road2dharma

unwarranted attacks on a sponsor who has already given an explanation have been deleted. Suggest you read the forum rules again as this kind of behavior is not allowed.

thanks for that information.

If you have genuine issues with this dealer, then in my opinion you should have contacted him directly, but that said we all you know what they say about opinions and <deleted>.

Again not sure what useful info you are adding to this topic. I am not sure about the last part at all to be honest. (sorry this post seems to have been deleted too, though no reference is made)

BACK TO THE TOPIC the smallish Honda dealer just near Major Cineplex Ratchayothin: (and for the benefit of the OP)

1) had a black ABS CBR 250 available for sale at 120,000 baht at the weekend

2) has a very nice professional looking, tidy and well organized workshop with 4 very new hydraulic lifts all independently equipped with air supply, exhaust extractors etc, well arranged and completely tidy tool tray boxes (very professional looking), 4 mechanics and a workshop administrator as well as 2 or 3 office staff, one of whom speaks reasonable (albeit not perfect) English. Always looks that way when I've been there.

Sorry - I was in my second post simply responding directly to a few comments which suggested a) that I hadn't been to a particular delaship (when I had) and that a disorganized workshop ( "messy" ) and not equipped with the sort of modern stuff mentioned in (2) above could be considered as being professional.

Also, just trying to help the original poster get an idea of what else might be important besides English speaking staff in the front office, which won't necessarily get you better service in a workshop.

Before you buy why not check the workshops out at a shop you have heard about/know and then pop along to the shop I mentioned @ Major Ratchayothin and tell me which one you would like your pride and joy serviced in.

I don't expect anyone to believe per se what I have said, just look for yourself and find the truth. Easy.

Happy Riding folks. :jap:

I have spoken to Sumet, and they are indeed very helpful and honest and speak English - well kind of..... American BUT seeing as the owner is trumpetting his own cause here ( and good on you for putting yourself out there) can I ask why you are asking 130k for the abs, when Honda was recomending 115K???? A fair question i feel, given all the other rantings on the dedicated CBR page........

Well quite. I actually inquired at a variety of dealers in the area near Sumet. Sumet indeed has a woman manager who's American English is incredibly good.

Also, I was quoted 120,000 non abs and 130,000 abs at Sumet. They don't have any 150 or 250 available for sale there at present. Seemed much more geared to scooter/step-through sales.

Honestly, she didn't really seem to want (or able) to sell one/order one to me, and said it was hard to get hold of them at the moment. Fair enough, gave me a brochure, but I wasn't impressed to be honest and the boys in the slightly less than professional workshop looked no more or less proficient than any other small dealer I've seen, and quite less so than many more modern workshops. Still, horses for courses.

In Saphan Mai, shop looked good, they had 250s for sale, but they had the cheek to quote 130,000 non-abs and 140,000 abs. I smiled quite a lot and left quickly.

Small Honda dealer at Pongpetch junction quoted me 110,000 for non abs, although he said they had some before but had sold all they had fast. Another dealer nearby the same 110,000 -non abs / 120,000 abs and they had one bike still available.

As you can get the service anywhere with any Honda dealer (supposedly) with service coupons, it would seem pointless to pay more than 110,000. Heard of people paying just 106,000 for the non-abs. Perhaps those all snapped up already.

Pay less at the shop with best price seems a better choice TBH. Then spend the extra change on some Thai lessons/safety equipment/petrol. The first one would pay off in the end when you need to converse with Thais and could be handy when u want to explain something to the mechanic, not the front of shop worker.....

