Advice: Buying New Bike

[HeijoshinCool]

Just now, inThailand said:

Save up to buy something better than a girlie bike?

.

 

A number of years ago I traveled for three months in Italy. Bought a Ducati crotch rocket and after touring, they shipped it back to the States. Good memories along with a fair share of risk taking.

 

Those days are gone. Scooting a mile to the beach and a mile to the fresh market adds up to about 1500 miles a year max. And frankly, it's a lot more fun on a scooter.

 

Nor do I wish to draw attention to myself, nor appear to convey to my neighbors that I am rich and better than them.

 

 

 

 

[robblok]

I am also an Aerox fan, but I think anything that has a bit more kick then the standard 120cc is good. Because the more power the safer you will be. (within limits). I find it useful to have a bit more power to get faster out of the way of cars and easier to have passengers. 

 

If they really want your bike nothing will deter them as they just lift it up and put it in the back of a car and done. Many pickups around so theft is easy. I have never really worried about it to be honest. But I normally parked in parking lots at supermarkets ect. However i have even picked up my bike from there with a car once and nobody really checked if it was my bike or not.

 

I like the storage space of the aerox and its a bit smaller then a PCX i think so easier to park and better in traffic.

[CharlieH]

17 minutes ago, inThailand said:

Save up to buy something better than a girlie bike?

Thats a little unfair.

It really depends on use etc. If its just a local runabout for errands and generally within a few km radius then the scooters are designed for it and a better choice. Using a big bike in those circumstances,whilst possible, would be a pain.

I recently returned to riding a bike and bought a 300cc but my use is not any of the above and is for fun and enjoyment of riding open roads and "twisties" through mountains.

 

Horses for courses.

[HeijoshinCool]

19 minutes ago, CharlieH said:

Our Honda click is 11 yrs old. If you dont really intend on ever selling it and you have the dealer support in your area I think one is as good as the other.

If you do see yourself changing, go with Honda, as others have said, higher resale value.

 

Deterrant wise, chain to a post etc as its less likely to get lifted (literally). Most are opportunist, if its targetted for a reason, not much will stop it.

 

.

 

Don't plan on ever selling it. I plan on lasting another 15 years, as does my new pup. I'm hoping the scooter will last just about the same...

 

Won't need to use it much. It's a rural mile to the beach down a road with rubber trees lining both sides, and a mile the other way to the twice weekly fresh market. Both roads are paved and will treat the bike gently.

 

 

[robblok]

9 minutes ago, inThailand said:

Save up to buy something better than a girlie bike?

Depends on one needs, i had a 650cc ninja and a scooter. The girlie bike was used most as those bigger bikes are a pain in the ass for shopping as they usually have no storage so you have to use saddle bags that make you wider. Also they are so big that its hard to park them inside BKK and in heavy traffic a scooter also wins out. So that girlie bike you denigrate has a lot of positives. However if one plans on doing a lot of long distance travel those bigger bikes win out because on the larger roads more power is better. 

[Kwasaki]

8 minutes ago, HeijoshinCool said:

.

 

A number of years ago I traveled for three months in Italy. Bought a Ducati crotch rocket and after touring, they shipped it back to the States. Good memories along with a fair share of risk taking.

 

Those days are gone. Scooting a mile to the beach and a mile to the fresh market adds up to about 1500 miles a year max. And frankly, it's a lot more fun on a scooter.

 

Nor do I wish to draw attention to myself, nor appear to convey to my neighbors that I am rich and better than them.

You draw a point there although my bike is a 1993 model because it's a big bike they still think you're rich. 

Lucky enough one of our Thai neighbours has a S1000. ????

[Gsxrnz]

If a tea-leaf wants your scooter he'll get it.  No locking device will prevent it.  Best to be careful where you park it. If I'm ever parking in a strange place I try and find the security guard or head-honcho taxi driver, flick him 100B, take a photo, and no worries.

