floridaguy

I will recommed RAM mounts also. Very top quality hardware. About 1200 from Gadgettrend for the medium sized generic mount that holds my iPhone, or GPS or camera. Very easy to mount. But that said, here is something you might want to take into consideration. I had my brand new iPhone 4 mounted and went for a little ride. When I got back home and took out my phone, I noticed that there was an impact spot on the back of the phone where a small rock had flew up and hit it. There was no protection from the mount there. Luckily, I had my phone in a case, and no damage was done to it. But the impact was very close to the unprotected camera lens. Since then I have been looking for a way to shield the phone from flying debris. Ram makes a waterproof enclosure for their mounts, but then I can't use the phone while it is in there. Maybe a clear plastic shield on the back? I am not sure yet.

That's a new one. Did you kids have to show anything?

No, it was only a pain until I paid, then all was smooth. I checked them in online from here in BKK, they printed the boarding tickets at the airport in Detroit, and that was it.

I had the same problem booking a flight for my two kids from the US to Bangkok. I wouldn't be flying with them. So, I booked the flight online, then went to the Thai office in Bangkok and paid by credit card. They wouldn't take my Siam Commercial credit card because it was a Thailand credit card and the flight originated from the US, so I had to pay with a US credit card. Is that crazy or what?

Sorry for your luck. Glad that you are OK. You are also luck that no one else ran over you while lying in the road. I am still recovering from my crash 2 months ago. Got clipped by a passing taxi on Petchburi Road and got sucked into the guard rail. Broke my foot in 4 places, and did some minor damage to the bike. Bent the gear shifter and foot peg and cracked my cowl. Bike is good as new, and my foot is only really stiff in the morning.

Count your blessings, perform tam boon, whatever you have to do to count yourself lucky. But don't be afraid to keep riding. I picked my bike up from the repair shop the day after my cast was removed from my foot and rode it home.

Is Kawasaki really not exhibiting? I don't see them on the exhibitors list.

I was there tonight. No Kawasaki.

The bikes are mostly sport type bikes. The only non sport bikes I saw was a couple of Harley areas, and the scooters. No Honda cruisers, no custom cruisers/choppers. Did I miss something? Last years show was much better, more variety. There were some really cool old classic bikes, side car bikes, old police bikes. This year, sports and Harleys.

I have an older Phantom and it does not really like gasohol too well. It runs a bit hotter then benzine. Other than that, it seemed ok.

OP, sorry this got hijacked by the inconsiderate rantings. I hope your girlfriend has a great experience. If you want more info, PM me.

Submaniac, there are many everyday Thai women who get them. It is about superstition and beliefs, not about social status or being a prostitute. Don't listen to the other posters and their belittling comments. Although many bar girls have these tattoos, that doesn't mean that only bar girls get them, only that they need protection, usually from the men who hire them.

Yes, she can get it done. It is dependent on the monk, but almost all will do it. When she goes to the temple, talk to the monk, he will say yes or no. How it is done is all those waiting to have a tattoo done will assist the monk. While one person is being tattoo'd, two others will help hold the subject still while also spreading the skin tight to receive the ink better. When that person is done being tattoo'd, they are expected to help hold the next 2 people. In the case of your GF, the only difference is that one of the "helpers" holding her still will also place his arm/hand in a position for the monk to rest his hand while doing the tattoo. This way, the monk does not touch her, only the needle.

The cost is minimal, just the cost of donating to the temple. You purchase cigarettes and flowers and candles in front of the entrance and bring those into the tattooing chamber. A collection plate is passed around and the GF places the items on the plate. This is the offering to the temple, and is the sole cost of the tattoo.

You can specify the place on the body and also the design and size of the tattoo. Usually the monk will respect her wishes, but be prepared, he often tailors it somewhat to each individual, in terms of size and also the characters used in the tattoo. Each tattoo represents protection from something, which GF can specify.

As for the post about colorless tattoos, it is not "ink" that is used. It is coconut oil, and is called Sak Na Mun or Oil Tattoo. This raises the skin, but otherwise is colorless after the redness goes down in a couple of days.

The most famous tattoo temple is Wat Bang Phra in Nakhon Pathom, about 1 hour west of Bangkok. Very easy to find. There is a very famous tattoo festival there every year, coming up in February I believe. If she is doing it for the spirituality of it, then this is the most famous temple in Thailand for the actual protection that it is supposed to provide.

Protection? Spirituality? Buddhism?

We are talking about a tatoo!

If you like a tatoo, go for it.

But please, no wishy washy nonsense about protection or spirituality or buddhism.

Nothing to do with Buddhism at all, protection from what?

Wonder how many are aware of the "rules" that govern these sak yant.

Perhaps floridaguy could rock up at the most infamous temple in Thailand and get a sak yant for a minimal cost, last I heard it was 10,000 baht per line, thats if the "master" even tattoos you, if he is there at all these days.