Happy hunting.

true, there are restrictions, but i personally have experience of, and know many many people working in jobs other than teaching (some have degrees, some professional qualifications, but most are unrelated to their field of work, some even have no first degrees). The rules can seemingly be flexed (This is Thailand) depending on your employer's abilities to do so. Right place right time and good personal impressions can count for a lot in Thailand job hunting.

not all jobs need a degree (and often the type/specialisation of the degree is not that important), just a relevant professional qualification, to get a work permit. one example are diving instructors/divemasters in resorts such as Samui / Koh Tao / Phuket / etc (although many do work illegally). there are also hotel jobs (section manager / customer relations / tour rep) going in these places, which can provide WPs. real estate jobs are out there, but a lot of scams/no work permit jobs (in Patong especially!!), but i know people who work as office managers in property firms in BKK and resort areas who have only a basic degree and can get a WP from their employers.

editing jobs (circa 40-70,000) are another (boring/hard/long hours) option in BKK - and these may also only require an unspecified BA degree or even just an appropriate diploma/accreditation.

please note that a real teacher with PGCE/M.Ed/MA/PhD or alternative similar qualifications can actually make a salary of 80,000-120,000 baht at a decent international school or university in BKK.

A TEFL (+BA degree) teacher can only expect 30,000-40,000 in a regular school job, but if you are lucky u could make 40,000-80,000 with a good job with some extra teaching hours

but honestly, if u r in it for a lifestyle or life experience rather than financial rewards, avoid low-paid BKK teaching jobs and head instead for rural Thailand where u will get more or less similar salaries for a first-time TEFL job, and probably a more interesing experience of Thai life.

Good luck with the search for jobs.

"....and Honda plans to broaden its midsize offerings there, the Nikkei reported"

Sounds like a strongish hint of production in Thailand for the Thai market, as long as you assume "there" refers to Thailand. I don't see why if they can produce the new (& presumably FI) engines here, they can't bolt it together with a bunch of other parts easily enough.

I think they could slash some off that circa 143,000 figure too, given shipping costs and other savings compared to sale on the Japanese market. As to whether they will, they should maybe take a hint from Kawa and price a bit lower to capture the market. I know its not Honda style, but.... here's to hoping.

Wish they'd get a move on though....

Aug 6 (Reuters) - Honda Motor Co, the world's top motorcycle maker, plans to import Thailand-made bikes to sell in Japan, where production costs are rising, the Nikkei business daily reported.

From next year, Honda is likely to start shipping 250cc engine bikes from Thailand, where the automaker produces three times as many motorcycles as in Japan, the paper said.

Honda is considering to sell the imported 250cc motorbikes for about 400,000 yen ($4,220), less than the 550,000 yen price for the Japan-made ones, the paper said. In February, Honda had told Reuters that it would look to cut costs by building vehicles more efficiently and cheaply.

The strategy put forth at the time was to produce most of the parts for high-volume, 100-125cc commuter bikes in just three countries and ship them to assembly sites around the world such as those in Brazil, China, India, Thailand and Japan.

The motorbikes produced in Thailand center on 100cc models, and Honda plans to broaden its midsize offerings there, the Nikkei reported.

>>> Now if they can sell them in Japan for 400,000 Yen they should sell a 2009/10 VTR250 here for 100-120k baht brand new right Maybe plenty of takers, watch out Kawasaki.

I lived in Koh Tao for a few years myself, and still make regular trips back there these days.

OK view is OK in itself. I stayed there very briefly in a concrete bungalow (far up the hill!) which wasn't all that great to be honest, tho the view was killer.

I know ppl who have stayed there long term in cheaper wooden bungalows. 6000/12000 sounds expensive to my ears, especially if u plan 1yr+. honestly, for 12,000 baht a month u should get a decent house with fridge/hot water/aircon (excluding electric bill tho!!!) or at the very least a large new concrete A/C bungalow with fridge/hot water, big balcony and nice view. Arrive in person and negotiate a better deal than this. Hard bargaining will pay off.

On the positive side it is quiet enough at OK view, pretty relaxed - hammocks and whatnot in the restaurant area, chilled out crowd, nice staff working there. It is located just off the main Mae Haad-Sairee road (not that close to the beach), can be reached on tarmac road too.

Don't think they offer wireless net to customers there, nor do they have a proper safe I believe, tho they may be able to take care of valuables in a lock-up box. I used to store stuff in a dive shop's safe myself. Dunno if u are working in diving or planning to take some dive courses, but those are the most likely places to find a proper safe.

