JonnyF

They have been doing this for a while here in Pattaya, the last 2-3 years or so.

I think it's good that they do it or it will get completely out of hand.

Not always, a few years ago I rented a bike in Pattaya, I parked beside other bikes in a designated parking bay with individual white lines, no notices or paintings in the kerb,

two hours later the bike uplifted and taken to the pound, I had to pay around 600 Bt between the thieving Pattaya BiB and the guys at the pound.

If I parked illegally, then I would deserve it. I have never rented a bike in Pattaya since and never will again.

When I was living in Patong they had some bizarre rule about odd days you have to park on the left and even days you have to park on the right. Maybe the same thing?

Saw bikes being ticketed on Bangna Trat road today for illegal parking as well (outside a food stall). I assume it was illegal anyway, couldn't see any markings.

Big bike riders don't need to honk their horns. They annoy car drivers for EXISTING, and refusing to acknowledge their place is as close to the gutter as possible.

I should make it clear that I am absolutely PRO motorcycling having ridden big bikes for every one of 45 years.

You say big bikes place is as close to the gutter as possible. This shows your complete lack of knowledge regarding motorcycling. I'm a qualified Motorcycle Instructor (with 46 years experience riding and racing motorbikes) and one of the most basic rules taught to students when riding on the road is position yourself so you can see and be seen. That means sometimes moving out towards the centre line to gain a better view of the road ahead should there be a bend in the road or an obstruction. It also means moving into a more central position in the roads when approaching a junction so any drivers (of any vehicle) can see you approaching.

There's also something we remind all students on both large or small bikes, that is, ride in the gutter and you'll be treated like the rest of the crap that ends up there.

Are you aware of the law in Bangkok that bikes must use the left most lane? Yes it's a stupid law and Yes I've been fined many times for ignoring it. But it exists.

Does it. Does it really?

Yes. Yes it does.

It harks back to the days when the poor people on their scooters had to get out of the way of the important rich people who could afford cars. Now you have the ludicrous situation where a 30 year old pickup dripping in rust and spewing diesel fumes out of the back is allowed to cruise along at 30kph in the middle lane while a comparatively efficient, clean and congestion easing motorbike capable of well over 200kph has to ride in all the debris in the left line while being cut up by taxis and buses picking up passengers (whilst simultaneously dodging scooter riders riding the wrong way against the flow of traffic). Oh yes, it's a great law that one.

Big bike riders don't need to honk their horns. They annoy car drivers for EXISTING, and refusing to acknowledge their place is as close to the gutter as possible.

I should make it clear that I am absolutely PRO motorcycling having ridden big bikes for every one of 45 years.

You say big bikes place is as close to the gutter as possible. This shows your complete lack of knowledge regarding motorcycling. I'm a qualified Motorcycle Instructor (with 46 years experience riding and racing motorbikes) and one of the most basic rules taught to students when riding on the road is position yourself so you can see and be seen. That means sometimes moving out towards the centre line to gain a better view of the road ahead should there be a bend in the road or an obstruction. It also means moving into a more central position in the roads when approaching a junction so any drivers (of any vehicle) can see you approaching.

There's also something we remind all students on both large or small bikes, that is, ride in the gutter and you'll be treated like the rest of the crap that ends up there.

Are you aware of the law in Bangkok that bikes must use the left most lane? Yes it's a stupid law and Yes I've been fined many times for ignoring it. But it exists.

That's a strange one. It's OK to have the illegal activities of Patpong within 300 metres of a school, but not OK to sell alcohol to adults of legal age within 300 metres of a school.

Hmmm. Interesting.

This seems like a great deal for people who trust the various Thai governments/Juntas to honor each others promises for the next 20 years. Given the current situation, what could possibly go wrong?

Some predict the end of the Thailand Elite program... since 13 years.

Some others enjoy the super convenient Thailand Elite long term visa... since 13 years.

Trust or not trust...

Some don't trust the government and still hesitate to become Thailand Elite members.

Some others may not fully trust the government, but became members a long time ago... and they enjoy trouble free long stays in Thailand since over a decade.

Up to you to worry or not

(Me, a happy Thailand Elite member since 12 years).

(Guys, stop worrying so much and go for it!).

(If you have the money, of course).

Not really difficult to get a visa for most people. I have a trouble free (and free of charge) stay thanks to my work permit and visa. Others get married, others are over 50.

I don't predict the end of the Thailand Elite scheme, but the benefits have been greatly reduced already. Yes, they kept the visa part (which I don't need anyway) so I would have been pretty annoyed had I shelled out the money. What benefits do you get other than the visa now?

Just the annual interest on the money spent on an Elite card would pay for an annual visa for most people. And if things get messy in the future that unspent capital can be spent on relocating somewhere a bit more stable. A bit of hedging if you like...

Nobody can predict the future and I'm certainly not going to try, but it's prudent to accept the possibility that there could be some fairly serious instability in Thailand in the next decade or two given the current factors. So for me, it wouldn't be the ideal time to invest 3 million baht or whatever in an overpriced shoebox condo in Pattaya and a 20 year promise of a visa. But each to their own.

