ktm jeff

Lammy TS1.      Scomadi need to get all these small details sorted out, such as English manuals , if they are not to alienate potential buyers.  The best scooter available in Thailand - for 95% of people - is the Yamaha Grand Filano , at 52,000.   B U T  there are a growing band of people , such as yourself , who are willing to pay more for an authentic , but new , looking scooters such as the Scomadi.  Bit like people buying a Harley , they may not be "the best" but they are what they are , origional and different.  The 125 engine , like many , seems to be basees on the Suzuki GS 125.  An old tech 2 valve,  carbed , air cooled but very strong engine.  The 200 will be a much better bike for the new 180cc Aprilia engine.

Everyones different. Do your own risk assesment taking speed , family , insurance and risk acceptence into account. Id rather "over protect" , and leak sweat , rather than blood.

Price difference seems to be alloy or spoked wheels , zoom in to the orange one.  Its crazy that a company will "invest" millions into a product ( a good one at that ) , many people will attempt to make contact to further enquire or purchase and yet Martins story seems far too common. Many Thai / Chinese / Asian companies seem to fall at this last point.

TUbliss is a good option , but some tire sidewalls ( some makes of tires are less of a problem than others ) dont seem to "seal" against the inner sidewall of the rim , resulting in air loss. Are those rims steel or alloy.

If the "professional" testers at Motorcyclist magazine rate the single cylinder 27 bhp Honda over multi cylinder 42 / 45 bhp bikes , then thats one mag id stay well away from. Complete BS. Honda bikes arent too impressive nowadays , but this CB / CRF / CBR range is a diaster. Its had a bad reputation from day 1 and will be very hard to sell when you realise , and wish to upgrade. All companies have accountants , but the penny pinching has gone way too far at Honda . The Z3 / Ninja is good , R3 is sporty , Benelli TNT and the Tornado is fast and flash and the KTM is simply mad. Today there is simply no need to buy a Honda while so many other , far better bikes are available , that werent just a few years ago.

Well thats good news , and quick too. Did they tell you what components they replaced , or give any "running - in" advice . Does the engine / bike warrenty start again.

I think / hope revgreen was calling my assumption that Honda would replace the faulty engine insane , rather than me !. At this stage , maybe they wont. Lets see what happens in the next 6 months. I stand by my concern with the engine being "rebuilt" in a Thai garage , rather than a factory. Even though that factory isnt in Japan. If metal alloy fragments have been ground off the crank / crankcase they will have contaminated everything that is touched by the same oil. That is the entire engine and gearbox.  The oil filter wont have filtered all the oil , as isnt part of a "full flow" system . revgreen , the engine dousnt just "die".  The rider might though. When a engine siezes , it locks up the engine , gearbox , rear wheel. Pitches you off quick , even with the clutch covered. Just ask one of the several 500cc 2-stroke GP   bikes in my garage in England. Evil things !.Built back in the day when Honda could build engines. I do hope this problem is sorted without any incidents / accidents ( i would not risk riding the bike  ) but cant help feel these bikes have further tarnished Hondas reputation.

C C .  Love it when people really know how to take care of their machines.

16 hours ago, ClutchClark said:

 

Clutch wonders what do the Boy Scouts do with the old gasoline ?

Keep the camp fires burning ?.

Excessve noise has closed down more bike tracks / enduro courses than even the venomus Ramblers assiciation.  And it just annoys road users whose tolerance for bikes  then turns to dislike.  Maybe its a sexual thing.

Sorry for the late reply hougourou .  There are over 20,000 of these  CB Hondas with engines that need replacing. The crank is grinding itself to pieces , and that could lead to the engine siezing up solid , locking the gearbox and the  rear wheel , pitching you off the bike.  Thats not acceptable. With each bike taking 1 week to have a crank slapped in - by who and under what conditions i dread to consider - it will take an extra 100 fitters / mechanics  nearly 4.5 years to do them.  Or 500 fitters , nearly 1 year.  Bikes too dangerous to be ridden in the meantime. What are you meant to ride , a hire bike , at whose expense. As Rhys ponders , the engine will never be the same. No one will consider buying it off you. BIG financial hit.   Your voice alone is quiet.  If you get groups together , say Phuket , Bangkok , Chiang Mai , and arrange some publicity about  this matter , involving the TV news crews and reporters from local papers , then you will get heard. A fighting fund could be collected to seek and pay for legal advice. Better as large groups than on your own.  Maximise the negative publicity. I wouldnt even want a new engine , as these bikes reputations - and Hondas - have been severly tarnished. These bikes are new , and dangerously faulty. "Not fit for pourpose" is your legal claim.  FULL refund. Dont back down.  And good luck.

