Small motorbikes and travel in Thailand, with photo's.

[chrissables]

Day 15. Today I rode North from Mae Hong Son and took a left on road 1285 to Ban Rak Thai, “Love Thai Village”. A nice ride with a waterfall to see on the way, with a Chinese Hill tribe village serving real tea at the end of the road. 155km 6hrs 15mins.

The photo's are at "love Thai village"

[chrissables]

Day 16. I left Mae Hong Son to ride to Pai. At road 1226 I rode North towards the Burmese border, this was hard going but fun with the road in a terrible state. When I arrived at the security barrier they would not let me through, so it was an about turn and on to Pai. 155km 7 hrs 15mins

[alant]

great ride it sounds, great report, thanks for posting. The PCX is an awesome machine I think. I did 2700km from Chiang Mai around Issan and back a couple of months ago on my Forza and that was also great to do but non of the off road stuff your pictures show. Thanks again for this.

[alant]

Forgot to ask, do you have a link to a map (did I miss it?) of the route I mean.

[Dutchbike]

Well done! nice trip and nice pics.
Off roading on a PCX

[ggt]

Enjoyed the pics...I could not help from thinking about all those hours glued to a motorcycle seat...you must have an iron butt...

[chrissables]

Day 17. From Pai to Chiang Mai City, roads 1095 and 107, another great motorbike ride, with a fair few big bikes riding past me. 142km

Day 18. I left Chiang Mai heading South on road 108, turning off right towards Mae Wang on road 1013 which leads to road 1284 and the back way to Doi Inthanon, the highest point in Thailand. Unfortunately I got a puncture just as I arrived at the summit, so I did not take any photo’s this trip. I had a canister of spray foam for the repair, so was soon on my way. But due to not knowing if I would get another flat I curtailed my plan to ride to Omkoi and headed for Mae Sariang (again). 286km 8hrs 15mins.

Day 19. I stayed in Mae Sariang, had my bike serviced, and changed the drive belt which was on its last legs.

Day 20. I left Mae Sariang Northwards until a right turn on road 1263, then a left towards Nam Tok Mae Surin National Park, great views and the mountains covered in Mexican sunflowers. Then continued on to Mae Hong Son, again. Such good fun riding here! 294km 8hrs.

[chrissables]

great ride it sounds, great report, thanks for posting. The PCX is an awesome machine I think. I did 2700km from Chiang Mai around Issan and back a couple of months ago on my Forza and that was also great to do but non of the off road stuff your pictures show. Thanks again for this.

It was a trip of a life time!

Yes the roads around Chiang Mai are so good to ride and lots of fun.

The off road was crazy fun! But a heavier bike would not have been much good in my opinion.

I will keep posting, it was a long trip!

[chrissables]

Forgot to ask, do you have a link to a map (did I miss it?) of the route I mean.

Hi, no i don't have one, but the route is set out on each days write up.

If you need any further info, please ask.

I just took a road map, and notes i got offline and rode where i felt like going.

[chrissables]

Enjoyed the pics...I could not help from thinking about all those hours glued to a motorcycle seat...you must have an iron butt...

I modified the seat and added extra foam, which made it a bit high, but so comfortable.

[chrissables]

Well done! nice trip and nice pics.

Off roading on a PCX

Hahaha, surely that's what it was designed for!

[DLock]

Much respect Chris.

That's a journey on any bike let alone a PCX.

If you were to do it again, would you do it on a PCX, or maybe bigger something like a Versys?

Just wondering.

[chrissables]

Day 21. From Mae Hong Son through Pai until road 107 where I turned left to stay at Chiang Dao. The road is so good, for motorbikes, everyone should try it at least once! 248km 8hrs.

Day 22. I left Chiang Dow and headed North on road 107, I then turned left at road 1322 towards Wiang Haeng. On route I saw a sign for Doi Kam Faa along with some Thai park rangers so I asked if I could ride up. After a lengthy discussion they decided it would be possible if difficult on an automatic bike. The 8km ride to the top took an hour, was very difficult in places, but wow what a ride! Really steep and rutted most of the way. On reaching the summit I discovered it’s an eco tourist destination, for hikers to trek up, not really for motorbikes. Great view and I recommend anyone with a sense of adventure to ride up, great view at the top makes it worth while!

