Honda Cbr150

[dave_boo]

Over the weekend I caught up with my ex partner - I bought her a red CBR150 at the same time as my Repsol version. I told her about the CBR150 group and she would love to come along. This could make it an interesting afternoon.

I also happened to meet up with an English friend of mine who was up in CM from Lamphun. He has a CB150 and will be getting onto Thai Visa to check us out soon.

That makes two more of us

Sad news though is that Gus (who owns a Black CB150) has sold his bar (the Downunder) on Th. Nimmanhamin He signed over the paperwork on Sunday while I was in there watching the MotoGP (go Troy Corser and Ducati). He will be running the place for about another month but after that he will be free to go riding with us which is a small consolation.

CB

I'd be interested in a meet-up, however I'm only here about another month. I'm also really interested in hopping up this sucker, and I'm in the middle of developing a spreadsheet to keep track of everything. I've included it for people to try their own stuff on it, right now it's pretty basic, but eventually I hope to include estimated 0-100, 1/8 (and 1/4) mile runs, etc.

Location: Samut Prakarn.

[JimsKnight]

Crowboy, you know your stuff!

Yeah a CBR meet would be sweet!

We all need to hook up some time, I normally hang out in Chang Mai in the cool season. I too am on a 'replenishing the funds excercise!' so right now is a no-go for me I'm afraid.

I got my CBR in December 2006, its the blue and black one. If memory serves me I paid about 61,000 baht brand new. had no problems with it, except some numbskull dropped his bike against it (forgot to put his kickstand down!).

It is in interesting machine, I've only seen 3 CBRs in Chang Mai so far, I think a lot of the thais are intimidated by them or put off by sports bikes.

Peace said she had some dizzying speed out of it! Right Peace?

[Grover]

I got online to BikePoint in Australia just to check out some prices - there are a lot of Honda 250s there because it is a common learner model.

Second Hand inported from Japan CBR250RR sell for about AU$7,999 which at 28.47 Baht to the dollar works out at about 228K which is pretty ###### expensive before even taking into account shipping one here plus the import tax, registration etc.

A second hand CBR260R is somewhere about half that amount.

They don't have 150cc models so there isn't any way of doing a direct comparision but I would estimate that a new one would be about 200K - goes to show the price difference between here and there. I was wondering if it could be a viable market of getting 250cc models from Japan shipped here, this is where a lot of the Australian ones are coming from.

FYI the RRP for the 07 model VTR250 is AU$7,990

The RRP for the 06 model CBF250 is AU$5,490

They don't show the CBR which must be imported by parallel imports as a second hand motorcycle and not supported by Honda Australia

CB

it seems a new model has just been released into the Australian market CBR125 selling for AU4000

thats cheap for AU but still not the same as Thailand for their 150cc

http://www.mcnews.com.au/Testing/Honda/200...R125R/page1.htm

[PeaceBlondie]

Crowboy, you know your stuff!

Yeah a CBR meet would be sweet!

We all need to hook up some time, I normally hang out in Chang Mai in the cool season. I too am on a 'replenishing the funds excercise!' so right now is a no-go for me I'm afraid.

I got my CBR in December 2006, its the blue and black one. If memory serves me I paid about 61,000 baht brand new. had no problems with it, except some numbskull dropped his bike against it (forgot to put his kickstand down!).

It is in interesting machine, I've only seen 3 CBRs in Chang Mai so far, I think a lot of the thais are intimidated by them or put off by sports bikes.

Peace said she had some dizzying speed out of it! Right Peace?

I would only call the speed 'dizzying' if they were miles per hour instead of kph, and if the speedometer was accurate. I've seen 141 kph without a tailwind, tucked in, on a level road. That was probably more like 125 kph, but really - was even that safe? No, and I knew the road and traffic was light, etc.

I've seen far more than 6 CBR's here, but if you don't go all around amphur muang, you'd miss most of them. Most regular bike buyers (Thais) are only intimidated by the price, I think. Mine still seems to impress the locals, who stare at the bike at stoplights, noticing details which don't exist on Waves or even on Sonics (like a tachometer, fairing, the ten liter tank, and bigger tires).

