floridaguy

is there any camera that you can install to you helmet?

I need something that will record what i am seeing exactly on the road let's say my peripheral vision?

Most sport cams can be installed to your helmet. You can use straps for a non-permanent mount, or stick on base plates for a permanent solution.

I just received my Liquid Image Ego sports cam and mounted it to the windshield of my bike. I got it shipped for free and it arrived in 11 days and the package was unopened when I got it, so no customs duties. Paid 180 USD. It does 1080P at 30FPS and 720P at 60FPS and I can connect it to my iPhone (or any IOS or Android device) to frame the shot before recording. It uses all the GoPro mounts.

I just returned from a 2 day run to Kanchanaburi and will try to post some links to YouTube when I can edit them and upload them. Their website is useless for info, but you can find a review here:

And despite what the reviewer said, I got it to attach to a GoPro mount.

I would personally pay the $70 difference and have a GPro 2 motorsports

Why?

Take a look at this comparison. I don't know if this is the GoPro that you are referring to.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gEeA9uQvdaI

Ask the same questions that you would ask in your home country. That was easy.

I have a tattoo done by monks in a temple with no sterilization. Yup, that's me, living on the edge. That was 3 years ago, and after several tests, no HIV, or Hep or anything. I have never heard of a case of HIV from tattooing here, only from injection needles.

As for kanji, I would brink your own chosen design for them to copy. Tattoo artists is a protected profession here, so finding a Thai tattooist who knows his kanji would be tough.

I just received my Liquid Image Ego sports cam and mounted it to the windshield of my bike. I got it shipped for free and it arrived in 11 days and the package was unopened when I got it, so no customs duties. Paid 180 USD. It does 1080P at 30FPS and 720P at 60FPS and I can connect it to my iPhone (or any IOS or Android device) to frame the shot before recording. It uses all the GoPro mounts.

I just returned from a 2 day run to Kanchanaburi and will try to post some links to YouTube when I can edit them and upload them. Their website is useless for info, but you can find a review here:

And despite what the reviewer said, I got it to attach to a GoPro mount.

I haven't seen one since I posted this.

anyone else in BKK see one lately?

I haven't seen an official stop as before, but I do notice that when the police are out directing traffic in the morning and afternoon rush hours, they are flagging over many more bikes and cars/trucks than they used to. So, it is there way of complying with the current directive, and still getting a little bribe money on the side. Still much better than before. I haven't been stopped on my bike in ages! Woo hoo.

So now maybe I can really customize the heck out of my bikes and ride with no fear!

Everyday driving

Night driving

For the girlfriend

For her kids

For the flood that they say will never come

Buy the folding kind, they fold up instead of breaking. Would have allowed me to drive my bike after my accident, since my front brake lever broke. They are available at most bike accessory shops. About 2000 baht.

Thanks for your good report and tips, I'm planning a similar trip and was looking for the right info.

Poi Pet: that's the border crossing near the Rong Kluea market right? ( at Asian highway 1)

Last friday i did my 3 months visa run to Cambodia ( Chong Chom) and asked ( or better my wife) the officials what needed to cross the border by bike, the anwser was: it's not easy and they even didn't bother do explain what i would need. so i guess i better take the same border as you.

From what i've heard it's not allowed to drive with your headlight on in the day, so i have to make a switch.

Yes, this is the same border crossing.

And for everyone's information, as the customs officials were filling out our forms, they did say that it is easier to take your bike across at the major/official border crossings, as they are more familiar with doing it. At smaller/local crossings, they don't do it that often, at least not using official procedures.

As for lights, I always drive with my headlights on, and also convinced my buddy to keep his on also after the horrible drivers we saw. They really are horrible, disregarding even basic rules of driving and etiquette. We passed at least 4 police check points, like I said, and we were not flagged over. But we also had no intention of stopping even if we were. As in Thailand, they did not have vehicles at these check points, so we didn't expect them to be able to give chase. Does that sound bad? Haha. They didn't seem interested in motorbikes anyway, only stopping the cars.

Thanks a whole lot,

and yes, the habit there of ignoring oncoming bikes when taking over disturb me too.

If you go again, please ask if it is possible to get a 6 month/1 year permit for the bike

Was thinking of going back later this month or next month and will ask for you

One question: is it possible to leave Thailand at let's say Poi Pet and re- enter at a different crossing ( Hat lek, near khlong Yai) ??? So i can make a bit of Cambodia round trip, visit the temples at Angkor Wat and the beaches at Shinoukville.

