Thai scooter tales - add yours

[XB12X]

I am interested in a Felo FW07. How long is the subsidy thing running for, or is it a permanent arrangement. 150,000 baht is real value for one of these. Are the only suppliers in Bangkok? I am in the far north.

[gomangosteen]

10km road running event this morning on the east side of Chanthaburi city, didn't need assistance from the mobile medics.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[hansiver]

My PCX is 11 years old with around 50 000km on the clock. In this years I have replaced the front lights and had regular service. The bike have never let me down.I only use it for shorter rides, for longer rides I have a big bike.

[Korat Kiwi]

1 hour ago, hansiver said:

My PCX is 11 years old with around 50 000km on the clock. In this years I have replaced the front lights and had regular service. The bike have never let me down.I only use it for shorter rides, for longer rides I have a big bike.

I'm always surprised by how inexpensive bike parts are here. Even servicing is a hell of a lot less than NZ. 

 

I still do my own oil and filter changes tho.... Just a creature of habit! 

 

I finished reviving an older yamaha Mio a few weeks back. About 2000 baht and it's like new now. 

 

Keep on riding! 

[gomangosteen]

Saw this Lambretta G350 in Chanthaburi on Friday (that's a 300 behind it) then on Saturday stopped in Klaeng (Rayong) seven Lambrettas on a day ride stopped at Banta Cafe.

 

 

At Banta Cafe (in Shell Station at Klaeng) theres a few old vehicles, two US yellow schoolbuses converted to diners, and this lengthened Vespa on display, just how many could fit on that?

 

[The Fugitive]

On 6/1/2024 at 9:31 PM, Korat Kiwi said:

I'm always surprised by how inexpensive bike parts are here. Even servicing is a hell of a lot less than NZ. 

 

I still do my own oil and filter changes tho.... Just a creature of habit! 

 

I finished reviving an older yamaha Mio a few weeks back. About 2000 baht and it's like new now. 

 

Keep on riding! 

Today had a new seat supplied and fitted to my Honda Click 125. Collected from and brought back to my home. Total cost 200 baht. 

[gomangosteen]

And the Fino that will never die reaches 100,000km

Currently on uni duties, 30-35km per day

2013 Yamaha Fino 115cc

 

 

[The Fugitive]

15 minutes ago, gomangosteen said:

And the Fino that will never die reaches 100,000km

Currently on uni duties, 30-35km per day

2013 Yamaha Fino 115cc

 

 

Excellent! Yamaha Fino just keeps on going. We have one of same era for family use.

[transam]

On 6/24/2024 at 4:53 PM, gomangosteen said:

Saw this Lambretta G350 in Chanthaburi on Friday (that's a 300 behind it) then on Saturday stopped in Klaeng (Rayong) seven Lambrettas on a day ride stopped at Banta Cafe.

 

 

At Banta Cafe (in Shell Station at Klaeng) theres a few old vehicles, two US yellow schoolbuses converted to diners, and this lengthened Vespa on display, just how many could fit on that?

 

That top pic Lambretta, hasn't changed much in looks since my 1963 TV175...😋

[gomangosteen]

Honda ADV 160 three-wheeler in Pattaya.

 

Note the disabled sticker on the screen; looks like a good conversion, are these done locally?

 

Will ABS still function properly on this?

 

 

[JimmyTobacco]

I recently bought a Honda CBR150 from 2017 for around 20k. I really love this bike, especially after I fixed all of its issues (new back tyre, new headlight, new gearshifter, new clutch cable, new chain, new suspension, oil change). The speedometer is not working properly. They already replaced the cable but that doesn't seem to work. I am looking to see if I can install some aftermarket panel on it and if that will fix the issue.

 

Actually I was also surprised how cheap it was. The total bill was a little over 6000 baht. Back home that would have cost me over 40,000 baht for sure.

[Korat Kiwi]

On 11/1/2024 at 6:50 PM, JimmyTobacco said:

I recently bought a Honda CBR150 from 2017 for around 20k. I really love this bike, especially after I fixed all of its issues (new back tyre, new headlight, new gearshifter, new clutch cable, new chain, new suspension, oil change). The speedometer is not working properly. They already replaced the cable but that doesn't seem to work. I am looking to see if I can install some aftermarket panel on it and if that will fix the issue.

 

Actually I was also surprised how cheap it was. The total bill was a little over 6000 baht. Back home that would have cost me over 40,000 baht for sure.

Yes fixing up bikes can be done on the cheap here. 

 

It sounds like you need a new speedo panel, Easy enough to get via Lazada or Ali Express.  Check the drive unit in the front wheel first... Maybe that's the problem, again it's an easy fix/replacement part. 

 

I did up a disused scooter for around 2500 baht.  Parts replaced included:

Front / rear tyres and tubes

Front caliper and pads

Rear brake shoes

Front forks

Light cluster, changed all lights to led

Carburettor 

Brakes levers

Battery

 

I'd hate to think what that would cost in the West. 

 

Some real bargains to be made if you can fix things up yourself. 

 

[JimmyTobacco]

On 11/3/2024 at 9:03 AM, Korat Kiwi said:

Yes fixing up bikes can be done on the cheap here. 

