Gsxrnz

I hope that's his Mum in the photo.

Not doubting what anybody is saying about getting 120k plus kilometres out of their tyres. But the best I've got is 70k on Bridgestones on my Vigo. Back in Farangland on a multitude of vehicles and tyre brands the best I got was about the same, 70k. To be fair, V8's tended to last a little less than that - no doubt due to my driving style.

So.....what conditions are you guys driving in to get that sort of life from your tyres? I mean, are you driving 20% on dirt roads, or is bitumen more prevalent in the area you live or something like that?

EDIT: And i mean true distance after allowing for speedometer error. Typically speedos read over by 7-10%.

One of the best places i've come across for bike repairs, tyres, accessories etc is the place on Soi Buakhow not far from Pattaya Tai - maybe 500 mtrs. https://www.google.co.nz/maps/@12.9280089,100.8841953,3a,75y,302.99h,80.18t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1s6hJQCKnFRj7cDw5p0sGqrA!2e0!7i13312!8i6656!6m1!1e1

The place is run by an Arab chap that speaks excellent English and Thai. They've done some hard to diagnose repairs for me in the past and have a huge range of quality accessories especially for Honda.

I can highy recommend them.

EDIT: I just looked at the google street image and it's 4 years old. Since then the shop has doubled in size and now also occupies two shops across the soi as well.

From experience, they are about the only place in Pattaya that knows how to properly adjust a steering stem bearing and get it right first time.

I bought my pcx in this shop 3 years ago.

The Boss is an Arab Jew actually quite sympathetic.

But:

The maintenance services are generally poor and twice the price of other shops.

Accessories are also twice as expensive than elsewhere.

The staff is brusque and no one speaks English except the Boss

Before recommending this kind of tourist trap, perhaps you should visit other places. So, you certainly will know a moment of blissful happiness.

I've been to all sorts of places over the years and my experience is obviously different to yours as regards the place I recommended. I guess each to their own.

Tried most of the big Honda dealers around and apart from changing oil theyre good for sweet FA.

The OP is looking for accessories - I think you'll find that the range of accessories this guy stocks are of a generally higher quality than you'll find at most places so i guess more expensive. But up to him to check it out.

As to the big place on the corner of Tai - just make sure they tighten the bolts on your brake caliper the next time they change the pads.

One of the best places i've come across for bike repairs, tyres, accessories etc is the place on Soi Buakhow not far from Pattaya Tai - maybe 500 mtrs. https://www.google.co.nz/maps/@12.9280089,100.8841953,3a,75y,302.99h,80.18t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1s6hJQCKnFRj7cDw5p0sGqrA!2e0!7i13312!8i6656!6m1!1e1

The place is run by an Arab chap that speaks excellent English and Thai. They've done some hard to diagnose repairs for me in the past and have a huge range of quality accessories especially for Honda.

I can highy recommend them.

EDIT: I just looked at the google street image and it's 4 years old. Since then the shop has doubled in size and now also occupies two shops across the soi as well.

From experience, they are about the only place in Pattaya that knows how to properly adjust a steering stem bearing and get it right first time.

I've just checked my copy of the Thailand Electrical Code (both pages) and it would appear that the swimming pool light wiring as shown in the picture is fully in compliance and conforms to acceptable practice.

I do wish he'd stop rearranging the deckchairs whilst playing his fiddle.

These guys at the top of the totem pole who have been given the job of carrying out this ridiculous task of flushing out their corrupt underlings must be shitting themselves.

Can you imagine the behind closed door discussions and negotiations that occur before these lists are produced or officers are transferred? Everybody has the goods on everybody else up and down the chain so there will be payoffs and agreements over who is going to have to fall on their swords, who will be allowed to be left alone etc.

And all this will be for immediate payments, future payments, past payments and promises being honoured, future payments and promises to be claimed upon.

It must be a nightmare for them to keep track of the allegiances, promises, family and feudal associations. It must be especially tough for those at the top as they have the most to lose - so you can bet they're very careful about whose toes get trodden on, or don't get trodden on......for the appropriate fee of course.

