Confirmed: "Big Bike" riders will need special training from next year

[vandeventer 583]

4 hours ago, mr mr said:

awesome. so i can continue riding like a maniac on my duke 390. 

Yes.So we have to take a test, in English I hope? And are they going to teach us how to ride? They sure as hell never tested the small bike owners very good as most don't know whether they are riding on the street or on the sidewalk. You will be ok on your 390 Duke but I will have fun on my CBR650f. It's kind of crazy as I have been riding big bikes for over 50 years.20 years in Thailand with out a accident.

[Megasin1 1,207]

6 hours ago, webfact said:

Exactly what this would mean has yet to be revealed.

5000 baht and a box of chocolates

[Legendary Monkey 29]

57 minutes ago, irwinfc said:

why single out big bikes?

locals + 2-wheeled vehicles = accidents

This equation is just as correct, surely?...

foreigners + 2-wheeled vehicles = accidents

[SS1 317]

5 hours ago, NCC1701A said:

i am sitting in my love nest right now on Sukhumvit right next to Asok BTS.

 

When the light changes bikes like Kawasaki 1000 cc take off as fast as possible.

 

I mean they are really haulin' ***.

 

not a cop in sight. 

 

and that is why this BS will never change.

 

Assuming the light changes green, what's wrong with that? The bigger problem is those cutting corners in the intersection, running red lights etc - which are mostly little 110cc motorbikes.  But yeah, cops sit in their box and don't give a s**t. 

On average big bike riders ride much better than the small motorbikes. Of course there are exceptions too. 

[dougiemac52 109]

I have a full motorcycle license from the UK which  I attained about 35 years ago. I take it that this will still be acceptable along with the relevant IDP ?

[Percy P 524]

I'm an experienced MC of many years. Started on a 250cc, advanced to a 500cc now I ride a 1000 cc BMW.

The scary thing to me is how many people are on the bike in Thailand. Insurance becomes null and void of more the two people on the motor cycle . Same with any vehicle e.g. A four seater car carrying five people .A pick up carrying people in the back of it.  It's classed as a good vehicle ,not a passenger carrying vehicle. Insurance becomes null and void. 

[holy cow cm 12,082]

They should include common sense for riding bicycles as well. Had 2 yesterday come barreling around corners going out into the traffic lane.  Hard to teach inbred idiocy to have common sense.

[jackdd 7,825]

12 minutes ago, Percy P said:

I'm an experienced MC of many years. Started on a 250cc, advanced to a 500cc now I ride a 1000 cc BMW.

The scary thing to me is how many people are on the bike in Thailand. Insurance becomes null and void of more the two people on the motor cycle . Same with any vehicle e.g. A four seater car carrying five people .A pick up carrying people in the back of it.  It's classed as a good vehicle ,not a passenger carrying vehicle. Insurance becomes null and void. 

Most vehicles only have the compulsory insurance, and this insurance doesn't become void.

[ThailandRyan 13,612]

Gradient licensing would be acceptable in my book, but it needs to be uniform in it's enforcement.  This morning on my way out, I again saw not only motorbikes on the sidewalks getting around the traffic, but the Motorcycle Taxis also driving on the sidewalk and going the wrong way of the flowing traffic.  What a bunch of Dumbarses, and yet here at Sathorn and Rama 4 there is a police box where it was being done right in there faces and no reaction or enforcement.

 

Makes me wonder if they should not just start a new license program called the Free Ride License, where the operators get to wear clown uniforms.

Edited October 28 by ThailandRyan

[Skallywag 4,224]

Cant see risking my life on a motorcycle anymore, especially here in LOS. 

Did not work for 45 years to retire and "go fast".  Speed kills, and bones and bruises heal much slower in your later years

Used to love motorcycling out on the open roads in Arizona on my BMW R75 in my 30's.  Had a few other bikes earlier in life as well.  Been there done that

Like many things in life, you move on and find your "thrills" elsewhere.  

Of course to each their own. 

As the great philosopher and guitarist once sang, "Life in the fast lane, Surely make you lose your mind" 

 

[cucme 63]

Now they have 2 different prices for the ferries to Koh Chang, up to 125 cc and over.

Then they can install a new one for over 400cc, will be more expensive than a car then.

Statistics about the number of accidents where powerfull motorbikes involved in versus small ones up to 150 cc compared to the total number of bikes in that range would be interesting, never seen anything like this.

On the other hand, those brainless idiots that act like the road is theirs and even try to push smaller bikes off the road might well shoot themselves off the roads.

I am riding motorbikes now for 16 years in Thailand and all critical situations were with ordinary small bikes, except 1.

[Enfield 1]

They make Ducatis , Harleys and Big BM’s here.  Maybe other makes of big bike too .Not just scooters . Bikes up to 1250 cc and more .So the member who said the biggest made bike in LOS was 300 cc is way off beam 

I have been riding big bikes for over 50 years and still own four here  three of them 1000cc and over,covering high mileage every year . What is the examiner going to know that I don’t ?

I ride safely and wear the best gear .

Best  guess is that the examiner will never  have ridden a big bike at all

Only way to test riding skills is to follow a rider for 50 kms or more under a variety  of road conditions . Not going to happen is it ?

[ExpatDraco 239]

6 hours ago, ThailandRyan said:

So lets take a look at the Yamaha MT-15, it is only a 155CC bike, yet can do 140 Km/H. Enough torque and 6 speeds to accelerate as fast as a larger bike and yet would not be considered a big bike.  

 

I'm sorry but an MT-15 is just a toy compared to big bikes (I ride an MT-09). This being said, ofc it's fast enough to kill people. But so are scooters (big and small).

 

There was also talk about not only cc but also hp, so it's possible the Ninja 400 will be considered a big bike.

 

Anyway, as always in Thailand, not much will change.

[peterkroll 27]

49 cc and below, max 2 hp temper proof = only theory test needed, from 16 yo

50 - 125 cc = theory and practical test, 18+ yo

126 - 399 cc = expanded test, or 3 years on a 125 cc, clean record + theory test

400+ cc = 3 years on a 126 - 399 cc machine, clean record, no further test

[Badrabbit 895]

Just when you think this country could not get any worse they come out with this ridiculous idea, how is making people have a big bike licence going to stop road deaths?  The Police will still be non existent and even if you do see the rare police they still do nothing, it's impossible to police the roads when the Police are drinking tea!! all bikes here including scooters are fast, unbelievable!!!