bassinurface Posted October 3, 2014 Share Posted October 3, 2014 Hi guys, i'm in the embryonic stage of my motorcycle career, having racked up around 5000kms road time on my Yamaha Nouvo elegance. I'm now looking to make the big step up onto a real motorcycle. I was thinking a 250cc cruiser might be a good place to start, and from research quite fancy the look of the Yamaha Virago 250cc. Do you think this is a good move for a beginner, and if so where would you suggest looking for one in the CM area. All suggestions welcomed. Thanks Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
aitch52 Posted October 3, 2014 Share Posted October 3, 2014 Hello Bass, I have the Virago XV 535 S, it's a nice bike to ride. It was a non runner when I bought it, had new piston rings, crankshaft reground, big and small end bearings , clutch and later a new starter motor. Spares aren't a problem and most are available in country. Not a difficult bike to ride. Sent from my i-mobile i-STYLE 2.5 using Thaivisa Connect Thailand mobile app Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
aitch52 Posted October 3, 2014 Share Posted October 3, 2014 Incidentally the starter mechanism is the weak point of most Viragos, if it sounds ratchety it's on the way out. Costs about 6K Baht to replace motor and mechanism. Sent from my i-mobile i-STYLE 2.5 using Thaivisa Connect Thailand mobile app Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
aitch52 Posted October 3, 2014 Share Posted October 3, 2014 Quite a rare bike here too, I think you will be lucky to find one. Honda Phantom 200`s are plentiful though or the Lifan custom cruiser 250 twin. Heard good and bad about the Lifan. Sent from my i-mobile i-STYLE 2.5 using Thaivisa Connect Thailand mobile app Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CMKiwi Posted October 3, 2014 Share Posted October 3, 2014 (edited) Id be more inclined to go with something a bit more modern and it also depends on what style of riding you are doing or looking to do. I started here in CM using the GF's little Dtracker 150 but after a short period wanted something bigger. I went for a Honda CRF 250M as I like the trailbike style and do most of my riding on the blacktop (Tarmac/tarseal/concrete etc) Now however Im looking to get something with a bit more power....maybe in the 400 to 500cc range. But Im in no rush to upgrade as the CRF is doing whats needed at the moment and never misses a beat. Good luck on whatever you decide and hopefully you find what you want. Stay safe out there Edited October 3, 2014 by CMKiwi Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bassinurface Posted October 3, 2014 Author Share Posted October 3, 2014 Thanks for the replies guys. The bike would be used for my 50km round trip (mainly highway) commute. I also have a SHAD SH33 that I'd like to transfer from the Nouvo, so rack compatibility and availability is important. It seems with my tastes I'm always looking for something hard to find and different from the norm up here. It definitively seems like Honda country up here, but I'm willing to look for a more illusive alternative if it's a better bike. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bassinurface Posted October 3, 2014 Author Share Posted October 3, 2014 Aitch isn't the Lifan V Custom pretty much the same bike as the Virago? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CMKiwi Posted October 3, 2014 Share Posted October 3, 2014 Id guess you would have better chance at getting parts for the Yamaha than the Lifan and that is an important factor later on. I could be wrong, but I had a terrible time fixing up a friends older model Platnium PX175. No one in CM wanted anything to do with it and plastics were a joke, poorly constructed and oh so brittle. Had a Lifan in Afghanistan of all places. Bike went ok even tho the locals that assembled the beast made a lot of mistakes in doing so. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bassinurface Posted October 3, 2014 Author Share Posted October 3, 2014 Cheers Kiwi. Do they have a big bike Yamaha specialist in Chiang Mai. If so they may know of a Virago for me. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
aitch52 Posted October 3, 2014 Share Posted October 3, 2014 Yes I believe the Lifan is very similar, looked at it myself, I think the problems people have had with it is very poor customer service in some parts of the country and poorly trained mechanics Sent from my i-mobile i-STYLE 2.5 using Thaivisa Connect Thailand mobile app Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
aitch52 Posted October 3, 2014 Share Posted October 3, 2014 I still have a Phantom, I used it for a 50 km commute each way. I also used it for 175km commute most weekends for a year. Great little bike if you accept it for what it is. I've had it for 7 years 33kms per litre and comfortable. Sent from my i-mobile i-STYLE 2.5 using Thaivisa Connect Thailand mobile app Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jonwilly Posted October 3, 2014 Share Posted October 3, 2014 The Thai man who has looked after my bikes for last 12 years will not have Chinese made bikes in his garage. Copies of Honda but in very poor quality metal. My man and most of his mates rate Honda as number 1 for quality of construction. john Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CMKiwi Posted October 8, 2014 Share Posted October 8, 2014 Cheers Kiwi. Do they have a big bike Yamaha specialist in Chiang Mai. If so they may know of a Virago for me. There is a Yamaha shop near Kad Suan Keow (Central Shopping Centre) which is on Huay Keow Road. This is the road that leads up to Doi Suthep temple. There are a few bigger bikes in there but I would doubt that they would know where to find a Virago unless one of the salesmen knows of someone with one. There are a few shops around Chiang Mai that do specialise in old bikes in the 250cc plus range, however finding one complete with green book can be a bit of a task. One of the shops is on the corner diagonally across from the Airport Plaza, however I havent been in there for a few months. Alternatively ¨Burnings¨on the road that leads upto the bus station seems to always have some Yamaha SR400 or SR500 bikes in stock of hidden somewhere. A couple more shops are on the same road but back towards the old town. Its just a case of visiting them to see what in stock. I have no idea what a Virago 250 would sell for here but Id be incline to keep all your options open. . Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ridercnx808 Posted October 9, 2014 Share Posted October 9, 2014 Virago 400 in chiang mai forget the 250 version not enough power. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CMKiwi Posted October 9, 2014 Share Posted October 9, 2014 Virago 400 in chiang mai forget the 250 version not enough power. I concur.....very similar to a Yamaha XS250 special I had in the 80`s. Alright for cruising but a real pig on the hills or even overtaking. I see a Virago 400 for sale in CM on Bahtsold, look tidy. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bassinurface Posted October 9, 2014 Author Share Posted October 9, 2014 Looks stunning, just a shame it's out of my budget. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CMKiwi Posted October 9, 2014 Share Posted October 9, 2014 Hey make an offer you might be lucky. I did a bit of digging on baht sold and see it originally came from Issan about a year ago, methinks the current owner was the buyer. If so he got it for 85K and is now advertising it for 80k but open to offers. If I was looking to buy bigger and after a model like this, then Id possibly use the fact it was 85 a year ago and try to get the price down. He will likely come back and say its all legit with green book, hence his starting price. As the saying goes.... if you dont ask you will never know. I also saw a 08 CRF450 road legal bike on BS...... very tempted as thats my kinda bike, 220k price tag is a bit outta my range too although the seller did drop it down to that price. Still we can all dream. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HughJass Posted October 15, 2014 Share Posted October 15, 2014 if u like the cruiser type bike then go for a Honda Phantom they are only 200cc single cylinder but are reliable easy to maintain,plenty of spares and add on parts to customise it they come up on the classifieds quite often and always come with the green book which a 250 Virago may not have prices range from 35k to 60k baht Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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