And then of course when somebody pisses in the wrong sandpit (such as the unfortunate former head of the DSI), they get done over big time.

I see they dodged the "Suckers" gogo bar for the photo opportunity this time.

Paa Naa Mai = Sanitary napkin.

Easy one to remember.

Tampons are easier still because like some forum members they are stuck up ..............

Thanks for that - yeah I've since learned the word but don't expect to be able to use it too often.

Re the tampons, I've never once come across a Thai girl that uses them. Closest was a gogo girl that appeared to have the string hanging down her leg but on pointing it out to her it turns out to just be a long oversow thread from her rather alluring white lingerie outfit.

Cost me a drink though.

But the PLUS with my game is a bird continually tops up my beer and puts her hand in the pocket to retrieve my balls,,

Surprising similarities once again.

My caddy puts her hand in my trouser pocket to retrieve my balls when i've got a beer in one hand and a cigarette and golf club in the other.

She also applies sunscreen to my face, arms and legs so I don't get greasy hands, and gives me a shoulder massage before I tee off and a sympathy hug when I go OB.

And then she cleans my shoes and balls afterwards.

Accommodating girls these Thai caddies.

Hmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm, our vehicle stuff is our stuff..........NOT a bird's stuff......

Not a golfer then Trans?

Nooooooooo, snooker is more my thing....Same but different...

Not so different really. I can use 22 balls in a round of golf.

Yes, at virtually every entry gate from the drop-off area.

Hmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm, our vehicle stuff is our stuff..........NOT a bird's stuff......

Not a golfer then Trans?

You really left your missus to have tires changed on a truck?

I had a choice of an unexpected invitation for a round of golf, or change the tyres (for which a booking had been made).

Turning down a round of golf is a bit like turning down sex, it's one you can never get back again, doesn't matter how long you live.

And somehow I doubt I'll be quoted on my death bed as saying "I wish I'd spent more time changing my tyres".

So yeah, golf over changing the freaking tyres and leave the wife to cock it up - you betcha!

nice story, thanks for sharing with us.

as for your vigo's tyres, at least you ended up half good. unlike popular belief one should always have the best tyres on the rear, no matter if front wheel drive or rear wheel drive.

the rear wheels are most likely to brake out in extreme situations. and while things just go 'straight' when your front wheels loose traction just about anything can happen when the 'rears' let go.

as for your girl's red week fanny rags... they never use the same from start to finish. you just have to pay attention or pinch one of each for future reference.

cheers

Re the tyres - assuming all the tyres have good tread, I always put the newest on the front to balance out the wear over the tyres lifetime. Doing it the way i do it means the tyres last overall longer. The fronts will always wear out faster than the rear, so rotating them means their lifetime is longer.

But as i say, the tread must be good at all four corners for safety.

Some time ago I packed the missus off to get two new tyres for my Vigo. The rears needed replacing.

I gave her instructions to have the front wheels rotated to the rear opposite sides, fit the two new tyres on the front, and have the best of the old rear tyres fitted as the spare because the spare was an odd brand and the old rear tyres were the same brand with a bit better tread.

I went through a huge pantomine of point and shoot so she understood. She even took notes. It seemed a simple task, but yeah I'm guilty of not going myself because it was my golf day.

Anyway, she returns. I should have known better. No rotation had occurred, the two new tyres were on the rear, and the spare hadn't been changed. The two old casings were in the deck.

I went off my face a bit, and her explanation was that she told "the man" what to do and went shopping while the work was done. On her return she paid the bill and drove home, assuming all was good.

I told her it was pretty <deleted> obvious it was all wrong and now I'll have to get it fixed myself. It was a bit of a drama and she wasn't happy about my attitude.

Weeks later I was at Tesco and she calls me up. "Honey, are you still at Tesco? Oh good, my time of month here and i not have pads - you get some for me please?" And she then goes into an explanation of which aisle to go to and what the packet looks like and the brand blah blah.

I thought maybe I should take some photos and send to her to double check I was on the right track. Check the phone, it turns on briefly and then dies - totally dead battery.

How hard can it be to buy sanitary napkins?