Its not really convenient to walk to the beach or anywhere, but it can be done in 10-15 minutes or so (down/up a hill), although u also have to walk across/along busy main road - which may be very dangerous at night). There is a slightly steep concrete road leading up to it, which you might not like so much if walking.

If u are planning to live on Koh Tao for a year, you will probably want your own transportation, namely a motorbike. Its almost essential for living there, if u ask me. U can rent a cheap 100-125cc auto/clutchless motorbikes for around 2000-3000 baht/month. Better still buy one for around 10-20,000baht and when you leave sell it for not much less. This has the benefit that if u prang it, no-one will hassle you about money, plus it will cost u much less than renting. If u are fit and enjoy cycling a decent mountain bike is also an option, though i reckon its more dangerous!

Once mobile, you will have far more 2 do and enjoy life on Tao much more. Obviously the roads are not all that great, and caution is advisable when riding, but with some practice u will be able to negotiate shitty dirt roads with ease and know the locations of all the potholes and cracks in the roads.

To be honest u have many many options for long-stay rooms in Koh Tao, in the 3000-6000 baht / month price range. 12,000 is imho too much to be paying, unless you find a really decent house/luxurious bungalow with all mod-cons included. If you are prepared to pay cash up front (eg: 6 months down), you can bargain the price lower.

Honestly for 6000 u should get a decent wooden/concrete bungalow (not a coconut jungle hut!) with fan, fridge and hot water, and if u r intending to stay the whole year i would seriously bargain for quite a bit less. If u are prepared to live in a more remote location (over a hill, or up a hill) you can figure that the price should be 1000baht+ lower for the same standard of room.

November, being pretty foul weather in Tao, is a great time to find many vacant long term rooms and bargain about prices, so I'd recommend you turn up - stay somewhere for a week or even a month, rent a bike and hunt for the perfect place to stay. By all means try OK view, but I think with a bit of patient searching you will find something better.

A/C is expensive to run on Tao. Electricity price is high. You can manage with fan, its better for your health and the world's too Fridge/hot water for me are more important.

Enjoy yourself on Koh Tao.

The ska band at the Brick is ok, been there afew times. It get reptitive though.

How much is Grooverider???

Agreed on Ska at the Brick. Some of the Thai ska does get a bit much for me, too. Nice once in a while tho.

Er. As for the Groove rider Vs T-Bone 20 Sep, Central World Plaza, free I believe (Panasonic promotion?). Not sure at all who Groove rider is myself, although they are a Thai band, please don't be confused with drum'n'bass maestro DJ Grooverider I heard T-Bone play earlier in the year in front of Central World, got the crowd going and was fun to see.

Another upcoming event which might be of interest:

T-Bone vs Grooverider @ Central World Plaza, Saturday September 20th 18:00 onwards.

Can only really help with the reggae scene.... I believe BKK has only two regular reggae club nights;

1) "Reggae in Thailand", next event is Reggae in Thailand vol. 12, Sat 27th September @ Glow Club, Sukhumvit 23. Entry 200B/incl. one drink/free CD. Usual line up is Djs Jun, Go & Ma (JAPAN) and DJ Spydamonkee (pretty famous Thai turntablist) plus a couple of half decent MCs from UK/US and often a floor dancer too. Authentic dancehall style, can be quite fun, plenty of ppl @ last 2 events. Playing everything from rocksteady/roots/early dancehall/modern dancehall reggae. Youngish party crowd, including many Japanese and Thais. IMO the best reggae night available in Thailand. http://www.glowbkk.com/

**Glow Club also has Reggaeton, Salsaton, Latino Hip night sometimes, on Tuesdays.

2) "Reggae Showcase", Sundays @ Club 808, RCA, Rama 9 Road. DJ Katsuji plays rocksteady, reggae, roots. Not sure of next event date. http://www.808bangkok.com/

There is plenty of Thai Ska/Reggae/Jazz - T-Bone (more ska and jazz beats than reggae really), Job 2 Do (ska/reggae), Kaijo Brothers (reggae/ska/soul/hiphop fusion & excellent fun live!), Teddy Ska Band, Tamone (ska with lots of brass).... just to name a few of the popular groups.

