Busy Motorcycling Day: Saturday, 28 July 2012

A busy and productive motorcycling day after a very disappointing start with my attempt to see the Olympics opening ceremony. An office colleague said it was showing on Thai TV channel 9 from 3:00am. Thinking this was a little early, and also because I didn't want to see athletes parading around for hours, I thought I would watch the closing session and the fireworks at about 5:00am. However, at 5:00am I was flicking through the channels with not an Olympics program in sight! Plus I couldn't get back to sleep!

So, after a good breakfast at Dean & Deluca, I went to Siriraj Hospital to buy my medicines, and I followed this with a visit to BNH Hospital for a flu vaccination (thankfully no side effects from the vaccination were noticed).

I then went shopping for groceries - the Triumph satchel is suburb for a short trip to the shops on the motorcycle!

Triumph Satchel

And I ended up having the motorcycle washed at Cafe 66 after a super run along the coastal roads and fish farms (all of this on a day when I had decided to do office work - ugh!)

Coastal Road

South West of Bangkok

Casual Day: Sunday, 1 July 2012

Thailand is, without question, quite special. Sunday was an example of a lovely hassle-free and productive motorcycling day. I needed to buy the medication that I have been taking since my heart attack in September 2011, and I thought it would be nice to visit the Kawasaki dealer for details of their Lao – China trip which is planned for August.

It was a nice day for motorcycling as it was fresh and cool (but with the possibility of rain later). I reached Motoaholic (Kawasaki Dealer) and found the shop full of customers and salespersons. Service was no problem and I soon had details of the Lao – China trip. Departure is Friday, 10 August with the motorcycles trucked to Chiang Kong, northern Thailand, and riders traveling by bus or van. Days 2 – 4 are spent touring Wai Sai Province in Lao and Yunan Province in China. Visits are arranged to rain forests, Tiger, Lion, Monkey parks, and the return on 14 August is via Chiang Kong with the bikes again trucked back to Bangkok.

After Motoaholic it was a short hop to Siriraj Hospital and the wholesale pharmacies that supply original medicines at very attractive prices. All medication was available and, given it was now around lunch time, I was feeling hungry. It was such a super day so I decided to ride to the seaside for lunch.

The route, now very familiar, was along Soi Suksuwat, south-west on Rama II, towards, Samut Sakhon, and then left (south) on Ekkachai Road through Mahachai to Changwat.

Lunch of fried fish and rice was super and inexpensive. The return along the rural roads was easy and uneventful. Motorcycle mileage upon reaching home was 9,485 kilometers (and it didn't rain).

 

BIRA Circuit Training: 9-10 June 2012

The 20 or so Bangkok participants convened at the Motoaholic Dealership (Thaksin Monument) for the BIRA track day at around 8:00am. To my surprise we left promptly at 8:30am after a short briefing on the route to be taken for the day. This was to take us over the Talat river ferry crossing (Prapradaeng pier) to Sukhumvit and then to route 34 and the Bang Na highway.

Mileage was 8,880 kilometers when my number was attached to my motorcycle front mudguard at the departure point. I was #18 which, I hoped, would be a lucky number for me.

We had a short photo shoot while on the Talat ferry river crossing, and we stopped at about 9:30am at the Esso petrol station at Bang Na, just out of Bangkok, on route 34 to Pattaya. This proved to be quite a long stop as we had to wait for some late starters. However, it did give everyone time to relax, eat and drink as needed.

There were one or two intermediate stops for petrol etc., but by 12:00 noon we were able to stop alongside a reservoir after following a super twisty road that traversed the edge of the reservoir. The reservoir is a little west of the main 3144 / 7 route to Pattaya and well worth a visit for those with time to spare.

Lunch was taken a short trip away and afterwards we made our way to BIRA Circuit for a quick look before travelling into Pattaya and to the hotel. Our hotel, the Icon Place is, I believe, owned by the Pattaya Kawasaki Big Bike dealer who additionally owns many motorcycle shops around the town. It was new and comfortable and not expensive.

I had breakfast after a walk along the beach road, and it consisted of rice and egg from the nearby 7-11. We checked-out early and made our way to BIRA Circuit in plenty of time for the day's events.

We spent the morning with motorcycle training (lecture and handling on small bikes). The small bike handling practice is something every biker should do and perfect. It has helped me tremendously, and it has hugely improved my self confidence and low speed control (needless to say, the one in the short video clip is not me!)

After the handling practice we had lunch at the circuit and a short rest. Then the moment arrived - we were taken to the track on our own motorcycles. Participants were split into a small number of groups, and each group was taken to a corner where we were told how to take the corner. Cones were placed at appropriate places to help track positioning. We were then encouraged to ride through the corner(s) several times, and thus gradually build-up confidence and ability. We moved to another corner and repeated the process.


