5 minutes ago, Hummin said:

Brake fluid should be replaced once a year in tropical environments, or at least every second year. 

And yet, I've never replaced it (regularly) on any of my MCs, unless reservoir very low.  Unless under warranty, I don't follow maintenance schedules.  

 

I remember they advertised oil by how long it lasted.  Now they sell a bunch, every 5 o 10k kms.  So clean, I can't even read the dipstick 

 

What a scam.   Only done it in TH, till warranty expired.  

On 10/24/2025 at 11:27 AM, emptypockets said:

He wasn't. He pushed a harmless katoey over.

Maybe they can help him to learn how to ride.

On 10/24/2025 at 11:49 AM, KhaoHom said:

I'm 64 approaching 65 not 80 and in decent shape. Most bar girlies guess my age 47-55.

It would lose money if they told you what they really think.

4 minutes ago, KhunLA said:

And yet, I've never replaced it (regularly) on any of my MCs, unless reservoir very low.  Unless under warranty, I don't follow maintenance schedules.  

 

I remember they advertised oil by how long it lasted.  Now they sell a bunch, every 5 o 10k kms.  So clean, I can't even read the dipstick 

 

What a scam.   Only done it in TH, till warranty expired.  

 

For me it is important since I use my bikes for what it is worth 😉 Also another reason to quit while still on top of the game with all limbs intact. 

 

We also riding the steepest and gnarliest places with or without luggage, so good to know everything is in shape. Going to and from 7/11 I agree, but again, I like to keep my things in order. If I go on a longer trip, and I pass 6k I do not stop to do my maintenance, I continue to I finish my trip. Tires I change regularly when needed and both at the same time

45 minutes ago, KhunLA said:

And yet, I've never replaced it (regularly) on any of my MCs, unless reservoir very low.  Unless under warranty, I don't follow maintenance schedules.  

 

I remember they advertised oil by how long it lasted.  Now they sell a bunch, every 5 o 10k kms.  So clean, I can't even read the dipstick 

 

What a scam.   Only done it in TH, till warranty expired.  

Holy mushy brake lever. 

1 hour ago, Hummin said:

 

And what do your handbook says? Im pretty sure it is same as any other motorcycle sold in Thailand 

6 months or 6K, that is standard also for big bikes 

 

A low km motorbike do not need less care than bikes who are used on daily basis, and I would claim even more if not driven for months at times. 

 

Just a quick search 

 

 

In a tropical climate, you should change your PCX's oil every 

6,000 km or 6 months, whichever comes first, according to Honda's periodic maintenance schedule for the Philippines. Tropical heat can degrade oil faster, so using a high-quality, synthetic oil with a longer change interval like 6,000 km is a good practice

You may be correct, I only have my Australian PCX book at hand. 

 

I'll go searching for my Thai book. 

 

1 hour ago, KhunLA said:

And yet, I've never replaced it (regularly) on any of my MCs, unless reservoir very low.  Unless under warranty, I don't follow maintenance schedules.  

 

I remember they advertised oil by how long it lasted.  Now they sell a bunch, every 5 o 10k kms.  So clean, I can't even read the dipstick 

 

What a scam.   Only done it in TH, till warranty expired.  

I hate it when they put a use by date on my 1000 year old, Himalayan rock salt. 😂

 

What a bloody joke 

 

8 minutes ago, SAFETY FIRST said:

I hate it when they put a use by date on my 1000 year old, Himalayan rock salt. 😂

 

What a bloody joke 

 

Himalaya salt have expire date due to exposure of moist and air and will by time change texture, so it is more of a delicate problem than it goes bad, pure honey also have an expire date which is not necessary if packed and stored right 

9 minutes ago, Hummin said:

Himalaya salt have expire date due to exposure of moist and air and will by time change texture, so it is more of a delicate problem than it goes bad, pure honey also have an expire date which is not necessary if packed and stored right 

 

 

I think it actually was meant to be a joke

1 minute ago, hotandsticky said:

 

 

I think it actually was meant to be a joke

It is a joke 😄 but even it is a joke it comes down to simple rules for quality and food safety even salt do not brake down, it just change colour and texture. 

