Agusts

Incidentally the main reason I'm upgrading to Chromecast is the use of WiFi 5GHz. But not sure if it's any good, it does not even have an antenna...! Any feedback...? My current MXQ pro box only has 2.4GHz, but even with antenna it has dreadful reception, so I hotpot off my laptop, it works but it's a bit of a pain, hence looking into Chromecast... I see somebody selling it used, but I read they can now flash any android device with built-in malware, even a factory reset won't get rid of it - hard to trust anything these days...! Saying that I haven't noticed anything unsavory on my MXQ pro for last 6 years which is suppose to be full of bad stuff, but I guess we are not supposed to notice these malware...! 🙄, I always use a separate Google account for these though ...

I figured all Android Chinese TV boxes are a bit vulnerable to having preloaded with malware, or extra ads bait or extra dodgy traffic behaviour, so best just go with Chromecast - has all I need. Also I don't need 4K, just HD is more than enough for me. Now these HD are reduced to just $20 in USA from $30, but the best I can find here from a reliable seller, like Banana IT is 2490b for this. It's more than 3 times...!!! (well done customs office). A bit cheaper from dodgy Lazada sellers, but I don't trust them unless they are official stores, like above... If you guys know or find any reliable place that sells these closer to their real price, let me know...!?

Just a feedback on this before I forget, this all worked well, but my sister put content; document, debit card, some keys (I had spare bike and other keys, maybe 4 altogether). Total weight was 480gram, so it went in their DHL envelope pack. The Thai tax office charged 750b for this...!?!? I think there was 260b actual tax and the rest admin bullshiit...! 🥴 Not a lot but very annoying, there was nothing taxable in that envelope... - bear that in mind....

Thanks guys, I got the info I was after, can do the renew 3 months before, and up to 1 year after..., and I know about riding with expired licence... Although in UK even if the photo licence expired (which it does every 10 years) , I think the paper one valid till I'm 75 years old, so technically we are not without licence, so maybe fined but insurance should be valid..., not sure... , that's another world anyway...!

My 5 year Thai motorbike licence ends this Sep 2024. But I probably leave well before that, maybe 3 months before... Then back again in the winter, could even be early 2025. Now I rather put off renewing if I can - kick the ball as far as it goes... lol...! But any issue renewing after a few months of expiry...? Any penalties or problem there, even after 5 or 6 months..., I don't have to start from scratch or anything ...!? 🤔 Or is it much better to go and do it before expiry, how far ahead can I go and renew, even 4 or 5 months ahead is possible ...?

Just avoid dealers, they pay half the going price, specially see a farang, who doesn't need money (!!!? ) , coming a mile away...! This forum also has a sale section for bikes, put it there with photos and history, a well maintained bike goes quickly...

Forza is a lot heavier and longer, it's generally much bigger bike than ADV160. It has comfortable seat and great ride on the road, but not so good for Bangkok traffic, ADV160 is a much better bike for the city, don't worry about a few cm width, but I say rent one for a day, it's a bit small for long legs, specially coming from PCX... Yamaha Aero is also great bike, check the specs, it's top on all aspects...!

Here some latest experience of my dealing with Thai mechanics, some of these at Honda dealer, some in other corner shops. Old model Forza 300 (2016) : For oil and oil filter change, they never open the top oil tap, I know air gets in eventually, but even a child knows to drain car/bike oil must undo the bottom drain nut and top tap! They drain and close all, then open top to add oil...!!! They never change bottom nut washer either, it maybe 50b, I'm happy to pay.. . They never use torque ranch, specially on oil filter, it's alien concept to them...! They have no clue that gear oil change on Forza has 3 nuts, one is a guage nut, I have to insist on it, so they do it right...! It's 280ml, so 2 x 120ml and a little more..., they always want to put 2x120ml only..! Even after air filter change I have to check the screws, many times they leave one behind, it has 7 or 8 I think, they probably think why so many, doesn't need them all, yesterday happened again...!?!?!? (last time they left out one on my CVT cover even, that's still missing!) Almost 90% of the time they put too much oil, I keep saying wait until we start the engine, then check again, they don't listen..., and you know the consequences of too much oil in your engine at high revs...! No worries, it's only a simple service, good luck leaving your bike with these idiots... 😜

It is true, only 300-350cc and many parts are very similar to say PCX (perhaps with the exception of a few, like oil filter...) , but Honda prices the spare parts and the labour cost similar to big bikes, a real rip off, while doing the work in small dealer wings, with incompetent, useless mechanics there...! (I might give their big wing a try now as someone mentioned above, they accept it in Phuket these days ...).

That's very good if they do, when I went there 5 years ago they pointed me to the opposite side of the street with a slight grin on their face...! Do they do old and new Forza models... ? This is for everyone or because you have a friend there ...? I'm surprised as they shouldn't stock the spares..., say air filter, is not the same as any big bike or big scooter ..! They must go across the street to get that...!?

With Forza it's a bit of a problem with Honda small bike dealers - also I don't think bigwing shops service Forza generally... Most these Honda small bike dealers don't stock "old" Forza spares anymore, their mechanics hardly come across them, and can't be bothered anyway. Last time they wanted to leave my bike for a week to change water pump seal...!!! Also Honda dealers only sell spare parts with installation labour cost added (in Phuket anyway), and for Forza this is quite an extra. You can find spare parts actual price on Honda website, +VAT. As a principal I never leave a Thai mechanic alone with my bike, don't trust them, so I hardly go to Honda dealers anymore - of course a new bike is different. As for Lazada, need to check the seller, the reviews and price. New seller with few reviews and under price offering is obviously a no-no. Otherwise I never had issues...

