WEIRD, WILD, WTFOT THAILAND MOTORCYCLES

[DrGMIA]

An archive of the esoteric Thailand Motorbike Gallery resulted in numerous photographs that did not fit within the parameters of the compendium in progress. Recognizing the unique attraction many of the vehicles had for motorbike motorheads and gearheads, whether a tourist passing through or an old hand, some are invited to donate their images to the Ride Asia Motorcycle Forums as below:

Dr. G, Chief of the World Adventure Affairs Desk, CITY BIKE Magazine www.citybike.com
Sexual Survivor: http://www.greataroundtheworldmotorc...nturerally.com

 

[bsacbob]

Not exactly weird but what you see on a typical days riding in SE Asia.

 

[DrGMIA]

Thai "custom" panniers and top box, possibly called Tescotech or BigCtech Design. Suitable for installation on most motorbikes, inexpensive and nearly waterproof. On this particular motorcycle the rider stood on the pegs when driving, real ADV riding style.

Dr. G, Chief of the World Adventure Affairs Desk, CITY BIKE Magazine www.citybike.com
Sexual Survivor: http://www.greataroundtheworldmotorc...nturerally.com

 

[DrGMIA]

Moving day in Thailand, using a "Thai moving mocy," One can imagine an EU traffic enforcement officer going ballistic when seeing in their country this moving van transporting the owner's belongings on a roadway.

(Thank you to "D 1" of the famed Red Ride Adventure Team for sniffing out this wild contribution)

Dr. G, Chief of the World Adventure Affairs Desk, CITY BIKE Magazine www.citybike.com
Sexual Survivor: http://www.greataroundtheworldmotorc...nturerally.com

 

[DrGMIA]

Thai creative body work, and no need to wax.

Dr. G, Chief of the World Adventure Affairs Desk, CITY BIKE Magazine www.citybike.com
Sexual Survivor: http://www.greataroundtheworldmotorc...nturerally.com

 

[DrGMIA]

Captured with photographs were these two possible Thailand prototype "Harleys," maybe being tested in Thailand as Harley-Davidson rapidly expands it's product line to attempt to attract younger, less affluent buyers and millennials, or customers less interested in big cc displacement motorcycles saving lives with loud pipes.

Dr. G, Chief of the World Adventure Affairs Desk, CITY BIKE Magazine www.citybike.com
Sexual Survivor: http://www.greataroundtheworldmotorc...nturerally.com

 

[DrGMIA]

A concerned Harley-Davidson owner and serious aficionado told a museum project consultant that promoting rebadging by Thai motorcycle owners, as in the photos in the above thread, was a “violation of the sacred culture” of The Motor Company. The Harley-Davidson aficionado “went dark” after being sent the below photos of a Harley-Davidson seen in Bangkok.

The Italian company Aermacchi sold 50% of their company in 1961 to "The Motor Company" and in Aermacchi 1962 started shipping to the United States of America various models that were rebadged by The Motor Company as Harley-Davidsons and sold through Harley-Davidson dealers until the business relationship ended in 1978.

At question has been how this Harley-Davidson made the long strange trip from Italy to the United States of America to eventually find a home in a small Thailand private museum? It could have been a weird or wild adventurous affair.

Dr. G, Chief of the World Adventure Affairs Desk, CITY BIKE Magazine www.citybike.com
Sexual Survivor: http://www.greataroundtheworldmotorc...nturerally.com

 

[DrGMIA]

This "weird" and "wild" Thai BSA was left out of the potential Gallery display because "it did not leak oil" and "has a real front brake."

One museum consultant added, "It has decent looking suspension, electrics that likely work at night and a carb that might not vibrate itself to death."

"Dr. G," Chief of the World Adventure Affairs Desk, CITY BIKE Magazine www.citybike.com
Sexual Survivor: http://www.greataroundtheworldmotorc...nturerally.com

 

[DrGMIA]

WTFOT Thai style! Museum consultant noted both were for sale and without license plates, but on the street with loud pipes to potentially save lives. A "father-son, husband-wife, or boyfriend-girlfriend" wild custom combination.

