I keep reading how the quality of Honda's have gone down over the last few years. If this is the case is an older motorbike such as a dream, wave better than the current crop?

 

Secondly what are the best semi automatic mopeds to buy and is there ready much difference between Honda, Yamaha and Suzuki as surely this sort of technology is very old and widely available.

My teen came home with a brand new Honda Click 150i.

It's a fine bike for 62K, not such a good deal for 8k deposit and 48 payments of 2k2.

I wouldn't mind one, guess I'll get my chance when she can't make the repayments.

 

As for reliability, a full engine rebuild costs around 6k for most of the Honda range, so it's not really a big problem/expense. Most of mine seem to need a rebuild after 50-60k.

There isn't one. All death traps.

Go retro and get a bicycle, forget the gas and oil... be green, get some exercise,  and enjoy the scenery - 55.  statistically safer than motorcycles also 

what statistics, exactly ?

If I'm not mistaken a moped is usualy defined as a 50cc motorbike. Now be very careful if you have license for a moped (50cc) in your home country and think you can drive a 125 or 150cc here in Thailand. It might void your travel insurance.

 

As for scooter types, Honda is very reliable. But Yamaha and Kawa are good also.

56 minutes ago, papa al said:

what statistics, exactly ?

World Health Organization.  http://www.searo.who.int/thailand/areas/roadsafety/en/

 

1 hour ago, Skallywag said:

.... statistically safer than motorcycles also 

 

 

That's rubbish. You've fallen foul using a bulk statistic...

... There are far more motorists than bicyclists on Thailands roads, so it stands to reason that there would be many more motorcyclist deaths....

 

The stat needs to be broken down intelligently to get any real understanding of the potential risks.

Honda Dream is very good. I have one. Reliable, cheap to repair (if needed). Wave is also good. Yamaha, Suzuki (semi automatic) are ok, but Honda is much better if you want to sell it one day

Yamaha seem to come out top in reliability scores in Germany and the UK, but you have to remember some of the big Japanese manufacturers also manufacture their bikes in Thailand - it is debatable whether or not this affects the quality, however you'd have to be pretty naive to think that a Thai produced Honda motorbike would be the same quality as one produced in Japan.

 

 

I have one Wave with 80,000+ km on the clock. Cost me 20k over 10 yrs ago and was 4 yrs old when I got it.

Spent 2,500 on it about 2 yrs ago for a full overhaul, new piston/rings etc

Just bought another one with 35,000 km on it, in pretty mint condition. Again, 20k and it's 5 yrs old..

Regular oil changes and they last forever ????

Id have to agree with the Honda Waves, purely cause they’re repairable everywhere unlike some of the newer bikes out. I did a recent trip with my small bike group around Cambodia on Waves, tough and reliable.

2 hours ago, RobbyXNorway said:

If I'm not mistaken a moped is usualy defined as a 50cc motorbike. Now be very careful if you have license for a moped (50cc) in your home country and think you can drive a 125 or 150cc here in Thailand. It might void your travel insurance.

 

As for scooter types, Honda is very reliable. But Yamaha and Kawa are good also.

Perhaps the title should have read scooter then. Am I bad?

3 hours ago, stephenterry said:

There isn't one. All death traps.

GFY.

 

1 hour ago, SteveK said:

Yamaha seem to come out top in reliability scores in Germany and the UK, but you have to remember some of the big Japanese manufacturers also manufacture their bikes in Thailand - it is debatable whether or not this affects the quality, however you'd have to be pretty naive to think that a Thai produced Honda motorbike would be the same quality as one produced in Japan.

 

 

I must be pretty naive.

You are saying Honda Thailand, run by top Japanese Honda management, make an inferior product to their Japanese Honda counterparts?

Ditto Ducati, Thailand/Italy?

Ditto Triumph, Thailand/England?

Get with the modern global economy Daddyo.

Edit,

 to the OP,

mopeds, scooters, whatever you want to call them, are all pretty much the same nowadays, much like average cars, nobody makes a bad one, they are all pretty much a muchness.

Buy one that you like the look of and/or get a good deal on.

3 hours ago, RobbyXNorway said:

Kawa are good also.

Does Kawa sell scooters in Thailand? I wouldn't buy one (a scooter that is) due to lack of dealers anyways.

 

Yamaha Spark 115i    Cheap to buy, run and maintain  100KPH ( + a little bit more if you really push it)

begging basket on front is optional extra ????

4 hours ago, BritManToo said:

My teen came home with a brand new Honda Click 150i.

It's a fine bike for 62K, not such a good deal for 8k deposit and 48 payments of 2k2.

I wouldn't mind one, guess I'll get my chance when she can't make the repayments.

