Pictures of Bangkok Motorbike Festival

[mbox999]

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hi, i was there quite early and made these pics....about 300 for those who cant go it gives you something to look at. The pics are a bit mixed up though...so you may see a bike which is at beginning at mid or end agai enjoy, mbox... Here the link: https://picasaweb.google.com/1024347...eat=directlink

[TonyBKK]

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Hey Reinhard! Too bad I missed you, but I think you were already gone by the time we rolled up.

Here's my report and pics

Wow, the Bangkok Bike Festival just keeps getting bigger and better!

While a few brands were noticeably missing, there were also some new brands making a first appearance as well as an ever growing list of vendors, so definitely worth a visit.

Kunka is now selling MV Augusta in Thailand! Check out the stunning F4 RR:


This one is already sold but you can put your name on a list and eventually get one for only 1.6 million Baht!
They will also be selling the "regular" F4 for just 1.1 million and the Brutale in a few different flavors but I can't remember the prices.

As reported earlier, Honda is FINALLY going to sell some big bikes in Thailand!


The 1800cc Goldwing, aka, the Honda Land Yacht Expect to pay about a thousand baht per cc

The CBR1000RR. NICE!


Those stupid NC700 atrocities...


The VFR1200 looks more like a spaceship than a motorcycle IMO...

I'm really not happy with the way Honda has lost track of what made the original VFR 750 and 800 the top rated sport touring bikes for year after year after year...


And there's the 250cc Honda dirtbike which isn't cheap, but I am told is top of the class in that category.


In other exciting news, Royal Enfields are now available in Thailand!

Pretty pricey for what you get... The 350cc Bullet above goes for 330k Baht, but the sales rep said something about having them assembled in Thailand in which case the price could be as low as 140k Baht.

There is also the "Classic 500" which doesn't cost much more than the Bullet:


Nicely blinged Kawasaki Z1000


And Z1000 eye candy



The KTM display was impressive- more and more models now available in Thailand-


Love the styling of the KTM RC8R!


Yamaha's new Super Tenere looks like a beast of an adventure bike!


Yamaha pretty with FJR1300




Aprilia RSV4




There is A LOT to see and the place was mobbed! What a turnout for a Wednesday night! I must confess that I completely missed the Kawasaki, Suzuki and HD displays, so I'll head back in the next day or two to continue exploring!

Happy Trailss!

Tony

[bartomeer]

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The 250cc Honda dirtbike is twice as expensive than the KLX. If I would buy a 250 cc than my choice is quickly made, than I go for the KLX. I hope they release the 450cc soon.

[lordofthedreadz]

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You got it wrong bartomeer, the CRF250R is a MOTOCROSS bike you cant compare it to the KLX but you can compare it to the KX

We still dont have pricing on the CRF250L wich will play in the same category as the KLX.

[nikster]

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https://picasaweb.google.com/1024347...eat=directlink

Suzuki GSXR1000 is the clear winner, best bunny on the show by far

Also... what's "Stella" - are those the Indian Vespa copies?

Sym bikes looking good; new Yamaha scooter also looks pretty good, surprise, no fugly stickers! Not into the Chinese clones of something or other... but that's just me

F4 RR has possibly the best exhaust ever... wow, so cool!!!

[mikehohman]

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I asked the Honda about the CRF250L - He confirmed it's made in Thailand and launching in March at many dealers. Exciting bike. He wouldn't tell me the price, but i hear less than KLX250...

[Not on a Yamaha]

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The KTM 690 SMC R looks awesome.
Unfortunately cannae copy mbox pics and Tony did not take a pic.

[mbox999]

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The KTM 690 SMC R looks awesome.
Unfortunately cannae copy mbox pics and Tony did not take a pic.

you should be able to download the picture from the "download" button above the picture on the picasa web album.. but i post it here to make it easier for ya.

mbox

[mbox999]

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Suzuki GSXR1000 is the clear winner, best bunny on the show by far

Also... what's "Stella" - are those the Indian Vespa copies?

