ClareQuilty

Sorry I didn't get the sports reference.

Actually large scale quantitative easing and/or increasing government debt should make the dollar stronger, not weaker. See Japan.

At which point in the last 15yrs should we look at the Japanese currency to see it strengthening their currency?

I never suggested you look at a 'point'. The currency has been remaining quite strong vis-a-vis the dollar throughout the last 15+ years, despite several periods of quantitative easing and sustained high government debt and borrowing throughout that period.

Shouldnt we look at Zimbabwe or 1920s Germany for a alternative view?

No. Clearly the Japanese case is more apropos - a large modern industrial economy locked in the downward spiral of deflation, lack of demand, excess capacity, and 'austerity' - inadequate government spending.

Actually large scale quantitative easing and/or increasing government debt should make the dollar stronger, not weaker. See Japan.

Is this likely to affect the 70-80% of Thai-owned small bikes and scooters in Surin which doubtless have no book?

I have three old 2stroke bikes. They are becoming less popular because they drink fuel, are very sensitive to the fuel they use, generally needing 91 benzine, which is hard to buy now, considered environmentally unfriendly because of the 2stroke smoke and noisy. They tend to need more maintenance than a four stroke bike, and thats certainly the case with old bikes. That is why they are cheap. I quite like them myself but will probably need to give in to progress and buy an injected bike which is way more fuel efficient. Tena/Smile are nice small bikes easy to maintain though. Easy to get parts for. 5000 baht you can't complain, and if you up sticks or loose them for whatever reason, its not much to loose.

Its really not the money - I just hate the new bikes. They're all weak as can be and seem to be designed for girls. I believe I'm one of those people who are 'crippled by nostalgia' - I live in a state of revulsion of innovation. I honestly find that every little thing is getting worse, not better, and terribly resent when I'm required to get something new. I'd be willing to spend more money on an old Tena than to buy a new bike. Crazy? Maybe.

By the way what kind of old two strokes do you have, Maichai? At present I have one clutcheless Tena in decent conditon, the Smile, and one Yamaha Tiara with clutch (my favorite bike but alas very worn). I'm still hoping to find a Tena with clutch in great shape or a better Tiara with a correct ownership book, and would be willing to pay quite a bit for one.

...you will need/get a letter of residency from Thai Immigration.... (2) your blue book for the house you live in/"own" or your rental agreement for your residence; (3) if the house book is in a company name (your name will not appear in the blue book in such a case), bring a recent electric bill or telephone bill with your name on it to show the connection to the house/residence;

What is a 'blue book'? I've never heard of it.. I have no papers whatsoever other than my passport, visa, and work permit.

But that only works when buying new not private sales..

Yes, I was buying used but from the dealer. When I have bought from individuals or small shops I never was able to get the bike licensed or get a valid ownership book, alas.

No problem removing cats. On two strokes, always check jetting after any change in the air flow - intake or exhaust. A quick read from a new plug will tell you if you need to increase jet size or needle position to allow for mods which allow more free-breathing.

Wow, thanks so much for your comment Seedy. Do you think that such carburetor modifications would be within the capability of the local bike mechanics? Although I love the bike, it is a 5,000 baht 105cc little thing hardly worth major expense (not to mention I'm a very broke mofo).

Most Immigration require copy of Tabien Baan,

I've lived here for years and never gotten a 'Tambien Baan'.. though I suppose I would like to (I live alone of course). When I've bought motorbikes the dealer was able to get the book registered in my name with just copy of passport (I suspect representatives of large motorbike dealers have a lot more luck at the government office then an individual farang would).

when emission is checked, its according to the requirements of 1st time registered.

I have been told by the local English speaking bike dealer that it is the norm here in Isaan for such unreasonable requirements to still be amenable to the happy solution of corruption, but that it depends on the office.

And you believed him??

I have no reason not to. I've bought two bikes from him for next to nothing, and both have been nearly perfect, plus he got the green books in my name without charging me anything or requiring anything more than a copy of my passport. He's a large Honda dealer who gets dozens of bikes registered every month, so he knows what he's talking about. If you're suggesting 'Thai's aren't to be trusted' or something like that, well, that's nonsense - I usually get charged lower prices than my Thai friends here in Isaan, and people often give me all sorts of goods and services for free..

when emission is checked, its according to the requirements of 1st time registered.

Ah, well if that is the case, it is a relief, because of course older bikes cannot pass the modern absurdly stringent requirements.

