Thai model scooters/bikes a bit ugly?

[Damrongsak]

Why are many of the small Thai scooters and bikes so ugly compared to similar models I see on the respective corporate sites in Philippines, Indonesia, Malaysia and even Vietnam?  Small details, but especially the color schemes.  And why are a lot of them mostly black with just a few colored pieces on them?  So they can't be easily seen when riding in the dark?  Buy a bike that is yellow, red, green or white and the front fender may be black.  <deleted>? There are many talented Thai customizers who do tasteful things, but the manufacturers seem to be clueless.  Just add more black plastic in pointy Star-Wars shapes and a few decals. 

 

A lot of bikes now have aluminum wheels, but they make them black.  How about aluminum colored rims, or a tasteful bronze or titanium tint?  Only a few have a band of color near the rubber.  I don't even mind the brightly painted ones in orange (Repsol), yellow or the white ones.  Do black wheels make them go faster?  Maybe they preheat the rubber if left in the sun so the tires are up to track temperature?

 

I guess I'm just stuck on the looks of bikes from the late 60's and the 70's.  I also like cars with the classical German and Italian styling.  

[OneMoreFarang]

Did it cross your mind that Thai companies sell what most Thai people of the target group want? I am sure in all these companies are experts who think which colors they should chose to sell lots of bikes. Maybe it's not your taste and maybe not my taste but it seems to be the taste of lots of people who buy the bikes.

Maybe modify your bike with the perfect colors for you. And maybe lots of people will see your bike and think, wow, I want one like that. And maybe next year the companies will use "your" colors...

[papa al]

No wonder that scooters sell so poorly in Thailand.!!

What does titanium tint look like.

Never been to Malasia, Indonesia, nor Philippines, so don't know.

[samsensam]

 

Everyone carries his own inch rule of taste, and amuses himself by applying it, triumphantly, wherever he travels.

 

 

[Damrongsak]

Titanium tint, sometimes darker:

 

 

I think the color works well for wheels and engines, like on these two wheeled vehicles.  Some day I'll buy one of these Yanmarhas.

 

Maybe I just don't understand why people want so much black these days. 

 

 

 

 

 

Edited January 21, 2018 by Damrongsak

[Issanman]

I have a pickup truck and two motorbikes. They all came with black wheels.

I like the look of black wheels.

That's all.

[papa al]

My favourite colour is brownish-grey.

2nd favoritest: greyish-brown.

3rd = titanium.

pretty nice

[OneMoreFarang]

4 minutes ago, papa al said:

My favourite colour is brownish-grey.

2nd favoritest: greyish-brown.

3rd = titanium.

pretty nice

I like pink – but not for motorcycles

[Damrongsak]

I'm fond of the boy racer styling for small scooters.  Black can be done tastefully, as on this Thai modified bike.

 

 

[Damrongsak]

In that rice paddy picture above, Prayut doesn't own the tractor, he's just borrowing it.

[CMKiwi]

I like the look of the Yamaha MSLAZ but don't think it's too practical for the rain....no rear guard at all.

 

Good beefy tyres tho!  Possibly Vee Rubber VRN 163s

[thaiguzzi]

14 hours ago, Damrongsak said:

I'm fond of the boy racer styling for small scooters.  Black can be done tastefully, as on this Thai modified bike.

 

 

Jesus, that Suzuki Raider has been seriously modified....

Twin 8 (EIGHT!!!) pot front calipers. USD forks, single sided s/arm. Some bike for an underbone. Paint job and some of the mods are not to my taste, but hey, kudos to the owner.

Thing looks scary.

Perhaps the guy on the other thread (Raider in BKK) should see this.

 

12 hours ago, CMKiwi said:

I like the look of the Yamaha MSLAZ but don't think it's too practical for the rain....no rear guard at all.

 

Good beefy tyres tho!  Possibly Vee Rubber VRN 163s

Practical and good looking motorcycles should not be in the same sentence.

When have you ever seen a well made custom café racer, tracker, bobber or chopper that was practical. Never. I rest my case.

