What is the best bike to get fast, efficient and with fun through the Bangkok traffic?

[OneMoreFarang]

1 hour ago, papa al said:

does 1/2 inch make big dif. ?

 

Rake has something to do with it.

Do the data you consulted show that angle?

15cm = 150mm = almost 6 inch

DUKE 390 Rake, trail: 25°, 100 mm (3.9 in)   https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/KTM_390_series

That's the only rake info I found without intensive search

[papa al]

1 hour ago, OneMoreFarang said:

15cm = 150mm = almost 6 inch

DUKE 390 Rake, trail: 25°, 100 mm (3.9 in)   https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/KTM_390_series

That's the only rake info I found without intensive search

ha ha my bad

[Kinnock]

Whatever bike you go for - you can increase the 'fun' aspect by going for one with a single seat.  I find not having a pillion seat cuts out the whining noise from the back end.  You can also ride past a 7-11 without having to stop.

[HooHaa]

my favourite bkk bike was a 2 stroke nsr 250 rr.

nimble light and rapid

 

 

[bkksteve123]

On 21/01/2018 at 3:23 PM, OneMoreFarang said:

I will definitely have a look at the DUKE. I read somewhere (don't remember where) that the 200 and the 390 have the same frame. So I compared the technical data. Both the 200 and the 390 have the same wheelbase of 1367mm and the same length of 2002mm. But the 390 is wider (873mm compared to 730mm for the 200). I also compared the Yamaha MT-03 and BMW 310. Bother are longer and have a longer wheelbase than the KTM. And on the other side my Suzuki Raider 150 has 1220mm wheelbase, almost 15cm shorter than the KTM ...

Most likely just the mirrors that are making it that wide?

 

You can swap out the mirrors and cut off part of the handlebar to make almost any bike narrow, the issue is with wheelbase, this cannot be easily fixed.

 

I currently ride a Monster 821 with smaller mirrors and can get through most traffic without any issues, but when having to "change lanes" when cars are bumper to bumper, that is when I get stuck due to the long wheelbase.

[bkmbkk]

I would not use it as a daily ride, but sometimes !

The fastest bike in traffic is the Raider's older brother - Honda Nova Dash (2 stroke).

Tune it up to 150 cc. and to the level the drag racers tune them - nothing beats that on small roads and in traffic.

The bike holds up surprising well . I did at least 10.000 Km on my old Dash (Top level tuned) and it had the full power still when I sold it. Wheelie up to 4 gear and with the sprockets I used top speed was 170 Km/h. It would do that up hill as well as down hill.

No dyno test done, but I guess around 40 Hp.

I have another Dash these days - also tuned to max, but sitting in the garage for 2 years.

 

Anyone that has a little used Dash for sale ?

[Moo du]

On 19/1/2018 at 4:58 AM, thaiguzzi said:

My tastes. If I had to -

Modern bike (yuk).

Big city traffic daily (ugh). Would do my head in...

250 trail bike ie KLX or CRF...

Totally agreed. A 250 KLX or CRF cannot be beaten in the dense traffic of Bangkok. Specially with

motard tyres.And can travel short and medium distances.And can go off road.And take a big load.

Can travel on up to 50 to 80 cm flooded road.

[thaiguzzi]

21 hours ago, HooHaa said:

my favourite bkk bike was a 2 stroke nsr 250 rr.

nimble light and rapid

 

 

Oh. THAT Noise on tickover! What a tickover! What a sound. Just made a mess in me pants. Glorious!

[HooHaa]

19 minutes ago, thaiguzzi said:

Oh. THAT Noise on tickover! What a tickover! What a sound. Just made a mess in me pants. Glorious!

Sounded like demons over 9k rpm when you hit the powerband.

 

You could ride it gently keeping revs low or fly buy keeping them above 8 pr 9.

 

Was truly a fun bike. I had a  vfr 400r as well and this would easily keep up.

