Abandoning the DRZ up Doi Suthep & riding with Thai MX guys

[KTMphil]

Abandoning the DRZ up Doi Suthep & riding with Thai MX guys

This is how things ended up, not a good idea to go exploring mountain single track on your own in rainy season.

Here making a mechanical advantage pulley system out of the tow rope to pull the bike back up from below the single track.

Then leaving it there

Was supposed to be a days riding out with Johnny and the Thai enduro guys, about 15 bikes in total

They were all decent offroad riders, Darren and John were along too

Johnny helping to retrive one of the Thai guys from off the side of the trail

There were some fantastic views from the Doi Suthep trails, very clear day

It was really fun riding with them, they were all really great guys, very friendly and there was even a lady riding with them. When someone crashed and went off the trail, everyone was immediately helping really good to see. after a couple of hours I took a wrong turn and lost the group and went off exploring.

Some of the more civilized trails that were found

A bit slippy here with moss growing on the mud

more to come

 

[KTMphil]

Re: Abandoning the DRZ up Doi Suthep & riding with Thai MX g

A nasty big tree on the track - not fun to traverse on your own

 

[Pounce]

Re: Abandoning the DRZ up Doi Suthep & riding with Thai MX g

You bastard, you're having too much fun lately.
Wish I was there, or even able to ride at the moment.

 

[KTMphil]

Re: Abandoning the DRZ up Doi Suthep & riding with Thai MX g

After sliding 10 meters upside down with the bike still running off the side of the single track, this was how the bike was left

Johnny lost the Thai enduro guys too and was having some fuel delivery problems, he managed to get the bike running again and came on a rescue mission. He could get within 1.91 km of me but then there were waterfalls to cross so he stopped and waited there. I walked down to him through a steep river bed in Alpinstar MX boots hands and knees through waterfalls, nearly washed down stream.

Got to where Johnny was in the dark, then Johnny's carb started playing up again we had tp push it a little then got it going again.

Justin came out to help with the rescue, here assisting johnny with his carb float bowl drain nut removal

Always good to have a headlight with you even on a day ride!

 

[johnnysneds]

Re: Abandoning the DRZ up Doi Suthep & riding with Thai MX g

Here's a wee video I made while waiting for Phil to crawl down a trail.

Bear Grills would have been proud!!!

Part 1.....

 

[KTMphil]

Re: Abandoning the DRZ up Doi Suthep & riding with Thai MX g

Johnny you had 2 hours to relax and make movies, i wish i had while climbing down the rocks!

 

[johnnysneds]

Re: Abandoning the DRZ up Doi Suthep & riding with Thai MX g

Part 2

 

[KTMphil]

Re: Abandoning the DRZ up Doi Suthep & riding with Thai MX g

I'm putting the super motard wheels back on 'till the rain stops.

 

[KTMphil]

Re: Abandoning the DRZ up Doi Suthep & riding with Thai MX g

Now the bike has been retrieved by Luke and Lek I can show where it was.
View attachment 862
Map: Green Triangle Maps

Yesterday lek went up with a Thai friend two-up on his XR250 to try and get the DRZ, I gave him a printed map from Auke's GPS map with a route and my Garmin 62S GPS with the route and WP. He ca;lled 2 hours later saying the map had fallen out of his friends pocket and the GPS was confusing.

I then took him a second set of maps, reset the GPS and he got within 700 meters of where the DRZ was abandoned and turned back!! --you can see his tracks below:

View attachment 861
Map: Green Triangle Maps

Can report that Luke and Lek went on a rescue mission today and retrieved the bike, armed with Leks tracks and a GPS. Apparently, the front brake lever had been stolen, which gave Luke some interesting moments on the way down! Lek said to Luke "why the hell did he come here"?

Thanks very much guys.

 

[KTMphil]

Re: Abandoning the DRZ up Doi Suthep & riding with Thai MX g

Lek enjoying a huge free steak and chips after rescuing the DRZ from up the mountain (looks pretty tired)

View attachment 866

 

[KTMphil]

Re: Abandoning the DRZ up Doi Suthep & riding with Thai MX g

Just got hold of Luke and Leks tracks from the GPS using Auke's north Thailand GPS map and the route they took was perfect, Alex & I edited the previous routes over the past 3 days and gave them a direct route, lunch time the DRZ was back on the tarmac.

View attachment 867

Map: Green Triangle Maps

 

[KTMphil]

Re: Abandoning the DRZ up Doi Suthep & riding with Thai MX g

Lek & Luke's DRZ rescue day

Lek, the Thai mechanic at Lukes house getting ready to leave. he thought the bike was near the stadium and was dressed in shorts and a t-shirt, little did he know.

Lek's XR 250 that they went 2-up on, up Doi suthep dirt tracks in rainy season

Doesn't look such a good idea for wet clay trail riding

A trail to the DRZ that wasn't on Auke's map (not really a trail)!

GPS waypoint takes them to the abandoned DRZ

Front brake lever stolen L&L trying to figure out how they're going to get it back on the trail

 

[KTMphil]

Re: Abandoning the DRZ up Doi Suthep & riding with Thai MX g

A few initial logistical problems due to no front brake and the DRZ ends up further down the mountain further away from the trail.

Lek looking like he never wished he had offered to help

Looks like they've finally got it back on the trail here

Lek looking pretty happy his part's all over

Luke then had to ride the bike down wet clay mountains with no front brake, did a great job, i owe him huge.

 

[jb2112]

Re: Abandoning the DRZ up Doi Suthep & riding with Thai MX g

I can identify!