As it turns out, more difficult than it seems. I found the right section and I had a vague idea of what the packaging looked like, but man it was all very confusing and as I can't read Thai, they all looked the same.

Bright idea - ask one of the numerous girls that work in Tesco. I did this and the girl hands me a small packet which looked familiar, so I took two and off home.

Upon arrival I present the packets to my wife who throws one at me with a string of abuse. Apparently I'd purchased two small packs of hand tissues - the brand that she does carry around in her bag which explains why they looked familiar. I explained that I'd asked the sales girl but didn't know the Thai words for sanitary napkins, so I used the word tissues instead and explained time of month - something got lost in translation.

She then she does the "it's pretty <deleted> obvious" payback line at me and does a parody of me slinging off at her over the tyres.

Then she laughs and high fives her cousin who was also there. I'd been set up. It was the cousin's idea (yeah right). I suspect she'd been dreaming up a way to pay me back for weeks.

To make it worse, they both take photos and put the whole thing on their facebook pages.

Two lessons learned. Get your own tyres changed and NEVER admit to being in Tesco.

Anybody got any similar stories of errands gone astray or payback from your Thai S.O?

My standard reply to the question is ten million baht. Irrespective of the item in question being a pair of shoes, a golf club, or a car.

They get an answer, they respect that you responded, and understand that they won't get a real answer.

Just don't use it when it's raining if you want to avoid electrocution from the adjacent wires.

The shooting range in question has an advertising hoarding that shows two kids who appear to be about 8 years old brandishing a rifle and an automatic pistol.

I'm sure the safety rules in place are more than adequate.

But, but but.........The Commander doesn't clarify who the offender is when he says "The victim and the suspect will be fairly treated..."

They'll probably prosecute the driver for offering a bribe and bringing the reputation of the RTP into disrepute, and promote the traffic cop for uncovering this corrupy and nefarious truck driver.

Funny things happen in Thailand - the BIB can easily spin this out so the "victim" is the copper and the "suspect" is the truckie.

Nuh, I'd never check.

If its got to that stage then the relationship is doomed anyway.

My missus knows that if I even have the remotest suspicion that she is being emotionally (or otherwise) unfaithful, she's out on her ear with the clothes she's wearing and FA else.

Call me old fashioned, but on my planet, it's my way or the highway.

Chronic masturbation

With the above answer, could you possibly clarify which question you were answering?

The questions were "what will kill you in Thailand" or "how do you survive day to day".

I treat like with like.

I shoulder barge Chinese in crowds and step on their toes when they push in.

I clip Indian's elbows with my bike mirrors if they walk in the road.

I talk louder than the Amurcans sitting at the far side of the restaurant.

I tell bigger lies than the Aussies.

I pretend I'm Bulgarian when I hear a Geordie, a Glaswegian, or a Mick in the bar.

I totally ignore the Russians unless I gesture that I want to have a free cigarette off one of them.

I always ask the Dutch and Norwegians if they're from Germany, and ask the French if they're from Italy and the Italians vice versa.

I smile at the Thais.

Anybody I haven't offended, just let me know.

I was at a bar party. Somebody who nobody knew strolls in, orders a bottle of water with a glass of ice. Helps himself to a mountain of food and melts the ice with a bit of water from the bottle while he's eating.

Goes back for mountainous seconds of the food, drinks the little bit of water, eats the remaining ice, pays the 20B bin (no tip), goes to the toilet and nicks the loo paper (as we discovered later), collects his 3/4 full bottle of water, returns to the food table and grabs a handful of chicken wings/legs and puts them in a plastic bag from his pocket. Gets on his dilapidated scooter and buggers off.

This guy was more than like a Cheeky Charlie.

OK, the water and the food I can live with, but it was me that discovered the loo paper was nicked, and it was when I needed it most!!!

No bumgun then?

Well yeah there was a bum gun which I used, but I'm not a huge fan of drip drying - it keeps one away from ones beer too long.

So.........would you define that as stealing?

And there's probably not much she can do from the UK unless she has internet banking. Even then it's probably a slim chance she can do an international transfer.

However - I'm sure she has someone in Thailand that can access the money, assuming it ain't been spent yet.