Am a long-time expat in Jomtien and am in the process of figuring out what motor scooter or motorcycle to buy (and want to keep the price below 100K baht for a new vehicle). The scooter choices seem numerous but I notice that the handlebars on tilac's Honda Scoopy are very narrow (and just eyeballing other parked scooters, that seems common to them as well).

 

The problem is that my shoulders are a bit too wide to see around when the two rear-view mirrors are set (unless I set her mirrors to face the side of the road, which makes it impossible for me to see the lanes clearly on either side of me).

 

(1) Has anyone else had this problem?

 

(2) If so, how did you resolve it?

 

(3) Do certain scooter brands / models come with wider handlebars (so that the mirrors will be mounted a bit farther from the centerline)?

 

(4) Alternatively, is it possible / legal to have larger handlebars installed (as, say, a dealer option)?

 

(5) The other alternative I'm toying with would be to go up a notch to a small motorcycle ... the Kawasaki Boss 175 looks like the most interesting option there, but according to a motorcycle pricing website it sounds (if I read it correctly) that this model has been discontinued. Is that true? Or are they still selling new ones here (and if so, what would be the closest showroom to Jomtien or South Pattaya for a dealer carrying this model)?

 

Thanks very much (in advance).

Some people have good luck gluing the round dome type mirrors to the face of existing mirror. Or the shop may have longer shafts for sale. The wider the bars the harder to avoid mirrors of cars when spliting lanes.

On my wifes Fino the mirrors measure 29 inches to the outside edge on my Honda PCX it is 33 inches. If your talking small motorbike look at the 200cc Honda Phantom loads of them around.

Am a long-time expat in Jomtien and am in the process of figuring out what motor scooter or motorcycle to buy (and want to keep the price below 100K baht for a new vehicle). The scooter choices seem numerous but I notice that the handlebars on tilac's Honda Scoopy are very narrow (and just eyeballing other parked scooters, that seems common to them as well).

 

The problem is that my shoulders are a bit too wide to see around when the two rear-view mirrors are set (unless I set her mirrors to face the side of the road, which makes it impossible for me to see the lanes clearly on either side of me).

 

(1) Has anyone else had this problem?

similar problem here.

 

(2) If so, how did you resolve it?

Can be solved by visiting a metal-work-shop. Let them adjust the length of the mirror-bars.

 

(3) Do certain scooter brands / models come with wider handlebars (so that the mirrors will be mounted a bit farther from the centerline)?

Not sure. Certainly some brands/models may have wider handlebars/mirror-width.

 

(4) Alternatively, is it possible / legal to have larger handlebars installed (as, say, a dealer option)?

Everything is possible in Thailand.

 

(5) The other alternative I'm toying with would be to go up a notch to a small motorcycle ... the Kawasaki Boss 175 looks like the most interesting option there, but according to a motorcycle pricing website it sounds (if I read it correctly) that this model has been discontinued. Is that true? Or are they still selling new ones here (and if so, what would be the closest showroom to Jomtien or South Pattaya for a dealer carrying this model)?

If the model has been discontinued, it is probably replaced by another model. There is a Kawasaki dealership along Sukhumvit. Across from South Pattaya Road, slightly to the left. (Mittyon).

 

Thanks very much (in advance).