Most of them have regular gigs around BKK - check myspace.com and you will find all these bands and their gig dates, although they most often play in Khao San Road area, and usually in the Brick Bar (at the back of the Buddy Lodge behind McDonalds) or somewhere in Soi Rambutri (behind the temple near Khao San). T-Bone also play regularly at Saxophone Pub (Victory Monument area).

Also in Khao San area, in a little back alley between Khao San and Ratchadamnoen road is the long running chilled out and low-key Reggae Bar, which actually plays nice conscious reggae you won't usually hear in Thailand, plus drinks are cheap.

*-* KoH TaO *-*

;

;

*-* Fire Show, probably Sairee *-* Shark Island (Hin Daeng) from Ao Leuk Heights *-* Sunset over Mae Haad *-* Jansom Bay (2005?) *-*

Anyone got vintage Koh Tao shots from the mid-late 90's? I was too slack before things turned digital! Paradise days.

02 285 5142 is the number i have used before. it goes direct to the 90days office i believe. it does sometimes (!) work, and they do speak English. They can check if ur 90days has been received and processed.

02 287 3101-10 i have tried this one before too, but it connects to an automatic switchboard. the extensions are supposed to be 2262 and 2263, but I could NEVER get through on these.

NB: The 90days office was engaged constantly every time I tried to call for a week (no joke!!!) (countless times at all different times of the working day) so I believe that sometimes they must simply leave it off the hook. Eventually a woman did answer, and she was able to understand and speak reasonable English and she could check that my 90days had been received.

This Immigration Officer admitted to me that the switchboard numbers don't usually work. I didn't press her on why it was sometimes so hard to contact the 02 285 5142 number.

NOW MY 20 cents about the 90days system:

My problem was that my new 90days slip had never arrived. I must say that for many years I have renewedmany times by post without problem. I would also point out that I know of many people who NEVER renew and have had no problems, even when leaving the country. I know they say they are getting stricter, but frankly I can't even see why they have the 90days renewal system- my only guess is that perhaps some officers might have no work to do and lose their easy government positions.

All us dangerous "aliens" running around who really should be worrying about notifying every 90days cos we have nothing better to do, and they don't even have a computerised system and probably never use the information we give them anyhow. If you were actually up to no good you'd surely give them a false address, and how would they know the difference, huh - i'm doubtful if they ever check this info. It's just a silly hoop for us farangs to jump through. Reminding u that u are an "alien" I guess.

Anyhoo, the woman told me that they couldn't send another 90days slip to me, even they had a record of my registered mail to them and had received and processed it, and that I would have to go in person to Suan Phlu to sort it out. So if this is your problem a phonecall may not help.

I had to pull the government card to sort it out - I switched into Thai and told her I worked for the Thai government - actually true - asked to speak to her superior, whom I then asked super politely if she could possibly help me out as I spend my 5 working days a week working hard for Thailand. This softened her up no end, although she made me wait until after lunch and I had to call them back (as she "had to help someone have lunch" - no joke!!!), but the superior did sort it out for me, and they even shelled out the 5 baht for the stamp, bless them.

The postal renewal IS better than going to the office but in this day and age why can't they have an online system which gives you a printout with a bar code which u could stick in yer passport and they could scan it at point of exit if they wanted to check it out.

I would point out that the present system could in reality easily be circumvented if - when u wanted to leave the country (even u have never renewed ur 90days and have no slip), u simply printed up your own 90 days slip, stamped it with an easily available/easy to produce rubber name/date stamp and proceeded to the airport/border and left - if they check they will see what looks like a 90days renewal, and I am reasonably certain there is no way to check it as they have no computerised records, so they wouldn't even think to fine you.

BTW - I do not suggest u try this as it is obviously illegal. Simply to show how pointless the system really is. Just jump through the hoops instead, and post ur 90days, hoping all the while u never need to contact them by phone.