Meridian007

Hi! I've got a D50 that I'm still figuring out, and while I am trying to read as much as I can about aperture and shutter speed, I'm still trying to figure out how to directly relate the info to my D50.

Right now I mainly use a Tamron 19-35mm lens, but I'm thinking of trading in some of my zooms and primes for the 18-200VR. I tend to take candid photos which require high shutter speed, but in low light I get way to much blur. I hate using the flash, so I'm trying to figure out some of the manual settings on the D50, but while I'm learning, are there any setting suggestions anyone can offer? What works well for you in low light without a flash?

Great to hear 1st hand experience! Do you have any idea if it's available here?

You could try some of the places listed here:

http://www.geocities.com/bkkriders/shops/index.html

It's just a list, there aren't any reccomendations about the places listed.

What year special is it? That was exactly the bike I was looking for before I bought mine! I have an `83 Heritage Special (they did a few minor changes to the bike that year, hence Heritage) back at home, and I miss it! Yamaha made some awesome bikes with the specials! Where'd you find it?

So I'm wondering where you guys go to get your carbs done? Does anyone know if Fast Corner installs what they sell? My carbs need cleaning and tuning but although I've tried to do it myself in the past, I know I suck at proper jetting and timing.

Fast corner sells K & N filters and I know that once they are installed you usually have to re-jet, so I figure that if they do the work, now is the time to get a cleaning done too.

Has anyone used them? Does anyone know anywhere else that is good?

I'm not sure, I'll have to check. It's pure petroleum, so it's supposed to be able to help disolve any buildup in the carbs, etc. I'm just wondering if it's just another "snake oil" or not.

I just heard about this stuff,

http://www.seafoamsales.com/motorTuneUpTechGas.htm

Supposedly it will clean up the fuel system a bit. Another forum I read swears by using it after the bike has been in storage. Anyone know where to get it?

Most Harley-riders think that just using a couple of feet of empty pipe makes a good sound.... no, guys, it does NOT. But if diameter and length of the pipe are measured and calculated to the engine displacement and your favourite cruising RPM, THEN it might do just that (think bass reflex tubes - only correct diameter and length, matching the diameter and lift of the woofer, makes for deep and full bass sound).

I agree totally! My new bike has the "couple of feet of empty pipe" syndrome, and while I think the Shadow/Steed has the potential for a nice deep sound, right now it's just annoying.

You wouldn't happen to have the formula for that bass reflex tube theory, would you?

Well, I put a speedo on, but I haven't gotten it working yet, (I think some of the internals must be missing from theconnection point on the front axle), and I traced the wiring to find out where they changed it, so I should be able to wire up something before going. Here's hoping it works!

If you don't know a great deal about bikes, want a warranty, and feel that 200cc is enough for your needs, I would suggest buying a CBR or Phantom new. That way you don't have to worry about the details of the ownership transfer, and you get a warranty. Since you are coming here to live, make sure you get a non-immigrant B or O visa, and proof of residence which will make the process much simpler.

If you have a valid motorcycle license from your home country, make sure you have it up to date before coming here, then you can just transfer it to a Thai one without having to take a road test. If not, search the forums on experiences of those who have taken the license test, so you know what you need to learn.

Insurance is your friend here, get the mandatory from the dealership, but think about getting first class third party insurance as well. It's not too expensive, but it can be very useful here.

Or, if you know a bit about bikes and the idea of riding long distances with a lot of vibration daunts you, then you should think about looking into used bikes, but make sure you know what you're doing before opening that can of worms! Again, you can buy new as well, but the price is high.

I just bought a used 600cc Honda Steed (Shadow), but only after learning a lot from this board and others about proper green books, price expectations, ownership transfers, and choosing the right bike for the job. I want to do a lot of touring around the Kingdom and outside so I wanted something that would be comfortable for frequent long-haul rides. I'm used to doing my own mechanical work so I was willing to get a bike that needed work, but it does have its hassles.

There! Hopefully this helps! Search around on these forums, there is a lot to learn here, and knowledge IS power!

Either a rebuilt 1948 Indian Chief or a 1968 Triumph Bonneville. Actually, the new Bonny is quite nice, but I want to wait for a bit more market saturation so that I can find a used one! In the meantime I'm happy modding my `93 Steed.

What about FRS? I brought a couple of FRS radios from Canada, but I'm not sure if the default frequency is a legal one here. I know that it uses UHF and FM, from 462-467Mhz. Should I stop using them? I never hear anyone else on the higher channels (I know the lower 462 channels are usually used by govt/industry so I don't use them). I brought them to use in the outback when rock climbing because of their handsfree ability.

If you don't mind going into Bangkok, I just found a battery shop near my condo.

Between Charan Sanitwong 49 and 49/1 on the north side, (about 5 minutes from Central Pinklao), there is a shop that seems to sell every kind of battery imaginable and they sell an assortment of chargers as well. I just picked up a smart charger for 3000 baht, but I think they have cheaper models as well.

So, I have a new (to me) bike that I bought from a Thai person and I need to take the bike to Mochit to change the name on the green book, but I'm worried that some of the aspects of the bike might not be quite legal.

The guy I bought it off of customised it, which partly meant removing the speedo and rear turn signals. The speedo should be an easy replacement, but I haven't looked at the wiring yet to see how much of a pain it's going to be to put new signals on. Currently, the turn signals in the front work as normal, but the back ones were removed and the brake light now flashes when either turn signal is on.