 

It sounds like you need a new speedo panel, Easy enough to get via Lazada or Ali Express.  Check the drive unit in the front wheel first... Maybe that's the problem, again it's an easy fix/replacement part. 

 

I did up a disused scooter for around 2500 baht.  Parts replaced included:

Front / rear tyres and tubes

Front caliper and pads

Rear brake shoes

Front forks

Light cluster, changed all lights to led

Carburettor 

Brakes levers

Battery

 

I'd hate to think what that would cost in the West. 

 

Some real bargains to be made if you can fix things up yourself. 

 

 

Yeah I wouldn't mind to do a few things myself, but this time I had so much to fix that I thought it would work out cheaper if I had the mechanic do it all at the same time. Interestingly though here it seems they quote you a fixed price per job (tyre=1500, chain=350, oil=240, etc.) where back home they will quote you the price for the parts plus an hourly fee, so it makes it cheaper to do multiple things at the same time, since for example changing the chain and the back tyre both require removing the back wheel. Though with an hourly fee of around 3000 baht I think "cheaper" might not actually be the right word haha.

 

so about the speedometer, perhaps you can give me some advice. the thing is that it is working, but it is showing only one digit, which more or less corresponds to the tens, but not entirely. it will be somewhere in the range of 1 to 11, but I would say it shows 11 when I'm driving about 90 kph. the mechanic was convinced it was the speedometer cable and replaced it, but it made no difference (I still paid 900 baht for the new cable which I didn't need). he said that พังทั้งหมดเลย (everything is broken) and quoted me around 4000 baht for the 37100-KPP-T01 complete Honda OEM measurement set.

 

now I know it's not the digits on the panel itself which are broken because when I turn the bike on, it shows all the digits up to 188 or something like that.

 

I am also not finding a lot of replacements online for the panel for the 2017 version (more easily for the 2018-2022 version).

 

I'm not so familiar with drive units, not sure what you mean by that.

[Korat Kiwi]

I'll do some research first... Stupid me didn't look into your bike details. 

 

From what you say, it must me a digital dash..... I'll get back to you reference that problem.  Normally they would be electrically controlled rather than cable fed via front wheel. 

[gomangosteen]

Among the NMax, PCX etc at Sunday's Chanthaburi Moto Coffee and Cars, a few other scooters

 

Scomadi

 

 

[gomangosteen]

Chanthaburi Moto Coffee and Cars

 

Honda Julio

 

[Korat Kiwi]

When I was living in Non Thai (Korat) the local bike repair guy only charged 40 baht to replace the rear tyre.  I provided the tyre and he did all the work. 

 

Labour is so cheap. Back in NZ you can pay upto 3100 baht per hour.  Although the mechanic doesn't see that 

[gomangosteen]

I hadn't seen a Zontes scooter before, then two in one day in the carpark at Central. The Zontes 350E uses a 349cc water-cooled 1-cylinder, 4-stroke, 4-valve engine that delivers a maximum power of 36.7 hp at 7,500 rpm. 16 litre fuel tank gives longer distance range for travel.

 

Zontes 350E

In Thailand, Zontes is distributed by Dynamic Motor, the same dealer as Lambretta motorcycles, so Zontes now has more than 60 dealerships and service centers nationwide.

 

 

 

 

[gomangosteen]

and of course always wear the correct safety gear

 

[gomangosteen]

Lambretta and Vespa dealers are less than 100m apart in Chanthaburi, lots of choice though see more Vespas - popular with uni students

[gomangosteen]

Eco-nomical?

 

Replaced at about 2500km on daughter's Yamaha Fino. This was an 'ecotire' brand, she bought it on the way home from uni one night due to a piece of wire embedded in the tyre, paid 650 baht. No other options and needed to get home. I found them on Shopee for around 300. 

 

Regardless of price, the 'eco' part may be they're made from recycled cardboard. 

 

Replaced at 12 weeks when bike in for service at Yamaha. Each week she does 5 x 28km plus some weekend riding to/from part time job, so around 200km at most. 

 

In MotoGP terms this would be the soft compound tyre?

 

[radiochaser]

On 4/24/2024 at 3:38 AM, VocalNeal said:

 

Many of us have more than 1 bike. Size of penis or size of bank account hasn't anything to do with the discussion.

I also go in the mountains with a Honda Wave. Easy to pick up if dropped, easy to turn around on a narrow trail. I doubt you would follow me on the real bike you can afford.

 

 

Those places are the kind of places I would like to explore in Thailand.   Too old to walk but it would be nice to ride there.  

[KhunLA]

28 minutes ago, radiochaser said:

Those places are the kind of places I would like to explore in Thailand.   Too old to walk but it would be nice to ride there.  

If the weight of a motorcycle is an issue, then possibly consider an ebike, though quality one is not cheap, but you may find easier and more convenient to ride.

 

A well respected vendor of, BkkBike, though no personal experience myself.  I converted my Schwinn to an ebike, easy enough, though wouldn't recommend and simply buy one that's ready to ride.

