BlackArtemis

I have the money to do this, but I don't want to see this. I just see this as another avenue for China to further tighten their grip on Thailand.

Yes please. I was supposed to move back to CNX last summer but decided not to sell my house and stayed at my job here for another year in the US. I'll have my vaccine shortly. It would be nice to be able to move back this summer after the school year ends here. I was always willing to jump through some hoops, but I wasn't going to drop 50kBaht+ to stay at a "resort" charging 150b+ for fried rice. 

2 hours ago, HauptmannUK said:

Good condition TA22 for 220k sounds very reasonable....

Adapting bellhousing etc is do-able but I was thinking more about physical space to fit the powertrain into that car. I would think a fair bit of metalwork needs to be altered.....but why not...

Yeah, I have been browsing a lot of Thai classic and celica specific forums. A mint Ta22 with a 4age or BEAMS swap is like 350-380k. I care more about a complete interior and clean frame than nice paint. Liftbacks can be upwards of 200k more, the TA23 seems to have a higher price as well. As for fitment. there are quite a few things that fit in the TA22, fitment is not the problem. Availability in Thailand is. THings like if you swap the manual steering rack the one from an AW11 will work. I've never seen an AW11 in Thailand, a few SW20's and then quite a bit of 3rd gen MR2s. 
 

But the Ranger MT is a great lead.

50 minutes ago, Don Mega said:

A friend put a Ranger 6 speed behind a 1UZ and stuck it in a Toyota crown, he drew up an adpator plate and got it machined.

 

Plenty of tidy TA22 celica's around, but they are not cheap.

Ok awesome, from the wild track 3.2? I've seen some high powered ones after mods, it make sense they could handle 300hp/300tq. Also a lot more plentiful than the r154 from a 1 or 2jzgte.

So, there are multiple bell housing adaptors for the 1uz. Even though the LSx is king for V8 swaps here we have plenty of people here playing with the 1uz or 3uz. A good condition Ta22 for ~220k baht, I realize I'm looking at upwards of 700k after swap, upgrades like suspension, ecu, etc etc.

I see vvti engines go for 40-60k. A haltec would cost me 100k etc etc

Hey all, 

Moving back to Thailand 2021 Covid permitting. Last time I lived here was 2014 and was more into bikes. Since my toys here are getting sold I started looking at fun options and I'm noticing a lack of strong manual transmission options for engines like 1JZ, 1UZ, SR20, 3sgte etc etc. Are transmissions like r154, w58, zf50, getrag 260 etc just super rare or not even available. I've heard the Vigo manual can handle a 1UZ?

I mean, being an American means I already don't row the gears "correctly" but I'd at least like the option.

Seems like there lots of options for up to 200hp, so great for a 4AGE in a KE Corolla, but mating a 5/6mt to UZFE in a ta22 is looking iffy.

Thanks all.

Any snake experts on here can identify whether this is a Regal Python in the Coconuts picture?

I immediately thought of a rainbow boa.

And I also figured a reticulated python or Burmese python would be the only two big enough to take her down.

Differ, Fabrique, and Bangkok bar were all after hours places. Sometimes the Zoe area is open, sometimes it isn't. Infinity is open to about 3 isn't it?

What about Eve bar and all those small places back near Old old new spicy?

I don't recall ever really having a problem finding a bar open til 4-5am, now that I am back in the US my liver is thanking me.

Not possible, except for my Thai friends who run a business importing HD's from the US to Thailand. In fact they're hoping I can begin to source some bikes for them here. Tax is on engine size, not age.

Yes it can be done, it's a headache unless you know what you are doing.

Or maybe Khun Somporn was upset he was getting passed and then forced the rider into the trees. IT GOES DEEPER THAN WE THINK PEOPLE!!!

Ok, now that that accusation is out of the way, let's continue.

RIP for the rider and family who has to hear the news.

I believe the Northern word is "Bpoong" for this breed. Chicog has the right info, very aggressive species. However, you won't die unless you are allergic to the venom.

Had a go pro 3 black, utter horrid battery life, 35-40mins without wifi on.

Even with 3 batteries it was dead the majority of a 7hr ride.

Kawasaki er6n seems to fit price and style has anyone had much experience with them, but I am still being swayed by the dinosaurs cb1300 etc there is a nice one on Hd-playground at present.

Sent from my D6503 using Thaivisa Connect Thailand mobile app

As I said, I ad the Ninja650r, which is the same bike with fairings.

Had it for a year, put almost 20,000km on it. I daily drove it. I did multiple 400km+ trips

Ran it at 160-190km for hours at a time on trip from CM to Maleka Malaysia and back. Longest ride being 1144km from Chumpon to Chiang Mai in about 10hrs of riding.

The only problem I ever had was the radiator cap failed, the rubber rotted out. This caused a pressurization problem and coolant sprayed out the overflow. It was a 600B fix.

Decent touring tires will cost 12k, such as Angel GT's or Road Pilots

First class will be 10-12k

A genuine slipon costs 10-25k

They are a bit surgy with their power under 20kph, and a tuner can fix that along with give a bit of extra power.

I took an er6n out on a 2 day 1000km ride, and the only thing better about the Ninja was the windscreen. At 120kph on the Er6n the wind blows hard, you don't really feel it until 180+ on the Ninja.

I even had givi 21L panniers added on to it for 7000B because I loved taking multiday trips.

A used er6n is one of the best bang for your baht bikes in Thailand.

