monkeyofdoom

The only ones who could do that are Honda themselves. You will have to go to a Honda motorcycle dealer, and they will have to call up Honda. Do not lose the key or else you will be in some trouble trying to get the bike started.

Thanks for the advice, I may well end up doing that. However, Nut at Piston Shop says he previously used a guy down in Bangkok to make a copy, but now he doesn't know how to contact him. So perhaps it is possible after all. I wonder how long it would take to get Honda to do it. I assume they can't do it here, as they don't have a factory or big bike dealership, right...?

If I was you, I would contact Redbaron in Bangkok – the keys are not cheap cannot remember if it was 2,000 or 3,000 anyway give Rebaron a call and you know the price exactly.

Great idea. I'll do that now and post back what happens. Thanks!

The only ones who could do that are Honda themselves. You will have to go to a Honda motorcycle dealer, and they will have to call up Honda. Do not lose the key or else you will be in some trouble trying to get the bike started.

Thanks for the advice, I may well end up doing that. However, Nut at Piston Shop says he previously used a guy down in Bangkok to make a copy, but now he doesn't know how to contact him. So perhaps it is possible after all. I wonder how long it would take to get Honda to do it. I assume they can't do it here, as they don't have a factory or big bike dealership, right...?

I only have one ignition key for my 2008 CBR600RR and I would like a copy made. Only problem is that it has an anti theft chip for the HISS system and I don't know of a place that can copy the chip as well as the key itself. Anyone know of a place, preferably in Chiang Mai?

I had an attempted burglary at my house a month ago. Came home to find marks around the doors and windows, but they didn't make it in. Police were useless as usual. I pointed out the fingerprints on the glass and they said that it is only useful if they have a suspect to compare it to. I guess a fingerprint system would be too much to expect.

I bought a DIY alarm system with some motion detectors for about 5000 baht. Works great, and calls my mobile if the alarm goes off (as well as sounding the loud siren). The alarm can be purchased at Amorn Electronics at the Big C mall. Could easily be installed in a condo, which I plan to do when I move out of this house.

As far as the emissions, they are going by Euro III standards for bikes being imported, are they not? So first off, was your bike built to those specs?

I'm not exactly sure. The bike was built for sale in Europe, imported back to Japan, then from Japan to Thailand.

I can only give you one good advice, sell your 2008 Honda CBR 600 RR in your country and when you in Thailand source another one. For example Redbaron has a nice one for 460,000 Bht (including greenbook..etc)

Thanks for the advice, but actually I live in Thailand and am in the process of buying the bike here, for 245,000 (invoice only). The Red Baron one is nice but a bit overpriced in my opinion, even after factoring in the green book. It's restricted, too.

In theory if you have paid the excise tax they cannot impound the bike. BUT you will get fined for no plate, up to 1,000b each time (usually 2-400b). Don't forget you need Tax and basic insurance(these you can get ,just use and insurance broker). Fine up to 1,000b each time for each offence.

Then the emissions testing. The bike has to go to BKK for testing 30,000b +.

What bike is it. Is it worth it.

Euro spec 2008 Honda CBR 600 RR. Worth it in my opinion. I'm aware of having to send it to Bangkok, just one of those things...

Lets ask this another way..

Why do you think you can ride a non road legal unregistered machine on the road ??

If the vehicle was to fail emissions and not get the plate later.. all the paperwork you have is irrelevant, why would any country allow you to ride on a 'maybe later' idea.

Legally no way.. on the ground.. Maybe you can try.. Maybe it will work.. Maybe it will fail.. Your risk your call, no one can answer that for you.

I think I can do that because this is Thailand and a lot of rules that are enforced strictly in other countries are not enforced strictly here. I have talked to several Thai guys with bikes that have ridden their unregistered, unlicensed bikes around Bangkok for years and have been getting away with fines around 200-400. However that might be easier if you are Thai, so I was wondering whether any non-Thai had any experiences to share.

By the way, the bike is from 2008 and stock, so it will pass emissions testing, leak-testing, and noise testing. I know that because this model normally passes testing.

Does anyone know whether the various checkpoints up here in the North involve checking your bike has a license plate?

I guess if it's too much of a risk I'll just have to wait patiently until all the paperwork is done and it's fully legal

Agree. Where do you live?

Realistically you have 2 choices.

Have the bike impounded or run from the cops.

In Chiang Mai.

They will impound the bike even if it has invoice and excise tax receipt?

What about if I can show a receipt that the registration is in progress?

I will soon be getting a new bike but currently it only has an invoice. I'm going to pay the excise tax and get a green book, but of course I am itching to get out on it. I won't go anywhere until the excise tax is paid, as my understanding is that once you have paid the excise tax the BiB can no longer confiscate the bike, only write out a ticket. Is that true?

