Wow. Lots of suggestions. Thank you mak mak.
I have ridden without any accidents, never even fallen off a motorbike for 50 years.
I guess that means I am a very cautious and lucky rider. Which I learned by riding push bikes in cities where car drivers usually 'don't see' cyclists before pulling out in front of them.
But living in Pattaya is another set of challenges altogether. Disaster can strike at any time. Crazy unskilled drivers sometimes drunk or drugged and a general attitude of anything goes means frequent near misses. Only yesterday I turned into a side road off Third Road and just stopped behind 4 motorbikes on their sides and riders accusing a mocy taxi rider of reckless corner cutting. He had cut the corner at speed only to meet an oncoming car. To avoid a full frontal head on impact he swerved into the mocy riders in the left lane. No one appeared to be badly injured so in Thai tradition I skirted round the stopped oncoming car saw nothing and left the scene of angry Thais berating the orange jacketed Win rider.
My sheer good luck will one day run out hence my interest in better braking systems. Pattaya now has wind blown sand and debris plus random potholes to add to the broken steel drain covers and cracked concrete surfaces. The tourist buses are once again destroying the surfaces and stopping where convenient for them regardless of others.
Rides on the Dark side can also be hazardous. Constant building and repairs mean corners with dangerous loose sand and gravel on the outside of turns. ABS systems can help you steer on slippery surfaces and remain upright through such sections.