57 minutes ago, expotbkk said:

I paid by Bank Transfer. They always try to push for installment, because the rates are insane. I bought a 90k PCX and first was eyeing a installment, because having 90k or not makes a difference. Coming from a country with very good installment plans, with sometimes 0%, I wasn't thinking anything. I was 5 seconds away to sign the contract, then my head finished calculating the numbers and the bike would have costs me around 270k at the end of the plan. In my opinion: This is robbery and no wonder Thais are so much in debt.

Credit cards have a lot of risk, so I don't think you will find someone easily.

Yeah, the US often has 0% APR and I've previously bought a Mercedes and 2 Audis from the dealer taking the loans just for a reduction in price, since the dealers are far more willing to give discounts with a kickback from the financing bank. The rates I have seen here are not attractive at all. I haven't seriously sat down to talk to any dealer yet, just talking to a few at the BKK motor show awhile back and little chit chat walking by a dealer, but immediately they showed me monthly installment prices and didn't seem to want to talk cash price. I don't mind paying 3 or 4% for credit card processing fees since the sign up bonus on a new credit card will easily provide far more value in travel, but I'm not even sure if any shops offer that option.

11 hours ago, stoneloz said:

I've been riding bikes my whole life too, and love riding in Thailand. I've toured most of the country and ride daily to commute to work and have put over 500,000 km on bikes over the past two decades.

Thailand has excellent roads, especially rurally. Yeah, you need to adjust your driving style, but as someone who has four bike licenses for countries across three continents, I feel Thailand is one of the safest places I have ridden. Mainly due to it being a country where there are so many bikes. Drivers here are used to having bikes everywhere. In the UK, Europe and the US, drivers aren't used to having bikes, so don't look. Although I've had a few knocks over the years here, I've had worse in the UK down to careless drivers.

The terrible bike accident stats Thailand has is mainly due to the lack of helmets. Any real bikers knows the importance of the right gear, so follow the same safety measures you'd do in a western country with stricter safety rules, and you're going to be safer here than in many countries

Maybe I should have rephrased that to never in Bangkok.

On 7/27/2026 at 9:22 AM, eccentricfusion said:

Does anyone know/recommend a dealer that will accept credit cards for payment? Trying to get some points out of buying one but it seems like installment plans or cash are the default here. I've only started looking recently but the dealers are pushy on the installments, likely due to getting financial incentives to do so.

I've bought a few bikes in the past on credit cards to get the points, then paid off the card instantly, but last time I tried no one would accept it. They all pushed me to do bank transfers.

But I have actually found that most bike and cars dealers are pleased when you don't want to pay on finance. They know with a Farang some banks make it hard work, even with all the correct work permits, visa etc and start wanting a Thai guarantor. Many years ago I walked away from a Ducati dealer as they insisted on me having a Thai guarantor to get finance. They probably done me a favor actually! Why did I want a Ducati? 🤣

On 7/27/2026 at 7:36 PM, missed said:

Maybe I should have rephrased that to never in Bangkok.

Bikes are the best way to get around Bangkok.

I live in the suburbs now and I'd lose half my day if I was in my car or a taxi. The BTS is great, but it only takes you part of the way and I trust myself on a bike more than the bike taxis.

1 hour ago, stoneloz said:

I've bought a few bikes in the past on credit cards to get the points, then paid off the card instantly, but last time I tried no one would accept it. They all pushed me to do bank transfers.

But I have actually found that most bike and cars dealers are pleased when you don't want to pay on finance. They know with a Farang some banks make it hard work, even with all the correct work permits, visa etc and start wanting a Thai guarantor. Many years ago I walked away from a Ducati dealer as they insisted on me having a Thai guarantor to get finance. They probably done me a favor actually! Why did I want a Ducati? 🤣

Hopefully someone accepts card - I found that I can buy on Shopee using a card and have it delivered in Bangkok for free. Price seems to be slightly higher for this, but not anything too insane. I started leaning towards a Forza 350 rather than a PCX 160, seems like something in the maxi-scooter class will be a little more comfortable when I get outside of Bangkok going on longer drives. Maybe selling a more expensive bike will be a motivator for someone to accept card.

2 hours ago, eccentricfusion said:

Hopefully someone accepts card - I found that I can buy on Shopee using a card and have it delivered in Bangkok for free. Price seems to be slightly higher for this, but not anything too insane. I started leaning towards a Forza 350 rather than a PCX 160, seems like something in the maxi-scooter class will be a little more comfortable when I get outside of Bangkok going on longer drives. Maybe selling a more expensive bike will be a motivator for someone to accept card.

