Confirmed: "Big Bike" riders will need special training from next year

 

Picture: Thai Rath

 

A senior policeman tasked with looking into changes to Thailand's traffic laws has revealed that motorcycle riders on high powered machines must undergo special training and answer more questions to obtain a licence. 

 

The new regulations apply to riders of 400cc machines and up.

 

Pol Maj-Gen Ekkarak Limsangkat, deputy of Region 6, said that the changes were announced in the government gazette and would come into force on 19th February 2021, 120 days after the announcement last Thursday. 

 

The Thai Rath story suggested that riders would need to provide evidence of having been through the required training before a licence could be issued. They would also have to answer additional questions on a test.

 

Exactly what this would mean has yet to be revealed. 

 

The government gazette announcement is part of changes to update and modernize.laws promulgated in 1979.

 

Thailand had seen a great rise in the use of high powered motorcycles in recent years, notes Thailvisa, with many bike companies producing machines in the kingdom.

 

A previously more niche market has thus become far more widespread. 

 

Furthermore Thai press reports of "big bike" accidents" now seem to have forced the hand of the authorities in taking action to address the issue, though the actual extent of accidents involving those on high power machines is largely anecdotal.

 

Thailand is one of the biggest markets in the world for motorcycles of all descriptions. 

 

About 70% of Thailand's estimated 20,000 plus death toll on the roads is motorcycle riders. 

 

Source: Thai Rath

 

-- © Copyright Thai Visa News 2020-10-28

 

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What about the many big bike riders who have been riding them for years, or even decades?. Again, an ill-thought out idea, with many questions still left unanswered. Another knee-jerk reaction to a problem that does not actually exist, from people with no expertise in the area.

10 minutes ago, webfact said:

also have to answer additional questions on a test.

Begin with an IQ test, that would filter out quite a few. 

So lets take a look at the Yamaha MT-15, it is only a 155CC bike, yet can do 140 Km/H. Enough torque and 6 speeds to accelerate as fast as a larger bike and yet would not be considered a big bike.  You really have to wonder at what level of thinking the country is doing when it comes to calling a 400CC and over a big bike.

 

Even the Kawasaki Ninja 400 would not be considered a big bike as it is only 399 CC and a top speed of 191 km/h.  Yet still not a big bike either according to the new law, just makes one kind of laugh at why the decided 400 cc's and above was a big bike.

i am sitting in my love nest right now on Sukhumvit right next to Asok BTS.

 

When the light changes bikes like Kawasaki 1000 cc take off as fast as possible.

 

I mean they are really haulin' ***.

 

not a cop in sight. 

 

and that is why this BS will never change.

 

 

 

Why not start with training any motorbike rider and enforcing existing laws? I saw three teenagers riding on Phaholyothin Road at Ari on Sunday. The insanely loud exhaust drew my attention. Three persons on one bike (150cc at most), speeding fast through heavy traffic and not one of them was wearing a helmet. I was expecting to hear a crash.

It’s not the big bikes you need to worry about ,  it’s the idiots who think they are riding one. Excessive speed on a light 150cc with bicycle sized tyres and under the influence.

20 minutes ago, Seismic said:

What about the many big bike riders who have been riding them for years, or even decades?. Again, an ill-thought out idea, with many questions still left unanswered. Another knee-jerk reaction to a problem that does not actually exist, from people with no expertise in the area.

what did you expect ??? where are you ????

Who is going to train the Thai trainers? 

and what about ALL THE THAI DRIVERS DRIVING big trucks/pickups ??

Many countries have tiered systems for motorbike licences. This is not a new idea.  Some counties it is 125cc and up. Thailand has chosen 400 cc. For many, many years in Indonesia anything over 200cc was illegal.

What would be more realistic would be an age factor not the bike size. 

 

 

 

' They would also have to ask additional questions on a test '.   For 'eavens sake  don't ask 15 yo Somchai any questions on anything . You might not get the answer you are looking for.

Yesterday while taking a roadside coffee about 6 large bikes went past , all Thais I would think as looked like a proper group , all kitted out in the proper gear , the bikes sounded good and nothing like a screaming Wave.

awesome. so i can continue riding like a maniac on my duke 390. 

15 minutes ago, VocalNeal said:

Many countries have tiered systems for motorbike licences. This is not a new idea.  Some counties it is 125cc and up. Thailand has chosen 400 cc. For many, many years in Indonesia anything over 200cc was illegal.

What would be more realistic would be an age factor not the bike size. 

 

 

 

I think 300 may the largest Thai built bikes, the PCX and Forza, so protect the industry. That might be different now.

 

You are right, age matters.  The kids with their 1000cc crotch rockets are a menace to themselves and others. Not much better with a 125 Click.

 

The training would be easy for an experienced rider, so not a real problem. How much could it cost?  In the US it is about 7000 baht and they provide the bikes. It was really good and even for my little electric scooter, provided insights that have saved my life.

Sidecars?

Not a lot of thinking was invested in this new law, as some posters already stated that smaller CC bikes pack the same punch as the big CC ones, what dose it really means is more confusion and more money to those people who will be in charge on certifying the new licences...

1 hour ago, Seismic said:

What about the many big bike riders who have been riding them for years, or even decades?. Again, an ill-thought out idea, with many questions still left unanswered. Another knee-jerk reaction to a problem that does not actually exist, from people with no expertise in the area.

But how would you be able prove that you have been riding a big bike for years?  Okay, some foreigners may have proof in the form of an appropriate license issued in their home country but with regards to Thais, the

only evidence they would have is their existing motorbike license. 

