JonnyF

Wifey just called Kawasaki on Rama 9 and they said that they couldn't give a price until after the motor show at the end of this month.

Wonder if that means it will be getting an official launch?

I really hope so, I'm working in Bangkok for the financial year end so I'm going to the Bangkok motor show while I'm up there, I'm hoping to see a new pickup from Toyota/Isuzu and a rival to the CBR150 from Yamaha, but I'd sacrafice both of these to see this 250 Ninja launched in Thailand - I'm having a terrible time finding a decent VFR400 or CBR400.

Wifey just called Kawasaki on Rama 9 and they said that they couldn't give a price until after the motor show at the end of this month.

Wonder if that means it will be getting an official launch?

I really hope so, I'm working in Bangkok for the financial year end so I'm going to the Bangkok motor show while I'm up there, I'm hoping to see a new pickup from Toyota/Isuzu and a rival to the CBR150 from Yamaha, but I'd sacrafice both of these to see this 250 Ninja launched in Thailand - I'm having a terrible time finding a decent VFR400 or CBR400.

Whats the process ?? Is there a definate system that can be calculated ??

Or is it a tea money and grey system that can bleed off a good value ??

A thai told me 1000 baht per cc so 40k baht on a 400.. Dont know if he meant legally it was this or that was how much he could get it done.

i think if the tax etc has been paid and you have all the details/paperwork for the bike then it works out roughly 1000 bt per cc......not sure it is legal officially...but you get a book!!!

40k sounds about right, but surely that's 100 baht per cc... Unless the Thai is on commission!

Have you flipped the hidef switch on the component output ??

Yeah I tried that, it's strange because when I got it to the new place it had switched to HD (my TV is not HD), probably due to handling during the move, but I switched it back and it still didn't work. Maybe it's got stuck on the HD setting?

Also, I'm not sure why my other thread was closed, that one was asking where in Phuket to get it repaired, and this one is asking (primarily) if anyone knows what the problem is. That is 2 different questions in what I thought was the appropriate place. I guess now I won't be able to get any responses in the Phuket forum about where to get the thing repaired

My XBOX 360 has lost the display - the power still works and the sound of the game comes out of the TV but the screen is blank. Has anyone else experienced this? I'm guessing it could be the cable from the console to the TV but it happened just after I moved house so I'm wondering if it got jolted during the move and I've knocked something out of place inside the console.

Has this happened to anyone else, does anyone have any ideas? Or know of anywhere to get it looked at, preferably in Phuket but if not in Bangkok?

Thanks,

As above really, the picture has gone on my XBOX 360. The sounds still comes out of the TV but the screen is blank. Does anyone know of a decent shop that repairs games consoles on Phuket?

Thanks,

A friend of my girlfriend bought a small place in a large block of what I'd call flats in the UK, but maybe you'd call it an apartment/condo in Phuket Town (just off the road from Phuket Town to Chalong) for less than a million.

It's just a large(ish) room with an OK sized bathroom and a tiny but separate kitchen - so yes it is possible to buy at that price away from the tourist areas, but I wouldn't really want to live there. The quality of the construction seemed pretty dismal as well.

Sounds more like a hong to me.

Like I said, it's quite a large room (enough for a sleeping area and a dining area) with a separate bathroom and separate kitchen, call it what you like.

I've just checked with my g/f and it was 550,000 - 12 months ago. I'm sure for the extra 450,000 you could get one with a seperate sleeping area if that is what makes it a condo/apartment.

A friend of my girlfriend bought a small place in a large block of what I'd call flats in the UK, but maybe you'd call it an apartment/condo in Phuket Town (just off the road from Phuket Town to Chalong) for less than a million.

It's just a large(ish) room with an OK sized bathroom and a tiny but separate kitchen - so yes it is possible to buy at that price away from the tourist areas, but I wouldn't really want to live there. The quality of the construction seemed pretty dismal as well.

