100 Kilometers and runnin' (ride report now in the Philippines)

A little back ground before i get started, I was at me job for the last 8.5 years and got tired of it and need a change. So i quite work, got a one way ticket to Hanoi(Vietnam), bought a motorcycle. Now the plan is to travel all through out SE Asia (Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos, Thailand) for the next few months on motorbike (that's what they call them over here) and share my pictures and stories. From there also visit Nepal, Australia, New Zealand, Japan. From there head back to the US and tour the US for a few months stopping by to meet as many DMF's as i can along the way (read: drink your beer sleep on your couch). Then come Fall head south, first Baja, then over to the mainland and continue south till i get tired, but at least get to Coast Rica before coming back. So well see how it all goes.

Why is this in Orange? Well a slight nod to tigre, and all posts and stories will be in orange so you can skip all the replies and thread jacks and go to the orange stuff for actual content and trip reports.

If you want the full blog you can view at www.100kilometersandrunnin.wordpress.com. This is my blog that ill be updating with more details, pics and vids on the entire trip but i thought id share the moto related stuff here.

So to start off...NEW BIKE

Picked this up today, its a Russian Minsk 125 2 stroke, and boy does it put out a smoke screen when on the gas. What i find most interesting so far is that it uses 20w-40 4 stroke oil in the gas, not the usual 2 stroke oil. That's what the shop told me to use and who am i to argue. After 100 Km's of riding today it runs alright. Not a lot of power or acceleration, but as long as it keeps running that's fine by me. The ride is a bit harsh and the frame as stiff as a wet noodle. When i turn the bars i can feel the front end flex before it decides to turn the bike. Once i got use to that it wobbles down the road quite nicely. Torque feels OK down low, but it doesn't seem to want to produce much power when you try to rev it out, which is odd for a 2 stroke. Very different engine feel compared to my old dirt bike(96 CR125R). But this bike was designed back in the 40's. Oh well, so far it seems alright except for the gas tank leaking. Going to bring it back to the shop when i get back to Ha Noi on Friday and have them take care of it. Here is the bike all loaded up for its maiden voayge. 100 Kilometers from Hanoi to Hai Phong. Off to catch a ferry tomorrow to Cat Ba island for a few days of exploring.

Some fun Vids i made yo see what im up against

Driving in Taxi in Hanoi
Driving in Hanoi

Crossing the street
Crossing the street in Hanoi

DTM