 

All the scooters are give or take the same as the other of equivalent cubic capacity.  It's a vegiemite/marmite question.  Pick the one that you think looks the coolest or fits your body size.

 

Registering in your area is generally a good idea for reasons stated by others.

 

If your scooter has the front brake linked to the back brake, unlink it.  The rider should decide how much front/rear brakes to apply. And learn/understand how to pre-load the front suspension when braking. I only use the rear brake for super-slow manoeuvering or controlled braking/skid in sand or gravel, otherwise it's useless.

 

Run your tires at the recommended PSI in the dry - don't let a Thai MC dude inflate it to 65+ PSI. You'll thank yourself when you really need to brake in a hurry.  Run them 3 or 4 PSI less in the wet - gives better grip (as much as the skinny crappy tires can give you better grip), but the lower PSI in the front is a godsend for braking in the wet, giving a much bigger footprint on the road.

 

 

[HeijoshinCool]

.

 

Just to save some of you time, for the record, I said I am buying a new bike, not that I am new at riding a bike. Been doing so for going on 50 years.

[Kwasaki]

19 minutes ago, Gsxrnz said:

If your scooter has the front brake linked to the back brake, unlink it.  The rider should decide how much front/rear brakes to apply. And learn/understand how to pre-load the front suspension when braking. I only use the rear brake for super-slow manoeuvering or controlled braking/skid in sand or gravel, otherwise it's useless.

 

Run your tires at the recommended PSI in the dry - don't let a Thai MC dude inflate it to 65+ PSI. You'll thank yourself when you really need to brake in a hurry.  Run them 3 or 4 PSI less in the wet - gives better grip (as much as the skinny crappy tires can give you better grip), but the lower PSI in the front is a godsend for braking in the wet, giving a much bigger footprint on the road.

 

Agree with your tyre advice but not the braking advice. 

In an advanced motorcycle test you would fail for not using both brakes at the same time, separate use is for maneuvers only. 

 

Edited September 13, 2021 by Kwasaki

[ExpatOilWorker]

2 hours ago, HeijoshinCool said:

.

 

What kind of condition does it arrive in if you mail it?!

Like a Christmas present ????. 

The post office have a 100 baht wrapping service on top of the transportation cost.

 

[HeijoshinCool]

.

 

So if I buy a bike in Issan with a residency affidavit, and transport it to a province down south, will the dealer there service it and honor the warranty?

 

Will the registration be a pain, or simply a matter of sliding a bottle of Jack across the counter?

[canthai55]

Why would you do that ?

Buy the bike where you will be living.

[Hanuman2547]

When I read the title I thought it was about buying a bike.........as in bicycle! 555.  

Oh well, that's ok.  

[Gsxrnz]

1 hour ago, Kwasaki said:

Agree with your tyre advice but not the braking advice. 

In an advanced motorcycle test you would fail for not using both brakes at the same time, separate use is for maneuvers only. 

 

I don't disagree with you, especially if the bike is a Harley or even a sportsbike with a pillion and it's just general cruising around. I guess I was really referring to situations whereby you REALLY want to peel of some speed in a hurry.

 

Every bike is different.  Every braking situation is different. Braking a Harley is different to braking a sportsbike or a scooter or a dirt bike.  The testers often require the text book responses irrespective of the bike or the situation. 

 

When you're braking at the end of the straight with your rear wheel in the air or barely on the track, the rear brake is useless and a hazard, even with a slipper clutch. Anybody who has raced knows how useless the rear brake is unless you need to use it to set up a slide, but slipper clutches have largely removed the need for that.  Nothing worse on an older race bike than hearing and feeling that jig-jig-jig sound as the braked rear wheel  (or even just slowed by engine braking) makes intermittent contact with the track and then you lose all ability to make full use of the front brake.

 

Even on a scooter, preloading the front suspension to maximise the effectiveness of the front brake makes  the rear brake largely worthless. In fact, if you're using the front brake correctly, the rear brake will lock up because you've transferred so much weight to the front. 

