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I did try to decode VIN. Most decoders fail. One called it "2001 Yamaha Majesty 125". The VIN 10th digit, indicating the year, is 1 which decodes to 2001. Maybe the VIN is not standard format, at least for the year. It's MLESE661111xxxxxx (serial # redact). But I found on the VIN plate the apparent manufacture year: 2559 (2016). So the 2017 User Manual should be close enough. It's a decent scooter, even though old and ratty looking. I found an interesting web site discussing motor scooters in general, with emphasis on Filano: https://alphapro.com/decemberlooking13/filano.htm

Thank you for the link. I downloaded the manual. For 2017 Filano LTF125. I'm guessing not much, if anything, has changed since then. I still don't know what year this bike is, maybe earlier or later than 2017.

Thank you for the Wikipedia link. It does not mention the Filano, which I understand is a similar but different model. I'm looking for Filano specific information.

I rented medium-long term a Yamaha Filano 125cc motorbike. Old and ratty, but runs okay. The (private) dealer couldn't tell me what year it was, which I want to know because I want to find and download the appropriate Users Guide manual for it. Because I am a RTFM type of guy, sometimes there are valuable knowledge tidbits there. I tried to decode the VIN, but the year digit is "1", which decodes to model year 2001. But I think they only started making Filanos in 2014? I haven't found any Filano web pages. Any interesting facts, comments, links, etc. about Yamaha Filano motorbike?

I have both MINT and T-Mobile. I bought some international credits and data for my MINT plan. But cellphone doesn't always connect or work as hotspot with MINT. T-Mobile has been better; generally reliable, always connecting with local carrier, high speed data allowance. With T-Mobile I always get my MFA codes, no problems with Google logins prompts. Because it is a US #, no problems with MFA. Most of my financial institutions don't accept Thai - or any international - #s. Probably same for Thai institutions, they won't text MFA to US #s. I had to get a Thai phone number account to get a Thai bank account. Credit phone plan doesn't work, needs to be monthly plan.

@oldcpu Thank you very much for your perspective! That marriage visa is more difficult to acquire and maintain than retirement visa. While I prefer not to lock up funds in a non-interest account I can do that as necessary to renew / extend my retirement visa, the apparently easier path. My experience so far is agents can significantly simplify the process, and help ensure I do it right the first time. I'm working with my agent on many things: my visa and its extension, my marriage to my Thai girlfriend, including prenuptial agreement, CR1 visa for her to come with me to USA, also visa for her child to come to the USA. Without someone who knows the system, I would be lost. Agent is somewhat expensive, but hopefully worth it.

Thanks everyone for your responses. Sorry about multiple subjects in single paragraph. Breaking it down: Primary question I have is how difficult is a spouse visa to get compared to a retirement visa? I'm working with Bangkok IO. My agent (also in Bangkok) tells me spouse visa is much more difficult, requires many forms of proof that we live together at her family home address, neighbors have to sign forms, etc. And actually we are not staying there now, we travel, adding to the difficulty. Is it really that hard? I understand that IO might not renew my retirement visa as a spouse visa, it might be easier to leave, return on exempt, and then apply for the spouse visa. Secondary question is how much in advance of visa renewal does the 800k (retirement visa) or 400k (spouse visa) need to be in my bank account? I've heard 60 days, but I'm not sure. For now I'm just leaving that 800k there, in anticipation of the 90 day renewal (to one year). Comment on leaving 800k (or 400k) in Thai bank account that pays no interest. With current inflation ~5% the real value of this money drops ~5% per year. Even a bit of interest would take the edge off that. Also, if not locked up in Thai bank account it could be invested in something paying more interest than inflation. So that's why I'm interested in not leaving any more than necessary any longer than necessary in Thai non-interest account.

Hi all. I applied for and received my Thai Type O (retirement) visa. I had to deposit 800k bhat in a Thai bank to do this. Problem is bank doesn't pay interest, actually they charge an annual maintenance fee. So I'm loosing money as inflation continues. I think I can transfer the money out now that I have my visa? But I need to renew it in 90 days, so I'll have to transfer the money back in? How much in advance of visa renewal does the account need to show that 800k+ balance? Maybe best just to leave it there for the 90 days. Next issue is I'm marrying my Thai girlfriend next week. So I should be able to renew my Type O visa as a spouse visa instead of retirement visa, and for 1 year. I understand that with Type O (spouse) the requirement drops to 400k, an easier amount for me to maintain. How difficult is it to renew Type O visa as spouse instead of retirement? What extra documents, etc. are required?

The solution is legalization and social support: rights and respect for sex workers. But that won't happen, there is too much resistance from the people exploiting the workers i.e. operators who want to keep their profits high, paid / bribed politicians / law enforcement, customers who want to keep prices low, and social conservatives. As long as the "world's oldest profession" trade remains illegal, workers will be exploited and trafficked. Sex work should be legal, regulated, and licensed, with oversight by social workers to ensure all workers are doing it by choice and not coercion.

I went to an AIS service outlet. Representative insisted I can not lock the SIM card, AIS does not support that. I persist, and eventually she does some research and says the default PIN is 1,2,3,4. Enter that, then set my new PIN, enable lock. No problems..