6 hours ago, JamesPhuket10 said:

On 10/28/2025 at 8:12 AM, richard_smith237 said:

 

Its colloquialism, term that is now used commonly to describe a smaller motorcycle - usually a 'step through' type frame - Most people know whats meant when the term 'moped' is thrown around, people also commonly use the term 'scooter' (which is technically accurate for a lot of step-through-motorcycles) but they don't mean a kids stand-on on pushy thing !!

 

The term 'moped' originated with the motorcycles that were once less than 50cc and also pedal powered, and thus had bicycle pedals - these circumvented licensing regulations in places such as France, and thus were very popular amongst teens - if I'm not mistaken a youngster only needed to be 14 to ride one.

Expand  

 

As we are in Thailand and we farangs are a visiting minority we should use the term motorbike as that is what Thai call them when speaking English, a moped has pedals.

 

 

Thank-you... Please send out a memo to every foreigner (farang)  in Thailand so they to know the correct terminology and no longer use colloquialisms...  

 

BTW:  Thai's don't say motorbike or motorcycle - they say "moh-dtuh-sai"... 

11 hours ago, JamesPhuket10 said:

After living for 2.5 years full time in Phuket and doodling around at 25 mph due to the large number of traffic lights here as no one knows how to use roundabouts, I went back to the South East of England for five months.

 

I drove slowly and had queues of cars behind me so I then got used to driving fast again, on the motorway at 80 mph etc.

 

When I got back to Phuket I drive fast, only to end up a red traffic lights twenty second earlier than the cars behind and sat at the light for between two to four minutes each time before doing the same at the next lights.

 

So now I drive at 25 mph again as it is almost guaranteed the lights will be red and there is nothing to be gained by speeding.

 

Not by speeding - but by going a 'decent speed' (conditions permitting and within the limit) you may reach the next light while it it still on green - you've saved yourself 5mins (or however long it takes some lights to change - for some it feels they stay red for a long time)...    Thus, its not about getting to the 'next light' as quickly as possible - its about getting to the next light which may 'still be on green' which makes a difference. 

 

 

11 hours ago, JamesPhuket10 said:

I think it is funny when I see a red light two hundred yards into the distance, I take my foot off the gas and are then overtaken by Thai drivers heading for the same lights.

 

That yes - there's a certain lack of foresights - eyes looking no further than the end of the car which this highlights - its also explains why so many drivers here crash into stationary objects !!.

 

11 hours ago, JamesPhuket10 said:

Then when the lights go green it takes the cars in front a few seconds to register the fact, then they each move off slowly with large gaps between each car meaning less cars behind them can get through the green light thus causing more traffic build ups. 

 

True - lots of people on their phones and not paying attention - the bigger gaps between the cars are more inefficient - Traffic modelling shows that more frequent and fast light changes improves traffic flow - here the lights are held for a long time which makes traffic flow worse.

 

11 hours ago, JamesPhuket10 said:

 

 

When I am first in the queue I zoom off and when I look in the mirror the next car is just about to move off, I do make sure all the cars on the other sides of the cross roads are stationary first though and no one is going through a red light. 

 

You'll learn why after you've been here for a while...    Do not be the first guy away from the lights !!... Or more accurately, always 'hesitate' when pulling away from the lights and give caution the the consideration that there are so many 'red light jumpers here'... If you are the first car speeding away from the lights - you'll be the one who's t-boned by the light jumper... 

 

..... This is the reason Thai's pull away so slowly...   also combined with the 'contagion effect' - everyone does it, so everyone else does it !

 

 

 

15 hours ago, JamesPhuket10 said:

 

Awesome, Einstein was awesome, not every day things, so you must be a Canadian as you stated you are not American. 

 

Or you could be an uneducated Brit as they use the word sometimes, 

Canadians are Americans.......as are Mexicans. Brits, certainly those of my generation, are far more knowledgeable Geographically than the average USA guy.

14 hours ago, richard_smith237 said:

 

Thank-you... Please send out a memo to every foreigner (farang)  in Thailand so they to know the correct terminology and no longer use colloquialisms...  

