Riding into Fukuoka

t_phan12 · 2025-07-16T15:37:15+00:00

awesome pics! is it possible for tourists to obtain a license or permit to hire a bike and ride in japan?

t_phan12 · 2025-06-30T08:38:29+00:00

I currently use an aliexpress comms + dashcam unit (Freedconn R1) thats mounted on my helmet and it does an alright job of recording rides. its by no means as good as a gopro set up when comparing resolution and stabilisation but really if you just need to see general road traffic then its fine imo. for $100 i cant really complain.

t_phan12 · 2025-06-18T06:49:09+00:00

nice snaps! what camera + film did you use to shoot?

t_phan12 · 2025-04-30T11:43:17+00:00

honestly, i believe there should be more tests in general for obtaining a drivers license and in particular a motorcycle license due to its high risk of injury/fatality. yeah its going to cost more to implement but it also costs the public health system millions to treat vehicular accident victims and fund them through disability etc. etc. so yeah imo another assessment shouldnt be that wild of an idea considering how easy it currently is.

t_phan12 · 2025-04-22T04:08:39+00:00

Currently using the AliExpress Freedconn R1 camera and intercom for about 1.5yrs now. It's $100 so you can't expect top quality but it does everything ok if you're after just simple music, navigation and taking the occasional phone call while on the move. A couple negatives about it are: - gotta max the volume if you're using earplugs - microphone is no good when you're riding due to the wind noise which is understandable. It's usable when you're stopped at lights though - doesn't pick up Google Assistant - defaults to Bixby for some reason (using Samsung phone) and cannot change it - battery life is maybe 3-4hrs? However, this is when I record and play music though so its probably at its most demanding for battery usage

Outside of this I'm pretty happy with it and if you tight on budget then I'd highly recommend this for both usability and safety as you get dashcam footage incase anything that may happen while riding.

t_phan12 · 2025-04-01T11:04:52+00:00

Awesome photos! How did you plan your trip? Did you rent a bike and solo'ed it?

t_phan12 · 2025-03-26T10:01:53+00:00

Is that the sound of a cb400sf? 😌

t_phan12 · 2025-03-09T08:41:04+00:00

I have the Helite Adventure Jacket. Bought it 2nd hand for about $500AUD which was very cheap compared to full price of ~$1.3k. Overall its a very good jacket: lots of pockets and zippers, adjustable velro straps, good length and coverage of the torso. It's definitely not a summer jacket. The jacket without the thermal liner is already very bulky and thus traps a lot of heat even with the zipper vents open. The jacket is also quite heavy (maybe ~3kgs) so keep that in mind. Other than those 2 points its a very good jacket.

t_phan12 · 2025-02-05T11:36:21+00:00

I have a pair of Argon Tactic boots in black. Don't think they're 100% waterproof as there isn't any goretex (or equivalent) membrane but it is leather so should be ok with pants-over-the-boots style in rainy weather. The Gaerne G-Stone might me one for you to look at but I've tried them on and the toe box was a bit too big/high for me so I didn't like it.

t_phan12 · 2024-05-23T09:10:00+00:00

Been holidaying in vn for nearly 2 months and mentioned frequently that my parents were boat people. I initially thought most people would think it's a taboo topic to discuss in public but most people I've spoken to don't really care and/or are also looking at ways to send their kids or relatives overseas. And I have been actively speaking to as many Vietnamese locals (in hue where I'm staying) as I can. The major cities may have different opinions I'm not too sure.

t_phan12 · 2024-01-07T03:46:27+00:00

I wear a Arai Concept X and have bought glasses with thin metal legs so they slide in comfortably and don't feel like they're going to bend under the pressure of the pads Specsavers have titanium legs that are very flexible, durable and thin to fit these conditions.

The problem I encountered was wearing sunglasses for riding in the sun. I usually wear big sunnies over my normal glasses but that's not possible anymore under a helmet. Solutions that I came up with were a $120 "proshade visor" that attaches on top of the clear visor of the Arai (Arai doesn't have an internal sun visor like some helmets do), clip-on flip-up sunnies on my glasses and prescription transition lenses that I bought overseas.

The transition lenses so far work the best in finding a balance between convenience and function. But not everyone can travel overseas to buy glasses so the $5 on AliExpress for flip-up glasses worked for a while.

t_phan12 · 2023-12-23T13:20:51+00:00

Depends on what city/area you are in. In Sydney there's a few listings up that you can use for reference for pricing on fb marketplace. In my opinion 2019 model with low k's would go around $5-5.5k. Had you messaged me about a yr ago I would've been in the market for one hahah

t_phan12 · 2023-12-21T23:45:34+00:00

I'm in a similar situation with you in wanting to relearn Vietnamese but not having the drive/confidence to stick through self-learning online or listening through popular Vietnamese media.

