wjmark

Only 18,000 bt

Say a good Doner is 120 bt retail, but costs 20bt to make, then if you make and eat 180 Doners it will pay for itself!

http://classifieds.thaivisa.com/miscellane...-sale-2755.html

Invite me over, and I will immediately save you 360 bt (I can eat three in a flash!!! - Lots of garlic please...)

http://www.chiangmainews.com/classifieds_j...iew.php?id=8581

I know she has classes, and sometimes brings in guest teachers...

I'll take two

SIGH!

I dropped in again on the Tiger dealership, and they have a Boxer 200 there! Smashed up in the front end...

Owned by an out-of-town cop, it is waiting for the bits it needs to be repaired (headlight, speedo, etc).

Nice looking bike - SMALL, but feels good. Nice and low - probably handles great. Comfy seat - nice riding position.

The mechanic started it up for me - electric start couldn't cut it, but after 2-3 kicks, vroom vroom. A little tinny sounding, but not bad.

I have been asking guys at the bike shops here, and one said that they were "pretty good", with the engine using interchangeable parts with the Phantom. Another told me that all the parts are made in China (I have read Malaysia on a few web-sites).

I asked the Tiger shop mechanic what was good about the Boxer, and he told me the engine. I asked what was bad, and he said the clutch and the non-availability of parts. The bike they had waiting for repair has been waiting for quite a while. Apparently, Tiger makes bikes but not spare parts for them. SIGH! Also, the mechanic said that Phantom parts are not interchangable...

And, of course, there are none available in CM. And, sigh (again and again), none available in Bangkok!

Other than the mechanic's comment on the clutch, it is probably a pretty good bike. But like the parts for it, no bikes are available anyways.

Did I say 'sigh' yet?

Anybody got a CB400 SF with plate for sale?

p.s. - I mentioned that Kawasaki is supposed to release a 250 road bike in a few months. And I read on the net somewhere, that all four Jap brands are doing the same by April! Made-in-Thailand 250's - licensable, cheap (I assume), and supported by real companies!

Just saw a sign on Super_Highway at a TukTuk dealership saying that ELECTRIC TukTuks are coming soon!

Most chargers don't use double insulated transformers. They use switching technology - no transformers - that is why they are so light nowadays.

But still pretty safe, I reckon

Not as short as i thought I was!

Went to that shop that has the FTR 223's (It is just north of Ratchadamnoen rd on Phra Pokklao rd on the west side).

Yes I can flat-foot them, but it was the other thing about them that I don't like (same for the Yamaha TW)'s - I don't like the big fat front tire. A clumsy soft heavy feeling - not great at any real speed. But will certainly take on any stray animals in the way!!!

He has two there right now. Also a Yamaha Sereow (sp?) which might suit you too.

There is a place on Faham that has some nice trail/road bikes - Took a Honda CRX 250 for test there a while ago.Such a nice handling bike that I didn't care that my toes could barely touch the ground! But 130,000bt no plate...

I will post an updated map in a bit

(Searched the Tricker - amazing looking bike - but really tiny. Really tiny...)

Another good place I found today is a (big) bike shop on Assadat Road (off north-eastern section of the moat road, it's not marked on wjmans map for some reason though).

I forgot!

It is close to where it says 'Consulate' on the legend of the map I posted...

I think it was the owners son I talked to - young guy - great english

Told me a lot about legit and 'grey' bikes.

wjmark

I took one of them Honda 230's for a test drive a few months ago.

The small shop had a few - around 55k bt plus they had some other similar bikes - no plates.

It was on either Phra Pokklao rd or Ratchaphakhinae rd, somewhere north of Ratchadamnoen rd on the west side, in the middle of the block somewhere.

I also rented a Yamaha Trailways 225 on Koh Tao for a week. Pretty much the same thing.

Great bikes, but a little tall for me - I want my feet flat on the ground when I stop - both feet...

Lots of torque and power - not a great high end. Comfortable and very forgiving on ruts, rocks, small animals...

Also, personally, I don't like such a fat front tire - makes the bike feel awkward and clumsy to me.

But great bikes.

The expensive shop near the airport (X-c on the map) has a Husquavarna version of this bike - looks fantastic (too tall and for sure too expensive) for me! And they also have a BMW 650 similar bike...

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I would say that 80% of the Thais on the road that I have asked about their bikes have been more than ready to sell them!

Not sure if any of these specifically import from Japan - maybe just import from Bkk...

But this is what I have found so far.

a) Burning Bikes - mostly Yamaha SR-400's, and a few Clubmans

b ) don't know if he imports - but knowledgeable, nice, and speaks english - has a Ducat there

c) expensive shop - nice bikes

d) Bike House - I think he imports - has a variety of big bikes - not expensive

e) really nice shop - nice guy - speaks english - knows his stuff - some fancy big bikes

f) a chopper place

g) nice bikes including Triumph and Ducati... expensive

Just looked at my odometer, and started womdering about others here in Chiang Mai

I have a Wave 125 and I have averaged 1000k month for the last 19 months that I have been here.

