Tiger Trails — Motorcycling into Myanmar (briefly)
The Triumph Tiger 800 is well referred to as an SUV on two wheels. Yes, it’s a heavy machine and will crush just about anything in its path. It will also leap from 0–60 in under 4 seconds, and packs plenty of power when you crack open the throttle, at any speed. Its hill climbing and overtaking punch is a thrill.
The downfall can be off the paved road for a rider without confidence. The bike can handle a fair bit, though admittedly I’ve blown out a front fork seal. They’ve been rebuilt and a slightly more viscous oil is now behind the front paws. The second you need to slow down to just above a light trot, the massive weight (210 kg wet) requires skill with balance and agility.
The good thing about Thailand’s less traveled dirt roads is there are many thousands of kilometres to be explored that any competent rider will manage. You do not need to be Chris Birch, thankfully, as there’s only one of them.
Recently I used the Tiger to climb some mountain tracks to reach the border with Myanmar. The twisty and sometimes narrow tracks were steep, and if wet would have not been possible without a full on motocross, enduro or dual sport machine.
At the summit the road weaved along the mountain top and ended at a village. Along the way, the path crossed back and forth into Myanmar. There were no checkpoints, fences, or signs. The border was completely open, and you could enter to/from Thailand into Myanmar freely. Yes, you’d have a long trek through heavily wooded areas, and down steep inclines.
This border stretches for over a thousand kilometres, and it’s no surprise Thai authorities cannot patrol it all. While Thailand initially kept Covid-19 at very low numbers, this became unsustainable, and infections amongst construction worker camps and factories (which largely employ migrant workers) are now surging.
A case in point is the Cal-Comp Electronics Factory in Phetchaburi province, about two hours from Bangkok in the direction of Myanmar. The factory employs about 10,000 workers, 6,600 from Myanmar, and was closed in May 2021 after almost 700 were found to be infected with Covid-19. The workers have been quarantined inside the factory compound while the owners have shut down production for 14 days (Bangkok Post).
Until vaccines are widely available, these outbreaks are likely to continue. While Europe, the USA, and Canada are on the mend with their vaccines, barely 1% of Thais have received the jab.
The pandemic has paused the Tiger’s hilltop adventures. In the meantime the temptation is there to trade for a lighter machine, something like the new Honda CRF300 Rally. The fact is, however, there’s a fair but of tarmac to cover, and in the cruise the Tiger purrs along sweetly. Since the machine can handle most of the rougher roads that one is likely to travel, it’s a keeper.
