Somnambulist

7 hours ago, GypsyT said:

I got my MacBookAir to come back this way;

 

"Unplug the laptop from the charger and peripherals. Hold down Shift + Control + Option and the power button for ten seconds. Let go of all keys and reconnect the charger. Then, press the power button to boot your laptop."

 

 

I gave that a try a couple of hours ago and so far, so good. Many thanks!

My M1 MacBookAir is on the fritz. Can you recommend a good shop or repairman?

2 hours ago, Celsius said:

Guy is asking about the clinic, but people talk about hospitals.

This info about hospitals is news to me, so I appreciate those posts, too.

I need to see a doctor but I hate dual pricing. Can you point me toward one that doesn't

do that.

My girl sells smoothies in South Pattaya. Biz had been dead for a long time,

but four or five days ago it suddenly got much better.

18 hours ago, sustanon said:

https://maps.app.goo.gl/VR9BRqSMhRDYxYji6

I dropped off my bag today. He's going to work on both arm straps for 120 baht and it'll be

ready in one day.

That's close to me. Thank you 🙏

My shoes are fine but my old but trusty daypack needs a strap replaced and I thought a shoe repair shop

might be a good place to go?  But I don't know Pattaya very well. Any ideas?

I just bought one at the DIY at The Avenue for 49 baht and it works.  

Happy ending.

 :--)

The package said it was a flash drive lol.  So I was slightly worried but it looked like what I wanted and it was/is.

5 minutes ago, NextG said:

Did you check Mr DIY whilst you were at Tukcom?

I bought a USB-C to USB-A adapter there.  25 baht. 

Oh, no, I didn't think to go look in there. Thanks. For that price, one could break every month and I wouldn't even mind lol.

I need a USB Type C (male) to Micro USB (female) adapter.

I've bought two adaptors at Tukcom but they both broke within a month. Powerbuy doesn't sell them.

I bought from two shops on the same floor. I don't know if I just had bad luck or if they

sell cheap junk. So, where else in Pattaya can I buy one, or should I go to Lazada?

I have been taking saw palmetto for years. It works. Also zinc. Most of the zinc in a man's body is in his prostate. Those with enlarged prostates have a lot less of it there than those whose prostates are in better shape.  Zinc is great for the libido, too. 

What are they requiring these days for a certificate of residence to open a bank account? 

On 10/12/2022 at 4:55 PM, Inala said:

They were fine. One side serviced floors 1-25, the other side went express straight past them to floors 26 and up. It was a fantastic building. Having that massive full height internal atrium with staircase and verandahs was fantastic for breezes. Btw, I'm talking about the Sky Beach next to Centara Grand, not the other Sky Beach (Park Beach?) further down Soi 18 in Wongamat.

Oh, that's good to know. I am moving in December but am staying in the Pratamnak/Jomtien area because it has become home. But maybe someday I'll consider Skybeach again because I love the architecture and location.

On 10/4/2022 at 1:57 PM, Inala said:

Lived in Sky Beach Naklua, which is right next door to Wongamat. Loved it. Fantastic and iconic old building. Absolute beachfront, as are many up here. Naklua and Wongamat are handy to get into town, you can even walk if you're going to a restaurant on the north end of Beach Road. I'm not so keen on the very northern end of Wongamat, it turns into a dead end up there. Otherwise, beaches are nice and quite a few waterfront restaurants as well.   

Before choosing Pratamnak, I was interested in Sky Beach, but was warned that the elevators are very slow. True?  But now I live in Unixx and the elevators are slow haha.

I lived on the Kasetsin side of Pratamnak for a year. A guy in my building had a very nasty looking scar on his right calf from a dog bite. He was an avid walker.  I got chased a few times even on my scooter.  But it was their barking in the wee hours that really bothered me.  Now I live in Unixx, which has windows and walls that keep out almost all noise.
Another thing I didn't like about Kasetsin, as someone mentioned above, is that it's not connected to the rest of Pratamnak (because of the royal property in the area I've been told). Even on a scooter I got tired of having to go all the way up to Pratamnak Road and then back down Soi 5 to get to the big beach. Cozy Beach is OK but isn't long enough to go for a proper walk.  starts

If I wasn't happy in Unixx, I'd look for something in Pratamnak on Soi 4, 5, or 6.  BTW, there's a baht bus that stops in the Unixx parking lot. 

You wear your armoured jacket and boots just to go to 7-11?  That's just not me.  I would cook.  

7 hours ago, KhaoYai said:

I did, sorry.  However, I use my bike for every type of trip - except maybe the 7/11 if I'm too lazy to drag it out of the garage.  To be honest, I don't find any disadvantage, 99% of the time I can get through traffic queues along with the small bikes. Personally I find the ER6 quite a nimble bike for a 650 - but I spent 40 years on 900's and 1000's.

