Peter,
Thanks for the offer, will be passing thru again someday but missed Sisaket this trip, was a speed run from Savanakhet to Anlong.
The road from the border to Anlong is PAVED and in good condition, 12.5 km to town and the small lead in from the border to the market is really shit but after the border market it is fine.
100 meters from Anlong on the road to SR, Expect a HELL ride if it has rained in the last day(s). I made it from AV to the turn onto paved road near Batan Srie(sp) in about 4.5 hours with only 2 stops. The road has been churned up big time. It had not rained for about 4 days before I did it and if it had, I'm not so sure that it would not have taken twice as long.
From Anlong down:
First 30 Km are pretty much the worst. There are huge ruts from stuck trucks and very little place to open the throttle up much. Beware of all the bridges - especially the first one out of town, the planks run the lenght of the bridge and the gaps are wide enough to take in a tire.
If you have ever ridden from Poipet to SR in dry season, it's the same but add puddles that are sometimes really deep, over 40 cm.
The second 30 km get better but not by much. There were a few stretches that you could get up to 65 kmph but not many and again, slow down to 15 kmph for all bridges. There is a bridge about 64 km south of AV and if you hit it fast enough, can fly over the span. The lead up hill is a super angle and the down sides on both are suitable for landing. It was dry and I crossed slowly and then went back to fly it. 15-18 meter fly, 2 -3 vertical. There is a police officer there and he gave me the green light you can't see traffic on the other side.
It is alright to ride, just slowly.
On the Thai side, the road is narrow and full of things like farm tools and such. It is 39 km up to to Highway 24, There is fuel about 15 km after the border, then nothing until you get to 24. Be careful on the last 8 km, the road is swiss cheese.
I'd do it again but only when it was dry(ish). I love mud and did get thru some really shitty bits and the bike was nasty looking by the time I got to SR. After a rain? Hmm, seems like I'd only make it 121 km from SR to AV in a day.
Fuel up in SR, there is some along the way but expensive and I don't like gas in Johnny Walker bottles so much.
TAKE IT SLOW
jimoi
Ride Smart, Ride Safe.