The Golden Triangle Rider

Franz - Eastern Seaboard · Posted: 11.02.2008, 12:33 Post subject: Yamaha big bikes

Just found this in today's "The Nation" business section: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/2008/02/11/business/business_30064970.php

Bush Pilot · Posted: 11.02.2008, 16:09 Post subject:

Ally · Biker Joined: 13 Dec 2007 Posts: 51 Location: Chiang Mai

1 word sums this up for me:

PROGRESS!

Ally

Captain_Slash · Posted: 11.02.2008, 19:06 Post subject:

Definitely progress there Ally, lets just hope that Honda come in very soon as well with their full catalogue of bikes available here
_________________
If Typhoo Put The T In Britain Who Put The C_unt In Scunthorpe

monsterman · Revered Old Git Joined: 17 Oct 2006 Posts: 571

500 units of new bikes probably and a couple of thousand grey imports , the importers i used to deal with brought in 400+ bikes a year alone and he was only one of about a dozen local importers .

jerry

i
_________________

Dougal · Posted: 12.02.2008, 07:33 Post subject:

Let's just hope that all the bike manufacturers get on board. That way there may be a chance that the "grey" importers will be out of business.
_________________
I nearly had a psychic girlfriend once, but she left me before we met.

Franz - Eastern Seaboard · Posted: 12.02.2008, 08:46 Post subject:

another link in today's Bangkok Post: http://www.bangkokpost.com/Business/12Feb2008_biz46.php

E3L0 · Biker Joined: 17 Sep 2006 Posts: 96

Large motorcycles remain expensive because of a steep import taxes of 70%, but prices are expected to come down gradually now that the free trade agreement between Thailand and Japan has taken effect.
Interesting.

monsterman · Revered Old Git Joined: 17 Oct 2006 Posts: 571

grey imports will always be around.. cheaper used low mile bikes and flexible look at UK for example.
_________________

tomdegerth · Biker Joined: 14 Nov 2006 Posts: 73 Location: Thailand

I went to the opening party behind Esplanade, nice shop they had there, 2 floors. A bit expensive though, around 3000 for a Yamaha t-shirt etc.

It the mentioned article in the papers, the manager (i think) of the Yamaha shop in Ratchada estimated that registered big bikes (400cc up) in Thailand are about 8000 bikes. In the club i ride with here in Bangkok, not many has a legal plate on the bike. I would say maybe 10% of the guys who show up at the bike meetings have a legal reg. That would make it much more that 8000 big bikes out there on the roads.
I'm more into thinking that the total amount of big bikes would be maybe 8-10000 in Thailand, with or without reg. Or is it far more?

Brgs,
Tom
_________________
"I am not completely useless, i can be used as a bad example..."

Captain_Slash · Posted: 12.02.2008, 19:41 Post subject:

If the free trade agreement helps lower the the price of Japanese bikes thats a very good start
_________________
If Typhoo Put The T In Britain Who Put The C_unt In Scunthorpe

monsterman · Revered Old Git Joined: 17 Oct 2006 Posts: 571

there are around 3000+ HDs in thailand alone, must be around 600+ BMWs Ducati have sold 228 new bikes in 5 years not including grey import ducatis.
I would say there are at least 10,000 big bikes around.
_________________

ray23 · Posted: 13.02.2008, 12:24 Post subject:

Anyone got contact info on the Yamaha shop?

KZ · Leader of The Pack Joined: 11 Dec 2007 Posts: 109

Personally I'd be happy if I could buy a brand new 250 - with registration papers and local service!

Tubber · Posted: 15.02.2008, 12:49 Post subject:

Ray, the phone number for Yamaha in Bangkok is 02-6104555.
Kindly supplied by Tropical John previously,the dealer in Chiang Mai is:

Charoen Motor Chiangmai
Office: 053 218 555 and 053 213 292

Fax: 053 213 292

Sales Reps:
Kittiphop 089 758 9876
Bunnak 083 471 0336
http://www.cmcbig-bike.com/

There is also one in Korat where I will be buying one from towards the end of the year, I still have to find the phone number for them.

Franz - Eastern Seaboard · Posted: 15.02.2008, 13:00 Post subject:

Just looked up Charoen Motors Chiang Mai, website has changed: http://www.bigbikeclub.com/ rgds, Franz

ray23 · Posted: 15.02.2008, 14:22 Post subject:

Thanks Guys

Tubber · Posted: 18.02.2008, 23:02 Post subject:

You thinkin' on buying a new Yamaha, Ray? Maybe they will open a dealership in Udon in the near future. Trying to get any info from Yamaha in Bangkok is like trying to get out of a stone.

ray23 · Posted: 19.02.2008, 08:58 Post subject:

Yes but I have lots of time thinking of a Dragstar 1100 CC, it's not one they seem to stock so I will see if it can be ordered.

KZ · Leader of The Pack Joined: 11 Dec 2007 Posts: 109

Selling bikes in Thailand or anywhere is about profits - bet you'd never guessed that! :-)
With those low numbers of existing big bikes in TH there's no reason for the the BIG FOUR to offer new 750s, 900s, 1100s or even bigger choppers, which sell like hotcakes anywhere else, because they won't make any profit that way.
Honda tested the waters with the CBR150R and the 200 Phantom (I'm not sure if Kawasaki came out first with their 175 Boss) - and there are rumors that the CBR will be discontinued. Yamaha, Suzuki and Kawasaki stayed away - no FZR 150 (even though there's a brand new FZR125 for the europeans), no Ninja 150 or 175 to best Honda. They looked at the numbers and decided not to bring in any small sport bikes.
Kawasaki has the 250 Ninja but it's not available here, for above reasons.
So if there's no interest in small sport bikes, why should they bring in a big one, leave alone several models to choose from?

ray23 · Posted: 19.02.2008, 09:27 Post subject:

I have notoced of late most of the bikes in the shops here in Udon seem to be sports tourIng bikes. So that must be the real market, but an order is a guarenteed sale, so maybe if not then I will buy one from the guy here in Udon. But no hurry.

I like the sports touring bikes but the seating postion is all wrong for my back. I have to stretch the legs out and I have to be able to move my feet around or I wont make 50 Klms.

So it the road bikes for me.

Keep us up on the Yamaha shop in Udon, Harlye has a rep here now, but I'm not ready to part with a million plus for a bike.

Tubber · Posted: 19.02.2008, 12:07 Post subject:

Ray, I am the same as you in that I can't ride sports bike anymore with my back. The most comfortable seating position on a bike I ever had was a V-Max but it was an evil handling pig of a thing at high speed and the fuel tank was tiny. Why Yamaha never put that V-Boost system on more bikes I will never know, it was a hoot. When I heard there was a Harley dealership in Udon I thought about buying one, being relatively close to me. Then I heard where it was, what a bunch of clowns.

ray23 · Posted: 19.02.2008, 16:05 Post subject:

Well if you really want one, I would contact the guys in Bangkok do the business with them and have it delivered to Udon.

In talking with them the plan at this pioint is if you need the bike worked on they will fly thier mechanics to Udon and do the work.

The used bikes they have here are very close to the new bike prices from the dealer in Bangkok.

They sure are a lot of money, no doubt about it