Sym bikes looking good; new Yamaha scooter also looks pretty good, surprise, no fugly stickers! Not into the Chinese clones of something or other... but that's just me

F4 RR has possibly the best exhaust ever... wow, so cool!!!

Hi Nick, here some info about Stella: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stella_%28scooter%29
and these are further news about Stella & Royal Enfield ( last line from the News on 18 January 2012): http://www.tigermotorbikes.com/News.htm

cheers, mbox

[schackster]

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Tony, from all the bikes you saw at the show , which ones top of your wish list ?

[Ian Bungy]

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Great Photos mbox999. Well worth looking through! There are certainly a number of Surprises amongst them? Royal Enfield! MV Augusta, Aprilia, Yamaha Super Tenere and the Honda Goldwing which is a pretty reasonable Price considering! I would be interesting to find Out Who the Dealers are for all these Bikes and where are they??? Tony said Kunka are selling the MV?
I hope all manufacturors actually get real service departments, dealers and Real Plates arranged for all these new Models? Great to see the Growing Big Bike Market here. Look forward to Your Part 2 Post on the other Bikes Tony! I think You got stuck at the PG Girls!

[mbox999]

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The RE 350 sells for 330,000 thb and the RE 500 for 380.000,- thb once they are assembled here ( they are currently brought in as CBU) the 350 will sell for appr. 140.000,- thb and the 500 for 180.000,- thb it was said....i can see myself getting one of them
The RE esclusive distributor at this time is
Nick Tripati
Buildtek Modular
1768 Bangna - Trad, Bangna, BKK 10260
His tel nr is 0898133277


Mbox

[Not on a Yamaha]

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you should be able to download the picture from the "download" button above the picture on the picasa web album.. but i post it here to make it easier for ya.

mbox

Thank you very much.

[whitehead]

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hmmmm did anyone notice the price on the Yamaha Tenere 1200?

[mbox999]

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hmmmm did anyone notice the price on the Yamaha Tenere 1200?

i haven't seen any price around the tenere. ...but there were a lot of girlies around, so i might have missed it

[schackster]

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Red Baron have a 2011 XT 1200 for bht 650,000

[mbox999]

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I wonder how red baron's prices are compared to Honda Big Wing Bikes? Maybe get a better deal at R.B. ?

[TonyBKK]

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I wonder how red baron's prices are compared to Honda Big Wing Bikes? Maybe get a better deal at R.B. ?

It's not for sale yet from Yamaha so they couldn't tell us a price, but I'm willing to bet you a beer that they'll ask a lot more than what Red Baron's selling them for: 650k Baht

http://www.redbaronbkk.com/products/...120124-0000598

I used to think that with all these official dealers coming to Thailand that grey market importers would find themselves struggling, but as it turns out, the official dealers are charging such outrageous prices that the Grey Market importers must be laughing all the way to the bank.

Consider for example the Honda CBR1000RR that Honda Thailand will start selling here in April. Honda Thailand are asking 799k Baht for the CBR1000RR but you can get the same bike from Red Baron for 690k Baht. Similar examples of ridiculous dealer prices can be found with KTM, Suzuki, Yamaha and Harley Davidson. Can't comment on Ducati, Triumph or BMW since I'm not familiar with any grey market importers of those brands, though I know they exist. Seems to me the dealers in Thailand are taking the piss with their ludicrous mark-ups...

[Ian Bungy]

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Some good Points Tony but I myself would still prefer to Buy from a Real Dealer? In the Case of HD there is normally not more than 100.000 Baht saving from a Grey Importer. But if You get it direct from HD Bangkok You get Warranty, Service etc etc and the Bike is brought in Assembled not Stripped, Boxed, Shipped then Slapped together in a warehouse on the waterfront? The Genuine Dealers have to Pay all the Legitimate Taxes and Duties where as the Grey Dealers don't? But the Big Question really is what about the Registration? Are they all legal and correct or somewhere down the line is the Government going to do a Clamp Down and then all these Bikes will be in trouble? I have heard a Rumour about this regarding all the Grey Import Mercedes Benz as well? Having said that some of the Prices are pretty good in My Eyes? A New Goldwing for 1550,000 is not that Bad? Of Course a New Super Tenere for 650.000 would be very Hard to Beat!
What ever happens the Next Year will be a truely Exciting time for all Bike enthusiasts!