Once did the Mae Sai run two months in a row. Made it back in 3hr 20min.

Other than that it has mostly been local. Mae Rim, Mae Sai, Pie once.

Don't have no car nor truck... (nor big bike)

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You?

From their web page:

"Bombay Sandwich Spread. Neither a chutney or a pickle this is a spread made entirely of fresh coriander and mint leaves spiked with green chillies and a hint of coconut. Fresh and modern this is the pulsating taste of Bollywood!

Also makes a superb light raita mixed with a little plain yoghurt."

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I don't know how it is different from a coriander-mint chutney with some coconut in it - here is a normal recipe for one (no coconut):

http://indianfood.about.com/od/picklesandp...mintchutney.htm

and this is one without mint:

http://www.dotcomwomen.com/food/corriander...t-chutney.shtml

I saw that they have a promotion on the Tiger on Huay Kaew Road just before central have several of them out on the street looks like the same bike based on the picture above

Very funny.

For those who don't get it, those 'Boxers' are actually 800,000bt imported Yamahas...

BTW, I am waiting for a month or so, as Kawasaki is supposed to be releasing a made-in-Thailand 250cc single! That sounds about right for me...

I can get it on my server - let me know if you want it - it will be a day or so out-of-date, so don't talk to anyone or listen to the news...

Mark

Some friends and I would love to catch this game somewhere in town; anyone have any ideas? Thanks!

If you can't find it here, let me know and i will try to record it on my Canadian TV server. When is the game on?

Mark

Went to the Tiger dealership at the train station.

Not a particularly flash shop! Bunch of bikes just kinda sitting there. But the mechanics all looked clean...

(btw, they have a Honda 2-stroke sport bike for 9,000 there if anyone is interested - I think it is a NSR150. Looked dirty, but ok)

They didn't have a Boxer, but apparently the owner did bring ONE in a couple of years ago - obviously not a popular model in n these parts...

They a bunch of Jokers there (their 'Wave', kinda), which I have seen around occasionally. I've actually heard that Jokers are pretty good before (thanks SilverHawk)

As well of Jokers, there are a variety of Tiger's other models - plus golf-carts, engines, and generators.

I gotta say that the first thing that impressed me was the variety and apparent cleverness behind the Tiger range of bikes. They all seemed well built (didn't feel at all like cheesy Chinese stuff) and one of the models just jumped out at me.

They have a 135 underbar bike that isn't - it has a low top strut, and they call it Cycle Cross - a rugged, gas-shock, oil-cooler, clutch bike with a 'touch o' dirt' to it. Only a four-speed, and not a mono-shock, but a really good looking bike. And they have three versions of it - one with small fat tires that make it look like a KSR-115 on steroids.

They only have one of these, and no test-drives - If it came clutch-less, it looks like it would be the ideal city bike (43,900).

But no Boxer-200. The woman at the counter suggested that if I wanted one, I should call Bangkok!

They are the authorized warranty centre, though. And she did seem honestly proud about the quality of their service...

So I dunno. Maybe I should go to Bangkok - try one, and if I like it, buy it and ride it back slowly (or mail it!).

One thing that comes through all the internet reports about this bike (it is available in Malaysia and Philippines, too) is that it does sound very fun to drive. Stable at 140k, lots of low end torque, surprisingly quick - the only compaint seems to be the muffler is loud at higher revs.

Fun, easy, fast, and endorsed by the Bangkok Police - sounds like I have talked myself into it!

Seriously, I can't see Bangkok police riding around on crap bikes - they usually have pretty nice machines from what I remember.

Cheers!

Sure it is an older tech bike, but from what I have been able to find out, they are well built, and are all over asia. Service in CM is a good point - haven't seen a single bike around...

So I'll bite. What should I get?

I tried the Raider 150 and found it too small. I want a bit of substance - not a huge bike, but a bit of substance. The Raider felt tinier than my Honda Wave 125 to me.

I don't want a CBR150 - sure it's high-tech, but it's a sports/track bike. I want something nimble in traffic - not something with downbars.

A Boss 175 or Phantom 200 are not my idea of nimble bikes. A Yamaha 225 Serow or Trailways are just a little too tall for me - I have short little pins and like my feet flat on the ground! Also pretty expensive for bikes that are basically illegal!!!

What's left?

I'd love a Honda twin - but where are they?!?!?!

http://www.motorcycle.in.th/article.php/Th...ai-Mystery-Bike

Sounds good, doesn't it!

Thanks for the replies - I will check the shop out tomorrow

These Italian designed bikes are supposed to be reliable, rugged and nimble. Bangkok police have hundreds of them now.

