Decided on Sunday to do a blast on the DR650 to see an old friend in Mae Hong Son, so off I went on my own and usual pace. Was quickly in Pai as the DR is fun on mountain roads. Filled up petrol and went up the next mountain and then down. and with down I mean really onto the tarmac. Anyone out there riding to MHS via Pai or back should be very aware that not onlny it's hot but the road surfaces sometimes get like the surface of ice. I experienced this on my way down towards Pang Ma Pha when in a turn with about 60 km/h suddenly both wheels lost grip. No I didn't brake nor accelerate. First I hit the road but in trying to get the bike stabilised with my outstretched left foot (left turn) it got somehow mangled and stuck on the bike. When hitting the tarmac, the bike then came down on me with the handlebars hitting the left side of my breast. Could't breathe and the bike towed me further down the road. After some very nice local Lisu helped me and loaded the bike onto a pick-up (clutchlever was gone but repaired in Pang Ma Pha) I walked onto the spot where I slipped and it was nearly impossible to walk there; luckily I wore my bodyarmour which has also re-inforced hard breast-plates, helmet, gloves, riding boots and an amazing stretchable jeans protected me from serious injury. I was told then that I was already the 3rd bike that day to go down there, still no warning provided for other bikers........in the end they would have to put one up at every turn. Problem is that Thailand uses very thin tarmac and not to have it crack quickly they use smaller aggregate and more bitumina which makes it more elastic but also very smooth in hot days like today as the aggregate is pushed deeper into the mix and on top stays just the bitumina. Grip get's less and less then. SO A WARNING TO ALL OF YOU, LOWER YOUR SPEEDS AS YOU CANNOT RIDE AS QUICKLY AS AFTER THE RAINS OR IN THE COLD SEASON !!!! Another problem in this hot weather is engines also getting hotter, that means they are gonna leak more oils as metals expand more and might open up some small fissures, oil gets thinner and more ''fluid''. Especially on the downward slopes, all the pick-up's use their engines to brake, old as they are they will leak more unburnt engine oil through worn piston rings or sleeves which then goes straight onto the tarmac. In the end it was oil, tyreleftovers and a mixture of diesel fume particles that made me slip as my jeans are undamaged, could wash off the stains easily with strong Attack-detergent so that wasn't bitumina on them...........
Luckily nothing's broken just some small cracks in my ribs and a very very painful swelling around them. A little rash where the skin was unprotected and of course a lesson that I need from time to time in reminding me that I am not 25 years anymore and should take it a little easier......another lesson was that the DR with it's flimsy fronttyre shouldn't be ridden like the FJR.........and also a little scratch on my confidence, but only for my good. The DR ? Well that pig rested on top of me and got only 3 minor scratches.....
SO ANOTHER LESSON, ALWAYS WEAR PROPER GEAR, EVEN WHEN IT'S HOT LIKE TODAY.
Cheers & ride safe !!!! Franz
Luckily nothing's broken just some small cracks in my ribs and a very very painful swelling around them. A little rash where the skin was unprotected and of course a lesson that I need from time to time in reminding me that I am not 25 years anymore and should take it a little easier......another lesson was that the DR with it's flimsy fronttyre shouldn't be ridden like the FJR.........and also a little scratch on my confidence, but only for my good. The DR ? Well that pig rested on top of me and got only 3 minor scratches.....
SO ANOTHER LESSON, ALWAYS WEAR PROPER GEAR, EVEN WHEN IT'S HOT LIKE TODAY.
Cheers & ride safe !!!! Franz
. Spent Chinese New year (Feb14) in Pai hospital.
