Honda the test journey

Part one

I would hope this trip would be of some enjoyment and also give me a result on bike performance, being that it is the new addition I had bought recently to make the journey a little more interesting, although I have already had an assortment of bikes in Cambodia over the past years and done various trips, or just rode them here and there.



The bike is a Honda CB400ss Single cylinder, can be read in the last article. I have to say I am quite fond of the bike and have been looking around for one over some time. Last one I looked at was in Koh Kong on our last visit, but a little expensive at his starting price of $4000. The price was haggled with but he would not go lower then $3500. At the time I had to walk away. This one I bought from a shop in the big city, and I feel happy about that, its on par with the other and at the lower end of the price. Genuine Japanese with plate and important tax paper, plus owners’ card. Because the bike is in such good condition, I have not had to do too much work, a good look over and tidy. Change of oil and baffle in the end can, and a trim of the bars to set the bar-end mirrors. But this trip will be a test of the bike, and us once again too.



The trip was not all together planed, with the uncertainty of travel with the Coronavirus, what would turn into the global pandemic has we had started on our journey.
The trip was also to check on my partners family to see if all was well with them.

Bags packed and strapped firmly upon the bikes fuel tank, last quick look around the apartment, cooking gas bottle turned off, checking water taps and lights, then push the bike out of the apartment and locking the doors behind us. I turn on the fuel tap, flick the gear lever with my foot, side stand up, turn the key, kill switch on the run position brake and clutch levers pulled in, now I kick the kick starter twice, now working it to about ¾ of the way before the next sure kick and the engine cracks up, leaving the throttle alone for a little time letting the engine steadily warm, the engine thumps with a kind of deep note, not too much of a twist from the right wrist and a distinguished sound from what we may call a low or near midrange single, now a couple of twists and a down shift “click” moving forward, her giving a type of low bubble/bellowing sound, oh yes we may call her “she” sometimes, the exhaust note sounds so good, but I think still a little tad on the loud side, more so if opened up quickly, but if just coasting along the sound is not bad at all, blending in with the traffic around, but the bike giving you the feedback of being that of very responsiveness, and she is, just put in the power and the bike is instant with what you ask, But to heed caution around town and traffic. “No” add to that, of caution being everywhere for this is Cambodia. I don’t know what it is with Khmers, how they perceive and act on the roads getting to their own destinations, I have been on rides out with Khmer friends, and observed traffic, their drivers/riders, overall road behaviour is a chaotic mess, that could be seen to be saying that they are in general bad drivers, to some maybe edging on the polite side of one’s own judgment. We all have our opinions on the subject if you are out on the roads at some time, or even reading about the accidents that are real and unfortunately do happen day after day.
In past years I have had western friends and acquaintances accuse me of being judgemental on the subject of road safety, but more so that of accusing me of not talking good about the Khmer people and that of their road sense. They could be right, but accidents are happening, caused by someone’s misjudgement or just a wrong manoeuvre, it could be lack of thought or even being that of a stupid act. However, you think of the situation, there are rules and traffic laws, never the less not many of the laws seem to be followed most of the time, such has not wearing helmets and the use of phones. The points I have observed is most people drive too fast, they also don’t seem to have consideration or thought for anyone else on the road, nor do they show any anticipation. Please tell me who could argue, that when crossing in front of a train that it was not their fault nor wrongdoing has the train did not stop or move out of the way to avoid the collision.
Then there are the runners, taking off from the accident, and more likely the cause too, they run because they are worried about repercussions of the mob, that alone would be a deterrent to most, but not here, also the driver may have responsibility of safety for the passengers or load, but gone never to be seen again.
There is an App for the smartphone of Cambodia driving rules. Look in Play Store. There is a test on it too.



