Garry

Even with “special” X-ray it can be very difficult to determine if a frame number is real or fake, I have seen shops welding over the frame number and than remove the unnecessary metal by powertools and finally smoothing the who area. Even a forensic expert would have difficulty telling it's fake or not.

Not without cutting or boring through the metal and using a boroscope to see any kind of built up metal layering.

Sounds like the bike owner will wish it had been a rumor.

No Surprise...

You would expect to get nabbed for not paying duty in your own country...why should it be different here?

Ok ....I know this is Thailand, but really there can be no surprise to get a knock on your door if you try avoid taxes or duty.

Reinforces once again tho that you need make 100% sure what u are riding is 100% legit.

And how would you know ??

Way too many bent books and restamped frames..

Simple- take your green book to the Land Transport Office and have them check it. Worst they can do is take the book. At least you'll know if you're book is legit or not.

As far as restamped frames and engines- it's usually pretty obvious when this has been done- just take a close look at your frame and engine numbers- it's pretty easy to see if the original numbers were ground off and new ones stamped.

Finally, while I'm sure this may vary from one LTA Office to the next, here in Bangkok and in Chiang Mai and Khon Kaen where I've bought and sold bikes they are really quite laid back over in the inspection area and I don't think you'd run much risk showing them a bike and asking them if the engine and frame numbers are legit. (The inspectors are not police so I think the chance of a bike getting seized at the LTA is pretty slim).

Then again, we've all heard from LivinLOS that the LTA in Phuket is a bitch and seems to make up the rules as they go, so what might pass in one province might not pass in Phuket. (I've not heard of any other province being as difficult as Phuket btw.)

Ride On!

Tony

As Tony says, its that simple. When I bought my Ducati, we had the Greenbook checked at two different DMV's (Land Transport Office) BKK & CEI and it came up with a clear history with all import tax paid. It would be pretty hard to forge Ducati engine and frame numbers, as they're embedded by a computerised punch/stylus type deal.

You can search for Thailand import duty rates using the Thailand Customs Department's official integrated tariff database at http://igtf.customs.go.th/igtf/en/main_frame.jsp.

Sorry to say, but the Thailand Customs Department's statutory rate for "safety headgear" is 100%...

Too true, but if you the opportunity to bring a new helmet in with you, normally they don't give a monkeys about at customs. Well up in my neck of the woods, anyway

Just to add, on triple B's link, click on >>>Customs Tariff>>> click: decree 2542 >> click: chapter 65

I am not sure but I thought helmets were a prohibited import...this may be just for trade though.

The information posted is sound: Heading 6506.10; Description: Safety headgear; Statutory Rate / ad valorem Rate 100%

You can search for Thailand import duty rates using the Thailand Customs Department's official integrated tariff database at http://igtf.customs.go.th/igtf/en/main_frame.jsp.

Sorry to say, but the Thailand Customs Department's statutory rate for "safety headgear" is 100%...

Too true, but if you the opportunity to bring a new helmet in with you, normally they don't give a monkeys about at customs. Well up in my neck of the woods, anyway

Just to add, on triple B's link, click on >>>Customs Tariff>>> click: decree 2542 >> click: chapter 65

Google maps is really useful for getting an idea of the distances between places. Does anyone have any idea if the estimated driving times they give are accurate?

Garry, I've got a Tom Tom in the UK so I would be interested to hear how you get on using the Thailand Map on your Tom Tom. I can download the Thailand map to my GPS for the equivalent of 2,000 baht so that could be another option.

From reading all the advice, I've already changed my routing and am now thinking of picking up the car in Korat and dropping it off in Chiang Mai. The homestays/small guesthouses I'm thinking of staying at are in Isaan and that's where I'm likely to have to book as they're only a couple of rooms in one case. Then I'll have a lot more flexibility when I head over to the North and won't book up in advance and we can change our route if we feel like it. The only area I really want to have a look around in the north is Nan. Maybe also Chiang Dao.

I'd already decided I won't drive in Bangkok!

Hi John, just an update for you from what I posted in another thread and to your question, drive times time can be somewhat out of wack and the TomTom sometimes needs you to recalibrate your route for an update. This happened a couple of time, but it will eventually update the trip time. May have been the heat though.

I have a TomTom GO750LIVE (Live isn't supported in Thailand) bought in Germany. The Thailand map was thorough enough, but not having the LIVE support sevice (traffic, accident warnings etc), any updates can only be applied via my PC TomTom Home connection. All in all a good map for most areas, except some of the newer roads. Funnily enough a lot of streets and roads are indicated but no names supplied. The Map worked well in Bangkok, Hua Hin, Chiang Mai, Chiang Rai & Mai Sae, asking me if I wanted to divert from toll roads (Bangkok), alternate routes, advance lane change indication etc. Just a note, a lot of dirt roads are now sealed roads on the map, so if you have your TomTom set up to avoid dirt roads, then you may not get the fastes route or using alternate route mode. Sometimes it flat out refused to alternate to a road that was right in front of me and would repeatedly instruct me to carry out a U turn. Apart from all the other controls the TomTom GO750 has, I really appreciated the bluetooth handsfree capability when linked to my phone with the obvious auto-answer mode.