[thaiguzzi]

1 hour ago, HooHaa said:

Sounded like demons over 9k rpm when you hit the powerband.

 

You could ride it gently keeping revs low or fly buy keeping them above 8 pr 9.

 

Was truly a fun bike. I had a  vfr 400r as well and this would easily keep up.

Yabbut, it's da Noize at tickover or fast idle on a tuned two stroke that does it for me... Saves me searching Pornhub...

[ttakata]

I had a narrow bar DTX250/KLX250 and never rode it in BKK because the wheelbase is too long; it's not remotely close to nimble compared to a small scooter.  I agree with others, nothing to my knowledge will beat the skinny and short wheelbase Raider through stopped traffic except a Raider with narrower bars.  If you have never ridden a Raider you simply don't know how close to a bicycle it feels.  I like the smoothness of the Exciter150 but the wide bars will hold you back.  If you trust someone to mod your bike you can bore a Raider to ~250cc but you need a new head, valves, carb, exhaust, etc.  I suggest a more powerful bike but for out of BKK ventures.

[oval]

The new fuel injected raiders look good. Faster than the old model, better headlights and display, and look good. Around 60k new.

[OneMoreFarang]

I finally made up my mind and I bought the KTM Duke 390 to have some more fun.

First impression: Small bike, lots of power, fun to ride.

For Bangkok: The handlebars are relative wide and the original mirrors are on the height of most van mirrors. I guess sooner or later I have to do something about that.

I am surprised how maneuverable that bike is. It's easy to do turns between the cars in traffic jam - a lot easier than with other "big" bikes I had.

Let's look and see.

Probably I will write an update sometime later after at least a few hundred kilometers in Bangkok.

[Kinnock]

7 minutes ago, OneMoreFarang said:

I finally made up my mind and I bought the KTM Duke 390 to have some more fun.

First impression: Small bike, lots of power, fun to ride.

For Bangkok: The handlebars are relative wide and the original mirrors are on the height of most van mirrors. I guess sooner or later I have to do something about that.

I am surprised how maneuverable that bike is. It's easy to do turns between the cars in traffic jam - a lot easier than with other "big" bikes I had.

Let's look and see.

Probably I will write an update sometime later after at least a few hundred kilometers in Bangkok.

 

Excellent choice!

[eisfeld]

Congrats on the new bike!

[guzzi850m2]

+1, excellent choice.

 

Please do update us when you get some more mileage on it and perhaps a trip report.

 

I was interested in a for sale 2017 390 (old model), 800km, the owner sold it for 115k baht but sadly it was before I had a chance to see it but I prefer the new model anyway.

[OneMoreFarang]

8 hours ago, guzzi850m2 said:

+1, excellent choice.

 

Please do update us when you get some more mileage on it and perhaps a trip report.

 

I was interested in a for sale 2017 390 (old model), 800km, the owner sold it for 115k baht but sadly it was before I had a chance to see it but I prefer the new model anyway.

115k sounds very good. But I recommend the new model (2017 up) even if it will cost more.

Before I bought the bike I read lots of stories about problems with the (before 2017) bike. Not big problems but some annoying everyday problems. But it seems KTM learned from what many people reported and made the bike better in every aspect.

 

One "problem" with the new model might be that it is relative high. I am tall and I like it. But I guess anybody under maybe 180cm won't be able to flat foot that bike.

[guzzi850m2]

2 hours ago, OneMoreFarang said:

115k sounds very good. But I recommend the new model (2017 up) even if it will cost more.

Before I bought the bike I read lots of stories about problems with the (before 2017) bike. Not big problems but some annoying everyday problems. But it seems KTM learned from what many people reported and made the bike better in every aspect.

 

One "problem" with the new model might be that it is relative high. I am tall and I like it. But I guess anybody under maybe 180cm won't be able to flat foot that bike.

No worries as I am over 185 myself and struggle to find most bikes comfortable.

 

Anyway, I keep my V650 mk3 for now.