 

As for reliability, a full engine rebuild costs around 6k for most of the Honda range, so it's not really a big problem/expense. Most of mine seem to need a rebuild after 50-60k.

An engine rebuild on a Honda 4 stroke 35cc weed beater is about 1,5ooB and safer to use,

4 hours ago, BritManToo said:

My teen came home with a brand new Honda Click 150i.

It's a fine bike for 62K, not such a good deal for 8k deposit and 48 payments of 2k2.

I wouldn't mind one, guess I'll get my chance when she can't make the repayments.

 

As for reliability, a full engine rebuild costs around 6k for most of the Honda range, so it's not really a big problem/expense. Most of mine seem to need a rebuild after 50-60k.

so  you are  a miser  talk like it is an ornament she cant pay the repayment 

if she can not and you can why dont u pay up front and all ok 

dept in thailand one of the worst things here i know everybdy has but if u are a bit of a straight farang  never have dept even around your near ones 

it is a hint not a command s dont take iit wrong make 

from day one here we no dept  no money no buy took a while but we live great now all ours and still have some to buy 

5 minutes ago, mikecha said:

so  you are  a miser  talk like it is an ornament she cant pay the repayment 

if she can not and you can why dont u pay up front and all ok 

Holy shit ........ your family must milk you like a buffalo ...........

I bought her a new Honda Wave when she was 15, at 20 she can pay for her own transport.

Vespa Vespa Vespa Vespa Vespa Vespa Vespa Vespa Vespa Vespa Vespa ... Wasp

26 minutes ago, BritManToo said:

Holy shit ........ your family must milk you like a buffalo ...........

I bought her a new Honda Wave when she was 15, at 20 she can pay for her own transport.

Yamaha has the best build quality , and disc brake. Yamaha Spark would be the best choice for a semi-automatic , or a Suzuki Smash. Not many Kawasaki scooters about. Nothing wrong with them , just rare.  The price of that Honda Wave works out at 104,000 Baht  !!!. Thats nearly 70% over mark-up price. Another reason to avoid Honda. Could you not loan her the money , saving her a fortune.

25 minutes ago, Tropposurfer said:

Vespa Vespa Vespa Vespa Vespa Vespa Vespa Vespa Vespa Vespa Vespa ... Wasp

For 104,000 Baht , she could have bought a nice Vespa. One of a few bikes to hold or even increase their value.

Vespa Vespa Vespa Vespa Vespa Vespa Vespa Vespa Vespa Vespa Vespa ... Wasp

Look nice but too expensive...parts, service centers ?

2 hours ago, stament said:

Perhaps the title should have read scooter then. Am I bad?

Yes, a scooter is a thing a young kid plays with on the pavement and hops

along on one foot.

 I've never seen a moped in Thailand just step throughs no pedals.

6 hours ago, BritManToo said:

My teen came home with a brand new Honda Click 150i.

It's a fine bike for 62K, not such a good deal for 8k deposit and 48 payments of 2k2.

I wouldn't mind one, guess I'll get my chance when she can't make the repayments.

 

As for reliability, a full engine rebuild costs around 6k for most of the Honda range, so it's not really a big problem/expense. Most of mine seem to need a rebuild after 50-60k.

I have a 11 year old Honda Dream that I bought when I started to work here.  Fine motorcycle.  The biggest problem with the bike now is I barely ride it.  I've got a car that I feel safer driving and I no long live in Chiang Mai.  If I still lived in the city, I'd be riding the Dream.  I prefer motorcycles for city driving.  I figure that I'll never need to buy another motorcycle.  Run the Honda Dream a couple of times a week, keep it oiled, wash it a couple of times a month, and it will still be running long after I'm gone.  Imho!    I'd buy another one - but I'll never need to.

Honda waves will go to the moon and back....change the oil every 2k....last one did over 100k and believe its still going..easy parts, cheap servicing, never let you down..

28 minutes ago, johng said:

57 minutes ago, Tropposurfer said:

Vespa Vespa Vespa Vespa Vespa Vespa Vespa Vespa Vespa Vespa Vespa ... Wasp

Look nice but too expensive...parts, service centers ?

Agreed.  Mechanics in almost any Thai village can repair a Honda Dream.  

38 minutes ago, baansgr said:

change the oil every 2k.

Why would you do that? Change oil according to the maintenance schedule in the owners manual which will be way more than 2k km. Probably 4k or 8k km. For a Wave 110i it's 4000 km.

3 hours ago, johng said:

 

Yamaha Spark 115i    Cheap to buy, run and maintain  100KPH ( + a little bit more if you really push it)

begging basket on front is optional extra ????

How does it compare to the Wave and Dream, presumably all very similar