WingNut

Did you buy it directly from Real or buy it online? Looks like Real has their own store in Ramkhamhaeng: https://maps.app.goo.gl/Mf3DMZfVpqDRMJ9x9 I could probably try one on and get a new helmet there and then have them change the sizing insert on my existing one at the same time.

I'm thinking now that one option is I buy myself a new Real helmet that is Snell or ECER22-05 rated and then take the one I have now and change the insert to an M size from XL. Then women with smaller heads can wear my existing helmet for the occasional outing. So maybe I get myself a new Real helmet for around 3,000 Baht and changing the insert in my existing helmet from XL to M would probably be less than 1,000 Baht.

Yes, looks like good value: https://s.lazada.co.th/s.oub6a

My Real helmet I bought two years ago that I'm using now is ECE R22-05 rated, which is the European rating standard. Should be nearly equal to Snell in terms of safety and possibly a bit better too than a DOT rating.

Thanks, I'll have a look. I think I tried some on before for myself years ago, but couldn't find a good, comfortable fit. I assume they have since improved.

I've had Shoei helmets. Yes, they cost a lot in Thailand (like your Bell). But in the states many models are $200. Same price as some of the high quality local brands in Thailand. So I don't think you need to spend that much in Thailand to get a high quality helmet.

Yes, Index generally aren't well regarded. Real are probably the most expensive and trusted of all the Thai brands. I think they are a sponsor at the Buriram Race Circuit too. Their helmets average between 2,000-2,500 Baht for their top models. Mine was about 3,000 I think because it was a special race edition.

Thank you. Do you think there are any products made by STP or Liqui Moly available in Thailand that I can add to the fuel tank to dry out and remove any water from the fuel system? I would feel a bit nervous spraying propane gas around or into the intake myself. I think there are 4 of the rubber intake boots though on my bike. So if the mechanics were to find an air leak at the intake and all 4 rubber boots need replacing, would this generally be a difficult and/or expensive job?

Thanks. Spark plug was my initial thought too. Could be that I guess, but seems too simple. I would have to have all 4 changed I guess. I wouldn't be able to DIY that though.

Thanks. I already ran a couple of bottles of fuel injector cleaner through the tank. Didn't seem to make any difference. How would water get in the fuel tank though? An air leak would be in one of the hoses? Normally one connected to where?

Thank you. That sounds like a good starting point. I can also ask them in the shop which size sells the most to women. Probably medium would be OK as you said.

I know it's about safety, but I can't get a helmet that will fit correct for various different head sizes. So I just hit to try and get something sort of standard.

I thought Real are deemed to be pretty decent. I got one of their more expensive models that was designed for a race.

Thanks. I think I want a bit better protection than that. I don't think they will fuss about wearing a full face helmet for the occasional ride.

I've got a CB650 that's over 10 years old, but it's only got about 4000 km on the clock and still looks practically brand new. So it's obvious I hardly ride it. I know, that's not good for a bike, but I just don't have the opportunity to ride it more often. It is what it is. Anyway, I started having a recent issue with the idle in a way. It just started happening the last few times I drove it. I realize it can be many different things as the cause, but I'm just trying to get a rough idea of what might be involved in repairing it. I'll end up taking it into Big Wing I assume, but trying to get a rough idea in advance if this is going to be an expensive repair or not. A friend who knows a bit about bike repairs told me the challenge can also be that some Service Centers might end up fixing a few different things, without really knowing what's the exact cause, and then you're spending a lot of money possibly repairing things that don't need to be repaired, before (hopefully) finally getting to the root of the problem. Basically, when I first start the bike cold, the idle RPMs jump around (up and down) a lot, not normal. Sometimes it also stalls while it's warming up. Once it's warmed up a bit then the idol becomes a bit more stable and steady, but often when I'm driving in the low rev range of around 2500 to 4000 there's hardly any power when I first hit the throttle. I might even get on the throttle hard at those low RPMs and the bike doesn't respond for a couple seconds, but then suddenly lunges/jerks forward very hard. It's not fun. Ever since I got the bike, since it was new in fact, I always felt there was some small dead zones in the lower rev range when I would hit the throttle hard. But I always thought this was normal because I was trying to give it too much power at very low revs. So maybe the problem has always been there to some degree and I was just thinking it was normal. I don't know though. Any thoughts on what might be the cause though would be much much appreciated. If the ECU would show some error codes I guess that might also help the mechanics to diagnose the problem.

Thank you, I'll probably just go for a local brand because it may not get used very often. The other issue is that it may not be the same person using it all the time. So it's difficult to buy one sized specifically to someone's head. But the fit won't be that critical, even it's not a perfect fit it should be OK as it would just be for the occasional use and for relatively short rides. That's why I was asking for sort of a standard size for women. I use Real helmets for myself and usually take a large or an extra large sized insert for myself, depending on the model. I don't have a particularly large head though, so I think the sizes just run a little small in Thailand on the local brands. Any shops located within the Bangkok city center, or just outside would be fine.

I want to buy a reasonably priced full face helmet as a spare that would fit the average sized woman's head. It probably won't get used very often, just occasionally when I want to take someone for a ride. If you can recommend any reasonably priced helmets and sizes, it would be much appreciated. Any possible links to helmets on Lazada would be useful too. Thank you.

Thank you for the additional replies. All is clear now.