If Yamaha bring out anything like the bike linked from post 18 then I'll be the first in line to buy it.

The CBR150 ticks all the boxes except for one, it lacks style. Typical Honda really, I've owned a few and they have been outstanding in terms of reliability but I've never become attached to them like I have with Yamaha, Kawasaki and Suzuki bikes. Great when you are buying older bikes (I'm on the lookout for a decent VFR400) but on a brand new bike I'd always go Yamaha or Kawasaki.

If only they'd make the 250 Ninja available in Thailand - that would be the perfect compromise of size and power.

The longest I've done was Phuket to Ranong and back on the same day on a Yamaha Nouvo, a total of about 600 kms.

I wouldn't recommend this type of distance on the same day, I couldn't move my neck for about 2 days afterwards although the weather didn't help because it was quite wet and windy at points throughout the ride. The bike handled it with no problems at all.

I don't think you'll have any problems with BKK to Pattaya...

Thanks for the replies, it’s kind of confirmed what I thought…

This is primarily going to be a fun bike - I won’t be riding it daily. Combining this with my love of the single sided swing arm and I think it’s going to have to be the VFR.

A 400 seems the perfect compromise between the “big” bikes and the CBR150 which I feel will come up a little short in the fun department, even though it's more practical if you’re going to be using it every day. Since I won’t be (I have a Nouvo as a workhorse and I’m more than happy with it) and there seems to be no major issues with the VFR, then I’m gonna have to take the plunge.

I missed out on an immaculate VFR400 for 75,000 in Phuket a couple of months ago, I’m kicking myself now but I’m sure there will be others as long as I’m patient.

I’m thinking about getting a slightly bigger road bike (250 – 500cc) for longish journeys (50km’s plus). I don’t want to spend more than 100,000 baht because I will only use it occasionally so the best option seems to be a tidy/well maintained CBR400 or VFR400.

Does anyone own or have experience with either of these bikes in Thailand? In particular I’d be interested to know about the reliability, cost/availability of spares, running costs, things to be wary of when buying etc.

Do I have to be wary of it having a “re-cycled” green book or is this more of an issue for the bigger/more modern road bikes?

Thanks in advance...

Try P K International Law Firm, on the road from Chalong Circle to Phuket Town, about 500 metres from Chalong circle on the left if travelling towards Phuket Town (they've just moved and the new office is pretty much opposite the old one - about 100 metres up the road). Very professional, honest staff, some of which speak excellent English.

Not sure where you're based Mike but this is available in Phuket, looked quite a good deal to me (I don't know the seller so this isn't a plug).

http://www.phuketgazette.net/classifieds/p...8_ref_82218.asp

It's a Mazda 626 for 89000, looks quite clean and it's auto...

I haven't read all the replies but thought I'd offer an opinion based on the opening post. From my experience here you have enough money, depending on the lifestyle you want. On the money you are talking about, you can quite easily rent a decent house, drive an average car and enjoy a nice and relaxed lifestyle, eating out every night at nice local restaurants with a few "big" nights out a month.

Of course, if you want to impress people with the red plated Benz, the mansion in the hills and several "tilacs" per week then you may have to sacrifice a few more years of your life and hope nothing happens to you before you finally decide to retire. It's just about weighing up the pro's and con's and how much you "need" the extra luxuries. I may be biased on this one as a family member of mine was 3 years away from his planned retirement date before suffering a major stroke in his mid fifties and has been in a wheelchair ever since.

Be careful though, I have never considered retirement (I'm mid 30's) but I have taken breaks from work for up to a year at a time and I was very bored and went back to work earlier than I had planned. Try to find a hobby that will also keep you fit. I'd say boredom and the change in lifestyle and culture will be bigger problems than lack of money, assuming you're not planning to live like a premiership footballer.

Also on the plus side, if you retire now and change your mind in the next couple of years then you have a much better chance of getting a decent job at 47-48 than at 57-58, so you could treat this "retirement" as a couple of years out of work that could become a retirement if you enjoy not working and can live the lifestyle you enjoy.

