Little Lady and Big Bikes

© Travelers' Net
-text and pictures by Joe Josef

Hello bike-lovers!

My name is Noi. I was born 20 years ago in Isaan, the poor rice-paddy region. Since I left my family for the beautiful and plentiful island of Phuket, my life has changed in many ways. The most important - I have discovered my love for big bikes
.

In Isaan I had never seen a chopper before. Only the young men's small sport-bikes and the worker's Hondas with the self-made side-cars.

In Patong my life is very different. A lot of my long-nosed friends have big choppers. And I just love those heavy bikes. Bigger is better, I say.

Let me introduce you to some of my favorites!

 Steed of Steel

On this picture I am sitting on the bike of my boss. It is a Honda Steed, a very popular machine among bikers of Patong. This bike is called White Horse and has a portrait of an Indian chief painted on the tank. I am told that the "Knight on the White Horse" is a popular expression among Europeans. Well - my knight doesn't have to ride a white horse. But it certainly helps if he has got a big bike!

        The Racer

Sitting on top of one of these street racers always gives me a little jitter in my belly. On a bike like this Honda CBR the pillion rider sits way up high, almost onto the back of the rider. Which is a very practical position on this kind of machine. It takes an experienced rider to handle all those horsepowers. If you are not used to this kind of power, you better take it easy at first.

The Harley

Most bikers agree there is nothing like the Harley Davidson. From the pillion riders point of view I have to agree. The Harley sure is a comfortable bike. And no other has that deep sound. The Harley I am sitting on here, belongs to a seafood restaurant in Patong.

As you can see, the bike is actually parked in the middle of the restaurant. And please forgive me for sitting with my legs apart on the bike while wearing a miniskirt. Normally Thai-ladies sit sideways on the pillion. That is the way dignity wants it. For the sake of this picture I agreed to sit the way foreigners do… though I find the position reveals a little too much of me.

Kawa's Vulcan

Finally I would like to introduce you to my favorite bike. The Kawasaki Vulcan de lux is quite a newcomer. Very much a replica of the Harley, it still has a class of its own. My biker-friends tell me that it is a real craft of art, a wonder of power and precision.

By the way, this bike belongs to Patong's Big Bike Shop and Allan told me to say you can buy it for 340.000 Baht. For the next batch prices will rise as high as 500.000 Baht, so it is a bargain, as this bike has done less than a thousand kilometers.

So here I am on top of my favorite bike. The only thing I need is a biker like you to take a good grip at the handle and get going. See you on Phuket!