Shopping for used motorbike now, or 2019?

[ABCinSG]

Hi everyone, I'm planning to both learn how to ride and get a used motorbike to commute to and from work everyday. I understand the risks, however due to my unique circumstances, mass public transport options are out of the question, and Wins and taxis are getting prohibitively expensive, especially due to the jams. For this month, I spent around 9,000 THB just on transport alone!

 

So with that, I'm looking to go for lessons and to get a second bike to practice and get used to riding. Should I wait till 2019 to get a second hand instead of sometime end of this or next month, to take advantage of the depreciation of the new year? Does it even matter? 

 

[DILLIGAD]

First thought..... No!
Get a ‘twist & go’ scooter/ decent helmet ( think about how much your brain is worth!) and practice.


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[Neilly]

7 hours ago, ABCinSG said:

Should I wait till 2019 to get a second hand instead of sometime end of this or next month, to take advantage of the depreciation of the new year? Does it even matter? 

It makes absolutely no difference here...everthing seems priced by what make/model it is and how many km's are on it. 2nd hand prices in Thailand are way higher for some unknown reason, and that goes for cars and bikes. I ended up buying a brand new Vios for my wife because a three year old 2nd hand one was only 10k cheaper (and we saw plenty like that). 

[moe666]

Find something cheap on Baht and sold learn to ride sale it and then buy a better bike 

[lipflipper]

Rent a 125cc. Automatic scooter, buy a proper helmet and find some place to practice, practice practice until you become secure in your ability to ride it confidently then and only then go out into the traffic nightmare and practice more. After that a purchase is up to you whether it's a new or used model. If you opt to go the used route I would highly recommend that you purchase only from a Farang owner who has service records available.

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[ABCinSG]

Thanks for all the info, yes my plan now is to:

1. Go for the basic bike riding course
2. Get my license 
3. Rent a 125-150 CC scooter/bike for a month or more to get the hang of traffic
4. Get a 2nd hand bike 

[OneMoreFarang]

I am always surprised by all the people who suggest a scooter with no clutch and no manual gears.

Why? What is so much better on scooters compared to "normal" bikes?

Because as far as I see lots of people who had a scooter without clutch want to have a bigger bike at some stage. And then they want again no clutch because they are used to it. And then many end up with one of those horrendous maxi-scooters.

 

Personally I think get a bike which you think is fun and which you like. Obvious as beginner don't get something too big and too powerful. It should have enough power to be fun but you shouldn't be scared to open the throttle.

 

There are lots of style of bikes. If you can rent a couple do that to get an idea what you like. Including bikes with gears and clutch. You get used to that within minutes - and maybe you like it.

 

Something like this is fun IMHO

 

[OneMoreFarang]

8 hours ago, ABCinSG said:

Get a 2nd hand bike 

Yes, and make sure it's well maintained.

There are so many bikes out there with bad brakes, badly adjusted controls, etc.

Get something which works good and if you don't have the opportunity and/or skills yourself make sure you have someone (maybe a specialist in a shop) who keeps it in good working condition.

[thaiguzzi]

13 hours ago, OneMoreFarang said:

I am always surprised by all the people who suggest a scooter with no clutch and no manual gears.

Why? What is so much better on scooters compared to "normal" bikes?

 

13 hours ago, OneMoreFarang said:

And then many end up with one of those horrendous maxi-scooters.

Thanx.

+ a million.

Another scooter hater.

Another auto hater.

Come and join our club...............????

Hate the f###ing things.

[papa al]

Please advise site and time of next haters meeting.

Sounds like a fun crowd.

papa always into trying new things.

[lipflipper]

It always facinates me when the scooter/maxi scooters haters offer up their two cents of twaddle. It's as if you are less of a rider if you don't shift gears manually. Get a life Earslings, for many of us new to Thailand and new to riding a motorbike in this horrific traffic an automatic scooter is the only way to go. Your comment that in a short time you get used to shifting manually is pure hogwash. Oh by the way I love my maxi scooter.