I have been told by the local English speaking bike dealer that it is the norm here in Isaan for such unreasonable requirements to still be amenable to the happy solution of corruption, but that it depends on the office. He advised that any foreigner facing such difficulties engage the services of a facilitator (he has some on staff), who for a small fee will deal with the office, and pay any small bribe which is necessary.

I've been reading on here about new emissions standards and other inspection requirements. Do these apply to older bikes or are they 'grandfathered in' like older cars in the States? I bought two old Honda Tenas for around 5,000 baht each from the local dealer at different times during 2009, and in neither case was there any inspection that I know of (unless he just faked it), because as soon as I bought the bike I just took off on it, leaving him a copy of my passport, and within two weeks, I had a green book in my name.

No need to be facetious, guys. Its just a catalytic converter, I guess located somewhere in the exhaust. And I'm just asking if I can take it off. (a Tena is just a standard little old time 2-stroke, about 105 or 110 CC, air cooled. The Smile has I believe the exact same engine.).

I think the question about catalytic converters is not specific to this model, but the answer would be the same for pretty much all bikes - either you can or cannot remove it.

Well gentlemen I just bought another old two-stroke - a cute little Honda 'Smile', which is very soft riding and light, but has a lot of power. It seems in great shape, and the girl who sold it to me said 'I even changed that white stuff in here <pointing at the engine>, which was all burned up'. Anyone have any idea what she could have been talking about? Could it be that lubricating oil (not the two stroke oil) that one does seem to have even in two stroke motors? I wonder if it was in pretty bad shape to be 'white' and 'all burned up'.

Secondly, my old Honda Tena - which is still soldiering on well - has a 'catylizing system', and it is labeled 'Honda HECs'. Now, another Tena I have has none of that on it, and is about twice as powerful, responsive, and generally runs better. So I'm wondering if anyone is familiar with this 'catalizing system' from older Honda two-strokes? Is there a way I could have it removed, so that the bike could run better/stronger?

I swear I've seen some of these up around Nakhon Panom, Sakhon Nakhon, and maybe Mukdahan with old salvaged car engines attached - those wider, lower, heavier looking tuk-tuks (skylabs really) with the smaller, wider tires. They look like they have old 1.3 or 1.5 liter four cylinders slung under there.

Oh and I did have a question - will the gearing change I described above mean that the speedometer on my bike is no longer accurate?

Yes, as for my case, the speedometer shows about 8 to 10km lower at 100km, using gps.

Oh, thanks! I used to drive about 60-70 on the bike because anything above that was just too annoyingly buzzy. Now with the higher gears I feel relaxed going 80-90 or even 100, but perhaps by what you say my speed is in fact a little faster than that shown speed. Big improvement for sure!

Not more than a week ago I had an old Tena of mine into the Honda shop for a new headlight, and the darn mechanic tightened the chain too tight - they're always doing this! Its the young guys I guess, don't know any better. When the chain is very tight it tends to make noises and vibrations.. when loose you don't notice anything.

Very irritating. They're always fussing over my bikes (no charge, but still, leave it alone!) I wish I knew how to tell a mechanic to loosen the chain.

By keeping it open, I take it you mean no choke i.e. normal running state. If you need to apply - or close - the choke to make your bike run better, this indicates that it is getting too much air - or not enough fuel. A lean mixture. Choke should only be needed for starting when cold, and in a tropical climate you should not need it on for long.

No I meant that I have to have the choke lever pulled all the way out - as in it is fully 'choked' in order to run. Sadly I do not know where is the 'intake tract' - I'm ignorant of the parts and their location. But will it harm the bike to be running it the way I am?

But I mean, what happens if you get sick ?? Or break a bone ?? Or get police hassle ?? Or or or..

Hey those are great points, but I'd be poor back home too, so its the same either way.

No except usually back home, the law protects you, not extorts from you.

Ha, not in the USA. I'd be more afraid of being victimized by the authorities there than here, to be honest - that is, sans major lawyer-hiring resources of course.

Not knocking you guys at all..

But I mean, what happens if you get sick ?? Or break a bone ?? Or get police hassle ?? Or or or..

Hey those are great points, but I'd be poor back home too, so its the same either way.

The best way to ensure a clean-burning and long lasting two stroke is to be vigilant with the fuel/oil ratio and the fuel/air mixture. Do not add more oil that required - the belief of more two stroke oil equals more lubrication is a fallacy. It is OK to use a little bit less than called for. The reason - adding more oil equals less fuel. Less fuel means a leaner mixture. Leaner mixture means hotter combustion - which leads to overheating and seized pistons. Make sure that the intake tract has no leaks - too much air again/not enough fuel.

