Scrambler & Sidercars - slip-sliding away pt1

[Rhodie]

The last two days have been some of the most enjoyable riding in spite of the weather
and more surprisingly only a few hours away from Chiang Mai centre.

It started with Silverhawk showing me the stunningly beautiful 1252.

Dense & overgrown with partial road collapses to negotiate
it partially runs through the Chae Son National Park before rejoining the 118.

River fords are part of the obstacles that one negotiates.

Silverhawk was being a trooper as I was looking for an action shot for a 2009 calendar shoot.
Tho I believe I got a little more damp than the rider!

Joe had another idea going up to Mae Taeng and "just beyond the elephant camps there's some dirt road river crossings".
Silverhawk gamely agreed to accompany us believing -as did I- that it would be a short jaunt.

Joe had other ideas bringing along a mate of his...

in his Kawasaki Vulcan side car combo.

Now I was still under the impression that we were in for a tame little foray that may involve a bit of dirt ...

Joe set off up the 107 @ a blistering pace
and then hung a left to the elephant camps

here things got a little sticky
and it was becoming clear that we may well not be back by 6pm - Joe's estimate...

The mud was eastern front thick but the Teutonic duo powered forward

The Scrambler didn't have the benefit of an outrigger

Splash !

Joe was in his element

 

[Rhodie]

Scrambler & Sidercar - slip-sliding away pt2

Finally we got to the watercrossing

The local washing her laundry was not too impressed

especially as Joe had to go back and do it again

and then back

The Scrambler was not so easy on the slippery rocks

stopping mid-stream is not such a good move

Joe hadn't realised that his battery was dying..

By this time the Vulcan didn't want to play anymore and needed a push start

Finally we slid into Sop Kai

Here the river height was evident

and up river

A break & warm sticky drinks & snickers were in order

Silverhawk looking his imperturbable self

from Sop Kai we took the 4024 to the 1095
and then the 107 back to town.

A great ride, made more adventurous by the conditions and the state of the 4024 with its very steep gradients and applecrumble surface.

Thoroughly enjoyable - and many thanks to Joe & his mate, as well as to our own Silverhawk
for putting together two cracking rides.

summed up by a sign espied by Silverhawk on an adventure tour pickup

Pictures were from Silverhawk, Joe & Rhodie

 

[Bonafide]

wow ... bout all I can say - that and thanks for sharing!!!

 

[Old Scratcher]

A-fucking-mazing Rhodie! I wouldn't have been game to tackle that on my Scram, nevermind a bloody outfit. That guy's certiifiable, putting a big rig like that through such shit. But thank God there are still crazy's like him (& you) in this world. Eh?
Tell him he's earned the respect & admiration of this crusty old Aussie mudrunner. Well done.
PS I've been missing your posts. I thought you must be off adventurin' somewhere fun.
Thanks for sharing.

 

[NEPatriots9]

Whoa, lots of mud there, my Scram just shivers at the thought of all that shit.:eeek:

 

[Odysseus]

Thanks Rhodie! I feel admiration and sheer jealousy about the beautiful scenery and the fact that you could get a Scram (let alone the Vulcan and sidecar) through that stuff. Fantastic!

 

[Kirkus51]

I gotta ask about that front end. Ain't nothing I've ever seen on a Vulcan before!!!

 

[CommandoRdster]

A leading link front end has natural anti dive,and helps keep the outfit straight under braking,and keeps the nose of the outfit from hitting the ground.That looks a whole lot like the Van Tech set-up my buddy had on his Yammie,circa 1973.

I'm with Scratch on the mud.I love riding a dirt bike in the mud,but just the thought of tackling that long,snotty downhill on the Scram makes my sack shrivel.

Great pix as usual Rhodie! Can't wait for the next chapter.

Cheers!
Bruce

 

[Rhodie]

Well it did turn out to be a bit more of an adventure than I had planned :eeek:

Just to remind you that the original ride out was for a recce to find a location
for some action shots for YSS's 2009 calendar using the BMW R1200GS.
see Scratch's review on GS800 for the choice of the beamer over the Scram..:yawn:
but I had to shoot some of the Scram anyway...

Thanks to Joe we found the ideal forde with dirt road running in & out for
David to pilot the Beamer & Scram.

David, a Kiwi & technical engineer who has designed the rear brake bracket
& possibly the fastest rider in north Thailand normally found piloting a Ducati 998.

Having completed the Beamer shoot we had some fun with the Scrambler

We have been putting the bracket to a rigorous testing following Old Scratcher's prang

We have now put some 2000miles on it through mud, shale, rocks and water..

However... a funny thing happened to me on the way back...

We were hooning along at a right good clap when I clipped a rut :stupid:

A clever bit of riverside parking - I think not.

Well this Muppet manque managed to follow a rut over the edge,
and was rather fortunate, insofar that the gully arrested my downward descent to the river 15 feet below!

Some kind South Africans on their way to river raft, when they had finished laughing,
retrieved the lump of metal - which fired up first time and got me going.
But a subsequent rainstorm put paid to further progress,
effecting the electrics with the engine cutting out when put into gear.
Any tech boffins out there with some thoughts?
PS sidestand cut out already removed.

Anyway the good samaritan services of Silverhawk a fellow GT Rider & former Detroit LEO
brought me back to CNX a little chastened and with two cracked ribs. :hurt:

On the way back the sight of a dead elephant being hoisted onto a truck
was a little too poignant - on a number of levels.
The crane hire lads nearly had a twofer!

But here's what the day was all about

 

[vintagebikefan]

Just looking at this picture made my sphincter pucker!

What an adventure.

 

[Rhodie]

Still looking 4 sphincter. :lol:

Triumph OE too expensive !
- thinking about going aftermarket from hereon :ghey:

 

[Blackston]

Just looking at this picture made my sphincter pucker!

What an adventure.

:eeek:Phhhfuck Rhodie!!...man your sooooooo lucky, thats a nasty bit of rut that you found there mate...any serious front end damage?

Still looking 4 sphincter. :lol:

Triumph OE too expensive !
- thinking about going aftermarket from hereon :ghey:

Try the river dude...from the angle of the photo I'd say thats where its probably landed after your ass snapped it off!!!

Fuck man thats just awesome....

Cheers mate,

Bret....:wave:

 

[Old Scratcher]

For Sale: Triumph Scrambler. Very little off-road use. As is where is

 

[Iceseven]

Rhodie, can't tell you how much I have always enjoyed your trip photos, hope your Scram recovers!

 

[UraniumC]

holy smokes, what a ride!

never would have guessed a big ol' Vulcan would be a mudder!

Wicked cool trip and pics. :worthy:

 

[Hedge]

All I can say is OMFG! I was thoroughly enjoying the Thai scenery until I came across the nose-dive! In America we would call that a Face Plant because that is what happens to a skier when he catches an edge and comes right out of his bindings! I hope your OK! Dam you got my traveling blood boiling!