I hadn't seen women riding CBR's; it's mostly just us blokes with meat and vegetables.

[Crow Boy]

Crowboy, you know your stuff!

Yeah a CBR meet would be sweet!

We all need to hook up some time, I normally hang out in Chang Mai in the cool season. I too am on a 'replenishing the funds excercise!' so right now is a no-go for me I'm afraid.

I got my CBR in December 2006, its the blue and black one. If memory serves me I paid about 61,000 baht brand new. had no problems with it, except some numbskull dropped his bike against it (forgot to put his kickstand down!).

It is in interesting machine, I've only seen 3 CBRs in Chang Mai so far, I think a lot of the thais are intimidated by them or put off by sports bikes.

Peace said she had some dizzying speed out of it! Right Peace?

I would only call the speed 'dizzying' if they were miles per hour instead of kph, and if the speedometer was accurate. I've seen 141 kph without a tailwind, tucked in, on a level road. That was probably more like 125 kph, but really - was even that safe? No, and I knew the road and traffic was light, etc.

I've seen far more than 6 CBR's here, but if you don't go all around amphur muang, you'd miss most of them. Most regular bike buyers (Thais) are only intimidated by the price, I think. Mine still seems to impress the locals, who stare at the bike at stoplights, noticing details which don't exist on Waves or even on Sonics (like a tachometer, fairing, the ten liter tank, and bigger tires).

We had more than 6 CBRs in the carparc at the Downunder Pub for the previous to last MotoGP race - looked like a bike lot and me without the camera.

Don't forget the electric starter, clutch (that catches about half of the mechanics at Nihon Panich who can't ride a bike with one), dual disk brakes, and the fact that I can leave eveyone of them standing at the lights even if they cheat by jumping up to 10 seconds before the light change.

Another reason why they aren't so popular with the Thais is practicality, a honda sonic 125 or susuki raider 150 is a sports bike but has the long seat which can fit three people, the CBR has a club racer seat and a "pillion pad" both of which are much less comfortable. In many ways the Suzuki Raider is a great little bike but I much prefer the CBR which feels like a real bike. I also don't like the Suzukis skinny little tires.

I hadn't seen women riding CBR's; it's mostly just us blokes with meat and vegetables.

My ex partner has a red one and is most keen on joining the club - I bought the two of them on the same day. She won't ride a wave refering to them as a "girl's bike"

CB

[JimsKnight]

Has anyone 'got their knee' down using a CBR yet? The closest I came was on the S/E moat corner, but valuing my unarmoured knee cap I pulled out of it!

For sure theres more CBRs out there but they seem so exclusive to an extent that, like you say, its a Bike meets that they materialise!

I dunno about the top speed thing, its a rockin' engine and seems capable of at least an actual 150kph perhaps more. Whats the Repso version like? Is that a faster CBR? It Sound bitchin'

[dave_boo]

Has anyone 'got their knee' down using a CBR yet? The closest I came was on the S/E moat corner, but valuing my unarmoured knee cap I pulled out of it!

For sure theres more CBRs out there but they seem so exclusive to an extent that, like you say, its a Bike meets that they materialise!

I dunno about the top speed thing, its a rockin' engine and seems capable of at least an actual 150kph perhaps more. Whats the Repso version like? Is that a faster CBR? It Sound bitchin'

I haven't put my dragged my knee yet either. This is mostly cause I don't trust the pavement nor the tyres that came stock with my CBR. Oh, and like you, I don't have riding pants, just the AVG jacket.

I see qute a few CBRs tooling around SE Bangkok. I suppose being in a slightly more affluent area allows the locals to be able to justify purchasing them.

According to the math, the CBR's theoretical top speed is 153 KPH. However, I haven't gotten a formula together to take into account wind resistance, rolling resistance, mass, etc. When I do, I'll update my spreadsheet.

The Reposol Version offers no improvements over a base CBR other than the paint scheme. I think Honda discontinued that option a couple of years ago. None the less, the new CBR models are MUCH nicer looking in the front IMHO. And overall the black one is sexy. I may end up purchasing one when I return and give my old one to my brother in law who just started his 10th year of school (sorry forget the Thai name for it).

