Riders of powerful "Big Bikes" will take separate tests and have different licenses to other motorcyclists

[Snow Leopard]

21 hours ago, Just1Voice said:

I started on "mini bikes" when I was 10, and have spent my life (I'm 69) on one kind of bike or another, both on and off road.  After my wife of 27 years died, I spent the next 4 years on a 650cc Kawasaki, hitting EVERY state in the Continental U.S.  So I would venture that I know a hell of a lot more about bikes than you do.  

However my comment to your post was that anything above 125 cc be considered a "big bike", which is laughable to anyone who knows anything about bikes.  In the U.S. a 300cc bike is considered a "starter bike".  

 

Yes but the roads and conditions are different. 

[essox essox]

22 hours ago, wotsdermatter said:

Why not introduce a graded licence system by age and engine size?  For example, a 16 year old can have a motorcycle with no more than 125 cc engine.  At age 16 the engine size can be increased depending on the number of points available on the licence and if the rider has had any offences.  Works in other countries and with the recent suggestions the BIB are about to have new fines and other conditions introduced it could possibly work here, if the general public, especially the parents and BIB gave it a fair go.

 

Two things that should be introduced are, proper policing and not just "letting offenders" go with a slap on the wrist, and proper licencing and testing procedures.  Currently the testing system is a joke.  None of the Thais I have talked to know anything about stopping distances in relationship to speed and weather conditions, e.g. 50 km/h in torrential rain, etc.

 

'nuf sed

THIS is incorporated in the UK why is Thailand so slow in moving forward?? I do NOT mean the last paragraph

Edited August 23, 2018 by essox essox
after thought

[tomacht8]

If you want to survive as a motorcyclist, it is important to always anticipate the possible driving errors of other traffic participants and to see ahead. Brain is necessary for this and a sensible driving training. The driving test here, in a closed place, 2 laps and one braking exercise with low speed, is a joke. 

 

Even the learning of self-responsibility is poor here.
Five Examples:
1. Driving without light in the dark. A new light bulb costs 10 baht and can save life. Especially with the many cars here with tinted windows. You simply can not see this motorbike idiots with broken lighting in the darkness.
2. Driving without helmet.
3. Driving with one hand on the handlebars and play there phone with the other.
4. Forget to turn the blinker off after turning.
5. Worn tires and broken brakes.
That even a motorcycle can be traffic insecure, many do not understand here.

 

Lack of training is cause of accident no.1 in Thailand.

 

Edited August 23, 2018 by tomacht8

[Thian]

2 hours ago, overherebc said:

I can't remember all the details on that whether it was going to be a choice for the manufacturer or a law all over the EU. If it applies in the Netherlands does apply in other EU countries? I honestly don't know.

The 100 hp law for Holland is from many years ago iirc....i remember Hayabusa drivers ordering the old exhaustpipes (from overseas) because the new ones tempered the power untill 100 hp.

 

I remember this because my own bike has 127 hp which is only allowed on an old bike, new models all had max 100 hp. Also i forgot if it was in the whole EU or only in Holland.

 

[overherebc]

13 minutes ago, Thian said:

The 100 hp law for Holland is from many years ago iirc....i remember Hayabusa drivers ordering the old exhaustpipes (from overseas) because the new ones tempered the power untill 100 hp.

 

I remember this because my own bike has 127 hp which is only allowed on an old bike, new models all had max 100 hp. Also i forgot if it was in the whole EU or only in Holland.

 

I think BMW were the only ones to corform when it was suggested. Don't know if they still do though or how many counties made it law.

A Hayabusa at 100 bhp is like a steak pie with no steak in it.

[holy cow cm]

Maybe they should look at how hard a bike becomes at what cc and weight to pick up if dropped. If you can't do it with one pull and jerk then it is too big. Honda Phantoms come to mind as a small bike, but for a Thai it would be a big bike and hard for them to pick up in general. 

 

I also wonder it will be straight forward that if you get your big bike license (which I will do), are you approved to use your license on a small bike? You know it seems like a no brainer, but the cops and Thailand make it a what if. I could just hear the cops saying, no no no, you have big bike license, no small bike. You pay money. 

