richard_smith237

You have issues fella... getting so bent out of shape imagining imaginary people telling other imaginary people we wear hi-vis jackets... Now.. are you referring to me, or the hi-vis wearing tossers ???.... 'cos its difficult to tell if you are angry at the world, or just me, or just people in 'hi-viz' tops, or those who wear helmets while cycling...

Euros - if you are following England. I imagine either ITV or BBC will show the other games... A VPN will work to get access to those channels online.

As above... I've read numerous times that UK rental companies will accept a Thai DL as there is bilateral agreement between the licensing authorities of both nations that an IDP is not necessary.... ... That said - many seem to want to have an IDP as a 'just in case'... so it doesn't hurt, its simple and cheap enough to get one and may be useful when travelling elsewhere (the 1968 one is valid for 3 years)

As above... Facebook Market Place is likely to reach the largest 'audience' in Thailand. I've sold Phones, iWatches etc... Son's outgrown winter clothes, pushchairs, Motorcycles, Cars etc... Always do the transaction in person... never send anything to anyone before receiving full payment (there are loads of scammers in Facebook Market place).

Did the Op say where he is located ?? (and where you are located - Old City ? implies Chiang Mai ?)

So... after I was respectful with a response to your query earlier... you want to be abusive... Classy act !!... At least you've outed yourself now and I can place you in the same bracket as a handful of brainless-bumders and ignore you. Of course I know we can just pay a small at point of contact but to be totally legal... Theoretically - an IDP needs to accompany a home licence which type of vehicle you are using. Realistically, at a Police Stop they may see the IDP and its sufficient - the one point about the BiB in Thailand (and much of Thailand) is that there is very little consistency. IF your home licence covers you for a Motorcycle - get it posted out and obtain a Thai DL / MC licence.

I like the Bitdefender idea... I think I'll give that a try.... Appreciate the suggestion...

Yep... I am referring to Bangkok.... to be honest, I'm riding the bike less and less these days... It's just too hot waiting at lights all the time.... recently the car or Grab get more use.

Completely agree.... It many cases it would appear that the 'loud exhaust' also comes with the 'loud rider'... i.e. the flooktard melt who's razzing it everywhere... Then there is the guy who has a loud bike in my Moobaan... I hear whenever he rides bike past our house, a low, but considerate 'rumble'.. he's clearly making an effort to keep the noise down and be respectful of everyone - I think his bike is a Triumph Speed Twin.... I imagine he rides it quite responsibly when out on the open road - but you'd definitely hear him coming. Deliberately making the exhaust louder is the realm of the tos$er... But... that does not mean loud exhausts do not add an additional element of safety..... they most certainly do, IMO. And... in Thailand, anyway, the issue with the loud exhausts is with most of the knobjockeys on their hair-dryers, skinny wheels and modded exhausts, ragging it wherever they can... and at night its some of these utter co<kwombles who ride without lights...

I don't lane split, I stay left. Watching some of the people that do is enough to freeze my blood. There's little choice in gridlocked traffic, unless you are happy remaining stationary in your lane behind a car... in which case, just take the car. The biggest concern for me when lane splitting in gridlocked and stopped traffic is the person who opens their door - luckily there are so many motorcycles in Thailand that most drivers are aware of this.... (yet some idiot motorcyclist still try and undertake a stopping taxi !!). Drivers also tend not to make sudden lane change movements because of the amount of lane filtering motorcycles.

Just don't forget your brain when riding (as proven by one poster already, this is not something everyone is capable of) Remaining conscious of the risk thats all around at all times seems solves most issues... Its when some people switch off, that they get themselves into difficulties when riding, also when they make assumptions, i.e. assume that the rider / driver pulling up to the junction you are approaching is not going to pull out on you etc... In fact, when its a motorcycle, they are more likely to pull out on you... it seems in their mind there is space for two bikes in the lane, so they can simply not stop and assume you'll avoid them as they pull out. ----------- Note: The Hi-Vis works in the UK not because of better visibility, but because of better consciousness of what is visible - drivers see the hi-vis and quickly / subconsciously assume its a the police - it is this subconscious and somewhat pshychogical facet that makes the the hi-vis effective... I'm not so sure it would have a similar effect here 'cos no one gives a toss about the BiB.

How do you know she heard you? I have found it's a good idea to stay out of blind spots to start with. Lane splitting is legal in Thailand... When in traffic lane spitting... you're always in someones blind spot at some point, no matter how hard you try not to be.... (as antisocial as I think they area) If you have louder pipes someone will hear you before they see you, I have little doubt that louder pipes are safer... (though as I comment - I dislike loud pipes and have never put them on my bikes).

I hate loud pipe, but there is no doubt about the saying...'loud pipe save lives'... its just very true. I've lost count of the amount of times I've heard a bike before I've seen it... thats enough for me to understand that 'loud pipes' comment. You always mention this 'riding more skilled' comment... but your comments seem to avoid the realities of real world life. Of course we can be more defensive, etc... but your comment implies that 'being more skilled' will save you from all potential issues

Its ok though... 'cos 'Khun LA' will be your new best mate if you got an MG !!!