I have a TomTom GO750LIVE (Live isn't supported in Thailand) bought in Germany. The Thailand map was thorough enough, but not having the LIVE support sevice (traffic, accident warnings etc), any updates can only be applied via my PC TomTom Home connection. All in all a good map for most areas, except some of the newer roads as said before. Funnily enough a lot of streets and roads are indicated but no names supplied. The Map worked well in Bangkok, Hua Hin, Chiang Mai, Chiang Rai & Mai Sae, asking me if I wanted to divert from toll roads (Bangkok), alternate routes, advance lane change indication etc. Just a note, a lot of dirt roads are now sealed roads on the map, so if you have your TomTom set up to avoid dirt roads, then you may not get the fastes route or using alternate route mode. Sometimes it flat out refused to alternate to a road that was right in front of me and would repeatedly instruct me to carry out a U turn.

Apart from all the other controls the TomTom GO750 has, I really appreciated the bluetooth handsfree capability when linked to my phone with the obvious auto-answer mode.

People are entitled to believe what they want and I am entitled to believe what I know. I trust my GPS. I KNOW it is very accurate when driving a constant speed in a straight line.

Plus 1

I'll believe the GPS before I believe the speedo

Given the fact that Garmin and Tom Tom were fighting over the same card maker that they wanted to purchase I assume it is more or less the same. I am not too happy with Garmin. They are very very slow in updating the maps. Moreover the English spelling makes more often no sense than sense. Even hotel names are spelled wrong. So it becomes very difficult to find something if you do not enter the info in Thai.

On the other hand their sales service is fine. Do not buy an all included Garmin though from the likes of Toyota. Garmin only sells you the maps when they get permission from Toyota. The Toyota maps are on average 1 to 2 years older and up to 4 times more expensive than if you make a direct purchase. Toyota claims to have security as number one, but in the meantime they send you off to a one way road that has been on other maps for years.

The Garmin South East Asia map and the ESRI Thailand map are not the same. The ESRI map is the better of the two. I have no idea which map Tom Tom uses.

I have version 'Thailand v8.45' on my TomTom GO750Live. Lane guidance works well from what I have used in Bangkok.

I have a TomTom GO750LIVE (Live isn't supported in Thailand) bought in Germany. The Thailand map was thorough enough, but not having the LIVE support sevice (traffic, accident warnings etc), any updates can only be applied via my PC TomTom Home connection. All in all a good map for most areas, except some of the newer roads as said before. Funnily enough a lot of streets and roads are indicated but no names supplied. The Map worked well in Bangkok, Hua Hin, Chiang Mai, Chiang Rai & Mai Sae, asking me if I wanted to divert from toll roads (Bangkok), alternate routes, advance lane change indication etc. Just a note, a lot of dirt roads are now sealed roads on the map, so if you have your TomTom set up to avoid dirt roads, then you may not get the fastes route or using alternate route mode. Sometimes it flat out refused to alternate to a road that was right in front of me and would repeatedly instruct me to carry out a U turn.

Seems odd why Tom Tom can't have a Thailand map for the RIDER version, but has a usable Thailand map for my GO750LIVE. Map file size shoudn't be an issue you would think.!?

The Vleben effect is never going to work for them on the CNX route - running dodgy old A300s at double the ticket price of Air Asia's nice new A320s.

Agreed. If TG had a premium product- new airplanes, TVs in economy seats, younger air hostesses - then they could probably increase their prices even in the current market and go for the buisnessman/ premium tourists traveler. But they dont.

What has the age of the air hostesses to do with it?

I personally prefer older experienced well trained ones instead of beautiful chicken.

Think you may be on your own on this one mate...

Indeed, beautiful clumsy chicken thanks

I was being satirical, never had to pay tea money in over 10 years Of course having the family with me and my wife's mother doesn't take any sh%t from them. In a polite way of course

I wasn't trying to be pompous, as I say it's the majority view and something I have to admit that I have done, but I still think it's very wrong.

Unfortunately my good lady is very timid, until she gets home that is.

No offense taken, seem people just seem to be unlucky and be in the wrong palce and the wrong time (right time for the copper)

Dubai, this place is one of the worst places on earth to go, I don't recommend that anyone ever goes there, as an extension of this I personally boycott the Emirates airline and will never travel with them as a matter of principal.

They will look for any excuse to throw people in prison, no matter how small.

I rue the day I get to meet someone from Dubai in my day to day dealings so I can exact some measure of revenge on them on behalf of what I believe to be the wrongs done to the rest of the worlds population. Given the chance I would make them pay in full the debt that they owe.

