dictater

I've asked this before but never really got a good answer. Does anyone know a good motorcycle shop in Hua HIn where they can do multiple things a "big bike"? I need some basic things like oil change, spark plugs air filter, and also need new tires. Would also like to get an ECU flash and check the fuel mapping. This bike is a Benelli, and though I'm aware there is a small Benelli shop in HH, I don't think I would trust that guy to do anything. I know there are two or three independent speed shops there, but I have had many bikes come back from shops never to run right again. 

I'm pretty sure I read somwhere recently that parking a motorcycle at Hua Hin airport is free. If it is, is it secure, does it accomadate big bikes,? anyone have any info on this, flying out of HH airport for this first time and being able ride up dump my bike and get on a plane is ideal, but I just bought and it would be nice if it would still be there when I get back, only leaving it for 3 days. Anyone??

Not talking about TM 30, talking proof of residence certificate or however you want to translate it. The paper for changing names in auto books, some visas, driving licenese etc... 

As a recent re-locater to the Hua Hin area I am looking at doing my first address ceritificate and it sounds like it is a different process here then where I lived before, yes I know, what a surprise that there is some inconsistency in the way these works. Anyway I was told I need to go to immigration with all the normal paper work, but that my landlord does not have to come. Anyone have any experience that confirms or proves this wrong. Ang again we don't need to hear all the Bullsh*t about yellow books and wives house cards and all kinds of unrelated comments, keep it to yourself. Useful comments will be appreciated. I will follow up and as I chase down what I envision being a huge pain in the ass. 

I am just about to buy a 2019 Bennelli Leoncili trail 500 and was wondering what other owners have to say about it? Any complaints, mods, upgrades. Dont really need to hear all the negative b*llsh*t from the peanut gallery, but I guess can't avoid that here. Legit answers will be great. 

Hey all, just moved to the area, Pak Nam Pran, and am looking for a good part shop in Hua HIn, any recomendations? RIght now I need a cam chain tensioner for a CBR 250, but would like a good recomendation in general. Honda as usual is useless. Order from bangkok takes a week, 20% more expensive than it should be.  

I also think Lao Dark has been changed. It tastes somewhat sweeter, more mollases to me now, not as smooth as it was. Cant imagine why the Lao IPA can't be kept in stock it is by far and away the best beer in the local market. 

^{I was hoping to get some actuall usefull info on the Himalaya here but it seems the thread morphed into mostly a discussion of the interceptor. I have been in the market for a Himalaya for the past few months, watched tons of reviews in youtub and have noted the general drawbacks, underpowered , low highway speed,  bit heavy, clunky gear box. OK I can live with all that cause I want for versitile on off road riding. Also honestly love the look and style of it. I went to test drive one though was completely turned off, granted not a very extensive test ride as the owner wouldnt let me out of the parking lot with it but it vibrated all over the front end, the engine sounded like it was laboring even at low speeds, and it stalled while at idle three times, for the owner not me. This is a 2020 with only 3k on it. It also just felt cheaply made. The rear light for instance seemed like I could just rip it off in my hand with little effort. Any owners out there that can comment on my observations would be great - cause I still kind of want one!}

Im looking for a map of the entire royal coastal route, I'ved ridden the entire way on the east coast from Samut Sonkran to Surat Thani, I believe it goes all the NST? I want to ride the west coast Chomburi etc next week but its not marked anywhere. I know from experience its a bit difficult to follow on the other side. It would be nice to have a map, tried TAT but why would they have anything like that? 

This has been building and now seems omnipresent wherever I go in the country. Pimped out pickups rolling coal, that is de-tuning or is it a kind of turbo intake that produces big fat clouds of smoke when the genetic shortcoming at the wheel shifts. This fad has come and gone in the US, I think, where it was redneck sister lovers showing thier disgard for everything environmental including people exercsing like runners and cyclists and I know of at least one case when a truck was running coal over and over again on a pack of cyclist making a long ascent in the mountains of coloroda that escalated to gun play, just cause someones on a bike dont mean they're aren't packing in the good ole US of A. If anyone has insight into this trend hear would love to hear if only to satisfy my own curiostiy, why in the F--- would someone do this. 

