AViD TRAVELLER’S NANO-MEETING – Thailand 2018 Reportage*

Numerous adventure motorcycle travelers passed through Thailand this winter, many realizing that the time, money and bureaucratic hassles could be leaped over by not using their own motorcycles. During several “Nano-Meetings” the consensus was:

1) * Northern Thailand still offers exotic motorbiking while snow flies at home.

2) * A wide range of reasonably priced rental motorbikes makes the vehicle a no-brainer from 50cc to 1200cc.

3) * Petrol, food and sleeping can be fun and easy, even when not speaking or reading the Thai language.

4) * For those adventurers who cannot survive without the Net longer than they can hold their breath, the Internet and “Eyes on you, Mr. Google,” is nearly everywhere, often free, but sometimes slow.

5) *With 20+ motorbike tour companies offering adventure tours for the less adventurous adventure riders, a wide range of options are available from “Five Star We’ll Carry Your Bags” to “Cheap Charlie 110-125 cc Backpacker Adventures.”

6) * For the advanced adventurer, to fly in, rent a motorbike and purchase some reliable maps, then take off on their own is both on and off-road possible, far more so than 10-15 years ago.

7) *Wannabe adventurers were cautioned: “This is no place to learn to drive a motorbike.” Thailand scored #1 as the most dangerous driving country in the world in 2017, with #2 being Nigeria. Road kill averages 60 per day, a majority being motorbike related.

8) * “Buyer, renter or general tourist beware,” as in any foreign country for an outsider. There are the good, bad and ugly everywhere. What is on the Net is often not reality, simply digital marketing.

9) *For a taste of what AViD motorhead and gearhead motorbike travellers and aficionados found poking around motorbike shops and on the streets in Thailand, images were posted here: http://www.horizonsunlimited.com/hub...thailand-94589

Attached photo was taken during an AViD Traveller’s Nano-Meeting after Robert Brand (’82 Panhead H-D) and Manuela (’73 650 Triumph Bonneville) left their motorbikes at home. They secured their free HU stickers and explored the only known (private – invitation only) “Motorcycle Helmet Graveyard” in the world after having flown into Chiang Mai from Germany, rented motorbikes and adventured on their own for several weeks, vowing to return again.

*Related by:

Dr. G

Chief, of the World Adventure Affairs Desk, CITY BIKE magazine

Sexual Survivor: www.greataroundtheworldmotorcycleadventurerally.co m

Self-proclaimed: “World’s # 1 Motorcycle Adventure Sleeper”

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