[stanleycoin]

52 minutes ago, tomacht8 said:

If you want to survive as a motorcyclist, it is important to always anticipate the possible driving errors of other traffic participants and to see ahead. Brain is necessary for this and a sensible driving training. The driving test here, in a closed place, 2 laps and one braking exercise with low speed, is a joke. 

 

Even the learning of self-responsibility is poor here.
Five Examples:
1. Driving without light in the dark. A new light bulb costs 10 baht and can save life. Especially with the many cars here with tinted windows. You simply can not see this motorbike idiots with broken lighting in the darkness.
2. Driving without helmet.
3. Driving with one hand on the handlebars and play there phone with the other.
4. Forget to turn the blinker off after turning.
5. Worn tires and broken brakes.
That even a motorcycle can be traffic insecure, many do not understand here.

 

Lack of training is cause of accident no.1 in Thailand.

 

Ok i have the answers from Somchai,  he texted them to me,  on his way to the temple to make merit ( by lottery tickets at 80 baht ).

 

1) Driving without lights in the dark.  

Answer,  stops cops from seeing me, whilst drug dealing.

 

2)  Driving without helmet.

Answer,  No need,  as have new Amulet with special Iron Man powers.

 

3) Driving with one hand on the handlebars.

Answer,  Other had is free to hold beer Chang,  my father learned me this one..

 

4) Forget to turn the blinker off after turning.

Answer, Stop asking trick questions, we don't use indicators.

 

5) Worn tires and broken brakes.

Answer,  Bike grips road better in a dry weather. brakes are just there for idiot  Farangs

 

 

[holy cow cm]

18 minutes ago, stanleycoin said:

Ok i have the answers from Somchai,  he texted them to me,  on his way to the temple to make merit ( by lottery tickets at 80 baht ).

 

1) Driving without lights in the dark.  

Answer,  stops cops from seeing me, whilst drug dealing.

 

2)  Driving without helmet.

Answer,  No need,  as have new Amulet with special Iron Man powers.

 

3) Driving with one hand on the handlebars.

Answer,  Other had is free to hold beer Chang,  my father learned me this one..

 

4) Forget to turn the blinker off after turning.

Answer, Stop asking trick questions, we don't use indicators.

 

5) Worn tires and broken brakes.

Answer,  Bike grips road better in a dry weather. brakes are just there for idiot  Farangs

 

 

For number 2. Only required in the daytime for most places outside Bangkok as police don't fine at night for this action. Nighttime is reserved for drinking and drug checks.

[Lobber]

Interesting to know how many commentators on here have a licence and ride big bikes ( over 900 CC) & can truely make sensible comments on BIKES

[DualSportBiker]

So far, the definition of big bike has ranged from 150 to only over 1,000 cc

 

Strangely, people seem to define big as just a few cc smaller than the bike they have. I wonder if this behaviour maps to measuring your family jewels?

[Thian]

2 hours ago, overherebc said:

I think BMW were the only ones to corform when it was suggested. Don't know if they still do though or how many counties made it law.

A Hayabusa at 100 bhp is like a steak pie with no steak in it.

I also have no idea if we still have that 100 hp law...but i'm sure it wasn't only BMW who had to restrict their power, the law was for ALL brands....

 

I was into bikes like V-max that time and it also was restricted on the new bikes...so the older ones got more value because nobody wanted a new one with 100 hp.

 

Thailand should do the same, 100 hp on a motocy is already ridiculous enough for European highways where all is clean and dandy.

 

 

 

 

[Kinnock]

There was a further announcement today - the big bike licence will be introduced next year, and will apply to riders of bikes over 400cc.

 

Unfortunate for Enfield and their 411cc Himalayan.  

[Hummin]

To start with proper driving schools and learning would be a good start. Anything else is just denying the real problem about thai driving culture and mentality! A 250r bike is as much as a deadly weapon or suicide tool as an 750 adventure bike. 