I believe that white plates cannot be issued until the dealer has paid the tax on the car…he wants to hang on to that money as long as possible. My wife always registers any new can we buy. Many dealers charge for this simple process, and sometimes quite a lot. I've never had a dealership 'charg' me extra for sorting out my own 'registration number' (two Bikes, three cars so far)... maybe I misunderstood you. I do recall a 'registration fee'... when making a purchase - but that involves getting the white plates made etc...and the dealer still has to pay the registration fee, even if I sort out my own 'registration number'.... I just tell them that dealerships take too long for the white plates and as we will be travelling at night and out of province I don't want any potential hassles with red plates... I just return to the dealership with a slip of paper from the DLT and tell them I want the White Plates ready to fit within the week.

It's my understanding, buying a new Bike or Car the dealers much prefer a sale with Hire purchase as we know it , because of Commission they receive from the Money lender, Cash deal means zero commission. I think thats true... but securing the finance takes a little time... A cash sale can be 'immediate'. Our previous car, I walked into the dealership in a Friday, saw the car I wanted, and said, I want that one... ok we'll order it. No, I want that exact one.... When ?.... Now !.... Thats another customers.. OK, but I want that one or one exactly the same.... When?... Now !... OK... they went away and said they are still waiting for the 'rest of the deposit'... I picked up the car the following Monday... There was otherwise a 6 month waiting list.

100% agree... As a minimum: Get a 'good' helmet, Never ride in flip flops (always trainers at least), Wear gloves. Ensure your travel / medical / health insurance covers you for riding a motorcycle... (this in bold as its astonishing how many GoFundMe campaigns we read of where a visitor has wiped out on his motorcycle and needs expensive medical care to prevent life-changing injuries... yet is not insured...) Ensure you have an MC licence from your home country, or a Licence which looks like it has MC endorsements. An IDP is not essential, but it may help in an issue (if stopped by BiB), but often the home licence if in 'English' language is sufficient. Get a Thai MC licence (especially if you have your home MC licence) - its a simple few hours process. Finally, as above... knowing how to handle an MC is one thing... but Thai traffic is different than you may be used to - there is a complete absense of awareness of common sense, safety and consideration for other road users - Other motorist will pull out on you without looking... That's just one example, the silly stuff exists all around you, every time you take out the bike - ensure you ride extremely defensively, but follow the 'flow'...

Of course I know we can just pay a small at point of contact but to be totally legal... Theoretically - an IDP needs to accompany a home licence which type of vehicle you are using. Realistically, at a Police Stop they may see the IDP and its sufficient - the one point about the BiB in Thailand (and much of Thailand) is that there is very little consistency. IF your home licence covers you for a Motorcycle - get it posted out and obtain a Thai DL / MC licence.

Didn't take long for the 'death wish' comment to pop up.... as it does in almost 100% of motorcycle threads. I think some guys must stalk MC threads to they can make this comment....

Not sure the Op is British - Benjamin Conrazier (name would appear he isn't).. But, his home licence may have similar endorsements which he could transfer into a Thai DL without having to do the rudimentary licensing tests etc (which actually do not really test anything at all) - it depends what is 'shown' on the back of the licence. For example: I obtained a Thai Motorcycle licence using the endorsements shown below, which as you mention above, are for low-powered (equivalent of 50cc or less) scooters etc. Worth a try at the DLT anyway - they seem to only pay attention to the silhouette - but experience may of course vary.

Full cash won't get you a discount... (not whenever I've tried anyway)... But... It paying cash can sometimes help you jump the queue if there is a waiting list - particularly if the sales team have a quota to hit.

Op - very simple this one. You 'should' have Red Plates and an accompanying brown book which theoretcially you fill out for each journey. Police are very slack on this so its not usually an issue, but it an issue the Police 'could' pull you up on if they wanted to. Dealers in Thailand are notoriously lazy when it comes to getting the vehicle registered, often taking months. A while ago, it was reported that there is a 'months leeway' between collecting the vehicle and picking up the car (announced in one of the many crackdowns etc a few years ago... numerous other crackdowns on other things since then). ------- Resolution: Go to the DLT and get your own Plates... This is something I have done with my last two motorcycles and last 3 cars. Its a fairly simple process and easily done by yourself. Once you have the 'slip' from the DLT you take that back to your dealer who gets 'official' number plates made up and about a week later they should be ready to affix to your car (and you receive the Blue Book).

The personal vendetta thing is easy to handle... - Its easy to spot those who reply negatively to every post you make regardless of your input in different threads. I don't put 'most' people only ignore, as there are many posters with whom I'll disagree in one thread, yet agree with on another subjected in a different thread... these folk can handle discussion without being idiots. - There there are those who only troll you - I block these guys (only have 3 on block so far for this reason). - Other's may take a disliking and troll us / me / you thought one thread and it of ten turns into a tit for tat banter battle, which I find amusing but it does take the thread off topic, but there's no need to delete these guys, they soon get bored of their stupidy and move on.

Yep... I see how it could be that too... Still - I think the cyclist was really oblivious to his own safety... Of course, the bus driver should have taken more care and watched out for him... But he should also have been doing a better job of watching out for himself.

Were they insured ??? So soon after the recent announcement of the U-turn on Marijuana... Oh so cynical...