gobs

Hi MJP,

As say Meridian and LivinLOS, don't worry so much.

You don't want to go for 600 KB, and I understand this (as I can understand the ones who do, no problem with this), and as said: check, check, check! Don't be in a hurry. Look at the ads, look at some "little" dealers here and there, and if you are not sure, go with a thai friend who understand what you're looking for... The second hand market in LOS is a "slow market": in 95% of the cases, the bike you just check today will still be for sale in one month...

I actually ride:

1) a '91 Honda CB1 400 I bougt in a small shop for 65 KB, with (true?) green book. And apart some little problem with the carburetors at the time, it works great for me...

2) a '95 Honda XR 250 Baja I bought 40 KB in another small shop, with (true?) green book, and it works great for me...

OK, they are not mint, nor shiny, nor strictly original, nor "star bikes", but I enjoy them every time I ride them (what is the first thing I ask to my bikes! Girls magnet bikes: not my style!), and in case of "big problem with the police", no worry... At the worst, you lose some 10s KB...

Furthemore, you find everywhere a lot of second hand spare parts for these bikes at "normal" prices for LOS.

For other part, I guess that the police is not so attracted by such "used and old" bikes.

BUT, YES, BUY A BIKE WITH GREEN BOOK AND PLATE, you will be more quite in your every day rides.

Good luck in your search,

Gobs

Thanks Richard,

I choosed a bad example, but good to know about the Yam FZ6...

And OK, now I understand free trade agreement BETWEEN Tailand AND Japan...

Just a question more, please: where are built the BMWs, Ducatis, Triumphs... Are they coming from Europe? I can't explain myself this: according to prices in France, for example, one Yam FZ6F in LOS is 20% up-priced. But one BMW (new model twin 800cc) F650 GS is 54% up-priced, here!

Why such a spread between a Japanese brand and a European one?

Cheers,

Gobs

Hi Richard,

Your post is interesting to me, and makes me curious. And it seems you are "in"...

First, I want to say I know nothing about what you are speaking of, and, by the way, I don't realy understand what you are meaning... But I don't want to die as a stupid boy!..

1) Richard-BKK said: "The Suzuki Dl1000 is build in Japan, in two months the import duty on a brand new Suzuki DL1000 would be 6%....plus local sales tax"

Is it to say that in 2 months the bikes, in our case of interest, will be cheaper here in LOS?

2) Generally, is it better for the money to buy "in shop" here or to order and buy to an importer, please...

If we take an example: the Yamaha FZ6F.

Retail price in Yam shops in Thailand: 447 KB, all inclusive: bike in hands and true green book under the seat.

So, suppose I ask to a bike importer to get a Yam FZ6F brand new...

Is it possible? And at what price, all inclusive: bike in hands and green book under the seat?

If new not possible, take the case, say, one 6 months old FZ6F?

3) The Suzuki bikes can't be imported or what?

I read somewhere that these bikes don't success the fumes tests in Thailand. Is it true?

Thanks a lot,

Gobs

:D

What a laugh I got, Allan! I do adore your post! It's like a cartoon...

Sure, big bikes are very expensive here. I checked (and dreamed!) for a BMW F650GS (800 cm3, twin engine) brand new, so in France you get it at about 8200 Euros, that is (today) 370000 Bahts, here in Los the retail price is 570000 Bahts! That's to say 50% up...

Again, in France, a Yam FZ6F: 370000 Bahts; in Los: 447000 Bahts. + 20% up...

And the difference is much more important for our US friends!

Thanks bigbikeBKK for the reply... I think now near every body knows "Red Baron". THE big bike shop in BKK! But I had not yet the web adress, good.

According to the price of the FZ6F, I guess the DL650 V-Strom is in the same range...

Cheers,

Gobs

Hi friends,

As I know where we can purchase big bikes such as Ducati, BMW, Yamaha or Triumph, I have no idea where to purchase a Suzuki V Strom 650...

In Thailand Suzuki makes the step-throughs, but what about big bikes? Maybe Red Baron or something like that?..

And the price of a V strom brand new in LOS? Some idea?..

If someone knows, thanks in advance,

Gobs

Well, I emailed them 3 days ago... and no news!

