I want to hire a PCX for touring.

[Graemej100]

I hope someone can help me, or at least point me in the right direction here. 

I want to hire a Honda CPX from December 21st. - January 14th. I only want it to tootle around for the first two weeks but on Jan. 3rd. want to do a bit of a tour. Fang, Mae Salong, Mae Sai, Chiang Khong, Nan, Chiang Rai - all the usual suspects, and I have 8 -10 days to do it so no need to rush. Just looking and enjoying. No long legs of riding. Just taking it easy. No records to break! 

But this is the thing. I want to hire a CPX with one of those fibreglass space age boxes strapped to the rear part of the seat. A storage box. There are two of us going and, from experience on a former trip on the CM/Pai/Mae Hong Son/CM Loop, which was only for a couple of days, it was a bit of a struggle to get everything in. Maybe if it were summer it would not be so much of an issue but I know, from experience, it gets bloody cold up there and t-shirts and shorts don't cut it. Heavy clothing is the garb of the day, especially in the mornings. Heavy clothing is bulky, hence the need for extra storage.

I do not want to get a 'big bike'. That is not in the equation. A Honda CPX!

Any thoughts or guidance would be appreciated. 

[augustwest]

Do you mean PCX?

[Graemej100]

Yes. You are right. I just wrote CPX to test and confuse everybody - including myself - bugger.

Thanks for pointing that out. Hahahaha. 

[Graemej100]

I MEAN 'HONDA PCX'!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Johpa]

I have not seen any rentals with a top box.  You could ask at any of the rental locations.  If I remember right, the PCX has some decent storage under the seat.  It is usually pretty dry during  that period so you would be pretty safe strapping a duffel or some other bag over the back seat.  Add a backpack and you should be good to go.

[Graemej100]

Good thought. Thank you. Like a saddle bag you think?

 

[amexpat]

2 hours ago, Johpa said:

Add a backpack and you should be good to go.

 

Wearing a backpack is not a good idea. Especially on those curvy mountain roads. 

 

Those are wonderful rides through N Thailand. 

[Johpa]

7 hours ago, amexpat said:

 

Wearing a backpack is not a good idea. Especially on those curvy mountain roads. 

 

Those are wonderful rides through N Thailand. 

 

Perhaps you are referring to those very large backpacks seen worn by the Pai crowd containing all their worldly possessions riding their scooters on the 1095. I meant a smaller day or overnight pack.  But with the under seat storage of the PCX and a pack or duffel strapped to the rear there should be no need to wear a small backpack.  It helps to have some modern layered insulation for the cold to reduce the bulkiness.  No need for some old school bulky parka.  And apart from the truly higher altitude roads up to Doi Angkhan or Doi Inthanon or, on some days, Mae Salong, it is usually not that cold during the day time.

 

One other piece of advice is to wash some t-shirts and underwear every evening to reduce amount the amount of clothing taken along.  You can always just drape it over your side view mirror in the morning to dry it out. But then, after decades of riding the mountain roads and mountain sois of Lanna Land I ride without shame.  Your mileage may vary.

[moe666]

I have done many trips on my PCX around Thailand, you do not need a lot. I have a small back pack which I place on the seat with the straps looped over the seat and once the seat is closed it will hold the pack in place. Are you riding 2 up on the bike if so get a Forza much more comfortable for two people.

[FolkGuitar]

"Pop's Bike Rental," the oldest rental agency in Chiang Mai, will add a top box to your rental if you ask for it. I rent various styles of bikes from his main shop facing the moat, on Kotchasarn Rd (just after Thapae Gate) several times a year depending upon the sort of terrain we plan to ride. In each case we ask for either top case or hard saddle bags be added to the bike's frame. Never a problem with the addition, nor any problems with the bikes we've rented.

 

I recommend that go the day before you want to pick up the bike and let Pop know just where you will be riding and what you need for a set-up. That will give him a chance to have his mechanic go over your bike, check for any problems, and add a frame for the top box if necessary. For our Off-Road touring I usually want to have a wire installed so I can connect my GPS unit directly to the bike. Never a problem at Pop's!

[amexpat]

I recently took a visiting friend to three shops looking to rent a PCX.  None of them had tread left on the tires.

Be safe.  

 

Pop's may be a winner we didn't visit. 

[FolkGuitar]

4 hours ago, amexpat said:

I recently took a visiting friend to three shops looking to rent a PCX.  None of them had tread left on the tires.

Be safe.  

 

Pop's may be a winner we didn't visit. 

 

Remember that "Pop's" has five different locations around Chiang Mai these days. Some take better care than the others. I tend to stick with the largest one that faces the moat just before Loi Khraw Rd. Pop is usually at that one himself, so the staff stay on top of things.  Still, this be Thailand... Go the day before, pick the bike, check the tires, lights, and breaks yourself. I've run into the occasional turn signal light being out...

 

[Johpa]

9 hours ago, amexpat said:

I recently took a visiting friend to three shops looking to rent a PCX.  None of them had tread left on the tires.

Be safe.  

 

Pop's may be a winner we didn't visit. 

 

Yes, one does have to check tires, brakes, etc on any rental. As Folkguitar noted, best to arrange a rental the day before to give the rental company time to go over your bike. If it is high season the turn around time may be no time, the bike is returned at closing and you rent it the next morning with whatever flaws the previous renter left with the bike.

 

I too have had decent luck with Pop's being a long time customer with the manager of the small outlet across from the Stube.  The man takes care of me and new tires are never a problem.  But sometimes, before a longer trip, I would still take the rental to my local shop for a once over, a small additional price to pay on a multi-day rental.