I know that either of those things would be a show-stopper at the licence office in my home country, but T.I.T? Am I worrying too much? I asked a Thai co-worker who is really into cars and he told me that the office is more interested in the paperwork than the actual condition of the bike. As long as it runs and has some form of turn and brake signal and headlights it would pass. Is this true?

Check these out,

http://www.knfilters.com/filtercharger.htm

http://www.knfilters.com/search/product.aspx?Prod=HA-6088

Maybe one of their specialty cruiser filters would work too. K & N make some nice performance filters, but I think you might have to change the jets in your carbs too if you use them.

Cover plates can be custom made how ever you want them.

Check out http://www.geocities.com/bkkriders/shops/index.html to see where to go in BKK. Enjoy!

Thanks for the info guys, if I knew where to find the companies that can process this for me I'd do it, but I don't mind doing it myself. I need to add a speedometer and rear turn signals to the bike, it has been heavily customised. I assume that there are minimum legal requirements to make a bike "roadworthy", such as signals, speedometer, etc.

I just realised that the tax is about to run out on it, so I have to pay that tomorrow too. Do you usually get the insurance before transferring the bike as well, or do you wait until after the transfer?

Okay, I've got the bike so now I need to transfer ownership. I have the greenbook, copy of the seller's tabien bahn, and the copy of his ID.

Do I need to bring the bike? I live on the outskirts of Bangkok so if I don't have to ride into the the Mochit office I won't.

Ya, I don't remember seeing any in Red Barron when I was there, I wish Bkk had some of the large automotive supply stores that are so common in North America. The closest thing to them are the Tesco/Carrefore shops, but they only have one or two aisles of automotive.

Has anyone seen any at any of the other major bike shops in town?

So I think I've finally decided on a bike, but there are a few things I will want to do to it once I get it. The first thing on my list is getting the tank lined. I did my own bike back home with Kreem, and I was happy with it, but I've heard a lot of good things about KBS.

Can you get that stuff here? Are there any shops that have a lining service that anyone has been happy with?

There is a trick to mocyc, I couldn't find the "real" classifieds either for a while. Try this:

http://www.mocyc.com/store/alltopic.php?CAT=3

Scroll down the page a bit to see the ads (they're all in Thai).

Sorry, I can't help you with any info, but please let all of us know how it goes with the purchase and registration. Inquiring minds want to know!

I'm just wondering if the green book fee increases as the cc increases?

I'm thinking of picking up a bike in one of two ways. Firstly, I know a shop nearby that imports parts from Japan, and puts them together. The bike needs to be registered then as it has no green book, and they told me that it is 50,000 for bikes under 1000cc's.

My second option is to buy a bike I've seen listed on Yello, from a Thai guy, but I don't know yet if that bike has a green book either (I've haerd about a lot of Thai nationals not getting in trouble as much as Farang for not having a green book).

Do any of you have experience with this? Either way, I won't be getting a bike that is over 750cc, so I'm wondering how much I'll have to pay. I know that I have to go to Mochit to do the reg, I've got a non-Imm B and a work permit so I hope I won't need too much more!

What is an IDP? I wonder if the problems both of you had were from the visa type? Do both of you have work permits as well? Maybe that was why it was easier for me. Or, it could just be the randomness of LOS!

As to the original license, Is the UK license computer-scanable? She scanned mine in while processing the transfer, I wonder if they have a way of verifying over the net or something.

The only thing I wish is that I was able to get a 5 year license, but I think they do the 1 year thing with foreigners. Does anyone have a 5 year license here?

Hi guys!

I just wanted to let everyone know some of the things I found out today while transferring my Canadian car and motorcycle licenses to Thai ones.

You do need:

-The originals and 2 photocopies of your (valid) driver's license, work permit and passport/visa.

-Your phone number.

-A reaction test, a colour blindness test, a depth perception test, and a peripheral vision test that are all taken there at the office within 10 minutes and are so easy that you'd have to be dead to fail them.

-A smile and a friendly, relaxed demeanor. (this may be the most important point!!!)

You do not need:

-An affidavit of residency from your embassy. (your work permit is an authorised proof of this, this was the first "lie" my embassy told me)

-An Embassy-authorised and translated copy of your original driver's license from your home country. (the Thai transport office was happy to see the original of mine, they just needed 2 photocopies of it. I didn't have to take any kind of driving test in a car or on a bike with this. The second "lie" my embassy told me! My embassy wants my money!)

-2 photos: 3cm by 4cm. (they take your picture at the office for your licence - this must have changed recently so I can't really call it a "lie" from my embassy)

-A bad, impatient, angry, ignorant attitude. (I can't stress this enough! There were some other foreigners there who were being rude and impatient, I was helped before all of them even though I came later! A smile and following the rules goes a long way in this country!)

I can't believe how easy this was! Although I was duped by my embassy into buying the affidavit of residency (1700 Baht!), I didn't get any of the extra license stuff because I figured I would just take the road test. They never asked me to take a road test so I didn't say anything to them about it! I forgot about the photos that my embassy told me to bring, but I'm glad I did, they weren't needed. I was surprised when the lady who helped me told me to keep the affidavits, and when she said I didn't need them!

I was pissed at my embassy then, but I didn't show it. A "Mai Pen Rai" attitude is appreciated here, and if you can let them see that you are at least trying to make things easier for them, they will try to make things easier for you!

I hope this helps some of you who are wanting to drive here, YMMV at the office but as long as you are calm and happy, the people that help you there will be too!