Maybe they need more time...

Thanks Jimmy,

But IT IS this one which is "temporarily out of service"!

Cheers

I guys,

I already asked in the Pattaya thread, but no answer. Maybe not a good idea

So, What is the current phone number of Siam Racing Motorcycles in Pat?

I'va got one but it is "temporarily out of service", and in their web site there is no mention of a phone number...

I was told they have some Africa Twin for sale, and, as I'm settled in Chiang Mai, I would like to contact them about this before having a jump to there.

Thanks in advance,

Gobs

Hi all in Pat!

I would like to contact Siam Racing Motorcycles in Pat, but I got a wrong phone number ("unavailable").

Before someone says, no, there is no phone number on the web site of SRM...

Please, one of you knows the right number?

Thanks

Gobs

Yes a mistake may happen...

Always quickly check the date of stamp in front of the officer, before leaving, and ask to modify if needed.

It happened to me 3 years ago at the airport: at the border the officer gave me only 30 days when I had to get 60. I asked the officer, and no problem, she modified the stamping date.

Good luck,

Gobs

Look friends:

The Thedi's Yam Royal Star 1998 runs great with gasohol...

And then the BikerBob's Yam Dragstar 1999 runs bad...

What's the heck?..

Probably, noone can know before trying his own's "old" bike... Maybe OK, maybe bad at all!..

Am I ready to try in my CB1 400 or my XR 250? A BIG NO for the moment...

I think, we are able to get regular 91 for years ahead IMHO...

Gobs

Nowadays, most cars and bikes from the new market come with injection. And in this case are "ready" for the gasohol...

But what about the Honda Dream (and the like) brand new in shop now?

Essentially, carbs can run with gasohol with some adjustings. The bad things are for the rubber components, some pistons/cylinders (some alloys don't appreciate alcohol) and for the metallic tanks due to the retention of water by alcohol...

So old bikes need new rubbers all along the line from the tank to the cylinder(s) and the ones inside carbs, engine is what it is (don't think to modify the inside if needed!..) and plastic tank or lining the inside with some plastic stuff (this stuff already exists and is sometimes used in old rusty tanks)...

It is what I heard and read about...

The uggly is for the carbs: where to find this "special rubber components"? Maybe in a near future this will open a new (niche) market...

Cheers,

Gobs

Wow! IMHO, your buddy made a good deal dotcom...

Brand new on street, the FZ 1 is quoted 5XX KB. Quote from the seller here in Yamaha Big Bike shop in Chiang Mai. You know, that's something like a 300 KB down for 5 years ans ONLY 3000 kms!..

OK, 555 no good!

I can ask you were he bought it?

Particular or shop?

Cheers,

Gobs

I think it's a VERY BIG concern here in LOS, where so many old bikes and cars are used for the "every day" work... Sure, I don't know exactly, but maybe 80 % of the benzine vehicles are not designed to run with gasohol.

So I can't imagine a govt deciding from today to tomorrow to strictly replace regular benzine by some 91 and/or 95 gasohol...

Well I just realize the title of the topic...

CB 1300 and VTR 1000 already erased!..

How is the life, hey?..

Thanks to all!

Thanks LivingLOS,

Some friends here too say that 600 cc is the good figure for Thailand. Over, you don't really take advantage of it, because of the trafic in the city (though I live in CNX and not BKK), the quality of the roads out of the city and so on...

About the Kawi ER6, I read that it's not at all the same "behavior": 2 cylinders, low torque at low rev, good booster over 4500 rpm, and "hard" shocks, for "sport" riding... Well, the Kawasaki spirit!

The FZ6 is a 4 cyl., has torque in low rev, an a "linear" engine that burst only over 7000 rpm. And comfortable shocks and seat...

For otherpart, IMHO, the Kawi is "Star Treck" too much...

Yes, I know, 1XX KB up for the FZ6... That's a lot.

Cheers,

Gobs

Thanks friends.

I found a XRV 750 Africa Twin for sale: 1XX KB legit...

But I "met" a Yamaha FZ6 brand new in a show room: 4XX KB...

And I'm beginning to love it...

The biker's life is a real mess!

