Newbie here!

Hedge

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Jun 23, 2008
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Hi all - I snuck in through the back door because I usually don't make it past the review board when applying for Country Clubs! I found this site from my friend Rhodie who is a member of many Triumph Motorcycle Forums in the USA. He is a major Contributor to much of the deeper Technical stuff that the average Triumph enthusiast is not capable of understanding. It's people like him who have the knowledge and patience to break technical stuff down into simple instructions and include many pictures to convey his clear-cut directions!

OK - so now you know how I got here. Your next question is why am I here all the way from Stamford, CT in the USA. Fair enough question! I am 50 years old and married to my wife who is 42 years old and we have traveled to Thailand about 12 times since 1989. I came to your country first in 1989 - 91 and fell deeply and passionately in love with Thailand, Thai people, your food, your beaches, your crystal clear water, your perfect climate (never been to Thailand during monsoon season) but most importantly to me was the utter complete friendliness of the Thai people and Thai culture! I brought my wife in 92 and she immediately fell in love with Thailand as well. We have traveled all over the world but we keep coming back to Thailand. We have decided that we will retire to Thailand when we are done working which unless we become lucky earlier, will be in approximately 15 years from now. Meanwhile we keep coming back.

So Hedge, that's pretty interesting so far . . . tell us where you've been in Thailand. Well, my wife and I are historically beach people and love the salt water so we have literally been everywhere from Ko Cheng, Ko Samet, Ko Samui, Ko Lanta (back when it was an Island of red clay, Motorcycling from one end to the other would cover you RED!), Ko Phi Phi, Krabe, Railay Beach and Phuket. However, we have never traveled North into the Mountains.

Like I said, I met John "Rhodie" on a Triumph Motorcycle Forum and started to become friends with him there. I own a 2007 Triumph Bonneville Special Back Edition which currently has a tad over 4000 miles on her. I have modified her slightly to have a bit more bark and I have bought everything necessary to quickly change her from one up riding to 2 up riding if the wife decides to come along. She has had no previous experience with riding so i am her ambassador and completely responsible for her experience. She likes to go slow, between 40-50 mph so she can look around and not feel anxious that we will have an accident. If I do this she enjoys herself and wants to ride more. So riding more means I can spend my Sundays doing what I love to do and sharing my passion with her.

So why am I here? Well, John said that the riding in the North is spectacular and it can only truly be fully understood and appreciated by doing it instead of reading about it. I felt it was an excellent idea and ran it by her and she is open to this kind of adventure. So I am currently in research mode and going to be reading through the back posts, asking questions and making plans. I hope along the way I make a lot of friends here so that when we finally arrive and begin our adventure we will be able to meet many of you and put faces to the names! :)
Hedge
Some pix I want to share so you get a better Idea who I am -
This is a picture of my bike after the first 50 miles driving home from the dealership -
FundCycle.jpg


Here is another shot 6 months later with some modifications -
MyBlack01-1.jpg


Here's me -
IsaluteYou.jpg


Here's me and Mrs. Hedge with my old 930 Turbo -
MVC-240F.jpg

Better shot of the Turbo -
MVC-231F.jpg

Disclaimer on the Intercooler -
MVC-233F.jpg

Here's the Bonne and Mrs. Hedge configured for 2-up riding -
FallRide04.jpg

Here's my Bonne with my good friend UncleCharlie's BA -
TiticusReservoir04.jpg

Here's my headers and cans after I got them Ceramic Coated last November -
CeramicCoatedHeaders02.jpg

CeramicCoatedPreds01.jpg


So I think that pretty much covers my introduction. I will reveal some other stuff as we get to know each other better and I will update you all with the latest pictures as soon as I get my lazy ass outside to properly clean her and bring her back to that exact spot where I took the first pictures of her after putting on the first 50 miles!
 

Rhodie

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Mar 5, 2006
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Hedge
A very hearty welcome to you and the missus.
You will fit right in with clan of mercenaries, missionaries & misfits.
Only joking, there is no more level-headed bunch of bikers you are likely to meet in the Land of Smiles.
Just get yourself over soon and get some kms under your belt both in GT land & Laos and then you will never want to go back.
Pity you can't bring the Bonnie in as hand luggage!
 

DavidFL

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Staff member
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Jan 16, 2003
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Chiang Khong
www.thegtrider.com
Hedge
Welcome to the GT Rider forum & North Thailand mate.
I like the pix of your bikes, car 'n missus & with your pedigree I reckon that you will fit right in with the GT Riders.

But yeah the riding in the Golden Triangle is really spectacular, great roads, fantastic road network, plus wonderful people.

So come for a ride as soon as & look "us" up in the process.
 

Pikey

www.tbbtours.com
Hi Hedge,

Welcome to you and the missus from a fellow Bonnie Black rider here in CNX (airline code for Chiang Mai). John/Rhodie is a good mate and all round great guy and he's absolutely 100% on the ball about riding here so like DavidFL said, get yourselves over a.s.a.p.

The Porker looks like a ripper too - I used to have a 1973 2.4 Targa but blew the sucker up :(

BTW, those coated pipes look sweet, can you post a pic with them on the bike?

Cheers,

Pikey.
 

cdrw

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Oct 6, 2006
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You've definitely come to the right place, Hedge!

I'm probably the 'rookie' biker on this board, having owned my first bike, 250cc dirt bike a mere 1 1/2 years...but 22,000km later I have the members and info on this board to thank for info that has helped me explore Thailand, Laos and Cambodia.

I'd always been into cars...and though I never had a 930, I owned a '57 Porsche Speedster for years...and I fully appreciated the message on your car's intercooler, though not appropriate for a slower Speedster! :D
Interesting, I noted that of your many pictures you included one of your wife and _many_ of your car and bike :lol:
 
Oct 17, 2006
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Welcome Hedge , I see the most beautiful motorcycle of all time in the first photo the Ducati 750 sport 1974.

cheers jerry
 

ray23

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Oct 14, 2005
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Welcome I'm sure some of the guys up Chaing Mai can find a sutable rental bake and you can join the fun