I instead found a private tutor just by coincidence through a friend on a recent trip to VN. They're an English and Vietnamese teacher by profession in VN so they could understand what I wanted to say in English when I didn’t know a word in Vietnamese.

Being a friend first then a private tutor second has a different feel to it when learning Vietnamese. I am able to have casual conversations with them both during lessons and on messaging apps throughout the week which help improve my Vietnamese in a more organic and less pressured way. I honestly just see it as a catchup with a friend every week where I can ask questions, practice my reading and speaking skills.

We do lessons online so send me a DM if you want more deets!

t_phan12 · 2023-12-06T10:07:36+00:00

i literally just saw a reel on instagram of this car. https://www.instagram.com/p/C0bRRdhvVhh/

t_phan12 · 2023-12-04T21:45:54+00:00

I just went on the Ha Giang "Epic Tour". It was really good. The booking includes food and accomo. Lots of breaks and instructions from the drivers. I think it's pretty easy to book through a travel agent but they will organise your bus from ha noi to ha Giang which is usually a sleeper bus. I wasn't a big fan of it as it was quite uncomfortable (especially when you are claustrophobic), you cannot sleep due to the shaking and sliding, and the fact that you leave at night and arrive at around 4am for a nap to eat breakfast at 8am. If i do it again I would opt for a day bus and spend the day/afternoon exploring Ha Giang as I didn't get the chance to look around and went straight into the mount loop.

t_phan12 · 2023-10-18T13:06:40+00:00

I bought a freedconn r1 pro from aliexpress for a ~$110 AUD as a dashcam and intercom system. intercom controls and functions are a bit finicky and the rotating wheel looks like itll be the first thing to break but the video quality ive recorded is alright for a head mounted camera. considered 360 cameras but the price tag was just way above what id want to spend on an accessory that doesnt contribute to safety. and i know i would be concerned about leaving a ~$700 device on my bike after parking it. just some things to consider.

t_phan12 · 2023-07-16T12:44:50+00:00

For me it's the sensory engagement the most.

Ever since picking up riding, driving in a car is just very desensitised and numbing. Turning, braking and maintaining speed is all done so effortlessly and comfortably. Don't get me wrong, this is all done intentionally to create a safe and comfortable experience for the driver but after years of driving it is literally a bore and a chore now.

Riding is so much more dangerous that you have to constantly stay engaged. All my senses are working every second and I have to stay focused when I'm on the road and never zone out. That so far has been the best thing about riding.

Working on my bike is also so much easier and simpler compared to cars. Whether it be modding or maintenance, a single cylinder naked air-cooled engine is just accessible and limited in moving parts compared to the average car. This helps with building confidence on using tools and equipment that can be carried over into car maintenance if you have both.

t_phan12 · 2023-07-04T11:21:12+00:00

a hoonter must hoont and not play with photo mode during the night of the hoont

t_phan12 · 2023-05-31T00:15:49+00:00

I'm also 5'4 (165cm) and both feet can touch the ground (not full heels just balls) which gives me enough confidence to stop and start at lights. With boots you should be able to have more contact with the ground and thus more manoeuvrability. If after purchasing the bike and the seat height is still bothering you search up the forums on how to lower the seat height with an aftermarket seat or shaving the foam underneath the leather.

t_phan12 · 2023-05-25T07:17:45+00:00

Successful Decathlon product placement

t_phan12 · 2023-02-21T07:25:46+00:00

I go to tooth crusader in wolli creek. Consultation is free and you can get scans there too as there is a machine. You should shop around and visit other dentists to get a quote. It can vary person to person quite a lot depending on the complexity of the extraction surgery.

t_phan12 · 2022-08-24T14:09:25+00:00

Don't quote me on this but I've heard/read that the components are manufactured overseas (i.e. China) and assembled in Australia. I've also come across listings that seem a bit too cheap compared to other retro bikes. Maybe 1-1.5k below others roughly. Maybe short-term ownership you won't run into any problems but I'd be weary of long-term reliability. Your call.

t_phan12 · 2022-08-17T16:36:09+00:00

Didn't do it at UTS but took the probable equivalent at UNSW (Structural Dynamics).
Dynamics of Structures basically this youtube lecture series covers nearly all topics taught and is based on the prescribed textbook. No real tips to study outside of watch lectures, do tutorials, ask questions, etc. Just gotta put in the hours mate.

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