Fair enough.  I did buy an old 250cc dirt bike years ago in Chiang Mai and rode that around town for a few months, not a great idea with it's knobby tires and all that gear changing in traffic gets old.  I wore out a pair of nice shoes, too, and was glad to get rid of it.  
I like to wear sandals around town so I don't want to have to shift with my left foot.  So I'm going to buy a Forza and ride it to Koh Chang (I'm in Pattaya) and maybe Hua Hin or even Surat Thani and see how it goes.  I just want to avoid having two bikes; I live in a condo and don't want two bikes sitting in the public parking area all the time.  That's just me.  

16 minutes ago, piston broke said:

 

Maybe for sustained dual carriage way riding, but if thats of prime importance, then a 500cc geared bike would be my weapon of choice - but nipping in and out of traffic,  nipping up to the shops and parking in the tight spaces round pattaya - The Forza would be like riding an old bath tub .... The ADV  would be far nippier and "chuckable - Standard suspension on the ADV is far far better than standard Forza suspension - Pretty important here what with the 3rd rate roads.......

 

ADV looks better too (IMHO) ...

I rented a Honda PCX here in Pattaya and thought it was very comfy but very boring.  I've noticed a lot of owners upgrade the shocks on the Forza.  Would that do the trick?

4 hours ago, KhaoYai said:

I stand by all I said.

 

Yes, some do it but the facts speak for themselves, the vast majority of bikers that go touring (in Thailand and worldwide), do so on bikes over 500cc.

 

Remember also that the OP is talking about a bike of 150cc or under.  I cannot see any fun in riding around the mountains of Petchabun on a bike of that size for example.  Touring usually involves a few hours of mile munching to get to a particular area - I wouldn't find wobbling around in the bike lane of highway 21 for example, on a sub 150cc machine very appealing - or safe.

 

You mention 120kmh, a decent enough speed to get between destinations but again, the OP is talking about sub 150cc machines.  There are plenty of bikes in that bracket that won't even get to that speed and as for those that can - doing that over sustained distances will kill the bike.

 

There are always those that 'buck the trend' - that doesn't make it right or the bike suitable.

 

How long you've been biking has nothing to do with it - I've probably been riding longer than you I guess but that has nothing to do with the suitability of a bike for long distance touring.

 

I have a Scoopy and an ER6n - when in Thailand I often ride between Khao Yai and Korat city (100km) - the Scoopy is 110cc and will do the trip but I wouldn't dream of going on it.

I'm the OP.  I am NOT talking about 150cc bikes anymore.  I wrote on page 1 that I changed my mind and now intend to buy a Honda Forza 300 or 350.  From what I've read and the several videos I've watched, they are far superior to 150cc scooters. You also seem to have missed the part where I said I need the bike for around town as well.  

10 hours ago, BTB1977 said:

The honda hands down. And by zipping around town I have a new Forza 300 that I zip around town in. Had a PCX before and I zip just as easy with the forza. As for touring the forza is twice the touring bike the ADV will be. 2 year old forzas with less than 20,000 kilometers are selling in the low 100,000s. About the same you would spend on a new ADV. I started riding with a group of scooter guys here. 4 years ago we all had 150cc bikes for our rides.  Took many long trips . But one by one we all moved up to the forza and everyone said it was the best move they could have made. Twice the comfort more storage space and the extra power makes it much much better at 90 and 100. The engine is not working hard at all. A 150cc at 90 and 100 it is at it's upper limit of the rpms. Just finished a 3,600 kilometer ride up north and had a blast. Have had my forza for 2 years now and have just over 65,000 kilometers.  Will probably get a new one after 300,000. 

Hm, that's an interesting idea, buying a used one now, and I might do that.  But more likely I'll wait till next year when bitcoin is 50,000 haha (if you know, you know).
How does your Forza handle all the storm drains and endless speed bumps on the back sois of North Pattaya compared to the ADV 150, which people say had quite a good suspension?  

32 minutes ago, vandeventer said:

 

Really, Please buy a small car, you will be much happier and safer! I have been riding big bikes in Thailand for many years and it's a dangerous place to ride.

Nah, I've been riding in Thailand, mostly in Chiang Mai with occasional runs up to Pai, for 15 years.  I have a lot of fun with it and have never had an accident.  I seldom get passed on that twisty road because I am aggressive when it's smart.  But every now and then a big bike will come along and pass me like I'm standing still.  I have a good awareness of my limits and don't do anything stupid.  I used to own a small car in Chiang Mai, and later a pickup.  I don't want either anymore.  

On 6/14/2020 at 6:31 PM, SS1 said:

The ADV-150 is an excellent scooter particularly because of its suspension. You can fit a full-face helmet under the seat (depending on its size) but it's a bit tight. I wrote a long review some time ago in another group, copied it here. 
 

Bought the new ADV150 a week ago and promised some people here a proper review. When it first came out, I was a little sceptical, wondering if it’ll be just another PCX with fancier fairings. But damn, I was wrong: this thing is the best scooter I’ve ever tried.