They cost around 60k.

I think I want one!

Anywhere in CM?

Thanks

Take care buying from Amorn at Carrefour and Icon Plaza. It's a great shop but I've found them to be completely inflexible even just a few minutes after having bought the wrong size batteries. The girl just pointed to the large "No Returns or Refunds" sign by the till and stonewalled me. It was only about 120 baht but I just wanted a different size, not a refund and given the small amount ended up keeping them for a rainy day. Went somewhere else for the replacements on principle.

Well........ we all know your problem - you are too nice!!!

I remember getting a refund from Amorn quite easily. I was persistant, but smiling. BUT PERSISTANT!!

Can't remember what I returned though...

However, since this experience has kind of soured me on dealing with drivers and chipsets and all that, and I was close to buying a new laptop anyway, I have decided to get a new laptop with a webcam built in. I can avoid all the driver issues. And it really means that I don't want the camera and don't really care to bring in my computer to get it working.

Not an absolute solution, I am afraid. Drivers must be installed even on a notebook with a built-in wecam.

Usually, it is easier, but there still can be driver issues - my GF's Asus is having a hard time recognizing the webcam...

good luck

I eat at Phattalung occasionally, not bad. My favorite southern Thai place at the moment is a very informal spot near Wat Pong Noi on on Soi Wat Umong (if it's still called Soi Wat Umong at that point, not sure). If you're coming from the direction of Wat Umong it's about a km before Wat Pong Noi on the right and the Thai sign reads 'Mae Cha-em'. Hottest southern Thai curries I've ever eaten in Chiang Mai, Phattalung pales by comparison! Delicious khua kring.

I'll try to find it when I am back in CM. Something spicy would be nice - it is -14C here right now!

TWO STORIES AND AN UNBELIEVABLE IMAGE.

When I was learning how to drive, my father told me two stories about swerving.

Story One - he was on a long-haul Greyhound bus (in the 1950's), and was sitting near the driver. An auto in front of the bus blew a tire, and started veering all over the road. The bus driver (according to my dad), just too his foot off the gas and grit his teeth. Didn't swerve. Didn't hammer the brakes.

Fortunately, the car managed to get control and get out of the way. The driver told my dad afterwards that he would have run that car right off the road if he had to - must not, cannot swerve...

Story Two - Mum and Dad were driving across country, and saw a flipped car in a field to the side of the highway. they stopped and found a young mother holding her dead child. She had swerved to avoid a rabbit...

I have never forgotten those stories, and the few times that I have found myself in that kind of emergency driving situation, it comes back to me quickly. Good training would be nice for professional drivers.

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And while on the subject of driving in Thailand, I am sure that many of us feel we have 'seen it all'. Well, I saw one for the memory books.

I was driving south down Canal rd. between Huay Keow and Suthep rd. In that huge parking lot on the left, I saw it -- a woman pinned to a concrete support by a pick-up truck.

She was sitting on a concrete support for one of the lamp towers, and somehow - in this completely empty (and very large) parking lot, a pick-up truck had backed up (reversed) right up to her and pinned her legs against the concrete lamp support.

I immediately swung around to see if I could help (not being a great first-aider, I would have called a hospital or something), but there were already a couple of people there helping her, and one had already called an ambulance. While the woman was clearly in pain and shock, there was no apparent blood or anything on her legs. This meant that the pick-up had hit her so slowly as to not break skin.

And this was in the mid-afternoon - good light, etc.

Somehow, in an empty large parking lot, this truck had reversed slowly towards her and pinned her legs, without her seeing it coming. What the driver was trying to do is hard to fathom, and to not see a truck coming at your legs slowly is incomprehensible to me.

If it wasn't so sad (my guess is that she had multiple nasty fractures to both legs), it would be comical.

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So in general - expect the unexpected. If you are driving and you expect people to come flying out of a side soi, and then slam on their brakes, then... no surprise! If you expect that motorbike to take three lanes without shoulder-checking, then... no surprise. If you expect that big SUV to swerve 3 meters into your lane (when only half a meter would have done), then... no surprise.

Driving is different here, but at least many of the problems are predictable (even if the actions seem nuts to us - they are often predictable). Be safe everyone.

okok - maybe not FULL of nice people - but still plenty of them...

and some scary ones.

Gold real-Honda rims - Dunlop tires - and yes it's red.

Leave it alone - it's special.

It does Mae Sai in 3hrs 20min. Not surprising it's so fast - it's a 125!

Thanks everybody - saved me outrageous taxi fares!

I am in Hong Kong now (here they have FREE wifi at the airport!), and my GF has just told me that the bike was fine this morning when she got back to CM...

ThaiVisa.com is really a nice resource (and full of nice people too!)

Cheers, Mark