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[steve73]

In my late teens/early 20's I owned a Suzuki "Hustler" 250, Zwaka 400, Honda 500 twin, Yamaha RD400, Norton Commando (got stolen), and finally a Honda 750/4 that I kept for the next 10 years or so, before finally giving up with 2 wheels.

 

Now 20+ years later in Thailand for the past 10 years I've gone for the 125 "twist'n'go" Click & lookalikes.

 

Do I miss a "real" motorcycle?  Hell yes, but the standard of driving on the roads here is so bad, that I know it would be a bad idea, combined with my slowing reactions, and (probably) weakening bones, etc.

 

For someone new to motorcycles, I would recommend a simple twist'n'go, especially if its mainly for commuting in Bangkok traffic.  If you do get firmly bitten by the 2-wheel bug after a year or two's experience, then that's the time for a "proper" motorcycle and explore the open roads...

 

JMHO..

 

[DILLIGAD]

In my late teens/early 20's I owned a Suzuki "Hustler" 250, Zwaka 400, Honda 500 twin, Yamaha RD400, Norton Commando (got stolen), and finally a Honda 750/4 that I kept for the next 10 years or so, before finally giving up with 2 wheels.
 
Now 20+ years later in Thailand for the past 10 years I've gone for the 125 "twist'n'go" Click & lookalikes.
 
Do I miss a "real" motorcycle?  Hell yes, but the standard of driving on the roads here is so bad, that I know it would be a bad idea, combined with my slowing reactions, and (probably) weakening bones, etc.
 
For someone new to motorcycles, I would recommend a simple twist'n'go, especially if its mainly for commuting in Bangkok traffic.  If you do get firmly bitten by the 2-wheel bug after a year or two's experience, then that's the time for a "proper" motorcycle and explore the open roads...
 
JMHO..
 

+1


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[OneMoreFarang]

1 hour ago, lipflipper said:

It always facinates me when the scooter/maxi scooters haters offer up their two cents of twaddle. It's as if you are less of a rider if you don't shift gears manually. Get a life Earslings, for many of us new to Thailand and new to riding a motorbike in this horrific traffic an automatic scooter is the only way to go. Your comment that in a short time you get used to shifting manually is pure hogwash. Oh by the way I love my maxi scooter.

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How long did you try to use a clutch and gears before you gave up? 1 minute or maybe 5 minutes? It's easy. If you didn't manage it then I see two options: a) you gave up too early b) your hand/foot skills are so bad that you better should stay away from driving anything.

 

Personally I don't hate scooters. But it seems lots of scooters are ridden by people who want to use just one hand so that they can use the other hand to hold most likely a mobile phone. And I hate if people drive while using their mobile.

 

And, like I mentioned above, many scooter drivers never learn to use a clutch and change gears. That itself is not a problem - if they only ever drive scooters. But if they want another bike the first criteria seems to be often "I don't want a clutch because I don't know how to use it". We had a lot of threads like this here on TV. It seems few of these ex-scooter riders switch to proper bikes with clutch. Maybe one of those people who finally switched can give us some insight how "difficult" that was. I bet it was mentally a bigger step than actually doing it.

 

And finally let's talk about maxi-scooters - and maxi-scooter drivers. Obviously there are always exceptions to the rule but it seems maxi scooter guys are like guys with cars with long hoods. They need a lot of shiny, often red, metal around them show everybody how "big" and hopefully important they are. Look I have this BIG bike. I think it often looks laughable.

 

And maxi scooters should be classified as small cars and not big bikes. Because they often stay in the middle of the traffic because they are just too big to filter through the traffic like normal bikes. And their engines are often the smallest part of the vehicle.

[johng]

42 minutes ago, OneMoreFarang said:

Looks like a "Jacuzzi" on 2 wheels  ????  as opposed to the normal length "Bathtub"

[johng]

If you learn to drive  a manual ( any vehicle type) then driving the "auto" version will be a piece of cake..though I did have to train myself to drive  an auto car ☹️  with only one foot  instead of 2, kept stamping on the brake pedal instead of the clutch.