A good intention gone south....need more critical thinkings, ops.. forgot..

Nothing wrong with education and training as long as it's done correctly. The people in charge of implementing this policy should be listening to experienced motorcyclist's, maybe study and adopt motoring law from other countries with regards to large capacity motorcycles. I ride a Kawasaki Z900 yet can't ride on Thai motorway/toll roads which are much safer than the alternatives. Drove articulated fuel tankers too for a number of year's before moving to Thailand. The bike's themselves are very well built and often feature safety aids such as ABS and variable power settings. Riding safely according to prevailing conditions is the number one rule in my book. One of my pet hates, that is truly nonsensical which I observe on a regular basis is when I see a bike of any size with it's mirror's removed. Total madnes????????????

50 minutes ago, unamazedloso said:

Sidecars?

They're really dodgy they are. I used to have one. Bike has never been right since I took it off. Every time I stop at the traffic lights it falls over!

57 minutes ago, cjinchiangrai said:

I think 300 may the largest Thai built bikes, the PCX and Forza, so protect the industry. That might be different now.

 

 

 

Certainly different now, Thailand manufacture:

 

all Honda motorbikes up to and including the 750cc for the world market.

 

about 50% of Triumph motorbikes for the world market.

 

most of the Harley Davidson motorbikes for Asian market

 

Ducati and BMW motorbikes are also assembled in Thailand for the Asian market.

 

I believe that Thailand may well be the largest manufacturer/assembler of motorbikes in the world.

 

1 hour ago, unamazedloso said:

Sidecars?

 

Why is anyone worried? 
 

It won’t be enforced and even if it was, there’s a good chance 500B can solve the problem at a road block.

 

I will probably comply, because i find it’s easier to follow their BS rules when it comes to roadblocks.
 

What is it going to entail anyway? Sitting in the DLT watching a video in Thai or going to a Honda training station, maybe they speak some pigeon English, maybe I will learn something new, who knows? Maybe some practical test where you ride round some cones, do a right turn - it will be easy, because it always is ..
The worst thing will be if there is another computerised theory test, because the answers are so random - then there will be a need for another residence certificate.

The final exam for your Big Bike license will consist of this final stopping test.

2 hours ago, Grumpy one said:

Who is going to train the Thai trainers? 

I have owned a big bike here for years and also back home, now some ##### Thai is going to teach me how to ride a motorbike, I know what they can do with that idea

My guess is the 400 is based on the original coining of the “big bike” term back in the day of the grey bikes. The most popular and common, but questionably imported (mostly as parts to avoid import duty), were Honda CB400 from Japan. It was even fairly easy to get an actual green book, although numbers and such didn’t always match precisely. My CB400 book said CBR400, but I paid the tax every year! (Engine and frame numbers were correct!)

 

150cc was the biggest legally sold new back then.

 

It is proven every year that the largest number of bike deaths are small bikes crashed on smaller roads in the provinces. Last month a guy we know didn’t make it home after a night of drinking 10 miles away. They found him and his bike in the ditch next to a concrete marker post on a curve in the road. Sad.

 

Training is good, too bad they are looking at the wrong demographic. More lives could be saved by proper driver training for all! And can that ridculous video!

2 hours ago, Dmaxdan said:

But how would you be able prove that you have been riding a big bike for years?  Okay, some foreigners may have proof in the form of an appropriate license issued in their home country but with regards to Thais, the

only evidence they would have is their existing motorbike license. 

they have records of registration for everyone, my current green book is 17 years old and in my name

I nearly killed myself over 40 years ago in the UK on a bike considered to be beginner-friendly. That meant any 17 years old could ride it on L-plates. I did 5 months in hospital and couldn't work for over one and a half years. I still limp like Long John Silver to this day ????
 

THE NEW TON-UP SUZUKI 250 X7

 

Some of you will remember it. I'm talking about the Suzuki GT250 X7. It had an incredibly light front-end and did 0-60mph in just 7.5 seconds and still picking up fast. The top speed was between 98-103mph. A few years later, learner riders could only ride 125cc (I think), and they had capped speeds.

 

Once I passed my big bike test, I realized that larger bikes were much easier, more comfortable, and safer to ride than my 250cc Suzuki. All you have to do is respect the power.

 

Stubby

4 minutes ago, Stubby said:

I nearly killed myself over 40 years ago in the UK on a bike considered to be beginner-friendly. That meant any 17 years old could ride it on L-plates. I did 5 months in hospital and couldn't work for over one and a half years. I still limp like Long John Silver to this day ????
 

THE NEW TON-UP SUZUKI 250 X7

 

Some of you will remember it. I'm talking about the Suzuki GT250 X7. It had an incredibly light front-end and did 0-60mph in just 7.5 seconds and still picking up fast. The top speed was between 98-103mph. A few years later, learner riders could only ride 125cc (I think), and they had capped speeds.

 

Once I passed my big bike test, I realized that larger bikes were much easier, more comfortable, and safer to ride than my 250cc Suzuki. All you have to do is respect the power.

 

Stubby

Glad you made it through. Training never hurts, but like you, it is the young that need to be scared but aren't.

 

The F2 video above is impressive, but those guys are crazy and also wearing armor that we don't have.

 

 

3 hours ago, thaipod said:

It’s not the big bikes you need to worry about ,  it’s the idiots who think they are riding one. Excessive speed on a light 150cc with bicycle sized tyres and under the influence.

Guess what, it’s not the big bikes that will be required to get training it’s the idiots riding one who will be required to receive training.