 

[DrGMIA]

While The Motor Company manufactures a three wheel "trike" (Freewheeler and Tri Glide Ultra), the official H-D site for H-D imports does not show them as available in Thailand. That left the motorbike/trike enthusiast with several options if they "needed" a trike. The one below showed a great deal of creativity, but left one project researcher questioning how it would handle if "stuffed into a turn" or whether is would be allowed through Bangkok traffic.

 

[DrGMIA]

For the "trike" aficionado" that opted for small versus whopping huge, one submission was this small displacement "all weather" trike

 

[DrGMIA]

This wild looking Kawasaki "threw a curve ball" at one Museum Consultant until The Scooter Guy, located in Chiang Mai, identified it as "about a 20 year-old" Kawasaki Boss 175.

"Dr. G," Chief of the World Adventure Affairs Desk, CITY BIKE Magazine www.citybike.com
Sole Sexual Survivor: http://www.greataroundtheworldmotorc...nturerally.com

 

[DrGMIA]

"It's a BMW prototype," opined one observer. "BMW has long been known to outsource complete production models to countries like Taiwan. This one looks like one of their Thai secret test models."
"Not so," offered the sage Museum Consultant. "It's a Thailand manufactured GPX, a 200cc single four stroker, marketed as a Legend Gentleman. Some Thai has simply, and inexpensively, BMW'd it."

"Dr. G," Chief of the World Adventure Affairs Desk, CITY BIKE Magazine www.citybike.com
Sole Sexual Survivor: http://www.greataroundtheworldmotorc...nturerally.com

 

[The Bigfella]

One spotted today

 

[DrGMIA]

Thailand manufactured Tiger Cub, owned by world famous writer (ASHES TO BOONVILLE), and global motorbike circumnavigator (plus recond holder for Ironbutting 1,000 kilometers from Chiang Mai to Bangkok in under 24 hours on the below Tiger Cub), Geoff G. Thomas. He designed the "Bird-Cage-Atech" panniers to fit not only the Tiger Cub but also the clone Honda Cub :-)

"Dr. G," Chief of the World Adventure Affairs Desk, CITY BIKE Magazine www.citybike.com
Sole Sexual Survivor: http://www.greataroundtheworldmotorc...nturerally.com

 

[DrGMIA]

Photo above is a Honda 50cc Gorilla, imported to Thailand. At first slice one consultant said, "Not a big winner." Then a "small-displacement 'round the world best adventure bike" researcher discovered Kanichi Fujiwara, a Japanese 'rtw rider. Below is a drawing he made of his loaded Gorilla.

The next question was it real of fake information? Could a 50cc Gorilla like the one found in Thailand really be used for a 'round the world journey? That concept was against the 2018 mind flow that Charley and Ewan set using behemoth BMW GS models with their Long Way TV series and books in the 21st Century.
Fujiwara rose to the question, posting the below photograph of his broken Gorilla being towed by a Honda DAX70, in Finland, in August, 1991.

All good stories must have an ending, sometimes not a "happy ending." In the tale of Fujiwara's Gorilla Adventure, his ended in France where his dark blue 'round the world motorbike was stolen along with most of his luggage. He returned sans (French word meaning "without") his motorbike to his home country of Japan. He did ask recently for people to be on the lookout for his Gorilla. When a museum researcher found the one in Thailand in the image above a very careful check was made to determine if it had originally been blue....which it had not.

"Dr. G," Chief of the World Adventure Affairs Desk, CITY BIKE Magazine www.citybike.com
Sole Sexual Survivor: http://www.greataroundtheworldmotorc...nturerally.com

 

[DrGMIA]

For the budget minded adventure enthusiast, this 200cc single "ADV" model caught the eye of the cameraperson for submission. At first slice it was thought to be a new Japanese entry into the "adventure" market niche. Closer inspection found it to be a Lifan imported into Thailand from China. The model, a "Cross," passed the initial acid test of the "ADV" look with the early BMW G/S-like high front fender and aftermarket hard sided metal panniers. A funky reverse shift pattern of up for 1st and then down for the other gears, passing through neutral from 1st to 2nd, reminded the test rider of some of the original Royal Enfields. When selling at 45,000 THB it was a smart budget entry model for the part time or wannabe adventurist.

