Buying A Motorbike In Bkk

[Nhscotsman]

Hi,

I have been looking through all the letters and you all offer great advice, but I am looking for some specific questions. Let me give you some background. I am tall (193cm.) and I rode a bike (full dressed 750 Honda) 20 years ago and not any riding time since then, but I have decided I have tired of dealing with taxis here in Bangkok and I am going to buy a bike for my Thai wife and I to get around town on. Not a bike to go too far, just to the market or around Bangkok in general. I live in Rama 3 and speak no Thai at all but I did find a small Mom and Pop Honda/Yamaha dealer ride down the end of my soi, but it's a small place and when I inquired about a Honda Click or a Yamaha Fina, I was given the price of 45,000. My wife hates bartering for things that she has no idea about, like a motorbike. She can barter a price for a tuk tuk and have it almost to the point where the ride is free, but ask her to go to a motorbike dealer and barter and she gets very frustrated, so I tend to do it myself. Now I understand from living in BKK that no price is fixed, so I continue my hunt for the best buy. If I get quoted 45,000 for a Click or a Fino, what is a reasonable price to pay for the bike? 40,000, 42,000, 44,000??????? The smaller dealer I went to offered no perks either. It was 40 something thousand for the bike, period. No freebies at all, so I was figured I am better off going to a large dealer, one that can do the perks and give me a deal too.

I have done a GOOGLE of dealers in BKK and all the pages are in Thai, I can't even get addresses in English...haha. So can anyone suggest a Honda or a Yamaha dealer near Rama 3 or in Bangkok that they have had a great experience with?I'm a 48 year old guy with a terribly bad back and the idea of getting on the Honda CBR150 with my bad back, didn't seem like a pleasant experience. Then I thought maybe a Honda Phantom might be a wise choice because I might be able to stretch my legs out and have a bit more room, but after not riding for over 20 years, I am rethinking that too. I know many of you have favorite bikes, Honda CBR150 being one of the more popular choices, but I have read too that many like the smaller ones for getting around town too. I personally haven't set my mind on going small or big, I'm more interested in comfort and being able to fit on it...haha. I was pondering this yesterday and it was then that a close friend told me to ask on this forum. He said that you people ride nearly everything that's available in Thailand and you would have some great suggestions. So here I am, hoping you can help me, I want to be riding something by next week, so suggest away!

Any help you can give me is GREATLY appreciated.

Thanks,

Nhscotsman and Tuk

[JonnyF]

Given your size and going by what you said, I'd go for the larger Nouvo or an Air Blade. I think a Mio, Fino or Click will be too small for you.

Auto is probably the better option if you haven't ridden for a while, you can concentrate on the BKK traffic rather than changing gears, more storage space for trips to the market, keeps your feet dry when the road is wet etc. There's a 135 cc Nouvo that has recently been released which I believe is slightly under 50k baht.

I'd buy from the main dealer rather than a corner shop that might be gone in a couple of months time, but unfortunately I can't help with any specific locations...

[goldfish]

I don't like Honda's, any of them, and think the Mio/Fino are wonderful little bikes. Considering your size and back problem I would seriously consider the Honda Airblade. I can't comment on the Nouvo as I've never tried it, but the Mio is not for you

[dutchrdam]

In my opinion all those little motorbikes are too small for a decent ride.

In the corner you need pull out your leg to make space for the steer. You will sit somewhere in the middle of the saddle and you back will be bend in front all the time.

With other words….. Honda, Yamaha, Suzuki are not build for tall people.

For some members here starts think again I am the salesman of Platinum motorbikes I advise you to read the stories I did post here on this forum.

After you did read that and have more questions you can PM me

With regards

[dotcom]

Phantom would be a great choice for you. Bear in mind wifey prolly won't be able to drive it. Or is that an issue?

For you electric start is a must.

[soic]

In my opinion all those little motorbikes are too small for a decent ride.

In the corner you need pull out your leg to make space for the steer. You will sit somewhere in the middle of the saddle and you back will be bend in front all the time.

With other words….. Honda, Yamaha, Suzuki are not build for tall people.

For some members here starts think again I am the salesman of Platinum motorbikes I advise you to read the stories I did post here on this forum.

After you did read that and have more questions you can PM me

With regards

Do you happen to have any photos of the Platinum bike? I hope to be buying a bigger bike when I get back to Thailand to stay permanently in March.

