jamesbrock

No, most people are saying to make it as hard for them to steal as possible, but if it gets stolen, let it go. That's not the same as letting them steal it.

XXXX = beer, well it does around these parts come State of Origin times!

As a Victorian, I'll have to apologise for my northern mate - most Aussies wouldn't touch the vile stuff!

To be honest, the best way to get good beer in Australia is to get on a plane to New Zealand.

True. I'd much prefer a Monteith's Original Ale than any CUB product!

Does anyone have, or know someone who has, a 3G GPS tracker for their motorbike?

I have looked into them, but only found one that was small enough to conceal, could be hard-wired into the motorbike, and didn't require an external antenna. This was close to 11,000 baht. I'm sure there are others out there, but I never found one that seemed good.

http://www.bellissim...nkProducts.html

http://store.rlink.c...&product_id=253

Thanks Garry. Looks great, but at 15,000+ baht, plus 4000+ baht per year, I wouldn't go there unless I had a big bike.

Does anyone have, or know someone who has, a 3G GPS tracker for their motorbike?

I have looked into them, but only found one that was small enough to conceal, could be hard-wired into the motorbike, and didn't require an external antenna. This was close to 11,000 baht. I'm sure there are others out there, but I never found one that seemed good.

Lesson, some of this criminals who steal motorcycles and scooters in Thailand can walk to a motorcycle/scooter put on a helmet and appear to normally preparing for riding without anybody seeing something that will tip them off....

Okay if you're famous at an apartment building and you have a signal-green Honda Wave a security guard will remember that the guy sitting on the bike is not the guy who normally sits on it.

I have seen on security video's that a 'Asian' guy breaks/unlocks a Honda motorcycle with tool in the same time he uses to put on his helmet, with his left hand he unlocks the bike and with the right hand he puts on his helmet... After the helmet is secured he puts in his own lock with key and turn the bike on...

After that it's bye bye motorcycle/scooter... probably the Honda PCX150 is now converted to parts and sold in the shops in the area...

And these are the exact thieving little pr_cks that the disc alarm will foil.

Let me try to combine some facts (as we know them) some guess work and some assumptions and attempt some calculations.

I apologise in advance if I miss anything or assume incorrectly. Please feel free to correct or advise me if any of this guesswork is way off the mark.

Fact - There are 61,318 permanent Koh Samui residents (thank-you jamesbrock)

- Koh Samui Airport has 1,000,000 arrivals per annum

- Ferry arrivals maybe 365,000 per annum (Guessing- 1,000 arrivals per day over 365 days - probably more?)

- Total number of arrivals, 1,365,000

- Assume that Jan - May peak season period (5 months) represents around 55% of visitors for the total year

- Total is 750,750 divided by 5 months

- Approximately 150,000 arrivals per month January - May

Add: Add 150,000 (arrivals) and 61,318 (permanent residents, thank-you again jamesbrock)

Conclusion: In the January to May period there is an average of 211,318* people on the Island every day.

*This figure does not include illegal aliens, left-over hippies or Thais in hiding. So maybe we should double it? lol

Please suggest any variations or corrections as I am very keen to try to get an answer that is as accurate as possible.

Very interesting numbers there ysamui!

I still haven't found any official indication of how the DOPA arrive at their numbers, i.e. whether foreign nationals residing in Thailand are included at all, or if it's just registered Thai nationals. Obviously, the number of 90 day reports, and, therefore, registered addresses of a large number of foreign nationals, can easily be attained - but the question is: are they included?

Another question I have relates to the number of dwellings. How are they collated? It was suggested earlier that the number of dwellings simply equals the number of unique registered addresses - but how does this explain Ko Tao?

Interestingly, while looking for answers to these two questions, I found a new document from DOPA called "Glossary of official English names of Provinces, Districts and Positions in DOPA" (I found this after producing the table above, so two of the place makes therein are incorrect), it has a wealth of data that I'd never seen before including the date when each municipality was created or upgraded. In it, alongside Ko Samui's entry, in the column titled 'Thesaban Nakhon' (city), it has 'To be announced'... Not too many others of the 166 Thesaban Mueangs (town) had this notation.

Riding the push bike, exploring Samui and surrounding islands, taking photos, reading, sitting on the beach, spending quality time with my girlfriend; most of which I haven't been able to do for the last seven weeks as I've been recovering from a serious motorbike accident, so my TV post-count has tripled!

Family History. Fascinating subject, though you cannot do it all on-line. I have traced parts of my family back to the 1600's in Yorkshire. I have oodles of cousins in Oz.

Funny you should say that - I'm from Oz, and I recently traced my Yorkshire-born father's line back to the 1600's... I have oodles of cousins in the UK!

Get a big chain and find a pipe to lock it to. The disc lock no problem pick up bike and carry away to pickup. But ant kind of slow them down will probably send them to your friends bike next door.

Get a disc lock and a cable - best of both worlds.

dam_n you ysamui for reviving this thread! Because the low numbers were troubling me, I went back to the DOPA website - this time with my girlfriend beside me (and not trusting Google's oft-confusing translation). Thus, I, once again, and for fear of being labeled, and quite rightly so, an idiot, have to admit I was totally and completely wrong with my earlier posts. (I'm glad no one felt the inclination to verify my numbers, as I'd much prefer to admit my errors than have them pointed out to me.)

It turns out, that what Google translated to 'Muang Samui' is actually 'Amphoe Muang Surat Thani', and Ko Samui is actually way down on page 7 of DOPA's list, translated by Google into 'The City of London'.

This will teach me to rely on Google's translation!

Therefore, without any further ado, here is - whether you believe me or not! - the official population of Samui and Phangan districts:

212 views actually, as of this post, but, yes, it would appear no one is interested.