This also happens on ExpressVPN sometimes. It's to do with assigned ip address by the vpn provider. If too many people are assigned the same ip and BBC detects that, then it blocks it as a vpn access. Need to disconnect and reconnect the vpn to get another ip, or connect to another UK server...

I come across this thread a bit late, but anyway, I have been using MXQpro for some years without much issue, the Android firmware on it is pretty standard and most Google Play apps install on it. But it only has a slow, weak 2.4Ghz wifi, and I thought I upgrade to a better box. Unfortunately I rushed into buying a discounted X88 mini 13 - which I thought has a standard Android TV 13 software..., but even though it says it has that, it's a totally custom made 3rd party Android...! Most Google Play apps are not available, and it has an app called Apthoid TV app to install copies/fakes of normal apps - I just found two versions of BBC iPlayer that installs from there and strangely works, but thd original from BBC is not available from store...! My question was, is there a way to install standard Google certified firmware on this box...? Or is it basically doomed...

I haven't experienced any phone heating problem, as long as I'm on the move - the wind cools it off, but if in long traffic, like Bangkok, not sure...! The best mod I think are good mirrors, if can't see well behind, could be in real danger in these parts..., there are those small wide angle ones can be attached in the corner of current mirrors too, see what suit best ...

This is what I worry about to, once accepting blame and be guilty party, then they can cook up and claim more compensation and damages later....! But it's good to know, if accept 50:50 blame, then it stops further pursue of us, I try to bare this in mind, if it works...🤞🏻 Best is to get them sign an agreement, that if I pay some damages, they never ever claim any more money in anyway related to this particular event... (and sign by the police as witness too), we should have this in English and Thai written down by a lawyer and keep in our pockets, if acceptable in courts... ! 🤗

Most Thai bike riders think it is perfectly okay to ride against traffic on road shoulders, I've seen police car go by and not bat an eye, so I assume this is okay here and just need to be aware of them, very dangerous of course... The problem is they do it very fast and without attention, and think they have the right of way...!?!?!? In this video for example, the car obviously didn't see the bike, but the bike rider must have seen the car but he actually thought he HAS the right of way, and expected the car to stop and let him pass...!!!! 🥴, Big mistake... 🙄😔

I see you figured out that you can pay tax and insurance anywhere, not related to BKK registration, even the green book doesn't have to be in your name for that... Not worth transferring your registration either, green book is in your name anyway - and it cost 900 baht I think, just get a replacement plate, easier and cheaper. But I think you need to go to BKK DLT for that, did Pattaya or Chonburi DLT said they can do it ..? That's good if they can...

Yes, I've seen that one too, I will go and ask them and find out more, cheers all ...

Thanks, that's helpful, now I need to know exact location of main DHL office in Patong. I've seen there are two..., any ideas...?

As the delivery guys never ever find my building or condo, is it possible to receive some important document via DHL and request a pick up from their depot in Patong...? I think I've seen a couple of location on map search.. Has anyone done that and if so what should be written as destination and what options selected ? (sending from UK). I think can track and see that is arrived on their website, and pick it up easily. I rather do that than they not find me, give to someone else, get lost or get returned...!

At DLT they only check the chassis number as far as I can remember, they never check the engine number, so as long as the chassis has a green book with the correct number, the rest is not their problem...!

Well, it's hard to know if they changed the oil or not, I can't think of a sure way, if any of you guys know, do tell...! But on Forza the service light works with km, so need to be changed manually on the dash, hold right button, and turn the engine key to ON, the service light disappears. Changing oil alone doesn't do it... As the 2 things are separate, they are 4 possibilities, the worst scenario is if a mechanic doesn't change the oil, but reset the service light, now that is nasty...!!! 🥴 I buy my own Shell Advanced Jaso MB 100% synthetic oil, and watch them like a hawk they put it in properly, and not lose a drop, keep the rest for next time, needs 1.2 L (or 1.4 L with oil filter change), so 2 x 1 L bottles needed...!

No need to worry about the coolant if all is okay, have a look inside the container, if the color is okay (light blue, not dark) and full, it will work fine for many more years... I have the same year Forza, my water pump leaked, so when they repaired it, they had to empty most of the coolant and refill fresh - but it looked very clean when I saw it (38k km). I also seen a YouTube video of a guy properly purge all the coolant out of a Forza and refill it, using a pump, and that, proper, job looked very complicated, way beyond average Thai mechanic I think, that's why they say, "no need "...! 😆 But make sure the brake fluid is changed every 2 years, that degrades fast in this heat. Forza has dual channel ABS with Combi Brake System on top of that, in some way it's 3 channel ABS, fresh brake fluid is useful for all this to work well...

Oh, the resident certificate, the tm30, the 90 day reporting, all joy of residing in Thailand. Imagine if they could enter our address somewhere online, and all government departments could look it up using the name and passport number...(and we could update it when changed), let's keep dreaming... 😜

We are still waiting for that new big bike license rule to come, for above 400cc I think, but they can still do serious damage using 300 or 350...! I have no idea if the new big bike license would be harder to get, but at least will be better than the current bike license, which is a joke if you have ever been in DLT and watch those who pass it ...!!! 😆