[Crow Boy]

Has anyone 'got their knee' down using a CBR yet? The closest I came was on the S/E moat corner, but valuing my unarmoured knee cap I pulled out of it!

For sure theres more CBRs out there but they seem so exclusive to an extent that, like you say, its a Bike meets that they materialise!

I dunno about the top speed thing, its a rockin' engine and seems capable of at least an actual 150kph perhaps more. Whats the Repso version like? Is that a faster CBR? It Sound bitchin'

Unless the paint work on the CBR is slipperyer than the standard paint it will be exactly the same. They came out with that verion when Caparossi was still racing for Honda and looked like staying that way for years - nobody considered he would move to Yamaha.

The motor is good but the problem with theoretical modelling is that this one doesn't take into account mechanical inefficiencies, wind resistance, road resistance, rider weight, etc. The top speed is probably about 130kp on a dry day at sea level (air density is higher for the engine intake) over a flat road. I weigh in at nearly 100kilo accoding to the scales at Central when I did it yesterday - much to my dismay. I was wearing my riding kit so that is more realistic that the more svelte 95kilo in the bathroom. Add a pack and helment and these small weight increases make dramatic differences on a small capacity machine were every gram counts.

We know the standard exhaust is restrictive of the combussed gasses causing it to back load at high revs (above 8,000rpm) this is a response to the overseas polution and speed laws. THe intake (airbox) and carburetor are also restricted for similar reasons. There is no reason why the bike cannot go at least 30kpm faster except not in standard trim. It will just take a relatively few mods to make a much more interesting motorcycle. I would really like to find out what the guys racing them are doing to them and where they are sourcing the parts. I doubt very much whether they are racing in standard form.

CB

[PeaceBlondie]

crowboy, I'm as heavy as you are, but I could still get 139 indicated on a level road in Chiang Mai this week. Until, that is, it fouled up completely and we put it into the shop today. We're trying Saha Panich, on the north side, this time instead of Niyom Panich. They say they need to adjust and balance the four valves, although I have my doubts. Last night on the way home from Hang Dong, it kept bogging down so much that I never got over 65 kph; neither did my partner this morning riding it across town.

____________________________________________________

When General MacArthur said automatic weapons were mightier than the pen, he hadn't been reading Jesus, Gandhi, or Martin Luther King, Jr.

[Crow Boy]

crowboy, I'm as heavy as you are, but I could still get 139 indicated on a level road in Chiang Mai this week. Until, that is, it fouled up completely and we put it into the shop today. We're trying Saha Panich, on the north side, this time instead of Niyom Panich. They say they need to adjust and balance the four valves, although I have my doubts. Last night on the way home from Hang Dong, it kept bogging down so much that I never got over 65 kph; neither did my partner this morning riding it across town.

I lived near that one and found them to be ok but not as good as the Nihom side. My bike is really unhappy and needs to go for a service this Saturday. This morning she didn't want to get much over 85kph. Please let us know what the results are post service and their finings of the problem.

CB

____________________________________________________

When General MacArthur said automatic weapons were mightier than the pen, he hadn't been reading Jesus, Gandhi, or Martin Luther King, Jr.

Notice that yours are all dead?

CB

[PeaceBlondie]

The saga of soggy CBR's continues. Yesterday they told my boyfriend they would 'balance' the valves, and I finally realize that means to adjust the four valves in the cylinder head. Sure, after 44K kilometers, it's about time (many bikes call for valve adjustment checks every 10K, except the Yamaha five-valve heads at 30K).

This morning the mechanic called to say that a needle was sticking. Don't carburetors have needles or jets? If so, is one needle for high speed and another for low speed? My guess is that the low speed needle or jet was sticking, and would only come undone when I could rev the engine to 10,000 rpm.

Like Niyom Panich, this Honda dealership also likes to say that perhaps some carb part has broken off and fallen into the engine. I seriously doubt it. I recall a story from 1959 by Dick Van Der Feen (a writer for Sports Cars Illustrated), who dropped a small washer into a running Aston Martin engine that suffered dire consequences.

