Asia Touring Options for a big street bike (ST 1100)
 

Hello All:

I'm toying with the idea of shipping my Honda ST1100 (PanEuropean) to perhaps Singapore, Bankok, or Tokyo, then touring around Asia for a while.

Can those folks who have been there tell me what countries would be suitable for touring through on a street bike like this? It can handle hard dirt roads OK (though not in monsoon season), but gravel roads are out, and trails are out for sure.

I'm a little bit familiar with Asia - I lived in Burma for a while in the early 90's (by example, Burma would be fine for the ST, most roads are paved or hard surface there). What I need is advice about the suitability of a route such as Singapore to Hanoi, then back down to Saigon.

Any advice would be appreciated.

Michael

Hi Michael, All of Thailand is perfect for your bike, fast paved comfort. Asian drivers though...
Highway 13 in Laos is also good and quite a few of the side roads are now paved. I think you would have to cross at the friendship Bridge near Vientiene as most other crossings involve boats.
We did not venture into Cambodia because the road to Siem Reap was very bad in early 2003 but have heard it is ok now.
Malaysia also has excellent roads and special motorcycle lanes, with no tolls.
Flying a bike into Bangkok is good as they are getting very used to it. Singapore is also good I hear but more trouble with expensive insurance to ride there.

For very good up to date info on S.E.Asia check out www.gt-rider.com
Cheers, Peter

[This message has been edited by Cameron (edited 01 April 2004).]

Hi Michael,

As Cameron says, you'll have no problems in Thailand and the main highways in Laos, but you might struggle in Cambodia.
If you look on our site www.chasingthesun.org under Photos/Cambodia at the top of the page are some good pics of the road from the Thai border to Siem Reap. It's basically hard core covered in red dirt, so rideable even on your ST, but very bumpy. Having said that, it's not far to Siem Reap (4/5 hours), so if you can put up with the bumping you'll be okay. We didn't go further east so I don't know what the roads are like in the rest of the country, but think they're pretty much the same.
Getting into Vietnam continues to be a lottery. Officially you're not allowed in on a big bike (anything over 175cc is illegal). However, there are some border crossings where you can get through. Frank Butler (www.mrbeem.com) got in earlier this year by sneaking through a minor border post.

Hope that's useful,

Harvey

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no pipe, no slippers
www.chasingthesun.org

Harvey, Peter:

Thanks very much for your comments, they are encouraging and much appreciated. I'll get in touch with both of you towards the end of the year - right now, I'm getting ready to ship the ST from Canada to France, for a spring and summer worth of riding in North Africa (Tunisia, Libya) and all the new EC countries (Baltics, Poland, & region).

Asia is on my mind for the fall or perhaps the winter.

How is personal security in those countries (meaning, risk of robbery or violent crime while on the road)? I'm fairly comfortable with working in rough spots (I work in Angola, Algeria, Sudan, Liberia, Sierra Leone, etc.), so I'm not concerned about political issues, just how the people are in general. In other words, I would have no hesitation to ride all around Angola (save for the mines), but I would never set foot in Nigeria, if you know what I mean. I don't have much of a feel for Asia, save for Burma, which is delightful, but I probably can't get back in there as a tourist.

Michael

Apologiesd to Peter for calling him Cameron, I didn't realise he uses his surname as his handle!

In my view it is safer here in Asia than in Europe. The risk of robbery or violent crime is almost nill provided you are sensible. I've never felt the least bit threatened here, even in the busy chowks of Delhi.
The people in South East Asia are the friendliest I've met anywhere in the world, especially in Laos and Cambodia, which is surprising considering their recent history. If you liked Burma, I'm sure you'll love the rest of the area.



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no pipe, no slippers
www.chasingthesun.org

Howdy Michael,
Further to your enquiries re: SE Asia. You will not find any problems in Malaya or Thailand - road wise. One or two of the little problems I did encounter was the local children (and young adults) have an insatible curiosity regarding the cost of anything, ie: bike, boots, clothing and equipment. Even with the patience of a saint it can become trying. Even very tiring, having answered the same inane questions for the thousandth time. The other slight problem: I was sitting at some lights and some young boy racer on his 100cc Suzuki wanted a RACE! I took no notice (and lost him in 1st gear BTW) and he went away. Otherwise no problems at all, no worries regarding theft, in fact, I had a tankbag returned to me that I had left it behind at a fuel stop (I stopped about 100 yds up the road for food and a kid can buzzing up on his 'big 125 Yamasuhonduki) shouting 'hey Mista, your bag' I gave hime 100Baht and he was chuffed, ME?, I was MORE than chuffed, hee hee.
I can't say much about Laos, Cam or VN, but the main roads are said to be ok for our ST's tho it might pay you to visit the local website for the area: www.gtrider.com check that I've got the site address correct, its a very useful site.
I stay in HUA HIN, Thailand. Its a nice area, lovely beaches and friendly people, you should try it, let me know when you'll be around, you'll be welcome to stay with us if I'm down there at the same time, ok.
One thing, unrelated:
My Pan had a shimmy on the front wheel on low speed over-run (between 35 -50mph), thinking it was due to bearings, I had the wheel bearings and stem bearings replaced. (a slight improvement), fitted new 020's front and back - a lot better, but not completely gone, any ideas?
Cheers George

Michael: The mains roads in Vietnam are quite good (for a developing country), so you would not have any trouble on the Saigon-Hanoi route, for instance. Lots of potholes, plus pigs, chicken, kids, bikes, etc, but then you wil be familiar with that from Burma (I lived in Rangoon from 1989-1991, I had an old BSA twin there that I rode around town).

The problem in Vietnam is getting a big bike in. Normally the biggest bikes allowed in the country are 175 cc. I lived in Saigon from 1999-2001, so things may have changed since then.

If you suceed in getting your bike in, it's a great country for riding. Lots of twisty roads, friendly people, great scenery and fantastic, cheap food.

-Scott

Hi Michael,

Are you gone yet? Anyway, Malaysia is great on the ST1100 should you take the north-south Highway. Trunk roads are excellent too. You might want to ride to the "highlands" to enjoy some nice curves. They are the Fraser's Hill, Genting Highlands and Cameron Highlands.