After back tracking I continued to the old Burmese border crossing before taking road 1178 towards road 1340 and Doi Ang Khang. DON’T take this road if you are in a hurry! It’s badly pot holed for most of the 40 km’s. Although it was nearly dusk I decided to carry on over Doi Ang Khang with Fang as my final destination. This was a bad mistake, as soon as it was dark I could not see a thing and was reduced to 10km an hour. People from local villages were walking in the road making thing dangerous and slow.

When I arrived at the Army check point at the top of Doi Ang Khang I turned right to go down the steepest road in Thailand, after a few hundred meters my front brake failed completely! Nothing, no pressure, the leaver was just against the grip. I managed to ride into the verge get my heart rate down and after a few minutes the brake was ok. But I had no confidence and rode very slowly until arriving at Fang 8.40pm after 12 hours and 272km.

The last photo is looking toward Doi Ang Khang and already the sun is setting!

[Afook]

Wow, Pattaya to Nong Khai in one day on a scooter

For me that's a distance more than enough by car!

Sounds exhausting to me, and I have a PCX too.......but, I'm in my 70's.....so that rider must be a bit younger......:-)

[Afook]

Wow, Pattaya to Nong Khai in one day on a scooter

For me that's a distance more than enough by car!

Sounds exhausting to me, and I have a PCX too.......but, I'm in my 70's.....so that rider must be a bit younger......:-)

[chrissables]

Much respect Chris.

That's a journey on any bike let alone a PCX.

If you were to do it again, would you do it on a PCX, or maybe bigger something like a Versys?

Just wondering.

Difficult to answer. If i was on a big bike, there is no way i could have ridden to some of the places i did. But on some of the good motorbike roads i wished i had a bigger bike.

I will do other trips and as things stand it will be by PCX.

[chrissables]

Wow, Pattaya to Nong Khai in one day on a scooter

For me that's a distance more than enough by car!

Sounds exhausting to me, and I have a PCX too.......but, I'm in my 70's.....so that rider must be a bit younger......:-)

I'm 53

But at any age the ride could be done, just take it slow and enjoy!

[chrissables]

Day 23. I stayed in Fang and took the bike to be checked about the brake failure, I was told, “It’s because it was hot”! Diagnostics seems to be a tad lacking here!

Day 24. Today I rode as far as possible up Doi Pha Hom Pok, the second highest mountain in Thailand at 2285 meters. The ride up was quiet rough, but good views of the fog in the valley.

There is a camping area there and it’s a 3 hour hike to the top.

On the ride down my front brake failed again, the pressure came back after 10 minutes. The repair shop, looked and told me “It’s because it’s too hot”! For the second time! 47km

[chrissables]

Day 25. Decided to ride up Doi Ang Khang, the steepest road in Thailand with a plan to ride the road that follows the border, but was turned back at an army check point. On my way back down Doi Ang Khang, my brakes failed 2 times. I went back to the repair shop, and told them to change the disc, pads and brake fluid. This did the trick, but it was a while before I was confident in the mountains. 93km 5hrs 30mins.

[northernphil]

Hey, I too have a red PCX150 , doesn't go to very many off road places like yours but we have done 30000ks in the north and Chiang Mai and Nan with the wife on the back burner. When you want to come up towards C/Rai / Maesai leave a comment.

[chrissables]

Photo's at Doi Ang Khang and my failed brake!

[chrissables]

Hey, I too have a red PCX150 , doesn't go to very many off road places like yours but we have done 30000ks in the north and Chiang Mai and Nan with the wife on the back burner. When you want to come up towards C/Rai / Maesai leave a comment.

Great roads there!

Sure i will go that way again!

[chrissables]

Day 26. Finally I left Fang on road 1089 and set off for Doi Mae Salong, riding over the river Kok, of Top Gear fame and on to Hua Mae Kham before staying at Doi Mae Salong, an interesting ride, starting in the sea of fog and arriving to a very cold evening! 219km 9hrs.