[MaiChai]

There is loads of cbr150s in Bangkok. In fact seems like its the only decent 'sports' bike you can buy now. However the smaller bikes are much more manuveourable in the traffic and everyone seems concious about fuel consumption. So seems like small bikes are here to stay and what will come of sports bikes? For enthusiasts only? Luckily there are plenty of 2nd hand bikes that can still be had, but the larger bikes are difficult/expensive to get parts for since they are imports.

Wonder how many young Thais now can't operate a hand clutch

[JimsKnight]

There is loads of cbr150s in Bangkok. In fact seems like its the only decent 'sports' bike you can buy now. However the smaller bikes are much more manuveourable in the traffic and everyone seems concious about fuel consumption. So seems like small bikes are here to stay and what will come of sports bikes? For enthusiasts only? Luckily there are plenty of 2nd hand bikes that can still be had, but the larger bikes are difficult/expensive to get parts for since they are imports.

Wonder how many young Thais now can't operate a hand clutch

You can crossfilter (weave through traffic) easily enough on a CBR, you just have to make sure the Wing mirrors are well tucked in. Its small frame and engine make it suited for busy roads, but give me the open road any day with it

Yup they seem to be very scarce.

When I went into the showroom to buy my CBR I couldn't even see one, although the sales brochure of it was on display. I had to be escorted to the garage area where the only one they had was. After I bought it, another one was brought up from Bangkok (or wherever the main Honda depot is) so the ratio was back to 1 CBR : 30 scooters / mopeds.

Any Thai male that I see that can operate a bike with-clutch gets the thumbs up as to be honest the thais prefer to have a hand free for carrying items etc about. I've yet to see any woman rider, thai or farang, on a CBR yet though

[PeaceBlondie]

There is loads of cbr150s in Bangkok. In fact seems like its the only decent 'sports' bike you can buy now. However the smaller bikes are much more manuveourable in the traffic and everyone seems concious about fuel consumption. So seems like small bikes are here to stay and what will come of sports bikes? For enthusiasts only? Luckily there are plenty of 2nd hand bikes that can still be had, but the larger bikes are difficult/expensive to get parts for since they are imports.

Wonder how many young Thais now can't operate a hand clutch

To just add some other points to JimsKnight's post.

It is the only decent sports bike you can buy new, if the Honda Sonic 125 and the Suzuki Raider 150 only count as step-throughs, not serious-looking sportbikes. I can wind my way in traffic with the best of them; the width is about the same, and so is the wheelbase; the turning lock may be sharper.

Fuel consumption: 3.3 liters per 100 kilometers in hard usage, and I used 91 regular gasoline for the first 43,000 km. Okay, some little underpowered bikes get 2.8 liters or better, but I'm past the point of diminishing returns when I'm spending so little in the first place.

Yes, CBR150's are mostly for enthusiasts, and it's a domestically made bike.

Parts: they found a carb needle today and it's ready to go. We shall see how it runs.

[Crow Boy]

The saga of soggy CBR's continues. Yesterday they told my boyfriend they would 'balance' the valves, and I finally realize that means to adjust the four valves in the cylinder head. Sure, after 44K kilometers, it's about time (many bikes call for valve adjustment checks every 10K, except the Yamaha five-valve heads at 30K).

on early Ducatis is was every time you took it for a ride

I think this sounds reasonable - at 30-40,000Km the motor has loosened considerably from new and will need quite a few adjustments.

This morning the mechanic called to say that a needle was sticking. Don't carburetors have needles or jets? If so, is one needle for high speed and another for low speed? My guess is that the low speed needle or jet was sticking, and would only come undone when I could rev the engine to 10,000 rpm.

Depending on the type of carburettor and the size it will differ but normally you have a slide which is for low speed up to about 2,000 rpm then a series of needle jets. These jets open as revs increase and the amount of vapourised fuel increases. If one of these jets is partially blocked or bent it will not let the fuel vapourise correctly and so the engine will not fire properly. Without the manual I don't know how many jets there are in the CB150 but I suspect it is two with the second coming on at about 7-8,000rpm.