[dotcom]

There are a few Phantoms for sale here. Looking like 65,000 for a good example.

http://classifieds.thaivisa.com/automotive...es/motorcycles/

[Nhscotsman]

Hi,

I will only buy a new bike, not into someone else problems and my wife has no interest in driving anything anyway, she would rather ride, so size isn't an issue with regards to her. Finding a large Honda dealer here in BKK that has a good variety of bikes is what I am looking for. I hate to just get into a taxi and ride around looking for a large Honda dealer, I pay those taxi thieves enough money now as it is without paying them more...haha.

Thanks for the suggestions and info too,

Nhscotsman

[dotcom]

Sorry mate. I am over here in Pravet - Seacon Square area.

[Bangyai]

One other thing you should consider. Legality. Certain kinds of vehicle attract more attention from the police than others. Top of the list is motorcycles, next is pick up trucks. The police often set up drag nets across popular roads to check licences , insurance and tax certificates. You should always carry copies of these with you and always wear a helmet. Otherwise when you get pulled over for a check it can cost you time and money. Ideally, your driving licence should specify motorcycles as well as some of the traffic police can be as finicky as our own boys in blue.

[Nhscotsman]

Hi,

I have a Thai drivers lic. and will have all required paperwork, and though I don't have a Thai motorcycle drivers license, I will get one as soon as I can. Plus with this motorbike, I am only getting it to run around my Rama 3 neighborhood and not cruising Sukhumvit like some do. I am a firm believer in that if you present yourself to the local "boys in brown" repeatedly, they will soon have the opportunity to grab you. I used to live up on Sukhumvit Soi 1 and I used to watch the local police grab drivers all the time. My thai wife and I would sit at the entrance to the highway and watch them grabbing people in both cars and on motorbikes and we also saw the money being passed back and forth too, so I understand what you people are advising. Trust me, I don't plan to go anywhere near where they inhabit. I know the local back roads where I live, so I can zoom in and out/up and down them pretty well undetected.

I did look at the Yamaha Nouvo and the Honda Airblade tonight near where I live at a small shop and was impressed with the Yamaha Nouva, but I was given a price of 52,000 for one and the Honda Airblade was 56,000 which I thought was high. I fit nicely on the Yamaha and the Honda both, but the Fino which I had originally was interested in, the handlebars were hitting my knees when I turned the handlebars, so that won't work and I have crossed that off my list. Is 52,000 for the Yamaha including a jacket and a helmet a decent price or is it to high?

I also inquired at the motorbike shop about a larger Honda dealer because I was interested in seeing a Honda Phantom and a CBR 150 and the girl told me that Phantoms and the CRB's are only available if you import them in, that no one has them in Thailand, let alone in Bangkok. Now I understand she may have been trying to save a sale by telling me the bigger bikes are not available in Bangkok, but I knew I had the option of finding out here. Are there dealers that have them here in BKK? If not, I will probably buy the Yamaha as I fit really good on it and I need something right away. If they are available, where then? The clerk at the small shop tonight kept pushing the fact that the Yamaha was 135cc and because the Yamaha has great storage too, but she knew I was paying cash too compared to the locals financing a new motorbike, my wife agreed that she just wanted to keep my sale there at her shop, this is probably why she was telling me the bigger bikes aren't available. If she wants 52,000 for the Yamaha, what is a reasonable price to pay for it. 52,000 might be reasonable, but having lived in Thailand for awhile, I know no price is final and a lot depends on how bad they want to sell it. If you people give me an idea, I will go in with say 45,000 or 50,000 in cash and cash usually gets a better deal compared to going in with promises of coming back. The helmet and jacket are a nice freebie, but considering I need 2 helmets, they will at least give me 2 helmets and not just one and usually the selling company (Yamaha or Honda) is the one giving the freebie, not the dealer. Lastly, many people discuss insurance they get when they buy a new motorbike, how does the insurance process work here. My wife doesn't even know and she said she forgot to ask the girl at the dealership.

Any advice on the large bikes or the prices I was quoted is greatly appreciated.

Thanks,

Nhscotsman

[Lancelot]

Hi!

Here is a link to prices on many popular smaller bikes in Thailand.

http://www.motorcycle.in.th/staticpages/in...ces-in-Thailand

Good shopping!

Lance

[dutchrdam]

In my opinion all those little motorbikes are too small for a decent ride.