[hvdkerkh]

Great trip and story Chris. Would love to do similar trips myself.

May I ask how you did arrange the accomodations, prebook or just go somewhere and see what's available?

[chrissables]

Day 27. I went to see the tea plantations at Mae Salong, then set off to see Doi Tung and Doi Mae Luang before taking road 1149 bordering Thailand and Burma to Mae Sai. The Burmese Army here had a real sense of humour loss when I stopped to take a photo, started telling me to go and they did not appreciate me asking them where, as I was in Thailand and it was nothing to do with them.

From Mae Sai I rode road 1290 checked out the opium museum (very interesting) and stayed at Chiang Saen. 144km 7hrs 45mins

[chrissables]

Great trip and story Chris. Would love to do similar trips myself.

May I ask how you did arrange the accomodations, prebook or just go somewhere and see what's available?

Hi, i just planned to be in town where i was to stay by 3pm, which would give time to find a room. I did not book a room for the whole trip. Of course sometimes when arriving later than planned it was a pain trying to find a room, but also part of the fun of the trip.

Really if you want to do it, try it. It is such good fun!

[chrissables]

Day 28. I left Chiang Saen on a very foggy morning on road 1129 to Chiang Khong and followed the border roads with Laos 1020, 1155, 1093 see Phu Chee Faa and stopping the night at Chiang Kham. 235km, 7hrs 15mins.

Day 29. A great ride from Chiang Kham to Nan on road 1148 and then 1080. This is another great motorbike road, even on my small bike. 3hrs 199km

[burgdawg]

crissables! Two thumbs up from me! Great adventure, mode of travel, rate of travel, everything! Congrats on what many of us just dream of!

I have ridden my Honda Wave 125cc 637km in one day and felt fine. Yes, Honda small bikes are the way to see the real Thailand---whatever that is! Many different takes on this magical Kingdom we are guests in.

I have ridden sections you have described on my touring bicycle. So when you state "fun ride up to Doi Mae Salong..." my legs wince with memory.

Thailand--for all types of cycles is great. If in Chonburi for example: You can ship your motorbike or bicycle on a bus to the northlands. To Nong Khai or Nakhon Phanom. Or to Chiang Rai.

You unload your bicycle or motorbike. Now your journey begins as you wander home.

When you started your trip with the grueling but necessary spring from Pattaya to Noh Khai...a single bus trip would be the stylin' option available for all. Great bus system throughout Thailand. Amazing!

Keep posting!

[chrissables]

Day 30. Just rode around the mountains near Nan today, I met a man walking out of the forest with a gun, asked to take a photo, but he walked away. 130km

Day 31. Today I rode to Phu Faa, from Nan roads 1168, 1225, 1257 and 1081. Taking these small roads is such good fun, as you must ride slow, which means you can take in the views. 197km, 6hrs.

[chrissables]

crissables! Two thumbs up from me! Great adventure, mode of travel, rate of travel, everything! Congrats on what many of us just dream of!

I have ridden my Honda Wave 125cc 637km in one day and felt fine. Yes, Honda small bikes are the way to see the real Thailand---whatever that is! Many different takes on this magical Kingdom we are guests in.

I have ridden sections you have described on my touring bicycle. So when you state "fun ride up to Doi Mae Salong..." my legs wince with memory.

Thailand--for all types of cycles is great. If in Chonburi for example: You can ship your motorbike or bicycle on a bus to the northlands. To Nong Khai or Nakhon Phanom. Or to Chiang Rai.

You unload your bicycle or motorbike. Now your journey begins as you wander home.

When you started your trip with the grueling but necessary spring from Pattaya to Noh Khai...a single bus trip would be the stylin' option available for all. Great bus system throughout Thailand. Amazing!

Keep posting!

Wow, a bike as against a motorbike! That would hurt in the mountains!

I just had a friend ship his motorbike up to Udon, but to be honest i would rather ride. Even the trip to Nong Khai seemed to pass so much quicker than sitting in a bus.

I really do think small bikes are great for this country, if you want to explore. Every remote village a small Honda there because they can go anywhere!