aremesal

And what percentage of those 65 are Thai? 99.999999% ???
People who pull out on to a main road without even a cursory glance to their right, trusting Buddha to protect them, shouldn't expect to live long.

I'm begining to believe in that Buddha protection after a couple of very close calls due to the VERY OLD somchai doing the farmer's U turn just trusting in Buddha. How the hell did they manage to survive 80 years doing the same thing everyday?

 
Yeah !  The principle of inflating a tyre in Thailand is quite simple.
 
If the tyre wall says "maximum pressure 55psi" then that is the best pressure to have because maximum is always best.
 
Simples eh !

This morning stop at the gas station and there were a couple of young thais in the air gauge so I just wait - and see. The process was:

- Put air
- Touch the tire with the thumb
- Set the machine +5psi
- Put air again
- Repeat this process 4 times

He put at least 40 or 45 psi. I think it so good pressure for a 50Kg guy, I'm sure he can fly with the mocy set that way - literally.

I'm "touring" in a CB300F, and so happy with it. Usually do 250-300Km/day. Comfortable enough, easy to move in the twisties and in the city. Yes, the 286cc is a bit short of power but, as I try to avoid the highways, it's enough for me. I travel solo (my 80Kg and the small luggage).

Many times think about getting a 500 or even a 650, but then I realize that I could do some trips on this already without any problems... and decided to wait a bit more for my next bike - in fact, decided to don't go for a new one until this one do 100K (has 64K right now) [emoji28]

Found the two buttons, tried without QR unsuccessfully.  Did it work for you or were both your licenses with QR?

Both mine have the QR. I just saw the button so suppose that it will work, as the QR one worked perfect.

Maybe when you're near the Land Transport Office you could ask at the info desk?

 
check your licence! Mine is valid but approx. 3 yrs old and it does not have the code on its back yet - then you won't get any further with the DLT app

I believe there is an option somewhere to do it without the QR code....so my GF says.

Right.

Just yesterday I downloaded the app and imported my licenses. The app has just TWO buttons:

- License with QR
- License without QR

So thurien, yes, you can import your old-style license into the app even without the QR.

I had a Gentleman 200, it was a good bike according to the price. Yes, absolutely eye catching and easy to move in the traffic. I felt like a cfrom the past" bike because of its technology, but the good thing is that it's very easy to maintain and fix.

The handling on the mountain roads was just OK, right now I feel WAY more confident in my CB300F that I felt ever with the Gentleman.

Regarding reliability, I had no problem with it, everything worked as expected, no mechanical issues. Aging began to show as fading black plastic in the handlebar controls, but I always park under the sun (my condo haven't shade parking)

I sold it at 38K฿ with 15000Km and almost 2 years old.

Thai reviews of the Gentleman mention gear selection problems that a lot of owners have had problems with.

I had problems with the Neutral, many times it was alm impossible to set N,and in the Thai FB group many others complained about the same.

It had an easy and cheap solution: just enlarged the piece that links the gear box to the pedal, a 30 minutes 200฿ work in a local custom garage, and the gear became soft and precise.

The new Gentleman Racer has that piece longer than the original Gentleman, so I think they realized about the faulty design.

 
Since you have been learning at Pantip Plaza, you might want to try TSL at the same floor and same plaza, they have higher level classes and is cheaper than Payap.
 
By the way, how is the teaching at 'We learn Thai'?
 
I am surprised you didn't ask around there first. They provide one free observe session.

I asked before enrolling last year, and chose WLT because the schedule is Mon-Thu, so I have long free weekends - others like TSL was M, T, T, F, I don't like that schedule.

At WLT they have beginner, intermediate and advanced levels, that's not a problem.

Do you want to know something specific about the teaching there? For me it's OK, but it's a big school so every month is a different teacher depending on the schedule, and some teachers are more of my like than others.

I just went to CM immigration last week to ask about the same question. I asked if I go to Bangkok to live in a hotel for a few days, would I need to update my TM30 when I go back to CM?
 
The TM30 officer said 'no need'.
 
