stament Posted June 5, 2019 Share Posted June 5, 2019 Besides the resell value and lack of Somchai repair shops what are the pros and cons of buying a Yamaha Finn or Suzuki Smash? Surely the mechanics in these bikes are quite similar. Is the build quality poorer or other issues. I've read on this forum that Yamaha's are very well made and Honda's aren't as well built as previously. Nothing said about the Suzuki Smash! All comments appreciated as always... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
guzzi850m2 Posted June 6, 2019 Share Posted June 6, 2019 Cons of getting the Smash: If you smash it, hard to get parts???? We got a Filano (Grand?) hybrid not so long time ago, nice little scout, seems like good quality. I never owned a Suzuki bike in Thailand so can't really comment on them but as mentioned, not so popular here, so re-sale value likely effected in a negative way. I would say; go for Yamaha. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kwasaki Posted June 6, 2019 Share Posted June 6, 2019 4 hours ago, stament said: pros and cons of buying a Yamaha Finn or Suzuki Smash? Surely the mechanics in these bikes are quite similar. Is the build quality poorer or other issues. I've read on this forum that Yamaha's are very well made and Honda's aren't as well built as previously. Our area I would say is a Honda bike choice one and has been for years the most popular and still is. Honda Wave is for many the Thai peoples truck, I would say similar Wave type bikes were copied by other manufacturers and can be just as reliable. As for Yamaha IMO they have had to up their game because of Honda quality. I'm told the Mio is good these days, my wife's 2006 over the later years has had many problems, electrical wiring, switches for lights etc, ignition switch change and bodywork has faded making it look old. My 2006 Airblade still looks new. As for Suzuki Smash there a couple I see and these little things below are flying about everywhere. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
VocalNeal Posted June 6, 2019 Share Posted June 6, 2019 20 minutes ago, Kwasaki said: As for Yamaha IMO they have had to up their game because of Honda quality. You will see more Yamaha Nmax's in Indonesia than you see Honda PCX. The opposite is true here. A lot of non-science folk lore exists everywhere. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kwasaki Posted June 6, 2019 Share Posted June 6, 2019 20 minutes ago, VocalNeal said: You will see more Yamaha Nmax's in Indonesia than you see Honda PCX. The opposite is true here. A lot of non-science folk lore exists everywhere. 2015 The N.MAX will be manufactured locally by PT Yamaha Indonesia Motors. Could be a good reason why. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jackdd Posted June 6, 2019 Share Posted June 6, 2019 If you want to buy new, buy a Honda Wave, the resale value is just way better. In case you want to buy used, you can also buy the Yamaha or Suzuki equivalent. The person who bought this bike new made the loss. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JimmyTheMook Posted June 6, 2019 Share Posted June 6, 2019 Honda because they have mastered engine making. Car Engines Motorcycle engines Boat Motors Lawn Mowers Honda Jet engines 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
VocalNeal Posted June 6, 2019 Share Posted June 6, 2019 1 hour ago, Kwasaki said: 2015 The N.MAX will be manufactured locally by PT Yamaha Indonesia Motors. I lived in the same town as the factory, so maybe....... ???? 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post baansgr Posted June 6, 2019 Popular Post Share Posted June 6, 2019 Cant beat a Wave 125i....go forever...just look at somchai motocy, thats mostly what they use.... 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stament Posted June 6, 2019 Author Share Posted June 6, 2019 3 hours ago, jackdd said: If you want to buy new, buy a Honda Wave, the resale value is just way better. In case you want to buy used, you can also buy the Yamaha or Suzuki equivalent. The person who bought this bike new made the loss. What about the build quality? 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stament Posted June 6, 2019 Author Share Posted June 6, 2019 3 hours ago, Kwasaki said: My 2006 Airblade still looks new. Mine looks good too. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post OneMoreFarang Posted June 6, 2019 Popular Post Share Posted June 6, 2019 If you are interested in a Suzuki and live in Bangkok I can recommend this shop: http://www.motorcyclesbangkok.com/ They are authorized Suzuki dealer, authorized Suzuki parts seller and authorized Suzuki repair garage. The owner is Khun Chatree who lived many years in the western world. He speak perfect English and knows how typical farang thinks. The prices are still typical Thai. I never paid more than a few 100B. They also take care of registration, tax, insurance, etc. I own a Suzuki Raider 150 and I would buy it again. Great bike! 