 

BTW:  Thai's don't say motorbike or motorcycle - they say "moh-dtuh-sai"... 

 

When speaking Thai maybe or maybe the uneducated Thais say that as they have poor English, people from up-country perhaps and small villages in Isaan.

 

 

 

5 hours ago, jacko45k said:

Canadians are Americans.......as are Mexicans. Brits, certainly those of my generation, are far more knowledgeable Geographically than the average USA guy.

 

No, Canada, the USA, Mexico are three of the twenty three countries in North America so they are North Americans, as there is no such continent as America so they can not be Americans except for the USA, then there is the continent of South America which contains Brazil and eleven other countries so they are South Americans. 

 

19 minutes ago, JamesPhuket10 said:

except for the USA

 

why the exception? 

8 hours ago, richard_smith237 said:

 

Not by speeding - but by going a 'decent speed' (conditions permitting and within the limit) you may reach the next light while it it still on green - you've saved yourself 5mins (or however long it takes some lights to change - for some it feels they stay red for a long time)...    Thus, its not about getting to the 'next light' as quickly as possible - its about getting to the next light which may 'still be on green' which makes a difference. 

 

 

 

That yes - there's a certain lack of foresights - eyes looking no further than the end of the car which this highlights - its also explains why so many drivers here crash into stationary objects !!.

 

 

True - lots of people on their phones and not paying attention - the bigger gaps between the cars are more inefficient - Traffic modelling shows that more frequent and fast light changes improves traffic flow - here the lights are held for a long time which makes traffic flow worse.

 

 

You'll learn why after you've been here for a while...    Do not be the first guy away from the lights !!... Or more accurately, always 'hesitate' when pulling away from the lights and give caution the the consideration that there are so many 'red light jumpers here'... If you are the first car speeding away from the lights - you'll be the one who's t-boned by the light jumper... 

 

..... This is the reason Thai's pull away so slowly...   also combined with the 'contagion effect' - everyone does it, so everyone else does it !

 

 

 

 

I have been driving in Thailand for 30+ years on my numerous long holidays here. Some as long as a year.

 

There is no reason why every car going through a newly displayed green light should go slowly leaving a large gap between each and every car.

 

It only takes me a second to check if the cars on each of the junctions have stopped as I monitor that as the light turn red for the other roads, it does not take five seconds to check that. 

 

And statistically as the lights are green for 40 seconds and are red for 4 minutes the odds of the light being green if you speed between light is six to one so you would have to be a very lucky guy to have the light on green all the way on a journey.

 

I have experimented on the same journeys over and over, sometimes slow, sometimes as fast as the traffic permits, no different on average time at all.

 

I used to drive sixty miles from central London to Cambridge in the UK for a year, I also experimented there too, no difference in the time taken, a few minutes each way generally. 

 

If  Thais drivers had the capability to be able to use roundabouts as is very common in the UK traffic would move a lot faster.

 

There is one large(ish) roundabout in Phuket on the main road to the airport, it has four entry/exit points, they have blocked most of it off and now cars wishing to turn off on one of the exits have to drive a mile up the road and then back again after doing a dangerous U turn in order to get to their destination.

 

Thai people drive at the same level a ten year old kid in the West would be capable of driving.

 

When I do brake at red traffic lights I do observe my back mirror and judge my braking rate so the car behind does no crash into me as they seem to only brake at the last minute.

 

I have also noticed on the straight parts of a road cars behind me zoom up close, then when we get to a mild bend in the road they drop back as they seem to think the car will topple over if they do not put on the brakes, then when we get to the straight they zoom up again and then drop back at the next bend, it makes me laugh every time.

 

 

24 minutes ago, JamesPhuket10 said:

 

No, Canada, the USA, Mexico are three of the twenty three countries in North America so they are North Americans, as there is no such continent as America so they can not be Americans except for the USA, then there is the continent of South America which contains Brazil and eleven other countries so they are South Americans. 

 

I guess it's all relative to personal choice, and identifying continental origin as you choose.  Most are more country nationalistic.  

