So I now have 10,000 km's on the stock Dunlops on my Versys and the rear tire is toast! Time to re-tire.
After searching around the GT-Rider site I have some ideas and pick up the phone to see what's available. Bummer... Not what I want to hear.
Spent some time driving around Hua Hin looking for a shop that could supply/install new tires and not very impressed. The guys at Pinter Bikes in Hua Hin didn't speak much English but took my details and were the only shop in town that called me back. "Me Pen Ha. My me Khap!" They did offer an alternative though which wasn't what I want so I declined. Oh well, at least they tried and did call me back. All of the shops I looked at didn't seem to have the capability to balance tires properly. At 10,000 BHT for a set of tires I want it done proper.
Back on the phone... This time to Show Pow. Khun Charlie offered alternate tires that were acceptable to me so I arranged to have them installed today. Up at 6am and on the bike heading for Bangkok at 7. At Show Pow a bit after 10am. Traffic sucked! The boys put the bike straight up on the stands and went to work. Great service and nice friendly people. An hour and a half later and back on the bike (the boys were quick but I spent some time talking to the owners). Big traffic on the way back and got myself a bit off track even with the GPS, Opps. Almost 500 km's later and back in Hua Hin at 4pm. 500 km and all day to change a set of tire? Am I crazy?
So my question to fellow board members is this: If I set up a proper big bike tire shop in Hua Hin/Cha Am would there be enough business to justify it? There are plenty of big bikes here but I haven't seen any shops that I would let touch my bike. I'm talking only tire service. Not general bike repairs. Proper equipment so your rims don't get damaged and electronic balancing. Thoughts?
Attached files
After searching around the GT-Rider site I have some ideas and pick up the phone to see what's available. Bummer... Not what I want to hear.
Spent some time driving around Hua Hin looking for a shop that could supply/install new tires and not very impressed. The guys at Pinter Bikes in Hua Hin didn't speak much English but took my details and were the only shop in town that called me back. "Me Pen Ha. My me Khap!" They did offer an alternative though which wasn't what I want so I declined. Oh well, at least they tried and did call me back. All of the shops I looked at didn't seem to have the capability to balance tires properly. At 10,000 BHT for a set of tires I want it done proper.
Back on the phone... This time to Show Pow. Khun Charlie offered alternate tires that were acceptable to me so I arranged to have them installed today. Up at 6am and on the bike heading for Bangkok at 7. At Show Pow a bit after 10am. Traffic sucked! The boys put the bike straight up on the stands and went to work. Great service and nice friendly people. An hour and a half later and back on the bike (the boys were quick but I spent some time talking to the owners). Big traffic on the way back and got myself a bit off track even with the GPS, Opps. Almost 500 km's later and back in Hua Hin at 4pm. 500 km and all day to change a set of tire? Am I crazy?
So my question to fellow board members is this: If I set up a proper big bike tire shop in Hua Hin/Cha Am would there be enough business to justify it? There are plenty of big bikes here but I haven't seen any shops that I would let touch my bike. I'm talking only tire service. Not general bike repairs. Proper equipment so your rims don't get damaged and electronic balancing. Thoughts?
Attached files