In the corner you need pull out your leg to make space for the steer. You will sit somewhere in the middle of the saddle and you back will be bend in front all the time.

With other words….. Honda, Yamaha, Suzuki are not build for tall people.

For some members here starts think again I am the salesman of Platinum motorbikes I advise you to read the stories I did post here on this forum.

After you did read that and have more questions you can PM me

With regards

Do you happen to have any photos of the Platinum bike? I hope to be buying a bigger bike when I get back to Thailand to stay permanently in March.

Hi

Please search this forum. In the begin i did post here big photos from before and after the adaptions i did make.

With regards

[dave_boo]

Hi,

I have a Thai drivers lic. and will have all required paperwork, and though I don't have a Thai motorcycle drivers license, I will get one as soon as I can. Plus with this motorbike, I am only getting it to run around my Rama 3 neighborhood and not cruising Sukhumvit like some do. I am a firm believer in that if you present yourself to the local "boys in brown" repeatedly, they will soon have the opportunity to grab you. I used to live up on Sukhumvit Soi 1 and I used to watch the local police grab drivers all the time. My thai wife and I would sit at the entrance to the highway and watch them grabbing people in both cars and on motorbikes and we also saw the money being passed back and forth too, so I understand what you people are advising. Trust me, I don't plan to go anywhere near where they inhabit. I know the local back roads where I live, so I can zoom in and out/up and down them pretty well undetected.

I did look at the Yamaha Nouvo and the Honda Airblade tonight near where I live at a small shop and was impressed with the Yamaha Nouva, but I was given a price of 52,000 for one and the Honda Airblade was 56,000 which I thought was high. I fit nicely on the Yamaha and the Honda both, but the Fino which I had originally was interested in, the handlebars were hitting my knees when I turned the handlebars, so that won't work and I have crossed that off my list. Is 52,000 for the Yamaha including a jacket and a helmet a decent price or is it to high?

I also inquired at the motorbike shop about a larger Honda dealer because I was interested in seeing a Honda Phantom and a CBR 150 and the girl told me that Phantoms and the CRB's are only available if you import them in, that no one has them in Thailand, let alone in Bangkok. Now I understand she may have been trying to save a sale by telling me the bigger bikes are not available in Bangkok, but I knew I had the option of finding out here. Are there dealers that have them here in BKK? If not, I will probably buy the Yamaha as I fit really good on it and I need something right away. If they are available, where then? The clerk at the small shop tonight kept pushing the fact that the Yamaha was 135cc and because the Yamaha has great storage too, but she knew I was paying cash too compared to the locals financing a new motorbike, my wife agreed that she just wanted to keep my sale there at her shop, this is probably why she was telling me the bigger bikes aren't available. If she wants 52,000 for the Yamaha, what is a reasonable price to pay for it. 52,000 might be reasonable, but having lived in Thailand for awhile, I know no price is final and a lot depends on how bad they want to sell it. If you people give me an idea, I will go in with say 45,000 or 50,000 in cash and cash usually gets a better deal compared to going in with promises of coming back. The helmet and jacket are a nice freebie, but considering I need 2 helmets, they will at least give me 2 helmets and not just one and usually the selling company (Yamaha or Honda) is the one giving the freebie, not the dealer. Lastly, many people discuss insurance they get when they buy a new motorbike, how does the insurance process work here. My wife doesn't even know and she said she forgot to ask the girl at the dealership.

Any advice on the large bikes or the prices I was quoted is greatly appreciated.

Thanks,

Nhscotsman

I am quite addicted to Honda Motorcycles, having never owned another brand, and therefore would steer you toward one of their products. However, I would not recommend the Airblade at your size. I'm only 5'9" (when stretching!), but have a size 14 (48 Euro size) shoe. There is NO room on the family's Airblade for flippers that size. However, it is a good bike otherwise. Having stated that, I'd steer someone more toward a Wave 125i. Fantastic milage, starts with a blip of the button, and a really boring (read comfortable) seat. Granted it's a clutchless manual and you probably won't attract a horde of mia nois whilst riding it, but dead reliable. Also, with the upright riding position and placement of the pegs I doubt you'll have issues with the bars hitting your knees on full steering lock.