[TonyBKK]

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Some good Points Tony but I myself would still prefer to Buy from a Real Dealer? In the Case of HD there is normally not more than 100.000 Baht saving from a Grey Importer. But if You get it direct from HD Bangkok You get Warranty, Service etc etc and the Bike is brought in Assembled not Stripped, Boxed, Shipped then Slapped together in a warehouse on the waterfront? The Genuine Dealers have to Pay all the Legitimate Taxes and Duties where as the Grey Dealers don't? But the Big Question really is what about the Registration? Are they all legal and correct or somewhere
down the line is the Government going to do a Clamp Down and then all these Bikes will be in trouble? I have heard a Rumour about this regarding all the Grey Import Mercedes Benz as well? Having said that some of the Prices are pretty good in My Eyes? A New Goldwing for 1550,000 is not that Bad? Of Course a New Super Tenere for 650.000 would be very Hard to Beat!
What ever happens the Next Year will be a truely Exciting time for all Bike enthusiasts!

Hi Ian!

I think an important distinction needs to be made between companies like Red Baron and 59 Bike that import brand new fully assembled bikes and others, like the chop shops down by the port who import bikes in pieces for re-assembly and re-sale in Thailand.

I've heard so many horror stories about people who've bought from the "chop shop" importers and had no end of headaches with paperwork and mechanical issues. I understand many (most?) grey market Harleys come in to Thailand this way. Bottom line, the chop shops may charge the lowest initial price for their bikes, but once you factor in the additional time and money you'll have to invest to get them registered and keep them running I personally think this option becomes a lot less attractive. Though if you're looking for a bike that you don't want to register for road use perhaps these importers are a good choice?



In contrast, companies like Red Baron import brand new bikes in factory crates. The price you see on a showroom bike at Red Baron includes registration and plate.

Red Baron can also import bikes without registration and if you request a bike they'll tell you up front how much it will cost to get it registered. And in some cases (most carb'd bikes, for example) they'll tell you straight up that the bike you want won't pass the Thai emissions test.

Red Baron is a Japanese franchise dealer but for the past two years they've been importing most of their bikes from the US for two reasons:

First because the strong Japanese yen makes bikes imported from Japan too expensive and,

Second- because present day Japanese sport bikes are speed and horsepower restricted.

I understand the desire for a warranty and that some would pay extra for such peace of mind. BUT, if you buy a Japan spec restricted CBR1000RR from Honda, Thailand and then invest the additional money to dE-restrict it, you'll have voided the warranty anyway.

That's why Kawasaki, Thailand sold so few ZX10R's. Even though it was the cheapest liter bike in Thailand at 650k Baht, you'd have to spend another ~100k Baht to derestrict it at which point you've voided the warranty.

For that kind of money one could buy the brand new US Spec ZX10R from Red Baron for 680K baht. (And the new 2011+ ZX10R with it's race ABS, Power Modes and Traction Control is lightyears ahead of the 2009-2010 model that Kawasaki, Thailand was selling for 650k Baht)

Finally, Red Baron's mechanics and service staff have a very good reputation for honest and professional work.

The entire service team at Yamaha Rider's Club in Bangkok was fired a couple of years ago. It's probably unwise (illegal?) for me to talk about why, but the point I'm trying to make is that we have no idea how qualified and competent or bent and incompetent the service staff might be at the new Honda Big Bike dealership. They might be great or they might not have a clue. Based on the way APe Honda runs their operation in Thailand I can't say that I have great confidence in them. I'm not quite sure if the Honda Big Wing showroom will be independent of APe Honda or not.

I realize that this discussion probably belongs in its own thread and apologize for going so far off topic, but the motorcycle business in Thailand is pretty intriguing!