Highlights: 3 weeks in Australia for Phillip Island MotoGP. 2024

DavidFL

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Chiang Mai On The Way Out.

For the last two years, I have been supposed to go to Australia with my brother for a ride to Phillip Island MotoGP.
In 2022, he bought a MotoGuzzi V85 TT for me to ride, but I had a nasty accident that year and could not make the trip.

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In 2023, I had a carpal tunnel issue that required surgery & was unsure if I would be able to handle the 1,0000 km ride.
So we postponed again until 2024 and coordinated with my brother in the UK to go "home" to allow all four brothers to hook up in Oz again.
With one brother in the UK, one in Thailand, and two down under, we don't all get together often.
2024 was all go then.

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The best option for flying into Adelaide from Thailand was Chiang Mai—KL—Adelaide with Malaysian Airlines, with baggage checked straight through from Chiang Mai.

KL International Terminal.
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Nervous about missing this attempt to get to Oz and ride to PI with my brother for MotoGP, I took a leisurely ride down R1 to Phayao, then 120 to avoid the flooding issues and muddy roads on R118.

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A nice day by the lake in Phayao.
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There are #46 fans in Phayao.
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In Chiang Mai, my favourite hotel, the Panerai, was closed due to the flood, so the Top North was the place to be.

The Top North is my second favorite hotel in Cnx. It is great for its location, pool, and undercover parking.
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A few nights in Chiang Mai saw me catch up with a few friends.

Jurgen, who has posted hundreds of photos and a beautiful trip report on this forum, was at the top of the lis
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The Kafe is still my fave hang out in Chiang Mai.
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The sensational Ms Yui, ex-Mr Mechanic, was in town on holiday from France, where she now lives.
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Another entertaining night was at Winstons Pub in Huay Kaew.

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I met several expat mates at Winston's and noted that it is a top-run expat pub with good live music, friendly service, a pool table & multiple TVs for whatever sport you may wish to watch.

Sunday was MotoGP day, and the UN Irish Pub still rates as the best pub in the North to watch the races!
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The customers watching MotoGP at the UN Irish are serious fans of the sport and watch the race closely without any great disturbing noise or silly comments.
The final and deciding race is this weekend, and I genuinely wish I was watching it at the UN Irish instead of in Chiang Khong, where I will be.

While in Chiang Mai, I made a pit stop at Helmet2Home to check up on their business and flood damage.

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Bags of flood damaged items on the pavement.

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Suchee claims the damage was minimal, as the waters were not deep, and they had moved all the expensive stock upstairs.
Some cardboard boxes that he had stacked up toppled over in the water.

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Rumpair Pub
Of note in Chiang Mai was site of the old Bier Stube, is now a flash new cocktail pub, with hooch from Phrae.

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A significant contrat to the old Bier Stube, it certainly lifts the standard & is a delightful spot for people watching in the evening.


More to come....Australia.
 
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DavidFL

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The MotoGuzzi v85TT

As mentioned earlier, my brother bought the Guzzi so we could ride together to PI for MotoGP.

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The colours and style of the V85 TT appealed to me, but I was unsure how I would ride that Vee with the cylinders sticking out the side like that. However I was perfectly comfortable and relaxed when I rode it for the first time - it was the easiest bike I had ever ridden.
There were zero top-heavy weight issues, and it was easier than the Vstrom 650. I could not believe it—I was stunned!

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Recently, I've been thinking that in a year or two, I will give up on the Vstrom and bigger bikes, as I've lost my upper body strength, and bigger bikes are getting to be a handful to ride and manoeuvre around. But not with the V85TT. It is just too easy to ride and manoeuvre. I would take one of them over the Vstrom 650 any day to keep riding forever.

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The bike's fuel economy ran from 21.5 - 24 km a litre. Coupled with 23-litre fuel, you can get 500 km on a tank.

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An item I would improve on the bike would be the screen on the front - it is not quite high enough for someone of my height. My brother who is considerably shorter has no issues with it, but I would add a small spoiler.

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With that shaft drive and fabulous light easy handling the bike would be a total winner for me in North Thailand or Laos!

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More to come the ride & playing tourist..
 
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