[Familyonthemove]

If you are not going far and most your riding will be in traffic or on back Soi's, then an auto scooter/bike would be good. If you are going further, you are probably better off with something bigger like a Boxer or a Phantom. I'm 6' and I've been very pleased with my Nouvo Elegance 135 cc. It's a bit bigger than the normal Nouvo and has larger wheels than the Air Blade or the Fino, which helps with the poor roads and improves stability.

It has great breaks as well - nice balance and with good feel in the wet ... which is a big bonus in traffic. Suspension is surprisingly firm which suits me, but it is a serious jolt if you hit a road hump at full chat. The under-seat storage is big .... enough for a full face lid and shopping - but it gets really hot in there, which is odd as it's a water-cooled engine. You could cook a chicken in there, and my bike lock is too hot to hold after a 10 min ride.

It's quicker than most other commuter bikes on Thai roads and easily beats cars in the traffic light drag race, but runs out of puff at higher speeds - as expected for a 135cc two-valve single.

I went to Yamaha Square (passed Mo Chit opposite the Elelphant Building) because the manager (Khun Preuk) speaks good English and was very helpful. The service team is also excellent. There are many closer Yam dealers, but none spoke enough English to sort out the deal and the paperwork ... and they have a coffee bar/internet cafe in the show-room where you can look at shiny new bikes and chat to the store team.

The list price on the road with the alloy wheels and theft insurance is 57,000. If you don't want credit you can haggle a bit on the price or (more likely)get some extras thrown in.

But ensure you get a good helmet (not a 150 baht job!) and some gloves and strong shoes or boots. Sooner or later you will get knocked off by an uninsured Cambodian pick-up truck, skid on a steel plate in the road-works, drop it in the wet, get rammed by another bike, torpedoed by a Soi-dog ... etc, etc

[dotcom]

As you already found out in the CBR150 thread the girl doesn't know what she is talking about.

Many dealers have the bikes in stock. Otherwise max 1 week to get from factory.

"Imported" bullshift.

[Nhscotsman]

If you are not going far and most your riding will be in traffic or on back Soi's, then an auto scooter/bike would be good. If you are going further, you are probably better off with something bigger like a Boxer or a Phantom. I'm 6' and I've been very pleased with my Nouvo Elegance 135 cc. It's a bit bigger than the normal Nouvo and has larger wheels than the Air Blade or the Fino, which helps with the poor roads and improves stability.

It has great breaks as well - nice balance and with good feel in the wet ... which is a big bonus in traffic. Suspension is surprisingly firm which suits me, but it is a serious jolt if you hit a road hump at full chat. The under-seat storage is big .... enough for a full face lid and shopping - but it gets really hot in there, which is odd as it's a water-cooled engine. You could cook a chicken in there, and my bike lock is too hot to hold after a 10 min ride.

It's quicker than most other commuter bikes on Thai roads and easily beats cars in the traffic light drag race, but runs out of puff at higher speeds - as expected for a 135cc two-valve single.

I went to Yamaha Square (passed Mo Chit opposite the Elelphant Building) because the manager (Khun Preuk) speaks good English and was very helpful. The service team is also excellent. There are many closer Yam dealers, but none spoke enough English to sort out the deal and the paperwork ... and they have a coffee bar/internet cafe in the show-room where you can look at shiny new bikes and chat to the store team.

The list price on the road with the alloy wheels and theft insurance is 57,000. If you don't want credit you can haggle a bit on the price or (more likely)get some extras thrown in.

But ensure you get a good helmet (not a 150 baht job!) and some gloves and strong shoes or boots. Sooner or later you will get knocked off by an uninsured Cambodian pick-up truck, skid on a steel plate in the road-works, drop it in the wet, get rammed by another bike, torpedoed by a Soi-dog ... etc, etc

Hi,

Thanks for such a nice reply. I agree with your feelings on the Nouvo. I looked at one near where I live, a little "Mom and Pop" shop and was impressed with its size and overall feel. I do want to look at a Honda Phantom before finally making my overall decision. I have decided that the Honda CBR150 is too Ninja like for my aching body/back and my long legs. One of the people I work with has a Phantom and he is kind of tall like I am and sings the praises of the bike and says for a small cruiser, it's very comfy just as I suspect the Nouvo would be. As I said previously, I just want something to run around the local area with and though I would like to be able to go to Don Muang or out of town, I suspect with the road restriction, it's a difficult task.

If anyone has further information, please feel free to add to what has already been said.

Thanks again,

Nhscotsman

[Nhscotsman]

As you already found out in the CBR150 thread the girl doesn't know what she is talking about.