My partner Nak of some years now, follows the few steps down from the door and then across the parking spaces in front of the building, waiting near the roadside for me to manage the bike down the purpose-built apartment ramp and then shortly picking her up by the roadside. By now she is accompanied by other ladies from their own apartments in the building around us, also, they are being a little inquisitive to where we are going, with all smiles, waves of by-by and good wishes for our travel.
We pull away from the curb slowly down the quite little street toward the junction end were Nak hands over a bag containing a few food items being perishable if left, such likes of fruit and vegetables and pork, handing to the old lady working at her little stall, the people in general around the area and apartments are not a bad lot, at weekend we are treated to music, that being a live professional folk singer, he being one of the buildings residents, or even to a few more who may join the singsong, basically it doesn’t take neighbours much of an excuse to be gathered together enjoying song together, the regular occasion with food and drink flowing.
The thing is, I only see very few who go out to work on any type of regular basis, here being on their own to raise the cash, back in my country I could more or less understand with the unemployed receiving some form of state benefit, such as sickness and unemployment. It would be many years before this country would be in any possible position to have a type of system of support for its people, but I would not think it is in any way or consideration thinking to do so. Looking at this it makes one wonder how some are paying their way, what is the divide between the classes, of people in this country, would it be that of the average, wealthier city working class and the poor working class being lower end peasant farmers. first time visiting India, although too they have also the caste system that probably eases the situation of the ones with wealth, here it could seem to one more complex being that of a past war torn country, with a loss of a quarter of its people, living in those horrific times of Pol Pot and the ruling party Khmer Rouge.
Today we could say it’s now a developing country moving onwards from its past, being not too long ago it seemed that the moving on, was also quite rapid with the Chinese investors, then things slowed down, hindered by a series of events, firstly the ban on the online gambling requested by that of none other than China’s leader, it saw many Chinese leaving the country. To be followed now by an outbreak from China, and resemblance of the once SARS. But yet another new airborne virus Corona19 to make pandemic status in a short time scale. What to do now with our plans was to be questionable, we had been carrying out a living in a self-isolation state up till this point, but Nak was concerned about her family living out in the province of Kampong Cham.
This to be our first journey on this bike, and there are the mixed thoughts of how it may cope with what I would expect of the machine and of its capabilities, what it may deliver in return to my favour. l was never the less quite confident in that it would perform well with doing a little maintenance beforehand, making sure everything was in the right places and working like it should. In my so-called bikers’ years, I have had a mixture of bikes with many different engine configurations and also size, but never a so-called thumper (midrange single) in fact the only ever single I had in my own country was my first ever bike, that being a Garelli Tiger Cross 50cc. Not forgetting the Honda msx 125cc here in this country.

https://classic-motorbikes.net/garelli-tiger-cross-ii/


The build up to the ownership of my first bike, my background was far from any wealth, working class from a young age a few years after my father past away, my mother being the single working parent also not many years later forced to take part time hours in the council scheme not to lose jobs, also she had not many years until pension, I would find anything possible to do to earn from when I was a young school lad, many times not telling my mother what I was doing. my junior school years was to see me in class with local farmers kids, it later would give me advantage of gaining farm work after school and at weekend. I would work on most of the farms in my area. That was until the day it would all change! A friend started with me at one farm they needed more hands so I was to get him work. His mother had run in the local elections for councillor of the labour party and was soon elected, her first jobs was to give her son a letter to take to the farmer apparently complaining of our working conditions. I being the one who knew nothing of this until the letter was handed to the farmer, but it was here I was to learn my first lesson in politics! I was finished and sent home along with my friend due to his meddling political mother, but they had monies so no problem, but now I had lost earnings to come, no more farm work ever for me again, also if that was the way of helping the working man later in my working life, there would be no room for the labour party too. I took a paper round, never liked because I earned in a week what I could earn in a weekend on the farm. Thing is the farmer new my late father and the family, but now his hands were tied by an unforeseen political outcome, he took it on by visiting and explaining the problem to my mother. One more thing I was to learn was not too recommend friends for employment, it was my doing that would lose me my steady farm work.
Soon after those few kicks on the kick-start and with us passing with care ridding through the side of Chbar Ampov we joined highway one. The journey was certainly now underway.

