floridaguy

Maybe because of: Toyota, Honda, Nissan, Mitshubishi, Mazda, Isuzu, Hino, Yamaha, Suzuki, Kawasaki, Sony, Canon, Nikon, Hitachi, Panasonic, Daikin, Sajo Denki, and many more produce in Thailand?

For your second question, they learn Thai.

You beat me to it.

No problems, put it in checked luggage. I have never had problems, even when my bags were opened and inspected. I have also shipped them Thailand Post and no problems.

I have a small plate on my bike with the province abbreviated. Been pulled once so far at On Nut, 200b tea money took care of it.

I can live with 200 baht once in a while to look cool

Most motorbike shops can do it for you. Also, the Harley shop in Pattaya will make any plate you want, any size, any number, any color. They make novelty plates. I asked and he said he could take my large plate and make a small plate with my plate number, like the old design, where there is a red stripe in the middle and the province name is abbreviated. Cost 500 baht and a few days. He said that the new plate wouldn't be legal, but would pass most inspection points. It would not have the hologram like the original, but I have never had anyone look that closely.

Where abouts is the Harley shop in Pattaya? The big place at Prattamnak? I don't live in Pattaya but it's much closer to me than Bkk.

Someone here can probably direct you better than me. I only visit Pattaya when I have to, and only been to this shop once. It is on Thepparasit (spelling) Road in South Pattaya, between Pattaya and Jomtien. Left hand side if you are coming from Sukhumvit. The owner/mechanic speaks english.

I think this is it

GPS 12.916183,100.866802

Updated Aug 24, 2010

Wow - a really original thread about Thai driving standards. Never seen that before.

Fact is, there are variants of the 'types' mentioned by the OP in most western countries in which I've driven, and whatever their faults, the Thais don't display the self-righteous aggression which characterises most drivers in the UK, who all seem to think to think that they are wonderful and lapse into paroxysms of rage at the slightest perceived fault of others around them.

Bangkok excepted, I find driving in Thailand less stressful than driving in the UK

bad drivers are everywhere especially Thailand but I do agree with your statement about driving in the U.K especially greater London where there are those of asian and african origin are prevelant, I had the misfortune to drive through Ilford just outside the east end on a Sunday the other week and it kind of reminded me of driving in Thailand, lots of people muscling for their spot but refusing to acknowlege there were others on the road who had the right of way!

I agree, I am much less stressed driving here than driving back in the US. There, I hated that stomach sinking feeling when seeing a cop - never knew if I was going to be the next guy on the evening news, being beaten and tazed for no reason and having the video shown for all to see. Or worse, the prevalent road rage there. Someone mentioned earlier about doing a brake check on a tailgater. Well, in Detroit or any 'hood, that sh!t will get you killed! Just making eye contact will get your @ss beat sometimes. At least here, we can all drive like jack@sses, because no mater what you think, other drivers hate the way YOU drive (including me), and at least we won't be tazed on national TV and much less likely to be beaten up or shot.

Most motorbike shops can do it for you. Also, the Harley shop in Pattaya will make any plate you want, any size, any number, any color. They make novelty plates. I asked and he said he could take my large plate and make a small plate with my plate number, like the old design, where there is a red stripe in the middle and the province name is abbreviated. Cost 500 baht and a few days. He said that the new plate wouldn't be legal, but would pass most inspection points. It would not have the hologram like the original, but I have never had anyone look that closely.

Actually the second video was Mulholland also.

That first video was Mulholland. It does happen every day.

So OP, any updates? How about a story of your riding experience in your country?

There are some strange ones around..last night coming back from dinner with gf we got stopped by dishevelled farang begging.. this wasn't a beggar standing at side hoping for a handout rather a big guy standing in our way.. scared the daylights out of gf and I must admit when he deliberately stepped in front of me blocking my path i thought " here we go".

What happened next?

Said no thanks side stepped off curb around him, gf ran across other side of road ( she was quite spooked by him) and went on our way and into 7-11... as i went into 7-11 looked back and he was still standing there looking at us. Gf said later if she had been by herself she probably would have given money .. I was just taken aback by fact he deliberately and aggressively positioned him self right in my path . Gf said he looked like on yaba (sp ??)