Make sure they have the maintenance records.

Mentioned the tires a few times in this thread, spark plugs are every 12k

Brakes lasted me 36k km because the engine braking is very strong.

Chains and sprockets can last up to 20k it seems with proper care.

I loved that bike and the only reason I sold it was because I moved back to the US to help take care of my father.

Thank a lot for all your very helpful comments. After driving the route from Khenmarat to Bangkok, I know the roads very well and whatbtype of drivers use it. Mostly camacazee bus and truck drivers. So as big and load a bike as possible, comfortable and withers much overtaking power as possible, which is why I was looking at the big muscle bikes of yesteryear. Now it is interesting people as swayingbmore towards the modern 500/650 bikes.

Sent from my D6503 using Thaivisa Connect Thailand mobile app

My leo vince slip on was ungodly loud when I got it up to 7k+

don't have a decent video of me revving mine, so here are two videos of others

http://youtu.be/WrevzpnUUNY?t=1m40s

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-n1HknPI1BU

Decent, but still don't compare to real life.

It was great riding it in Thailand, bright Kawasaki green and loud as hell. Thai's on scooters actually looked my way before pulling out in front of me.

Hell, I would blip it while lane splitting to let people know I was coming.

Also depends on age, I am in my 30's and was comfortable going from Chumpon to Chiang Mai in a day o my Ninja 650. This was my daily driver as well around Chiang mai. You are more upright than you would think.

It is nicer than the 500f or r, has dual discs in the front and alot more grunt. Due to the Honda 650 it has dropped in resale value, just like the 500's.

The 500x might be a decent choice due to comfort level, but as I said in my first post, I would get a Versys over it. These are also coming down in price, but are quite a bit more expensive than the 500x

Ignore anyone who is telling you to get a scooter or take a bus/train. They fail to realize you actually enjoy the ride.

While I prefer Kawa to Honda, I would strongly consider the shops around you. Getting a Versys while having no Kawa shop around you means finding a reputable big bike shop, but even then this will hurt resale because it was not serviced at kawa, This goes for Big Wing as well.

I would also like to correct my math in the first post.

say you do 12k/year on a kawa

Insurance is ~1b/km

fuel is ~1b/km

Tires ~1b/km

3 oil changes and filters, 1 spark plug change, other things like sprockets/chain sets are 6k

so around another 1-1.5b/km

Expect to pay 4-5b/km for a newer Honda or Kawa 500-650

ER6n for 130-150k

Versys for 170-200k

09-11 will be cheaper than 12+ as Kawasaki did a lot of changes.

Other numbers to consider, First class will run you about 10-12k/year

Tires will run you 12-14k. They will last about just as long. and fuel is about 1bt/km

I would say with maintenc they will run you about 2.5b/km

Cb500 is less bike for about the same money, just newer

CB300/Ninja300 could also be a possibility. Better mpg, cheaper tires and start off around 120-140k depending on age (Ninja 300 has been out for a year, CB is brand new).

Of course you could always go with one of the older bikes like CBs, XJs, steeds, viragos etc etc, but you will not find many off the shelf parts making maintenance a bigger hassle. 

I know of a few expat families and friends who go regularly, maybe about 10-15 total including kids. Sometimes they get a much larger group going.

I see lots of people I would call a monitor lizard. Does that count?

If they just had a bunch of motorcycle cops at the rincom intersection ready to chase down red light runners, and do this consistently for a few months. That would improve that area 1000 fold. Plus they would bring in a lot of revenue. But my hope is that they begin to at least photo there.

I know that for most Americans the collective noun for just about everything is 'a bunch', but I think you'll find that the correct word for police is a 'sounder'.

If they just had a bunch of motorcycle cops at the rincom intersection ready to chase down red light runners, and do this consistently for a few months. That would improve that area 1000 fold. Plus they would bring in a lot of revenue. But my hope is that they begin to at least photo there.

I ended up rent a room at a place in Nimman area. It was an art center for kids on the weekend, but 90% of the time I had a whole townhouse to myself for next to nothing.

Before that I found cheap 2 room bungalows out in Umong area.

When I was together with my Ex we had a 4 story town house inside the old city which doubled as a tutoring center for us.

For me, when I am single I want a place with little to no maintenance, because I am more likely to spend my weekends and holidays out and about.

When in a relationship I prefer a 'home', something with a yard for a dog etc etc

For your price range, I see townhouses for rent. 7-10k

Look around the Suan Dok, Suthep, Jet yod, Wat ket, and Hang Dong areas. These are close enough to town, but offer great selection. DDproperty was a good indicator of cost, but often they forget to take down already rented units.

95% of all my friends are Thai and only a handful of them speak decent English.

My Ex has a masters in TESOL and she was able to explain a lot of more complicated subjects in English first as well.

I rarely watched Thai TV, but I liked some movies. Generally the music I like is still quite fast, but I try to use the lyrics to practice reading.

I would say that besides while I was working 90% of my interaction was done in Thai and even at work I would converse in Thai with colleagues.

On a side note, I talk toooooo damn much. Not being able to converse makes me feel like a boiling kettle. So I try to learn a language as fast as possible, even if it's just a vacation.

Moved back to the US and don't have Thai friends here. So I skype with friends back there.

I also have a Thai friendly account which I explicitly state where I am and I am only interested in practicing language. This has really improved my reading. However, 99% won't correct my Thai but rather just comment I am "good enough already". Which is more a statement on this country's level of effort...