Hi Everyone,
Greetings from the beautiful island of Taiwan. Just got my *new* 1994 MK3 up a couple of months ago. Awesome machine and have had some great rides but now she's down with an electrical meltdown that's got me pulling my hair out.
Thanks for all the great info out there and if anyone ever makes it out to this part of the world, please do PM me.

Cheers,
David

And here is a picture of her. Please let me know if it doesn't work for some reason. It's within FB, so might cause some problems!

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid ... =1&theater

OK this link should work better:

https://dl.dropbox.com/u/15168513/52234 ... 5956_n.jpg

looks well loved

whats the riding like over there? I'm not far from you!

cheers

mart

Just starting to scratch the surface as I've just gotten the bike. Lots of potential, few riders. There's a whole underground riding scene here, but I've yet to get to the popular trails. I've just been riding in the mountains in Yilan, and so far so good. Some serious jungle stuff and challenging hill climbs, slippery stuff requiring low gearing.
And Saikung? I almost moved there, bet there's some good rides as well? I used to work in Shenzhen.

David

sai kung is for the brave night riders as it would be totally illegal!

I have ridden some of the mountain bike trails at night there - bit scary at night alone - saw some bloody big snakes! and had 2 wild boar run across in front of me! and the monkeys arent too pleased to see u either! those trails are easier rides tho -

tend to do daytime now! there's a large chinese crew that goes out - but the trails are technical as hell - its more a case of ride 10 -15 mins recover 30 mins as its 35 degrees plus and seriously hard work! lots of steep rutted climbs... not many areas to go - just one big one a quarter of which is a shooting range for the PLA!!! ( this guy's channel pretty much covers all the rides here http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZAoFQ27Tr0o )

let me know how you get on - I wouldnt mind a weekend riding over there - its only 2 hours by plane - no idea about renting a decent set of wheels there tho!

Welcome David
Your mk3 looks great , you going to be buying an mx helmet ?

[quote="fishtail"]sai kung is for the brave night riders as it would be totally illegal!

I have ridden some of the mountain bike trails at night there - bit scary at night alone - saw some bloody big snakes! and had 2 wild boar run across in front of me! and the monkeys arent too pleased to see u either! those trails are easier rides tho -

tend to do daytime now! there's a large chinese crew that goes out - but the trails are technical as hell - its more a case of ride 10 -15 mins recover 30 mins as its 35 degrees plus and seriously hard work! lots of steep rutted climbs... not many areas to go - just one big one a quarter of which is a shooting range for the PLA!!! ( this guy's channel pretty much covers all the rides here http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZAoFQ27Tr0o )

let me know how you get on - I wouldnt mind a weekend riding over there - its only 2 hours by plane - no idea about renting a decent set of wheels there tho! :P[/quote]


Yeah I imagine there's not a lot of space to do much riding. I'm afraid of the spiders here. I know when I'm hiking I come across these webs strung across the trails with these HUGE spiders hanging in them, size with legs of a tea-saucer, just waiting for the unsuspecting biker...
I'll keep you about bikes and availability. I know a guy who has several, maybe he'd rent one for a weekend. We'd just have to coordinate a ride with him as he brings his bike to the trails in his van. I'll let you know, but may not be for a while, as my bike is still broken.

[quote="jompy"]Welcome David
Your mk3 looks great , you going to be buying an mx helmet ?[/quote]

Haha! Yeah, I like the flippable visor to let the steam out on the clear trails, then flip it down to keep the spiders out when I'm in the bush. Nah, actually was just waiting for my mx helmet to arrive from Hawaii via a visiting friend. I have it now, much better.

Hello Dave,

Considering Taiwan, HK or Thailand for my next job in August- currently in HCMC, Vietnam and finishing of a 4 year stint and riding a '95 Mk3 myself. A lot of local lads and expats ride out on the weekends here and we have a couple of tracks just been built. The CRM is well suited to the roads & rainy, slippery tracks and jungle trails of Asia but sometimes difficult to get bits for when they break down. Not sure if I can handle the cold weather there in Taiwan and you love a typhoon too, although the rides out could be awsome...

