The latest hit - protection from sun and rain - now there's only the police to worry about!

[webfact]

The latest hit - protection from sun and rain - now there's only the police to worry about!

 

Picture: Thai Rath

 

CHIANG RAI: -- Thai Rath reported that traders on the border at Mae Sai in Chiang Rai are doing a roaring trade in the latest fad.

 

Plastic protection from the sun and rain for motorcycle riders.

 

The attachments fit on a bike to give all round protection, can be bought for as little as 250 baht and are getting the thumbs up from purchasers.

 

Thai Rath said that it has to be safer than having one hand on an umbrella and one hand on the handlebars.

 

The only problem appears to be what the police might think.

 

Thai Rath said that orders had been flooding into Chiang Rai from all over Thailand. All the shops in Mae Sai were selling them.

 

A representative from the Department of Land Transport in Chiang Rai Satawan Manokhreuang said there was nothing illegal about them as they were temporary fittings. If they were permanent alterations they would need to be registered by the bike owners.

 

Traders selling what appeared to be Thai made attachments said that the prices were as follows:

 

Grade A: 270-280 baht

Grade B: 250-260 baht

Grade C: 250-260 baht.

 

Thai Rath gave no explanation about the different grades or why B and C were the same price.

 

Ong, 32, a trader from Burma said that the best ones were more expensive and from Taiwan and China. She was getting the Taiwanese ones for 350 baht wholesale and selling them for 450.

 

Chakrit Dechfeuang, 40, said that he bought his for 500 baht a month ago and used it when taking his kid to school.

 

He said he had no complaints about it, it worked well so long as you didn't go too fast.

 

"The wife loves it," he said, "she says it keeps her skin white".

 

Visibility of the road was not impaired, he said, but he added a cautionary note:

 

"The only thing I am worried about is the police - they might claim I have adapted my bike and fine me".

 

The story is being widely shared on social media meaning more orders for the traders in Chiang Rai.

 

But watch this space for the expected reaction from the authorities as the devices hit the bigger Thai cities......

 

Source: Thai Rath

 

 

-- © Copyright Thai Visa News 2017-07-27

[johng]

Maybe a bit dangerous ! 

In a strong wind  that could either fly off or produce massive side force  to topple or push you under the wheels of the speeding Minivan/concrete truck/tour-bus or "four too naa"

[darksidedog]

I remember discussing exactly this with a friend a few years ago, after I had got completely drowned one day riding home in miserable weather. I said that if someone could make something sturdy, functional, safe and cheap they would make a fortune, as every bike would want one. We even got to some preliminary sketches on a design to see how it would need to be attached. I am glad that someone has now done it, and I will be buying one when I see them for sale. I note though the comment that they were good "if you didn't go too fast" which seems sensible given the wind factor.

Edited July 27, 2017 by darksidedog

[impulse]

19 minutes ago, webfact said:

"The wife loves it," he said, "she says it keeps her skin white".

 

Get ready to see millions of them...

 

[Moonlover]

I saw one in Udon Thani a few weeks back. I had the same thought as Johng. Cross winds or turbulence from passing large vehicles could be an issue.

 

I'll stick to my trusty 'Peter Storm' jacket when it rains. Or stay home!

 

[sceadugenga]

I saw a couple in town on Sunday.

 

 

[JoePai]

57 minutes ago, darksidedog said:

I remember discussing exactly this with a friend a few years ago, after I had got completely drowned one day riding home in miserable weather. I said that if someone could make something sturdy, functional, safe and cheap they would make a fortune, as every bike would want one. We even got to some preliminary sketches on a design to see how it would need to be attached. I am glad that someone has now done it, and I will be buying one when I see them for sale. I note though the comment that they were good "if you didn't go too fast" which seems sensible given the wind factor.

if someone could make something sturdy, functional, safe and cheap they would make a fortune

 

They have already - it is called a "car'

[rijb]

This could be the next evolution of the umbrella, if someone decides to make it wearable.  

[impulse]

A few years back in the USA, I was considering importing aftermarket LED lighting that hadn't been approved yet by the DOT.  I found out that if I sold something for use on a motor vehicle that wasn't DOT approved, not only could the user be fined, but I could be fined up to $5,000 (weak memory, but that's the number that sticks in my mind) for every one that I sold.  Quickly abandoned that plan.

 

Somehow, I can't see that being the case here, but if a few of these things get blown over in a heavy wind, killing 2 or 3 riders at a whack, I wouldn't want to be the importer or the manufacturer.  Especially if they get blown right into a HiSo Mercedes...

 

[Moonlover]

13 minutes ago, rijb said:

This could be the next evolution of the umbrella, if someone decides to make it wearable.  

It's called a raincoat!

[sn1per]

it would probably be a lot safer and aerodynamic if they removed the "peak" from the front, this could be replaced with a sun visor strip, crosswinds and gusts could still be a problem though

Edited July 27, 2017 by sn1per
text addition

[sceadugenga]

I can't think of a single place that the word "safe" could be included in a description of that thing.

