At the 46th Bangkok International Motor Show, we found electric apes, adventure-ready scooters and enough two-wheeled wonders to make Aussie riders green with envy.
With the premium international motor shows receding into the background (sorry, Melbourne) along with our automotive industries here in Australia, Aussie fans must now travel abroad for these exciting exhibitions.
Bangkok is unique among most motor shows in that it includes a sizeable section devoted to motorcycles and two-wheeled transportation, and that was what drew me – again – to Thailand’s premium automotive showcase.
Harley-Davidson stole the show from a pure entertainment perspective.
Apart from some notable absences (where were you, Ducati and KTM?) most of the brands we’re familiar with were on show, exhibiting their flagships, entry-level models and everything in between.
With the Asian market dominated by small-capacity machines, finding an exhaustive range of lightweight commuter bikes and scooters was no surprise. Something like a modest Harley-Davidson Street Bob leaves you no change from 1 million Thai baht (more than $A45k). Anyone who’s been to Asia knows only too well how huge the number of scooters and step-thrus is. Despite this, there was a vast number of big-bore bikes on show – especially the Harleys – even though tariffs on such beasts in Thailand are absolutely eye-watering.
Can-Am Rotax electric
I know the EV debate is divisive here, but in Asia it makes sense. Streets are crowded, the air is smoky, commutes are short and parking is at a premium. So electric scooters and the like are a pragmatic choice and the tech is rising to meet the various challenges like charging times, battery life and recycling.
No prizes for guessing that the Chinese are the big players in this field with brands like XPeng and Yadea, who, by the way, are finding entry into the Australian two-wheel market problematic due to our ADRs, even though they make a big fuss about the submarine capabilities of their scooters.
Thailand’s homegrown EV scooter, Strom, was also on show with such curiously dubbed models as Gorilla, Chimpanzee, Gibbon and Ape. The company is also introducing a battery swap program – a bit like your barbecue LPG tanks.
Thailand-based Strom EV Scooters Gibbon model.
If you asked me what the most interesting bike at the show was, I’d have to say the 750cc, dual-clutch Honda X-ADV, an adventurous version of the NC750 megascooter. A fully tricked version was on show, complete with hardshell luggage kit and undertray protection. Sadly, this curious machine will not be available in Australia – at least at the time of writing. The current Forza 350 is the nearest relative on our market.
750cc, dual-clutch Honda X-ADV
If I had to give a prize for the best display, my biased opinion would go to Harley-Davidson, who were right on message with their show entertainment. But with my H-D hat off, it was Honda who really stole the show with their range of motorcycles and classy mainstage presentations.
Honda HRC CRF300 Rally
Another interesting aspect of this show is that visitors can purchase vehicles off the floor after test drives. I didn’t see the test ride offered for motorcycles, but there were plenty of “show only” incentives for new bike buyers like insurance, accessories, extended warranties and apparel.
For more action from the 46th Bangkok International Motor Show, watch the video here!
