Wednesday 7 September 2011

Small but Mighty

On a trip to Thailand a few years ago I was amazed by the sheer number of small bikes and mopeds on the roads. It seemed that the entire population was whizzing about on two wheels.

You also came across quite a number of these small machines fitted with home-made sidecars which they then filled with quite staggering loads, mostly sacks of rice. You can get a lot of rice in a sidecar like the one shown above.

It was not uncommon to come across these heavily laden outfits wobbling down the highway at 5 mph with three or four people and a dog on board.

2 comments:

  1. Reminds me of stories a friend of mine has of being in Egypt in the late 70's. Lots of Jawas with sidecars full of whole families, and Aunts and Uncles driving very fast and precariously.
    Course he fit right in, his first bike was a Honda CT-90 with a sidecar that he'd drive as fast as it would go, usually loaded with all manner of stuff.

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  2. Used to see little HyoSung Suzukis in Korea with a rack on back stacked with trays of tofu, looked to be about 7' high by themselves.

    Also the same with eggs, cardboard or anything else that could be piled onto the wee bikes.

    This was in the cneter of a busy city with all the kamakazi drivers all vying for the same place on the roads....in front.

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