 

Sure, dawdling around at slow speed the rear brake is handy. But if I'm faced with the need to stop in a hurry, I ain't touching the rear brake.

[scubascuba3]

4 hours ago, actonion said:

Or take off the saddle

 

while you are at it, back wheel and pedals, and gearset to be sure

[ThailandRyan]

3 hours ago, CharlieH said:

Thats a little unfair.

It really depends on use etc. If its just a local runabout for errands and generally within a few km radius then the scooters are designed for it and a better choice. Using a big bike in those circumstances,whilst possible, would be a pain.

I recently returned to riding a bike and bought a 300cc but my use is not any of the above and is for fun and enjoyment of riding open roads and "twisties" through mountains.

 

Horses for courses.

Thats exactly why I bought my X-max.  A little out of the range monetarily though that the OP is looking at. a 300cc is about as big as one needs to get around in traffic here in Bangkok as hey are a wider bike and it can be hard to negotiate driving between cars.  I had a Click prior to this bike and it was a great bike around town.  The bigger bike like the Xmax does give comfort when riding outside of town, or even in town when traffic is lighter.

[Moonlover]

4 hours ago, brianthainess said:

ABS isn't essential but a new rider should practice not grabbing the front brake and locking the front will. I reckon that's a major reason for newbie crashes, of course a dog will be blamed

I would have agreed with that until a few months ago. Then, whilst bowling down a country lane, a little old lady on a M/C plus trailer hung a U turn on me, right under my nose.

 

No time for calculating 'brake loading factors' and all that stuff that riders bang on about, I hauled on both levers as hard as I could and stopped in a dead straight line just inches from the rear of her trailer.

 

I have an Aerox and I'm very thankful that I paid the extra for the ABS version. You can practice emergency braking all you want, but without the adrenaline kicking in and fueling the 'fight or flight response' in you would never dare hits the brakes as hard as I did that day and I've no doubt that without ABS I would have run into her, or come off the bike.

 

I would now advocate that all new motorcycles be fitted with ABS just as is now required in India.

 

Edited September 13, 2021 by Moonlover

[canthai55]

42 minutes ago, ThailandRyan said:

Thats exactly why I bought my X-max.  A little out of the range monetarily though that the OP is looking at. a 300cc is about as big as one needs to get around in traffic here in Bangkok as hey are a wider bike and it can be hard to negotiate driving between cars.  I had a Click prior to this bike and it was a great bike around town.  The bigger bike like the Xmax does give comfort when riding outside of town, or even in town when traffic is lighter.

My Forza and PCX are the same width at the bar ends / mirrors.

Forza 10cm longer - hardly a concern

[Kwasaki]

39 minutes ago, Gsxrnz said:

I don't disagree with you, especially if the bike is a Harley or even a sportsbike with a pillion and it's just general cruising around. I guess I was really referring to situations whereby you REALLY want to peel of some speed in a hurry.

 

Every bike is different.  Every braking situation is different. Braking a Harley is different to braking a sportsbike or a scooter or a dirt bike.  The testers often require the text book responses irrespective of the bike or the situation. 

 

When you're braking at the end of the straight with your rear wheel in the air or barely on the track, the rear brake is useless and a hazard, even with a slipper clutch. Anybody who has raced knows how useless the rear brake is unless you need to use it to set up a slide, but slipper clutches have largely removed the need for that.  Nothing worse on an older race bike than hearing and feeling that jig-jig-jig sound as the braked rear wheel  (or even just slowed by engine braking) makes intermittent contact with the track and then you lose all ability to make full use of the front brake.

 

Even on a scooter, preloading the front suspension to maximise the effectiveness of the front brake makes  the rear brake largely worthless. In fact, if you're using the front brake correctly, the rear brake will lock up because you've transferred so much weight to the front. 