Like Niyom Panich, this Honda dealership also likes to say that perhaps some carb part has broken off and fallen into the engine. I seriously doubt it. I recall a story from 1959 by Dick Van Der Feen (a writer for Sports Cars Illustrated), who dropped a small washer into a running Aston Martin engine that suffered dire consequences.

I once saw the end result of a Kawasaki 1000 motor after a tiny ball bearing which is used as a seater valve fell into the motor. It jammed inside the cylinder head and caused one of the four pistons to suddenly stop going up and down. The crank snapped and the motor started to flail away inside. The fact the the now unbalanced motor was going up and down at about 10,000 rpm and doing in excess of 240 kpm at the time made it an exciting thing to see from just behind it - but not as exciting as for the guy riding it. Lots of the old motors had quite amazing tolerences but in the modern motor the gaps between bits in a motor are very small, simply because they are trying to get as much as is practical out of a very small motor.

I will take mine in this weekend and see what they say. I think it am going to the Honda Dealer across the road from the Princes Royal College. I have had good experience with them before and they have a very good selection of spare parts. They are also the only one likely to be a licenced Honda dealership with after market parts such as K&N filters etc. I will let you know how I go when I get her back. Out of interest what was the cost of the service you had done and is the bike much happier now?

CB

[Crow Boy]

Any Thai male that I see that can operate a bike with-clutch gets the thumbs up as to be honest the thais prefer to have a hand free for carrying items etc about. I've yet to see any woman rider, thai or farang, on a CBR yet though

Most of the mechanics can't ride the CBR because of the clutch. It happens frequently that I take the bike to the shop and the guys jump on then realise it has a clutch and a different format gear selection. It always makes them laugh and then one will walk over who can ride the bike.

My expartner (Tip) has a CBR and she is fast to the point of being suicidal in traffic but on the open road rides at 80kpm. I have followed her in Bangkok traffic pulling in excess of 120kpm between trucks but as soon as she is on the highway slows down because it makes her nervous there!

She will be coming to the next ride day (assuming this rain isn't going to go on for ever) and is really looking forward to it. Just don't make any remarks about girls and bikes or you may be left very embarrassed in her wake.

CB

[moo9]

Hi all,

after long considerations I most probably will also buy a CBR150R. I was considering to buy a bigger bike (like an old CBR400RR), but I worry about spare parts and after all, I use the bike mostly in the city, so no need for the additional power.

The 2007 models are only available in red, blue and black. I would love to find a bike in some racing design. I stay in Pattaya, can anybody recommend a shop? Did somebody recently visit some dealers in Pattaya? Which branch would have the best choices for CBR150R's? I know the one at the Pattaya Tai / 3rd road intersection, which is a nice store.

What is the current price tag? Still possible to get one at 63 - 65 k Bht?

Thanks for your assistance and cu on a CBR150R ;-)

Moo9

[dave_boo]

I don't know if my speedo is mis-calibrated, but I've had mine up and over 140 on numerous occasions. I don't think that it's off by much, because keeping the motor tooling along at ~9k RPM it's indicating a steady 120 KPH, and I'm keeping up with the fast lane and/or passing them. I know that at greater than 120 the big gets very "light" feeling, even with my 90+ Kg pushing down on it. However, as others noted, tuck in the mirrors and you can get between traffic that others (read Waves, Mios, etc.) wouldn't dare to try.

I'm wondering if running Shell 95 exclusively, plus the fact that for the first ~1000 Km it wasn't revved over 5000, allows me to run an indicated speed greater than the others listed here. Or if I should have my speedo calibrated!

**edit**

I don't know why I can't go back and change that post of mine with the old spreadsheet, but I discovered some discrepancies with it. They're fixed, and I'm reuploading the spreadsheet. Work continues on a proper one that will take in account resistance, weight, etc.

Motorcycle_Gearing.xls

[PeaceBlondie]

I don't know if my speedo is mis-calibrated, but I've had mine upand over 140 on numerous occasions. I don't think that it's off by much, because keeping the motor tooling along at ~9k RPM it's indicating a steady 120 KPH, and I'm keeping up with the fast lane and/or passing them. I know that at greater than 120 the big gets very "light" feeling, even with my 90+ Kg pushing down on it. However, as others noted, tuck in the mirrors and you can get between traffic that others (read Waves, Mios, etc.) wouldn't dare to try.

