rider wrote
But as HHAD is the grey forum I guess as you get older you get cautious, perhaps too cautious but there you go
the way you ride you may not get much older.
rider wrote
You've got great expanses of road with a solid wall dividing you and the oncoming traffic.
very safe, ever seen a pothole on a "good" thai road.
miked
Hua Hin to Cha-Am - Don't spare the horses! ;)
But no solid dividing walls on th e inside lane to protect normal traffic from you I suspect. Some idiot in front of you does a bizarre lane change at the last second (as Thais do), then hope you got good breaks.Rider wrote:The area I was 'speeding' was in the middle of nowhere, not downtown Petchkasem as some seem to be assuming
You've got great expanses of road with a solid wall dividing you and the oncoming traffic.
SJ
Had an accident just a couple of weeks ago because the idiot did exactly this. He was lucky because the traffic light had just changed and I must have been doing about 40kmh. He cut right across at the last minute from the side of the road. Even though I stood on the brakes he took the wing mirror, put a large dent in the front passenger door, and another one on the rear wheel arch.Super Joe wrote: Some idiot in front of you does a bizarre lane change at the last second (as Thais do), then hope you got good breaks.
SJ
The bike was probably held together with bits of twine and scotch tape so it didn't survive. The boy who was driving it escaped with no injuries (except to maybe his pride). He got a right bollocking as there was definitely no insurance cover, but what I really hate in this kind of situation is the fact that his parents probably let him use the bike with their full knowledge. This is what annoys me the most. I was more thankful he wasn't hurt, even though he was the cause of the accident.
วินเชนท์
So speaks the master??miked wrote:rider wrote
But as HHAD is the grey forum I guess as you get older you get cautious, perhaps too cautious but there you go
the way you ride you may not get much older.
He who embraces danger and potential death is freer than he who clings to life ever will be.
Yep! And with a big bike you're a lot safer than a piddly scooter is. How do I know? I've gone over two massive ones in a row (due to poor vis with cars in the rush-hour). Bike Hardly missed a beatrider wrote
You've got great expanses of road with a solid wall dividing you and the oncoming traffic.
very safe, ever seen a pothole on a "good" thai road.
miked
I am making a video warnings of them for the other bikers out there, as some of them aren't getting fixed.
Last edited by Rider on Wed Feb 04, 2009 7:41 pm, edited 1 time in total.
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dtaai-maai
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I think Rider is absolutely right when he says that the older you get, the more cautious you become. I rode big bikes for several years in the UK and was quite determined to do so here. After more than 5 years in Thailand and now into my 50s, I've come to realise:
1. I'm mortal. I will die one day and I'd like it to be as far off as possible.
2. Everybody takes a tumble some time, somewhere. Not here, thanks.
3. I have no wish to look like all the other middle-aged to elderly daft prats on big choppers in German-style squarehead helmets or bandanas with t-shirt and shorts, most of whom have probably never had any training.
4. In HH you can't take your eyes off the road long enough to admire yourself in shop windows.
The problem with riding a bike of any size anywhere is much the same as driving a car, but multiplied - no matter how good you are (or think you are), there's always the other ignorant pillock in a minibus/pick-up/VIP bus/(add your choice here).
1. I'm mortal. I will die one day and I'd like it to be as far off as possible.
2. Everybody takes a tumble some time, somewhere. Not here, thanks.
3. I have no wish to look like all the other middle-aged to elderly daft prats on big choppers in German-style squarehead helmets or bandanas with t-shirt and shorts, most of whom have probably never had any training.
4. In HH you can't take your eyes off the road long enough to admire yourself in shop windows.
The problem with riding a bike of any size anywhere is much the same as driving a car, but multiplied - no matter how good you are (or think you are), there's always the other ignorant pillock in a minibus/pick-up/VIP bus/(add your choice here).
This is the way
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dtaai-maai
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I must admit I'm a bit of a speed freak myself, but I simply don't have the minerals for it anymore, especially in Thailand - the idiot factor is just way too high.
You'd maybe ballsy enough to play Russian roulette with one bullet out of six just for the rush but driving at high speed on the roads in Thailand surrounded by utter lunatics that have no consideration for anything but themselves is like putting a full clip into a semi-auto and pulling the trigger.
You'd maybe ballsy enough to play Russian roulette with one bullet out of six just for the rush but driving at high speed on the roads in Thailand surrounded by utter lunatics that have no consideration for anything but themselves is like putting a full clip into a semi-auto and pulling the trigger.
Who is the happier man, he who has braved the storm of life and lived or he who has stayed securely on shore and merely existed? - Hunter S Thompson
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Khundon1975
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- Joined: Wed Jan 14, 2009 4:05 am
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Hi Rider
I had a scooter in late 60s (no not a Mod) and was always being knocked off the damn thing by other car drivers, strange thing was, I always came off worst.
and was on first name terms with local A&E department staff.
Two wheels in Thailand, no way Jose.
I work on the theory now as most Thais do, that Might is right on Thai roads, give me a Hummer any day.
I may be "clinging to life" now, but at least I'm alive.
I agree that the feeling of the wind in your hair thing is great, but I would be more worried about the car radiator hanging out my ass, while I waited for the Thai emergency services to arrive.
A local here, was killed on his Motta Guzzi only 4 days ago, killed by a car driver.
Good luck to you.