It will take a few months to get the license plate and green book. During that time I want to ride the bike. But what if I get stopped? What should I do? Just hand over 200 baht right away? Do they normally ask for it or do they write out an official more expensive fine if you give them a chance?

Any other tips in these dealings?

Just came back from a trip to Doi Inthanon with a mate on a 650R. I have previously remarked that during a test ride I thought the 650R was very hard to control in bends and very bouncy in general. This was confirmed today. Riding behind my mate I could see the bike bouncing up and down repeatedly each time it hit a bump. That made me wonder whether it is possible to increase the damping on the shocks and how? I think that would probably sort the bike out.

There are 5 settings for rear spring/shock

Right, and I noticed it was set to the hardest setting. I think the bumps were being absorbed by the spring but not dampened out, so the bike tended to rebound several times. Following over the same bumps on my 250R my bike would compress the shock going over the bump and then return to normal right away. It was almost like the shock was not working apart from the spring part of it. It was a rental bike so I suppose it might be broken.

Just came back from a trip to Doi Inthanon with a mate on a 650R. I have previously remarked that during a test ride I thought the 650R was very hard to control in bends and very bouncy in general. This was confirmed today. Riding behind my mate I could see the bike bouncing up and down repeatedly each time it hit a bump. That made me wonder whether it is possible to increase the damping on the shocks and how? I think that would probably sort the bike out.

Haha, yeah I guess now people are just posting their own favorites... At least I think none of these can be described as new-ish inline four sportbikes :-)

The 2007-2008 CBR600RR has been heaped with praise and I will be bidding on one in a Japanese auction this Wednesday. Wish me luck.

i heard from my friend in kawa rama 9 the zx6 will be made here, and cost around 370..lets hope,..

How does your friend know that... as in how credible is the information? Hope it's true...

the zx6 is already on kawa.co.th site, just did not list the price.

Link please?

It's still not listed here with or without price: Product Line Up

ttakata I totally agree... Many superbike reviews start out by telling you you'd be mad to buy one and there's no way your skills match the bike's abilities. The fact that you can break most countries' freeway speed limits in first gear attests to that -- it's seems most at home on a track.

Anyway, thanks for all the advice guys, and please let anyone with a CBR600RR know that I'm in the market for one :jap:

I agree with JonnyF... it would be some small expensive baby steps to go first to 400cc and then 600cc. Direct to 600cc is the way...

Rastatoto that is an amazing looking bike, but I don't think I'm ready for a literbike, based on the advice in this thread and the advice of almost everyone else I've asked. Still it does seem like a crazy idea to pay the same price for a 600cc as I would pay for a 1000cc, but I'll pay the premium for a longer expected lifespan

Monkey, have you considered the VFR400?

Is yours still for sale? A VFR400 in good nic is an awesome little screamer of a bike, BUT you have to remember that they are OLD and will need a fair bit of TLC to keep them running. That said, if you're mechanically adept and find one in good shape at a good price they are wicked fun little bikes.

Unfortunately I've spoiled myself by having a brand new 250R that has required absolutely no attention apart from riding it and the odd service and oil change. I have a friend with an old-ish Hornet 600 -- fantastic bike I have to admit, but he is in the shop with it almost every weekend, and I don't envy him that So while the VFR400 is a fun looking and sounding bike, I wouldn't want to deal with the upkeep.

I think the perfect choice for me right now would be a CBR600RR from 2007 or later, or a ZX6R if Kawa decides to sell it unrestricted this year for under 500K... and I'm going to take your advice not to buy a liter bike. It's what everyone has been telling me, myself included if I'm honest

I figure that with a proper 600cc sportsbike I will be happy with it for many many years to come, as these 600s are more bike than most riders are rider. I love the characteristics of a revvy inline four and would not be satisfied with another two-pot like the ER6n or 650R (not bashing these bikes btw, best deal in Thailand right now, but not my thing).

I have been eyeing that R1 for a month now :-D

Fantastic looking bike for that age, but a liter bike....

My TGF translated the description of the CBR600RR and it's restricted, so no use.

The 2010 ZX6R is the KING of the 600cc supersport class, but if Kawasaki is going to sell it restricted I say no thanks...

Agreed. I think a lot of people think that way. I do hope Kawa come to their senses and sell the unrestricted version.

Kawa Chiang Mai recently sold the ZX10R they had on show... I asked them, they said it's been the same one on show since the beginning, I think more than a year ago. One unit in over a year... wow.

In my opinion a supersports 600 should be your next bike of choice.The performance of a 1L superbike would just be wasted Even very experienced road riders could never use the full potencial of a 1L bike.Has you live in a part of the country surrounded by the

best biking roads which vary from very fast to very twisty sections you would be in your element on a 600.Has for the 2004 R1 v Blade just google some reviews,the 2004 blade does not read favourbly.