I'm wondering if running Shell 95 exclusively, plus the fact that for the first ~1000 Km it wasn't reved over 5000, allows me to run an indicated speed greater than the others listed here. Or if I should have my speedo calibrated!

dave, same as you, I'm about 92 kg, and when I weighed that much with a backpack, I could get it up to 139 indicated on a flat road. However, if I held it stead at 120 kph for two km markers, that should have taken me 60 seconds, and it took 66 to 68 seconds! In other words, the speedo was off by at least 10%, unless the highway markers are all too closely spaced.

I did not baby my engine for the first 1000 km, and at 43,785 km, it could still get to 135 today on a short stretch. I found that BMW's and Mercedes sometimes just poke along at 90 kph on the highway.

How would we adjust the speedo even if we knew it's 12% optimistic? Is there a different drive gear?

Since I put on weight recently, my Speedos have been too small, too.

[dave_boo]

I don't know if my speedo is mis-calibrated, but I've had mine upand over 140 on numerous occasions. I don't think that it's off by much, because keeping the motor tooling along at ~9k RPM it's indicating a steady 120 KPH, and I'm keeping up with the fast lane and/or passing them. I know that at greater than 120 the big gets very "light" feeling, even with my 90+ Kg pushing down on it. However, as others noted, tuck in the mirrors and you can get between traffic that others (read Waves, Mios, etc.) wouldn't dare to try.

I'm wondering if running Shell 95 exclusively, plus the fact that for the first ~1000 Km it wasn't reved over 5000, allows me to run an indicated speed greater than the others listed here. Or if I should have my speedo calibrated!

dave, same as you, I'm about 92 kg, and when I weighed that much with a backpack, I could get it up to 139 indicated on a flat road. However, if I held it stead at 120 kph for two km markers, that should have taken me 60 seconds, and it took 66 to 68 seconds! In other words, the speedo was off by at least 10%, unless the highway markers are all too closely spaced.

I did not baby my engine for the first 1000 km, and at 43,785 km, it could still get to 135 today on a short stretch. I found that BMW's and Mercedes sometimes just poke along at 90 kph on the highway.

How would we adjust the speedo even if we knew it's 12% optimistic? Is there a different drive gear?

Since I put on weight recently, my Speedos have been too small, too.

Well, I'm wondering exactly how much drift there is in the speedometer (didn't really want to think about anyone in a speedo--my trips to Pattaya have cured me of that!) exactly. Following my spreadsheet, if you put 6000 RPMs in for "Maximum Power RPM"[cell B20], you'll get a speed of 80 KPH in "Speed at Max Power"[cell F9]. My CBR stays right there. Anything more than that and I'm usually too busy watching the road to worry about speed/RPM.

[keebone]

CBR150's are for pussies - real men ride NSR150's

[bobbin]

I have seen an indicated 155kph. Laying flat on the tank on a long straightaway. Maybe a tail-wind involved or a slight gradient toward the sea. At other times against a head-wind, I have not been able to top 140kph. I weigh 70kg and have the same basic build as the average Thai male. So a better power to weight ratio and a smaller body for better aero-dynamics!

On the topic of speedometers. Some friends in Canada who rode big sports-tourers fixed bicycle speedometers. Believe it or not, some models register up to +150mph. You can check for this in the literature that comes with them. So, PeaceBlondie, you get your trip-meter, plus average speed, fastest speed, elapsed time etc. You measure the front tire just like setting up for a bicycle.

Also, for you guys at altitude (Chiang Mai, Chiang Rai etc) , you are not developing the same horsepower you would at sea-level.

[PeaceBlondie]

A sleepwalker with a nik something like somnambulist asked in another topic about Air Blades, "Is it comfortable enough for a six footer (183cm)? Also, it looks pretty uncomfortable for a second person riding on the back. What's your experience with that? tia"

I'm five foot 9.52 (about 175 cm) and am not uncomfortable. The pillion has a high perch with the pegs putting your knees higher, but I wasn't uncomfortable riding on the back on the road to Mae Hong Son for that reason; it was holding onto a backpack with a broken strap that was a nuisance. A Welshman who's shorter than me rode the pillion from BKK to Chiang Mai comfortably.

