Hi Guys,

My first bike was stolen, so I am now looking for a replacement.

I loved it, even though it was a 24 yrs old 99cc Suzuki (for 6k bahts ^^ !). It worked wonders ! That old grandmother proved me that Bkk is much more fun when you can actually go from one place to another without too much hassle !

I would like to move up scale a notch now that I am a bit experienced, without any excess in power. Just looking for a bike to take me swiftly around here in the traffic, and sometimes a bit out of town.

I guess 125-150 cc should be alright, but I have no clue on which model would be reliable, around 50 000 Bahts. Should I go for a new one or a 2nd hand ?

Thanks in advance for your advices ^^

If you want to go new, look at the Honda Sonic.

Used, I would get a Honda CBR.

There's other bikes, but I'm prejudiced in favour of Honda.

or if you can find one a suzuki raider 150 they are nice and nippy. otherwise i second daveboo.

allan

I prefer the CBR150, but if you want a step-through, consider several Yamaha 135 models with their liquid cooled engines, or the Honda Sonic 125.

If you want to go new, look at the Honda Sonic.

Used, I would get a Honda CBR.

There's other bikes, but I'm prejudiced in favour of Honda.

or if you can find one a suzuki raider 150 they are nice and nippy. otherwise i second daveboo.

allan

I prefer the CBR150, but if you want a step-through, consider several Yamaha 135 models with their liquid cooled engines, or the Honda Sonic 125.

Thanks a lot for helping me narrowing my search, I'll check up more infos on those bikes

...I just won't need more infos on honda CBR : I have seen advised extensively by daveboo on other posts

Thanks a lot for helping me narrowing my search, I'll check up more infos on those bikes

...I just won't need more infos on honda CBR : I have seen advised extensively by daveboo on other posts

Am I that blatant?

Dave Boo and Peaceblondie are definately CBR junkies; I need to represent the two strokes! (Thanh my man, where are you? I need some backup here!) I would throw out the Honda NSR, Yamaha TZM or TZR, or Kawasaki KRR. More powerful than any of the bikes heretofore mentioned, and (as you mentioned you had a 24 year old 99cc for 6k baht--which I still don't see why anyone would steal) they can be had for alot less than 50,000 baht. There was an old TZR listed in the classifieds for 6,500 baht.

Am I that blatant?

Not really ! Just remember seeing your avatar picture

Stroke me !

I know Hondas have a solid reputation for reliability, just can't get used to the look of the CBR. Might go for sonic.

Tnx for advices too, submaniac, and for opening up possibilities to other brands . I just won't buy another old one, as people used to make too much fun of the grand-mother one.

I just don't understand that somebody felt the urge to steal it either. As the story goes, it had a flat tyre one night and I had to leave it in Kao San Rd. I was too busy to come back and pick it up within the next 3 days, and when I did, it was gone.

It wasn't in the police station nor in the district 'confiscated bikes department'...

So well, farewell my first bike, time for me to move on to a newer one

You know, for 50,000 baht you could also skip the little 150cc bikes, and move on up. I have seen several CBR 400's for under 50,000 baht on mocyc.com. I have also seen a GSXR 1100 for 55,000 baht on mocyc. My cousin bought an FZR 400 from there for 35,000 baht (which I am trying to 'acquire' from him still before he kills himself).

Am I that blatant?

Dave, yes you are. Like me and Thanh are really blatant about the two strokes!!!!

You know, for 50,000 baht you could also skip the little 150cc bikes, and move on up. I have seen several CBR 400's for under 50,000 baht on mocyc.com. I have also seen a GSXR 1100 for 55,000 baht on mocyc. My cousin bought an FZR 400 from there for 35,000 baht (which I am trying to 'acquire' from him still before he kills himself).

Hmmm... Tempting !

Thoguh I'm afraid it would be harder to zigzag in the traffic jams, I must go on Sukh. pretty often... Don't want to get stuck there...

btw, I've read your topic on your cousin's motorcycle, I hope you guys will find a solution...

Even before I became Nok Yai, flying off the road in July, I became less blatant. It is only a 150. I love it, but it ain't no GSXR1000.

Small and light is the way to go with BKK traffic! Used is always a good answer as well but if I were to buy used I would get something that was more than 5 years old and had a proper registration book.

Personally I would buy new and look around ... even a trip to a resort area where I could rent various bikes. I finally for to ride a Boxer (Tiger) the other day and was a little less pleased with it than I thought I would be! I like sitting up a little more than that bike was set up for.

