Wow. What an amazing perfect day out with a great group of guys on big bikes.
First class organization, service, back up AND the food!
Not quite what I had anticipated, but believe me everyone working for & on the event excelled themselves to ensure that the event ran perfectly smooth all day. Indeed it was a fantastic day out & everyone was asking – “when’s the next one?”
So thanks to all the riders who turned up – I counted 32 bikes at Doi Inthanon.
CONGRATULATIONS to Charoen Motor & Yamaha for organizing such a fantastic day out.
I am not a fan of big group rides (4-5 riders is my normal limit), but this one went down flawlessly & was actually extremely enjoyable. You guys who had reservations about the event & organization & didn’t make it, really missed out on something. The event was a total joy – all day!
If you want to thank Charoen Motor and Yamaha, then please send your emails to
1. Narong Kongprasert. MD of Charoen Motor, Cnx.
[email
[email protected]]
[email protected][/email]
2. Bunnag Intrarapayoong, Product Specialist, Charoen Motor Cnx.
[email
[email protected]]
[email protected][/email]
3. Sirichai Kiew-Cha-Um, Thai Yamaha, General Manager Sales & Network
[email
[email protected]]
[email protected][/email]
All three guys above speak English well, so they can & will read your English language emails.
Now I had the privilege of riding a FJR1300 for the day & that only left me feeling disappointed when I got back on the trusty 196,000 kms old Africa Twin to ride home. The AT certainly is getting a bit ancient now I have to admit. The FJR has real grunt, plus it was incredibly relaxing to ride. I only picked the bike up at 6.45 pm the night before & had no real time to test it out & familiarize myself with it; but I can tell you it's very easy comfortable to ride - one hell of a great smooth touring bike.
So if you’re at all interested in a big touring bike & have doubts about the size & handling of the FJR1300 don’t. It is very easy & comfortable to ride. Go check it out at Yamaha or Charoen Motor.
Overall on the day I think that the guys who enjoyed themselves more than anyone else were the Nuovo 135 riders. These guys rode shotgun for the caravan, assisting the police – directing traffic, blocking roads - & were generally all over the place like a swarm of bees, but there were only two of them! They must have had smiles a mile wide all day with the throttles on the little Nuovos twisted to the max all day – up & down the highest mountain In Thailand & down the 4-lanesuper highway all the way. Go Nuovo go, could have been the cheer of the day.
One guy who may have been a little disappointed on the day was Richard who dropped his bike in a tighter downhill corner going up Doi Inthanon. The bike demolished a concrete post & ran the Armco, with Richard going over the Armco. He got up smiled, was tended to by the ambulance crew (again first class service &back-up provided by Charoen Motor) & ended up with only minor scratches & probably bruises. But he did get to ride in the air con, & at the top of Doi Inthanon was totally fussed over by an attractive young doctor who had been riding in one of the service vehicles. Yet another first class service from Charoen Motor.
Doctor, doctor, I’ve got a sore arm. Please help me.
Then there was the lunch.
Again first class – real trout - & perhaps a bit over the top for us motley bikers you might say, but there was no holding back from the organizers on the day.
The police too were excellent all day, a nice smooth ride all the way down & back. No red lights & no holds, just a ride at a nice controlled pace.
Then there were the “pit-stops” with iced drinks & cold towels waiting.
The fine detail even went down to the choice of gas station, a Caltex with 95 benzene. These guys did not miss a detail all day. The superlatives keep going……
So 3 cheers for Yamaha & Charoen Motor – when’s the next one guys?
Let’s ride & give to charity again soon.
Photos are at
https://www.gt-rider.com/thailand-motorc ... t3799.html
Might even Be able to Convince the Big Shoots to Bring in the XT660 for us 