"Dr. G," Chief of the World Adventure Affairs Desk, CITY BIKE Magazine www.citybike.com researching adventurist affairs around the globe
Sole Sexual Survivor: http://www.greataroundtheworldmotorc...nturerally.com

 

[DrGMIA]

A Chiang Mai 2018 Bike Week contributor found this smooth idling BSA on display.

It started on the first kick (no electric "button") and idled smoothly, an oxymoron when describing this era BSA if one is an aficionado of the British motorbikes. The proud owner pointed to an identifying plate to prove it's British birth, shown below, albeit only a part of the motorbike.

A closer inspection underneath the motorbike found no oil spots, a common trait of the BSA. The headlight working at full power while the motorbike idled was another indicator of it not having the famed Prince of Darkness electrics. After several minutes of idling it did not stop, again indicating something was array, not meeting the moniker of BSA meaning Bastard Stopped Again.

A good time was had by the owner and the museum consultant when a rear disc brake was spotted. The owner manned-up and admitted to having done a major mechanical heart, electric and appendage transplant using donor parts from a Yamaha SR400.

"Dr. G," Chief of the World Adventure Affairs Desk, CITY BIKE Magazine www.citybike.com researching adventurist affairs around the globe
Sole Sexual Survivor: http://www.greataroundtheworldmotorc...nturerally.com

 

[The Bigfella]

Excellent to see that BSA finally went OHC

 

[DrGMIA]

Leading the way in the electric motorcycle niche for the adventurous hipster and millennial market, or for farangs over-the hill, too old to "throw a leg over their trusty iron steed," Thailand has these electric trikes with a clear plastic pop top for the rainy season.

"Dr. G," Chief of the World Adventure Affairs Desk, CITY BIKE Magazine www.citybike.com, researching adventurist affairs around the globe
Sole Sexual Survivor: http://www.greataroundtheworldmotorc...nturerally.com

 

[DrGMIA]

Weird was finding this 1950-1955 Puch, manufactured in Graz, Austria. Described by the current owner as "best guess is 1955 R 125," this two stroke 125 cc single was For Sale at Chiang Mai Bike Week. Looking like it had just been dragged out of the jungle, the Thai owner and museum consultant agreed that with a little wax and sweat, "the scratches would buff right out," and enjoyed a good laugh together.

"Dr. G," Chief of the World Adventure Affairs Desk, CITY BIKE Magazine www.citybike.com researching adventurist affairs around the globe
Sole Sexual Survivor: http://www.greataroundtheworldmotorc...nturerally.com

 

[bsacbob]

Weird was finding this 1950-1955 Puch, manufactured in Graz, Austria. Described by the current owner as "best guess is 1955 R 125," this two stroke 125 cc single was For Sale at Chiang Mai Bike Week. Looking like it had just been dragged out of the jungle, the Thai owner and museum consultant agreed that with a little wax and sweat, "the scratches would buff right out," and enjoyed a good laugh together.
View attachment 68374
"Dr. G," Chief of the World Adventure Affairs Desk, CITY BIKE Magazine www.citybike.com researching adventurist affairs around the globe
Sole Sexual Survivor: http://www.greataroundtheworldmotorc...nturerally.com

That would be a great project, but imagine the horror trying to get parts what was his crazy number Greg?

 

[DrGMIA]

Actually, most of it was there - see below pics

As for "crazy number," owner said he "had to sell," so that rang the starting bell at somewhere around 100,000 THB, then a good negotiator could pitch anything from 20,000 THB to 50,000. Want our consultant to hunt him down for your "winter project?" 5555

"Dr. G," Chief of the World Adventure Affairs Desk, CITY BIKE Magazine www.citybike.com researching adventurist affairs around the globe
Sole Sexual Survivor: http://www.greataroundtheworldmotorc...nturerally.com

 

[bsacbob]

Did the motor turn Greg, tempted very tempted.

