On 2006-10-27 16:47, Copper wrote:
Yeah, I would rather see it here on the Twins site, I for one hardly ever read the actual Trip Reports forum, I don't think a lot of people do.
Also, great pictures! What a beautiful country. How is it to ride there? Good roads, traffic etc. Do the people like bikes the same way Americans do?
Interesting sidebar, my Reserve Unit is going to Korea for an exercise later this year....Second time I've been there, down south of you though.
Riding in the city is absolute chaos. They do have traffic laws, but nobody follows them. It's like the entire country just got their learner's permit last week. If you want an enjoyable ride, you really need to get out of the city.
There are some things I do like about riding here though. Motorcycles are considered pedestrians, so no matter what you do, if there's an accident the other person will be at fault. Because you are a pedestrian, you can (and most people do) ride on the sidewalk/crosswalk. You can pass on the right and split lanes, but my favorite would have to be the red lights.
At every red light, motorcycles use the left turn lane to go to the front, then line back up in the crosswalk. This is an expected practice, and no drivers mind, or even seem to notice. I will really miss this one, as it saves time and has become second nature.
Bikes are really popular here, especially scooters. Everyone agrees the quickest way to get around is on two wheels. They use motorcycle messengers on modified 125cc bikes instead of bicycle messengers, and they carry everything. One time I saw a guy delivering a refrigerator on a bike!
While the locally produced bikes are all 650cc and bellow (with most being 250cc and below) there are lots of big, foreign, expensive bikes in Korea. I have seen plenty of Ducati, Aprilia, MV Agusta, and BMW bikes. I met one Korean with a Gold Wing who put $10K in it after he purchased it, including a DVD player.
There is a large Gold Wing club and an even larger Harley club. Korea's largest MC is national, and I ran into 500 of their members at a single event once. They do have a large motorcycle culture, and foreign bikes especially are considered a status symbol. I just wish they had a Triumph dealer. I think my Speedmaster is starting to feel lonely.
Copper, look me up when you visit. My contact info is on my web site. I could use the excuse to ride south and drink some soju.