Thank you. You used to be able to pay 1,000 Baht I think and get it on the day. But 7-10 days is fine. I just reentered the country recently and my 90 day report still isn't due for a while. Not sure I can file one so early, can I? Do you mean that the 90 day report simply needs to be up to date or do you need to do an extra one just to apply for a resident certificate? Also, I went into the online queuing system. I don't see an option for booking an online queue for residency certificate. Following are the only online queuing options I see offered for CW: 1. Alien Registration 2. Business VISA Extension 3. Endorsement of Re-entry permit/Non-Quota Immigrant Visa 4. Extension Visa for Retirement 5. Extension visa for Teachers and Students in Public Educational Institutions 6. Extension visa for Thailand Elite Members, Teachers and Students in Private Educational Institutions 7. Extension Visa For Visit spouse/Thai Children or In case of Thai husband/Thai wife 8. Notification of residence when staying in the Kingdom over 90 days 9. Re-entry Permit 10. Resident Permit 11. Tourist VISA (TR) Extension 12. VISA Issuing and Changing Type of Visa

I am wondering what is the current procedure please for obtaining a residency certificate at CW immigration for purposes of renewing your driving license? During Covid you had to go to that temporary office they had set up in Muang Thong Thani to get one, but that's been stopped I think, so I assume it's back to the main CW immigration office now to get one? Is there a long queue when you go to get one? Can you book an online queue number for this to save time? How long does it take to receive the document? Thank you.

I forgot to mention that Google Maps estimates that this route will take anywhere from around 1 hour and 45 minutes up to about 2 hours and 20 minutes, depending on traffic and the time of day. I hope to be able to make it to the Bang Na Trad / Sukhumvit Road intersection in Bangkok in no more than 2 hours when leaving Pattaya at around sunrise.

I believe I can get onto 7 (the Motorway) at Laem Chabang and stay on that for about 6.5 kilometers and then exit left at the sign in the attached screenshot (from Google Maps). This exit is right before the Nongkham Interchange and that exit will put me onto the 3611 frontage road for a short distance and then it looks like I’ll be on 3702 after hooking to the left underneath the interchange. It seems the Motorway toll booth is about 1.5 to 2 kilometers from there if you were to stay on the Motorway. So as long as you get off 7 right there you will be fine. If anyone wants to plot this route using Google Maps you just need to tell Google Maps you are driving by car (not by motorcycle), but want a route with no tolls (you can set it to no tolls in the Google Maps app settings). Then it should plot this same route for you from any starting point in Pattaya and with any destination point in Bangkok.

Thanks. Understood. I think I can skip the 36 leg for my intended journey. At this point (unless I find out that I can’t take either 7 or 3611 from Laem Chabang to 3702) I think I’m going to take 3 and enter either 7 or 3611 at Laem Chabang, then onto 3702 and then on from there back to Bangkok. At that time of the early morning it should take about 2 hours to reach the Bang Na Trad / Sukhumvit Road (Bangkok) intersection I’m hoping.

That is great information. Thank you very much. Yes, I plan to leave at sunrise to avoid as much traffic as possible. So what you wrote confirms that I can no longer get onto the 7 Motorway at North Pattaya and then get to the bypass without hitting the toll first. I am not familiar with 36 but, from looking at the map, 36 looks like a road that runs from Rayong and intersects with 3 (The Sukhumvit Highway) at about 2 kilometers north of North Pattaya and then ends there. I don’t see where 36 would connect with 3701/3702 on the map. From what it shows on the maps though is that if you get onto 7 at Laem Chabang that there is no toll booth before you reach 3702. So I am just curious why you feel taking 7 from Laem Chabang to 3702 won’t work? Also, as I zoom closer in on the map of that area, it shows a frontage road with route number 3611 also starting from Laem Chabang (and running adjacent to 7) which then leads into 3702 too. So if 7 from Laem Chabang isn’t possible by motorcycle then I think the 3611 frontage road next to 7 should be able to connect to 3702?

Thank you for that. The route I am suggesting on that link I posted above has you turn from the Sukhumvit Highway at Laem Chabang onto Route 7 for just a very short distance. But it looks like you then switch to 3702 before the toll booth. Route 3072 is the motorway frontage road which is fine for motorcycles it seems. It looks like it then turns into 1073 for a short distance, then into 361 for another short distance, then 34, and then finally the Bang Na Trad potholed ground level road that you mentioned. Although this route sounds like many different roads, it looks like more or less just a straight line on the map with a few quick interchanges. Otherwise, if you take 3 to 34, it looks like a lot of local roads and a longer distance that could add almost another hour to the travel time, depending on traffic lights and traffic. What I’m still trying to figure out is if the way I used to travel by motorcycle from Pattaya to Bangkok can still be done. It was very quick. All highway roads. The route I took was that I got onto 7 by North Pattaya, stayed on that for a while, and then turned off and onto the Chonburi bypass road right before the Motorway toll booth. Then the bypass road took you right to the Bang Na Trad road. What I fear is that they may have moved the toll both closer to Pattaya now, which would prevent you from being able to reach the Chonburi bypass road from 7. This would then render my old route impossible, but I can’t seem to figure out for sure if it’s still possible or not. If I could still take this old route then it could save at least 30 minutes. I actually see lots of motorcycles getting onto 7 by North Pattaya at present (despite there being a no motorcycles permitted sign there at the entrance), but they might only be traveling a very short distance and getting off before the toll booth and/or getting off before where the bypass road connects to 7.