where to get used motorcycle?

[jacko 8,814]

"If they were not allowed to use the bikes, they would not be going to school. "

 

Not sure that I follow your thinking on this one.! This is an urban school, most of the pupils live very close by and could easily walk or ride a bicycle. Alternatively, their parents could take them on the motorbike. Why on earth do they have to ride a motorbike illegally. I bet most of us here walked or rode bikes to school, are thai children so spoiled ?

To make matters worse, if these children run into you while you are driving your car or motorbike you can guarantee it will all be your fault and you will have to pay up big for compensation.

Well they don't seem to do walking, there are hardly any pavements or road crossings and pavements are taken over by noodle sellers or the workmen or as a display area for the nearby shop. Parents don't seem to like to do the drop off.... nor do they seem to see anything wrong in letting little somcahi ride off on the bike. Passed a bike ridden by a 7 year old just now and another 3-up, the driver I think was about 6, I say I think as I was unsure which of the 3 infants was in control.

Actually it would likely not be your 'fault' if you hit one, as little sombrat does not have a licence. But since he doesn't have any money, you will need to pay his fine to get the police report to get the insurance to cover the damage.

[Gary 4,119]

I'd been thinking about buying a PCX. It's the first small bike I've seen that just somehow looks like it would be fun. Several of my neighbors parked theirs with my rented 2 yr old Yamaha Nuovo. Incidentally, it was about time to buy a bike, since I've been renting constantly for ... 6 YEARS (at 3000/month)!

 

I was talking to a friend about the bike, and he mentioned that the bike parking area that I use (and probably the other ones in the area), wouldn't accept a PCX for parking...they think it's a big bike

 

I took a picture of one and showed it to my parking attendant, and I asked if I could park one there. He confirmed that they would not accept a PCX.

 

I doubt it would ever be a problem up country, but around here, parking is at a premium, even for bikes.

 

The PCX is a little bigger, BUT, not that much bigger. Maybe it's a good thing that they won't park it with the mopeds. You may get a better space for just a little grease.

[Gary 4,119]

Getting back to motorbikes, today I am the owner of a new Nouvo Elegance. I had a ride on a Honda PCX. I liked it really well but some of the things like the automatic stop and start seem like a waste to me. The kickstand interlock also irritated me. Simple things are normally better. The Elegance has tubeless tires and no fuel injection to stump the local mechanics. The Elegance also seems to be a little faster with the 135cc engine. Yamaha has more experience with the automatic transmission and I trust their engineering more than the Honda. The bottom line was the price. Paying 72,000 baht for a fairly complicated motorbike was a bit over the top for me. I don't ride a lot and certainly NOT in cities so the main thing for me is to be able to jump on the bike and go. I want it to start and don't want to think about electrical glitches for unnecessary gadgets. One of the things about the Honda was that stupid bump on the seat. The seat also slants to the front and gets my skivvies in a bind.

 

Added - The Honda has fatter tires but they are on 14 inch rims. The Elegance has 16 inch wheels. If I ever put different tires on, I'll get fatter tires.

Edited December 20, 2010 by Gary

[MM 6,562]

Yamaha Elegance, very nice.

 

I like the kickstand override on the Honda, because once I was driving home (on a Yamaha Nuovo) and managed to go about a km before I had to make a left turn. When I did, I realized, suddenly and horrifyingly, that my kickstand was still down.

 

Yeah, I know...putting the kickstand up before driving is a good idea.

 

BTW, the Elegance was selling for 52K and 56K (without or with mag wheels) here at a local shop. Is that about what they charge in the hinterland?

[harro1 256]

Getting back to motorbikes, today I am the owner of a new Nouvo Elegance. I had a ride on a Honda PCX. I liked it really well but some of the things like the automatic stop and start seem like a waste to me. The kickstand interlock also irritated me. Simple things are normally better. The Elegance has tubeless tires and no fuel injection to stump the local mechanics. The Elegance also seems to be a little faster with the 135cc engine. Yamaha has more experience with the automatic transmission and I trust their engineering more than the Honda. The bottom line was the price. Paying 72,000 baht for a fairly complicated motorbike was a bit over the top for me. I don't ride a lot and certainly NOT in cities so the main thing for me is to be able to jump on the bike and go. I want it to start and don't want to think about electrical glitches for unnecessary gadgets. One of the things about the Honda was that stupid bump on the seat. The seat also slants to the front and gets my skivvies in a bind.

 

Added - The Honda has fatter tires but they are on 14 inch rims. The Elegance has 16 inch wheels. If I ever put different tires on, I'll get fatter tires.

 

I don't have a heap of experience with motorbikes but know a bit about tires. I would think that all new bikes would come with tubeles tires. Only older 4wd vehicles and trucks with split rims need tubes.