[radiochaser]

2 minutes ago, KhunLA said:

If the weight of a motorcycle is an issue, then possibly consider an ebike, though quality one is not cheap, but you may find easier and more convenient to ride.

 

A well respected vendor of, BkkBike, though no personal experience myself.  I converted my Schwinn to an ebike, easy enough, though wouldn't recommend and simply buy one that's ready to ride.

I was thinking of a small gas engine motorcycle that would be good for rough roads.  A small off road kind of motorcycle.  

 

I have an ex-brother in law outside of Bangkok where I could ride it in the countryside.  No hills or mountains that I can remember in his area, but it is pretty rural with dirt roads around where the ex BIL lives.   I don't like the idea of having an E bike because of the fear of the battery burning (yep, I have that phobia), so it would have to charge outside where it would not set anything on fire.   I would not have one in Bangkok as the wife and I have a condominium, with indoor parking, and no place to plug in to charge the electric bike.  

 

If I do buy a motorcycle I would probably get help buying it from a friend of the family.  He is both a motorcycle enthusiast and a photographer and combines those two talents by going on motorcycle tours in Thailand and other countries, both on and off road.  His pictures of tours are known internationally.   His pictures of my granddaughter taken a few years ago, are some of my favorite pictures of of my granddaughter.  

 

Still, even with the potential advise from the family friend, I still like this thread as I am learning from it and I like the pictures in it too.

[papa al]

get a Honda Wave.

[NoshowJones]

On 4/24/2024 at 2:02 PM, OneMoreFarang said:

Please have a look at the posts above your post.

You will see that many other members describe their life with bigger bikes.

And the last post above yours is a story with the last bike being a "BMW C600 (It's actually a 650 twin) maxi scooter". 

For me the summary of all those posts is: when I wasn't old, I liked big bikes. Now I am old I ride a scooter.

That's obviously ok. I understand that old men do that. Which answers my question from above.

I always thought a scooter was a thing that children used you hop on and off on the pavement. Now we have small motorbikes with engines and people still call them a scooter.

[KhunLA]

2 hours ago, radiochaser said:

I don't like the idea of having an E bike because of the fear of the battery burning (yep, I have that phobia), so it would have to charge outside where it would not set anything on fire.   I would not have one in Bangkok as the wife and I have a condominium, with indoor parking, and no place to plug in to charge the electric bike.  

Most ebike batteries are removable, probably just for that reason, and could charge on your balcony.  They actually make battery fire bags, if no balcony and could use that, and charge in the bathtub/shower area if a bit phobic.

 

I abuse the hell out of my RC & Drone batteries, inexpensive and lower tech, along with charged with even cheaper chargers, and no oops yet.

 

Just a thought, as ebike you could throw in the car and explore new areas with.  Some even fold up.  They only take an hour or 2 ish to charge up, so not like they'd be unattended while charging.  Just don't forget and leave in the car, as batteries & heat don't play well, and you'll kill the battery.

 

We can even use our car (BEV) to charge, having V2L capability.   Actually you could do it with an ICEV also, just need to connect an inverter to the battery.   I saw one crew running a small electric jackhammer off his truck 😎

[radiochaser]

59 minutes ago, KhunLA said:

Most ebike batteries are removable, probably just for that reason, and could charge on your balcony.  They actually make battery fire bags, if no balcony and could use that, and charge in the bathtub/shower area if a bit phobic.

 

I abuse the hell out of my RC & Drone batteries, inexpensive and lower tech, along with charged with even cheaper chargers, and no oops yet.

 

Just a thought, as ebike you could throw in the car and explore new areas with.  Some even fold up.  They only take an hour or 2 ish to charge up, so not like they'd be unattended while charging.  Just don't forget and leave in the car, as batteries & heat don't play well, and you'll kill the battery.

 

We can even use our car (BEV) to charge, having V2L capability.   Actually you could do it with an ICEV also, just need to connect an inverter to the battery.   I saw one crew running a small electric jackhammer off his truck 😎

I did not know about the battery fire bags.   Good information. 

[IsaanT]

On 4/24/2024 at 12:21 PM, OneMoreFarang said:

Yes, you/we don't need 650cc, I understand that part.

But it's still nice to have decent brakes, decent suspension, etc. And as far as I see scooters don't have any of that.

I had several big bikes in the UK.

I now have a Honda Click 160 here and the brakes, suspension and performance are fine for my requirement here which is to get around locally when there is no point walking, using the car, one of my bicycles or our tandem.  The CVT transmission works really well - good acceleration from standstill if required, and immediate acceleration at any speed because it's always in a good ratio; I certainly don't miss being able to change gears when I'm riding it.  Regularly seeing over 110mpg is a pleasant bonus too.  Lastly, I use it to transport two sacks of fish food every ten days (they go on the floorboards in front of the seat), which is something bigger bikes might have a problem with.

I also have a Royal Enfield 500 Classic for when I wish to ride out of the local area (I think the RE is the most attractive bike I've ever owned and no amount of arguing will change my mind...).

 

Neither of these bikes would be much fun in the UK.  In Thailand they're both ideal, primarily because average speeds are lower here.