Yes, you shouldn't have any issue. Just make sure to keep the documents that customs gives you for the bike. They need it back when crossing over. They actually seemed totally uninterested when we crossed back. He didn't even go over our documents when we crossed back, he just took them from us and waved us through.

The Thai immigration officer was very interested in our trip, asking about roads and Cambodian police. I told them they were worse than Thailand. He asked which one, I said both, and we both laughed.

Just got back from Siam Reap, Cambodia and thought I would update you all on the road conditions and procedures for crossing the border on your bike. I went with a falang, so will try to give you the falang and Thai procedure if different. They have greatly simplified things crossing the border. All you need is:

Your passport (duh)

Bike’s green book

Stop at first gate where they inspect incoming cars/motorcycles. They will make a copy of your green book, they fill out 1 form and give you a copy. You sign the form and the log book.

Now, take that form (don’t lose it!), drive to the next inspection point and park in the middle where the small motorbike parking is. Give them your passport, green book, and copies of the form customs gave you. They will log your bike, give you back your forms, and charge you 20 baht for entry and 10 baht for copies.

Leave your bike and go inside the building next to you and get stamped out of Thailand.

Now walk, don’t drive, past them (5 meters), then drive your bike to the next stop point, and go and get stamped into Cambodia. For falangs, you can get your visa just before this point, Thais don’t need one.

Now drive like you stole it across the border, because I don't think anyone there has ever seen a big bike. They thought my buddies Phantom was a Harley.

Driving in Cambodia - I crossed at Poipet and went straight to Angor Wat and back, so my experience is limited to these roads and surrounding Siam Reap.

Roads – they are ok, if you stay on the beaten path. Be aware, there is very loose dirt on the sides of the road, you can’t miss it, it is very red, and slippery. Also, when it rains, it will cover every nook and cranny of your bike. They drive on the right hand side of the road, I had a couple of scary moments. Get gas when you can, there aren’t very many big stations, and I don’t trust buying gas in glass bottles, so fill up at the border and any time you see a big modern looking station. There is a station about half way to Siam reap that was fine.

Cars will overtake coming head on to you, as they don’t consider bikes to be entitled to any lane space. I am used to this somewhat in Thailand, but it is 10 times worse in Cambodia. It doesn’t really phase me anymore, BUT I did have a small heart attack when they were coming at me 3 abreast on a two lane road

The last 50 kilometers into Siam Reap the roads are bad. There are pot holes on the right hand edge of the driving lane big enough to flip your bike if you don’t miss them. Driving on the shoulder is not much better, as the potholes extend to there and you must dodge slow moving scooters. So, for the last 50 kilometers, I drove on the center line and dove back when cars were anywhere near. If you can, follow a car, as oncoming traffic will respect the car and not overtake expecting him to move.

Police – they were stopping cars at 4 points along our drive to Siam Reap. We never stopped with the cars, just went around them. They never gestured to us or even acknowledged us in any way, other than to stare like everyone else. We never saw anything over 150cc the entire 3 days we were there.

Language - Not much Thai is spoken after you leave the border area of about 50 kilometers. English was common, although in Siam Reap, neither was spoken at many places. But, there are a lot of similarities between Khmer and Thai, so if you listen carefully, you can almost piece together what they are saying. First try English, if that doesn’t work, try Thai.

Money – they take baht near the border, but as you go deeper it is accepted less. Best to get some US dollars, as it is accepted everywhere and you get a good exchange rate, not so with baht. And they don’t accept any coins of any kind, and will not take old, wrinkled, defaced, or torn money of any kind. Tips are not expected here, so if you get a bad bill, give that away, as it is worthless anyway.

General thoughts – there are NO 7-11’s in Cambodia! I still can’t get over standing on a busy corner and not being able to see four Sewens within my sight. Not many shops are open past 9pm, so stock up on whatever you want before then. Hotels were cheap, from 300 to 700 baht was acceptable. My TrueMove voice and data stopped working about 30 kilometers past Poipet. I didn’t try to get a temporary sim card, so don’t know how that would work.

Crossing back – this couldn’t have been easier. Stop at the first point and get stamped out of Cambodia.

Now drive to the next point, which is where you parked your bike. Give them back the customs documents (you didn’t lose them right?) and they will keep them. Leave your bike and go get stamped into Thailand.