We joined the Saturday early evening in rush-hour traffic, (need my head testing) not getting anywhere fast, the traffic would thin out in no time. nevertheless now were heading away from the big city, and that was to be the first part of the plan in our journey, that and eventually taking a few dirt roads to make up a different route, just for a change over to Kampong Cham, being more direct from where we were situated, but it was not really any shorter in distance then other routes, but this way I had planned was mainly to avoid traffic were possible and would not be like this chaotic free for all in Phnom Penh, very few traffic users would know, patience, caution and anticipation, with today’s top word being consideration, or even stretch it out, being the top favoured road user of today and be a little courteous to others.



I don’t know how any of you members feel how it would be possible to achieve safety on the roads of Cambodia, how would you consider the change, firstly of the mind set of today’s people on the roads. Policing the situation is a must, but do you think possible, for most days to come there will be the growth of road vehicles, faster cars in general we see on today’s market. Larger highways too are being built to save travel time. That too also means greater speeds, mixed in with this are the drivers/riders clueless, no lights heading up the wrong side towards the flow of traffic, mostly traffic laws are looked upon very loosely or not followed at most times. The answer to this, will only be a larger increase of accidents resulting in more injury and deaths. None of this bears thinking about because I cannot imagine overnight people will change their ways of how they use the roads and also consider others. The first step I would say is all road users must be considered equal, not the largest having priority over everyone, in my country that was stopped or curbed in ways by restricting or putting speed limits on HGVs. Nor should it be the ones who are considered to be of more wealth. There is a situation of common sense, the largest number of casualties and deaths are the ones most vulnerable of the road users, and the majority of today being the bike rider.
In the end it will still be the mentality and contention of the inconsiderate road users of today, and also given the chance, the cause and then aftermath, the wealthy buying their way out of the situation, does the Buddhist religion except the wrong doings too. Also, add the elusive swift marathon runners too, they will no doubt carry on to exercise nimble legs.

On the way I had to fill the fuel tank, taking the bags off the tank to give access to the filler my lady was already buying at the CP chicken kiosk (what is it with Asian girls, food is always on the mind) anyway, when putting back the bags and making them secure I was in for a little feed too. Next stop calling in at Smart due to the internet never materialised on my phone, now I would or may need to have so we would be able to have a clearer view of the country roads hopefully without taking any wrong turning.
Soon we were at the Prekpo road ferry terminal Ta Prom after sorting out what I needed beforehand, but unfortunately, we had missed the last crossing at 6.30pm. I was aware that the ferry from the area of Sdau Kanlaeng Market run later hours, we arrived to ride on the ferry just before it would depart, and also, we were treated to a free crossing over the Mekong.



Ridding off the ferry deck and into Thma Kor Commune and among the dirt roads for the next 24km before we would then join highway 8. It’s dry season, and so that means bridge and road repairs, but not but that didn’t really give a problem too our travel, also plenty of dust on the dry roads, but not much now, being we were to be the most of the moving traffic. I noticed with the many marquee’s we would pass by it must be wedding season, we were to be called in to one or two on passing, also had been chased down by guys on Moto’s to go join their festivities, some looking good with their stages and singing dancing girls, but I am aware of the good times to have, and the first part of the ride would have ended at the marquee after the free flowing beer, because like another cause of accidents, I would not consider drink and drive. But what of the virus and the gathering of large groups of people.