 

The larger the rim diametre the better the ride over bumps. Your tires and wheels are the first line of suspension. Imagine you had a bike with the best suspension setup available but a skateboard wheel on the front. First speed hump or pot hole you hit you would be over the handle bars.

 

Generally stick with standard unless you are going to push the limits. If you change the rolling circumference you put your speedo out as well. Although this is probably irrelavant when talking about bikes in LOS.

[Gary 4,119]

Yamaha Elegance, very nice.

 

I like the kickstand override on the Honda, because once I was driving home (on a Yamaha Nuovo) and managed to go about a km before I had to make a left turn. When I did, I realized, suddenly and horrifyingly, that my kickstand was still down.

 

Yeah, I know...putting the kickstand up before driving is a good idea.

 

BTW, the Elegance was selling for 52K and 56K (without or with mag wheels) here at a local shop. Is that about what they charge in the hinterland?

 

Tubeless tires are a must for me. Tubes in Thailand are really shit. The Suzuki Best has the alloy wheels but tube type tires. Punctures are one thing but flat tires for no obvious reason suck. Here in the boonies, the Elegance is out the door with alloy wheels and tubeless tires for 56,000 baht.

 

I have taken off with the kickstand down and the first left turn kicked it up with no problems except to make me feel stupid. The main advantage for the new Honda is a bigger fuel tank. The under seat storage is quite big but the Elegance will also hold a full size helmet with no problem. The Elegance has a bar in back of the seat and has several places to attach bungee cords to haul things. There is also a hook for bags in front of your feet. Those attach points are missing on the Honda.

[Gary 4,119]

I don't have a heap of experience with motorbikes but know a bit about tires. I would think that all new bikes would come with tubeles tires. Only older 4wd vehicles and trucks with split rims need tubes.

 

The larger the rim diametre the better the ride over bumps. Your tires and wheels are the first line of suspension. Imagine you had a bike with the best suspension setup available but a skateboard wheel on the front. First speed hump or pot hole you hit you would be over the handle bars.

 

Generally stick with standard unless you are going to push the limits. If you change the rolling circumference you put your speedo out as well. Although this is probably irrelavant when talking about bikes in LOS.

 

 

We are not talking about motorcycles. We are talking about motorbikes or maybe more accurately scooters. These are great little get around town vehicles or go to the market vehicles. Maybe the 135 Elegance or the Honda PCX are suitable for trips of 30 kilometers or so, but longer hi way trips are best left to motorcycles of maybe 600 cc minimum. The bigger bikes are not so handy if you are doing only local trips. My longest trips are normally less than 10 kilometers one way. A big bike would definitely be a waste. Unfortunately the little scooters here come with tubed tires. I suspect the reason is that they are cheaper.

[jacko 8,814]

Yamaha Elegance, very nice.

 

I like the kickstand override on the Honda, because once I was driving home (on a Yamaha Nuovo) and managed to go about a km before I had to make a left turn. When I did, I realized, suddenly and horrifyingly, that my kickstand was still down.

 

Yeah, I know...putting the kickstand up before driving is a good idea.

 

BTW, the Elegance was selling for 52K and 56K (without or with mag wheels) here at a local shop. Is that about what they charge in the hinterland?

I have had the kickstand hit the deck (Nuovo) many times and would love some warning light or something to stop me riding off that way. I went all the way from Klang, down Soi Lang Talat back onto second, and turned into the Grand Sole, a right turn, and bounced off the concreste raised part there as I straightened up just last week. I stayed up but it was a fair bounce..... one day I will come off and break a limb. Edited December 20, 2010 by jacko

[MM 6,562]

I have had the kickstand hit the deck (Nuovo) many times and would love some warning light or something to stop me riding off that way. I went all the way from Klang, down Soi Lang Talat back onto second, and turned into the Grand Sole, a right turn, and bounced off the concreste raised part there as I straightened up just last week. I stayed up but it was a fair bounce..... one day I will come off and break a limb.

 

It seems such a simple thing to do, raising the kickstand, and yet, sometimes it feels like it's come up when it is still down.

 

You were really lucky, as was I, to not have a terrible accident as a result of this minor negligence.

[jacko 8,814]

It seems such a simple thing to do, raising the kickstand, and yet, sometimes it feels like it's come up when it is still down.

 

You were really lucky, as was I, to not have a terrible accident as a result of this minor negligence.

I have found I am more at risk of this lapse after refuelling. With all the alternatives around town I do not know why I feel a need to flirt with the Shell girls!

[biggles 509]

Jesus, this was an intelligent post about a page ago...... can you guys just continue the love affair with Pms and spare the rest of us this crap !!