Years ago, in a road comparison of the biggest touring bikes such as the Gold Wing 1200, editor Art Friedman of Motorcyclist magazine said the most fun he ever had, in decades of motoring, was on a Honda XL175 through the Baja peninsula. That doesn't mean the Gold Wing was less comfortable, of course, and Art isn't six feet tall.

CrowBoy is going to give us a report of a meet-up we had on Sunday. I just want to comment that when we parked at the mountain viewpoint at Doi Suthep, the four CBR150's drew a crowd! When I got down the mountain and stopped at the light for two minutes, a young man in a Honda Dream 100 spent the whole time staring intently at my bike, telling his girlfriend on his pillion how neat my bike was. It's far from the usual Thai bike.

NSR150's were fine back in the old days, but when did they cease production: 2000?

[Crow Boy]

CBR150's are for pussies - real men ride NSR150's

I sent that quote to a friend of mine who took over from me as secretary for a bike club. He is going to use it as a splash banner for the news letter.

He is the same guy who printed my picture and the fact that I am now riding a CBR150 much to the amusement of the club members.

NSRs are nice but I prefer my CBR for all round use.

CB

[Crow Boy]

Dateline: Sunday 20 May 2007

On this pleasant but overcast day the first meet of the Chiang Mai CBR150 bike club occured. This event probably won't go down in history but it was great for us to finally meet.

The agreed spot was at "The Boat Restaurant" near Chiang Mai University and two of us arrived on our machines to spot what could only be the internationally famous Peace Blondie lurking with intent next to his Red bike.

My ex girlfriend and still good mate parked her bike next to Peace Blondie's. YES you unbelieving readers, there are girls who can ride a bike with hand clutch and real gears. I parked my Repsol version closest to the corner assuming that the subtle paintwork would make it easier to spot by anyone else looking for us. Shortly afterwards another RED bike turned up making it three in a row. We had a brunch in the restaurant and chatted.

The weather was looking good so we decided to do a short run up Doi Saket to the Lookout. This road is a lot of fun but you must take care to avoid the oncoming traffic coming around blind corners on the wrong side of the road. Tip (my ex) had a bit of a scare with an errant pickup so slowed down and I dropped back to make sure she was ok. She rides like a maniac in town but gets very edgy on the open road - I think she suffers from motorcycle agrophobia.

At the lookout we parked the bikes and spend some time checking out the view. I was surprised that in spite of all the recent rain how much haze there was across the city. I have been up there in the middle of the hot dry season and couldn't see the city at all.

It was time to head off and so we went back to the bikes in the carpark. I used to ride a lot of exotic bikes in Oz so got used to having people check them out but we had a small crowd of people looking at the rather unusual sight of four CBRs in a row. Tip got the biggest look of surprise when the local Thai lads realised that one of the bikes was hers. Instant street cred and a bit of a shock to the boys.

Back down the mountain and I cut out from behind the pack to give the bike a bit of a work out then waited at the bottom to the hill. MacGriffith had already gone on and I waved to PB as he went past. Tip and I then went for a bit of a ride on our own and then headed down to see the MotoGP Races at the DownUnder Bar. Her English is very good but she finds it difficult to follow four different accents and conversations so she got bored at the races and we left leaving McGriff and the rest of the boys to watch the race in peace.

It was a good day and great to catch up. We will be meeting soon but I believet that a couple of the other CBR guys are organising a mid week ride. I can't do that having to work but if anyone is interested send a PM to McGriffith and he will give you the details.

The second photo is of three more CBRs at the DownUnder

To those that made the day - it was a great day. To those who didn't - hope to see you next time

CB

[jdinasia]

What does a cbr150 cost these days?

[PeaceBlondie]

What does a cbr150 cost these days?