I was to make one wrong turn, or let’s say I missed one turn, with it running tightly between two houses, but a few 100 yards it would be easily corrected. But what I was to learn now was a hard reality, has I realised I had missed the right turn I pulled up to turn back. I had turned off the ignition, time for a cigarette, look at the map on the phone and give the bike a little time to cool. I was alerted by the sound of a snarl, very close to my right I saw it from the corner of my eye, then another growling to my left side. This was a bad situation, there were two dogs with their bodies down close to the ground at both sides of the bike. Snap and crack the sound of jaws that missed their mark. Nak was up on the bike seat, luckily, she had not been bitten. She told me to stay calm, easy said then done I had to kick-start the bike, now we had five dogs around us, I kicked once and nothing, then flicked the kill-switch to the run position, then the dog to my right charged toward me. I yelled and kicked out with my foot the dog yelped, quickly kicking the bike into life, twist the throttle we speed forward until enough distance I slid the back end on the dirt road, now facing the way we came, dogs stood in the road, Nak said to me slow, I did slightly then I had the feeling the dogs are going to have another go, fuck this I went fast towards them, quick turn left and we was soon on the bridge, then on the other-side of the river, a little way down making sure the dogs had gone I pulled over to be joined by a guy on a Honda dream, I have no idea what he was yakking on about and I did not care, he soon went away.
The only thing to bother about now was that of the many dogs lying in the road sleeping, or guarding their Masters homes in the dark nightly hours, I would advise anyone to take caution with the so called man’s best friend in these parts, most are not friendly at all, most barking and with no bite is only a saying, but be aware of the scraggly mutts coming out of nowhere, in silence until you hear the “clacking of jaws”. There are three roads, two on the right riverbank, the third on the left bank being the smoothest of the dirt roads, being even better up a little with it being recently re-planned.
Above Preah Vihear are some excellent wide and long dirt roads going though many forest and farm areas.
I found the largest disappointment was the cloud cover that kept the stars from our view that evening.
Soon the dirt roads were behind us. 18km along highway 8 we decided to stop at a $5 per night hotel we had used previously.



After a good night’s sleep, were back on highway 8 stopping along the way for coffee and a bite to eat. Left turn onto road 314 Prey Pnov, at the beginning of the route the paddy fields looking barren and scorched with the hot sun upon them in the day, that and lack of water, the road also turning into disrepair, waterholes empty and cracked, baked with the heat, the river recognisable with mostly its dry bed and banks holding nothing, not even themselves as they crumble into the empty void that once would be full of flowing water, and support for life, but now unnatural it was all looking.
Traveling up the road things are getting to look more fertile, and then amazingly green with now the obvious sight of water once again, I think this may have been all to do with what I got a glimpse of passing, what I gathered may have been a new dam construction for irrigation purpose making a wild guess.
The road now following the river was now not has it should be, but the river was flowing and greenery along its banks, local people fishing from their boats, life revolving around this natural and needed feature. But in the wet season, the rains and overflowing water from the riverbank had previously washed away the road surface, in parts making very uncomfortable ridding for some distance with bumps and ruts. Houses and shops covered with dust from traffic traveling by, trucks coming towards us too now and again with horns blurting out with them not letting off speed, why I think have they no consideration for other road users, nor the people who live here, the more dust their throwing about at the kind of speeds they’re doing causing an unhealthy and certainty uncomfortable life for residents living along the roadside. But here we drunk water from a local shop the owners would not take any charge.







Pagodas standing proudly and elegant, well cared for by followers of the faith and donations, one after another has we climbed the now terraced winding road up along the hillside, looking down the very steep banks to our left down to the flowing river at the bottom, everything now was looking very fertile, it’s amazing what water can do to the environment, so different from the few kilometres behind us, talk about death and life, most of us would take water for granted, possibly not giving it a thought in our own countries, at home we could drink water out of the sink tap, “corporation wine” it was the nickname, they say that the water is as clean in Phnom Penh and can do the same, “anyone tried”.
The bike on its first proper outing was running very well, it also handling any situation put against with ease. Arriving at the top of the hill, the choice was to continue along the road bearing to the right onwards 15km and over Kizuna Bridge, or take a left over the Deum Sdao Bridge and take the ferry over the Mekong to Koh Pen, this option I took taking a ridding distance off the overall journey.

The ferry was returning from the opposite riverbank, a cool drink of water and it was time to board. Beware with taking this route the banks are very steep on both sides, going down the first is daunting to say the least, it may not look so on the photo, but please believe me, it is very steep, need of slowly going down using the brakes, if it was to be done wrong its built so, you should not run onto the ferry, but you would end up in the drink on that side of the river.







But not so on the other bank, here there is a direct path for the ferry. It was a little on the hot side crossing, but pleasant, the river nice and calm, off the ferry up the hill over the island of Koh Pen over the new road bridge then following the left bank into Kampong Cham on the riverside. I was pleased with this journey.