 

"A big bike would definitely be a waste. " My good friend has a 200cc Phantom and when we ride around pattaya I always have to wait for him. its just too wide to fit into the small gaps between the lines of cars.

[Gary 4,119]

Yamaha Elegance, very nice.

 

I like the kickstand override on the Honda, because once I was driving home (on a Yamaha Nuovo) and managed to go about a km before I had to make a left turn. When I did, I realized, suddenly and horrifyingly, that my kickstand was still down.

 

Yeah, I know...putting the kickstand up before driving is a good idea.

 

BTW, the Elegance was selling for 52K and 56K (without or with mag wheels) here at a local shop. Is that about what they charge in the hinterland?

 

You're right. The Nouvo kickstand is dangerous. It pivots quite a ways forward of straight down. The Suzuki pivots to nearly straight down. I nearly dropped the Nouvo in my driveway because of the kickstand. It is fairly easy to push the Suzuki forward off the kickstand and the bike will fall over. The Nouvo is difficult to push forward because the bike raises nearly straight up until the pivot reaches center point. Which is better? I think I would prefer the bike to fall over without me on it than with me on it. So I was wrong, the Nouvo kickstand could cause a nasty spill.

[jacko 8,814]

Jesus, this was an intelligent post about a page ago...... can you guys just continue the love affair with Pms and spare the rest of us this crap !!

 

"A big bike would definitely be a waste. " My good friend has a 200cc Phantom and when we ride around pattaya I always have to wait for him. its just too wide to fit into the small gaps between the lines of cars.

Well it was a dead thread that was started in May 2006 actually.

Good point on the bike, I bought a truck as I felt some twunt would kill me on Sukhumvit, but now we are ino the dry season I prefer to take the bike (avoiding Sukhumvit).

Edited December 22, 2010 by jacko

[Gary 4,119]

Now that I have had a chance to ride a couple hundred kilometers, I can say that I am pleased with the Yamaha Elegance. The automatic takes some getting used to. When I first start off, my feet are looking for the foot pegs as well as when slowing down, my right foot is looking for the brake. I keep forgetting that the left hand lever is the rear brake and that there are NO foot pegs. Logic tells me that the automatics are safer because the chances of having your leg between the bike and some idiot that broadsides you is MUCH less. There are a lot of one legged Thais that have lost legs because of having their leg crushed between the bike and whatever hits them.

 

The Elegance rides much smoother than the Suzuki Best that I am used to. The power cranked out by that little 135 cc is amazing. My favorite watering hole is up on a mountain. Going up is third gear range for my pickup truck. The Yamaha is able to maintain 60 KPH and still have a little throttle left. The older 100 cc and 110 cc bikes that most of the Thais ride can barely go up. I must admit that I can't control my grin when easily passing the new little Honda automatics. On these narrow bumpy potholed country roads, about 60 KPH is fast enough. I did run it up to a little over a hundred KPH on the highway and it was still going. From zero to eighty it goes very quick.

 

This is the first Yamaha I ever had. In the US my first big bike was a BMW. Other than that it was all Honda bikes. Here in Thailand it has also been mostly Honda but I also had a Kawasaki Boss and a Suzuki Best in addition to the present Yamaha. I think this bike is a good choice for old men like me.

[redwood13 56]

Mate of mine has been lurking at the local motocy auction. He's noted as the number of farangs in attendance has increased, so have the prices paid. Yes, I know we're all shocked

 

"Went to the m/bike auction on Thepprasit road today. Last time I went, there were about 80 people of which 20 were farang - with prices pretty reasonable. This time it was about 80 people of which 50 were farang and not surprisingly the prices were much higher. One dozy sod paid 41k + 7% + 2k costs total 45,870 baht for a second hand Nouvo."

 

-redwood

[jacko 8,814]

"Went to the m/bike auction on Thepprasit road today. Last time I went, there were about 80 people of which 20 were farang - with prices pretty reasonable. This time it was about 80 people of which 50 were farang and not surprisingly the prices were much higher. One dozy sod paid 41k + 7% + 2k costs total 45,870 baht for a second hand Nouvo."

 

-redwood

Pretty close to the new price..... some people need to do research first.

[josephask 0]

Hi,

There are many shops available for second hand bike. But I think you should to buy only new bike.

[harro1 256]

Looking for some specs on the Nouvo Elegance. Anyone know the weight of it?

[MM 6,562]

Looking for some specs on the Nouvo Elegance. Anyone know the weight of it?

 

I have one and can't pick it up

 

I did a google search and it comes up at around 111kg for the 2008 model in a wikipedia article.

 

 

 

[jacko 8,814]

I heard that the Threppasit auctions have gone.... is that true...where are they now?