125cc bike rides

[johnnyk]

I'm not a real biker, I just ride a 125cc around town but I'd like to do some short-ish trips away from HH. What's the maximum distance on the highway anyone would recommend on a 125?

[Dannie Boy]

I'm not a real biker, I just ride a 125cc around town but I'd like to do some short-ish trips away from HH. What's the maximum distance on the highway anyone would recommend on a 125?

Personally I wouldn't want to do more than 50 km's and even that would give me bum ache, but I'm sure you will get some replies suggesting a lot further.

[Farang]

There's a friend of mine who has a slightly modified Honda Wave (front sprocket has one extra tooth) and who drives with his girlfriend on the same bike from Phi Mai to Koh Samui.

Another one used to drive from HH to Ranong on a Honda 125 Wave for his monthly visa run.

For me 100 km on one go is the absolute maximum.

[STEVE G]

A tour of the area down to Dolphin Bay via the small backroads through Paknampran is as far as we've been on a Honda Wave and that is a nice trip with plenty of places to stop on the way. I wouldn't want to go much further on one although I know that some people have toured the whole of Thailand on them.

[centermid7]

Rather than think of it in terms of Km you might want to consider it in terms of hours of travel per day. I've got lots of both time and Km's on the roads of Thailand but after about 4 hours, maybe 5 hours max, I've gone as far as I want to that day.

These roads on those little bikes will beat you to death. Time to get a guest house, wash all the road grime off, and getcha a beer.

[buksida]

All depends how much butt/back punishment you can take - rode part of the Ho Chi Minh Trail today, ten hours in total and one of the party was on a 110cc Honda Wave!!!

[johnnyk]

Great replies guys, thanks! It does seem that butt-time is the more important factor than km. I'm definitely going to do some short trips this year.
Steve G - how long is the trip to Dolphin Bay?

[midlandmike]

I rarely go at more than 50K / hour so more power is not an advantage.

I have done 200+K in a day but if on a day after day journey 150 is very doable--stop and smell the roses.

[usual suspect]

I've got a Honda Sonic, OK it's only a 125, albeit modified so as a Farang riding it I now look less like a 'fried egg on a knife' ..but for a day-out to Pak-Nam Pran, then the coast Rd to Phu-Noi (Dolphin Bay) it's a great
little tool. The key is to allow yourself a whole day..that way you can have many stops at shanty-restaurants, nice temples etc..regular stops for food, beer & photos stops the numb-bum syndrome setting in also
The book shops in town DO have maps with enuf details to sniff out a route on back-roads around here..how about Canal road to Cha-Am..coming in the 'back-way'..then after the beach follow the coast road Northwards, or cut thru' the Cement Works by going in past that shrine all Thais beep-beep at leaving Northside of Cha Am to that nice Rocky area with walks, climbs cafe etc..OK that's 2 days for ya Johnny..55!

[johnnyk]

Thanks usual suspect! Sounds good!

[Pleng]

My arse gets numb after riding to Cha-Am and back (obviously stopping for a couple of hours in between!)

If I was thinking of taking a trip and doing night stop-overs I'd probably drive the distance to Cha-Am (how far is that?), break for an hour or two for lunch, then go the same distance again before retiring for the first night. repeat the process until you're where you were planning to be.

If only I had the time!!

[STEVE G]

Great replies guys, thanks! It does seem that butt-time is the more important factor than km. I'm definitely going to do some short trips this year.
Steve G - how long is the trip to Dolphin Bay?

It's only about 50 odd km to Dolphin Bay but take the back roads from Khao Tao and you can visit Paknampran, Pranburi beach and Khao Kalok along the way and you can make a day of it. If you want to go further you can wander around SamRoiYod park but be careful that you don't miss out on paying a couple of hundred baht to go in by coming out of that small village on the left around the entrance!

[Big Boy]

If you want to go further you can wander around SamRoiYod park but be careful that you don't miss out on paying a couple of hundred baht to go in by coming out of that small village on the left around the entrance!

We were down there a couple of weeks ago, and stopped to pay. Even though there was somebody sat at the desk, every other car was just driving through, and they told us no charge.

[H2ODunc]

When I lived in HH I often used to ride down to Chumphon and Ranong for my visa runs on a Honda 110cc. Never had any issues. Just keep the speed down, stop when the bum gets sore and you can go as far as you want. Just check the oil before you set out and regularly if on a long trip. There was a blog about a guy who rode all over SE Asia on a Honda Wave 100. Most of my time was spent just riding around HH exploring the area.
Just never be in a rush to get where you are going and you will be fine.

[Homer]

What do you do (or intend to do) if you're miles or hours from home and your bike stops running? Not talking about out of gas or flat tire, but something that would take a toolbox and replacement parts.