I actually did toy in my mind whilst in 7-11 re calling police and telling them there was some farang vagrant/ beggar acting aggressively on soi 24 however when we came out he wasn't to be seen... it was creepy and almost something akin to being in rough areas of Detroit.

You think Detroit is rough, try Flint. Haha

I agree though, he was probably a tourist who couldn't be bothered to learn any Thai ways.

Did you take into account the exchange rate? If the transfer was 27 baht, then you must find the exchange rate used and enter in the equivalent amount in US cents. Call and ask. Also, as mentioned, it is very easy to get online banking with your ATM card at any Bangkok Bank ATM

Monty, I disagree, the U.K. was rife with this in the 1970's but definately not anymore. Obviously there will be bent cops everywhere in the world but not on this scale in the U.K.

Not at this scale? So there are not 3 bad cops in all of the UK?

After being pulled over many times by cops who thought that my bike wouldn't have a plate and sticker, I asked a couple what I should do in the future to not be pulled over so much. By the way, I never got a fine, because I had the plate and it was legal. They all told me that if they could see the sticker on my bike as I was driving toward them, then they would not have flagged me down for that. And, since then I have never been flagged down for plates/insurance. Just me driving like a jackass. So, put it where it is most visible to the cops as you approach them.

Ok does anyone know how the timing works? If I rent at 6pm for 1 day, do I return it at 6pm the following day?

edit

I grew up in Michigan, where it snows sometimes 6 months of the year. We considered you a wimp if you drove with 4 wheel drive unless you were stuck. Stupid thinking, I know. Realistically, I never drove with 4wd unless it was in the slickest conditions or the snow was nearly a meter high and the snow plows had not come through. When I lived in Florida, similar weather to Thailand, and now here in Thailand, I have never for a second thought I needed 4wd. My truck has it, but I didn't consider that in my buying decision.

If you don't have an actual need for 4wd, like living on a farm or towing other vehicles, I would not recommend it. There is the cost. Maintenance is very minor, just running with 4wd engaged in 4 High and 4 Low for a few minutes each once per year is enough to move the fluids around and keep things lubricated. I have never had to service any of my 4wd components, like the transfer case or the differential. Do you really think that you will need it more than once a year, if that?

So after having lived in Thailand for years and been to Pattaya over a hundred times, I have never rented a big bike there. Yesterday I rented a scooter for the first time ever. Painless, no hassles, and when I returned it, he didn't even check for damage, just gave me my deposit back and that was it. BTW, auto scooters are a blast! In the US, you are looked down on for riding a scooter, so I actually have never drove one here until yesterday. It was so fun compared to my Steed or my old Phantom. I definitely need to buy one. Anyway...

So I went to one of the big bike rental places on Beach Road and asked about prices. 800 baht a day for the CBR600RR, 1000 for the CBR1000RR, with a discount offered for multiple days. I know all about the jet ski scams at Pattaya and Phuket. So my question is, do they do the same for big bikes? With the little scooter, like I said, he didn't inspect the bike before or after rental, but I did before just to make sure. I have rented many cars here over the years, so I do know to inspect it myself more carefully than they do. I imagine there is a lengthy inspection with the big bikes. I haven't rented yet, but was thinking of doing so tomorrow.

Anyone have first hand knowledge?

I tried this a couple of months ago and it didn't work. Now I just tried it again and it worked great. Using True. BTW, I tried to determine the maximum SMS length by cutting and pasting text into the box. Apparently 433 characters counting spaces is the max, and that used up 3 SMS credits but came over as 1 long SMS.

Hi All.

Who is making /supplying the engines fo the new Trailblazer.?

phupaman

GM

Yep, they're VM Motori designs, made by GM in Thailand.

Yes, they are Italian diesels, 2.8 liter, made in the Rayong plant. Same engine as the Colorado. The final production version is very similar to what is in those photos, but not quite so aggressive looking, obviously, without those tires and wheels. The trim is a little less "flashy" also. The interior is identical to the Colorado. Actually, the whole truck looks identical in the front. The design is locked in now. Size wise, similar to the Fortuner. Enough engine power to smoke the tires on the testing track between the assembly plant and the engine plant.