I had a scooter in late 60s (no not a Mod) and was always being knocked off the damn thing by other car drivers, strange thing was, I always came off worst.
and was on first name terms with local A&E department staff.Two wheels in Thailand, no way Jose.
I work on the theory now as most Thais do, that Might is right on Thai roads, give me a Hummer any day.
I may be "clinging to life" now, but at least I'm alive.
I agree that the feeling of the wind in your hair thing is great, but I would be more worried about the car radiator hanging out my ass, while I waited for the Thai emergency services to arrive.
A local here, was killed on his Motta Guzzi only 4 days ago, killed by a car driver.
Good luck to you.
I've lost my mind and I am making no effort to find it.
Hua Hin to Cha Am......
Rider, I think your "grey" reference may have hacked off a large proportion of HHAD members, and your arrogance regarding speed and your superpower abilities may have alienated the rest.
An accident is just that, an unforseen incident over which you have no control. Good luck to you and all your fellow road users, they may need it.
An accident is just that, an unforseen incident over which you have no control. Good luck to you and all your fellow road users, they may need it.
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Khundon1975
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Re: Hua Hin to Cha Am......
Hi ArcadianArcadian wrote:Rider, I think your "grey" reference may have hacked off a large proportion of HHAD members, and your arrogance regarding speed and your superpower abilities may have alienated the rest.
An accident is just that, an unforseen incident over which you have no control. Good luck to you and all your fellow road users, they may need it.
Hey I'm grey and not hacked off.
I just don't want to see Rider or any one else become an accident statistic.
I've lost my mind and I am making no effort to find it.
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bluezephyr
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- Location: Norwich, Norfolk, England
If i had a big bike when on hols i'd probably have a few high speed moments, The training for passing my test gets tested every time i take to two wheels in Thailand.
I had a near miss with a pothole on a Wave110, I was going a bit too fast on a road i didnt know near Pranburi, I stood up on the pegs and just lifted the front end up as i was going over if not i'd have been thrown over the bars.
The girl sitting behind me got a bit of a shock.
On another occasion doing a U turn as wanted to go to Market village, As i accelarated away the bike just went from under me, Scraped knee and a bit of Pride dented as im sure people saw me, This was caused by oil on the road where the uturn bit is. No blood or bike damage but it did make me think how it could have been more serious and make my holiday a complete disaster.
A friend of mine died a few years back when he hit a tractor pulling a combine unit out of a side road, He rode like a maniac everywhere and theres a video of him doing a commute to work 20 miles in busy traffic in 9 minutes apparently. Riding like this doesnt always go in your favour.
I had a near miss with a pothole on a Wave110, I was going a bit too fast on a road i didnt know near Pranburi, I stood up on the pegs and just lifted the front end up as i was going over if not i'd have been thrown over the bars.
The girl sitting behind me got a bit of a shock.
On another occasion doing a U turn as wanted to go to Market village, As i accelarated away the bike just went from under me, Scraped knee and a bit of Pride dented as im sure people saw me, This was caused by oil on the road where the uturn bit is. No blood or bike damage but it did make me think how it could have been more serious and make my holiday a complete disaster.
A friend of mine died a few years back when he hit a tractor pulling a combine unit out of a side road, He rode like a maniac everywhere and theres a video of him doing a commute to work 20 miles in busy traffic in 9 minutes apparently. Riding like this doesnt always go in your favour.
Mai ow Khup, Pom Ki Neow :)
I'm not in the "the grey section" yet but a lot sense has been mentioned here above.
I have riden at times, mostly in my late 20s and early 30s, a lot of stuff including, whilst in India,
to this a few years ago when down south here,
but now just slowly bimble around the locality(down to the shop etc) on this, for safeties sake, 
Just came to the realisation that you're 'on the list' riding a bike here, get four wheels, no glory in getting killed.
DM is right about everyone 'putting it on the deck' sometimes.
The roads aren't really 'up to the job' here for big street bikes, still way too many pot-holes etc.
As said, too many apethetic lunatics driving around aswell.
Could go on about the 12 year olds riding around, the 70 years old at it aswell, the dogs, cows, chickens, the list is endless.
On top of all that throw in the booze factor.
It's truely haunting how many people I've known of, Thai and foreigner, that have met a sticky end on a bike here. It's almost like a slide show in my mind when I think of it.
Don't fancy being one of them so mainly travel around in this now,
The wife won't let me have an R1 anyhow!
I have riden at times, mostly in my late 20s and early 30s, a lot of stuff including, whilst in India,
to this a few years ago when down south here,
but now just slowly bimble around the locality(down to the shop etc) on this, for safeties sake,
Just came to the realisation that you're 'on the list' riding a bike here, get four wheels, no glory in getting killed.
DM is right about everyone 'putting it on the deck' sometimes.
The roads aren't really 'up to the job' here for big street bikes, still way too many pot-holes etc.
As said, too many apethetic lunatics driving around aswell.
Could go on about the 12 year olds riding around, the 70 years old at it aswell, the dogs, cows, chickens, the list is endless.
On top of all that throw in the booze factor.
It's truely haunting how many people I've known of, Thai and foreigner, that have met a sticky end on a bike here. It's almost like a slide show in my mind when I think of it.
Don't fancy being one of them so mainly travel around in this now,
The wife won't let me have an R1 anyhow!
Resolve dissolves in alcohol