I ride in BKK on a daily basis and love it as long as I can avoid getting stuck behind truck exhaust!

(edit) I ride a Tiger Joker that I bought new when I moved here in '03 and it is still a great ride!

Even before I became Nok Yai, flying off the road in July, I became less blatant. It is only a 150. I love it, but it ain't no GSXR1000.

Don't lose the faith brother; there's a special level of hel_l for those who commit blasphemy against the 'lil CBR.

It is a 150. and a new Gold Wing has twelve times the size. H2ODuncan has a 2,300 cc bike, in Thailand. I have a degree in religion, and they did not include blasphemy against micro-bikes in my course. But in truth, I get more giggles per mile out of that 150 than I ever did with my Suzuki GS850. Better gas mileage, too.

When I was getting my usual beef taco fix yesterday, some stranger, a happy American expat, had to ask me all about the CBR150.

It is a 150. and a new Gold Wing has twelve times the size. H2ODuncan has a 2,300 cc bike, in Thailand. I have a degree in religion, and they did not include blasphemy against micro-bikes in my course. But in truth, I get more giggles per mile out of that 150 than I ever did with my Suzuki GS850. Better gas mileage, too.

When I was getting my usual beef taco fix yesterday, some stranger, a happy American expat, had to ask me all about the CBR150.

There's a sexual innuendo there, but I just can't put my finger on it.........

Been looking on mocyc.com.

Just as I thought, so much choice it's hard to know whom to call... but that should finally be my best option : spend some time calling up people and try their bikes !

I guess that will clear things up quite much.

Tnx to all , ++ ^^

The old SR400 and SR500s aren't that much bigger than a CBR are they? But I bet the BiB would hate one of those with a supertrap exhaust,

Hardly a day passes up north here, that I do not see an SR400/500. Not a one has a number plate. They look bigger than a CBR150. The riders never want to race my stock 150 - must be old geezers.

Most of the time thinking bike in Thailand gets you anywhere. If you read my postings back, you can qualify me as a person who dislike the current Honda offerings.

But I belief it seen the light, I had the chance to test the new Honda CZ-i 110cc, and with some simple looking alterations of some Honda mechanics I have to say screw the CBR-150R (sorry nothing personal, just words, the CBR-150R is still a better seat).

What I talk about is that with some, apparently, simple alterations to the 110cc engine. The Honda CZ-i 110cc is able to take on anything on the road, if I say anything I mean it. Opening the throttle is like nothing you would expect from a 110cc, my first run I had almost a accident. And I'm used to ride 1000cc daily and was totally of guard by this little Honda hel_l-boy.

With a top speed of 154km/h in a time that our Thai police escort, on his Tiger 200cc, could not follow, had the idea that he had full control over the bike until 125km/h, after that it was just hanging on and hoping that he did not had to do any maneuvers.

We wanted to publish the full details of this alterations to the Honda CZ-i 110 on our website, and decided that it would not be the right thing to do, Some discussions with the Thai police did also influenced our decision to publish the story.

Still, we not the only one, on the internet you can find more information on how-to beef up your Honda CZ-i......

A buddy of mine has a Yamaha SR400 and man that is one FUN bike! They're classic aren't built for speed at all, but they have excellent torque and seem quite tough and durable and easy to maintain. Another thing that's handy with an SR is that every one hears you coming! What a great sound that single thumper makes!

But as far as i'm aware sr400 is kick start only.................doh whats that about.

and Richard if what you saying is correct about the CZi and i for one would love to see it.

then using the same or similar mods the cbr150 could go 170-80kmh

because to get the czi to that level would require new cdi/remap, bigger injecter and air filter and of course freeflowing exhaust.

as you say all simple mods except maybe the injecter ( unless the injecters are the same but just running more boost)

Allan

Most of the time thinking bike in Thailand gets you anywhere. If you read my postings back, you can qualify me as a person who dislike the current Honda offerings.

But I belief it seen the light, I had the chance to test the new Honda CZ-i 110cc, and with some simple looking alterations of some Honda mechanics I have to say screw the CBR-150R (sorry nothing personal, just words, the CBR-150R is still a better seat).

What I talk about is that with some, apparently, simple alterations to the 110cc engine. The Honda CZ-i 110cc is able to take on anything on the road, if I say anything I mean it. Opening the throttle is like nothing you would expect from a 110cc, my first run I had almost a accident. And I'm used to ride 1000cc daily and was totally of guard by this little Honda hel_l-boy.

