Before I tell you about my favourite bike meeting in Thailand, I would like to tell you a story.
When I was 14 I went to work at a Hotel in the mountains during my school holidays. This hotel had a few horses for the guests, who could rent them out and go for a ride with a hotel guide. So, my boss thought it would be a good idea to teach me how to ride. Cool I thought, who wouldn't want to learn and how hard can it really be?
Very hard, it turned out. My behind was sore for 3 days afterwards, but in the end I learned how to do it.
Why am I telling you this story?
Simple, my ass feels as sore as almost 30 years ago!
2 days ago I mounted a new set of YSS shocks on my Triumph Street Twin. A few months ago a customer ordered them for his T120, but the Australian airlines refused to ship them due to the gas canisters on them. So I kept them and finally decided to put them on my bike. Don't get me wrong...the YSS shocks are great, but due to limited time, I didn't set them up properly and the weekend trip left its signs on my butt cheeks, literally.
Now that you know about this all important issue, lets move over to the 12th Vintage Bike Meeting in Kanchanaburi.
Why is it my favourite bike meeting in Thailand? Well, for one just getting there is a bit of an accomplishement. I have to ride around busy Bangkok first, then soldier on on the long straights through Nakhom Pathom to finally pass Kanchanaburi. After that, it becomes really enjoyable. Groups of vintage bikes all follow the same road and everyone feels the same excitement. You can park at the side of the road for 2 minutes and without doubt someone will pull over and strike up a conversation.
There's none of that sectarian BS I felt at the Pattaya Bike Week with all those Harley gangsters wannabees. If you're into vintage bikes, it doesn't matter what bike you ride...they are all cool (even Harleys). Sorry if you don't agree, but that's just the way I think.
We arrived around 4pm, greeted by a stubborn storm hovering around few kms from the event. Eventually we made it to the meeting point, and as always I took my sweet time to look at all the bikes and take some nice pics.
I really liked the new addition of the vintage engines displayed and in working order. Very interesting!
This year there seemed to be more going on, with more food stalls, more sellers and even a giant inflatable castle for the kids.
Once the sun went down and looking at the bikes was over, the music started. I don't mind life music, I really don't, but when you have 3 stages at close range with bands playing at the same bloody time, that's when I know...it's time for me to leave.
Seriously, how can anyone enjoy a band, when you have 2 other bands playing at the same time?? This is Thailand I guess...
Rant over, now enjoy the pictures:
When I was 14 I went to work at a Hotel in the mountains during my school holidays. This hotel had a few horses for the guests, who could rent them out and go for a ride with a hotel guide. So, my boss thought it would be a good idea to teach me how to ride. Cool I thought, who wouldn't want to learn and how hard can it really be?
Very hard, it turned out. My behind was sore for 3 days afterwards, but in the end I learned how to do it.
Why am I telling you this story?
Simple, my ass feels as sore as almost 30 years ago!
2 days ago I mounted a new set of YSS shocks on my Triumph Street Twin. A few months ago a customer ordered them for his T120, but the Australian airlines refused to ship them due to the gas canisters on them. So I kept them and finally decided to put them on my bike. Don't get me wrong...the YSS shocks are great, but due to limited time, I didn't set them up properly and the weekend trip left its signs on my butt cheeks, literally.
Now that you know about this all important issue, lets move over to the 12th Vintage Bike Meeting in Kanchanaburi.
Why is it my favourite bike meeting in Thailand? Well, for one just getting there is a bit of an accomplishement. I have to ride around busy Bangkok first, then soldier on on the long straights through Nakhom Pathom to finally pass Kanchanaburi. After that, it becomes really enjoyable. Groups of vintage bikes all follow the same road and everyone feels the same excitement. You can park at the side of the road for 2 minutes and without doubt someone will pull over and strike up a conversation.
There's none of that sectarian BS I felt at the Pattaya Bike Week with all those Harley gangsters wannabees. If you're into vintage bikes, it doesn't matter what bike you ride...they are all cool (even Harleys). Sorry if you don't agree, but that's just the way I think.
We arrived around 4pm, greeted by a stubborn storm hovering around few kms from the event. Eventually we made it to the meeting point, and as always I took my sweet time to look at all the bikes and take some nice pics.
I really liked the new addition of the vintage engines displayed and in working order. Very interesting!
This year there seemed to be more going on, with more food stalls, more sellers and even a giant inflatable castle for the kids.
Once the sun went down and looking at the bikes was over, the music started. I don't mind life music, I really don't, but when you have 3 stages at close range with bands playing at the same bloody time, that's when I know...it's time for me to leave.
Seriously, how can anyone enjoy a band, when you have 2 other bands playing at the same time?? This is Thailand I guess...
Rant over, now enjoy the pictures:
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| My Street Twin with the Angry Lane helmet bag. Product review coming soon |
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| This was a strange mix |
Yamaha SRs come in many shapes and variations
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| Very creative clutch and gear lever combo |
This one I particularly liked...very creative
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| well...MZ is German, but... |
MZ's seem to have a big fan base here in Thailand
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| The all important patina |
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| Classic car with modern sound system |
Very interesting antique engine show
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| Bosozoku Style |
Another remarkably well built SR400
Sunday morning....ready to go!
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| Add caption |