My only concern would be exchange rates, but you could always spread your capital around multiple currencies to give yourself a degree of security against your particular currency crashing.

Good luck with your decision.

Regardless of the legal implications, one feels what one feels.

The fact that I wasn't legally secure didn't alter my feeling that Thailand was home - in fact it was a major factor in making me determined to stay, no matter what happens.

I think that being legally secure in terms of visa's etc is over-rated, that is why I don't think I will ever apply for permanent residency.

Part of the excitement of Thailand for me is the unknown, there is so much political uncertainty here that none of us know what will happen in a few months/years time, or what will happen when the inevitable happens to certain highly regarded people in Thai society. So for me the excitement is enjoying things as they are now (even though the old timers will tell me that it was better before - and maybe it was).

I don't think that things in Thailand will go on a downward spiral but if they do then I'll just move somewhere else. It's a big world out there and for me Thailand is good at the moment but I have no eternal attachment to it and if I am refused a visa or it starts to get on my nerves then I will just pack my bags, empty my Thai bank accounts and find excitement elsewhere.

Nowhere is exciting forever, a year in Australia taught me that - I loved the first 6 months but I felt fine leaving after 12 months, I still liked it but it had become "normal". With a farang perspective, I'm sure that Thailand will take much much longer than that to become "normal" but I'm pretty sure that the excitement will decline over time...

6 months is far too severe for throwing someone out of a seat.

If he stabbed them or seriously wounded them then fair enough. Knives are banned because one or two people hijack the planes.

Alcohol should therefore be banned as one or two people throw others out of seats after drinking.

It does seem a bit harsh and not in line with other similar cases where famous people or business big shots were involved.

They tend to get found not guilty though ie the British Military attache and the guy from REM Peter Buck

Lulu's exhubby the hairdresser only got fined 1800 GBP

I'm not sure it's that harsh, I hate unprovoked violence of any type and especially on a flight there is no excuse.

Regarding famous people getting away with it, again I'm not so sure. Ian Brown (ex Stone Roses lead singer, quite famous to anyone British and under 40) was jailed for around 6 months for making a threat during an argument with an air hostess (I believe he made a stupid comment that he was going to cut her hands off). There was no physical violence involved - so if he can be jailed for this then I think a 6 month sentence for an unprovoked physical assault is not too far off the mark. I know that if it was a member of my family that was thrown into the aisle then I would be calling for at least that.

nice one...........told ya haha.

they had originally given you a special price......the special for farang price ..........from treble the thai price to only double hahahah.welcome(your wallet) to thailand.

whenever possible i try to get the mrs to get stuff done as when a farang is seen then thats the end of getting a good price wherever you are .........not easy to do all the time as i have to go look to choose stuff etc

another tip is to call there bluff and tell them you just had a quote for half there price from other place and if they can do it about same then you will go with them.....some will say ok and some wont budge and would rather lose a sale at good profit still than lose face.....no wonder so many business's do so badly.gonna start a new topic on this i thinkas got a story.

Yeah I normally get my girlfriend to go and get quotes and I've had some quite pi$$ed of expressions from the salesman when she gets a good price and then I suddenly appear on the scene out of nowhere to pay the bill

I've found that calling their bluff rarely works and in any case once I know that they're trying to rip me off then I lose all interest in giving them my business and just smile and walk away.

Thanks chaps

Went to a small local place today and got my girlfriend to go in and get a quote (I stayed out of sight) and they quoted just under 5000 for 60% on the side/back and 40% on the front including fitting and removing the current inadequate tint. I'll go with that I think, big improvement on the initial quote of 10,000 - thanks for the replies...

Hi everybody,

I've been looknig for a Kawasaki KLX110 for ages but all I've been able to find are the newer and bulkier KSR110, these are about B10,000 more expensive than the KLX's and all the shops I've looked in have told me that you can no longer get KLX's in Thailand, surely this sin't correct??