 

Why so hard to see? 

[HenryPattaya]

I do not know what the new laws or bike size should be put something has to be done specially the young kids on bikes and now i see more young girls and the are crazier than the boys

[kannot]

5 hours ago, Kerryd said:

If it works so great in "civilized" countries (as so many like to describe them) then why are there so many accidents and deaths in those countries as well ?

Dont know what country you are from but in my country (UK) deaths are extremely  low, close to the very   bottom in the world

[DefaultName]

49 minutes ago, Kinnock said:

There was a further announcement today - the big bike licence will be introduced next year, and will apply to riders of bikes over 400cc.

 

Unfortunate for Enfield and their 411cc Himalayan.  

Interesting.

As I already have a full Thai bike licence, I wonder if people like me will be "grandfathered" in, or would we need to take a new test?

 

Probably doesn't matter for me anyway, I use a PCX150 and that's enough in and around Pattaya - in a year, the only time I've needed to go a distance (barring airport taxis) I just hired a car.  IMO, for someone like me, a big bike would be a liability - if you do a lot of open road miles, it would be a necessity.   Having owned several big bikes over the years - all of which were used daily, not sat in a garage until the weather turned nice - I do consider myself able to give an opinion on this. 

[Stevemercer]

I hope the Stallion Centaur, at 397.2 cc, is below the 400 cc threshold.

[johng]

Kawasaki KRR 150cc 2 stroke 160 + KPH as standard (for one in good condition)

[Kinnock]

4 hours ago, DefaultName said:

Interesting.

As I already have a full Thai bike licence, I wonder if people like me will be "grandfathered" in, or would we need to take a new test?

 

Probably doesn't matter for me anyway, I use a PCX150 and that's enough in and around Pattaya - in a year, the only time I've needed to go a distance (barring airport taxis) I just hired a car.  IMO, for someone like me, a big bike would be a liability - if you do a lot of open road miles, it would be a necessity.   Having owned several big bikes over the years - all of which were used daily, not sat in a garage until the weather turned nice - I do consider myself able to give an opinion on this. 

Yes - will be interesting to see how this works out in practice.  I have a full motorcycle license from my home country, and this allows riding any sized bike as I've passed all the tests, and my current Thai bike license was issues based on this.  So will be interesting to see if I can get the new 'big bike' license based on my home country 'big bike' license.

 

The 400cc limit is interesting too - the Ninja, CB300's, KTM 390's and the Centaur 400 plus the 'big' 300cc scooters would all be under the limit, but the Himalayan and the CB500 would be over.  Makes some sense for the CB500, but the Himalayan puts out the same power as a CRF250, whereas the Ninja 400 is close to the CB500.

[moose7117]

do you have a link to where you found info regarding "new big bike licences"

[Guitar God]

On 8/22/2018 at 3:33 PM, overherebc said:

That's why you always get 3 or 4 together and never solo. If one drops the bike it needs all of them to get it back upright. I can admit similar for me when I had my Goldwing. ??.

Don't know if truth or myth but someone told me once that in Japan picking up the bike from its side was part of the test to get a big bike licence!!!!

That was part of my training. You face away from the bike, squat down and lift with your legs. I can and have picked up a 300kg Harley. 

 

I was out riding one day and it started to snow, I was 200meters from my driveway going 5kph and it slipped out from under me. Two drivers stopped and got out to help but I waved them off and said “I’ve got it”. Physics. 

[ballpoint]

It's deja vu all over again...

 

"BANGKOK: Police are considering a change to existing laws governing motorbike licences; specifically licences to drive big bikes.

If the draft currently being discussed comes into force, a special licence will be required for anyone wanting to ride a bike of 400cc or more, and they may get one of these licences only when they reach the age of 30".

 

"“We expect the discussions to go ahead soon, with any changes to be brought into law by the end of this year. They will then apply to the whole country.”