 

[The Bigfella]

Me too

 

[DrGMIA]

If this Puch could talk, It might say, "WTF am I doing here at Chiag Mai Bike Week and how'd I get here from Austria?"

Sent you (Big Fella and bsacbob) a PM with some price comparisons for similar era and European manufactured scooters in this class. With Big Fella's experience in kick starting European motorcycles, I suspect he'd be able to "unfreeze" a small (125cc) seized piston if it was frozen. :-)

"Dr. G," Chief of the World Adventure Affairs Desk, CITY BIKE Magazine www.citybike.com researching adventurist affairs around the globe
Sole Sexual Survivor: http://www.greataroundtheworldmotorc...nturerally.com

 

[DrGMIA]

For an advanced dexterous adventure rider, one museum consultant found this highly modified Yamaha SR400. On first pass he thought, "Hmmm, nice chop job." Then he slowed, turned around and went back to inspect the right side tank shifter, a retro-gear changer that would require a higher degree of physical and brain management than simple toe-up or toe-down for shifting. The owner said it was a bit of an adventure challenge to fast shift up or down in traffic, meaning what the museum consultant translated to "Adventurous Thai Dexterity," ATD.

'Dr. G,' Chief of the World Adventure Affairs Desk, CITY BIKE Magazine www.citybike.com researching adventurist affairs around the globe
Sole Sexual Survivor: http://www.greataroundtheworldmotorc...nturerally.com

 

[DrGMIA]

The "Scooter Guy" sniffed out an "old BMW with a sidecar."

It was an interesting find. The saddlebags were not an original BMW offering, nor was the Brown side stand. The gas tank, if an original aftermarket German Hoske tank, could bring as much as $2,000.00 USD. One weird thing was the neck plate showed it as originally being a model R50, a 500 cc meek and mild model. However, the valve covers and exhaust pipe flanges were off an "S" model, a higher compression and horsepower model. The internals could be from a 500 cc S or 600 cc S.

The side car had a plaque on the front identifying the hack as a Steib, which was a BMW factory offering. However, the Steibs (1914-1957) were far different from this one.

Our vintage BMW aficionado noted that the usual chrome model description on the back fender, usually chrome, was cut from stainless steel and instead of saying R50S (if it had been bumped to a 500 cc S) said R50/2.

Overall it was a wild and weird BMW /2 model with some interesting modifications. One "guess" was it started out as an escort motorcycle, the red light on the handlebars being common, as would have been the German solo seat. Over time it morphed with bits of this and bits of that being added (like the complete sidecar).

'Dr. G,' Chief of the World Adventure Affairs Desk, CITY BIKE Magazine www.citybike.com researching adventurist affairs around the globe
Sole Sexual Survivor: http://www.greataroundtheworldmotorc...nturerally.com

 

[DrGMIA]

A museum consultant spotted this treasure parked on a sidewalk, almost hidden from view

Plateless and with no rego indicated it had not been roadworthy for a while. It was a DKW from Germany. The company was named after a small two stroke engine was made, first called The Boy's Wish (Des Knaben Wunsch). This name morphed into Das Kleine Wunder (DKW) meaning The Little Wonder which was stuck into a cycle frame in 1919 or 1920. Notice the upside down forks, unique to this era of motorcycles.

In 1932 the company merged with Audi, Horch and car company the Wanderer (formerly also manufactured motorcycles until they sold the motorcycle division in 1929) to form the Auto Union. The four circles in the tank badge/logo represent the four companies that made up Auto Union which eventually became Audi. The DKWs came in 175, 250 & 350 cc engine sizes and at one time DKW was the largest motorcycle manufacturer in the world.

