mania

Another new helmet???

Ok I predict Lorenzo & Marc both crash out of this one

Qualifying....Oh this could be a good one

Norm now that you have had the Z awhile what are your thoughts?

Having come off the 650 how do they compare?

Now don't just say the Z wheelies easier

Power of course greater but what about the rest?

Handling, powerband characteristics etc..

Would be interested to hear what you think

MotoGP FP3

Interesting too !

Marquez is back & took top spot but how about Hayden?

In number 2 slot

Also yesterday he Matched top speed record set in 2004 by Alex Barros on Repsol Honda

at 339.4km/h (210.8mph)

Hey remember I joked about Rossi not using his new helmet he used last week & crashed?

Well Lorenzo has a new helmet this weekend

Today he low sided slid out

Also I saw that GUI onscreen deal again today & took a screen shot of it.

I wish they would use it more often

Very cool ! Lean angle, gear,speed,rpm

Here is one of Marc although not while leaning much. Check out the rpm

Also Lorenzo new helmet

You might try Girasole La Gondola right at Pratu Thapae. That should fit your requirements. Not a big garden setting but adequate.

I've been here many times, it's very good, staff speaks English, Ummmmm but don't go around 5-7pm, go later 7-8pm.....

Just curious, what happens at 5-7pm that I need to avoid?

Probably the flying termites.

This time of year outside dining at sunset may include extra protein

Must also have something to do with temperature though as they are not always there.

Ok FP2 Rossi takes it by 500th of a sec over Lorenzo

Rossi
Lor
Ped
Bau

Will be cool if Rossi can get a good qualify tomorrow

Sorry for any confusion to those having to go thru a meatless meal.......

In the 70's I actually was a vegan for a few years ( weren't we all )

But then I had a big mac attack one day & never went back

Think the standard looks and style of your Z1000 are a trifle dull?

A few simple mods and you could have this!

ImageUploadedByThaivisa Connect Thailand1371206557.353073.jpg

Spotted today on BikeEXIF site......

Holy Kermit !

Who is going to clean all those spokes

Just got done watching FP1 MotoGP class

Very good & looks like the usual suspects except Marc for some reason was not doing well.

Lor,Ped,Cal, & Rossi all doing well & the only 4 in the 1:42

Have not heard yet what was up with Marc a full second + down

I tell you though look at the track map above & see turn 10?

Must have seen at least 4 guys run out there & almost hit the barriers.

Hayde,Esp,Iannone, & Pesek I think

Looks like that may be a problem spot for race day.

Rossi was cooking along really well & I see he is not wearing the new turtle helmet

You know how superstitious they all can be after last weeks helmet debut maybe he

is hanging it up....lol...we will see at race time.

Man I have to say I saw the coolest thing as I was watching this on some Spanish TV

they showed a on board of a Pedrosa lap

But it had a GUI of sorts on the screen with tach & gear.

Was very cool to see so many 2nd gear turns & watch the tach

Looking forward to a good race.

I hope the IIRS ( Iranian Internal Revenue Service ) doesn't get involved

Thanks for the map Gonzo, googled Pun Pun but got a vegetarian restaurant out Suthep rd and although I'm sure it's good I don't think I will find your chicken fried steak dinner. Heading in to Chainger in the next couple of weeks to do my 90 day report and would love to stop by for a late lunch and a few beers and if the food tastes anything like it looks in the pictures I'll forgive you for the price increase.

That is funny because a few months back that is exactly what I did.

Found a Punpun in Santitam via google went there sat down with a menu & realized this is not the food I saw

on this forum

Had the avocado wrap anyway & it was ok. Not great enough to make me ever go back though.

Will try again now that I have an idea where it is

Heheh I have to laugh because the OP is so true

& I see this often. But also I would like to know how to say

"excuse me" in Chinese will have to look it up

Because so often when walking I find myself behind a pack of Chinese tourist blocking

the way into somewhere & I just cannot seem to get their attention.

Of course I try Kor Tort & excuse me but no reaction.

Then again they are usually chattering away with each other & they sure speak loudly.

Makes me smile wondering if they also have a lot of Wat loud speakers where they live.

