Buying a Motorbike - any advice?

Post by **norm** » Sat Oct 03, 2009 8:48 am

T.I.G.R
I can see you riding down the road on your shiny new dream with 10 cases of diet coke balanced behind you.

Post by **Noz** » Sat Oct 03, 2009 9:23 am

Thanks to everyone for their recommendations. I'm also getting good feedback on the Yamaha Nouvo Elegance 135cc - anyone owned or ridden one of these?

Post by **T.I.G.R.** » Sat Oct 03, 2009 10:13 am

Awww Norm; You've just destroyed my "Dream"

Post by **Noz** » Sun Oct 04, 2009 2:23 pm

Thanks for the replies above. I plan to test drive a few this week. My rental bike is a Honda Click Forward (I don't see Click i or PGM-FI anywhere, so not sure if this is an older non-FI model?) and I have to say it's not bad but I feel slightly unsafe at higher speeds in that the steering feels a bit light and wobbly. I'm 85kg and feel that I should be imposing more of my weight forwards to compensate. I guess the weekly shopping in the area between the seat and the steering will do just this and this aspect of the design might actually be something I need, so I'm tending to stray from bikes which don't have this space. I wonder though whether a bike like the Yahama Nouvo Elegance is better in respect of this apparent front end lightness given it appears to have larger front wheels and is a bigger bike? Anyone know?

Post by **Noz** » Sun Oct 04, 2009 2:40 pm

Forgot to ask - is there a Suzuki motorcycle dealership in Hua Hin? I also like the look of the Suzuki Skydrive (125cc fuel injected) and wouldn't mind trying that out too? Anyone own or ridden one?

Post by **T.I.G.R.** » Sun Oct 04, 2009 3:13 pm

One of my wife's friend's husband is a mechanic at the Suzuki dealership in Cha Am.

If you have any specific questions fire away and I'll have her ask him.

Post by **f0xxee** » Mon Oct 05, 2009 7:53 am

Noz wrote:Thanks for the replies above. I plan to test drive a few this week. My rental bike is a Honda Click Forward (I don't see Click i or PGM-FI anywhere, so not sure if this is an older non-FI model?) and I have to say it's not bad but I feel slightly unsafe at higher speeds in that the steering feels a bit light and wobbly. I'm 85kg and feel that I should be imposing more of my weight forwards to compensate. I guess the weekly shopping in the area between the seat and the steering will do just this and this aspect of the design might actually be something I need, so I'm tending to stray from bikes which don't have this space. I wonder though whether a bike like the Yahama Nouvo Elegance is better in respect of this apparent front end lightness given it appears to have larger front wheels and is a bigger bike? Anyone know?

Hi There Noz,

Look scooters is scooters: they are really meant for speeds of less than 70kph, and there is not much you can do to make them handle better. Putting more weight over the front wheel doesn't do much excet take up a little more compression on the compression springs and make the ride that little bit bumpier. Thier brakes are just average and handling non-existant. I have ridden about everything available scooter-wise both in Thailand and Vietnam in the last few years, and for shopping they are what you need... But to even venture as far north as Cha Am or South to Pranburi they are painful and dangerous.
If you want to ride a motorbike as opposed to a scooter try one of the Honda CBR 150's that are a proper MOTORBIKE for about 60,000 Baht. I have always had one big bike (>900 cc) and a small bike and find the CBR 150 as the tiddler hard to beat.

Post by **Randy Cornhole** » Mon Oct 05, 2009 8:11 am

Believe you me I looked at all the bikes available and the best most reliable on the market (with a good resale value) is the Honda Wave 125s...

Post by **PeteC** » Mon Oct 05, 2009 8:33 am

This may be ancient history and things have changed?

Back in the 1996-98 timeframe we had two motorbikes, one was a Suzuki and the other a Honda, both 2 stroke and bought at the same time. Good opportunity to compare, and there was no comparison in terms of reliability. The Suzuki broke down frequently, and cosmetically various bolts and nuts stated to show corrosion only a few months after purchase. Nothing like that with the Honda.

Hopefully Suzuki quality has improved by now. Pete

Post by **STEVE G** » Mon Oct 05, 2009 11:58 am

Yes, the Hondas just keep on going; the first Wave I bought is up in the village now and after five years and over 40,000 km, much of it on unmade roads, there is still nothing really wrong with it.
It's never had more than basic services and a set of tyres.

Post by **Francois** » Mon Oct 05, 2009 6:19 pm

STEVE G wrote:Yes, the Hondas just keep on going; the first Wave I bought is up in the village now and after five years and over 40,000 km, much of it on unmade roads, there is still nothing really wrong with it.
It's never had more than basic services and a set of tyres.

I bought a Honda Airblade (May 2008)which is quite expensive (ca. 56 k) but I wanted to have the best ration price/safety.

With about 10000 kms in 16 months I'm more than happy. A safe and good bike. Nothing wrong, just usual maintenance.

Post by **f0xxee** » Mon Oct 05, 2009 6:31 pm

[quote="Randy Cornhole"]Believe you me I looked at all the bikes available and the best most reliable on the market (with a good resale value) is the Honda Wave 125s...

..... so there you go. Better buy a Honda. I have owned yamaha Nuovo and Honda Wave and the Wave is better. The quality is more refined.

HOWEVER: if you plan on doing more than 10k radius around HH maybe splurge the 60K Baht and go for the Honda CBR150. I would have no hesitation riding a CBR150 to PKK or Petchaburi.

How do I insert a photo in here? Was going to post my pride and joy....[/img]

Post by **Noz** » Mon Oct 05, 2009 7:17 pm

T.I.G.R. wrote:One of my wife's friend's husband is a mechanic at the Suzuki dealership in Cha Am.

If you have any specific questions fire away and I'll have her ask him.

Thanks T.I.G.R. That's very kind of you. Not sure if a Suzuki mechanic can given an impartial opinion but I'd be interested to know how he rates the Suzuki Skydrive 125 and also how he feels it compares to the Honda Click-i and the Yamaha Nouvo Elegance 135cc.

Thanks.

Post by **T.I.G.R.** » Wed Oct 07, 2009 9:23 am

Hi Noz -

Sorry to take so long but the weather has kept out friends from getting out much lately.

I apologize, must have had a brain fade...our friend is a Yamaha mechanic, not Suzuki.

Talked to the Mrs. this morning after a conversation with him thru his wife. He doesn't have any specific comparisons for you except to note both the Yamaha and Honda hold their values well. He says the Yamaha is built a little stronger than the Honda in his opinion.

All three you asked about are popular models here. I would say just from observation the Fino and Wave are by far the most popular. If you are looking for a heavier bike they are starting to sell them here, but you still don't see many of them around. You could go to Bangkok I believe and get yourself a Harley if you wanted.......at 85 kg you might feel a lot safer on one of them.

Post by **Noz** » Wed Oct 07, 2009 6:25 pm

Thanks very much for taking the time to speak to the mechanic T.I.G.R. Much appreciated. His thoughts pretty much echo what I'm hearing and reading. As of right now I'm leaning towards the Yamaha Nouvo Elegance 135cc as it's the biggest and sturdiest of the automatics I mentioned. I plan to either hire one or test drive one this week.

Cheers again

Noz