[OneMoreFarang]

15 minutes ago, thaiguzzi said:

Jesus, that Suzuki Raider has been seriously modified....

Twin 8 (EIGHT!!!) pot front calipers. USD forks, single sided s/arm. Some bike for an underbone. Paint job and some of the mods are not to my taste, but hey, kudos to the owner.

Thing looks scary.

Perhaps the guy on the other thread (Raider in BKK) should see this.

 

Practical and good looking motorcycles should not be in the same sentence.

When have you ever seen a well made custom café racer, tracker, bobber or chopper that was practical. Never. I rest my case.

I am that guy on the other thread (Raider in BKK). The bike looks great and I wouldn't mind taking it for a ride. I am sure the owner will have some fun with it. I would have loved it 30 years ago...

[Damrongsak]

18 hours ago, thaiguzzi said:

Jesus, that Suzuki Raider has been seriously modified....

I had to laugh at the handlebars.  Looks like infinitely adjustable from drag to cafe racer to normal and, with a couple extension bars, chopper-style ape hangers.  I mostly like it because it has an engine that can be seen and minimal plastic shrouding.  And the rims aren't bad - a bit of bright, a bit of paint. 

 

Imagine running through a black water puddle on that Mslaz with no fender. 

[thaiguzzi]

5 hours ago, Damrongsak said:

I had to laugh at the handlebars.  Looks like infinitely adjustable from drag to cafe racer to normal and, with a couple extension bars, chopper-style ape hangers.  I mostly like it because it has an engine that can be seen and minimal plastic shrouding.  And the rims aren't bad - a bit of bright, a bit of paint. 

 

Imagine running through a black water puddle on that Mslaz with no fender. 

Yah, just noticed them. And what are those things on the front forks? It looks like the builder just went doolally with aftermarket parts, fit everything the shop sold onto the bike... regardless. Still, each to their own...

 Just noticed the 8 pot caliper on the rear. That's 3 discs, and 24 pistons - on an underbone. Tad overbraked?

[OneMoreFarang]

9 minutes ago, thaiguzzi said:

Just noticed the 8 pot caliper on the rear. That's 3 discs, and 24 pistons - on an underbone. Tad overbraked?

It seems lot of tuners concentrate on the engine and not so much on the breaks. I like the idea that this guy decided the breaks are also important.

[Peterw42]

On 20/01/2018 at 6:16 AM, Damrongsak said:

 

I guess I'm just stuck on the looks of bikes from the late 60's and the 70's.  I also like cars with the classical German and Italian styling.  

Bikes of the 60s and 70s had less of what you are talking about, they came in one colour (maybe two), the wheels were chrome spokes, the only paint was the tank and two side covers. But then again you could respray your bike in a couple of hours with one aerosol can, a tank and side covers.

[papa al]

 

Just noticed the 8 pot caliper on the rear. That's 3 discs, and 24 pistons - on an underbone. Tad overbraked?

Good for doing stoppies.

Edited January 24, 2018 by papa al

[Damrongsak]

The guy needs to put super skinny tires on it to compensate for all that unsprung weight.  I just noticed the green chain.  Never saw one before.

 

Brownish-gray looks good on a speeder bike.

 

 

[OneMoreFarang]

11 hours ago, Damrongsak said:

 I just noticed the green chain.  Never saw one before.

Green chains are often seen on Kawasaki bikes.

[Damrongsak]

2 hours ago, OneMoreFarang said:

Green chains are often seen on Kawasaki bikes.

Cool.  I'd like a little KLX dirt bike.

[papa al]

1 hour ago, Damrongsak said:

Cool.  I'd like a little KLX dirt bike.

good idea

//

The speeder is greyish-brown, not brownish-grey.

IpHO.

Edited January 25, 2018 by papa al

[kaorop]

On Thu Jan 25 2018 at 10:16 AM, Damrongsak said:

Cool.  I'd like a little KLX dirt bike.

I will be selling mine soon, many upgrades..I call it my go anywhere bike..good price..let me know if interested..

[Damrongsak]

I'm still in the US for the time being.