Moving To Chiang Mai, Should I Bring The Vfr?

[wrathfultalon]

Well i am officially a student now, in my quest to understand thai culture and the language. But after riding around CM i am seriously wondering if i should bring my street bike. With the GF aboard navigating traffic was more work than i enjoyed, and the heat of sitting there made me feel like a sausage. Granted the majority of my riding expirience is limited to open roads and rural communities so its new to me.

What are your thoughts?

I am moving in august to start school in September.

[Zzinged]

If you don't bring the VFR, you'll defo be missing out on riding great CM roads. Perhaps if you have the funds you could rent a scooter to use around town with the girl.

[Just1Voice]

DEFINITELY BRING THE BIKE!!!

[illy]

sorry to be off topic and i cant help you with CM but can you tell me where you bought the VFR and how you regsitered it here in thailand. thats just the bike i want and but cant find a 'reputable" one [dealer OR bike]anywhere...big bikes in thailand seem like a difficult propostion. can anyone help??

[PeaceBlondie]

VFR400? Can you get good service and fast parts in Chiang Mai?

[wrathfultalon]

sorry to be off topic and i cant help you with CM but can you tell me where you bought the VFR and how you regsitered it here in thailand. thats just the bike i want and but cant find a 'reputable" one [dealer OR bike]anywhere...big bikes in thailand seem like a difficult propostion. can anyone help??

well i bought mine from a British gentleman in BKK. But if its a VFR400 your looking for my mechanic knows of several that are in the 20000 to 60000 price range in chiang rai. PM me and i will shoot you his info. really nice guy who has done a fantastic job fixing my bike on occasion.

[wrathfultalon]

VFR400? Can you get good service and fast parts in Chiang Mai?

Yes its a 92 VFR400, but all the parts i have gotten have had to come out of BKK, so i would not think it matters.

Edited July 18, 2009 by wrathfultalon

[T_Dog]

Well i am officially a student now, in my quest to understand thai culture and the language. But after riding around CM i am seriously wondering if i should bring my street bike. With the GF aboard navigating traffic was more work than i enjoyed, and the heat of sitting there made me feel like a sausage. Granted the majority of my riding expirience is limited to open roads and rural communities so its new to me.

What are your thoughts?

I am moving in august to start school in September.

Bring the bike.... The motorcycling outside of the city is outstanding. Once you live in CM for a while, you will find routes that have in the city that have less traffic. Get a copy of the Big Map as its called and you can usually find faster roads. Like zzinged said, try to find a scooter to use as a transporter for the in-city trips.

[alant]

Well i am officially a student now, in my quest to understand thai culture and the language. But after riding around CM i am seriously wondering if i should bring my street bike. With the GF aboard navigating traffic was more work than i enjoyed, and the heat of sitting there made me feel like a sausage. Granted the majority of my riding expirience is limited to open roads and rural communities so its new to me.

What are your thoughts?

I am moving in august to start school in September.

you are coming to one of the best areas anywhere for riding a bike, get out of town and enjoy.

[MaiChai]

Its always nice to have a bike like a VFR, but its also useful to have a sensible small Thai bike like a Wave/Mio/etc to do shopping, run out for things you need, etc. That basket at the front is dead handy, no matter how uncool it is. Buy a small (2nd hand?) bike to complement the vfr? Maybe for the gf? You should be able to get something for around 10k 2nd hand, or maybe 15k for a 2nd hand Mio? The 2stroke small bikes are absolute bargains (Nova/BelleR/etc); around 5k, and dead reliable/easy to fix. Make sure you get something common so parts are easy to get.

[davidgtr]

Of course bring your bike. Pretty stupid if you don't as Chiang Mai & North Thailand has the best riding in the region.

Parts & service are not a problem. Look here for handy motorbike shops in Chiang Mai.

[Zzinged]

The David has spoken

ps> Also, look for the GT Rider's Map to the Golden Triangle. It's excellent.

Edited July 19, 2009 by Zzinged

[wrathfultalon]

well driving around today and it seemed as though the streets are literally swarming with big bikes!

We habe a old Dream guess we can fix it up for city driving.

thanks for the input.

[LivinLOS]

VFR400? Can you get good service and fast parts in Chiang Mai?

Piston shop would handle it no ??

And a 100% yes from me.. The very idea of being up there without a bike seems crazy !!