With a top speed of 154km/h in a time that our Thai police escort, on his Tiger 200cc, could not follow, had the idea that he had full control over the bike until 125km/h, after that it was just hanging on and hoping that he did not had to do any maneuvers.

We wanted to publish the full details of this alterations to the Honda CZ-i 110 on our website, and decided that it would not be the right thing to do, Some discussions with the Thai police did also influenced our decision to publish the story.

Still, we not the only one, on the internet you can find more information on how-to beef up your Honda CZ-i......

Thank you for coming out and admitting your bias.

I feel the same way about Kawasaki, Yamaha, et al, but at least I've always been up front about it.

Also, my wife just bought a CZ-i; so I followed the rest of your post with interest. It does raise questions though as to how Honda managed to do so well on extracting power from a 110cc engine and yet the CBR 125Ri doesn't have the same jaw-dropping power.

I have never had any bias against any particular brand of reputable bikes. I have owned Honda, Kawasaki, Yamaha and Suzuki of Japanese brands and I cannot understand any bias towards any of them. Let's face it they are all good bikes, of mainly good engineering. Yes they all have had some lemon's during the years which is not more than expected. Only advice I have is to buy something you will be happy with, looks nice, feels nice and meets your needs, then you will enjoy the bike so much more than if you buy a bike for the brand.

I have never had any bias against any particular brand of reputable bikes. I have owned Honda, Kawasaki, Yamaha and Suzuki of Japanese brands and I cannot understand any bias towards any of them. Let's face it they are all good bikes, of mainly good engineering. Yes they all have had some lemon's during the years which is not more than expected. Only advice I have is to buy something you will be happy with, looks nice, feels nice and meets your needs, then you will enjoy the bike so much more than if you buy a bike for the brand.

Well, I can afford to be biased. Funnily enough, I would never, ever buy a Honda car/truck/SUV. It's not rational, but I'm afforded a few irrationalities since I do such a good job being sane on everything else.....

"since I do such a good job being sane on everything else"..... Dave are you sure. :D

I agree that all four Japanese brands have had sterling reputations for design, assembly, quality, dealerships, etc., worldwide, for decades. I do think that Honda has such a stranglehold on the market that Kawa and Suz bikes are nearly unknown. Kraze? Kaze? Krash? Krazy?

I agree that all four Japanese brands have had sterling reputations for design, assembly, quality, dealerships, etc., worldwide, for decades. I do think that Honda has such a stranglehold on the market that Kawa and Suz bikes are nearly unknown. Kraze? Kaze? Krash? Krazy?

Very true, in the beloved Kingdom it seems like Honda Wave's/Dream's or Yamaha Fino's has most of the marked. Well with some more modern variations of the Wave coming up more, still Yammie seems to have a big chunk right now with the popular Fino.

Back where I come from Honda, Kawasaki, Yamaha and Suzuki is pretty evenly distributed and popular. Well now since the 90's the yuppies went to Harley, and Beemers always had there fans for touring and now Triumph is back again so it is a much more interesting picture of biker environment than here.

Here most bikers are locals using it as the transportation vehicle out of need rather than pleasure. And as the Honda Cub was the definately most reliable motorbike ever made, and Dream's/Wave's and later variations are lined down from the Cub it is understandably very popular bikes here amongst the people who need it as the main transportation vehicle.

However amonst people who run bikes for fun you find a much wider spread of bikes and a very interesting environment, reflecting the environment back in the western world, with people with an interest for bikes, versus people who drive them because they have no means of getting a car.

I remember my first bike a Suzuki, I was very biased against any other brand, but after driving other brands and bikes I lost the entire bias and enjoy to ride them instead with an open mind.

"since I do such a good job being sane on everything else"..... Dave are you sure.

Well, that's what the voices in my head assure me.....

Bard, you have hit upon a point I often forget to make, when giving advice to regular farang about buying a step-through here. Many times, they are just buying basic transport, as the OP here seemed to ask about. That is why I do not discuss step-throughs much, even when I have ridden one such as the Yam XR1. Not only do I not find them exciting, but they are designed and sold to get Sombut and Lakanong down to the 7-11 and back. I thought the CBR150 was a whole different vehicle, but now I realize it is little more than a slightly larger Dream with a big tank.

And before dave boo convicts me of blasphemy, I remind y'all that the Yamaha XR1 has disk brakes, mag wheels, a fairly powerful OHC liquid cooled 135 engine, and a proper 4speed gearbox. Likewise, the Sonic 125 is about as sporty as a Suzuki Raider 150

Where can I see a picture of a Yamaha XR-1 ? Thanks