[Fab5BKK]

A proper bike... what is a proper bike?

 

I "love" those "superior minds" who feel entitled to dictate what is and what is not a proper bike.

 

I ride a scooter (Nmax) and, as well, a motorbike (Street Triple). For me, both are bikes. Before coming to Thailand, I owned a number of motors: ZZR1100, ZRX1200R, ZX9R, Speed Triple, etc.

 

A proper bike is a bike that fits one's taste or/and needs.

 

Peace 'n love!

[canthai55]

39 minutes ago, Fab5BKK said:

A proper bike... what is a proper bike?

Has two wheels and an engine

Not 2 front wheels, or a front and back and side wheels, or 2 rear wheels ...

[DILLIGAD]

Has two wheels and an engine

Not 2 front wheels, or a front and back and side wheels, or 2 rear wheels ...

 

And a petrol tank in between your knees/ in front of your ‘family jewels’

 

 

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[OneMoreFarang]

2 hours ago, Fab5BKK said:

A proper bike... what is a proper bike?

 

I "love" those "superior minds" who feel entitled to dictate what is and what is not a proper bike.

 

I ride a scooter (Nmax) and, as well, a motorbike (Street Triple). For me, both are bikes. Before coming to Thailand, I owned a number of motors: ZZR1100, ZRX1200R, ZX9R, Speed Triple, etc.

 

A proper bike is a bike that fits one's taste or/and needs.

 

Peace 'n love!

Interesting. Why did you buy an nmax after your experience with lots of proper bikes?

I understand when people have two or even more bikes and one of them is something small for the shopping trip to the next 7/11 or market. But I find it difficult to understand why people buy a huge bathtub - especially if you know proper bikes.

[theoldgit]

Post flaming other member, and response, removed.

[lipflipper]

I love how a maxi scooter is described as a bathtub and similar bikes are described as not "proper" bikes. What an elitist and ego centric attitude. Please enlighten us on what "proper" car to buy, "proper" TV to purchase, "proper" Airline to fly. With your attitude on the "proper" type of bike to ride you must be bursting with suggestions.

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[DILLIGAD]

I just take it all as a subject to joke about. A ‘proper’ biker accepts any type of ‘biker’ unless they are stupid! (Or rides an HD (Joke)).


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[steve73]

Further to the "proper" motorcycle debate, I just happened upon this great documentary on U-tube, and thought I'd share it here...

 

 

 

[OneMoreFarang]

4 minutes ago, steve73 said:

Further to the "proper" motorcycle debate, I just happened upon this great documentary on U-tube, and thought I'd share it here...

Thanks, I will watch that one.

So it seems there was something like Glory Days in the UK some time ago... ???? 

[ABCinSG]

I would like to learn how to ride a motorcycle, because in addition to commuting, some day I would like to ride to the nearby provinces, on a bigger motorbike of course. 

 

At the start of next month, I'm planning to sign up at UPD Driving (http://www.upddriving.com/), which seems like a decent place to both learn and get a licence at the same time. Do any of you guys have any experience with the school above? There doesn't seem to be any other schools out there that provide an English option; I even had a friend help call up the Yamaha and Honda schools, and they do not teach in English.

 

Looking at the prices of 2nd hand motorbikes online, it seems I can get a ~300cc bike within my budget of 100k THB without financing. But, other then safety gear, which are rather costly themselves, are there any other one-time significant costs I need to worry about, other then transfer costs (which may be included in the price) and insurance? 

[OneMoreFarang]

1 hour ago, ABCinSG said:

I would like to learn how to ride a motorcycle, because in addition to commuting, some day I would like to ride to the nearby provinces, on a bigger motorbike of course. 

Apart from the very basics I think riding in the traffic in the city and riding to nearby provinces are almost two different skill sets.

Depending on what you do I would make sure that you learn the right skills in that or any other school.

If you only learn how to ride in the traffic you will have surprises on the faster roads outside town - and vice versa.