Triumphrat

Rhodie · 12-09-2007

Having waited 8 months for my registration documents and number plate my Scrambler is finally able to ride the roads legally.

More importantly it can now cross borders. So after many months of waiting during which time I modified the bike to withstand the rigours of riding in South East Asia.
You can see the various details on the bike here:
http://www.triumphrat.net/triumph-tw...tml#post892598

So the the trip is to run from Thailand's capital, Bangkok, north to Chiang Mai and then on up to the Golden Triangle where Burma, Thailand and Laos meet on the Mekong river.
Cross into the People's Democratic Republic of Laos - one of the few remaining communist countries. Then head south following the length of the country parallel to the old Ho Chi Minh trail and the Mekong River into Cambodia to Phnom Penh and then out back to Thailand. This should take 10 - 14 days and be somewhere near to 2500 miles.

Thursday 6th December 2007
Set off at 0945 in the mailstrom of Bangkok's murderous traffic.
An early business meeting delayed departure - otherwise I would have left at 0500 to meet the rush hour. In spite of Garmin's efforts to confuse & confound I was soon heading north on Route 1.
I was loaded up with kit to last the journey and keep the bike on the road should I have any problems - the dealership had sold me an assortment of goodies they thought necessary!
The traffic was tricky, but since the shocks were rebuilt and set-up by YSS the bike was running superbly.
I was cruising between 85-90mph @5000rpm on Karoos.
I have a 19tooth front sprocket & Thunderbike cam.
Only ocassionally did the front end feel light which I put down to the lengthened and heightened front fender.
The only pain was having to stop and refuel every 100 miles.
Also 95 octane fuel is not always available.
Oh and avoiding the possie of apehangers heading up to Chiang Mai bike week.
One group of twenty or so were thudding along on their Harleys in the fast lane @ 70 kph [limit is 120] with their pick-up behind them with its flashers on.

But by only getting off the bike once for a hotdog and a pee I matched my GS time of six-and-a-half hours.
Arriving just in time for the opening of the newest Triumph dealership in Thailand.

Dom Hetrakul is the MD and major movie star here in Thailand
but is at heart a true biker without any star "issues".

The bike was given a prominent position despite being covered in bugs & grime.

Catenaccio · 12-09-2007

Nice. Great report.

HeyMan · 12-10-2007

Give us some more!!!!

mistermellow001 · 12-13-2007

Rhodie, It's been long in the making, and you've earned every inch of this trip. I'm absolutely thrilled to see it begin.

plowboyzzt · 12-13-2007

Fanf........gtastic!!!! We'll be teaching in China for 2 years...in about 2 years. Sure hope we can get down there for awhile when we're in the area....especially as I've heard we won't be allowed to drive anything in the PR.

Rhodie · 12-16-2007

The next day was rather subdued despite the influx of Harleys.
Chiang Mai Bike weeks attracks the odds & sods of Thai bikers.
The possie of apehangers I had passed the day before were the exception - riding their own bikes all the way north.
In the hotel I was staying at, trucks were rolling Harleys off the ramp and leather vests addorned with patches were appearing.
Time to leave town!
I went by the new dealer for an oil change.
An oil weep had appeared on the rocker cover.
Hmmm!
There's a great adventure biking fraternity centered in Chiang Mai but dispersed throughout Laos, Cambodia & Vietnam. www.gt-rider.com
One of our motly crew had picked up a new Bonnie and wanted to take it for a rumble.

We met at a gas station out of town and headed a hundred miles north to a resort where the best cakes & pies are made with great coffee. No brainer.

TRhe 865s making friends.

on the way back we took the mountain scenic route.

Another chum Ian was also breaking in his new Tiger

Rhodie · 12-16-2007

We caught up with one of the BritBikes [Bangkok's Triumph dealer] staff riding a
Thruxton.
He was struggling with its quircky ergonoomics in the first gear hairpin bends.
Politely waving us by we quickly caught up with his compadres parked by the roadside with a fallen Multistrada.

Ian who chose the Tiger over the Multistrada was quick to point out the Duke's unforgiving suspension and slow stearing unsuitable for such tricky roads.

But the day belonged to Pikey and his new Bonnie

A great day's riding with good company and testing roads with stunning scenery.
What more could one want?

Rhodie · 12-21-2007

The ride to Charin showed up a number of issues.
Rocker Cover Weep
Electrical Short
Karoos being eaten away by the hot Thai tarmac.

It was clear that before I left Thailand I need to be completely confident with the bike when it was beyond proper workshop facilities.

So after a breakfast at Tiger owning Kiwi Ian's Bungy Jumping X-Centre,

we headed out west to the Burma border and ride the Mae Hong Song Loop.

We had left after midday so we didn't stop beyond gassing up in the mountain hippy resort town of Pai - I had been on reserverve the last 20 miles and managed to squeeze nearly 17 litres into the tank.

After a coke we kept on going to Mae Hong Song arriving as the sun was slipping down behind the Burmese mountains.

The views along the way were breathtaking.

Rhodie · 12-21-2007

Ian looking as cool as ever having just stepped off the Tiger at Mae Hong Song, s
ome two hundred kms and 1600 turns later!

That evening we had a few beers by the lake.
The temple was enchantingly lit up.

In the morning we got up early there was mist rising from the lake.
We loaded up the bikes and headed north to the Burmese border.
Here the famous "long-kecked" Karen live in what can only be likened to human zoos.

Even the kids are wearing these neck extending rings at an early age.

Rhodie · 12-21-2007

We got to the border only to be turned back by Thai Army Rangers.

They were surprised by our unannounced arrival.

As we were heading back into town I came around a corner to meet a songthaew
- pick-up "bus" service coming the other way.
Having left two opposing bracket marks of rubber on the rough concrete road, I ended up laying the Scrambler down on its left side.
Mercifully my number plate was the only thing that made contact with the pick-up.
The driver, a young girl, hopped out concerned if I was alright.
Only pride and a little of the Scrams "armour-plating" was dented and the gear peg had sheared off - but still rideable.
After apologies on both sides it was followed by wishes of Chokdee! Good Luck and we all went on our way.

The damage was light - but you can see here for how well the armour protection held up:
http://www.triumphrat.net/triumph-tw...project-7.html

Back in Mae Hong Song the local bike repair shop took 20 minutes to weld the gear peg back on/
All for a total of $4, which included coffee and a tip before we were on our way again.

Ian had to get back to Chiang Mai quickly for some business so he raced off towards Mae Sarieng & Hot.

I stayed for some sightseeing

The beautiful Burmese-style Wat overlooking Mae Hong Song.