So who is having the last say about this? It seems the officers themselves are confused.
 

That's great.

I was traveling in the north two weeks ago, and didn't report because I already went THREE TIMES in this year to ask for update after traveling INSIDE and every time they said NOT NEEDED. Even the last time the woman was a bit upset - maybe too much work waiting.

And now, maybe I deserve a fine or not, depending on who and when I ask.

The Schrodinger TM30 fine, yeah, it's so funny.

PD: No, it's not.

I studied this year at We Learn Thai, at Pantip Plaza. If I remember well was 33K for one year, including the paperwork for the visa and extensions. 4 days a week, 2 hours a day. I'm pretty happy with it, but I would like more conversation practice.

For next year I'm thinking about going for the intermediate level in this school, or trying any other... I'd like at CMU but I'm now at low intermediate, so if they only do the beginner it's not an option to me [emoji19]

How about the cost at Payap?

Payap was excellent for me & really drove home the fact that learning to read/write while maybe not 100% needed in day to day life ...........WILL help your Thai Language skills immensely. Because seeing it written in Thai Alphabet will help your pronunciation so much more than Thai words transliterated into English which just does not work most of the time.

Absolutely agree

the X-ADV is a 750 cc and brutally expensive I believe. I saw one the other day it didn't look that much bigger than the 300 cc of Yamaha or Honda except for the tires which seemed far wider. I definitely was a long bike 

Maybe you saw a Honda NM4: https://www.aphonda.co.th/hondabigbike/motorcycle/automatic/nm4

It's BIG, and it's expensive, around half a million.

I saw it in the Honda Safety Riding Park some months ago, it's really impressive, it's a cruiser big bike but scooter style. I've seen a couple of them in the highways during the last months.

For the daily commute or coffeeshop hopping (not great speeds, sabai sabai) I usually wear full face helmet (HJC C17, good balance with a good price), gloves, jeans and sneakers.

For the odd trip, being it an afternoon 70Km ride or a 300Km through-the-mountains ride, I add to that a REV'IT mesh jacket with elbows, shoulders and back armour and a merino Buff to cover neck - and to keep me cool by wetting it in each stop. I'm looking to buy proper riding shoes and Kevlar armoured jeans, for these kind of rides.

If going just to the local market or the local kapraw joint I wear whatever I had in the moment, this includes sandals (no flip-flops) and helmetless some times. I know, I know, shoot me.

Anyway, my danger appreciation is very relaxed after around 25 years riding bicycles both road and MTB protected just with a bike helmet and lycra... [emoji28]

Yes, but how long before you need to recharge or whatever? I have read of some of them only lasting an hour or two, not much help on a long journey.

It's my understanding that those "dash" cameras are connected to the battery... At least the ones I've seen mounted in bikes back in Europe.

There's a new place in Santhitham, Hell's Kitchen, with bahn mi in the menu. I didn't tried it yet - at 120฿ I feel it a bit high for a bahn mi.

Sometimes in the Central Festival basement there's a "food fair" and sometimes there is a stall specialized in bahn mi (80฿), next time I want to ask them if they have a fixed place.

Power of attorney sounds complicated think better to avoid both

A Tm47 is more complicated than a PoA [emoji28] everyone uses it all the time, it's just a form. You can download or even in the Land Transport Office they have copies ready to give to you - stapled to the transfer form.

Rakuda did it, but closed last month. I talked to Tah (the owner) and said to me he's going to continue the film development and scanning at home. I can ask him and give you contact details if you want. He bought a "new" big dedicated Fujifilm film scanner last year so I suppose is still in the business.

In addition, I think they do it in Airlab, Huay Kaew Rd almost opposite the Kad Na Mor (University night market)

Last week I saw the full electric in the Honda Safety Riding Park, they said to me that still not for sale but soon - don't know about the hybrid.

The full electric looked good, but... 70Km range (some days I ride more only in the city!), 70km/h max speed, and no storage under the seat (the two batteries get almost all the space)

I tested it (the standard version) and I liked it, easy to handle, comprehensive display, ABS, enough power - for me.