Here is the video of us setting off on the journey

You should have got a rack built on the back to put your bags much more comfortable ride and I'd say a little safer

AndyKK wrote: ↑Sat Mar 28, 2020 1:08 am Here is the video of us setting off on the journey

'video unavailable video private'

Thank you members for your feedback, all taken onboard.

atst - Quote - You should have got a rack built on the back to put your bags much more comfortable ride and I'd say a little safer

You know you are right, why I did not, I have no good answer, before I have had things like this made, once even a rack to carry the bike on the back of a car. Getting things built here is easy, built how you would like can be a challenge, finding the right people who can read a drawing and measurement's is the first hard steep. I have had many things done here over the years I have been in this country, and its not the easiest thing to do, it can be the simple fact people who don't think in the ways you do, if your very lucky to find a good person to do any type of work to your liking, keep the person in mind for other work later, this people are like gold.
I could tell you many stories on this subject. Once I ordered some pipe at 1 metre lengths, out of the 10 their was not one cut at this size, I asked them to do again, once again the same result.
Then there are things to learn that differ from our own countries, one example - I was pricing lengths of timber. The seller told me one length $10 so I told him I want to buy 10 lengths. $274 he said. Now, my maths are not that bad, 10x10=100 not so in this case because the 10 lengths = 1 Kip (Khmer measurement of just under 1m2) I didn't know at the time, and this is $274. I said I would take 9 now and come back tomorrow for 1 more. It got a little strange, he refused to sell, and was calling the police to have me removed from his shop.
I also opened one of those western bars that don't make money! It actually was not intended, but developed from me renting a property and improving it, once again keeping busy. I opened it up as a bar because so many people asked the question, eventful I needed some staff at times to help, bar is long gone but I still have one of the staff whom over time became my partner. But these days to be honest atst I like to keep my life, what! We may say more simplistic, also I have always liked to keep busy "mind and body" using the skills that I have gained in my own life.

Little safer you say - could not agree more with your statement. Here I have always carried the bags strapped over the tank. I have also tried to limit what is carried on the journey, you can read in one of the other trips previous. Again I am at fault. I have overlooked the idea and the fact of safety.



phuketrichard Quote - Spend some money and get a set of real panniers for either side of the back wheel.
That there is probably the answer. We will see "I have become a tight ass".

Good suggestion, Less writing , more pics - did not get many photos due to the darkness on the first part of the journey.

Many big wedding parties

Nice response to my suggestion, you're right I've just about given up getting anything done here ,it's to frustrating and when they fuck up they want you to pay them again to fix ,if you don't they get shitty.
Just ordering an ice coffee no milk , it arrives with milk you say I don't want milk, unless you're prepared pay for the coffee with milk and also another coffee without they get shitty and tell you to leave

i think you write well, i enjoy reading ur posts

write the same amount, just add more pics

what camera are u using?

fazur wrote: ↑Sat Mar 28, 2020 10:10 pm i think you write well, i enjoy reading ur posts

write the same amount, just add more pics

what camera are u using?

Regarding the camera I am actually mainly using smartphones. To tell you the truth I never had a smartphone until I bought one to bring to Cambodia with me, but that first one is well gone - Windows HTC X8 the tile floors and phones don't go well together here, also the model could not be repaired here. I replaced it with a Microsoft Lumia 640lte also adding to it due to liking the phones with windows with a Microsoft Lumia 950 I didn't know they would at sometime go out of service having now very little support. I then joined a few Cambodian Smartphone clubs,I also have one or two more (I will try to put the camera or phone used under the photo next time). Also on this trip I did use a real camera sometimes, I bought it second-hand here a Fujifilm FinePix S4000, I can sort of use it, I used to use a S1500 some years ago. Funny thing is I have had a camera packed in my bag for over 8 years I once treat myself but never learnt to use, I keep saying I will, 8+ years packed away, I popped in the battery and it worked, Olympus pen mini e-pm1.
I do like to get out at times and take photos, and its easy with the Smartphone, also a little less obvious then a Camera depending where you are, if you look at some of my threads there you will see street art around the big city.
Thanks for the input fazur.


Street art Phnom Penh Lumia 950


Street art Phnom Penh Sony Xperia zx

hopefully this works