[dotpoom]

"Thai Rath said that it has to be safer than having one hand on an umbrella and one hand on the handlebars".

    Something disturbing about that logic, but I can't quite put my finger on it.

[Krataiboy]

Or how, in a strong wind, to turn a scooter into a paraglider.

[anon467367354]

It's like adding a sail to a motorbike. I can't think of anything stupider at the moment.

[johng]

A great fuel saving device and perfect excuse for why they are zig zaging all over the road (tacking)

[Elfin]

I moved to Xuzhou in February this year and was surprised to see these things on electric bikes and scooters everywhere. As I have never seen them anywhere else in China in the past 12 years, I thought they must be a local thing but I was so surprised to also see them here in Chiang Mai while on R&R for a month.

I too thought originally that a big gust of wind would turn them into Mary Poppins copycats!

[fxe1200]

The main point is, that you get stuck with your knee-pads in the plastic while cornering.

[Anders W Ferslev]

sure it s fun to drive this one when the wind is blowing :) 5555555555555

[AWillOz]

5 hours ago, darksidedog said:

I remember discussing exactly this with a friend a few years ago, after I had got completely drowned one day riding home in miserable weather. I said that if someone could make something sturdy, functional, safe and cheap they would make a fortune, as every bike would want one. We even got to some preliminary sketches on a design to see how it would need to be attached. I am glad that someone has now done it, and I will be buying one when I see them for sale. I note though the comment that they were good "if you didn't go too fast" which seems sensible given the wind factor.

Just be sure to check if your friend's name is on the manufacturer's list!  The age old invention swipe! (of course just joking... i have come up with many ideas myself, only to see them on market a short time later which has led me to believe that usually many people think alike around the world. What i think, others will think also. It's just a matter of who does first.)

[Shiver]

"Thai Rath gave no explanation about the different grades or why B and C were the same price." ....LOL.  The use of 'grades' in this kind of application does make me a little concerned though.

 

I've seen something very similar in Udon a few years back where the lady at "99+1" bar rented out bikes with them on with stiff plastic as the wind shield that extended overhead.  As I recall though, I don't think they had sides on that version, which would be fine so long as it wasn't sideways rain.

[Shiver]

14 minutes ago, fxe1200 said:

The main point is, that you get stuck with your knee-pads in the plastic while cornering.

I've never tried taking my scooter 63 degrees out of vertical for cornering.  You first...

[steveyinasia]

Ridiculous they would considered this to stop them getting wet yet a helmet is not considered to save their lives. Stupidity on display.

[Cranky]

Excellent idea.  Now it is possible to use the phone in the rain without risk of danger. To the phone.  I think there is actually room for a second deck, London Bus style, to put extra family members and a buffalo or two.

[Kabula]

The taxi drivers who have them will be more popular with customers.

[lucjoker]

.......though millions will be sold .....

only a few will attach it to their moppet .

the rest will attach two tents together and live in it ...........

A house for 500 bht ?

 

[saminoz]

5 hours ago, impulse said:

A few years back in the USA, I was considering importing aftermarket LED lighting that hadn't been approved yet by the DOT.  I found out that if I sold something for use on a motor vehicle that wasn't DOT approved, not only could the user be fined, but I could be fined up to $5,000 (weak memory, but that's the number that sticks in my mind) for every one that I sold.  Quickly abandoned that plan.

 

Somehow, I can't see that being the case here, but if a few of these things get blown over in a heavy wind, killing 2 or 3 riders at a whack, I wouldn't want to be the importer or the manufacturer.  Especially if they get blown right into a HiSo Mercedes...

 

At least they'll already be wrapped in their very own body bag!

[Zack61]

6 hours ago, johng said:

Maybe a bit dangerous ! 

In a strong wind  that could either fly off or produce massive side force  to topple or push you under the wheels of the speeding Minivan/concrete truck/tour-bus or "four too naa"

I concur. They will be the cause of many accidents. 

[robblok]

6 hours ago, darksidedog said:

I remember discussing exactly this with a friend a few years ago, after I had got completely drowned one day riding home in miserable weather. I said that if someone could make something sturdy, functional, safe and cheap they would make a fortune, as every bike would want one. We even got to some preliminary sketches on a design to see how it would need to be attached. I am glad that someone has now done it, and I will be buying one when I see them for sale. I note though the comment that they were good "if you didn't go too fast" which seems sensible given the wind factor.

Yes how many people do you think would actually adhere to the speed. These things are dangerous to other road users. I really would not want this to become legal. There might be a few users (you probably you seem sensible) that use them in the right way, but many will speed and these things then get blown off and hit someone else obstructing their vision. 

[cmrichsw]

Sounds like a good way to slow down the drivers. Speeding bikers here is really a problem.