

Hili hope you have a great Xmas ride on that Italian beauty

Edited December 20, 2014 by mania

[H1w4yR1da]

The problem with the 'mai pen rai' approach is that allows frustration to build up.

Sometimes a little slap back on a mirror eases any built up tension.

But really you're right. A cool head is the best as they may be armed or call in the mob.

[Hili]

In the end we should enjoy riding and of course this is the best without anger, however as highwayrida mentioned i also get quite angry sometimes when cagers putting you in danger. Sometimes i just let it go but sometimes i cant hold it.

Wish me luck i wont need to turn my bike into a boat

Anyway Merry X-Mas everybody

[seedy]

Having a handgun stuffed in your face does wonders at restoring the "Mai Pen Rai"