This seems like a great deal for people who trust the various Thai governments/Juntas to honor each others promises for the next 20 years. Given the current situation, what could possibly go wrong?

Some interesting posts. The only thing that has consistently worked for me is a very visible helmet cam on top of my helmet (SJ4000). They don't want to ask for/take a bribe while being filmed from 2 feet away with a HD camera pointed directly at their face. Not worth the risk.

Hello all, I've just paid my deposit for the urban enduro at the pattaya dealer and it should be coming around 3 weeks time.

Whilst I was walking round the icons they have at the showroom I noticed that the scrambler comes with the EVAP canister for emissions control.

To all the people who own the scrambler or any other bike with this device, have you decided to remove this set up and plug the threads or hoseS to bypass it.

From all the research I've done about the EVAP it's a pretty common modification that's recommended due to a few performances factors.

Any comments on whether the dealer recommends customers to remove it altogether as emissions in Thailand are not something we really need to worry about.

Apparently it should only be on there for the American market. European spec bikes don't require them.

I'm thinking of removing mine if it has it based on it only being there to recycle the fumes from the gas tank.

Ducati removed the evap cannister on my 899. Warranty is unaffected.

Pictures clearly not from Thailand, and for sale at around 50% of the market price.

Blatant scam, mods should remove.

After seeing how the system is run in the UK where you can win millions of pounds by buying a one pound ticket, (and a load of money still manages to go to charity) I was amazed when my Thai friends told me the jackpot here was only 3 million baht (60,000 pounds) for a 2 pound ticket.

There must be some serious cash being made by someone. They should develop a computerized system and sell them over the till at 7-11. Extra funds raised could go to help projects for the needy. It would also reduce the amount being siphoned off by the current murky system, which is exactly the reason it will never happen.

Very disappointed to read this, but not surprised.

It just lends more weight to the theory that the evidence is weak (or non existent) and they don't want it pulled apart by independent specialists. Seems like the outcome of the trial is decided already. Sad.

You make more money than the average Thai.Maybe everything in Thailand should cost more for foreigners then it

Would feel more normal.If you want to play be prepared to pay.I don't pay attention to prices in Thailand.I mean so

Many things are so much cheaper than from where I'm from that if there's A Thai price and A foreigner price so be it.

Stockholm syndrome.

Must be recent, paid Thai price at Songkran...

Quite sad if true but I predict more of this type of nonsense given the current situation.

Not necessarily true, just like the OP I wanted something 800 cc or above when I started looking for a new bike, wasn't sure which one but I new it had to be above 800. The 3 bikes OP is looking at were in the list of bikes that I have considered too.

Ended up getting something completely different altogether but that's a different story.

What?

Diavel

I own a Diavel as well and I've made a couple of trips from Pattaya to Koh Chang but it was always in the back of my mind, what if my Diavel quit, how would I make it back to the nearest dealer and how long would it take him to fix it. I found out about a month ago, my 2 YO Diavel with 12,000 kilometers on it quit on me. Luckily I was here in Pattaya and made it back home. At the dealer they gave me an appointment for three weeks from when I went to see them, said it was impossible to see me sooner, they were too busy. After I brought it in after three weeks they called me and said the part I needed, part of the fuel injection, had to be ordered from Italy and it would be another six weeks before I got it back! It is still at the dealer and it is supposed to be ready the 25th of this month.

I also own a couple of Hondas also so I have a bike to take on my trips and I had already quit taking the Diavel touring thinking that someday something like this would happen and I would be stranded. Ducatis are nice and I don't plan on getting rid of mine any time soon but you do pay a price, they aren't very practical. For practicality get a Honda, Kawa, etc, not a Ducati .

The problem with Ducati is not just its limited number of dealers and parts availability in Thailand, but the fact that they need to be repaired so often. They just can't keep up with the repairs. Case in point, when was the last time you heard of a Kawasaki or Honda needing repair of the fuel injection system after only 12,000KM on the bike? After 2 years, and only such a small amount of riding you should maybe need only new tires (if they have gotten hard from sitting so much) or a new battery from not running it enough. I think if word starts to get out locally about the type of experience you had then pretty soon Ducati won't be selling so many bikes in Thailand anymore.

Many threads on here with issues with other brands before 12,000 kms. Search the cbr250 and cbr500 threads to start with.

You sound like you're being paid by someone to post. You're not hehehoho again are you? Teaching salary not covering the rent? If I was a mod I would look into it.

I would suggest people ignore this tool.

As far as I understand, Ducati isn't making anything here at all, parts included. The smaller framed "Asia Only" 795 model of Monster (with the cheaper double sided swing arm) are only being assembled here to reduce the import duty. But everything is still being made in Italy or elsewhere. Also, just for the record, this Ducati Monster that everyone thinks is so inexpensive here (the 795) is not a real Monster as I said in the sense that it is a smaller frame than the standard frame and targted towards the Asian market. It also has a double sided swing arm, which is less aesthetic looking and cheaper to make:

http://www.motorcycle-usa.com/577/11353/Motorcycle-Article/New-Ducati-Monster-795-for-Asian-Market.aspx

You're wrong on quite a few points. What model Ducati's have you owned?