 

Note the date:

 

Edited August 23, 2018 by ballpoint

[Stevemercer]

I sat at my wife’s restaurant tonight and made a list of the first 100 bikes that went by (I know, there goes 15 minutes of my life). There were no ‘big’ bikes (>400 cc). The statistics are below:

 

No helmets                                          90% (e.g. 90 out of the 100 had no helmets)

No headlight/tail light                         20%

One person on bike                             60%

Two people on bike                             25%

Three or more people                          15%

Boy racer/boosted                               5%

Went through red light                       5%

Speeding                                             10%

Smoking/mobile phone                       2%

Open umbrella                                     1%

 

I reckon the Government could make the biggest dent in the road casualties by enforcing compulsory helmets (fine plus hold the bike until the rider returns with a helmet) and enforcing helmet standards and certification (Government directorate to manage standards, do checks on domestically made and imported helmet, do audits and spot checks etc with heavy fines for violations).

 

I don’t think extra licensing for ‘big’ bikes will make much difference.

 

PS        I’ve got no idea why one rider had on open umbrella. It was night time and dry.

Edited August 23, 2018 by Stevemercer

[Denim]

4 hours ago, johng said:

Kawasaki KRR 150cc 2 stroke 160 + KPH as standard (for one in good condition)

I once had a TZ150 Yamaha that could top that. 180kph showing.

But ....Speedo error etc.

 

In any event , hunkered down at full throttle it was still pretty scary.

 

Nothing to do with the bike but in Thailand who knows when a dog or a chicken will run out and spoil your day.

[moose7117]

how many of the posters in this thread actually have a Thai bike licence and actually ride a bike in Thailand ?

 

i do , on both counts.

[stanleycoin]

8 hours ago, moose7117 said:

how many of the posters in this thread actually have a Thai bike licence and actually ride a bike in Thailand ?

 

i do , on both counts.

Maybe you should start a pole ?

 

I do, Bike and Car,  ride every day, use car only weekends, as traffic is just crap

now days, bike much better across town.

Edited August 24, 2018 by stanleycoin

[overherebc]

54 minutes ago, stanleycoin said:

Maybe you should start a pole ?

 

I do, Bike and Car,  ride every day, use car only weekends, as traffic is just crap

now days, bike much better across town.

Started ( legally ) when I was 16 with a BSA Bantam, the 'big' one D3 175cc.

Called it my BSA Rolls Canardly.  Rolls downhills but Canardly get up them.

[stanleycoin]

29 minutes ago, overherebc said:

Started ( legally ) when I was 16 with a BSA Bantam, the 'big' one D3 175cc.

Called it my BSA Rolls Canardly.  Rolls downhills but Canardly get up them.

Yes , back in the day. Rally Runabout 50cc at 9 years old. Lambretta centro 100cc at 10. BSA bantom, 175,  Triumph tiger cub grass track bike, 250 MZ and so on, Then come back down at 16, to a Yamaha, FS1E-DX,, with micron expansion pipe !!!!!!!!, chasing  Suzuki AP 50s 

Seams like yesterday. 

Edited August 24, 2018 by stanleycoin

[overherebc]

30 minutes ago, stanleycoin said:

Yes , back in the day. Rally Runabout 50cc at 9 years old. Lambretta 150 at 10.

BSA bantom, 175,  Triumph tiger cub grass track bike, 250 MZ and so on, Then come back down at 16, to a Yamaha, FS1E-DX,, with micron expansion pipe !!!!!!!!, chasing  Suzuki AP 50s 

Seams like yesterday. 

Physically the biggest

( tallest ) I can remember having was a CCM 650. How those guys could throw them around on a dirt track was beyond me.

I'll try and find a photo.

Can't find a photo of the original with the Thunderbolt 650 engine, just believe me it was a beast.

Edited August 24, 2018 by overherebc

[DualSportBiker]

1 hour ago, stanleycoin said:

Maybe you should start a pole ?

 

I do, Bike and Car,  ride every day, use car only weekends, as traffic is just crap

now days, bike much better across town.

Two licenses, one truck, one bike.

I not ridden in earnest for a while, but normally only ride up-country on longish trips. My Series IIa Land Rover is my daily ride ?