Tomorrow we start another GP weekend at Catalunya

I am hoping my connection is smooth

I think that clip kind of over emphasizes the sound because it is an on board camera & who knows where it is mounted

They dont sound as bad whizzing by

But yeah still not a roar of pistons

I like both Love at First Bite and Butter is Better, but IMO, Butter is Better is the better of the two. I don't think that the prices are much different, but have not thought about it much.

I have actually never tried BisB deserts

Because when I am there I leave so stuffed on banana pancakes & bacon I

never look .

Will have to remember to stop in one day on a desert only mission

Not making much horsepower for the weight, though it does have impression torque figures

Well actually that is true if we use a Panigale as a yardstick

But given the current crop of what is widely available here I think

their 113hp@414 lbs is not too bad

Power to weight ratio of 0.27

Other examples in Thailand would be

Ducati Monster = 0.23

Kawasaki Z800 = 0.22

Honda cbr600rr= 0.25

Kawasaki 650 = 0.15

Kawasaki Z1000= 0.27 ....same as this Yammie

Now back to that Panigale 0.54 baby !!!

Oh I wish I had one for grins

you are right mania.

fz8 is 8900 usd - 275.000 thb in USA and it is 500 k here so we can see fz 09 less than 500 k if the dealer will not get greedy.

Actually $7990 MSRP in USA

http://www.yamahamotorsports.com/sport/products/modelspecs/685/0/specs.aspx

Says available September 2013

in the USA

it is a a lot of bike for that price and i liked the possibility of seeing it here in Thailand for 500 k THB.

It is going to retail in the West for less than 248k THB

So even using the cost twice as much here rule it should come in under 500k

Looks like a really tight track...motards maybe?

it is a tight track layout and the photos are deceptive on the depth of field. This is on 35 Rai of land and not 35 acres, so its compact

I like tight

The tighter the better I say !

Yes tracks

As a side note look at track shapes from the MotoGP site.

Pretty cool to see them all on one page

http://www.motogp.com/en/calendar+circuits

Would greedy be a better term to use?, banks are taking 4 lots of profit on one transfer, first you have a charge to send the money,then another charge from some intermediary bank,then a charge from the bank in Thailand to receive MY money, then another profit on exchanging the money into Baht, The banks know we have no options ,so its easy for them to take advantage of the customer, I don't expect the service provided to be free,just fair. regards Worgeordie

Personally having used the services many times I just dont see it as greedy

I looked back at my records & a transfer of $25,000 USD cost $25 all in

$10 BKB-NY $15 in Thailand

edit: sorry had a mistake in there & re-typed.

But I do think it is reasonable as when I lived in the US & used my own bank the charge

was 40-45 USD

Ever use some US banks? Or worse yet something like Western Union etc.?

I like the looks of it, surprised to see the torque number so low though, I would have thought it to be higher given it's 3 cylinders.

Number of cylinders has no impact on torque

It always comes back to Bore x Stroke 78.0 x 59.1mm

or B/S ratio which in this bikes case is 1.31

More revs & HP less torque

There is a lot to like there @ 414 lbs & over 113 Horsepower @ 10,000 RPM +

65lbs of torque

I agree some things like the 1 piece saddle would look better with 2 seat setup

but same as the Ducati Monster so a back section cover will dress that up a lot.

For a non fairing bike it is rather husky/good looking.Nice swingarm section & forks.

Exhaust setup looks good for a stock setup would look great with a black can Arrow on there.

Has nice fenders, pegs etc...

Yeah pretty nice all in all

Could be a real hooligan bike if available at full power & low price.

Yeah that whole thing at Yamaha with Cal is confusing

I imagine their budget is full or close but if Rossi does retire then Cal maybe?

But Cal is not that young either & folks are seeing guys like Marquez now.

I think it would be cool if Cal hooked up with Suzuki though.

@Kwasaki Do you mean VR is talking with Suzuki too? How long was his Yamaha contract for?

@BT: I agree what was Tom thinking eh? Also I have thought the same about Checa & wondered whats what.

it doesnt look like it is about to turn into a robot and walk away.

Thanks made me smile