Does anybody know where I can find new or 2nd hand KLX110's?

You can definitely get them in Thailand. My local Kawasaki dealer in Phuket always has a couple of new ones in stock.

It's telling that Reisig said she had her face painted up. This is a bit like taking your shirt off in a public place here in Thailand or acting in what would otherwise be perceived - by Thais - as acting and/or behaving in an abnormal or un-natural manner i.e. not seen to be complying by the unwritten rules that govern and maintain Thai society.

You will draw attention to yourself.

This is a jungle - and if you are different or are perceived as being different then you've got to be dealt with - you are a natural target - everyone will understand this!

This is a conformist and feudal society. There are few outward expressions of 'individual' behaviour or character. Emotions - feelings - actions are deliberately hidden and subdued.

Undoubtedly, these poor unfortunate westerners may have been unwittingly and inadvertently drawing attention to themselves - and from the wrong murderous quarters!

I hope the Thai cop hangs from the balls for this dreadful crime.

That's an interesting point, I'm not a "face painter" myself but I'd be interested to know the Thai perspective on this. Is it offensive here and if so, to what degree? There's an episode of Seinfeld that gives quite an accurate and humorous portrayal of face-painting in the West and maybe there is more significance to this in Thailand than many of us are aware of... Anyone know?

Secondly, I'd love to know the previous behaviour of the cop that led to him being arrested and released on bail prior to last nights tragic incident. Lets's hope this Drummond guy can continue to report as openly as possible, he's got bigger balls than me that's for sure and quite frankly (Chloe) I couldn't care which bars he drinks in when he's finished work.

haha i got a triton 4x4 3.2gls and its rather dumb but i have reached 197 in it on a stright to rayong.

just break in the engine, know how to shift and when to drop or upgear keeping it on was tq and ill tell u its quick to.

just today i was going 160 for a good 10mins all the way till the gate. no heating, no weird noises, no rattling. that mind u...i dont recommend taking a tightish bend at the speed thats just plain dumb.

Kind of a separate gripe here, but talking of knowing "how to shift", why does the slightest incline seems to reduce the traffic flow to under 20 KPH? I've been behind brand new Vigo's and D-Max's going up minor hills and virtually had to slam the brakes on to avoid running into the back of them. I'd always assumed that most trucks were auto's but I can only conclude that they are manual transmissions and they are left in third/fourth gear until it practically grinds to a halt!

I was assuming I was turning into the typical grumpy TV member who complains about everything but even the GF has commented on it... Maybe it's just in Phuket?

I was once told that the Yamaha RZ350LC had no power below about 9,000 rpm, but was quite a powerful monster above that range. To get that kind of power, don't two-strokes have to be tuned kind of crazy?

Not really - all 2 strokes make their power at high RPM's, that's what makes them great fun to ride.

KTM in particular are putting a lot of R&D into cleaning up the emissions of the 2 strokes and I predict that the 2 stroke will make a bit of a comeback from 2009-2010 onwards, particularly in motorsports where they cannot be touched when raced against a 4 stroke of equal displacement.

Hi,

Does anyone have a rough guide regarding the cost of getting the windows tinted on an average sized 5 door saloon car. I've had one quote so far and they wanted 10,000 baht ("special offer" reduced from 15,000 - so they said!). It seemed a bit steep to me.

Of course I have no real idea of the costs of the materials or how long this takes to do so if I am underestimating the costs involved then fair enough.

I'd just like an idea of what people paid so that I have a rough idea to use when trying to get a good deal. I don't want to get ripped off but I don't want to insult the guys either... If it makes any difference I am after a fairly dark tint, my car is like an oven after being left in the sun for an hour or so...

Thanks in advance.

Hi,

Does anyone know of a place that does powder coating of alloy wheels in Phuket?

I would have put this in the motor forum but if I can't find a place that does it in Phuket then I don't think I will bother so it's probably better here.

Can anyone help?