Good advice... and probably safer as well. Perhaps get a few more years of experience on a 600cc before considering 1000cc. In any case, I love shifting gears on a bike, hearing the revs go up and down is a big part of the enjoyment, so that also speaks for a revvy 600 instead of a 1000...

Where is the best place to look for a new-ish second hand CBR600RR? I found a few pages but so far I only found it in boring black/silver!

Ninja 650R would obviously be first choice in terms of bang for the buck. But you didn't like it which I find a bit surprising. I love my ER-6n and particularly how I can throw it into curves, this bike takes corners like no bike I have had before. It's so easy. All reviews pretty much confirm this - cornering is just fantastic. The Ninja should be pretty much the same as the ER-6n (though I haven't tried one).

So... what I am saying is.. if you have trouble in the twisties with the Ninja, you're doing it wrong. Try counter steering - to go left, push the left handle bar which makes the wheel turn right and DROPS the bike into a nice angle which makes it go around the corner effortlessly.

...

Edit: The trick with the ER-6n/f is that you want to keep the engine above 7000 RPM. That makes a bit of noise, but you get the optimum power bracket, and, more importantly the bike suddenly rides as if on rails. Vibrations disappear. Only above 7k though.

I was surprised too, because I also read many great reviews of the 650R / ER6f and was sure I was going to buy one, but when I finally tried it I knew it was not for me, despite the fantastic price. I appreciate the advice on cornering, but I was comparing to the 250R on which I have no problems. Same rider on two bikes, so there must be a difference in the bikes' handling. I did discover the trick you mentioned about keeping the revs higher. That really seemed to remove a lot of the bounce and jitter, but not all of it. Is that a characteristic of most bikes, that you have to rev them to get them to settle? I guess on the 250 I would never go below about 7000rpm in any case as there is no power under that level :-)

BTW Kawa CM also said the ZX-6R would be coming, Japan import to just a hair less expensive than the ZX10R. So yeah it will be expensive but why shouldn't Kawasaki get it over here - does it cost them anything much to import it? I'd guess not. She's very pretty

I guess it will be the restricted spec, then, perhaps 70bhp instead of 110bhp :-(

Why dont you rent a 600 and a 1 L for a week and try them out? That way you know for sure yourself. Body size also comes into the equation.

Im a CBR150 rider,I have rented a 600 many times now and although never getting the most out of the bike it tels me that is what i want. I have never ridden a 1L but just sitting on one it feels too big and heavy for me. The power is heading towards double a 600 and I know I would be in trouble too quickly.

Just try parking the bigger bike in Lotus etc at busy times.......is enough to say that you still need the small bike for town use.

You can buy a YZF6r Yammy new but not sure if restricted model or not?

I would think the obvious way to go for you would be the 650F Ninja as a first step?

Be interesting to see further posts and opinions.

I did try out a mate's rented Ninja 650R for an hour or so around Mae Hong Son's twisty roads which are the roads I like best. I didn't like it. The bike seemed too upright, both in riding position but also in the way it seemed to resist leaning over. On my Ninja 250R once it is leaned in it will stay there effortlessly until I bring it out but the 650R would bounce around and require constant pressure on the handlebars to keep it leaned over. I like a more settled, planted ride. Also, most importantly, the 650R look just doesn't make me want one. I'm tempted to wait and see whether the ZX6R will be offered later this year at an affordable price, but then again, that might never happen, which is why I am considering alternatives :-)

I'm firmly set on getting a fully faired sportbike, not really interested in nakeds or choppers. I would prefer a 600cc, but if a 1000cc is also manageable, then it seems it would be easier to find one here in Thailand...

I've been riding a Ninja 250R for the last one and a half years (first "big" bike) and I'm getting a bit bored of it, so I want to upgrade to a bike with more power.

Perfect for me would be a second hand new-ish 600cc sportbike like the CBR600RR, but it seems that there is not much of a selection in Thailand? Apparently most imports are from Japan, but because bikes are restricted in Japan, the unrestricted imported bikes have actually been imported from Europe or US to Japan first. It seems few importers in Japan bother with 600s due to the small difference in price, and that means few 600s make it to Thailand too, so we end up with mostly literbikes.

I have seen a 2004 CBR1000RR for sale locally for 350,000. Would it be crazy to ride it (around Chiang Mai) with my experience level? Would it even be fun to ride compared to a 600cc, given that it will do around 120 kph in first gear? Someone told me it's more fun to ride a slow bike fast than a fast bike slowly. Would you literbike owners agree?

And finally, between a 2004 R1 and a 2004 CBR1000RR, which would you choose and why?