This has been building and now seems omnipresent wherever I go in the country. Pimped out pickups rolling coal, that is de-tuning or is it a kind of turbo intake that produces big fat clouds of smoke when the genetic shortcoming at the wheel shifts. This fad has come and gone in the US, I think, where it was redneck sister lovers showing thier disgard for everything environmental including people exercsing like runners and cyclists and I know of at least one case when a truck was running coal over and over again on a pack of cyclist making a long ascent in the mountains of coloroda that escalated to gun play, just cause someones on a bike dont mean they're aren't packing in the good ole US of A. If anyone has insight into this trend hear would love to hear if only to satisfy my own curiostiy, why in the F--- would someone do this. 

TIre change time, went to re-up the Pirrellies I have been using for years but the boys at the bike shop are trying to push these Deestones on me. Telling me they are as good as the Pir, but half the price. This is for my CBR 250 which is my around town beater but I don't want faulty - bad tires on anything Im riding. Anyone have any experience with these? 

Thanks, that helps a lot. 

Honda dealers here wont even do the shim check, in addition to that the one in Nakhon Pathom who supposedly did the last one I later found out didn't even do the simple work they billed me for like change the air filter so I doubt they bothered to get into the engine. 

For you gear heads out there. I took my 2011 CBR 250 to the local "big Bike" shop in Kanchanaburi in order to have the valves and valve shims replaced. The bike has over 100k kiloometers on it and besides the normal maintenance costs have never had to have anything fixed. I've been careful to never have local mechanics operate on the engines of any of my bikes since early painful experiences but as the valve replacement seems easy enough I dropped it off to this shop that has been good in other ways.  Not so long story made shorter, picked the bike up everything seemed fine for about 5 minutes until I realized the smoke all around me was coming from the burning oil spitting out my engine, yes they didn't seal the gasket. So when they reluctantly fixed that problem then and there, giving me dirty looks as if it was I who had messed up I was on my way soon to find that now on starting the bike stalls, going dead, coming back to life, but then starts right back up. Also has happened a couple of times during riding under low revs. My guess is that the timing is off, as in they didnt set the bike to TDC when they put in the new valves? Any thoughts? I won't take it back, and of course Honda is out of the question so it I think it's on me to fix it. 

40 baht change on a thousand baht, was the tuk tuk pulling the tow rope? 

I'm looking to start importing a non invasive optical device and just wondering if anyone has ever had dealings with the Thai FDA. Looked over their site which was missing some info but suspiciously clear considering. Wondering if anyone has a recommendation of a firm or handler who could assist in the process. Thanks a head. 

John McMahon

Im trying to piece together what happened to Sang Thip. I was here when it was readily available and remember all of the stories about how it was spiked with meth etc.. and I remember when it disappeared and heard the rumors about it being banned because of meth/ formaldehyde etc.... rumors I said. I also remember hearing the story that it had to do with two brothers who split up and competed with each other? Anyway if anyone knows the story or even pieces please let me know. And yes I know I'm going to have to wade through a lot of typical TV crap but can we keep it to a minimum I'm not concerned about what anybody thinks of either as a drink or if you think its whiskey rather than rum, I'm doing this as a piece of genuine research so let try and get to the facts. Thanks in advance.

Im trying to piece together what happened to Sang Thip. I was here when it was readily available and remember all of the stories about how it was spiked with meth etc.. and I remember when it disappeared and heard the rumors about it being banned because of meth/ formaldehyde etc.... rumors I said. I also remember hearing the story that it had to do with two brothers who split up and competed with each other? Anyway if anyone knows the story or even pieces please let me know. And yes I know I'm going to have to wade through a lot of typical TV crap but can we keep it to a minimum I'm not concerned about what anybody thinks of either as a drink or if you think its whiskey rather than rum, I'm doing this as a piece of genuine research so let try and get to the facts. Thanks in advance.

this becomes a thin line between working as a photographer and taking photos. I work as a freelance writer and travel around Thailand on a tourist visa doing research and taking photos all the time, by the word of the law, that is illegal even though nothing I do is being paid for within Thailand. They are splitting hairs here, but we all know the law and how protective Thais, especially in the big tourist spots like Phuket are over their turf, dont do it out in the open. 

As always the TV detectives

have the case solved well ahead of those pathetic BOB's, good job boys now back to your Chang. 

  To welcome the tourists, the local residents have improved the landscape of a campsite which can now accommodate 1,500 people. Meanwhile, new infrastructures are being constructed to support the increasing number of tourists. 

Never a good sign, "improved" usually meaning cut down any trees or flora, put in as many lights and as much paving as possible. Camping among 1,500 people - nothing beats getting away from the crowds.