motorbikes

[Cowtown Comedy]

I'm not new to LOS or HH, but I am new to scooters. In my motherland I rode large engine sport bikes, and never felt uncomfortable even at high speeds. Now however, I own a little automatic scooter, I am sure weighing less than 100kg and it frightens the crap out of me. I had it to 100km/hour, far too fast for the small wheels, and light brakes. Max speed for me is 40...helmet laws..how about speed restrictors??

[nevets]

Its best to get your self a Honda Phantom 200 cc ,or some thing like that as these small bikes are not to steady ,my wife's wave scares the crap out of me.

[buksida]

I'm not sure the problem is with the bike - I'm sure they're engineered to handle the speed (sonics, airblades, raiders etc - waves are a bit dodgy on the handling). Its the conditions of the roads and the other selfish idiots on it that are the dangerous things!

Speed never killed anyone, its the stopping that hurts!

[Ellinas2008]

I'm not sure the problem is with the bike - I'm sure they're engineered to handle the speed (sonics, airblades, raiders etc - waves are a bite flakey). Its the conditions of the roads and the other selfish idiots on it that are the dangerous things!

Speed never killed anyone, its the stopping that hurts!

I agree completely with the above. My first and only motorbike in Thailand has been a simple Honda wave. Great bike, never had any accidents with it and I drive it daily everywhere. Obviously if you drive it too fast it starts to vibrate but a Honda wave is not a racing bike.
Just a little hint for safety, when you drive try to predict the behavior of other careless drivers.

[Hobiecat]

I own a little automatic scooter, I had it to 100km/hour, far too fast for the small wheels, and light brakes. Max speed for me is 40...helmet laws..how about speed restrictors??

I to have had lot's of big bike fun, on road and off. Have had a blast riding the little Honda Wave around town providing you don't go "to" fast.

I borrowed a friends new Fino scooter last month and will have to admit it felt a little funny sitting on a bike with my legs closed like I'm wearing a skirt. Felt like I didn't quiet have the same command over of the beast.

Jumped back on the Wave and it was like I was on my 750cc back home.

I think there's omething to be said about felling something between your legs.

[sandman67]

Mrs S rents out Yam Mios and owns a Fino....between the two I prefer the Fino as its lazy engine and soft suspension suits the roads (and brainless drivers) here. Good brakes too. Perfect for tootling round town and pretty robust little buggers.

Customs are fun and fine but the bigger ones can be a pain in slow traffic, which we have a lot of, and getting around the narrower sois if they have had any crappy Thai standard chopping done.....which usually means they have made the front heavier without changing the springs or oil in the forks,,,my mates ride a couple of bikes I wont get on....way too dodgy chopping/shagged gearing/leaky modded tanks......the list goes on.

Smaller Shadows and Phantoms/Steeds are ok.

Ive seen a couple of beaut classics in town...a few BSAs and one lovely Italian drop bar cafe racer job.....envy them to bits....

Racebike wise...not on these roads with Thai drivers/random road hazards like pigs, chickens and dogs/potholes and sunken manhole covers/unmarked speedbumps/etc....I like breathing/walking too much

[doggie]

coming out to hh next month

gonna buy a small bike for me and the mrs think honda wave sounds good

is price level around 50.000-60.000 bht and believe u can get

both insurance and papers done by the dealer right ........

[STEVE G]

Certainly when I bought one a couple of years a go you could walk into Honda on Pethakasem road with cash and leave with a Wave in about 30 minutes or so. They handle registration and insurance or you can get that from somewhere else if you wish.
It takes a few weeks to get the plates, but everyone just rides them without for that period.
If something has changed I’m sure someone will tell you soon.

[sandman67]

is price level around 50.000-60.000 bht and believe u can get

Id say thats well expensive mate....maybe thats a "farang" price.

A new Fino costs 44 to 46K....a Mio comes in at about 36 to 38. Even new pricing here seems subject to a degree of bargaining.

Last time we bought a Mio it came with a free 28" flatscreen TV...usually its free lids and umbrellas/jackets/shirts.....

its a matter of preference but I hate the dumb heel and toe shifts on the semi autos. Fully Auto or Geared is the only way for me.

[doggie]

tks for price levels

just make sure guess easier to get papers and insurance in

wife s name or !!!!!! right !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[crazy88]

Ellinas2008 wrote

"when you drive try to predict the behavior of other careless drivers."

Solid advice but IMO you have more chance of predicting the winning lottery numbers here .Assume your own vehicle is totally invisible to everyone else on the road and drive accordingly .Helps .



Crazy 88

[buksida]

I'd love to have a humvee here and watch all those idiots in over powered 3 litre pickup sleds with no handling get out of my way!

Back to bikes though I've had a CBR150 for a couple of months now and while it was a pleasure to ride around Bangsaphan Hua Hin is just a nightmare. The trouble is that it is faster than your smaller bikes and scooters but other drivers treat it the same and pull out on you regardless of your speed. They simply cant judge speed (or don't care) as they haven't been taught to drive by professionals.

You find yourself anchoring on the brakes a lot more!

[STEVE G]

I've just found this price list for motorbikes in Thailand:http://www.motorcycle.in.th/staticpages ... n-Thailand

[STEVE G]

And having just read it, I’m not sure I’d want to be caught riding something called a Tiger Rocket Boy!

[crazy88]

Buksida wrote

"They simply cant judge speed"

Great at judging gaps and reverse parking also aren't they ?

Crazy 88