When the do-gooders whine about the claimed 20,000 dogs per year are imported to VN / China for food .  Always make me wonder how many un-cared for , dangerous , on the loose dogs there are in Thailand . The numbers seem to be rising. Never tried goulash. Maybe this dish needs some promotion !.  Glad OP had a helmet , its what theyre for.

If bike / car parking space is limited at your condo , could you get away with one of those folding bike covers , that hinge over the bike like a pram hood. You park into the front half , then fold over the rear half. They are made of fabric , so could also get damaged by other bikes.  Failing that , buy a good quality breathable / heatproof cover but dont pull it all the way down the bike to the ground , leaving good airflow underneath. 

It has just been announced that Ford will buy back its cars - Fiesta and Focus - with the gearbox fault , as they are not "Fit for purpose".  Now lets see if Honda has the decency to honor its waranty. Demonstrations outside dealers , and  wider publicity in the press may be the answer.

Now if only Honda would honour its warrenty , by replacing all their faulty motorbikes.

Then you need the shape altered , or a wider seat.

A custom seat is the way to go.  Like a tailor made suit , the fabricator will adapt it to you and your riding style / use.  great if he  offers a trial fit to test , before final cover. Could cost 3,000 Baht.

Garage   555 !  Nice one.    Some covers , the better ones , are heat proof around the exhaust area - assuming the cover lines up with your bike.  Never cover a wet bike / car. Better to leave out untill its dried out fully. Difficult if it keeps raining !. Can you build a lean-to shelter / cover roof. Will help shield from the sunlight too.

The Kawasaki KLX is  lighter than the CRF , with better adjustable susspension , and a stronger engine. It would be my choice. Take each trip as it comes and dont try to do too much in one go. The seats on any bike will give you a numb bum at first. For a "real" two seater , id go for a Kawasaki Verys 650. Much beter than the CB and one of the most popular touring bikes in Thailand. Theres good reason for this. Wont cost much for two days and the mrs will thank you for it .

On 18 September 2016 at 2:00 AM, edwinchester said:

Yeah, KTM did new buyers a favour by dropping the price so much but absolutely shafted those who bought when it was overpriced.

Thats why people should wait , before buying an off-road KTM for , circa ,  500,000 Baht.  Wait untill the import tax situation has been sorted out.  Or buy an SWM / Husqvarna.

55 / 60W is for the bigger bikes and cars. Mine was for an road legal 250cc off-road bike.  LED ( CREE type ) lamps are available in SOME places , just not the 35W versions - yet ?.  You were overcharged  at that shop - "dont sweat the small stuff" . Ive found Thais most helpfull 99% of the time ,  if i appreciate its my job to explaine things carefully.

I try to deal with locals ( Chiang Mai ) whenever possible , keeping the money local , to be sure they understand exactly what i want , using my limited Thai , hand jestures and diagrams / sketches. Im not a fan of Honda but there is a 100% superb Honda / general bike accsesory / equipment / helmet shop attached to a Honda workshop on the right hand side of Kaew Nawarat road , heading 1 KM East from Nakorn Ping Bridge. I do my own car / bike work but this shop has done work for a friend in the past , to an excellent price and standard.  I bought the 35 / 35W version of your Philips bulb ( same box ) fronm the Honda  shop in January for 200 - 250 Baht. Doesnt help with your rip-off situation , but will point locals in the right dirrection.

If im not 100% sure - as in this case - id play safe , RE my first post.

Dilligad , i dont have a link. I dont know if this is written in law , just advisable. Are you saying even if it was law , everyone would obey it ?  555.   guzzi , riding carefully / sober , i get where your coming from. Can be fully "legal" , but reckless.

There is a trade agreement with India , looking at the prices of the small KTM,s produced there. I dont believe its as good as the agreement with China though.