The Golden Triangle Rider

[Davidfl]

The Ninja 250

and Vulcan 900

are out in Chiang Mai already.

AND,
it's the end of the month for the KLX 250 now!
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Davidfl
Keep The Power On

[Davidfl]

Kawasaki Prices


from the Chiang Mai Dealer

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Davidfl
Keep The Power On

[Bush Pilot]

The little Ninja has arrived in Phuket now.
Price: 139,900.00+ 1700 for insurance.

I don't know why Bangkok was telling me 150K.

I tried to buy the green one they had and they wouldn't write a deal without my passport which I'd left in Ranong. So much for impulse buying here.

[beddhist]

We had two surprises yesterday: Kawa called us (not the other way round): we can pick up Su's new KLX a day early!

Registration supposedly only takes one week...
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http://beddhist.googlepages.com

[KZ]

WHOA!! Finally some excitement in these quiet times...!
Thanks, David, for keeping us up-to-date, and posting the price list was a good idea. I assume the KLX and Tracker prices are identical.
Bush Pilot, they probably quoted you the price incl VAT, which adds another 10 grand. Also, you're traveling without your PP?
beddhist, if you and Su ever make it to Hua Hin, let me know, maybe you're interested doing some back-to back riding with my VTR 250. You'd be doing me a favor since I want to know how they compare powerwise.
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The possibility of the impossible makes the impossible a possibility.

[KZ]

Guess you guys all plunk down the cash in one go, but if not, it's interesting to see that the previous mentioned 4% quickly grew to 5%, and on the above list the interest is 9% for the 250s, for the Vulcan 7%. No biggie, for the Tracker I was thinking of putting down 90K (60%) and then pay 10.500 for 6 months, that way I'd pay only 2.700 THB more.
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The possibility of the impossible makes the impossible a possibility.

[beddhist]

Thanks, KZ, we'd love to catch up with you.

Kawasaki kept their word and delivered one day early. We avoided the dreaded ride out of Bkk and picked up the bike on a ute. (Even the ute owner said he wasn't allowed to use the toll road, as his vehicle isn't "covered". I wonder what the sign for that looks like?)

When we inspected the bike on Friday I noticed the chain was "tensioned". If you could pluck it it would make a sound. Also, having assembled many a new Honda I checked out the steering bearing and, sure enough, also too tight. I asked them to fix that. The next day they had adjusted the chain, but not the steering. The seat is exteremely narrow and there is no chain guard at all, so here are more mods to add to my list of things to do before we can set off.
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http://beddhist.googlepages.com

[KZ]

Yep, you ALWAYS have to double-check everything here in Thailand. Even simple things like tightening a chain is sometimes done wrong by "experienced" mechanics in "reputable" shops. Usually there's a sticker on the side of the swing-arm for riders who want to play mechanic! Guess they just don't care. "Mai pen rai" they'll say, it'll stretch sooner or later... A friend of mine who bought a brand new Phantom had the same problem with the steering head, it was way tight, the front end wouldn't move with the bike on the center stand. Bolts are often either too tight or not tightened at all. -
There should be a small chain guard on top of the swing arm like in the picture on page 2. You wrote that there's no guard at all?
I'm interested in add-ons, what do they offer? I'd like to install a bash plate under the engine and hand guards. Do they offer these kinda things? Would appreciate it if you could let us know!
Btw, I read about the 2009 Yamaha WR250R Enduro and the Yamaha WR250X, a supermoto, and have to say the Kawasaki looks better! Yamaha also makes a full-size 125cc Enduro with a watercooled engine, 21"/18" wheels, 41mm forks and digital tach - now that would definitely be something for the Thai market! maybe they'll bring it in...
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The possibility of the impossible makes the impossible a possibility.

[TonyBKK]

Congrats on the new bike Beddhist!

Funny- I had the same chain tension 'issue' with my Ninja 250R- when I picked it up new from the Kawasaki shop in BKK the chain was fine, but when I brought the bike in for the 1000km service they tightened the chain too much so I loosened it up myself when I got home.

Fortunately I haven't noticed any problems with the steering head.