Many dealers have the bikes in stock. Otherwise max 1 week to get from factory.

"Imported" bullshift.

Hi,

This is what I figured, it was just nonsense from the girl. She was just trying to sell something she currently had in stock. Even the owner or the manager of the shop, who was there speaking briefly with my wife never offered to find me anything other than what they had in stock. It's a shame they aren't willing to a little work finding me what I want, it would be an easy sell.

Thanks for the reply and have a GREAT weekend to all of you,

Nhscotsman

[LivinLOS]

Echo the comments that say..

Wave 125i is a triumph of economical engineering.. They continually impress me and have a lifespan that can be decades and enough miles to cross the globe multiple times. All for pennies in running and maint costs. Its the VW golf of the scooter world. I cant help but love the little things as a tool for a task.

Nuovo 135.. If you want the twist and go.. The biggest and probably best of the autos currently. Lots of storage. I admit to being an auto hater.

Phantom... Personally I dont like them, its a pretend big bike to me but if you want a motorbike rather than a scooter, this is the most basic entry level machine you can get and they can ride around comfy and long distance. I just feel if you want a proper bike step up to something like a steed (if you want that cruiser style) or a CB400 for a more upright bike style. I wont recommend a bandit or anything more sporty (not that a CB400 is slow, great little engine) based on your CBR 150 comments.

If deciding for a motorbike (say phantom for sake of argument) or scooter.. Bear in mind real world useage, and how often you want to grab a carton of milk from the local shops.. Unless you fit a top box real bikes are not so happy having bags hung from the bars, and I am sometimes floored by the amount a wave (with underseat storage, a hang hook, and a front basket) can happily carry. I have a proper bike to play on but I use a scooter to pop to the shops / market and all those 1km tips.

[Richard-BKK]

Hello Dave,

Without starting another Honda discussions, recommending a Honda Phantom to somebody with problems with his back is a bit sadistic, the bike is a clear death weight. Picking up a BMW G650 Xmoto is, with 650cc, much easier and feels lighter, even considering that both bikes have similar weight.

To Nhscotsman, look at the alternatives, Kawasaki offers a nice alternative, with the Kawasaki Boss. If you a bit more technical

Hi,

I have a Thai drivers lic. and will have all required paperwork, and though I don't have a Thai motorcycle drivers license, I will get one as soon as I can. Plus with this motorbike, I am only getting it to run around my Rama 3 neighborhood and not cruising Sukhumvit like some do. I am a firm believer in that if you present yourself to the local "boys in brown" repeatedly, they will soon have the opportunity to grab you. I used to live up on Sukhumvit Soi 1 and I used to watch the local police grab drivers all the time. My thai wife and I would sit at the entrance to the highway and watch them grabbing people in both cars and on motorbikes and we also saw the money being passed back and forth too, so I understand what you people are advising. Trust me, I don't plan to go anywhere near where they inhabit. I know the local back roads where I live, so I can zoom in and out/up and down them pretty well undetected.

I did look at the Yamaha Nouvo and the Honda Airblade tonight near where I live at a small shop and was impressed with the Yamaha Nouva, but I was given a price of 52,000 for one and the Honda Airblade was 56,000 which I thought was high. I fit nicely on the Yamaha and the Honda both, but the Fino which I had originally was interested in, the handlebars were hitting my knees when I turned the handlebars, so that won't work and I have crossed that off my list. Is 52,000 for the Yamaha including a jacket and a helmet a decent price or is it to high?

I also inquired at the motorbike shop about a larger Honda dealer because I was interested in seeing a Honda Phantom and a CBR 150 and the girl told me that Phantoms and the CRB's are only available if you import them in, that no one has them in Thailand, let alone in Bangkok. Now I understand she may have been trying to save a sale by telling me the bigger bikes are not available in Bangkok, but I knew I had the option of finding out here. Are there dealers that have them here in BKK? If not, I will probably buy the Yamaha as I fit really good on it and I need something right away. If they are available, where then? The clerk at the small shop tonight kept pushing the fact that the Yamaha was 135cc and because the Yamaha has great storage too, but she knew I was paying cash too compared to the locals financing a new motorbike, my wife agreed that she just wanted to keep my sale there at her shop, this is probably why she was telling me the bigger bikes aren't available. If she wants 52,000 for the Yamaha, what is a reasonable price to pay for it. 52,000 might be reasonable, but having lived in Thailand for awhile, I know no price is final and a lot depends on how bad they want to sell it. If you people give me an idea, I will go in with say 45,000 or 50,000 in cash and cash usually gets a better deal compared to going in with promises of coming back. The helmet and jacket are a nice freebie, but considering I need 2 helmets, they will at least give me 2 helmets and not just one and usually the selling company (Yamaha or Honda) is the one giving the freebie, not the dealer. Lastly, many people discuss insurance they get when they buy a new motorbike, how does the insurance process work here. My wife doesn't even know and she said she forgot to ask the girl at the dealership.