Go to On Nut 25 (cant remember the name of the wat) another on soi nawamin, you dont point to a picture and ask for it to be tattooed, your date of birth, characteristics, occupation etc etc are all taken into account, then it will be decided where you get tattoooed and what will be tattooed.

Two different people can go and at the same time, both will end up with differing sak yant.

I did go to Wat Bang Phra, and I did get the tattoo for the cost of my 200 baht donation. I did go to the temple on On Nut Soi 29 and spoke to the ajarn. He gave me ink he prepared for me for free. Have you been to either place? Did you speak to them? You "heard"? Very good basis for something you obviously know nothing about.

Much easier to buy a magic amulet.

With the added advantage that you can dump it in a rubbish bin, once the magic has worn off / or you joined a different sect.

Do you have faith or religion? Do you pray to a god? What makes your beliefs better than someone else's?

Most of the phone shops at MBK will take your phone and give you credit for another phone.

Submaniac, there are many everyday Thai women who get them. It is about superstition and beliefs, not about social status or being a prostitute. Don't listen to the other posters and their belittling comments. Although many bar girls have these tattoos, that doesn't mean that only bar girls get them, only that they need protection, usually from the men who hire them.

Yes, she can get it done. It is dependent on the monk, but almost all will do it. When she goes to the temple, talk to the monk, he will say yes or no. How it is done is all those waiting to have a tattoo done will assist the monk. While one person is being tattoo'd, two others will help hold the subject still while also spreading the skin tight to receive the ink better. When that person is done being tattoo'd, they are expected to help hold the next 2 people. In the case of your GF, the only difference is that one of the "helpers" holding her still will also place his arm/hand in a position for the monk to rest his hand while doing the tattoo. This way, the monk does not touch her, only the needle.

The cost is minimal, just the cost of donating to the temple. You purchase cigarettes and flowers and candles in front of the entrance and bring those into the tattooing chamber. A collection plate is passed around and the GF places the items on the plate. This is the offering to the temple, and is the sole cost of the tattoo.

You can specify the place on the body and also the design and size of the tattoo. Usually the monk will respect her wishes, but be prepared, he often tailors it somewhat to each individual, in terms of size and also the characters used in the tattoo. Each tattoo represents protection from something, which GF can specify.

As for the post about colorless tattoos, it is not "ink" that is used. It is coconut oil, and is called Sak Na Mun or Oil Tattoo. This raises the skin, but otherwise is colorless after the redness goes down in a couple of days.

The most famous tattoo temple is Wat Bang Phra in Nakhon Pathom, about 1 hour west of Bangkok. Very easy to find. There is a very famous tattoo festival there every year, coming up in February I believe. If she is doing it for the spirituality of it, then this is the most famous temple in Thailand for the actual protection that it is supposed to provide.

You should have gone back. They were going to give you the license. They would have charged you and extra 100 - 200 baht, but you would have gotten it. There are no repercussions for no return, except no license and you will have to start th e process over again.

As far as Pattaya, I drive Bangkok every day on my motorcycle, and have driven a motorcycle in Pattaya a couple of times, and I agree, it is much more dangerous driving a motorcycle in Pattaya. The reason is that there are so many tourists who don't know how to drive, and there seems to be a lot more drunk drivers. In Bangkok, it seems like chaos, but once you get to know the patterns, there is a system. In Pattaya, the tourists do crazy, unexpected things. They don't follow the normal Thai driving rules, as crazy as those rules seem sometimes.

Well I don't mind riding my motorcycle in BKK everyday. Just take it easy until you are used to it. Every area of Thailand has a little bit different driving style. As far as the overpasses and bridges go, I just watch ahead, if the little scooters are taking the flyover bridge, then I will take it also. Better in numbers, because if the police are on the other side, I figure if I am in a group of motorbikes, then I have a lower chance of being waived over. If there are police, you will usually see several scooters doing u-turns and coming back to avoid the police.

I have taken that bridge on my motorcycle a couple of times and have never seen any police.

try thai2english.com

I am not sure if it is Vantec or not, but I have seen those at a IT shop on the second floor of the building that True Cafe and the Apple store are on Sukumvit, at Siam Square. I only mention because I remember them being a little more expensive than the ones I have seen at Pantip, so maybe they are genuine or of better quality.

Good luck.

How long has it been good? If it comes back, it could be a rod knocking. Serious business. Would have to replace the rod and bearings, and if it rattled around and damaged things, possibly the valves, piston, and/or head. If it returns, take it in at once, don't run the motor.

I once had a rod knocking so bad, and at 17 years old, I couldn't have cared less, until the day the rod actually shot out into the oil pan!

Now Now floridaguy

Whats this about you jumping ship? or should I say jumping bikes? And here I was looking up to you for riding choppers.