OK now this is a very interesting reply and I thank you for it. This old Tiara was running a bit so-so when I first bought it - kind of tended to die at low revs. I took it in for some unrelated work to an old man's shop, and I think the old guy sort of tuned it up or adjusted something, because when I got it back it ran totally differently. I had to keep the choke almost fully open the whole time to make it run, but it ran much better, without any tendency to die, and with a much lower idle speed. It seemed however like it might have a slight bit less high-end power.

I'm not sure what he did, but it always seems to me like the old duffers have the knack with these old bikes much more than the young guys.

What's with all the two stroke hatred, guys?  I think if you'd ever driven one of those spritely old bikes you'd speak differently.  They make the new small bikes look like turtles.  Boring as can be.  I actively hated all my previous four strokes (Honda Wave, Suzuki Hayate), but when I got rid of them and started buying old Tenas and Tiaras I experienced the real fun of motorbiking for the first time.  For example when you find sudden unexpected kick-in-the-pants excelleration at 80 kph+ rather than just droning along like in a four stroke.  And, for five or six thousand baht!

Anyway, why should I care about the environoment?  I'm old already.  

By the way the Tiara is running better with each passing day, seems pretty much back to normal.  Thank goodness - perhaps the old girl will be providing thrills and smuttying up the place for another half-a-decade.

I make a bit more than what the OP is planning on (though 90% of teachers in Isaan do make 30-35K, so his salary expectations are dead-on).

However, as a single man I spend about 50K including money from home and I'm always broke by the end of the month and don't own anything but a very old car and a couple of old motorbikes. Its a treadmill and it is pretty bleak as far as a 'future', teaching here. But obviously the lifestyle is nicer than back home, and anyway for many of us there is no job back home regardless.

If the OP has a pension or investment income in the $1,200-1,500/month range, then, with the teachers salary in addition, he can with reasonable frugality do what he hopes to do, but not without.

The other day I got out my old Yamaha Tiara, a fine, good-running two-stroke, and while it started right away as usual, when I drove down the highway it was a bit rough and had a bad 'dead spot' at certain revs. It did OK just puttering around, and if I could get it just right and it started to rev high then it was great. But at middle revs it just coughed and lost all power, and almost died.

Well, I thought I'd go fill it up with gas just to see if that effected anything, and when I went to the station I very specifically asked for benzine - well it turns out they'd moved the benzine from the pump it used to be at to another one (so they said). Which means the previous visit I filled the poor thing up with gasohol! When I looked in the tank the fuel in there did look kind of weird - cloudy and greenish-grey rather than clear/amber. Is the gas color coded in some way?

Anyway I wonder if I might have done any damage? I immediately filled it up to the brim with good old benzine red 91, and it ran a little better the rest of the evening, but still far from its old self. Will one gas tank of gasohol ruin the fuel system and/or cause internal damage due to lack of lube in an old two stroke?

Contrary to public opinion just going to the ATM to get more money doesn't always work for all farang who live here long term.

and 3000 baht is a great price for any bike in decent running shape without the book. If you had a legal book it would be at least double that.

Haha nice to hear from a fellow low-budgeter, timestamp. If fellows only knew how often I've borrowed a few grand from my Thai lady-friend!

Anyway I have bought two other bikes over the last year from a friendly dealer here, both Tenas in excellent running shape, one 'like new', for 5,000 and 6,000 baht. So you're about right. The old 3,000 baht one I sold was pretty rough but reliable and servicable, though a bit of a bear to drive. I have another good-running old bike (a Yamaha Tiara) I bought along the roadside for 4,500 that also turns out to have the wrong book, now that I check. Guess I'll be keeping that one a while.

Long live the old two strokes!

You dont have 3000 baht to your name ??

An expat in Thailand ??

Yeah its normal for teachers. We only make 30-35K/month, so its normal to run out of money before payday.

However I'm happy to report that the security guard decided he still wanted the bike even with the book the way it was, so I'm lucky!

Well, guys, thanks for the advice, disappointing as it is. Alas the money's already been spent and the nice Thai gentlemen may have to wait till payday for the refund! (I'm inclined to let them keep the bike in return for their patience - honestly I have so many bikes I don't really care to have it back).

Somehow I'm actually a bit surprised they were even planning to get the old thing licensed. No one ever checked my registration in the nearly one year I drove it (I think its 2551 or 2552 on the sticker).