CrazyCarl
05-13-2007, 04:17 AM
Just thought I'd introduce myself. My name is Carl Parker and I just happened to stumble upon this fine web-site as I was fumbling around the internet.
I used to own a 98 Suzuki Bandit 1200S which I rode around the US and Canada. Man, what a good time that was.
I currently live, work and ride in SW China (Sichuan province) and am happy to see a group of devoted Chinese motorcycle riders in the US. I think this list could definitely expand to not just the riders of these bikes in the US/Canada but also in other parts of the world...like China!
We face many of the same problems, except that in China parts and labor are cheap and almost literally around every corner. That aside, life on these little bikes is a totally different experience than on the larger, better designed and built Japanese or European counterparts.
Please don't underestimate these bikes in any way and don't let anyone give you shit for riding them either. I know from personal experience that these bikes can make it through the rivers of Tibet and some of the largest deserts in the world. Fully loaded, they can haul your ass up 5000m (16404ft) passes and work full throttle all day in a -400ft desert basin. Is the maintenance high? Sure is! Can it get you there? Sure can! Will it be easy? Sure won't!
Each year I've been in China I've taken major trips across most of Western China. The last two from 05 and 06 were the longest, in 06 covering over 8300kms in one month on a 150 (Jialing JH-150gy2).
I'm making a mini series out of the past two years riding experiences in China on two different Chinese bikes. I have a teaser of the video called "The Return" which you can find at:
http://www.youtube.com/CrazyCarlVideos
Also, I have a pretty extensive photo gallery if you want to check out Chinese motorcycles in some extremely remote, dangerous and probably never before photographed parts of the world. Not only that but you can see how and where your Chinese counterparts use their rides.
http://ImageEvent.com/comradecarl/moto
Most of the planets population ride bikes like you guys ride, not huge 1200Gs's. The world's riding community is generally pretty poor and very cool. Many of them you could meet on the road and end up sharing a brew or two. If you're already familiar with riding Chinese bikes and have the itch to travel and adventure more you can even come to China, buy a motorcycle, travel all over the place, sell it, then go home for a fraction of the cost of joining a tour! I know people who have done this and even made it into SE Asia.
The limitations of machines are NOT the limitations of our minds.
Saddle Up,
CrazyCarl
I used to own a 98 Suzuki Bandit 1200S which I rode around the US and Canada. Man, what a good time that was.
I currently live, work and ride in SW China (Sichuan province) and am happy to see a group of devoted Chinese motorcycle riders in the US. I think this list could definitely expand to not just the riders of these bikes in the US/Canada but also in other parts of the world...like China!
We face many of the same problems, except that in China parts and labor are cheap and almost literally around every corner. That aside, life on these little bikes is a totally different experience than on the larger, better designed and built Japanese or European counterparts.
Please don't underestimate these bikes in any way and don't let anyone give you shit for riding them either. I know from personal experience that these bikes can make it through the rivers of Tibet and some of the largest deserts in the world. Fully loaded, they can haul your ass up 5000m (16404ft) passes and work full throttle all day in a -400ft desert basin. Is the maintenance high? Sure is! Can it get you there? Sure can! Will it be easy? Sure won't!
Each year I've been in China I've taken major trips across most of Western China. The last two from 05 and 06 were the longest, in 06 covering over 8300kms in one month on a 150 (Jialing JH-150gy2).
I'm making a mini series out of the past two years riding experiences in China on two different Chinese bikes. I have a teaser of the video called "The Return" which you can find at:
http://www.youtube.com/CrazyCarlVideos
Also, I have a pretty extensive photo gallery if you want to check out Chinese motorcycles in some extremely remote, dangerous and probably never before photographed parts of the world. Not only that but you can see how and where your Chinese counterparts use their rides.
http://ImageEvent.com/comradecarl/moto
Most of the planets population ride bikes like you guys ride, not huge 1200Gs's. The world's riding community is generally pretty poor and very cool. Many of them you could meet on the road and end up sharing a brew or two. If you're already familiar with riding Chinese bikes and have the itch to travel and adventure more you can even come to China, buy a motorcycle, travel all over the place, sell it, then go home for a fraction of the cost of joining a tour! I know people who have done this and even made it into SE Asia.
The limitations of machines are NOT the limitations of our minds.
Saddle Up,
CrazyCarl