Enjoy the new bike!
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The Large Print Giveth, and the Small Print Taketh Away

[beddhist]

When I say "no chain guard" I mean nothing worth calling that. That bit of plastic serves no purpose at all.

As far as the steering bearing is concerned: I'm almost certain that it's a ball bearing (which I regard as an even worse design fault than an open-running chain). Checking ball bearing adjustment is very difficult, especially if the bike isn't propped up, but I know what I'm doing. Ball bearings must have no pre-load whatsoever or the life will be significantly shortened.

Being a bike mechanic myself I'm a fussy bugger, especially when I buy a new bike.

Accessories for the KLX from Kawa: zero.

Now we seem to have rego problems. First, when we picked up the bike they made us pay to transfer the rego to Suphanburi, the province where Su officially lives. Yesterday they rung her up and asked for some document back. To "protect buyers and sellers" *they* are going to register the bike in *Bkk*, but Su will be the owner in the green book. Clear text: while Su paid for the bike it seems she isn't the owner 100%. They somehow prohibit the on-sale of the bike, because it's cheap. I don't understand how any of this works and the legalities of it. It's no issue to us at this point, as we don't want to sell it. I just hope it won't stop us from getting English rego, because that would sink our planned trip.
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http://beddhist.googlepages.com

[Ian Bungy]

Our New KLX250 are supposed to Be Delivered in Chiang Mai this week? I already have some Accessories and as soon as the Bikes actually arrive one will go to the Shop to have the other parts Made What we will have available are:
Exhaust Pipe, Two Brothers Racing Style.
Full Alloy Skid Plate/Sump Guard.
Radiator Guards.
Carrier/Luggage Rack ( Normal Size not the Huge things )
Prices will be confirmed once Completed and i will post them on the Board.
Other Stuff like Hand Guards, Alloy Bars etc you can get at any of the Motocross or Bike Shops.
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Cheers Ian
www.chiangmai-xcentre.com

[KZ]

beddhist, I wouldn't worry much about the address, as long as Su is listed as the owner of the bike. Maybe it'll make the transfer easier, my theory is that the dudes in the small provinces don't know how to issue a book for a 250cc bike. Maybe they don't have the new software - who knows?But how can they "somehow prohibit the on-sale of the bike, because it's cheap" - ? A green book should be transferrable at any time? What do you mean by english rego?
I've had several trucks, Waves, Boss and Phantom and CBRs and sometimes my name was written in english and sometimes in thai, but it never made any difference.

Ian, I'd be interested in the alu skid plate; I'll stay away from the muffler since I had to pay a 1000 THB fine (ouch!) for my HRC after-market muffler here in Hua Hin.
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The possibility of the impossible makes the impossible a possibility.

[AZOULAY]

Hi KZ, HiFriends,

Could you a bit develop and explain what do you mean by "I'll stay away from the muffler since I had to pay a 1000 THB fine (ouch!) for my HRC after-market muffler here in Hua Hin.", do you mean that the Brown People caught you because you were too noisy ?

I would then have to review my bike which are fitted with some nice Termignoni....

Do they control that now or is it something else ?
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Laurent Paris-Bangkok

[KZ]

Yes, two of my friends and I had to pay 1000 THB each in the last month for loud pipes!
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The possibility of the impossible makes the impossible a possibility.

[johngooding]

Do they collect 1000Baht for every Harley that rumbles past as well?? They seem to be the noisiest of the bunch.

[Rhodie]

Dropped by Kawasaki in BKK today.

There appears to be a shortage of Ninjas.
The D-Tracker is proving more popular than the KLX, here in the city.
Makes sense.
They could supply either the next day.

All the KLX & D-Trackers had chains so taught,
that there was absolutely no play in them.
I pointed this out to the manager - a decent guy -
but he just shrugged his shoulders, saying "no problem".

I did manage to get an explanation for the Ninja/KLX-D-Tracker price differential.
Apparently due to the KLX/D-T having upside down forks.

Tried a customer's D-Tracker [yes, this does pose a number of questions]
which had been brought back with a broken seat strap.
Due to TGF holding on too tight and one side gave way!

