Legally parked, told to move by the tuk tuk m@#%@...again.

[stevenl]

Never noticed them.

Patak rd. through Kata/Karon has a few motorcycle taxi ranks, but very few. They are not allowed along the beach roads.

Nor me, and I travel up and down Patak Road every day. Are you sure, Joe?

One set up near Karma Lounge in Karon a couple of years back. Closed a day later!

Yes. For example there is one at the 7-11 at the top of Kata New Rd opposite the fish market. All the drivers sit at the Dragons Layer bar when the bar is closed in the daytime. I am certain there are others but not certain where. I will pay more attention when I ride through there in about an hour.

Have you found any motorcycle taxis in Karon or Kata yet, Joe?

I checked after this was mentioned, here, and only found the one stand Joe mentioned at the top of Kata New Road. Almost missed it though.

[CMKiwi]

Hmmm the question of the bikes heritage....

it could well be a Lifan / Platinum / Keeway or Zarang. The Platinum PX250 looks very much like the CRF but components are a lot more solid (Read heavy as hell). All these Chinese bikes are a lot cheaper too....however Im not too sure on reliability.

So who`s the winner? Im sure on my trip up town today I'll spot it (Maybe not!)

[CMKiwi]

No my first guess was wrong.....its a Sym 200cc Enduro made in Taiwan. And I found your post about it too!

[NomadJoe]

\

No my first guess was wrong.....its a Sym 200cc Enduro made in Taiwan. And I found your post about it too!

Winner winner. Not Chinese!

I used to think that there would be no difference between Chinese and Taiwanese bike. but then I read about the flying geese paradigm which describes technological development of Asian countries. Japan is at the front of course, followed by S. Korea, Singapore, Hong Kong and Taiwan, then ASEAN countries are tier 3, and the least devolved countries such as China, Philippines, Vietnam etc are tier 4. The reviews of the bike I have read have been positive, and after 2mo's I am happy. I am hoping the paradigm continues to hold true.

[NomadJoe]

Never noticed them.

Patak rd. through Kata/Karon has a few motorcycle taxi ranks, but very few. They are not allowed along the beach roads.

Nor me, and I travel up and down Patak Road every day. Are you sure, Joe?

One set up near Karma Lounge in Karon a couple of years back. Closed a day later!

Yes. For example there is one at the 7-11 at the top of Kata New Rd opposite the fish market. All the drivers sit at the Dragons Layer bar when the bar is closed in the daytime. I am certain there are others but not certain where. I will pay more attention when I ride through there in about an hour.

Have you found any motorcycle taxis in Karon or Kata yet, Joe?

Not yet. Just the one. I forgot to check on the way home the other day. It may be the only one now, but I am sure I have seen more in the past. Having worked at a dive shop just down the road from the rank at 7-11/Kata Dental Art, it would seam the drivers aren't even allowed any closer to the beach. The Thai's that work in the area and use them are always picked up and dropped off at Kata Dental Art.

[CMKiwi]

Well I didnt see any Sym bikes today in the Chiang Mai shops but then I didnt get to go to the usual haunts due to bloody protesters causing almighty <deleted> with traffic backed up on most thoroughfares. I thought all these idiots were confined to Bangkok.

Maybe tomorrow I`ll have better luck. Saw the Platinums and the Lifan models but I agree that the Sym is perhaps better. The neighbour has a Sym 400cc scooter and swears by it. A lot cheaper than say a Yamaha TMax or equivailent in Suzuki or Honda. So yeah its got my vote too.