The price tag I saw about a week ago said 66,000 but there was another price of 62,600, which I took to be the discount price. Includes first year insurance, registration, and free labor on the 1000 km checkup. That's just enough to discourage folks on a strict budget, who earn on the economy. But well worth it. I often sing that song by Prince to my bike, "Nothing compares to you...."

[jdinasia]

after another car (used this time) I am wanting a new bike ... I LOVE my Tiger Joker (I know I may be the only guy that does love that bike!) but am wanting something for fun rides too!

[PeaceBlondie]

after another car (used this time) I am wanting a new bike ... I LOVE my Tiger Joker (I know I may be the only guy that does love that bike!) but am wanting something for fun rides too!

My boyfriend bought a Joker, but then moved on up to Yamaha Spark 135 and Honda Phantom 200. The uni student in the family rides the Joker and they like it, although they've had some mechanical problems with it. I hate the Thai motor scooter four-speed backward transmission. It's fun to rip straight up through six gears, even if you're not straight!!

[dave_boo]

Dateline: Sunday 20 May 2007

On this pleasant but overcast day the first meet of the Chiang Mai CBR150 bike club occured. This event probably won't go down in history but it was great for us to finally meet.

The agreed spot was at "The Boat Restaurant" near Chiang Mai University and two of us arrived on our machines to spot what could only be the internationally famous Peace Blondie lurking with intent next to his Red bike.

My ex girlfriend and still good mate parked her bike next to Peace Blondie's. YES you unbelieving readers, there are girls who can ride a bike with hand clutch and real gears. I parked my Repsol version closest to the corner assuming that the subtle paintwork would make it easier to spot by anyone else looking for us. Shortly afterwards another RED bike turned up making it three in a row. We had a brunch in the restaurant and chatted.

The weather was looking good so we decided to do a short run up Doi Saket to the Lookout. This road is a lot of fun but you must take care to avoid the oncoming traffic coming around blind corners on the wrong side of the road. Tip (my ex) had a bit of a scare with an errant pickup so slowed down and I dropped back to make sure she was ok. She rides like a maniac in town but gets very edgy on the open road - I think she suffers from motorcycle agrophobia.

At the lookout we parked the bikes and spend some time checking out the view. I was surprised that in spite of all the recent rain how much haze there was across the city. I have been up there in the middle of the hot dry season and couldn't see the city at all.

It was time to head off and so we went back to the bikes in the carpark. I used to ride a lot of exotic bikes in Oz so got used to having people check them out but we had a small crowd of people looking at the rather unusual sight of four CBRs in a row. Tip got the biggest look of surprise when the local Thai lads realised that one of the bikes was hers. Instant street cred and a bit of a shock to the boys.

Back down the mountain and I cut out from behind the pack to give the bike a bit of a work out then waited at the bottom to the hill. MacGriffith had already gone on and I waved to PB as he went past. Tip and I then went for a bit of a ride on our own and then headed down to see the MotoGP Races at the DownUnder Bar. Her English is very good but she finds it difficult to follow four different accents and conversations so she got bored at the races and we left leaving McGriff and the rest of the boys to watch the race in peace.

It was a good day and great to catch up. We will be meeting soon but I believet that a couple of the other CBR guys are organising a mid week ride. I can't do that having to work but if anyone is interested send a PM to McGriffith and he will give you the details.

The second photo is of three more CBRs at the DownUnder

To those that made the day - it was a great day. To those who didn't - hope to see you next time

CB

Yeah it's official, we need more bangkok'ers in the Club. A meet further south wouldn't hurt anyone! But it's still good that those who made it to the meet had a nice time.

I do have some questions though. In the picture of the three CBRs, I only saw helmets with flip down shields. Does nobody wear the full face style, or do they just not leave them on their bikes? Also, what, if any, leathers are used? We need to keep safe on the road, and I enjoy reading reports like these, preferring to not have them contain a "we had a good time, but....".

Also my g/f rides my CBR. It is amusing to watch the Thai men give her looks for being on it. I'm afraid she's not as aggressive as she could be for the machine though.

Finally, it was quite amusing to see that really, really big 8 ball helmet with a little thai one on top of it. Made me chuckle anyways.