Here is our story, My freind calls me last year and said where do you want to go rideing this year? I said Island of Mann TT races it's the 100th running we will have a blast right? Wrong. He says how about Thailand? Yeah sure but lets wait till next year, January is the best time to go the weather will be perfect. We start to get things in order, I surf the web getting info, He calls back and asks if its allright to bring some friends? Hell no to many people with differant personalitys, You know some people sleep in late, some want to check in with famaily every hour, some want to drink all night and can't get going the next day or how about the guy that is looking for Pussy every where we go!! No way lets keep it a small group you can bring one friend, So now with Buck Nacked Bart from Texas we are three.
GT Rider forum looks like a good place to get info from so I ckeck it out. Where to ride? Start Chaing Mai. Who to rent from Mr. Mechanic looks good, So off goes the emails " We would like to rent 3 CB750 Hondas for 7 to 8 days" we even called twice to make sure everything was good to go. I spoke to Ben and he said he would pick us up from the airport in Chaing Mai, Perfect call everone and say we are all set.
January 15, 2008
First day in Thailand, Say goodbye to wife in BKK she heads off to Udon Thani to see family, We head off to Chaing Mai, I tell her I'll see you in two days. Arrive Airport no one there to pick us up. Great way to start our ride, Get taxi to take us to Mr. Mechanic they never hear of the place Of course I dont have the address, "S**t ", Bart saves the day finds them in his Tour Book. off we go to Mr. Mechanic get there and whos the first person we meet? Ben the guy that said he'd pick us up.
I go over to the bikes and start to check them out, New tires, Fresh oil change, looking good wait where is the thrid bike? Oh it will be ready tomarrow, "you come back we have ready for you" can I see it? "Yes sure come this way" Down an ally we go and there it is, Head, Pistons, Striped to its base gasket. Oh Man what elese do you have ready to go? "Super Sport 400" I'll take it.
So I go back in to pay for the bikes 8 days 3 bikes 800bath for the 750's 700bath for the 400 per day, Total 18,400 bath I did not even try to haggel the price. Ben tells us if we crash them its 5000Bath, But if they are lost or we get them ripped off its 30,000 baht. I'm cool with 5 G's if crashed but 30 G's if lost, "Hey Ben you got a big chain I can have for about a week?" Ben says "No all we have is bicycle chain, But don't worry no one steals the big bike only steal Honda Dream" Ok that makes me feel better. Ben then asks "where you go on your trip?" Well first we are going to see my inlaws over in Udon and then we will work our way back to....."Oh no no no you can not go to Udon please stay in the North around Chaing Mai yes?" Why do I have to stay in the North? Why can't I go to see my wife and family in Issan. "It's not safe maybe you get pulled over by police have trobble". Ok now I see whats going on, none of the bikes have plates on them so they want us to stay in and around Chaing Mai. Ok Ben we stay close to your home not go to far away. I don't think Ben beleaved us he kept saying you not go to Udon. I looked him right in the eye an said Ben you can trust us you have my word. We were never more than a days ride from Chaing Mai and we never ran out of great roads to ride, I did not brake my word to him. The last thing I asked for before leaving was a map of the Mae Hong Song loop. Ben said $150 baht and I was like here you can have it back. "No no for you free" He said with his big Thai smile. Thanks Ben for the Map we put it to good use.
It was time to hit to road or in our case rush hour traffic Chaing Mai style. It was late so we just headed around the water that circles the inter city. We ended up at Lai Thai Guest House. And so ends our first day. Get some sleep boys the real fun starts tomarrow. Welcome to Thailand.
I got to go for now but i'll post the rest of the story when I have time.
GT Rider forum looks like a good place to get info from so I ckeck it out. Where to ride? Start Chaing Mai. Who to rent from Mr. Mechanic looks good, So off goes the emails " We would like to rent 3 CB750 Hondas for 7 to 8 days" we even called twice to make sure everything was good to go. I spoke to Ben and he said he would pick us up from the airport in Chaing Mai, Perfect call everone and say we are all set.
January 15, 2008
First day in Thailand, Say goodbye to wife in BKK she heads off to Udon Thani to see family, We head off to Chaing Mai, I tell her I'll see you in two days. Arrive Airport no one there to pick us up. Great way to start our ride, Get taxi to take us to Mr. Mechanic they never hear of the place Of course I dont have the address, "S**t ", Bart saves the day finds them in his Tour Book. off we go to Mr. Mechanic get there and whos the first person we meet? Ben the guy that said he'd pick us up.
I go over to the bikes and start to check them out, New tires, Fresh oil change, looking good wait where is the thrid bike? Oh it will be ready tomarrow, "you come back we have ready for you" can I see it? "Yes sure come this way" Down an ally we go and there it is, Head, Pistons, Striped to its base gasket. Oh Man what elese do you have ready to go? "Super Sport 400" I'll take it.
So I go back in to pay for the bikes 8 days 3 bikes 800bath for the 750's 700bath for the 400 per day, Total 18,400 bath I did not even try to haggel the price. Ben tells us if we crash them its 5000Bath, But if they are lost or we get them ripped off its 30,000 baht. I'm cool with 5 G's if crashed but 30 G's if lost, "Hey Ben you got a big chain I can have for about a week?" Ben says "No all we have is bicycle chain, But don't worry no one steals the big bike only steal Honda Dream" Ok that makes me feel better. Ben then asks "where you go on your trip?" Well first we are going to see my inlaws over in Udon and then we will work our way back to....."Oh no no no you can not go to Udon please stay in the North around Chaing Mai yes?" Why do I have to stay in the North? Why can't I go to see my wife and family in Issan. "It's not safe maybe you get pulled over by police have trobble". Ok now I see whats going on, none of the bikes have plates on them so they want us to stay in and around Chaing Mai. Ok Ben we stay close to your home not go to far away. I don't think Ben beleaved us he kept saying you not go to Udon. I looked him right in the eye an said Ben you can trust us you have my word. We were never more than a days ride from Chaing Mai and we never ran out of great roads to ride, I did not brake my word to him. The last thing I asked for before leaving was a map of the Mae Hong Song loop. Ben said $150 baht and I was like here you can have it back. "No no for you free" He said with his big Thai smile. Thanks Ben for the Map we put it to good use.
It was time to hit to road or in our case rush hour traffic Chaing Mai style. It was late so we just headed around the water that circles the inter city. We ended up at Lai Thai Guest House. And so ends our first day. Get some sleep boys the real fun starts tomarrow. Welcome to Thailand.
I got to go for now but i'll post the rest of the story when I have time.