Cannot talk about how comfortable is for long rides though. And the position was a bit sporty for me - I prefer the F model

R3/MT03 is a much better bike IMHO.
 
Unless there’s a special reason to buy the Honda I’d be looking elsewhere.

How about the riding position?

Tested the CB300F and CB300R, and the R was too "racing" for me...

I had the round foldable ones: too low and too "wide far" for my taste, I had to move my entire head to use them - not safe. In addition, they're too small.

Then set the "sporty" ones, those with a diamond shape. Positioned inwards. Better for using, and lane slalom still easy. In fact I felt more confident in slow motion between cars than with the standard mirrors.

But they vibrate and still too small.

So I've gone back to the standard ones, just bigger (and "chromed"). Don't add wide to the mocy and being at a higher position they're easier - safer - to use for me.

I usually say that is not true that they're aiming to farangs in the Chiang Mai checkpoints - because I always see locals being fined.

Today had my confirmation: riding with helmet, sunglasses and mask they stopped me. Asked me for the license in thai, I reply in thai; then asked for the tax, I didn't use the correct tone in the reply and only then he realized I was a farang :"oh, sorry, sorry, you not Thai people, sorry, thank you, can go" (sic)

And, in fact, they were fining a Thai lady with helmet, I suppose because lack of license or tax.

There is a very good , but busy , motorcycle mechanic in Hang Dong. His name is Nung. His workshop is behind a display of spirit houses for sale , on the Northbound side of the Hang Dong / 108 road , almost opposite North Chiang Mai college. I believe he is on LINE. 

Thank you! I have read about him before, but still pending for a visit - I live near San Sai, just in the other side of the city.

Someone told about a very small place hidden near the night bazar too...

17 hours ago, OneMoreFarang said:

I think there is nothing wrong with such an engine.

Air cooled and oil cooler is not a bad idea in Thailand. It's a lot better than overheating water cooled engines.

 

And carburetors can be adjusted to make the bike run smooth. I have a new bike with fuel injection according to the newest emission standards. It runs very lean, at least under 4000RPM, and I can't do anything about it (except meddling with the electronic). Carburetors have their advantages in the modern world.

 

I'm a novice, the only engines I knew were the small 50cc in the moppeds I rode when a teenager ???? so I can only relay in my recent experience. I get that GPX just after having an Aerox, and I feel the GPX less powerful and, in general, less agile regarding acceleration.

 

Maybe I should adjust/fine tune my carburetor. In fact, when the bike is cold I need to use the "starter" for half a minute - I understand doing it back in Europe in the winter but here? But then when running hot, sometimes the rpm goes to 2000 when idle, so I don't feel good by touching the idle to get a better cold start and then having the engine running 2500rpm while stopped in a traffic light.

 

Do you recommend some info about adjusting a carburetor? Or maybe someone knows a good garage in Chiang Mai... I have tried 4 differents already, including the most famous-farang-owned one and the GPX official one, always pointed at the issue, and still have the issue.

 

16 hours ago, Gandtee said:

Thanks for the quick response and concise opinion. It was the touch of the retro look that attracted my attention. I've just got back from NZ where my son in law is into Harleys and keeps on about them not producing a model that would attract the younger element. They haven't changed their design much over the years and perhaps they could learn something from the up and coming bike designers. Thanks again. Safe riding. 

 

Yes, the look is pretty good, not so many bikes right now similar to this. Well, you have some Triumphs, Ducati... but AFAIK there's no a small engine (and affordable) cafe racer similar to the Gentleman.

About the younger element... I tested a HD Iron 883 and liked it so much, both handling and look, I think it's a pretty younger look - but again, the price tag is not going to attract many youngers ????

What did you to your bike....

Checked and fixed tire pressure, as I have to do everytime I go to any garage - this last time to install a custom made mud mudguard.

Each time in a garage, funny random tire pressures. Why the h*ll? This time front was 40psi and rear 24!! <deleted>

People living here for a long time, do you know a polite way to say "please don't bother with my tires unless you are going to use a good manometer" without doing the owner/worker to (feel to) lose face?