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Issanman Posted June 6, 2019 Share Posted June 6, 2019 The Yamaha version of a Wave is called a Spark or Finn. The Spark/Finn has an actual oil filter element. The Waves have only a screen. The Spark/Finn can use E85. The Waves can use E20 but not E85. In the last 4 years, I have bought 3 new Yamahas. The Yamahas are at least as good quality as the Hondas I bought previously. And I prefer the handling of the Yamahas. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kwasaki Posted June 6, 2019 Share Posted June 6, 2019 3 hours ago, stament said: Mine looks good too. So why did post about Honda bikes you have proof already.???? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ktm jeff Posted June 6, 2019 Share Posted June 6, 2019 2 hours ago, Issanman said: The Yamaha version of a Wave is called a Spark or Finn. The Spark/Finn has an actual oil filter element. The Waves have only a screen. The Spark/Finn can use E85. The Waves can use E20 but not E85. In the last 4 years, I have bought 3 new Yamahas. The Yamahas are at least as good quality as the Hondas I bought previously. And I prefer the handling of the Yamahas. The Honda Wave 125 costs 62,000 Baht. The Yamaha Spark / Finn costs 45 K. Apart from a more advanced design engine , that uses an oil filter , and can use E 85 , the build quality is as good , if not better. People who keep rolling out the old wives tale of Honda having better resale values are living in the past. That stopped when Honda quality started going downhill in 2000. With the price saving you get buying a Yamaha you could buy 850 Liters of fuel. With the Yamaha capable of over 60 KPL , thats over 50,000 kilometers of "free fuel". 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Briggsy Posted June 6, 2019 Share Posted June 6, 2019 I have owned both Thai-built Yamahas and Hondas. The difference is often in the parts other than the engine. Yamaha undercuts Honda on price on similar models by putting cheaper forks, chain, lower quality fairing, lower quality corrosion proofing, etc. This only applies to the models where Yamaha is deliberately striving to undercut Honda's price. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ktm jeff Posted June 6, 2019 Share Posted June 6, 2019 Yamaha own Ohlins suspension. Yamahas are know to have better quality brakes and suspension than Honda. Design and price of other components is very similar. Yamaha dont overcharge , or have to buy , staff and run a "Honda service center" on every street. Which is often the other thing people mention when trying to justify the "advantages" of buying a Honda. Like , how hard is it to get an oil change - with filter - once a year. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pera2thai Posted June 10, 2019 Share Posted June 10, 2019 YAMAHA Lexi 125 S-ABS. Max series junior. Good to me because can't lift my leg up more after hip surgery. Same electric control as Pcx. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stament Posted April 12, 2020 Author Share Posted April 12, 2020 On 6/6/2019 at 7:19 PM, ktm jeff said: The Honda Wave 125 costs 62,000 Baht. The Yamaha Spark / Finn costs 45 K. Apart from a more advanced design engine , that uses an oil filter , and can use E 85 , the build quality is as good , if not better. People who keep rolling out the old wives tale of Honda having better resale values are living in the past. That stopped when Honda quality started going downhill in 2000. With the price saving you get buying a Yamaha you could buy 850 Liters of fuel. With the Yamaha capable of over 60 KPL , thats over 50,000 kilometers of "free fuel". What's he advantage of using E85? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
VocalNeal Posted April 12, 2020 Share Posted April 12, 2020 (edited) E85 if the engine is tuned for it can give a bit more power at the cost of fuel volume. Yamaha build quality is supposedly better than Honda. For me it would depend on which dealership is nearer my house or which dealership is the most friendly. In BKK there is a friendly Honda dealership on Soi 71 and a Yamaha one in Pak Nam. In contrast the Yamaha dealer at Bang Na /Sukhumvit junction for me is next to useless. I think for Waves there is more aftermarket gear than Spark/Finn whereas one sees more skinny tired hoped up Finos, than one does say Scoopy. Edited April 12, 2020 by VocalNeal 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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