After the Germans lost WWII the design drawings were given to Harley-Davidson and BSA. Harley knocked out copies called the Hummer while BSA knocked out the Bantam.

The DKW - a wild find in the Land of Smiles.

'Dr. G,' Chief of the World Adventure Affairs Desk, CITY BIKE Magazine www.citybike.com researching adventurist affairs around the globe
Sole Sexual Survivor: http://www.greataroundtheworldmotorc...nturerally.com

 

[DrGMIA]

Old but new, tried and true. If one can wrap their head around joining The Vespa World, this restored model was looking for a new owner. Asking price: 150,000 THB

Long imported into Thailand, Vespa properly owns a unique niche in The Thailand Mocy Culture, from being a daily family commuter to an adventure seeking owner long before "ADV" and "Adventure" was globally being pasted on everything for marketing from golf to Adventure Beering.

Below is a 50 year-old 50 cc Vespa used on a small adventure - the back way from Samoeng to Pai over some off-road/dirt/pot holes/gravel/broken pavement, resulting in a blown rear shock absorber. Original shock was happily replaced by a new import from India: 1,000 THB.

'Dr. G,' Chief of the World Adventure Affairs Desk, CITY BIKE Magazine www.citybike.com researching adventurist affairs around the globe
Sole Sexual Survivor: http://www.greataroundtheworldmotorc...nturerally.com

 

[Captain_Slash]

Spotted this stretched Honda Zoomer at my guest house

That tyre looks massive



It looks a lot wider than that, maybe because its only a 12" wheel it appears to look wider than it really is

Its even got footrests

 

[DrGMIA]

A newbie researcher brought the below Triumph as a model for consideration for induction as a newer model, definitely "Wild and Weird:"

To support the propriety of the submission, pointed out was the London Ace Cafe sticker on the front fender:

An older member of the team, a Brit well schooled with the famed idiosyncrasies of British motorcycles, said, "No, it's not right. What we see here is a wild GPX Thailand manufactured Legend model in Triumph's clothing." As proof, the British aficionado pointed to the spotless floor tiles beneath the engine and transmission.

He proclaimed, "If it really was a nicely restored older Triumph cafe racer with new gaskets and seals, there would be oil drippings underneath. Oil drippings are part of the original Triumph culture."

This proclamation prompted an Australian entrepreneur to suggest that if the GPX Legend morphing into Triumph cafe racers caught on there could be a market for a plastic copy of oil drippings owners could lay on the ground underneath the motorbike when parked to give it the true older Triumph look, similar to the plastic dog droppings sold as a novelty items on Sukhumvit Road in Bangkok. An American said there might be a real market in the plastic Triumph oil drippings, his having seem cans of spray-on plastic dirt sold by the Aerostich Company for the adventure rider who did not want to drive their expensive adventure motorbikes off pavement and subject them to real dirt but wanted that hardened, gnarly adv rider look.

'Dr. G,' Chief of the World Adventure Affairs Desk, CITY BIKE Magazine www.citybike.com researching adventurist affairs around the globe
Sole Sexual Survivor: http://www.greataroundtheworldmotorc...nturerally.com

 

[DrGMIA]

Wild warnings about drink/driving to helmet safety have adorned this roadside corner artwork for years. First photo is from 2011:

A fresh paint job, new helmets, fresh riding gear with newer boots/gloves and the sobering of the operator on the right earned the moniker of "Up Country ATGATT (All The Gear All The Time ) Thai Adventure Riders" for this roadside art in 2019:

'Dr. G,' Chief of the World Adventure Affairs Desk, CITY BIKE Magazine www.citybike.com researching adventurist affairs around the globe
Sole Sexual Survivor: http://www.greataroundtheworldmotorc...nturerally.com

 

[DrGMIA]

One of our country wide research team found this Thai mini-version of "Captain America."

When we met the Thai owner he was doing a minor adjustment to the massive front brake, singing "head out on the highway, looking for adventure," part of a verse from Born To Be Wild.

Our consultant especially liked the #3 pool ball left side hand shifting mechanism with a toe lever for back up and the Ironbutt long distance solo riding seat.