I was already saying years ago why can’t they make a small scooter with offroad suspension or like a mix between a scooter and a supermoto. The roads here seem to be getting worse by the day and personally, I always use some <deleted>ty backroads to beat the traffic jams. There is nothing I hate more than having to slow down for bumps and potholes. Finally, Honda came up with a concept that’s simply perfect for Bangkok roads. To put things into perspective, I’m used to riding the Aerox 155, BMW S1000R and KTM 690 SMC-R, and have had/tried a Click, PCX and Nmax too. This little machine simply beats them all big time for commuting in Bangkok. (except the KTM, of course)

The highlight of this bike is the suspension. Out of all the bikes, it’s closest to the KTM on how it feels when riding over rough road surfaces. Compared to other scooters or the BMW, it feels like I’m riding on a pillow. The suspension just eats every road imperfection like a boss and once you get a bigger bump, you just stand up and hop over it. On bits of road where I’d normally slow down to 20-40km/h on the Aerox or S1000R, I just fly over at 100km/h with a grin on my face. It’s also very comfortable for riding with a passenger (or two) and the girlfriend can confirm. There is no problem taking it a little offroad either or climbing on / jumping off sidewalks and curbs.

Secondly, the brakes are the best brakes I’ve seen on a small scooter. The front brake is strong and works flawlessly compared to cheaper scooters that suffer from the ABS system engaging too quick or staying on too long. The front ABS lets the tyres squeal and stops the bike almost like it hits a wall. The feeling of the ABS is closer to my S1000R than e.g. the Aerox 155. It’s got a disk brake on the rear as well, thankfully without ABS as an “ADV” bike should.

I have absolutely no problem filtering quickly with the scooter in tight Bangkok traffic jams. The turning radius is steep and it feels very nimble. At first, I thought the wide handlebar could be a problem, but no issues at all. It’s actually great because it’s the widest point of the bike, so you use it to measure where you can fit through. In comparison, the Aerox has a wide ass (centre stand peg + exhaust) so you might scrape a car in a tight spot even if your handlebar fits through. After switching some aftermarket mirrors on (with adjustable angle) I fit into gaps where regular 125/110’s with original mirrors won’t.

You can’t expect much from a cheap 150cc engine but I must say it’s very slow out of the box. Compared to my Aerox with some variator mods, it felt really sluggish. The top speed is around 118km/h which is almost enough for BKK, but it gets there so slowly it feels boring and is dangerous when overtaking cars. I went to ร้าน Set By..Sar โชคชัย4/44 who gave me a modded ADV150 to try. Told them to copy whatever they did there and after upgrading the air intake, throttle body and modifying the pulley, it was completely transformed. Now it accelerates like crazy (for a scooter) and is a total blast to ride. Cost: 5500 baht.

Overall it’s got a very sturdy feeling to it thanks to the big handlebar, is very comfortable to ride and can also accommodate a taller rider. I’m 175cm and have like 40cm left in front of my knees. It feels safe riding at top speed, unlike other scooters that get a bit unstable and scary. The seat and riding position is very comfortable for both the rider and pillion. It’s got all the stuff that modern bikes should, including keyless ignition, idle-stop and 12v socket for USB charger etc. It has a 28-litre underseat storage and another box in the front that perfectly fits a small handgun or a couple of 7-Eleven sandwiches.

The only thing I don’t like about it is the underseat storage. You’re supposed to fit a full-face helmet in but with a regular medium-sized SHARK helmet, the lid has to be forced shut, which certainly won’t do any good for your helmet. It also has a backup lock so you can open it with a generic plastic key in case your battery is out, so when you leave it parked with your 15,000 baht helmet anyone with that kind of hex key can come to steal it. Also, the front storage is another flimsy piece of plastic that doesn’t lock. At least it’s facing down, so your sandwich won’t fall out in case it accidentally opens.

I wouldn’t actually use this bike for "adventures" out of town since it won’t be fast enough for the highway, but it’s the best commuter for Bangkok you can find. I realise I’ve just written an essay raving about a goddamn 150cc scooter so maybe that will give you an idea on how good it is ????. Highly recommend getting one if you’re currently in the market for a scooter.

 

Can you compare the ADV150 suspension with the Forza 300?

Tagged - I'm sure you're right but I'm not sure how serious I want to get about touring.  I'm 60 and am not a good rider.  I have great road awareness but I have no feel for leaning into corners.  My sense of balance is below average.  A friend of mine went and took a big bike riding class in Chiang Mai and said it was worthwhile.  Maybe that's the next step.  

I appreciate the the knowledge you've shared.  Thumbs up.  

alx123 - What do you mean about the pillion?  It looks very comfy on the Forza.  Do you mean because of the inferior scooter suspension?  That's a compromise I'm willing to make because I'll be riding it more in town than touring, and when touring I'll most likely be riding solo.  With a pillion just daytrips and around town.

Have you ridden any of the newer 300cc+ scooters?  They've come a long way.  Mind you, I am ignorant of most motorcycle facets; my only real motorcycle experience was riding 125cc Honda Wings back in the late 80s lol.