I did get that Honda Fury and love it. Trouble is I have spent half again as much on chrome parts pipes grill accent LEDs lowering kit new forwards and the list goes on.

Anyway it looks like you have a lot of very good advise I hope you find something that fits you as far as comfort goes.

No, not jumping, more like straddling. Haha. I realized that there is no reason I shouldn't try a sport bike. I am the kind of guy that likes all things, and I like to keep my options open. In the US I have a big obnoxious SUV, and a fast and sexy sports car. I love having the option of either one on any given day. I have always had some kind of SUV and some kind of smaller faster car since I was 16. So I thought, I already have a couple of loud obnoxious choppers, why not try a sexy and fast sports bike? I guess that is probably the reason that I can't decide on any one particular woman.......

Glad you like the Fury. I still love my choppers, but I just gotta scratch the itch and try a fast bike.

Well guys, after all the great advice, I was unfortunately called back to BKK without having a chance to test out a bike. On the ride back, I realized that I know of 2 or 3 rental places in Pattaya, but not one in BKK. Any decent places around the Sukhumvit area that rents some bikes less than 2 years old? Now that my business is done today, I would like to rent one or two this weekend.

katabeachbum reminded me of something else: WATCH YOUR BALLS and be careful of the brakes. Sportbike brakes are really power at stopping. The tank is also right in front of your nuts. If you hit the brakes too hard, you will slide forward and your nuts will hit the tank. Learn the lesson from my post. If you learn the lesson "the hard way" it is a painful lesson you will not soon forget.

HAHA, that is funny. I will definately pay some attention to the fellas when I get on. Thanks for the leaning advice. That is what I am probably most worried about. My Steed is heavy, and I found there is a tipping point, where if I lean it past this point, it goes on its side. I am afraid of dropping the sport bike if I am leaning too far.

Thanks for all the advice everyone. I am heading out now, I will post tomorrow after my ride and let you know how it goes.

Happy riding!

As you may know, I drive a Honda Steed and a Honda Phantom both customized to raked out choppers. I have been thinking of adding a sport bike to the stable. I am not sure what kind yet, leaning towards a Kawasaki. But, what I would like to know is the difference in riding I should expect. I have never driven a sport bike, so I am a little concerned with the seating position and the ride height. I am a smaller guy at about 167cm and 64kg, and know the riding height will be higher than my very low seated chopper. Also, the seated position, my feet will be behind me? Do you put more of your weight forward on your hands instead of your butt? I am worried about balancing at stops since I am short.

I am heading down to Pattaya this weekend and thought I would rent a couple of sport bikes to get a feel for them. I know rentals can be dodgy, but I am not talking about speed tests, just how they feel and how well I can maneuver one.

Any advice on type of bike to look for? I am looking for at least a 600 to test, but would really like to own a liter bike when I buy.

And please, let's not debate which type of bike is best, which type sucks, etc. I am looking for honest pointers here on actual differences in driving.

Hi Floridaguy, what is HID brights? High Beam? How many watts are your HID? Btw, I have a switch to turn off the head light, so no problem with police, and also I don't live in Bkk, so I don't have many chance to meet them.

Hi Cobrabiker,

Yes, by brights I mean they installed it so that when I have the High Beam on, the HID's are on. When I switch to Low Beam, the old halogen lights turn on and the HID's turn off. I only switch to Low Beam when I see or know of police ahead of me. I have been ticketed once in BKK for the HIDs, only 100 baht. I cannot turn the lights off, my headlights are always on, which I like for the visibility and safety.

I believe I have the 55 watt, but not positive. They are very white and very bright. I am so used to them that with my Low Beams on, I can't see a thing.

To the OP, the way out is University classes in Military theory.

As far as I know, mixed-race aren't allowed to serve in the Thai army, I could be wrong.

Yes , you are wrong, many half half boys are in the army. If your son goes to University he will be excused the army time, best way... who would like to see their son marching off to Yala !!

Don't think that is true! You only get excused if you go to Army school..Please prove me wrong...

During his study he will be exempt, bit to avoid the draft he will need to study till he is 30.

This is partially true. He must take 2 years of a military cadet type training in University. Basically like ROTC in the US, where he will learn military theory, but no physical training. Once he has completed that, that serves as his substitute for true military service in Thailand. If he is called in to the Army office, he needs to take proof of his service in University, and they will exempt him without fees.

Check this out. Tire wear indicators.

http://www.procarcare.com/includes/content/resourcecenter/encyclopedia/ch25/25readtirewear.html

Yes it's very crowded. Can take nearly an hour to get in on a bike. Toilets are the worst for any big event.

Really? I have not been to a Bike Week event yet, and was thinking of going to this one, but I may change my mind. An hour on a bike? I assume getting out is equally crazy. I can't stand bad toilet facilities.