RubberSideDown

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It's high for your home country, but not bad for LOS- that's the point- if you wanted to bring in your bike valued at 250K, it would cost you at least that much in taxes, tariffs, shipping, miscellaneous bs, etc, and that's if you could manage to get the proper paperwork to begin with (likely not), making the bike that costs 450K the better deal (and WAY WAY WAY less of a hassle). I paid about double for my bike over what it would have cost in the US, but there wasn't a cheaper option to have one that was fully legal and regsitered.

A new Z1000 is 600K here, not quite double, but certainly more than it costs in many other countries.

For example, Red Baron has a 2014 CBR1000RR for nearly 1 million Baht: http://www.redbaronbkk.com/products/item.php?id=150110-0000757

Can't you buy a new 2015 CBR1000RR from Big Wing for 650,000 Baht with a Honda dealer warranty and then get an ECU from the USA and have the same bike that way but for less money, brand new, and with dealer warranty?

RB is selling a limited edition SP model, not a standard model- it has Ohlins suspension, Brembo brakes, a blueprinted engine, etc- a standard full-power model would likely run ~750K-800K. As mentioned, there's more to upgraded a restricted model than simply changing the ECU.

I get the horsepower thing (I've got a ZX-14R), but on a track like Bira a literbike will be overkill. You should probably do a couple of rental track days to get a feel for it- I wouldn't risk a brand-new S1000RR on it. While Pattaya and Bangkok mostly suck for riding, there are nearby roads that make a fast streetbike worthwhile- if I were you, I'd buy the newest/latest/fastest for the street, and get something smaller to flog on the track. We're about the same size- a 600cc is small but workable for your frame (though I wouldn't want to do a 1000km day on one).

Someone asked which tracks you plan on riding- other than the new circuit in Buriram, there really aren't any where you can exploit the power of a literbike- if you plan to pull double-duty and ride on the street as well a 1000cc would be a good choice, but for a dedicated track bike you can find some decent 600cc bikes where you won't shed too many tears if they hit the deck. Motorcycles at ~1mil baht are kind of pricey (and oftentimes unnecessary) to risk on the track, even if your pockets are pretty deep- there are some good bikes on the used market that are ideal for the track.

I believe TV member yankee99 is looking to sell his CBR600RR.

Not all models are sold here- you can get a 200hp ZX-14R (not what you want for the track) through Kawasaki Thailand, but they don't sell the ZX-10R and it's only available through an importer. Honda Thailand only sells restricted CBR1000RR models. You can get a full-power GSXR1000R through Suzuki Thailand or (older model) R1 through Yamaha (no word when or if they'll carry the new model)- you already know about BMW, and Ducati Thailand is still selling the 1199 Panigale and has no immediate plan to sell the new 1299 (they told me maybe next year). A KTM RC8 would be an interesting option, as would an MV Agusta, but they're pricey and I wouldn't want to deal with the hassle of repairing a track get-off due to the limited dealer network.

Depending on the model you want, an importer might be your only option as the literbike market is pretty thin in LOS, and there's really no way to bring a bike in yourself.

All the bikes at Red Baron are imports from the US and are full power.

Try Red Baron. They've got a CBR1000RR SP that would be an awesome track bike.

http://www.redbaronbkk.com/products/?cat=10

The thing with using an phone is that it's really a somewhat lesser substitute in comparison to a standalone camera, a standalone tablet, and a standalone GPS- yes, it will do the job that's required, but not as well as a device dedicated to the single purpose. I have a smartphone like everybody else, but I find that the motorcycle-specific Garmin unit is superior to the point where it was a worthwhile purchase, and if I lost it I'd buy another one before using my phone for navigation. I stick it in the permanently-mounted handlebar cradle just about everyime I take a ride, and i don't find it inconvenient having another gadget, at least not in comparison to what I see as the benefit.

I completely see why you would go with your phone for GPS use and I'm sure it works well, but there are certainly advantages to a GPS-specific unit.

The charging cradle:

Clicked in and ready to go:

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I've got the 350 as well- I love that thing. I've still got to sit down with the Basecamp software and really work it out as far as route planning goes, but I think a motorcycle-specific GPS unit will always be the best choice in every category except price- it's weather-proof, shock-proof, glare-resistant, works with gloves, etc.

This is the answer I got from the best wrench I know, with his best guess as to what's causing the issue (I showed him your pics)- of course it couldl be something else, but it's difficult to diagnose without seeing it in person:

Here's the deal, you can dick those things up pretty easy.