That’s it! Collect your bike and ride on the correct side of the road, happy that you are back in the Land of Smiles and Sewens!

Here is an example of the customs document. You won't need to bring this or any documents, including any immigration forms (TM2 or TM3 or TM4), as has been reported in other places around the web.

Thai Simplified Customs Declaration EXAMPLE.pdf

Well I can confirm that the speed restriction is gone. Also, before it would pull very slowly from 180 up to hitting the wall at 200, then the restriction would fully kick in and it would buck like a preacher's daughter. Now, it pulls hard all the way past 200, screaming up to red line. I hit 200 in 5th gear without realizing I still had another gear to go! I had to back off after that, so didn't hit top speed. Also, the speedo stops at 200, so I will have to use the GPS on my phone or Dynolicious to check top speed. OK, bad boy, no more of that!

That's strange, i could swear that my NC30's speedo maxed out at 180kmh, are you sure your speedo is from a NC30??

200kmh with ease and with another gear to go seems very impressive indeed, mine would clear the 180kmh notch on the speedo but i haven't seen an NC30 with 200 on the tacho, unless it's had a new face/sticker laid on it??

Well on the ride to Cambodia, I tested my speedo with both a GPS and an app on my phone, and the Honda speedo is off by about 10kph. So, when my speedo shows 120 kph, I am actually only doing 110. So this explains why it felt I still had extra speed to go in 5th. I still haven't had the opportunity to go top speed yet, but should be able to do it this week. I am curious as to the true top speed now that it is unrestricted.

Well, I just got back from a nice little run to Angor Wat with the bike, and of course I had some small problems on the trip. So I just finished addressing them all today and she now screams!

Replaced the ignition switch and gas tank cap with new matching set - 700 baht for ignition, cap, 2 keys, extra key cylinder, and a helmet lock.

Replaced all 3 sets of brake pads, she stops on a dime now. What a difference. 750 baht

Changed oil and filter. Air filter is still new, so just blew it out. 1150 for synthetic oil and filter and labor.

Replaced all 4 spark plugs, as I had a bad one. 1200 baht from the UK, free labor

Throttle grip came loose. Reglued that. Free

She is now in perfect order and I don't anticipate much else to go wrong hopefully, as I have replaced or repaired practically everything on the bike now.

I can get the Yamaha scooter onto my 4 x 4 Ford Ranger and close the tailgate.

I don't think my Phantom will fit and my Yamaha Virago would need a forklift to get it up there at 195 kg and it would probably be too long anyway.

I had a stretched Phantom, and still have a very stretched out Steed, both rear tires sit on the tail gate no matter the positioning. My VFR400 also will not allow me to close my tailgate. It is a 4 door DMax. I never tarp it, just hang a red cloth off the rear end. I have driven through police check points that way and never been stopped. Tied down with nylon straps, but just purchased a couple of ratcheting tie downs for the next trip.

And at 225 kg, it took 4 of us to lift my Steed up.

Finished painting the rear sets in glossy black to match the frame and forks. Painted them on my balcony.

It is a good thing I am single for the moment, no bitchin about using the clothes rack for a temporary parts hanging rack!

Although I pissed myself off by not taping completely and got some over-spray on the rack, the tiles, and the wall. Oops. Now I have to scrub the whole dam_n balcony

On the advice of Furyrider, I have found this excellent article that covers it all. Thanks Furyrider!

http://www.gt-rider.com/touring-information-overview/s-e-asian-border-crossings

dam_n, I think the OP disappeared. So what did you do with the bike? I could probably try to remember the costs of some of my mods if you want. It was a couple of years ago, and that is 365 days x 2 of drinking opportunities, so my memory may be a bit fuzzy, but I will give it the old college try.

yeah dont get the rustoleum it feels like its going to break everytime you load a can.

I'd see if you can get one off of ebay...theyre only like $6 at an ACE hardware store in the US.

I took one to a paint store in Chiang Mai once to see about selling them, and the guy was in utter amazement.

If you email a website and ask, they may be able to mail it to you.

Yeah, I went to a couple of TrueValue stores here in Bangkok and asked about it, showed them the photo on my phone, and they also were astounded. "No hurt hand?!? Can no fall out?!? Black magic!!!"

Give the guy a break, he took his bike to the dealer to get a chain tightened, and the dealer failed the most basic of all motorcycle mechanical skills.

And these guys presumably are presumably certifiably trained and certified by ************* (Enter Kawasaki, Suzuki, Yamaha, Honda etc. here). It boggles the mind sometimes.