 

SuSre, dawdling around at slow speed the rear brake is handy. But if I'm faced with the need to stop in a hurry, I ain't touching the rear brake.

Well all can say is what you say doesn't relate to how I was taught at a race track. 

Let alone the road. 

Not what I taught people in UK either. 

Bad habits are not a good thing to get into. 

[bbko]

My wife wanted to surprise me and went out and bought me a new Aerox, it's nice looking and good size engine, but I'm tall and like to sit back while on my bike but with the Aerox's two tiered seat I can't stretch out.

[scubascuba3]

6 minutes ago, bbko said:

My wife wanted to surprise me and went out and bought me a new Aerox, it's nice looking and good size engine, but I'm tall and like to sit back while on my bike but with the Aerox's two tiered seat I can't stretch out.

People with the same problem often get a one tier seat made

[NoshowJones]

On 9/12/2021 at 8:17 AM, guzzi850m2 said:

You can buy a 2 year burglar insurance from the dealer which I always did when buying a new scooter.

 

It's not a class A insurance but only cover for theft.

 

Honda or Yamaha, they are of equally good quality so get the one you like and feel comfortable on, but Honda's are bestseller in Thailand for unknown reasons. The 155cc scooters from Yamaha are faster than any Honda but nothing to worry about unless you are a boy racer. 

I have always had Hondas apart from once, I had a Fino, very reliable, but dreadful fuel consumption compared with any Honda.

[guzzi850m2]

16 minutes ago, possum1931 said:

I have always had Hondas apart from once, I had a Fino, very reliable, but dreadful fuel consumption compared with any Honda.

Yes the old Fino was not good on fuel, very thirsty but the Filano we bough as replacement (wife's) is very very economical , sometimes over 50km/l.

 

I would never be a brand bitch, it's very narrow sighted and you gonna miss out because of it.

 

I am not saying you are one off course.

 

My old pcx150 is not very economical on fuel, very seldom over 40km/l, more like around 35.

[VocalNeal]

5 hours ago, inThailand said:

Save up to buy something better than a girlie bike?

Since when does what bike one rides have anything to do with one's sexuality. Except in a bar or I suppose now on a forum?

 

Edited September 13, 2021 by VocalNeal

[scubascuba3]

23 minutes ago, guzzi850m2 said:

 

 

I would never be a brand bitch, it's very narrow sighted and you gonna miss out because of it.

 

It's not just the brand bitches it's also the size bitches

[Pdavies99]

On 9/12/2021 at 3:11 AM, actonion said:

Teenagers who live close to my home who have been arrested  many times for stealing bikes told  a police man who lives in our village they dont like  Honda PCX'S  because  they're too heavy  to lift  onto a pickup ...thats the way they steal the bikes , load them onto a pickup  and drive away seems to be less risky than playing with the ignition

I agree there!  Plus a heavy duty chain and big lock affixed to say a lamp post etc.

[ThailandRyan]

36 minutes ago, scubascuba3 said:

It's not just the brand bitches it's also the size bitches

But a 125cc vs a 300 cc Yamaha, or Honda scooter for a 6 tall man who also weighs over 100kg is what determines the need for size.

[HeijoshinCool]

9 hours ago, canthai55 said:

Why would you do that ?

Buy the bike where you will be living.

.

What, you're a rabbi?

[EVENKEEL]

11 hours ago, canthai55 said:

People always compare bike - most auto scooter threads start with "How does --- compare with the PCX"

The reason - they always compare it to the best available model, not the worst.

Never been a fan of Click or any flat floor model - altho if I wore a dress I would look for one.

That's how I feel about PCX ers, 

[anto]

14 hours ago, bbko said:

My wife wanted to surprise me and went out and bought me a new Aerox, it's nice looking and good size engine, but I'm tall and like to sit back while on my bike but with the Aerox's two tiered seat I can't stretch out.

Would she buy me a bike as well .Pretty please .