 

I'm an American (USA) and vacationed, holidayed in the Americas with mostly other Americans, both from USA, and non USA citizens, as simply too close and inexpensive to do so, without long flights across the Atlantic or Pacific Oceans.

 

We are and were all 'Americans'.   That other don't understand that, has always been a mystery to me.  

 

On 10/27/2025 at 7:13 AM, TedG said:

I also have a KTM 250 XC-F dual sport. 

 

How can you see where you are going on the yellow bike with that big white sign stuck on the front of it, is it there to deflect the wind from your hair. 😄

21 minutes ago, VocalNeal said:

 

why the exception? 

 

Because the guy stated that Canadians are Americans, but only Americans can be Americans, Canadians are not American.

3 minutes ago, KhunLA said:

I guess it's all relative to personal choice, and identifying continental origin as you choose.  Most are more country nationalistic.  

 

I'm an American (USA) and vacationed, holidayed in the Americas with mostly other Americans, both from USA, and non USA citizens, as simply too close and inexpensive to do so, without long flights across the Atlantic or Pacific Oceans.

 

We are and were all 'Americans'.   That other don't understand that, has always been a mystery to me.  

 

 

There is no such continent as America, there is a country called America and they are the Americans, 23 countries are in the continent of North America and 12 are in the Continent of South America.

 

They are North or South Americans.

14 minutes ago, JamesPhuket10 said:

 

I have been driving in Thailand for 30+ years on my numerous long holidays here. Some as long as a year.

 

There is no reason why every car going through a newly displayed green light should go slowly leaving a large gap between each and every car.

 

It only takes me a second to check if the cars on each of the junctions have stopped as I monitor that as the light turn red for the other roads, it does not take five seconds to check that. 

 

And statistically as the lights are green for 40 seconds and are red for 4 minutes the odds of the light being green if you speed between light is six to one so you would have to be a very lucky guy to have the light on green all the way on a journey.

 

I have experimented on the same journeys over and over, sometimes slow, sometimes as fast as the traffic permits, no different on average time at all.

 

I used to drive sixty miles from central London to Cambridge in the UK for a year, I also experimented there too, no difference in the time taken, a few minutes each way generally. 

 

If  Thais drivers had the capability to be able to use roundabouts as is very common in the UK traffic would move a lot faster.

 

There is one large(ish) roundabout in Phuket on the main road to the airport, it has four entry/exit points, they have blocked most of it off and now cars wishing to turn off on one of the exits have to drive a mile up the road and then back again after doing a dangerous U turn in order to get to their destination.

 

Thai people drive at the same level a ten year old kid in the West would be capable of driving.

 

When I do brake at red traffic lights I do observe my back mirror and judge my braking rate so the car behind does no crash into me as they seem to only brake at the last minute.

 

I have also noticed on the straight parts of a road cars behind me zoom up close, then when we get to a mild bend in the road they drop back as they seem to think the car will topple over if they do not put on the brakes, then when we get to the straight they zoom up again and then drop back at the next bend, it makes me laugh every time.

 

I think it's called defensive driving.   Always allowing space between you and the vehicle in front of you.   In case they make a sudden stop, you have plenty of room ... BUT ALSO ... in case the idiot behind you is on your tail, that extra space gives you room to go forward a bit, if you notice the idiot behind you may not have enough room to stop.

 

Probably why many of use, haven't had as many oops as others, getting rear ended.   Same with your example of slowing, if tailgating when approaching curves, as you can't always see around them.   Aside from the silly tailgating, at least they have some common sense around curves, realizing it takes more paying attention to the curve, so leave space between the car in front of you.

 

Again, defensive driving skills prevail ... with some of us 

 

We're not in any hurry, and we're lucky if we average 80 kph on long trips, from home to the day's destination, if not stops.   That's doing 90 or 110+ when & where possible.   If I average 80 kph, it was a fast trip, as sad as that is.

8 hours ago, JamesPhuket10 said:

 

There is no such continent as America, there is a country called America and they are the Americans, 23 countries are in the continent of North America and 12 are in the Continent of South America.