TaiwanCRM wrote:

jompy wrote:Welcome David
Your mk3 looks great , you going to be buying an mx helmet ?

Haha! Yeah, I like the flippable visor to let the steam out on the clear trails, then flip it down to keep the spiders out when I'm in the bush. Nah, actually was just waiting for my mx helmet to arrive from Hawaii via a visiting friend. I have it now, much better.

actually falloffthebike mike had a great suggestion- and I've starting doing it- and thats workman safety specs - keeps poo out of your eyes but not so sweaty as full on goggles...

NJ - where are the video's of vietnam?!!! wanna see some trail action mate!

I just bought a bullet cam - from groupon!

[quote="njhardy"]Hello Dave,

Considering Taiwan, HK or Thailand for my next job in August- currently in HCMC, Vietnam and finishing of a 4 year stint and riding a '95 Mk3 myself. A lot of local lads and expats ride out on the weekends here and we have a couple of tracks just been built. The CRM is well suited to the roads & rainy, slippery tracks and jungle trails of Asia but sometimes difficult to get bits for when they break down. Not sure if I can handle the cold weather there in Taiwan and you love a typhoon too, although the rides out could be awsome...[/quote]


What kind of work do you do? Taiwan has got a few months where it's too hot and humid, and a few months where it's too cold and damp, but in between it's actually quite nice (like right now). It's a long story how I ended up with this MK3, but I do like it. Wish parts were a bit easier to get, and it seems like Japan is a good source, though import taxes are quite high.
Taiwan's terrain is quite rugged and plants grow very fast, so often trails become overgrown due to lack of riders and maintenance. I've still yet to go see the main riding area, luckily it's not far from my house.

David

Head of Science here in the British School- got lots of choice where to work, just want to make the right decision when jobs start turning up. There is a nice school in Taiwan called Taipei European School that I was considering....but I have a few others up my sleeve too- the riding has to be a high priority though!

Head cam?? -Mate I have nearly ripped my head off so many times with low branches in the bamboo forests, that a cam is not a good idea. I smashed my goggles last week with a branch. Im too busy trying to stay on the bike!!

Don't talk to me about hot, sweaty & rainy- that's all Nam ever is!! Not good with a full set of armour on. Just been down my mates bike shop- would you know it x3 AR's have turned up!! Now I'm not the only CRM in the village... :-)

haha sounds familiar, the growth here is amazing! so you really have to ripp thru bushes in some places!! or maybe thats the bushes rip thru u?!

maybe u can try mounting on your chest plate?

here in HK there are just a few places to go - and they are mainly concentrated technical trails - getting out of first isnt really necessary for most of it,,,, so if riding is part of it - then here isnt perfect.. . but its not that there's no riding.. and the weather is worth a mention! dam hot from may until now.. sweat buckets!!! . its coolin down cant wait to get bike running again!

interested in taiwan and vietnam - so could see myself doing a few getaways if there was chance... actually I worked on a TV series that had a guy riding a bike from hk to australia,,.
some of Loas and burma looked interesting.. ie dirt roads and forest to explore..

2 other blokes have got CRM's and one just called me to say his bike is ready and wants to go riding this w/e! I've no bike.

but I'm not the only CRM in the village either

Keep in touch guys, and PM me if you make it out here. I'll know more about the trails when my bike is running again. Reg/Rec just arrived today! Hope this is it and she'll be running again for the weekend.

Taipei European school would be good, and there's always Taipei American School as well. Pretty urban area, but some nice mountain roads to ride, not sure about trails in that area though.

I checked out that You Tube video of HK riding. Looks technical and challenging, though seems like lots of guys like to ride-walk their bikes rather than standing up on the pegs?? Nice to hear that 2-stroke among the thumpers :)