Any advice on the large bikes or the prices I was quoted is greatly appreciated.

Thanks,

Nhscotsman

I am quite addicted to Honda Motorcycles, having never owned another brand, and therefore would steer you toward one of their products. However, I would not recommend the Airblade at your size. I'm only 5'9" (when stretching!), but have a size 14 (48 Euro size) shoe. There is NO room on the family's Airblade for flippers that size. However, it is a good bike otherwise. Having stated that, I'd steer someone more toward a Wave 125i. Fantastic milage, starts with a blip of the button, and a really boring (read comfortable) seat. Granted it's a clutchless manual and you probably won't attract a horde of mia nois whilst riding it, but dead reliable. Also, with the upright riding position and placement of the pegs I doubt you'll have issues with the bars hitting your knees on full steering lock.

[dotcom]

Agree on Boss. All the Japanese guys in my condo drive em.

To get this back over here & off the CBR150 thread. I stopped by a Honda dealer in my neighborhood. Prices CBR150 65,000 Phantom 65,000.

[dave_boo]

Hello Dave,

Without starting another Honda discussions, recommending a Honda Phantom to somebody with problems with his back is a bit sadistic, the bike is a clear death weight. Picking up a BMW G650 Xmoto is, with 650cc, much easier and feels lighter, even considering that both bikes have similar weight.

I didn't recommend a Phantom. To be honest, I never would; perhaps that's my American superiority complex coming out (Harleys are number one!!!!) mainly because I don't like cruisers. Rather I suggested he get the Wave 125i. You'll also note that I refrained from suggesting buying one of my beloved CBR 150Rs due to the way I read his post and understood it to mean that he was going to use the bike for shopping and regular city exploring.

To Nhscotsman, look at the alternatives, Kawasaki offers a nice alternative, with the Kawasaki Boss. If you a bit more technical

Hi,

I have a Thai drivers lic. and will have all required paperwork, and though I don't have a Thai motorcycle drivers license, I will get one as soon as I can. Plus with this motorbike, I am only getting it to run around my Rama 3 neighborhood and not cruising Sukhumvit like some do. I am a firm believer in that if you present yourself to the local "boys in brown" repeatedly, they will soon have the opportunity to grab you. I used to live up on Sukhumvit Soi 1 and I used to watch the local police grab drivers all the time. My thai wife and I would sit at the entrance to the highway and watch them grabbing people in both cars and on motorbikes and we also saw the money being passed back and forth too, so I understand what you people are advising. Trust me, I don't plan to go anywhere near where they inhabit. I know the local back roads where I live, so I can zoom in and out/up and down them pretty well undetected.

I did look at the Yamaha Nouvo and the Honda Airblade tonight near where I live at a small shop and was impressed with the Yamaha Nouva, but I was given a price of 52,000 for one and the Honda Airblade was 56,000 which I thought was high. I fit nicely on the Yamaha and the Honda both, but the Fino which I had originally was interested in, the handlebars were hitting my knees when I turned the handlebars, so that won't work and I have crossed that off my list. Is 52,000 for the Yamaha including a jacket and a helmet a decent price or is it to high?

