3 brand new models and an old KTM do a north Thailand loop

[KTMphil]

5 of us managed to sneak out for the day & coincidentally, were able to test 3 new bikes that are assembled and available in Thailand at the same time.


Honda Forza 300cc (165,000 Bht), Honda CB 500 X (213,000 Bht) & the Kawasaki ER6n (265,000 Bht)

 

[KTMphil]

Lan at C & P Service called me as soon as one of his Honda CB 500 X's came in, they'd been some negative talk around from people who had tested it saying it lacked power, so wasn't looking too rosey from the outset, however my conclusion was that it's a fantastic bike.


2wheels has done and excellent review of the one he hired in the link below, he agrees its a great bike:


http://www.rideasia.net/motorcycle-forum/honda-motorcycles/3450-honda-cb500x-couple-days-saddle.html

 

[KTMphil]

Quite a long route for a day ride, 440 km, but great roads

 

[KTMphil]

A blast up R 107, passed Fang to Tha Ton, surprisingly not much traffic, the Mae Nam Kok river pretty low

 

[KTMphil]

There's a great little coffee shop on the bank of the Kok river in Tha Ton called Mahawon Coffee


Location:


N20.06032

E99.36224

What makes it special is that the profits from the business go to a local orphanage - try stop by there if you're in Tha Ton

 

[KTMphil]

Kun Nong, the master of negotiation, showing us how to haggle with the Hmong street vendors

 

[KTMphil]

Up the hill to Wat Thaton, viz wasnt so great wit the burning, but still a spectacular view

Not bad eh?

 

[2wheels]

Thanks for this info Phil.

What makes it special is that the profits from the business go to a local orphanage - try stop by there if you're in Tha Ton

 

[KTMphil]

The new Honda CB 500 X - 180km so far and an excellent machine, incredibly uncomfortable seat, foam too hard and edges dig in the back of your thighs (will do a full report)

 

[KTMphil]

A few Kodak moments for the ladies

Then off to the Thanathon orange orchard co-ords:

20.05317391901264 N


99.40500802840332 E

30 Bht per person the "boat car" will take you on a 20 minute tour of the orchard

Jb dynamically positioning the boat-car

 

[KTMphil]

They grow coffee there too

New MC on the boat-bus

 

[KTMphil]

Interesting to see them using pneumatic shears to trim in the orange orchard

 

[KTMphil]

We were so far north now that we decided to take R 3037 south which links up with R 118 south of Chiang Rai. It's a great road with some new tarmac and a few potholed sections. Here at the Mae Suai reservoir.

Beautiful tranquil spot

 

[KTMphil]

Con taking the CB 500 X for a test - He agreed a pretty good bike

Then JB gave it try

Jb had just got off his brand new Kawasaki ER6n, so had a good comparison, he also said it handled great but lacked a little power

 

[KTMphil]

The old bridge across the Mae Suai Reservoir , looks like it wasn't accessible in rain season

JB & Con

 

[KTMphil]

Onto the beautiful sweeping R 1150 that heads west to Phrao

We see this cheerful group, Som says they're not farm workers look like some kind of Government workers.

 

[KTMphil]

It turns out they were are the "No burn-off/ smoke Police" watching the farms!!

 

[KTMphil]

Con's new 300cc Honda Forza which he absolutely loves (more on that to come)

 

[KTMphil]

Back in Phrao filling up, we bump into Pichet who owns a cement company and has contracts to build Macro's etc...... he has a WR 450 and knows the Phrao trails like the back of his hand

Really great day out and we also managed to test 3 new different bikes, more to come on that