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

[DanTheMan]

Bike update, got the gas tank replaced. Turns out it was leaking by the welds where it mounts to the frame. Also it was running a bit rich, so the guy i bought it from adjusted the carb a bit and it feels better. Ill know more tomorrow on the 150K i plan on riding. Rained all day today on my ride in from Cat Ba and probably going to rain for the next few days   Oh and figured out why the lights didn't work, there is a switch to turn them on, who knew.

Here is a shot of the ferry crew unloading the bike


And Halong Bay

 
Cave

[DanTheMan]

Just another weekend ride 
These were takes on H6 between Hanoi and Mai Chau, and Mai Chau and Son La.

The roads have pot holes and are cracking in some places, but when your doing all of 60 KPH (37mph) it doesn't really matter. Even at that speed i was still the fastest bike on the road. They just don't ride fast around there.







If i could have found one of these, i would have got this instead.

[Drunken Monkey]

If i could have found one of these, i would have got this instead.

Is that a Vietnamese equivalent of Gold Wing?

And I dunno Dan, the Minsk seems a better choice if you want the whole SE Asia experience 

[DanTheMan]

Here is some videop from my ride out of Sapa. This is one of the nicer roads ive been on so far. The majority have been about 50/50 dirt and crappy pavement.

SAPA to Lao Cai













Gas anyone?

[Raux]

You Crazy American. don't you know that the speed in Vietnam is slow and slower!

you were tearing them up!

that asshole car in front though kept crossing the center line. hate to be coming the other way on him.

[Duck-Stew]

Awesome Dan...  Just awesome!  Can't wait to hear the stories over a beer or three when you get back. 

[DanTheMan]

You Crazy American. don't you know that the speed in Vietnam is slow and slower!

you were tearing them up!

that asshole car in front though kept crossing the center line. hate to be coming the other way on him.

Thats all i could get out of that bike, and it was down hill too! Still don't think i broke 40mph.

Cars, trucks, buses, water buffalo, Hmong, trees, dogs, kids sitting in the street in your lane is par for the course. Ive come to expect it. But when your going slow, its plenty of time to react. I think i burned up my rear drum brake

[DanTheMan]

A Little driving lesson for those of you planning to visit Vietnam. View the picture below. This is your typical 6 lane highway.


You don't see 6 lanes? Sure you do count with me, The green and orange truck are in one lane and the Bus coming at you in your lane (2) Now there is the paved shoulder next to the faint dotted line (2) and then there is the dirt shoulder, where the bike is dodging the bus (2) and that makes 6. These lanes are bi-directional at any given time and can contain buses, trucks, scooters, bicycle, tractors, cows, goats, water buffalo, children, pigs, chickens, goats, ect. Happy riding!

[DanTheMan]

Bike Update

So the bike has been running like shit since, well ever since i bought it. Seems to be having air fuel issues. Have gone through three plugs in just over 1200 miles. All fouled from too much fuel. Well yesterdays plug check revealed too lean for the first time, with no adjustments made. Bike has been getting harder to start cold and today's ride it was hesitating and stumbling all the way. Changed the plug on the road and no help. Also backed off the oil mix a little bit from 5% to 4% and no help.

So first thing i decided was to check the fuel filter at the bottom of the petcock. Opened it up and it was filled with rust, dirt and probably paint chips. Looked like a cup of coffee with all the grinds at the bottom. Good news is we're on the path in the right direction, bad news, all of the threads inside the filter cover broke when i took it off. Tomorrows mission, find that part if i can. If not, im sure there is some way i can bypass the system with a "T" fitting and some extra fuel line with an inline fuel filter. Next up clean that carb! All i had tonight was some laundry detergent and the hotel sink to clean it up in. Ill take it with me on my parts search tomorrow to see if i can get a hold of some carb cleaner. Lets just hope the gaskets can be reused. But if i find the guy that has the fuel filter, he'll probably have the carb gaskets or the entire carb.

Sincerely
busted petcock in Hue







And a quick shot of Hue




 

[DanTheMan]

Well that was fairly easy fix. Walked across the street to the mechanic, he didnt have it but a moto taxi offered to take me to a couple of shops to find it for $2. After a few try's we found and replacement petcock. Less than 1/2 hour it was fixed. Motor seems back to its normal level of crap. Going to play with the carb some more and see if i cant get it tune in. Think im going to splurge and get new foam for my seat, $15

[Speeddog]

Like DP suggested, try burning the crap offa the silencer insert in that pipe.

[DanTheMan]

Like DP suggested, try burning the crap offa the silencer insert in that pipe.

It was a great idea, cleaned out about two pounds of carbon 2T oil build up. Sealed it back up best i could, still a small air leak between the header and the pipe and put a rag in the hole i made to pull it out. I was able to close the one between the header and the head.

Figured out why the bike was hard to start and possibly the hesitation problem. There was a wire on the generator loose, so the plug wasn't getting a spark.

Got to still play with the carb, its looking better but could play with the air screw and idle a bit to get it better.   

[ducpainter]

It was a great idea, cleaned out about two pounds of carbon 2T oil build up. Sealed it back up best i could, still a small air leak between the header and the pipe and put a rag in the hole i made to pull it out. I was able to close the one between the header and the head.

Figured out why the bike was hard to start and possibly the hesitation problem. There was a wire on the generator loose, so the plug wasn't getting a spark.

Got to still play with the carb, its looking better but could play with the air screw and idle a bit to get it better.   

Now back the pre-mix to about 32:1 (4oz/gal) and use real 2 smoker oil.

[DanTheMan]

Now back the pre-mix to about 32:1 (4oz/gal) and use real 2 smoker oil.

Id love to go to a 40:1 2Toil mix. But im going with the recommended from the shop. Any oil now days will be 10x than when the bike was designed. Im sure at some point i wont be able to find the oil and have to go with whats available.

[DanTheMan]

More pics. Making my way down the coast, the the Highway 1 is not much of a coastal road as California highway1. These shots are from the 17th Parallel, Hue, and Hoi An.

Imperial palace at Hue






Bridge spanning the 17th parallel with the reunification monument in the back.


Start of the Hai Van pass


Taking a break




fun little bike


Hand crafted in Hoi An