The 2017 LICME meeting was to be in Phrae. We had riders coming from Chiang Rai, Bangkok, Phrae, Pattaya and Kanchanaburi
But first, a few pics from the classic biking scene in Bangkok.....
It seems to be mostly young people who are into the old bike scene.
Movie star Mario Maurer
A couple of nice Beezers
Coming up from Pattaya, Eddie used to run South West Classics in UK, a classic bike dealership. He has also done countless classic bike restorations over the years.
So, decades later, Eddie has found himself another Atlas, in Pattaya. This one has 750 in the registration number and looks cosmetically good, but needs a proper rebuild.
Factory advert from the sixties
Eddie has also just finished restoring this beautiful 1957 Triumph T100, which is now for sale with tabien.
Also at this year's LICME was another new rider, Paul from Kanchanaburi.
Paul has a 60's Triumph T100C, which is having some remedial work done at present.
Paul is also working on a TriBsa project; a BSA A10 chassis mated with a Triumph T120R engine.
Suraya and I out for a test ride, a few days before heading to Phrae. My '59 Thunderbird and '71 Tiger.
LICME big day.... heading down to Phrae...... in the rain...
Meanwhile, Ming and the boys were heading up from Bangkok.
Somchai preparing his Thunderbird in BKK
Coffee shop stop in Pong
After hours of polishing, the day before in preparation...... of course it had to rain.....!
Norton Commando fork gaiters and Norman Hyde bottle brush oil filter, among other non standard items on the cafe racer.
Both bikes well mud splattered..
Lunch stop in Chiang Muan
Some hours later, after everyone had arrived in Phrae, a good washing was needed
Khun Tinagorn has a lovely collection of classic bikes
Then we all rode out to a local restaurant for a good meal and to talk Lucas, Amal, Rodark and Smiths
Then came the presentation of the coveted and prestigious Golden Kickstart Award.
This year being presented to Khun Berm from Bangkok.
Khun Berm is a highly respected mechanic, bike builder and former BKK classic bike racer. Over the last few years he has been extremely helpful to many members of the Thailand classic biking community. His trusty '54 Triumph Thunderbird is a regular sight at classic bike events.
"The Red Baron"
He runs a motorbike repair shop and I love his business card
Next morning, everyone was keen to make music together...
When all were suited and booted, we roared off out of town, heading west on the 1023....
A quick petrol/food/rest stop
Khun Tinagorn took his bike in a pick-up, so he could carry more food and camping/cooking gear.
There is an ammeter missing there......
A later stop at a coffee shop near Long
Khun Berm takes a well earned rest...... Well, they did leave the Big Mango at 04:00 and rode 500 klms to Phrae on their 60 year old bikes..
We rode into the Wiang Kosai National Park for a night's camping. While some guys got into the cooking, the rest of us went for a wash in the wonderful 7 tier Mae Koeng Luang waterfall.
Damn cold, but refreshing....
Back at the campsite....... which we had to ourselves..
Modern bike riders are always welcome to LICME, on the understanding that they ride at the back and park in the corner. The expression "japcrap" is popular with the BKK boys....
Khun Somchai's wonderful '51 rigid framed, sprung hub, Thunderbird 650. What a gorgeous machine...
Khun Berm's splendid '54 Thunderbird 650. Seems to run like clockwork... It has electronic ignition or, as on this run, uses the Lucas magneto for sparks.
The youngest machine, at 46 years old, Ian's '71 Tiger, a Morgo 750 cafe racer. A bit of a beast, with a big valve high compression motor, needing a full body swing on the kickstart to get her going...
Ian's trusty '59 Thunderbird 650, the classic touring motorbike... this bike does thousands of miles a year....
Khun Ming's '58 Thunderbird 650. A new bike to LICME, converted from a chopper back to original spec. A great running machine and we wait to see what colour he will paint the tank and mudguards, for next year.
Khun Orm's '65 BSA A65. Another bike that eats up the miles effortlessly and sounds great....
Khun Tinagorn's lovely '57 Tiger 500.... a super looking, very clean bike.......
Hi, Eddie......
Khun Ming, the boy racer......
Great T-shirt design
Next morning, bikes packed up and ready to ride out.
Time to make more glorious music.... on the highway down to Thoen....
The bikes had no problem cruising at 65-70mph and all highly experienced riders.
At the junction of the 1124 and highway 1, we parked up for drinks.
I wonder, has Khun Ming joined Marlon Brando's "Black Rebels Motorcycle Club" ? or is it the " Bangkok Rebels Motorcycle Club".... cool jacket, Man....
Khun Somchai and Khun Tinagorn
Khun Orm, Khun Ming, Khun Berm and Khun Somchai
So, it was time to say Goodbye.....
A Big Thank You, to Everyone, for coming to LICME 2017. Another wonderful meeting.
It is always great to see so many classic bikes come together and to meet up with like-minded riders.
Special Thanks to Eddie and Paul for joining in. We hope you will be riding classic bikes, next year.
As we move into the New year, we all have plans for fettling our special machines and we look forward to making music again, in 2018.
Happy New Year and have a Great Ride, Everyone.
Epilogue;
Ian and Suraya went with our endangered species machines, to visit some extinct creatures..