Once we had become reasonably proficient we were lead around the track while gradually increasing speed. This continued for several laps and until the instructors came into the pits allowing participants to ride freely - whoa!

This was super and could continue as long as you felt able. I came into the pits two or three times to rest and take stock of what I was doing right / wrong, and then returned to the track. I gradually improved but, to be frank, never felt as though I had "mastered" the circuit - there always seemed to be one corner I would get wrong. Fortunately there were no mishaps and everyone survived (although I did see one or two bikes traversing the grass)


I did, however, learn a tremendous amount and my confidence has grown substantially. Huge thanks to Kawasaki, to the dealers, and to the staff and trainers who are just great.


Training ended around 5:00pm and we made our way in convoy to Bang Saen for a super seafood dinner.

The return to Bangkok was wonderfully wet but no-one cared - it was such a great weekend. Mileage on return of 9,303 kilometers (weekend mileage of 423 kilometers). First stop - a shower and sleep. Second stop - Soi 66 car wash! Number 18 was obviously a lucky number for me!

Changwat Samut Sakhon: Sunday, 13 May 2012

I have used the motorcycle on a few occasions over the last month to go shopping or visiting. On one occasion I was caught in the rain so decided to take my ER6 for a wash and wax. This was done at the usual Cafe 66 and, given such a nice day, I decided to ride to the seaside.

It was quite hot and I was not wearing a jacket, so I now have sun-burnt arms! The ride was, however, well worth the sunburn!....

Wonderful "smelly" shrimps drying in the sun!

I also dropped by the local Kawasaki dealer, Motoaholic, and registered for the next track riding course at Bira Circuit near Pattaya (9-10 June) - hopefully I will learn how to ride around corners!

Mileage on return to Bangkok was 8,799 kilometers.

1st Birthday: 7 April 2012

My ER6 will be 1 year old on 7 April 2012.

Treatment received to date:

Date	Description of Service	Mileage
28/05/2011	1,000 km service (oil & filter)	1,000
23/07/2011	Intermediate oil & filter change	2,850
17/09/2011	Intermediate oil & filter change	4,705
13/12/2011	6,000 km service (oil & filter)	6,158
13/12/2011	Replace front & rear tires (Pirelli touring)	6,158
01/04/2012	Intermediate oil & filter change	8,566

Pattaya: Weekend 31 March - 1 April 2012

Decided my route to Pattaya would include breakfast at Dean & Deluca followed by a visit to the Dirt Bike Shop in On Nut 76. I also decided I would use the Garmin GPS for the journey, not because I do not know the way, but rather to record the route and statistics for later uploading to the Garmin Connect web site.

Set off at about 8:00am after packing my 20 litre and 30 litre Kriega motorcycle luggage - neither were full but I thought it would make a change to use both bags. I also decided to wear my new Rev-It jacket.

Breakfast of potato omelet, almond croissant and cappuccino (non-fat milk) was excellent. My only worry was that rain had been forecast and I had forgotten to bring my rain suit. After a couple of minutes pontificating about whether to return home to get a rain suit it not, I decided would just get wet if it rained as my Rev-It jacket is advertised as being water proof!

The route to On Nut and the Dirt BikeShop was no problem and I was pleased I made the trip. The shop is full of interesting motorcycle accessories and I was able to ask for prices and delivery times for some parts for my BMW R1150R.

From the Dirt Bike Shop I took 3443 to Sukhumvit Route 3 and then followed the usual route 7 into Pattaya. Traffic was very heavy along parts of the journey and the weather very, very hot and humid. Not the most comfortable, but nevertheless a good ride, and I arrived safely at my hotel at about 1:00pm (mileage at hotel was 8,394 kilometers)

Sat on the hotel balcony in the afternoon was equally hot and humid. The sky was overcast and there was considerable thunder and lightening - no rain though!

My medical check-up the next day was good and I was able to set-off for Bangkok by about 12 noon. It was considerably cooler than the previous day and the ride pleasant and uneventful. Upon reaching Bangkok I took the motorcycle for a service (8,566 kilometers and an intermediate oil and filter change). After the service I enjoyed grilled fish and a glass of red wine at the local Italian Restaurant.

A thoroughly enjoyable biking weekend!

Changwat Samut Sakhon: Sunday, 25 March 2012

A lazy weekend so thought short ride to the seaside would be a pleasant way to try-out my new Rev-It touring jacket. The jacket was super and very comfortable.

I headed to the a mangrove re-plantation facility at Changwat Samut Sakhon and was pleasantly surprised the see a Thammasat University group planting mangrove seedlings - rather them than me wade through the muddy shoreline!


A great little ride which was finished-up with a motorcycle wash and wax at my usual Cafe 66. Mileage upon return a symmetrical 8,228 kilometers.