Re: remapping & pipes.
The Mgr is referring everyone to DirtShop saying that they [Kawa] cannot remap,
but DirtShop can sell you a new ECU along with pipe & other accessories.
Which did not make sense, but then this was in very broken english.
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The Dogs bark, but the Caravan moves on ...
Persian Proverb

[beddhist]

[beddhist]

[pseacraft]

Very interesting to hear about an aftermarket ECU for the KLX. I know that there is a company in Japan working on one as the FI KLX/D-Tracker has been there for a couple of years . Was not aware of one being available today. Maybe they are confusing it with the KLX450 which is available?

I have a Two Brothers Racing M7 can for my KLX and will be modifying the TBR S-pipe to accept the KLX's O2 sensor. I also have a Utah skid plate and a set of DirtBagz Ranger bags and racks for it. Now I am just waiting for the bike to show up. I am now hearing that it won't be in Udorn until the 26th which turns out to be the day after I go back to the desert. Way bummed.

Eric

[Davidfl]

Aha. Overall sounds like not everything is not going smoothly.
1. Bike quality
2. Rego
3. Modifications
4. After market accessories

A bit frustrating for all I guess & not so smooth or straight forward.
But "jai yen yen", it is to be expected there will be teething problems while "they" get it sorted out the first time.
But aint it great to be able to have this wonderful opportunity to buy NEW cheap value for money dual purpose / off-road bikes here in Thailand.
Three cheers for Kawa. I think you're onto a winner!!!
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Davidfl
Keep The Power On

[Captain_Slash]

KZ wrote

[Ian Bungy]

I Totally Agree David, Great to have Real Bikes at a Great Price!!!
How about Talking to the Guys at Kawasaki and getting another Column started like for Yamaha & Triumph?
Beddhist I am having most of the Stuff Fabricated in Chiang Mai. Give me a bit of Time as soon as everything is organised i will publish a List of accessories and Prices For your BMW Powerlets and other Top Stuff go to: www.whitehorsegear.com I have brought a lot of Gear through them and the stuff is normally delivered to Chiang Mai about a week later with No Hassles.
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Cheers Ian
www.chiangmai-xcentre.com

[KZ]

No bike has a center stand anymore, not even the 250 Ninja, and kickstarters are also a thing of the past, at least I don't know of any new street bike that has one. I just wrote "center stand" because I didn't want to write "when we put the bike on a plastic crate so that the front end was in the air" - it was meant more figuratively, the crate acted as a center stand.
Teething problems with the new Kawas were to be expected, and a tight chain or a torn seat buckle are no big quality issues. "Normal" registration shouldn't be a problem, our new Ninja owner hasn't had a complaint. Modifications are always a tricky business and it's up to the owner to sort that out. And after market accessories should be available soon, or could be ordered or brought in. All in all I agree: Three cheers for Kawa being smart to secure the "beginner's market" with fairly priced small bikes. That's what Thailand needs and I'm not surprised at all that the 250 Ninja is "sold out". I predict these Ninjas will multiply like rabbits and soon outnumber Honda's CB400.
beddhist - you need a rego in english; how about registering the bike the ususal way and then get a certified translation? And a plate with roman letters? Can't imagine how that'll work, how do you spell "sara ooh, sara ey"? You sure you need that? - I see cars from Malaysia with their local plates here in TH, and some thai cars with a malaysian license sticker on the bumper.
I've been to Cambo with a bike and had the headlights on all day, the locals point to it and laugh! Same thing happened to me in 1991 in TH. You could ride with no helmet, no brakes, no muffler, no plates, no license or insurance, and nobody would care. But headlights during the day was a big deal! - I'd simply get some electric tape and put a few strips over the headlight in the morning and have ten baht ready in case a cop stops me.
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The possibility of the impossible makes the impossible a possibility.

[klx250]

I checked the chain on mine in the showroom and it was perfect.......they took it out the back to prep it for the road and when I checked again....there was no play whatsoever, it was tighter than tight....... and remember when you sit on the bike the chain becomes even tighter.

[KZ]

Well you're lucky those mechanics spotted the loose chain!
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The possibility of the impossible makes the impossible a possibility.