'Dr. G,' Chief of the World Adventure Affairs Desk, CITY BIKE Magazine www.citybike.com researching adventurist affairs around the globe
Sole Sexual Survivor: http://www.greataroundtheworldmotorc...nturerally.com

 

[brake034]

DrGMIA "Wild warnings about drink/driving to helmet safety have adorned this roadside corner artwork for years".
Thoeng?

 

[DrGMIA]

Yes, Thoeng. Behind the motorbikes display is a cop stop box. And next door to the right is the office of the local EMS crew. If you are looking for some good karma, make a donation to the EMS service - they are the ones that scrape the mocy riders off the road and get them to the nearest medical facility. Our Thai wasn't good enough for a full translation, but it seemed the display and warnings were a joint effort between the EMS and local traffic police.

'Dr G'
Chief of the World Adventure Affairs Desk, CITY BIKE magazine, researching adventurous affairs around the globe
Adventure Strategy Columnist, MOTORCYCLE CONSUMER NEWS magazine
Sole sexual survivor: www.greataroundtheworldmotorcycleadventurerally.com

 

[brake034]

I live 4 km down the 2010 towards Chiang Khong, so I know it well, near the TMB bank. Agree about the EMS boys, they have been there since a year or so, previous location was at the fire station near the bus station......

 

[DrGMIA]

"Whoa Nelly!" One of the Museum Project Consultants brought us this "Eco Friendly Thai Mocy."

He said, "The subject was claimed to manage 1,000 kilometers on one liter of petrol, any octane level, and was so quiet you'd hear an electric motorbike before you'd hear the Econ Friendly Thai Mocy."

While rejected, it's submission created a new category, WTFOT Thai Mocy Art.

'Dr G'
Chief of the World Adventure Affairs Desk, CITY BIKE magazine, researching adventurous affairs around the globe
Adventure Strategy Columnist, MOTORCYCLE CONSUMER NEWS magazine
Sole sexual survivor: www.greataroundtheworldmotorcycleadventurerally.com

 

[DrGMIA]

Also in the WTFOT Thai Mocy Art category was entered this "Mocy Mocy," an object d'art constructed almost entirely from used motorcycle parts such as motorcycle chains for the usual rubber tires, a seat made of motorcycle chains and a gas tank, and deep within the bowels, a motorcycle engine. Weird and WTFOT for the advanced motorhead to contemplate.

Dr G
Chief of the World Adventure Affairs Desk, CITY BIKE magazine, researching adventurous affairs around the globe
Adventure Strategy Columnist, MOTORCYCLE CONSUMER NEWS magazine
Sole sexual survivor: www.greataroundtheworldmotorcycleadventurerally.com

 

[DrGMIA]

Scooter Guy brought the project another weird and rare find in Chiang Mai, a BMW R50US. This one has numerous non-factory options, like a Brown side stand, aftermarket panniers and cop red light and siren, leading to the conclusion it was brought into Thailand as a cop or escort motorcycle. Worldwide, the most popular cop or escort model was the R60 (600cc) model.

The "US" models were made for the USA market from 1967 though 1969, the US designating the US specific telescopic forks versus the standard Earles forks. The R50US model (500cc) was manufactured in very limited numbers: 199 in 1967, 132 in 1968 and only 70 in 1969. This was a tough era for BMW, their global motorcycle sales were on the rocks, in 1969 manufacturing only 1110 R50s, 2273 R60s and 751 R69s.

Thanks to USA fellow BMW SEAT (Southeast Arizona Touring) club member Jeff Dean for helping with the production numbers. www.bmwdean.com finds his detailed website on vintage BMWs.

Dr G
Chief of the World Adventure Affairs Desk, CITY BIKE magazine, researching adventurous affairs around the globe
Adventure Strategy Columnist, MOTORCYCLE CONSUMER NEWS magazine
Sole sexual survivor: www.greataroundtheworldmotorcycleadventurerally.com