I was leaning towards Forza too. I still drive PCX and I can drive 1-1.5h comfortably, but then I need a rest. The second seat is much more uncomfortable and I would say everything over 45m is torture. The second seat on the Forza seems nice and comfortable too. So much better for driving and exploring upcountry. If I would choose between XMax and Forza, I would choose Forza every day. XMax feels cheap compared to Forza. Sit on both and you will feel the difference.

31 minutes ago, expotbkk said:

I was leaning towards Forza too. I still drive PCX and I can drive 1-1.5h comfortably, but then I need a rest. The second seat is much more uncomfortable and I would say everything over 45m is torture. The second seat on the Forza seems nice and comfortable too. So much better for driving and exploring upcountry. If I would choose between XMax and Forza, I would choose Forza every day. XMax feels cheap compared to Forza. Sit on both and you will feel the difference.

Yes, have tried the X-MAX before, but the Forza seems better. Surprisingly, I thought the Forza would be much wider - it's not. About 14mm wider, although that is handlebars with the mirrors folded. A little bigger and heavier, not quite as nimble turning, but it doesn't seem like it will be super difficult to squeeze through anywhere a PCX could. I have actually been seeing a lot of reviews about the Zontes bikes, but I have never ridden one or have any experience with them personally, although a lot of Thai Youtube reviewers are raving about the 368 line from them.

2 hours ago, eccentricfusion said:

Yes, have tried the X-MAX before, but the Forza seems better. Surprisingly, I thought the Forza would be much wider - it's not. About 14mm wider, although that is handlebars with the mirrors folded. A little bigger and heavier, not quite as nimble turning, but it doesn't seem like it will be super difficult to squeeze through anywhere a PCX could. I have actually been seeing a lot of reviews about the Zontes bikes, but I have never ridden one or have any experience with them personally, although a lot of Thai Youtube reviewers are raving about the 368 line from them.

Honestly, I would give a crap about Thai influencers. Money speaks and in Thailand there are no consequences for "influencing" People with bad information.

Zontes is very new on the market. The Bikes look nice, for sure. But there are no long time tests. Also it is a Chinese brand, where they just stop producing parts and you have a big pile of trash in your "garage".

8 hours ago, expotbkk said:

Honestly, I would give a crap about Thai influencers. Money speaks and in Thailand there are no consequences for "influencing" People with bad information.

Zontes is very new on the market. The Bikes look nice, for sure. But there are no long time tests. Also it is a Chinese brand, where they just stop producing parts and you have a big pile of trash in your "garage".

Even the English speaking ones like Rides 4 Kickz on YouTube have spoken well about them. It's not going to influence me to buy one, I am still leaning towards a Forza or PCX since I know Honda makes solid products. I just mention them since I have started seeing them on the roads more often and it looks like they are picking up some market share.

Look at my profile picture... 1200 cc... done 50.000 km on it and not slowly...

'nuff said 🤘

I scrambled Kawasakis back in my youth. I am scared to death to be in a motorcycle in BKK. I will take a motorcycle taxi when in a pinch. Otherwise, I walk or take the BTS for short jaunty.

Please be safe...

I ride a Moto Guzzi California at home. I used to work in BKK but my work place was too far for me to ride as had to take the highway. Thought a lot about buying a scooter of Forza size. Even looked at a Chinese 250 cc cruiser. A good friend of mine has a Harley Fatboy but he lives outside of the city centre and only rides outside on Sundays and sometimes only.

I understand by what you mean by trusting yourself more. I have seen this in all Asian countries ( apart from Singapore and Japan) where they seem to know exactly what they are doing in avoiding accidents.

I have always rented a scooter when I go outside Bangkok especially Krabi. The worst riders I have seen are the farangs riding without a care in the world. They are a menace. The Indians seems to blend into the flow probably because it’s so chaotic in India too and they know how to avoid causing accidents.

It’s good that there is traffic jam in Sukhumvit as no one drive or ride fast. I always take a motorcycle taxi for short distances and always tell them to take it easy when I get on the back. I always found that to me the easiest one to sit on the back is The Honda Wave.

One interesting side story. I had to take one from Thong Lo BTS to Samithavej Hospital. It’s was a lady and I was trying hard not to touch her in any way and trying to sit as back as possible and she got one hand behind her and grabbed my hand and put it around her waist. So I put two hands and she nodded her head and said chai. Of course I gave her a good tip too.