 

They are North or South Americans.

 

There is no country officially called “America” -  The country’s formal name is the United States of America (USA).

 

“America” is a colloquial or shortened form commonly used to refer to the USA, especially by its citizens and in international speech. It’s not an official name, but it’s widely accepted in everyday language.

 

The term “America” originally referred to the entire landmass of North and South America, collectively called the Americas. The name comes from Amerigo Vespucci, the Italian explorer.

 

Over time, due to the global dominance of the United States in culture, politics, and economics, “America” became synonymous with the USA in most contexts.

8 hours ago, JamesPhuket10 said:

 

I have been driving in Thailand for 30+ years on my numerous long holidays here. Some as long as a year.

 

There is no reason why every car going through a newly displayed green light should go slowly leaving a large gap between each and every car.

 

It only takes me a second to check if the cars on each of the junctions have stopped as I monitor that as the light turn red for the other roads, it does not take five seconds to check that. 

 

And statistically as the lights are green for 40 seconds and are red for 4 minutes the odds of the light being green if you speed between light is six to one so you would have to be a very lucky guy to have the light on green all the way on a journey.

 

I have experimented on the same journeys over and over, sometimes slow, sometimes as fast as the traffic permits, no different on average time at all.

 

I used to drive sixty miles from central London to Cambridge in the UK for a year, I also experimented there too, no difference in the time taken, a few minutes each way generally. 

 

If  Thais drivers had the capability to be able to use roundabouts as is very common in the UK traffic would move a lot faster.

 

There is one large(ish) roundabout in Phuket on the main road to the airport, it has four entry/exit points, they have blocked most of it off and now cars wishing to turn off on one of the exits have to drive a mile up the road and then back again after doing a dangerous U turn in order to get to their destination.

 

Thai people drive at the same level a ten year old kid in the West would be capable of driving.

 

When I do brake at red traffic lights I do observe my back mirror and judge my braking rate so the car behind does no crash into me as they seem to only brake at the last minute.

 

I have also noticed on the straight parts of a road cars behind me zoom up close, then when we get to a mild bend in the road they drop back as they seem to think the car will topple over if they do not put on the brakes, then when we get to the straight they zoom up again and then drop back at the next bend, it makes me laugh every time.

 

 

All makes sense, I've made many such observations over the years which tally very closely with yours.

 

That said: I will not speed / accelerate quickly away from the lights when I'm the first car (or motorcycle) at the junction - I've seen too many vehicles jumping the lights to risk that...   Instead, take a second, edge out, make sure its clear, then go....  (not all junctions have decent visibility either)... 

 

As far as following the car in front - yes many drivers are slow to respond and this means fewer cars get a chance to go through on 'green' due to the apathy of cars in front....    It can be an irritation but I'd rather this than one of the alternatives - which is everyone behind blasting the horn... 

 

I also drive in countries where everyone blasts the horn within a millisecond of the lights changing to green - Its exhausting and highly irritating - one of the compliments I have of Thai driving is that the horn is not used excessively.

 

 

9 hours ago, JamesPhuket10 said:

but only Americans can be Americans,

 

Using the logic described US citizens are North Americans if , say, Chileans are South Americans. Otherwise they are all Americans.

 

I don't think Canadians wish to be classified as or lumped in with their neighbors from the South and West.

 

Maybe like changing the name of the Gulf change the name to the United States of the Americas.

19 hours ago, JamesPhuket10 said:

 

No, Canada, the USA, Mexico are three of the twenty three countries in North America so they are North Americans, as there is no such continent as America so they can not be Americans except for the USA, then there is the continent of South America which contains Brazil and eleven other countries so they are South Americans. 

 

Yes, two words is not an issue for the Mexicans nor Canadians. 

On 10/31/2025 at 7:23 PM, richard_smith237 said:

 

All makes sense, I've made many such observations over the years which tally very closely with yours.

 

That said: I will not speed / accelerate quickly away from the lights when I'm the first car (or motorcycle) at the junction - I've seen too many vehicles jumping the lights to risk that...   Instead, take a second, edge out, make sure its clear, then go....  (not all junctions have decent visibility either)... 