I personally think another bunch of disoriented drivers is the last thing Samui's roads need. They're busy and treacherous enough as they are.

If they really want your bike, they will take it regardless of what you do.

Now that that's out of the way... I have just bought a Xena disc alarm for my bike. This this is LOUD! I also bought the cable and adaptor (although the lock no longer fits onto the disc with the cable adaptor fitted - a warning for the few Suzuki Hayate owners out there). As many posters will say though (most without offering any alternative), these can be silenced; and with the above fact in mind , I feel it is a much better deterrent than having nothing. Somchai will certainly have the bejeezus scared out of him when he first sets it off (I know I did!), and, hopefully, make him look for an easier target.

You can use a Bangkok Bank CDM to deposit into other bank's accounts. I've done it twice now; once into a Kasikorn account, and once into an SCB account. There is a small fee though; don't recall what it was.

There was I really great website back in Oz, that listed the details of heaps of happy hours around Melbourne. They had a smartphone app, that would located close by happy hours based on your location. I've actually wondered if something like that would have legs here in Samui...

Edit: http://www.thehappiesthour.com/

Oh dear. I just typed 'farnag definition' into Google...

For me, it all comes down to situation and the greeting. There are situations when a nod of acknowledgement might be appropriate, which should go no further than that; but any uninvited exuberant greeting will immediately put me on the alert, lest said greeter tries to convert me to their religion or subjects me to some other meaningless drivel.

What are you riding at the moment? Is it comfortable? Or do you feel squashed up?

If you want a scooter, which are smaller and have a flat footplate, I'd most likely go for a Honda Click 125i, but a lot of people like the Yamaha Mio 125. I personally find these bikes too small. Think high 40's to low 50's for these.

If you want something a bit larger, you could get a stepthrough (which have a frame member between the lower seat and the front frame) such as the Yamaha Nouvo and the Suzuki Hayate. Both are 125 now, although you might be able to pick up a second hand Nouvo Elegance which was 135cc. The new Nouvo, and the Hayate go for low to mid 50's

If you wanted the king of the hill, your obvious choice is the Honda PCX 150. Not my style, but it's by far the most popular out there with farangs. You're looking at high 70's to low 80s.

Best advice is to ride a few, and get one that you feel the most comfortable on.

What's a 'Farnag'? Is that when the missus is talking to you from the other room?

While I'm here...

Because of this post in another thread, I went to Tropicana the other night. Unfortunately, I was brought up on the Australian bastardised pizza - one with masses of toppings - so was very underwhelmed by Tropicana's fare. Sure, they could probably be good if you like authentic Italian pizza, with minimal toppings (and too much cheese IMO), but I don't, so I can't give them a thumbs up.

My girlfriend had lasagne, which was edible, but by no means delicious. Won't be going back.

The best home made fish and chips like the Chip Shop is Sweeny Todds !!!, i hated every place i had fish and chips here in thailand, but sweeny todds use only the best fish, with real batter and home cut chips, complete with loads of Tartar Sauce ! ... everyone i know who has tried thier fish and chips has said it is the best !, ( its UK run, so they know the score ! )

Finally made it to Sweeney Todd's yesterday - was very tempted by the burger, and the bangers and mash, but have had the fish and chips on my mind for a month now... They are definitely the best fish and chips I've had on Samui. Beautifully golden (and not greasy) big piece of fish, decent serve of perfectly cooked hand cut chips, and a decent serve of delicious tartare sauce. Delicious.

I almost missed it as, for some reason, I'd pictured a larger establishment in my mind. To produce such good food - which is obviously popular - from such a modest little shop is fantastic. I'll definitely be going back.

I've always wondered with the Darleks, why didn't everybody just go upstairs when they came? Or outside..

Real Daleks don't climb stairs; they level the building.

The first number is your tyre's width; the second number is its aspect ratio - the height from the bottom of the tread to the rim (as a percentage of the width).

eg. the 100/90-14 is 100mm wide, and 90mm high. Add the rim (355mm) and you have a rolling diameter of 535mm.

The 100/80-14 is 100mm wide, and 80mm high. Add the rim (355mm) and you have a rolling diameter of 515mm.

This difference will affect ride height and speed (and odo) readings, as well as handling.

Edit: these Pirellis will fit on your bike.

I just bought a set of (different) Pirellis from this mob yesterday: http://www.competizioni-moto.com/ 1230 baht + 200 shipping for Bangkok to Samui.

bump your gums ( I assume thats not the planting of eucalyptus tress in too close a proximity to each other)???

XXXX = beer, well it does around these parts come State of Origin times!

As a Victorian, I'll have to apologise for my northern mate - most Aussies wouldn't touch the vile stuff!

When i purchased my Hyate got them regularly, i changed the wheels, got wider michelin, touch wood no punctures since, but the loss of pressure still happens. i changed for new IRC last week, put 38lbs in as i over inflate, in a week down to 19lbs, same as old tube. Dont like the PCX, after reading here new Yamaha with tubless is on its way. i travel to far late at night to risk it on the darkside. would be interested where the air goes, must be valves, not sure what else without a complete flat.

Apparantly the Hyate alloy is not tubelss or that would be simple answer, but so difficult to get info from so called sales people here.

I've just spent quite some time looking for tyres that will fit the Hayate, so I know why you changed the rims, and from what I've read the alloys come with tubes, but can take tubeless.

I finally found a set of Pirellis that will fit (although they're much narrower than the standard IRC's) that get some great reviews, but was pretty close to ditching the bike altogether and buying one with rims that accept more decent tyres! It didn't help that, at the same time, I also had a Xena disc alarm and cable & adapter sent from Bangkok - that didn't fit the disc with the cable adapter attached!

Can I ask where you got the rims changed, and how much it set you back?