Oddly enough it seems to be the same regardless of industry or service in Thailand... go to shop to buy a large shirt, be told I'm medium not large and then they angrily try to measure me to prove my body size is medium while making indignant hissing sounds when I repeat my request for a large shirt. Never mind that I like a loose light shirt in size Large because of the hot climate. No, I'm wrong and have to buy a medium shirt despite me telling them I'm looking for a large one. (and no they didn't get my service)

I think you have to remember that you're dealing with a not very bright populace who cannot think in any objective manner, and think that you are stupid and they are intelligent.

Or perhaps I'm just jaded and burnt out.

Did you explain all this to the salesperson? They were correct, you are a medium, but you prefer large. I often find that most misunderstandings are because of assumptions. You assume they would just do what you ask, they assume you are stupid

I just read a post on TV where someone said the Thai language is a useless language, to which I vehemently disagree. When I get into a misunderstanding with someone at a mechanic's shop, it is because they don't understand me or vice versa. Usually because they insist on speaking English. So I switch to Thai and explain why I want something, and then they are fine.

me "I don't want those spark plugs"

mechanic "but better!"

me "just change the bad one"

mechanic "but change all better"

me in Thai "just change the bad one, I am ordering iridium plugs from Japan and will change them all when they arrive"

mechanic "ok"

Technically the axle nut should be tightened with a torque wrench, I don't have one of those either and I also hate guessing how much to tighten that nut.

Just read the comment from KRS1 two posts above. Even if they (the thai mechanics) would use a torque wrench and the recommended torque, there still would be some farang who would insist that they are wrong. Very difficult to deal with farangs. They think they know everything better

When i got my new CBR150 the chain was very tight. Personally i wouldn't have tighten it so much. But the bike was fresh from the factory. No Somchai outside the factory has touched it, of this i am sure. So Honda has decided to sell the bike like this. And i guess this has a reason. I guess the new (cheap) chains lengthen very much at the beginning (when they are new). So Honda tightens them a bit more when new.

Well. The Somchai at the shop SHOULD have done a 'PRE- DELIVERY ' inspection. Then he would have noticed the tight chain and loosened it to the specification in the book.

sent from my Wellcom A90+

It is possible that they are told that the chain should be overtight to a certain spec as it leaves the show room floor, with a certain amount of loosening quickly there after. We would often get these "dealer notes" on parts and items informing us to release items a certain way, knowing that it would not be listed that way in the owner's manual or repair manual.

• Am I missing something here ?
  

Any bike rider should know basic mantenance just as adjusting ones chain. I do mine in under 3 minutes on my Ninja. About the same on any other bike. Why whould you trust your bike, and your life to anyone else ? They are the same guys who check tire pressure with their thumbs

Yep feels OK !

Lol

The only reason why i took it there is due to the fact i ride past the dealership every evening, so thought it would save a little time and effort to just chuck it in and let them do it for free, nowt wrong with doing that considering i always watch over them like a hawk.... I even watch over the Yamaha guys when they work on my Mio125

I also can assure you that my bike is rigorously checked over by no one other than myself (a mechanic) no less than twice every week, if i'm not going to be passing the dealership for a while (holidays) i'll adjust the chain myself. The thing i find alarming is that they have always adjusted my chain to the correct tension before (well, with exception of over tightening it once) but today a different mechanic flicked the chain with his finger and thought i would be gullible to take his word for it...

So In Thai i said "Never mind i'll do the adjustment at home by myself again krub"

I enjoy working on my vehicles also, but agree with Karlos, sometimes you just want someone else to dirty their hands on the "easy" stuff. My time is more valuable than the local mechanics. Do you make your own clothes or grow your own food? No, your time is more valuable and you have someone else do it, it is their job. For me to do it, I have to change my clothes and get out the tools, then after put everything away and wash up. So it takes an hour all told. All a local mechanic has to do is do it, it is his job, he is ready. I would be frustrated too.

I think it's always partly our fault ...by simply being here...if the OP hasn't been there,there would be no accident...TIT...BTW,you should know what I mean...

This is such a bad way of thinking. It is not your fault just for being a foreigner, and if you keep thinking that way, then you will always be taken advantage of, like so many TV'ers and other foreigners I meet here are.

