Speed, skill and danger. What more can a man want?
If you thrive on adventure, adrenalin and freedom, then Northern Thailand could be for you.
This mountainous area is overlaid with high-quality ribbons
of tarmac - engineered to perfection. I often wonder if a biker designed these roads? How else do they twist through sublime scenery as elegantly as they do?
I moved to Chiang Mai in October 2013 and six months later put this map together.
These are all fantastic routes but if I had to choose the
best stretches: The 1148 going west from Song Khwae. The 120 just west of
Phayao. The 1081 south of Pua to Bo Gluea. The 1149 near Mae Sai. The 108 just
south of Mae Hong Son. The 1009 north of Chom Thong. This is not to take anything away from
the rest. They’re all good.
What kind of bike?
 |
| 2013 CBR250 |
 |
| 2009 Phantom200 |
Next, a CBR250 in 2013. A solid choice with good fuel
economy and nimble handling. Rode a satisfying 74,000km on this legend over 4 years.
 |
| 2025 CBR500 |
 |
| 2018 CBR500 |
It was so good I bought another new CBR500 in 2025. Happy days. Plan to put 100,000km on this beauty.
Where?
In 2012 I rode 7,500km from Phuket to Pattaya on the Phantom. <<<In 2013 I rode 11,000km from Bangkok to Chiang Mai on the CBR250. >>>
In 2018 I rode 7,000km around the edge of Thailand on the CBR500. <<<Data
| Honda Phantom TA200 | Honda CBR 250 | Honda CBR 500 | |
| First Registered | June 2005 | July 2011 | Mar 2017 |
| Province bought | Nakhon Si Tammarat | Petchaburi | Songkla |
| Province sold | Bangkok | Chiang Mai | Chiang Mai |
| Date bought/sold | Oct 2009 Jan 2013 | Jan 2013 Nov 2016 | Mar 2018 Sept 2019 |
| Age when bought | 4yr 4mth | 1yr 6mth | NEW |
| Time owned | 3yr 3mth | 3yr 11mth | 1yr 6mth |
| Price paid | 57,000B | 70,000B | 215,000B |
| Price sold | 30,000B | 45,000B | 105,000B |
| Seller | American | New Zealand | N/A |
| Buyer | Australian | Thai | Thai |
| Km when bought | 3,200 | 4,000 | 0 |
| Km when sold | 47,300 | 78,300 | 38,000 |
| Km ridden | 44,100 | 74,300 | 38,000 |
| Total time | 8yr 8mth | ||
| Total km | 156,400 | ||
| Round the equator | 3.83 times |
Thanks, bud. Great info. Definitely will be doing those once i get around the north one more time.
ReplyDeleteYou know that south is quite good too. Roads that lead from Surathani, highway 401 to Kao Sok is mesmerising, driving from Phuket to Krabi, with all those karst formation is a must. Also, deep in the jungle, once you leave Naknom Si Thammarat, a few local roads that lead to a few waterfalls and long stretches of untouched wilderness. I've driven it in car, though. Still one can feel the nature, even from the back of the windshields.
The South is good - I agree. I rode it all during three years in Trang and Phuket. Chumpon to Ranong to Phuket is good. Khao Sok is worth a trip. I used to love the 60km from Trang to Phattalung. Surat Thani to Don Sak is quality as well as the Trang to Phang Nga stretch. However, the North is better IMO. Keep striving!!
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