Meanwhile, Khun Somchai was still tweaking his Amal Monobloc
After a 500 klm ride back to Bangkok, the boys arrived safely back home.
But first, a few pics from the classic biking scene in Bangkok.....
It seems to be mostly young people who are into the old bike scene.
Movie star Mario Maurer
A couple of nice Beezers
Coming up from Pattaya, Eddie used to run South West Classics in UK, a classic bike dealership. He has also done countless classic bike restorations over the years.
So, decades later, Eddie has found himself another Atlas, in Pattaya. This one has 750 in the registration number and looks cosmetically good, but needs a proper rebuild.
Factory advert from the sixties
Eddie has also just finished restoring this beautiful 1957 Triumph T100, which is now for sale with tabien.
Also at this year's LICME was another new rider, Paul from Kanchanaburi.
Paul has a 60's Triumph T100C, which is having some remedial work done at present.
Paul is also working on a TriBsa project; a BSA A10 chassis mated with a Triumph T120R engine.
Suraya and I out for a test ride, a few days before heading to Phrae. My '59 Thunderbird and '71 Tiger.
LICME big day.... heading down to Phrae...... in the rain...
Meanwhile, Ming and the boys were heading up from Bangkok.
Somchai preparing his Thunderbird in BKK
Coffee shop stop in Pong
After hours of polishing, the day before in preparation...... of course it had to rain.....!
Norton Commando fork gaiters and Norman Hyde bottle brush oil filter, among other non standard items on the cafe racer.
Both bikes well mud splattered..
Lunch stop in Chiang Muan
Some hours later, after everyone had arrived in Phrae, a good washing was needed
Khun Tinagorn has a lovely collection of classic bikes
Then we all rode out to a local restaurant for a good meal and to talk Lucas, Amal, Rodark and Smiths
Then came the presentation of the coveted and prestigious Golden Kickstart Award.
This year being presented to Khun Berm from Bangkok.
Khun Berm is a highly respected mechanic, bike builder and former BKK classic bike racer. Over the last few years he has been extremely helpful to many members of the Thailand classic biking community. His trusty '54 Triumph Thunderbird is a regular sight at classic bike events.
"The Red Baron"
He runs a motorbike repair shop and I love his business card
Next morning, everyone was keen to make music together...
When all were suited and booted, we roared off out of town, heading west on the 1023....
A quick petrol/food/rest stop
Khun Tinagorn took his bike in a pick-up, so he could carry more food and camping/cooking gear.
There is an ammeter missing there......
A later stop at a coffee shop near Long
Khun Berm takes a well earned rest...... Well, they did leave the Big Mango at 04:00 and rode 500 klms to Phrae on their 60 year old bikes..
We rode into the Wiang Kosai National Park for a night's camping. While some guys got into the cooking, the rest of us went for a wash in the wonderful 7 tier Mae Koeng Luang waterfall.
Damn cold, but refreshing....
Back at the campsite....... which we had to ourselves..
Modern bike riders are always welcome to LICME, on the understanding that they ride at the back and park in the corner. The expression "japcrap" is popular with the BKK boys....
Khun Somchai's wonderful '51 rigid framed, sprung hub, Thunderbird 650. What a gorgeous machine...
Khun Berm's splendid '54 Thunderbird 650. Seems to run like clockwork... It has electronic ignition or, as on this run, uses the Lucas magneto for sparks.
The youngest machine, at 46 years old, Ian's '71 Tiger, a Morgo 750 cafe racer. A bit of a beast, with a big valve high compression motor, needing a full body swing on the kickstart to get her going...
Ian's trusty '59 Thunderbird 650, the classic touring motorbike... this bike does thousands of miles a year....
Khun Ming's '58 Thunderbird 650. A new bike to LICME, converted from a chopper back to original spec. A great running machine and we wait to see what colour he will paint the tank and mudguards, for next year.
Khun Orm's '65 BSA A65. Another bike that eats up the miles effortlessly and sounds great....
Khun Tinagorn's lovely '57 Tiger 500.... a super looking, very clean bike.......
Hi, Eddie......
Khun Ming, the boy racer......
Great T-shirt design
Next morning, bikes packed up and ready to ride out.
Time to make more glorious music.... on the highway down to Thoen....
The bikes had no problem cruising at 65-70mph and all highly experienced riders.
At the junction of the 1124 and highway 1, we parked up for drinks.
I wonder, has Khun Ming joined Marlon Brando's "Black Rebels Motorcycle Club" ? or is it the " Bangkok Rebels Motorcycle Club".... cool jacket, Man....
Khun Somchai and Khun Tinagorn
Khun Orm, Khun Ming, Khun Berm and Khun Somchai
So, it was time to say Goodbye.....
A Big Thank You, to Everyone, for coming to LICME 2017. Another wonderful meeting.
It is always great to see so many classic bikes come together and to meet up with like-minded riders.
Special Thanks to Eddie and Paul for joining in. We hope you will be riding classic bikes, next year.
As we move into the New year, we all have plans for fettling our special machines and we look forward to making music again, in 2018.
Happy New Year and have a Great Ride, Everyone.
Epilogue;
Ian and Suraya went with our endangered species machines, to visit some extinct creatures..
Meanwhile, Khun Somchai was still tweaking his Amal Monobloc
After a 500 klm ride back to Bangkok, the boys arrived safely back home.