To the OP, let the insurance company sort it out. Ask them to check for CCTV to prove you were in the right. If you have to, meaning if they try to blame partial fault to you, then ask them to go to the scene and find a witness. There are usually food/trinket vendors there every day and they may have witnessed yours. Stay away from the guy you hit. By visiting him you are admitting fault, not legally really, but it shows you are remorseful and you accept some blame.

Thanks, I really do take my time. I use spray cans. Really the quality of the finished product is in the prep work and the process of painting itself. The paint matters, but I have seen great paint jobs from bad paint, and it is all too easy to produce bad paint jobs from great paint. I use off the shelf automotive spray cans, sand paper, etc sourced locally in Bangkok or anywhere in Thailand. I probably spend 80-90% of the time doing prep, and then the wet sanding between coats. Very little time is spent actually painting.

Take a look at this thread for my current project bike, I go into alot of detail about how I constructed a less than ideal paint booth in a garage and painted all the fairings and frame on a Honda NC30

http://www.thaivisa....0-project-bike/

You really have to get yourself a Can Gun 1 for spray cans man, they are awesome...worth every single penny even if you have to pay double for shipping. No more sore thumbs and much easier to fan the spray, much more control. Too bad im not in LOS right now or else i'd give you one, i have 3 sitting in BKK right now. You wont find them in Thailand.

If you do decide to get one, only buy the Can Gun 1 its built the best.

I love that buildable spray primer by Pylac...its cut my bondo time down by quite a bit.

Haha, I have been searching for this in Bangkok for the last couple of weeks. I hear the Rust Oleam grip was utter crap.

I apologize if this has been addressed in this thread already but I need a recommendation for a mechanic/ shop in Pattaya that can sync and tune the carburetors on my Yamaha Diversion 400 inline 4... It runs just a little rough up until 6000 rpms then all is well... I also have to keep the revs up coming off a dead stop to or it wants to bog down. If I had to guess I would say it is running rich... Two mechanics back the guy changed the jet or maybe jets... It just says jet on the receipt but this guy screwed it up so bad after taking it back several times I just gave up and hauled it to Bangkok where they got it running pretty good but not good enough. I am about ready to take it to the Road Machine Shop on 3rd road as it seems it is one of the better big bike shops in town after reading through many threads... I have had this motorbike for 5 years and it did run great before the change the jet mechanic got a hold of it.... Any recommendations or feedback welcomed...

I agree with Karlos, you are asking a question completely unrelated to my thread here.

ok, so I am keeping the 150 2-stroke engine on the bike. thanks to all of you for your advice to leave it as is.

Now, I want to make it look meaner and most importantly to sound meaner.

Same advice: leave it as it is. No posturing, please. Thailand has enough noise already. Besides, people turn around to see it's only a Phantom, they're just gonna laugh.

About the only thing that would be halfway cool, if you've just go to do something, is to give it a rat bike paint job. Some examples here: http://www.ratbike.o...es/07ace13.htm. The Keeway (happened to see one, once, in Pattaya) comes in flat black and looks pretty good for what it is.

Here is my old Phantom TA200. It was orange when I bought it. Raked out a little on the front end, stock tank and exhaust, 180 rear tire.

The paint job I did myself, a mix of flat and glossy black. This is what it looked like 2 days before I sold it.

Bike looks badass in black ! I see you got some painting skills there.

Not everyone can paint like glass

did you use a spray rig or automotive grade spray cans? I use automotive grade spray cans and are still vibrant after 5 years.

Thanks, I really do take my time. I use spray cans. Really the quality of the finished product is in the prep work and the process of painting itself. The paint matters, but I have seen great paint jobs from bad paint, and it is all too easy to produce bad paint jobs from great paint. I use off the shelf automotive spray cans, sand paper, etc sourced locally in Bangkok or anywhere in Thailand. I probably spend 80-90% of the time doing prep, and then the wet sanding between coats. Very little time is spent actually painting.

Take a look at this thread for my current project bike, I go into alot of detail about how I constructed a less than ideal paint booth in a garage and painted all the fairings and frame on a Honda NC30

http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/554287-honda-vfr400rr-nc30-project-bike/

Here is my old Phantom TA200. It was orange when I bought it. Raked out a little on the front end, stock tank and exhaust, 180 rear tire.

The paint job I did myself, a mix of flat and glossy black. This is what it looked like 2 days before I sold it.

The "before" photo looks better than the "after" photo. Shoulda left it alone.

Good for me someone else disagreed with your opinion. I sold it for 15,000 more than I paid for it and for the paint/work a year after I bought it.