New Bike Time

[Captain_Slash]

Picked the KLX 150 up this morning

Riding over the Ping river and nice views



First stop was to get a letter of residence and it seems that getting one on a tourist visa is not a problem, or so they told me.
I paid 500 Baht and was told to go back tomorrow to get it, I was also told that this is a free service if you wait a month for it

Then it was to the seat upholsterer on Moon Muang road at N18.79305 E098.99358









This is my seat until I get mine back on wednesday

Beef biryani

Chicken biryani 90 Baht the lot

 

[monsterman]

nice and light why did u choose the 150 over the 250??? are u planning more off road stuff???

 

[bikesncats]

Congratulations on your new ride...

 

[CraigBKK]

nice and light why did u choose the 150 over the 250??? are u planning more off road stuff???

Same thoughts as me...

 

[KTMphil]

The only thing that concerns me is I wonder if you will destroy the clutch plates with more feathering of the clutch needed (to get to where there is power at higher RPM's) on steep off-road sections?

 

[Gnasher328]

Hi Colin
Wondering why the downsize? Having seen the amount of gear you need to carry for 'life on the road'.

 

[Captain_Slash]

The reason is because the 250 was too high for me.
I started getting into exploring the off road on my Honda Phantom 6 years ago and my one wish then was that Honda would put the Phantom engine into a low trail bike chassis, sadly they didn't.
That bike had enough power for me and took me many places that I wouldn't dream of taking the 250 KLX, ie through lots of river crossings.
I could get off and walk it through and I had both feet on the ground.
The KLX 150 is hopefully that bike Honda sadly never made, its probably about the same power but much better off road.
There are some tracks I partly rode on the 250 in the Nan area particularly that I now wish to fully explore with more confidence

 

[oldbloke]

The reason is because the 250 was too high for me.....

Yes, sometimes less is more!! Having gotten rid of my SV650S for an Aprilia Shiver, I've gone in the reverse direction, and it's certainly true that a tall bike is not as easy to throw around!! I see from other posts you are already stacking on some kilometers!!. Green with envy!

 

[Captain_Slash]

When are you out here again Jim?

 

[Captain_Slash]

Got this aluminium bashplate today for 1800 Baht, a steel one was only 1000 but weighed a ton



The sprockets were also changed today, one less on the front and one more on the back will hopefully make it better offroad.
One final touch was putting on a folding gear lever from a KLX 250, hopefully the bike is now to my requirements

 

[oldbloke]

When are you out here again Jim?

Late January/early Feb at this stage, Colin. Not the best air quality I know, but that's how things are panning out..
Nice work with the bash plate! Though it could be worthwhile finding some way of protecting those protruding bolt heads, at least on their forward sides, so they don't snag debris like vines, or get sheared on a rock

 

[oldbloke]

Perhaps the question you need to worry about more is : when are you going back? I just saw this about expected Pommy weather!! Winter forecast: Weather models show POLAR VORTEX will plunge UK into MONTHS of heavy SNOW | Nature | News | Daily Express
Maybe you'll still be hanging around when I get to CNX, and I can check the green machine in person.

 

[Captain_Slash]

I don't go back until 26th march Jim

 

[oldbloke]

Well, we'll surely share a beer or two then ..
cheers

 

[bikesncats]

View attachment 32722

Colin may I suggest that you change the 4 bolts holding the plate. Chamfering the holes and using recessed screws will avoid sheering them off when you hit rocks and other hard objects. Cheers