A quick Nan blast with Peter & Keld

[KTMphil]

With the rainy season almost upon us (it actually started to rain when we got back), some free space in everyone's calender, so a Chiang Mai to Nan loop it what it will be.

 

[KTMphil]

Route:


Chiang Mai to Nan


Chiang Mai
Superhighway (R11)
R 1001 (to avoid the polished R 118)
R 1150 (one of the best roads in north Thailand)
R 118 (just 15 km to get to the R 120)
R 120 ( the best superbike road in north Thailand)
R 1
R 1021
R 1251
R 1091
Nan




Nan to Chiang Mai

Nan
R 1080 ( Sign posted as R 101 now)
R 1148 (probably the most fun race track road in Thailand & one of the best roads in SE Asia)
R 1021
R 1
R 120
R 118
Superhighway ( R 11)
Chiang Mai





Both routes are about 400 KM's & take 4-5 hours of moving time.






The rider's


Keld - Ducati Hypermotard (821cc engine) with the 90,000 bht exhaust
Peter - BMW F 800 gs, off around the world for a few years
Phil - Ducati Hypermotard (821cc engine) with a 17,000 bht Arrow can, exhaust (Keld's does sound 73,000 bht better)

 

[KTMphil]

Peter had some hard, dual sport tires so was at disadvantage













Super smokey out there, below on R 1150, one of my favorite roads in Thailand

 

[KTMphil]

R 1150 - R 118 junction, a new rice crop as far as the eye can see. It hasn't rained here for 5 months, they must have a plenitude of water from the river all year round








Peter's 19" front wheel v's our 17" front wheel, was a hindrance in the twisties for him too








40C & smokey

 

[KTMphil]

Every time I go passed this toilet I keep meaning to see what their definition of clean is








R 1091, there's about 3km of resurfacing underway. They are dampening it to stop the dust








The sludge created will make a mess of your bike, the Hypermotard's mud guards are pathetic








Resurfacing on R 1091 is west of the viewpoint. The viewpoint is currently the construction equipment car par

Photo: Keld

 

[KTMphil]

We wanted to try a new hotel in Nan, Tony recommended the Ponburi Hotel








500 Bht with good aircon. & WIFI good value

 

[KTMphil]

One of the delights after the ride to Nan is Tony's gourmet cooking. The superb food there is almost as enjoyable as the riding, serious. The key, call or message him and order ahead, that way you can get one of the best slow cooked roast dinners you'll ever have in your life. Roast tender loin of pork, caramelized/ roasted pumkin and sweet potato, roasted vegetables, onions, cauliflower and gravy, unreal

Ice cold beers to wash it down, we couldn't get up for an hour

 

[KTMphil]

A couple of hours of watching the PG girls at the Kad Nan bar area then off to sleep



The breakfast choices at the 7-11's now is quite devilishly wonderful - hot tuna sandwiches, quality shrimp dumplings and you can even fill your camel back with ice from the slush drink machine. It saves so much time in the morning grabbing a bite to eat there rather than waiting at a restaurant table










We told Peter, the next road was going to be one of the most fun roads he'd ever ridden - R 1148










The section on R 1148 where the road had caved in/ fallen away, is under repair, there's about 300 meters of dirt, no big deal








Re-grouping at the "new" view point








Smokey old view point















Time was plenteous, so we stopped for some cornering shots


Keld







Peter






Me







Keld







Keld







Peter

 

[KTMphil]

Mai & David Bailey saw that we were in Nan & msg'd that they were headed there the next day from Chiang Khong for pizza we were sure to cross paths on R 1148 and we did.

Photo: Sakuna Bailey




No rain while riding, Peter said they were the best roads he ridden in Asia so far - we knew he'd say that.







.

 

[LUFC]

Looks like fun, sorry i issed out on borrowing a bike from you Phil.

As an aside 90,000 baht for an exhaust seems a tad steep, even for Thailand. It does luike nice though tucked up high.

 

[KTMphil]

Looks like fun, sorry i issed out on borrowing a bike from you Phil.

As an aside 90,000 baht for an exhaust seems a tad steep, even for Thailand. It does luike nice though tucked up high.

Shame you had to go back to work and didn't have time Mr. B. Keld's exhaust is a full Termignoni exhaust system. The kit comes with a new ECU, larger air intake manifold, new Ducati racing ECU map & new rear turn signals.

 

[brake034]

We took the R120 back to Phayao 2 weeks ago with some light rain, I think it's quite slippery under that condition.
We saw two car accidents on a relative short track and the tarmac is new.