Mega Trike

I always get excited when I see some eccentric machines. Today, as I stopped at a traffic light, I saw this massive trike with a little, old Thai guy at the helm. I couldn't help myself and just followed him, hoping to get a closer look at the trike.
Luckily for me, he stopped a few hundred meters down the road and after a few words of admiration, he le me sit on his creation to take a picture.
The guy told me he built it by himself for fun and although it is not 'road legal', he rides it anyways around town. Pretty cool if you ask me.

Bubba the Biker

A few weeks ago the German Motorcycle magazine "Motorrad" got a present: a mean looking garden gnome on a bike. They didn't quite know what to do with it. They just knew it had to go. Fast and hopefully never come back again. They then had the brilliant idea of asking their readers on facebook what they should do with it. The person with the best idea would win the precious biker gnome.

Lots of people suggested various forms of torture, including barbecuing him, dropping him from a skyscraper or taking him to a Justin Bieber concert, which in my opinion is definitely going a step too far. Some even proposed to leave it at the Motorrad offices, as a torture for them for proposing such a competition. Wickedness knew no limits.

Until I came along and proposed to do something like I had seen many years ago in a lovely film called 'Amelie':

People liked the idea and that's how I came to own a biker gnome!

I kept my promise and took Bubba on his first bike trip in Thailand. First stop: Wat Sothon, Chachoengsao

Now, who else is willing to continue his tour?!

I'm ready to ship world wide...

Please apply within ;-)

The Call Of The Big Mountain

I've been longing for a solo bike trip for a long time and today, finally my dream came true.
Even though I had a late start I still managed to ride 370 km of great roads, enjoyed beautiful sceneries, lost 4.5l of gas, got rained on, spoke to a monk, had a smoke on the shore of a lake, rode through the biggest national park in Thailand, saw monkeys and other wild life....and still managed to arrive back home before sunset and in 1 piece.

Chachoengsao - Plaeng Yao - Kabinburi - Wang Nam Khiao - Mu Si - Khao Yai - Pratchinburi - Phanom Sarakam - Chachoengsao




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In the morning I strapped a 4.5l gas canister on the rack of my bike, because I didn't know where I would ride to and I like to have some spare gas when I'm out in the jungle. Obviously the canister wasn't strapped very well, because at the first real stop I had, I noticed it wasn't there anymore! Oh well, someone will enjoy some free gas....

at the holy stones I realized the canister had vanished

The trip was also a good opportunity to test my new riding gear. The Alpinestars tank bag did well, apart from the very weak magnets that should hold the bag down. They do, but only if you ride below 60km/h. Thankfully, I used the straps that came with the bag....problem solved.

The side bag was a lucky find. I've been trying to find online a saddlebag suitable for my bike but wasn't very happy with my findings. Either too big, too small, too much Harley D. or just too expensive. Until last week, when I found a nice and versatile promotional bag from Panasonic at the local market for 11$! It's perfect...or better, it would be if it were water proof...but hey, 11$!! :-)

pity for the unsightly rubbish...

 No, I didn't teleport myself to Italy. This is in Khao Yai, Thailand...a reproduction of a Tuscan village...pretty cool, eh?! Actually, the whole Khao Yai (means "Big Mountain") is in love with Mediterranean culture. Not far from the Tuscan village is the Chateau De Khao Yai, a massive villa fit for an Italian mafia boss or Belusconi...same difference anyway.

Farangs feeding monkeys

First Kawasaki ER6-n 2013 in Chachoengsao

I've got a visit from my very happy friend today, who just got the long-awaited delivery of his Kawasaki ER6-n 2013. 
A very fine machine and an excellent choice if you live in Thailand. The ER6-n is made in Thailand and because of that doesn't suffer from the ridiculously high taxes the government puts on imported bikes.

Happy ridings, David!

Saladin, A Little Gem in Chachoengsao

So, I went for a little spin around town, exploring unexplored rice field roads, when on the way back I decided to stop at a shop that caught my biker eye. A pretty special shop as it turned out.
Not only was it exquisitely decorated with vintage stuff, but there were old Harleys in every corner. Real eye candies!
The shop is called Saladin and if you're around Chachoengsao (it's next to BigC 1), you shouldn't miss paying a visit. "Es", the mechanic is a very nice guy and speaks decent English......and the coffee was only 10 Baht...that's 0.3$!

Indian with sidecar

1950s Harley engine with Thai made frame

sidecar used as storage...hmmmm

Es finishing his day's work

half a policeman...is still half too much, some might say

motorized bicycle, with Chinese engine

New SR Group in Chachoengsao, Thailand

Last Saturday we had the first meeting of the new SR group in Chachoengsao. Not a very big group for now, and the average rider age was around 25, but still with a promising future. I must say I felt a bit old among them with my 37 years. Fact is, the SR is a bike loved by the cash-stricken Thai youth and I'm the exception among the foreigners here, who usually ride big and expensive bikes.
Apparently I have more in common with the Thais than with the foreigners...

    

Little Afternoon Delight

Went on a small afternoon trip with my friends through rice fields from Chachoengsao to Chonburi.