The big day has come at last. The day I am going to have my own motorcycle. I rang my aunt to find out about the best day and time to buy a motorcycle. She said the monk told her that I could buy it any day but it has to be convenient for me, nothing else going on. He also said that it will be better for me to buy it in the morning not in the afternoon or evening. I was kind of curious about that but I was too lazy to bother about it. I thanked my aunt and then hung up the phone.
They next morning I said a short prayer to the spirit house in our front garden and then I went to buy the motorcycle with my dad. We were at the motorcycle shop at about 10 o’clock. The motorcycle I wanted is called “Wave 110”. It is a popular one, lots of people use it. It’s popular because it has a good price, not too expensive and not too cheap. Also you can do lots of things with it. You can make it more powerful, make it look more cool, make the sound louder etc. Also, this is the one most people use to race at night time! I have gone to watch them race a few times, it was real fun. But it wasn’t fun when the police came. We had to run away quickly. If they caught us, we would have to sit down in the police station until sunrise.
My dad checked the bike and he went out to ride it for a while. He came back and said it was OK, no problem or anything wrong. We paid the money to them and they gave me a free helmet and jacket. My dad went back to work while I went to fill up the petrol. Before he left he told me to make sure I put on the helmet. I asked him why I have to wear it, none of the police in Paknam are strict. He stared at me and said “Just wear it and don’t even think like that. One day you will know”.
The first time I stepped near my bike, I felt strange, very strange and very excited. Now my dream has come true. I got on my bike and rode it to the petrol station. When I rode it, I felt like I was flying in the air and the whole world is mine. I was really really really happy. Since I got my bike, it has been easier and more comfortable for everything. I use it to go to the post office, use it to pick up some girls, use it to ride around etc.
Oh yes, can you remember I said that the police are not strict about helmets around my city? Well, guess what happened to me the other day? I got stopped by a policeman by the market while I was taking one of my girls to her friend‘s house. He fined me 200 baht for not wearing a helmet. Now I have learned my lesson after I lost my 200 baht. Well, maybe not yet. Keep reading.
Nearly a month has now passed and lots of things have been going on since I bought the motorcycle. I was thinking that maybe I should change the name of this story to “The Monk was Right”. So far I have been stopped by policemen twice for not wearing a helmet. Also two of my friends borrowed my motorcycle and had an accident. Actually, two accidents in one week from two different friends. Then yesterday I hit a car while I was taking my girlfriend home. No-one was hurt but my motorcycle is a mess. I have taken it to the garage to be fixed. I hope it will be finished in time for Songkran because I want to go out on my bike with my girls. If I don’t have a motorcycle, I won’t be happy for sure.
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This is the uncut version of Panrit’s article that first appeared in his Gor’s World column in the Bangkok Post when he was 16 years old. We will be posting his full versions every Sunday for him while he is still in prison. Read more about Gor at his website www.ThailandLife.com.
Hey dude!
Better wear that helmet. I’m from Europe, the Netherlands, and when I’m going to Thailand I always bring a Schuberth full face helmet along. Great one, integrated flip up sun-visor, you can put the chinguard up and wear it like an open face helmet. Great fun at the checkpoints, I’ve seen policeman almost break their neck when they saw the helmet. In Kanchanaburi, my favorite hangout they call me Robocop.
BUT: I’m a biker for 29 years now, raced national competition for a while, and never rode without a helmet, and didn’t regret it for a second. I got a little helmet and leather bike suit graveyard in my barn, if you look at them you KNOW I would have been dead or in a wheelchair if I wasn’t wearing them.
My late! sis was like you, not wearing a helmet. One accident was enough… And she only rode a 50 cc moped…
Saw the same thing on the highway once, stopped next to an accident, 2 girls on a bike, and one had heavy brain damage, still alive but brain fluid all over the pavement. If you crash big time, your brain will swell, but there’s no room in your skull, so the fluids are pressed out. No fun…
So, the guy at the shop wasn’t talking about fines, but probably about your life. Remember, hitting an hard object with 30 km/h is deadly, your head wil open like a watermellon.
Be wise, and wear protection. The jacket is not only meant to protect your skin from the sun, but also from the tarmac. You don’t want uncaring nurses scrubbing gravel out of your wounds, while doctors give you meaningless advice like to trade in that murdercycle for a camry.
I know, it’s not cool, but sitting in a wheelchair covered in scars isn’t cool either.
Have fun biking though, biggest fun you can have with your clothes on
Not like that Swedish dude in Pattaya, he rented a Yamaha R1, opened the throttle, dropped the clutch and wheelied into a building.
Your story sure did stir some good memories for me, I remember my first moped, the flying experiance you mentioned, tuning it, and then making the step to bigger bikes when I was 18. Owned more then 25. My biggest was a Suzuki Hayabusa 1300 CC. Did 300+ km/h, but handled like a train. I prefer a Honda CBR900R. If you ever get the opportunity, try to ride a multi-cylinder big bike, but be careful with your right hand
Spend the rest of his holliday in the hospital
Greetz and have fun, and remember, they are out there to kill you (cars/trucks/busses)
Dirk
Please be careful. Really knowing how to drive or ride a motorcycle means much more than just making it move. With experience you learn to anticipate what other drivers are going to do, and act defensively to avoid a collision. It takes much time and practice to develop this ability, which is why so many new drivers and riders have accidents. Good luck.