bobbin

To help ensure the speedtest is not giving a bogus result, when going into your modem/router setup (like where you enter the User ID and Password for your ISP), what download/upload sync speeds are shown. This tells you what speed you are connecting to the DSLAMs which is the only real way to confirm whether your ISP has you running on a 12Mb/1Mb package.

Checking my router gives these numbers..

Download 14236 Kbps

Upload 1263 Kbps

Service is still crap though, with many time-outs. You can't win!

This morning I noticed a considerable speed increase on Utorrent.

Checking Speedtest several times, I found I am receiving 12mb/1mb.

My package is 8mb/1mb.

If the speed holds I will be happy. Truth be known, their service last couple of months has been horrible. Constant time-outs and dropped connections.

The proper term for Wife #1 is Mia Luang...

This idea could work but it could also get expensive.

AFIK, the proper term for you is ka sia. The "spoilage fee".

It has been awhile since I visited the forum. I see the same dribble is being posted

I recently laughed as I had a Western friend move here not to long ago. He read that assnine book "Thailand Fever". That book made me laugh as I skimmed it. It was geared to the typical scum bag foreigner who met GF in a bar and after she did him well, now he wants to marry her. So for those few, pick up the book it has all the answers.

Here are a few of my rules of the thumb.

1)STAY WAY FROM BARS.

2) STAY AWAY FROM DATING WEBSITES

3) Rule of thumb # 1

4) Rule of thumb # 2

My GF and I laugh when we see the 50+ year old guy with the 20 year old gal. For some reason it is perceived that it is OK here to have a GF 30+ years younger...well let me tell you, in the groups of people I associate with here, it is not. They may not say it out loud but trust me they are as disgusted with it as the people are in the country you came from. Thai folks typically are quiet and avoid confrontation but do not kid yourself if you think they embrace your pedophile activity.....

Well!!

You aren't an advanced member at all, are you?

Seriously, sure your GF isn't saying what you want to hear? They will do that you know...

It's Valentine's Day and I feel like a 20 year old. In fact, I feel like two 20 year olds.

I'm sure you'll make a fabulous English teacher when you move to Thailand then.

Ah...

samran chimes in with another snide bon mot.

I like that!

Would fit right in here in Pattaya...

What size engine?

I think the guy was close to genius with this idea. Only close, because he got caught at it.

This the fantasy of so many divorced men. Admit it. In your heart, you know it's true.

Besides, she was with her family, right?

I know that it gives me no small satisfaction to think of my ex-wife, who reverted to her original surname that she unfortunately shares with several known terrorists. This just before 9/11. And after traveling with an anglo-saxon surname for more than 17 years.

Traveling must be a nightmare..

I am very happy that our friend is now safe and well, saved by the gracious actions of one individiual, I wish him well.

I am also happy to have read your report of his well being.

I am aware that we are not able to fall back on our ( British ) government to look after us where ever we may end up in world and in what ever condition we may be in. we are on our own, if that's too big a task, well, best stay at home and lock the door.

It seems that you, Andrew, are willing to judge a book by its cover. How many soi 6's are in Thailand????

Up to now I did have some respect for you , but that now is down the drain..

I take your silly comparison as me to a brothel as huge insult.

T**T

Uh.....I'm calling BS on this.

Pattaya's Glitterman as an avatar combined with the fact that the only Soi Hok in Thailand that counts is the Soi Hok.

If you can't take the heat you should have chosen a different member name.

Inverted forks, anyone?

Start changing forks etc, and it's no longer a cheap conversion. I hope/figure two wheels and sport-bike tires could be done for 5+k or so.

No need to look for race-ready. Just an inexpensive change-over from dual-sport to motard. It's already street-legal.

The Honda CRF230m (223cc) sell for just under $5800US so Bt. 174,000. Kawasaki's dual-sport 250 is around 130-140k or so, I'm not sure.

This Lifan 200 at 50+k converted looks pretty good.

But if I put a 17" on the front won't that affect the angle of the bike, would it be awkward to drive?

My thoughts exactly, but then I have been told many times that I know nothing.

Well, I waited to see if anyone with experience would answer but will throw in my 2 satang...

Look at the pictures above of the 250 Lifan motard...

Do you think they and all the other brands offering motard-syle bikes would do so if if it screwed up the handling? Common sense will give you the answer to your question.

I just thought you would have to extend the forks to compensate for the smaller wheel size, otherwise wouldn't the handle bars be a few inches lower. Surely, your position on the bike would be different. As to handling, I leave that to the experts.

Handlebars will be lower by 2''.

Here's a link to Honda's CFR230M.

http://powersports.honda.com/street/motard.aspx

But if I put a 17" on the front won't that affect the angle of the bike, would it be awkward to drive?

My thoughts exactly, but then I have been told many times that I know nothing.

Well, I waited to see if anyone with experience would answer but will throw in my 2 satang...

Look at the pictures above of the 250 Lifan motard...

Do you think they and all the other brands offering motard-syle bikes would do so if if it screwed up the handling? Common sense will give you the answer to your question.

They also got black rims as standard. Bastards.

I'll take the extra 100 ponies though, tbh.

You'll be waiting a long time for that.

Ponies is slang for horsepower. See the connection?

You are probably right, I might think about a rainy season set. I wonder what is available for a 21 inch front?

You've missed the point of the last 3 or 4 posts.

Two sets of wheels. One set you've already got.

The other set with street tires. Motard front wheels are 17" if I'm not mistaken. Back wheel same as now.

