Thread: Honda

Up until a few years ago the same thing was true for cars and pickups.
No test drives anywhere.
Apparently Thais buy something if it looks nice and gives them a big face, whether it does the job is not important

have a look at this vid, might explain there reasons.
jamie whitham R1 test drive. u tube, its a cracker,

Originally Posted by Satonic

Is there no one you can rent the bike from for a day to try? I have done this before with bike purchases as you get a much better idea over the course of a day than a 30 minute test ride.

edit- Oh and from what I have been reading I don't think you will get it below 135,000 no matter where you try.

its a honda dirtbike, apart from the seating position, what characteristics could it have that would turn up in a test drive that would make you not buy it, assuming that a dirtbike is what you really want.

Cheers guys. I'm not after a strictly dirt bike or I would simply buy a used one without the book to play with. I'm looking for something that will if I want take me off road to a fair degree when I want to, take me round the island as and when and also if I want to throw some panniers on it go for a road trip. I'm going to go check out a couple of places today to see if I can rent one just to get a feel for the motor, the torque the power etc.
Anyone got one ?

Does it come with a dirtwife pillion?

Bung bought one recently and posted about it.

https://teakdoor.com/motoring-in-thai...-crf250-l.html (Honda CRF250-L)

^^ only if you pay the garage fine

There's a new TDK dealer in Phuket. Lots of nice 250's, but you're gonna pay for it. He lets you test ride.

Originally Posted by ltnt

There's a new TDK dealer in Phuket. Lots of nice 250's, but you're gonna pay for it. He lets you test ride.

TDK = KTM?

Originally Posted by Satonic

Originally Posted by Necron99

Originally Posted by Satonic

Is there no one you can rent the bike from for a day to try? I have done this before with bike purchases as you get a much better idea over the course of a day than a 30 minute test ride.

edit- Oh and from what I have been reading I don't think you will get it below 135,000 no matter where you try.

its a honda dirtbike, apart from the seating position, what characteristics could it have that would turn up in a test drive that would make you not buy it, assuming that a dirtbike is what you really want.

Its not a dirt bike. The dirt bike would be the CRF250R.

The CRF250L is marketed as a dual sport motorcycle - Meaning its been designed for 50/50 on/off road use (Same as your Lifan or my KLX).

With the short seat, no rack and no rear pegs it certainly looks more dirt than road.
My point was more that being a honda, you're not likely to come away from a test drive saying the clutch is shite or it lacks power for it's size or can't turn corners...

^ Yep I wasn't knocking your post, I was just pointing out there are 2 different types of CRF for sale here. (the CRF L does have rear pegs)

Originally Posted by Satonic

^ Yep I wasn't knocking your post, I was just pointing out there are 2 different types of CRF for sale here. (the CRF L does have rear pegs)

So it does. my bad. She'd want to be little, but i suppose most of them here are.

Originally Posted by Satonic

Originally Posted by ltnt

There's a new TDK dealer in Phuket. Lots of nice 250's, but you're gonna pay for it. He lets you test ride.

TDK = KTM?

Right, dyslexic. Stupid me...fms.

Originally Posted by Necron99

Originally Posted by Satonic

Originally Posted by Necron99

Originally Posted by Satonic

Is there no one you can rent the bike from for a day to try? I have done this before with bike purchases as you get a much better idea over the course of a day than a 30 minute test ride.

edit- Oh and from what I have been reading I don't think you will get it below 135,000 no matter where you try.

its a honda dirtbike, apart from the seating position, what characteristics could it have that would turn up in a test drive that would make you not buy it, assuming that a dirtbike is what you really want.

Its not a dirt bike. The dirt bike would be the CRF250R.

The CRF250L is marketed as a dual sport motorcycle - Meaning its been designed for 50/50 on/off road use (Same as your Lifan or my KLX).

With the short seat, no rack and no rear pegs it certainly looks more dirt than road.
My point was more that being a honda, you're not likely to come away from a test drive saying the clutch is shite or it lacks power for it's size or can't turn corners...

You may not be able to come away after a test ride saying this or that is wrong but I can assure you I could. I would only need to ride it around the island once to know if it is the bike for me. When I laid out 1.2 Million for my Triumph rocket 3 I was given access to all their bike range and a 30 minute ride convinced me to part with my cash. Who in their right minds buys anything they have never ridden or tried ?

^ I certainly wouldn't. I have rented or test ridden every bike I have owned from my scooter to my big bikes.

Originally Posted by The Big Fella

I'm going to go check out a couple of places today to see if I can rent one just to get a feel for the motor, the torque the power etc. Anyone got one ?

Their are at least 4 'Big Bike' rental places on Samui. At least one in Lamai, one in Bangrak and two in Maenam.
They all have a choice of makes, engines and styles.
Probably one in Chaweng too.

Originally Posted by chassamui

Originally Posted by The Big Fella

I'm going to go check out a couple of places today to see if I can rent one just to get a feel for the motor, the torque the power etc. Anyone got one ?

Their are at least 4 'Big Bike' rental places on Samui. At least one in Lamai, one in Bangrak and two in Maenam.
They all have a choice of makes, engines and styles.
Probably one in Chaweng too.

There are at least 20 that I know of yet haven't seen a single Honda CRF in any of them otherwise I would have simply rented it for the day.
I'm not as green as I'm cabbage looking my friend !
Just spoken to Uhm in Chawang and a friend of his has one he is going to let me have a spin on.

You may want to give the KLX a quick spin too if you can get your hands on one just to be sure.

I was wrong about the 135k price tag above where I said its about the lowest. It seems a guy from another forum has just bought one for 130,000 (with all the registration etc) and got 8000 bahts worth of add ons discounted to 5000. In Pattaya.

I know of a couple of places that rent out the Kawasaki's so will give one a spin. Whats the back up like though here ? Honda seem to have the bike side of Thailand sewn up can Kawasaki compete there ? I had a spin on a mates 650 but the riding position just didn't feel right. Cheers BF

Yup, better to rent for a day if you can.

Not many offer test rides.

Kawa do (around their parking lot), but that's about it. Honda have the odd promotion day like when their CBR150/250 was released and people could ride them. Only select dealers will have a test bike, and probably not for their bigger more expensive bikes that they probably only get one or two a month of.

Rent one for a day and thrash the knackers off it.

Originally Posted by The Big Fella

I know of a couple of places that rent out the Kawasaki's so will give one a spin. Whats the back up like though here ? Honda seem to have the bike side of Thailand sewn up can Kawasaki compete there ? I had a spin on a mates 650 but the riding position just didn't feel right. Cheers BF

Honda definatly have the most dealerships / repair centers. Being in BKK I live 5 minutes away from KAWASAKI REAL motosports so that's where all my money goes. I wouldn't imagine Kawasaki is too far behind Honda in terms of support.

Kawasaki also hosts some really fun days out, and things like off road training and workshops, days out to show off new models, group rides to raise money for charity. I don't think honda does anything like this. Kawasaki Thailand

A list of dealers for Kawasaki can be found here - Kawasaki Thailand

And Honda here - "ªÕÇԵʹء ¶éÒäÁèËÂØ´¤é¹ËÒ Discover Your Fun"