Best Posts in Thread: Like to meet people

Hi,
I just moved here after living in Bangkok for 5 years. The forum has been a lot of help with places to eat and getting to know the Dumaguete area. I'm wondering if there is anyone out there that is interested in meeting and having coffee. I'd also like to meet someone who enjoys road trips, of all lengths, on motorbikes. Did a trip that ended up in Siargao and really enjoyed it but would be nice to have company. Thanks for taking the time to read my post, looking forward to hearing from you. Scott

 

Sorry for not responding earlier. I don't get notified when a response is posted to this thread, not sure why. Anyway, I thought a CRF would be more flexible in terms of exploring places the Nmax wouldn't be able to get to. My primary objection with the Nmax is with the hard suspension, even with aftermarket shocks the bike rides rough. I'm not a big guy and even with the Gf on the back we only total about 100 kg. So my landlord liked the Nmax, I've got a top box and the shocks mounted, he agreed to buy the bike for a good price. So the next day I went down and bought a CRF. On the way home the GF said she didn't like the seat, it's too thin and too hard for traveling which is something I plan to do with the bike. So we rode the CRF a few more times and ultimately decided to keep both. The Nmax for trips, with the top box it has substantial carrying capability and the CRF will be my toy for solo trips and general riding/exploring.

 

With ABS, Sorry should have mentioned that. ABS is a big must IMO.

 

Smally / Scott I was looking at both bikes, plus a few others. I brought the 2020 Nmax.

A few reasons why.
I don't currently live in PI so didn't want to spend the extra cost.

The scoot has storage area.

My wife can ride the scoot.

The scoot is very comfy.

I am short and the CRF is a tall bike, I ride a Harley back home.

The Nmax is a auto and I'm lazy.

Nmax is easy to ride in city traffic.

If I move to PI full time I would have both bikes, it was hard to choose as I do like off road.

 

Hi Smally.

I can only talk for myself as I was thinking the same thoughts before landing on CRF.

I looked at Nmax, Xmax and Kymco.

In more off-road I looked at XR150 and CRF, 150 and 250.

Reason I was looking at typical scooter first was because of comfort, you can't beat the comfort in these bikes if you have enough leg space. There is also a storage compartment that is practical.

Now the XR150 has a comfy seat and luggage rack, easy to put a top box....but... If you go and have a look at any XR150, you will see that it is rusting already in the showroom...some research pointed towards a Chinese production of these bikes...so that was out of the question.

Now there is crf150 and crf250. Non of them has luggage racks, but you get them for 1200-1500p. So no problems.
The 250 has a stronger build with heavier forks etc, water cooled as the 150 is not. The price difference is aprox 100.000p

So, back to the question why CRF. Living in the Philippines and seeing the environment with forest trails and even a motorcross track in Dumaguete, I chose CRF because of the versatility.

I can modify the bike for longer rides, put a top box, saddle bags, modified the seat, changes sprockets to my liking and can go off-road.

Doing mountain and forest/barangay trails is not for everyone, especially motorcross track, but for me I enjoy having fun with the bike doing such. I have passed my 40's and I look at it as a way to stay fit too...

I chose the 250 because I weigh a lot, and the 250 has a bit more power over the 150. The water cooled system is also something I appreciate. It must be said that this is not a motorcross Bike, but a street bike with some off-road capabilities.

A scooter for me would be a A to B Bike, that's it. The CRF gives me much more than that, that is why I have it.

You are welcome to join me/us having some adventures with it if you end up with one.

Happy New year!

 

Thank you for all the responses. My initial plan was to live in Thailand for 3 years, liked it so much I stayed for 5. The last two were with a Filipino girlfriend, she loved it there too but things are changing, the Thai authorities are making it more difficult for her to get a long term visa so in conjunction with everything else we decided to move. My original plan was to move to Europe or S America somewhere but I always wanted to explore the Philippines and I thought I'd spend a year or two here to do so. In Thailand I had 3 bikes, a CRF250 a Tracer 900 and a PCX. The PCX was for the city as we lived right in Bangkok, the Tracer had luggage and we rode it all over Thailand, Laos, Cambodia and down through Malaysia to Singapore. The CRF had a big bore kit that kept on blowing up but one of my big problems with that bike is the softness of the power. Perhaps if I go that way I'll try to drop a 300 motor into it. I'm struggling with the bike purchase, something like an Nmax would be cheaper, probably more comfortable for her and easier to carry baggage when traveling. The CRF would have a better suspension, riding on Philippine roads wears me out and after renting an Nmax to try out, getting hammered by the somewhat primitive suspension gets old fast. Stopped by the Honda store near the port today and almost bought a CRF, in fact I was going to go back and get it but it started raining and decided to wait for better weather. Still can't quite figure out what to do but I've got the new bike itch and I'm tired of riding this rented XRM125, the girlfriends parents live up high in the mountains and the headlight is going to get me in trouble sooner or later. So I think I'll pull the trigger today, it may come down to a coin toss . . . . . . .