What a fool, stock pipes always comply with noise levels it is the owners who swap the pipes over later and is a massive business in Thailand. Sorry Mr Wattana Pattharachon but you are way off target here, does he honestly think he can say to Honda I am not granting you a operating licence ha ha

Not necessarily swapped over later, my bike came with Termignoni pipes straight from the dealer. If I'd wanted stock pipes I would have had to buy them myself at an additional cost.

http://bangkok.craigslist.co.th/mcy/5038190609.html

There you go.

Everything sounded okay until this last email. Too bad i was really looking to get this bike for cheap

Everything sounded okay?... You really think someone is going to sell a bike at about half price?....Really??

Half price? Bit less than that!! Here's a CBR600RR from the same year currently for sale.

http://www.redbaronbkk.com/products/item.php?id=150328-0000767

OK, it's overpriced at 485,000 baht, this is more like it at 285,000 baht although it's a year older.

http://www.gt-rider.com/thailand-motorcycle-forum/showthread.php/40682-Honda-CBR600RR-2008-Black-White-w-Green-Book-only-285-000-baht

but it goes some way to showing how ridiculously cheap this ZX6R is. Way too cheap to be true.

Here's a little question for the TVF members: In all of your visits to Thailand, have you ever been subjected to a survey or questionnaire regarding your spending during your stay?

I have never divulged this information, and I have never heard of it being collected.

This begs the question of how the Tourism Ministry makes up determines these average tourist spending figures, by country of origin.

Exactly, only thing I've ever been asked is how much I earn and I lie about that as it's none of their business.

This is just a PR piece to try to reduce some of the growing ill feeling from Thais towards the less well behaved Chinese guests. You can tell it's aimed at Thais by the criteria they are using for "quality".

Two strokes are just chain saws with wheels.

Blasphemy

They should only allow big bikes that sound cool loud pipes. Harleys and two strokes would be banned as both sound like industrial machinery.

No way, a well setup 2 stroke can sound awesome when it's on the pipe.

I agree about the Harleys though, back when I was living in Phuket I'd regularly have to stop my conversation for 10 seconds while some Wild Hog cruised past the restaurant with his open pipes and bargirl on the back.

Total scam, you can spot them a mile off. Pictures of a bike in the US (sometimes claiming to be taken in Thailand), ridiculously cheap price, some BS about working overseas etc.

I've strung a couple along in the past but probably just better to ignore.

This is a good thing IMO. My bike was ridiculously loud when I picked it up from the dealer, I was setting off car alarms on my first ride and I couldn't wait to get the baffles in when I got home, I felt like a right prick.

Even with the baffles in I failed the sound test at Khao Yai as my bike came up at 97db during the very unscientific test they did with it (he was making me rev the bike very hard before taking the reading and had the meter very close to the exhaust). After failing, 5 minutes of talking politely, promising to ride slow etc. he let me in but I could have done without the hassle.

The trouble is (as always here) that the police won't enforce it properly, so 200 Baht will see you on your way. So it doesn't really matter what they do before the bike leaves the showroom as it will just be the same old Wild West as soon as you drive away. Might create some nice opportunities for graft though.

Not necessarily true, just like the OP I wanted something 800 cc or above when I started looking for a new bike, wasn't sure which one but I new it had to be above 800. The 3 bikes OP is looking at were in the list of bikes that I have considered too.

Ended up getting something completely different altogether but that's a different story.

Exactly, I was after a Japanese inline 4 litre bike. Didn't buy one after 3 years of looking as none of them really did it for me. Never seriously considered a Ducati before, I'd read all the usual horror stories from people who never owned one. Then I went to the motor show in Bang Na and saw the Panigale 899 from around 100 metres away.

Things turned to slow motion, a soft focus surrounded me as I ran across the showroom floor with my arms outstretched and became vaguely aware of some cheesy background music. My girlfriend looked on in the background with a jealous glint in her eye as I told the salesgirl to shut up and take my money.

Sometimes you just know.

Sounds like she was treated well, but still wants something to complain about.

She might want to adjust her language as well, calling someone Boy can be extremely offensive to some.

But the OP's budget is 500k. So no need to go shopping around for a second hand bike that's in a lower class than the aformention ones. Even if it'd be half the price.

Surely bang for the buck has its sweet spot around 650cc Honda and Kawa in Thailand currently but there's the emotional side which is difficult to quantify.

I am open minded and the Kawasaki 650 would have been my bike some years ago, now, it has more possibilities, but if they are not really so much better and mostly only more expensive I happy to keep some of the "budget" money.

I drove a Moto Guzzi Le Mans (1.000cc) when young and drove it long, but since than I more used to the 4 cylinder sound of a nearly empty exhaust as I had on my small CBR 400 here in TH.

Was also enough for me, most times. I was disappointed of the Ducati's 821 original exhaust sound,

the improved, expensive louder version, I heared in You Tube, similar, I think I need more cylinder.

So, I still look around.

Ducati's don't sound that great ticking over or pottering around. You need to get them wide open in the upper half of the rev range for them to really start singing (roaring) and it doesn't always translate that well on a Youtube video with a cheap mic.

Maybe try and get a proper test ride.