My first post (be gentle !)

[hatari]

Hi Everyone,

im a Brit living in Thailand and have had PCX's since they came out over here, getting on for 4 years ago....

i'd had the "chicken chaser" type scooter previously, but when the PCX came out, i got one straight away - wasn't too happy with the colour choice available - either black with brown plastics / seat, gold with brown plastics or silver with brown....i went with the silver....

drove aound for a few months...very happy with, then about 3 1/2 years ago Honda changed the model slightly (still 125cc), introducing new colours, this time with black plastics....so i px'd my silver one for a new red one with black plastics...even managed to get a decal kit chucked in for free....

since then i've put a few bits and bobs on it (see photos) - fairly easy (and cheap) to source over here as there are places selling pcx stuff almost on every corner....

about 18 months ago, i had a J Coster Variator fitted....

prior to fitting, the bike would top out at 108kph - you'd get a juddering, which was the bike telling you to back off...

The variator people talked of better acceleration and a 120kph top speed, the latter i took with a pinch of salt....

i was advised to run the variator in for a bit to let it "bed in", so wasn't able to do the perfect "before and after" test, but you could feel a diference on the acceleration...

off the mark it sort of felt that it had another, lower, gear, so getting away from the lights was quicker, as was its mid range punch....

the impression i got with the top spead increase was that whilst the variator didn't do anything to the rev limiter, it gave taller gearing and thus chance to increase top speed...

anyway, one sun morning on a quiet dual carriage way went for the top speed test, it went past 110kph which was encouraging and crept to 115kph, and, to be honest it did feel that there was a bit more there, but then common sense kicked in - the bike didn't feel it was made for that kind of speed, particularly with me on it ! - so i backed off....

so was the variator worth the money ?? well i paid, as i recall about 120 GBP for it, as it was imported from Spain......mmm, possibly....

.i'm not a fan of aftermarket "performance" (LOL) exhausts and air filters, but with the variator you can definately feel some difference for your money

nowadays though the bike shops do their own variators and can be got well under half what i paid....so quite a bit of bang for your buck...

i've also fitted Dunlop TT low profile & wider tyres, which improve the handling somewhat and the aftermarket seat is more comfortable than the original....

last week i was at the dealers having it serviced and i went into the showroom to see the new 150 pcx and enquired "how much to swap"....

for my 14,500 km, 3 1/2 year old 125, they wanted about 600 GBP to swap, which i though was pretty good, but decided to hang on to mine for the time being.

[Gossamer]

Hi Hatari,
Welcome to the forum. Nice scoot, love the seat. Did the Dunlop TT low profile tyres make any difference to the bike handling?
Cheers.

[kramnala58]

Welcome hatari. Glad to see another expat in Thao on hondapcx.org. Great to have you aboard. What part of the country are you in? I am right in the heart of BKK.

I hear you about the "bits and bobs" being fairly easy (and cheap) to source over here. I've put quite a few pieces on mine with the latest addition being plastic add-on panels on the fron and year sides and well as the front fender. You can see it on the 'Before & After' thread in the Gallery.

I also put the J Costa variator in. Because I don't ride outside the core of the city much, I have had much chance to open it up, but you are right about the top speed. How fast does one actually want to go on a bike this light? I noticed an immediate difference in acceleration. It seems to be smoother as I initially accelerate as well.

[hatari]

Hi Hatari,
Welcome to the forum. Nice scoot, love the seat. Did the Dunlop TT low profile tyres make any difference to the bike handling?
Cheers.

marked improvement.....

[hatari]

Welcome hatari. Glad to see another expat in Thao on hondapcx.org. Great to have you aboard. What part of the country are you in? I am right in the heart of BKK.

I hear you about the "bits and bobs" being fairly easy (and cheap) to source over here. I've put quite a few pieces on mine with the latest addition being plastic add-on panels on the fron and year sides and well as the front fender. You can see it on the 'Before & After' thread in the Gallery.

I also put the J Costa variator in. Because I don't ride outside the core of the city much, I have had much chance to open it up, but you are right about the top speed. How fast does one actually want to go on a bike this light? I noticed an immediate difference in acceleration. It seems to be smoother as I initially accelerate as well.

i'm in north pattaya.....where there's 40 odd main honda scooter dealers, plus hundreds of 'lndependants' and very cheap compared to the west.


agree mid range punch is the key....have a cb500x for turns of speed and longer rides - but round town, PCX is king.....

[gokidd]

Welcome! Both your bikes look great, Hatari! I am considering the CB500X. Only the matte black is offered in the U.S. I like the white very much. Are custom seats for the X also popular in Thailand?

[Mgalutia88]

What seat is that you have?

[hatari]

Welcome! Both your bikes look great, Hatari! I am considering the CB500X. Only the matte black is offered in the U.S. I like the white very much. Are custom seats for the X also popular in Thailand?

no, not seen one...standard one is ok.....

[hatari]

What seat is that you have?

not sure, bought from local bike shop...circa 36 gbp (fitted)...


bigger area for driver (and smaller for passenger) than the std seat....

[gokidd]

Welcome! Both your bikes look great, Hatari! I am considering the CB500X. Only the matte black is offered in the U.S. I like the white very much. Are custom seats for the X also popular in Thailand?

no, not seen one...standard one is ok.....

Thanks, I appreciate the info. Hope the monsoons aren't keeping you inside.

[hatari]

Welcome! Both your bikes look great, Hatari! I am considering the CB500X. Only the matte black is offered in the U.S. I like the white very much. Are custom seats for the X also popular in Thailand?

no, not seen one...standard one is ok.....

Thanks, I appreciate the info. Hope the monsoons aren't keeping you inside.

yes its a tad wet at the mo.....

[hatari]

The Tyres are - Dunlop TT900 GT's

Front - 100/80/14

Rear - 120/80/14

a marked improvement over the standard tyres....

[Warlock]

Nice Bikes!!!!! welcome to the forum!!

[hatari]

thanks............

[nacho]

Welcome to the forum.

I had a dealer put an aftermarket variator on my PCX and the cost was 1600 baht (48 dollars). Now, I know where to buy the parts, so it's going to be 25-30% cheaper.

You've got some good looking bikes, fo sho!

[Mel46]

What is the tire pressure for the OEM tires vs those tires? Come to think of it, I don't even know what the standard tire pressure should be...hmmm. Back to the point though, is there a difference between those tires and the OEM ones, such as handling, width and height that might cause them to rub, and a difference in recommended tire pressures?

[you you]

What is the tire pressure for the OEM tires vs those tires? Come to think of it, I don't even know what the standard tire pressure should be...hmmm. Back to the point though, is there a difference between those tires and the OEM ones, such as handling, width and height that might cause them to rub, and a difference in recommended tire pressures?

Handbook or the internet. Pump up the tyres if needed. Angst later?

[hatari]

What is the tire pressure for the OEM tires vs those tires? Come to think of it, I don't even know what the standard tire pressure should be...hmmm. Back to the point though, is there a difference between those tires and the OEM ones, such as handling, width and height that might cause them to rub, and a difference in recommended tire pressures?

dont know....

[Mel46]

Not meaning to jump topics but how is Thailand being affected by that typhoon monster?

[kramnala58]

Not meaning to jump topics but how is Thailand being affected by that typhoon monster?

We're not hearing much about it here as it relates to Thailand. I don't think it was scheduled to get to Thailand until early Monday (Thai time) and then only in the upper north east of the country. From the one graphic I saw, it looked like the winds were going to drop to between 25 and 40 mph (45-65 kph) by the time it gets that far north, so it will not have anywhere near the affect that it did on the Philippines.