That dog deserves to die..........Sorry, but it's the truth

It seems that both the OP and the dog have mutual feeling, but the dog is doing something about it, now the dog may be wonder if the OP got what it takes, grrrrrrrrrr bring it on

I like your sense of humour...

Cannot find any post about helmets only ?

In the days when I owned and rode motorbike there was no laws, and so have never bought or worn a helmet in my life [37 yrs ago]..

Looking yesterday in a helmet shop + only in a small shop in Bang Bua Thong, was amazed at how many different ones and prices..

Anyone advise please, will only be getting a 125 Fi scooter + only ride around the local Villages... Re looking on websites had thought the norm would be about 4,000 baht, but yesterday the 'Index' helmet looked good and only 700 baht + plain white so could spray to match the bike.

Most people around here never wear helmets, but want one as can never tell going around a corner out in the sticks, where there will be a check point for motorbikes, seen it so often + yesterday driving to Bang Yai via the back roads at least 30 bikes pulled over.

Be careful about modifying (painting included) a helmet. Some chemicals affect the strength of the helmet.

White is your best bet for comfort in this climate anyway. Avoid a black helmet like the plague!

I'm not interested in a motocross bike per se, but am I correct that a motard-style bike is a motocross bike with street tires?

If so, and nice wide road tires are available, then voila!, instant 200cc motard for under 50k! That I am interested in. Great for the less than perfect roads around town with the long suspension travel.

Please keep us up to date with your impressions.

I don't see any reason why you couldn't put street tires on this bike, but it comes with moderate knobby tires, and it is doing fine on the street. Don't know how long they last though.

I think on the motard bikes, you have a smaller front wheel as well. No biggie if they are available to fit.

Being Canadian, as are you, I know that any tire with big lugs (knobby) negatively affects ride comfort, fuel efficiency and road noise. Still think you could do it for only a bit more than 50k.

Also note there is no skid plate on your bike. I would look into that.

Wire cutters in the middle of the nite should solve the problem

Government property.

I'm not interested in a motocross bike per se, but am I correct that a motard-style bike is a motocross bike with street tires?

If so, and nice wide road tires are available, then voila!, instant 200cc motard for under 50k! That I am interested in. Great for the less than perfect roads around town with the long suspension travel.

Please keep us up to date with your impressions.

How long have the loudspeakers been operating?

These same loudspeakers appeared on Soi WatBoon in Jomtien about 1 month ago. The music/commentary started about 7 am and continued until 8 am. However they irritated many farang/tourists in the area and someone in our building wrote a complaining letter and asked anyone/everyone interested to sign it. He then arranged for the letter to be sent to Banglamung district offices. Who it was addressed to I don't know. But the loudspeakers have been silent for the past week!

They belong in rural areas, not residential areas in the Pattaya/Jomtien area, where many listeners do not even understand the commentary. I speak Thai and like luk thung music, but I am not a farmer and have no need to awaken at 7 am to loud radio.

Try to enlist a small group of people who are also bothered by them and complain as a group. Or ask that the loudspeakers be limited to playing the national anthem at 8 am. This actually is the most important use of these loudspeakers for Thai officials.

Yes, I sit on my balcony and watch that intersection every day.

Surprisingly, I have yet to see an accident but it is waiting to happen.

The number of vehicles charging across Soi WatBoon at full-speed is shocking.

What effort required to make it a 4-way stop? Even if traffic lights are planned for later...

What if I wanted 'peace, quiet and sanity', though? How much of a drive would that be?

About 15 minutes to Jomtien...

another 15 minutes and you are in Bang Saray...zzzzzz

URGENT: Anyone know where I can buy a SparX in Thailand (where they are in stock - Dirtshop is sold out)? Mine just got stolen, urgently need new one

Kawasaki Big Bike shop in Pattaya has some SparX helmets. I saw them 2-3 days ago.

By all indication and rumour Honda are going to increase the price as they seem to have undervalued it, and the market. Wait and pay more is just as likely as wait and pay less.

And I'm pretty sure mods will be developed whether he buys his bike or not.

That's not true as far as I know. As I said before, Honda Thailand has advertised this bike in the Thai media at 100/115 ,000ABS. Any other price is the dealers exploiting early interest. But that's Capitalism for you. We have enough examples of dealers pricing at or near the original Honda price to see which dealers are reaching too deep into our pockets.

As for where you buy it, all dealers will service it. That's the point of buying a Honda.

Samran and Berkshire

In the interests of providing accurate information to someone (the Op) who phrased their request in a reasonable fashion, Pattaya is an inter-cultural hub. Who can reasonably deny that.

Walking Street and the bars near Beach Road do not comprise the entire city. So it's a specious argument to say that the Red Light District is not Amsterdam, but WalkingStreet/Beach Road is Pattaya.

Pattaya is the little city that grew...at a fantastic rate. And like all cities like it, most inhabitants are from somewhere else. People willing to move to pursue opportunity. Yes, people looking to make money. Like everywhere else in the world.

Samran, I never spoke of my preferences in Thai women but will volunteer that my taste runs to the Northern Thai look. But I don't wear blinders and have seen many attractive Issan ladies. That said, I have spent considerable time and money learning Thai and virtually none of either learning Lao.

I live in Pattaya/Jomtien for all the reasons I mentioned previously. The OP could as well. "Graduating", if you will, to that more "authentic" Thai experience/environment when desired. An experience/environment that might be somewhat intimidating otherwise.

Berkshire, what was so well said by Samran? Perhaps if you like your opinions well-salted with sarcasm, it might appeal, but you say you like the place, just don't want to live there. That is not Samran's opinion. He sneers at it's very existance.

And that's the problem. What happened to live and let live?