How many clicks did it have when new? Somewhere around 14~17 clicks usually. Take the tops off the damping rods. The tops are the pieces with the 17mm or what ever hex in the picture. They have a jamb nut holding/locking them, this is where the problem is. turn the jamb nuts down a few turns to get them out of the way.Make sure the little push rods are in there and can be pushed up and down, that they are not bent or stuck.

Back the clickers out all they way, turn them in 14~17 clicks, what ever it was new and leave them there. With the clickers turned in what ever amount it should be, 14~17 clicks, turn them onto the damper rods until they seat lightly, this is compressing the push rod (which adjusts the compression) all the way until it stops. Then turn the jamb nut up and tighten it. Then, your adjusters will be within a click or two of each other.

Very easy to do, it's just hard to explain it to someone.

Not sure, but I'll ask someone who will know and get back to you if I get some helpful info.

So they're going to drop the price of the 821 Monster (compared to the 796) a bit in other markets, but will raise the price of the domestically-produced one by 10% in LOS? Maybe, but as I said I doubt it- Ducati does seem to have a strange pricing structure compared to the Japanese brands, though. Anythjng's possible, but I'm looking at it from a comparison of the current pricing they've been going with.

Going by US prices, the 796 was $11,695- the 821 red or white is $11,495 (the 'dark' is $10,995)- I bet it sells for the same 450K as the outgoing model- I'd be surprised if it's 500K.

Check out the US-10 and US-20 drypacks by Kriega- Panda Rider stocks them- I've got one of each- they're nice pieces of kit, and it's usually better to have something specifically made for a motorcycle.

http://www.pandarider.com/Panda/Product_Kriega.htm

Here's a review of them from Revzilla:

I assume that none of the big 4 produce a cruiser style bike, a bit like the old Phantom, which was an easy bike to ride slowly and apart from the complete lack of torque/power was good 2 up.

http://www.kawasaki.co.th/th/motorcycle_06_vulcan_S_abs.asp

You should read up on this bike, it's the only cruiser with adjustable seat, bars and pegs settings so could be set for virtually any size rider.

I would love to have a Kawa Vulcan again. I rode a Vulcan 900 Classic in the US and really miss it. I could by new, of the showroom floor, for US$10,000 including tax/title/license. The last time I looked, here it is closer to US$15 or 16,000 plus I think they ask for your left testicle as well.

It is a really great bike though.

David

The Thai prices are high but you get it returned when re-selling.

Cost of ownership should be close got that of back home, no?

Not so much the last couple of years- with new models being introduced and prices falling due to local production, used bike prices have been dropping quite a bit- guys that won't drop their asking price (often due to money owed on a financed bike) often still have their motorcycles six months after first advertising them.

Some models hold their value better than others, if course, but the more popular Thai-factory-produced bikes are 'cheap' on the used market.

Low-speed maneuvers can be more tricky with the extra weight, and a nervous, squirming passenger can be a problem, but other than allowing yourself a little extra stopping distance it's not a big deal.

I don't particularly like taking a passenger (and, like guzzi850m2, my wife won't ride since the birth of our daughter, which is fair enough) as it's a big responsibility and it's always on my mind while riding two-up, and it's usually tough finding proper gear for them. I've actually never had the rear seat cowl off my current bike, though I used to ride with a passenger all the time.

Well, that's not good news, Dave- while new trolls quickly arrive to take the place of departed ones, looney number-crunching free-thinkers like you are rarer birds.

I completely understand how you feel, though...

I've been looking at literbikes for a while now- the new S1KRR, R1, 1299 Panigale (yes, I know it's not a literbike)- i wouldn't get rid of my current bike for one, but it would be a cool second bike. I've got the addiction to power guzzi850m2 mentioned, and ~200hp is a lot of fun.

Does a missing swing arm bolt affect handling much?

A bit, but the weight savings cancels it out.

Damn- if I have an accident on my bike while riding drunk without a helmet and the other guy wants to fight about it, it's gonna cost me 30K- that seems pretty excessive. Is there a volume discount?

Please tell me that this thing in your Avatar isn't a 150 cc CBR Honda Moped? Please.

Would make a race with you riding on my wife's 110 cc Yamaha and bet a carton of Leo that you lose.

u

Good eye- yeah, it's a CBR150. It's been running pretty badly lately, but I just added gold-anodized wheels and an HRC sticker kit, which should increase horsepower by at least 50%. I'm not a Leo fan, though- maybe we could run for cash...?

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I play everything in random order (though I always start with 'Whole Lotta Rosie'- not for any particular reason other than its at the top of the list).