Retirement visa 1 year: 1900 Bahts!

Hi friends!

I'm coming back... Cos' I feel a little lost after friends adviced me and after had some search on specific forums here and there.

So, some say better to choose a Yamaha XJR 1200 or 1300: more comfortable, torque in low rev, better for the passenger... even if the frame is not at the top.

Others say better the Suzuki GSX 750 or 1200 (1400 out of my budget, too new)...

Others tell me why not one 1200 Bandit? Punch and straight!.. More the fun.

And, "cherry on the cake", a friend called me from Europe and said, you know what?

GO FOR A HONDA 750 AFRICA TWIN, if you can find one!

With this one, you can do everything you want, and go everywhere you want... Touring, solo/duo, highway, city, trails... It's the perfect one-in-all, if you forget the "racing" side...

And thanks, Fatmal, I forgot to speak about the advice of the VFR 750 or 800. Great bike one said... But for me it seems like a "sport bike" with all this "plastic". Is it or not?

I found some ads here in LOS (but not checked). You can get a legit VFR 750 for under 100 KB...

Pfew! What a mess at the end!

I know, nothing can be perfect. But I feel that more infos you get, more in trouble you fall...

Between the pros and the cons, it's the nerves war!

Maybe I let my heart swing, as I used to do in Europe until now, and will make my choice by "coup de cœur"...

Thanks friends

Gobs

Oh, I forgot...

A good place for second hand bikes:

www.thaisecondhand.com

Cars, furniture, camera and so on, but a big list of bikes: big bikes, light bikes, classic, scooters, parts... In thai language, but easy to manage with some time (nearly always the same words...), or ask some help from a thai friend.

And a lot of SR 400, and some 500... With and without green book

Oh, I forgot...

A good place for second hand bikes:

www.thaisecondhand.com

Cars, furniture, camera and so on, but a big list of bikes: big bikes, light bikes, classic, scooters, parts... In thai language, but easy to manage with some time (nearly always the same words...), or ask some help from a thai friend.

And a lot of SR 400, and some 500... With and without green book

The best advice I've read here and there, and that I truly respect when I buy a motorised vehicle is:

BUY AND RIDE A LEGIT VEHICLE!

IMHO, in the next few months/years, police will enforce the law. And if caught without green book for a bike, you let this bike to the policeman by the road and go back home with only your helmet in hands! No matter to get it back to you!

A neighbour of mine (thai policeman) expects that the law have to be enforced "soon".

And I don't live in BKK but in Chiang Mai, "somewhere in the country"...

About fake books, when vehicles change of owner, "they" now control accurately the numbers on the vehicle: wrong serial-number, old number scratched and/or re-stamped, etc... Furthermore, computers are now connected and it's easy for "them" to check stolen vehicles at this time...

I see some guys "losing" their bikes by these ways. And of course, their money!..

My 25 satang advice.

Cheers

Thanks to all!

Good advices from real bikers... And good links.

Thanks DotCom: but BB not for me! Nice bike and incredible specs (wow!), but not my "kind of bike". Do you try it allready? What was the feeling?..

Thanks for the feeling, CroBiker. I'm an addict to Honda, you know...

Thanks too 0mix1up. What you say is obvious... But I would like to make a "reasonable" choice... if possible!

"Occasional", Captain, is a word I get in head too! I don't ever think riding "all over Asia" till the end of my life! But some says passenger footpegs are "very high" on the CB 1300, so touring is not very confortable for the passenger (my spouse in this case!)... And I understand clearly what you mean about the rear seat of the VTR (glups!).

I know: nothing is perfect...

We have all to make choices, whatever it is, from the toothpaste we used daily to the Big Bike we dream of...

Cheers to all

Gobs

Sorry Dotcom...

Blackbird is a nickname for the ST 1100 or a specific model?

Hi Triffle!

As says G54... In the daily language in LOS, you have two meanings for marriage...

So you have to know (maybe from your GF) if you are speaking of the "real" legal marriage, in this case, yes you need some papers, or if it is the "socialising" marriage party (as explains G54) for family, relatives, villagers and so on, in which case you need NO official papers...

Please tell which one, to have the right answer.

Cheers and congratulation!