If you think Dubai is bad you ought to try Yemen or Colombia.

The difference is that Yemen and Columbia do not advertise themselves as a Tourist Mecca. It seems there is a contradiction. If you enjoy yourself you get thrown in Prison or fined.

No, learn something of the culture and the country you plane to visit and it will eliminate a lot of problems.

If you are from the west and visit a middle eastern country with out some investigation of its history and culture you are just being plane stupid and asking for trouble.

Well said gotlost, I've been working in Oman and the Emirates for over ten years and its only western dumbarses who don't bother doing there homework before coming into country or choose to ignore the laws. Strangely enough these countries their own laws on what its citzens & foreigners can and can't do.

I'm with guys

Sorry officer, here's 100 baht, see you tomorrow, would you like cash in advance, then you can just wave me through

This I suspect is the majority view, and of course everyone is fully entitled to their view, but it is one reason why the police force gets away with the corruption and extortion that is within their ranks.

Of course the bribes that people happily pay to the police when they don't confirm to traffic regulations, which I would have thought were there in the interests of road safety, rather than the understandable inconvenience of going to the police station, are only the very small tip of a very large iceberg.

I was being satirical, never had to pay tea money in over 10 years Of course having the family with me and my wife's mother doesn't take any sh%t from them. In a polite way of course

I actually like the corruptness of the Thai police, much more user friendly than the pricks back home in OZ.

They are the only charity in Thailand I donate to.

Shit, I'd rather pay the $6.00 here than the $250.00+ back in Oz.any day.

I'm with guys

Sorry officer, here's 100 baht, see you tomorrow, would you like cash in advance, then you can just wave me through

Thai Airways explains their reasoning: THAI Clarifies Increase in Domestic Airfare

Thai Air are certainly biting the hand that feeds it,a massive 36% increase in one hit for domestic flights.

Seems it also applies to international flights.I was looking for flights to Aus today,BKK-BNE are now 78,000 Bht and Singapore Air are doing it for 30,000 Bht,a massive 160% price difference.

Have they gone crazy,their planes will be flying empty.

Definitely agree with you 'justcruisin'

I felt like I had just been financially raped the other day. That is when I bought two round trip tickets CNX-BKK-CNX for my wife and myself. 16380 THB including tax. I had actually thought I had made a mistake and selected Business class.

There is no common palying ground whe it comes to bribing.....example: we will give you guns, war planes, ships and technical backup for you helping us out....oops, my bad, governments don't bribe do they

I envy you.

Please let me know if there will ever be a track day nearer to Chiang Mai.

All we need is..................a track!

And here I was thinking that the road aroud the Klong was the race track

Google maps is really useful for getting an idea of the distances between places. Does anyone have any idea if the estimated driving times they give are accurate?

Garry, I've got a Tom Tom in the UK so I would be interested to hear how you get on using the Thailand Map on your Tom Tom. I can download the Thailand map to my GPS for the equivalent of 2,000 baht so that could be another option.

From reading all the advice, I've already changed my routing and am now thinking of picking up the car in Korat and dropping it off in Chiang Mai. The homestays/small guesthouses I'm thinking of staying at are in Isaan and that's where I'm likely to have to book as they're only a couple of rooms in one case. Then I'll have a lot more flexibility when I head over to the North and won't book up in advance and we can change our route if we feel like it. The only area I really want to have a look around in the north is Nan. Maybe also Chiang Dao.

I'd already decided I won't drive in Bangkok!

I will also be using my new map through Bangkok and down south towards Hua Hin. This should give a me good idea of the map quality and its POI's.

Fingers crossed its all good

Was this thread an early April Fools joke?

How do you keep a greenie happy? You can't! Everything you try to do, even if it's nothing, will give them something to whine about.

SAVE THE BLACK LESBIAN WHALES

you have something against the blue lesbian whales?

Theres my baby.

http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/post-a109693-.html

And yes I was looking at the girls too.

hel_l, I thought it was going to be something interesting; bloody ER-6N acolyte you are

I've never heard anything about a Chiang Mai branch mentioned at DucatiThonglor. On a side issue, Ducati are tentatively organizing a ride from bkk to Phuket bike week to celebrate the opening of DucatiPhuket.

You can ask Chumphol yourself, he said it straight to my face when I asked him November last year about Ducati's plans for expansion. Chumphol enlightened me then that Phuket was in the bag, but they were being a bit hedgy on what bike shop would get it and where in Chiang Mai. He also hinted that it would more than likely be a small scale start. I'll be surprised if I see anything soon.

At the motorshow HID kits for cars were on sale for 2,990-3,499 in the accessory hall. Plastic suitcase-like case with bulbs electronics and harness.

I saw single halogen bulbs for m/bikes at Raybrig stand for 950 Baht.

Do you remember the name of the company with the car kits?

Yes it was April Weng day yesterday