 

As far as following the car in front - yes many drivers are slow to respond and this means fewer cars get a chance to go through on 'green' due to the apathy of cars in front....    It can be an irritation but I'd rather this than one of the alternatives - which is everyone behind blasting the horn... 

 

I also drive in countries where everyone blasts the horn within a millisecond of the lights changing to green - Its exhausting and highly irritating - one of the compliments I have of Thai driving is that the horn is not used excessively.

 

 

 

I stated I make sure it is clear and then I go.

 

There are not just two alternative one being drive off very slowly at traffic lights or blasting a horn, there can also be a system where all the cars in a line should move off at a good pace, there is no gain is having lots of gaps slowing down the traffic flow.

 

The horn etc is common in Germany if you do not move off a millisecond after the lights turning green a horn sounds, I have worked there.

 

England manages to move the traffic through traffic light swiftly and efficiently, no horn blowing involved. 

 

But in any case I an never in any hurry in Phuket, most venues on my list are only ten minutes or less drive from me, Makro, shopping centres, restaurants etc, I can not criticise Thailand on the way they drive as I am a long term visitor, if I don't like it I should move out. 

On 11/1/2025 at 5:53 AM, jacko45k said:

Yes, two words is not an issue for the Mexicans nor Canadians. 

 

Not for the uneducated ones I assume.

 

 

1 hour ago, JamesPhuket10 said:

 

I stated I make sure it is clear and then I go.

 

There are not just two alternative one being drive off very slowly at traffic lights or blasting a horn, there can also be a system where all the cars in a line should move off at a good pace, there is no gain is having lots of gaps slowing down the traffic flow.

 

The horn etc is common in Germany if you do not move off a millisecond after the lights turning green a horn sounds, I have worked there.

 

England manages to move the traffic through traffic light swiftly and efficiently, no horn blowing involved. 

 

Agreed - valid points. The timing of traffic lights also matters critically. Research shows that simply extending the green phase or cycle length does not always improve throughput. One study found that when green phases were lengthened significantly, the headway between vehicles increased - meaning cars left larger gaps and overall throughput actually dropped.

https://www.researchgate.net/publication/245563548_Long_Green_Times_and_Cycles_at_Congested_Traffic_Signals

 

In practical terms: when a green light lasts longer, vehicles get “strung out” more - the first few go through, then there’s a growing gap before the next bunch arrive. The effective flow rate reduces. This inefficiency is compounded when driving behaviour is sub-optimal: slow reactions, hesitation at the light, leaving extra gap in front, etc.

 

In the “Western world,” traffic engineers use this kind of research to model traffic flows, optimise signal timings, and reduce delay. For example, the review of signal-timing optimisation found that cycle length, green time, inter-green time (amber/all-red), phase sequencing and coordination are all key parameters.

 

So your point stands: poor driving behaviour (slow starting, leaving big gaps) combined with sub-optimal signal timing introduces inefficiency - and when the local system (in say Thailand) has these compounded issues, traffic congestion gets much worse.

 

1 hour ago, JamesPhuket10 said:

But in any case I an never in any hurry in Phuket, most venues on my list are only ten minutes or less drive from me, Makro, shopping centres, restaurants etc, I can not criticise Thailand on the way they drive as I am a long term visitor, if I don't like it I should move out. 

 

I think it’s entirely reasonable to make critical observations. Many of our views on life in Thailand often align closely with those of our Thai friends. Being a foreigner doesn’t disqualify one from forming intelligent, experience-based opinions - provided those opinions are grounded in observation rather than coloured by prejudice.

 

Like any country, Thailand isn’t perfect, and it would be naïve to pretend otherwise. But imperfection doesn’t equate to negativity. On balance, Thailand remains overwhelmingly net positive (personal perspective) - the warmth, community spirit, and quality of life here far outweigh the frustrations and inefficiencies that exist.

On 10/24/2025 at 5:30 AM, georgegeorgia said:

Last time I was in Pattaya I stayed at various Airbnb condominiums

how long were you here for and how many Airbnb did you stay at, asks curious