I also inquired at the motorbike shop about a larger Honda dealer because I was interested in seeing a Honda Phantom and a CBR 150 and the girl told me that Phantoms and the CRB's are only available if you import them in, that no one has them in Thailand, let alone in Bangkok. Now I understand she may have been trying to save a sale by telling me the bigger bikes are not available in Bangkok, but I knew I had the option of finding out here. Are there dealers that have them here in BKK? If not, I will probably buy the Yamaha as I fit really good on it and I need something right away. If they are available, where then? The clerk at the small shop tonight kept pushing the fact that the Yamaha was 135cc and because the Yamaha has great storage too, but she knew I was paying cash too compared to the locals financing a new motorbike, my wife agreed that she just wanted to keep my sale there at her shop, this is probably why she was telling me the bigger bikes aren't available. If she wants 52,000 for the Yamaha, what is a reasonable price to pay for it. 52,000 might be reasonable, but having lived in Thailand for awhile, I know no price is final and a lot depends on how bad they want to sell it. If you people give me an idea, I will go in with say 45,000 or 50,000 in cash and cash usually gets a better deal compared to going in with promises of coming back. The helmet and jacket are a nice freebie, but considering I need 2 helmets, they will at least give me 2 helmets and not just one and usually the selling company (Yamaha or Honda) is the one giving the freebie, not the dealer. Lastly, many people discuss insurance they get when they buy a new motorbike, how does the insurance process work here. My wife doesn't even know and she said she forgot to ask the girl at the dealership.

Any advice on the large bikes or the prices I was quoted is greatly appreciated.

Thanks,

Nhscotsman

I am quite addicted to Honda Motorcycles, having never owned another brand, and therefore would steer you toward one of their products. However, I would not recommend the Airblade at your size. I'm only 5'9" (when stretching!), but have a size 14 (48 Euro size) shoe. There is NO room on the family's Airblade for flippers that size. However, it is a good bike otherwise. Having stated that, I'd steer someone more toward a Wave 125i. Fantastic milage, starts with a blip of the button, and a really boring (read comfortable) seat. Granted it's a clutchless manual and you probably won't attract a horde of mia nois whilst riding it, but dead reliable. Also, with the upright riding position and placement of the pegs I doubt you'll have issues with the bars hitting your knees on full steering lock.

[Nhscotsman]

Hi,

I hadn't thought too much about Kawasaki's but would be willing to look at one. Can anyone suggest a decent Kawasaki dealer here in Bangkok and what models are generally available in Thailand.

As for an update in the search for a motorbike/motorcycle, let me put it this way "the salesmen of Thailand still cease to amaze me". In the United States, if I went to one dealer asking about a particular model, I would have 10 dealers calling me, BEGGING ME to come to their dealerships see what they have. If I wasn’t mobile, you would have dealers offering to bring me to the dealerships. Here, I have cash (no financing at all) to buy TODAY and I can't even get a dealer to get off his duff to meet with me. UNBELIEVEABLE!! I truly love living in Thailand and have no desire or intentions of ever moving back to the United States,( my wife wouldn’t leave anyway…haha), but some salesmen here, be it Tesco Lotus or the local Honda dealer still cease to amaze me.

As for yesterdays experience, I have a teacher friend that has dealt with a particular dealer here in Bangkok and he suggested I contact him regarding a new Phantom. I had my wife call the man because his English is limited and she explained I was looking to buy a new red Phantom as soon as possible and that if possible, I would like to see a new 2008 model. The man said what the price was for it and that he didn’t have one for me to see and that red wasn’t available this year, but that he did say he has a friend that had a black one but he “wasn’t” willing to show me unless I ordered it first. At first I thought my wife misunderstood him and she questioned him on his last statement and she had heard him right. I told her to forget it, I was so angry that if I had seen the guy, I would have been blatting off at him (he probably wouldn’t have understood, but I would have felt better…haha). So I am still on the search for the mysterious Phantom motorcycle or any sizable motorcycle…haha

The comments you have all made are enjoyable though and I appreciate the time oyu have taken to add to the thread. Have a GREAT weekend.

Nhscotsman

[DostyTheCat]

Hi Guys,

I visit Thailand a few times a year to visit friends and family. In the UK I have an 1100cc Kawasaki Muscle Bike and a dedicated race ready Kawasaki 400cc for the race track. I have owned bikes for many years from 100cc to Yamaha R1's.

When I am over there I always rent a Yamaha Nuovo - awesome bikes. Have good fun down on the islands sight seeing and also going round the outside of idiots on 1000cc superbikes round the corners! They are also awesome for getting through BKK traffic SAFELY (well - almost!!)

You can do anything you want on these bikes. My mate is 6'4" (also a superbike racer) and he loves them too.

At the end of the day though - it's whatever bike you feel comfortable on. Don't forget to get decent tyres - they will improve the handling of the bike 100%.

If you need good gear give us a shout. I have a mate who runs an ebay site out of his main dealership in London.

Happy riding

Dosty