They have been building the engines for a little over a year now. State of the art facility there, but a little too dam_n cold for me. Cleanest factory I have ever been in in Thailand, including health care manufacturers. In the last 3 weeks they have really increased production, running 24 hours a day, and adding a third shift next month to ramp up for new equipment being installed now that will increase production capacity by about 100% near September/October. Thailand will begin supplying about 90% of the engines in India and Australia. They are hiring production staff by the truck load right now, with new workers daily.

OP, you made me laugh. Great story telling. I have seen 100 of you slow driving falangs here, and on that admittedly challenging ride up to Doi Suthep also. At least you had a good reason to hold up traffic, not like the ones who so righteously believe that just because in your home country a motorcycle/motorbike is entitled to a whole lane, that doesn't mean you get one to yourself here. And thank your friend again. He did do you a favor. My dad taught me to swim by taking me out in a boat (Let's go fishing son!) then throwing me overboard and telling me to swim back.

To answer your question, don't get an automatic or semi-auto. Get a full clutched manual. The CBR 150 or similar is very easy and forgiving. You can screw up a gear change and it still manages to sort itself out. Also, they are very light, so easy for you to maneuver and handle as you are learning. You don't have enough power to do a wheelie, even if you tried. And, they are cheap, so when you lay it down, and you will lay a bike down sooner or later, it is easy to pick up yourself and won't cost you your pension to repair. And when you ride again here, you can get the same bike that you are familiar with and just learn the traffic and riding customs here, instead of learning a whole new motorbike and the way we drive also.

Good luck, and glad to have another avid motorcycler!

There was one of the biggest solar radiation bombardments in years last week.

will companies actually honor these rates?

Actually, I am already feeling this. My workers are demanding this amount or they won't come to work. Not all, but some. The problem is some companies in Rayong and Chonburi are already paying this new rate to attract workers, and I am having to match it or lose workers to these other companies. So the "enforcement" is partially already happening by the workers themselves. It is an employees market down there. Very easy for them to walk off one of my sites and have a job the same day somewhere else.

I did it myself 3 times. Went to DLT at Chatuchak with the bike. All told, about 30-45 minutes from walking in, renew insurance, changing my name and the bike color, inspection of the bike - checking frame and engine numbers, then out the door. 2-3 days later they called and said the book was ready for pickup. Always better to do it in person.

i lost my number plate + tax (stolen from bike ) ,a shop sorted it for 500 thb

i hate those places ,i dont mind paying a few thb to let someone else sort it if possible

I prefer to do it myself, at least the first time. That way, I know the process, and if someone tries to tell me differently, or they try to charge me a very high "fixer" fee, then I know enough to tell them I know better. I don't mind paying someone else to do something for me if I don't have the time, as long as they are not trying to over charge me.

I did it for about 600 baht if I recall, it was a couple of years ago. Take the bike to DLT for the inspection. They will have it ready in a few days, you can pick it up or they can mail it to you.

Well, I am out of Bangkok for a week or 2, working in Chonburi. Anyone know of any place in Pattaya where I can buy a spark plug wire for a Honda Steed 400?

I may be wrong, but i guess there isn't much difference between a spark plug wire for Honda steed 400 or any other bike. Some have carbon core, some copper core. I would look for the same type you want to replace. Normally sold by meter. Maybe a good idea to replace all cables at once if its an elderly bike.

These wires are hard plastic wires, and they seem to be custom bent for the bike. I am sure that I can get any good flexible rubber spark plug wire and have them cut to length. The custom fit of the wires leads me to believe that they are original, 16 year old wires, so replacing them all would have been smart ages ago. The ends where they connect to the coils are a screw in type. I hope that I can get a replacement in that style easily.

I have the wire in my truck out in the parking lot. I will post a photo when I get a break.

The bike is 16 years old.

Change all the spark plug wires and spark plugs.

Yes, I had planned to.