Roses
Hello All,
I was hoping some kind person may be able to reccomend a good motor bike dealer I can contact from here in Australia. I am wanting to buy a small used bike to help a young man we are assisting with education get to his school. He comes from Abang and has moved south for school and is currently going to have to walk 5k's each way at irregular hours as there are no Bemos on the route. I would love to hear from anyone who may be able to advise.
Roses.
tintin
Sanurian,
Your answer to Roses’ query is right on the money: great insight in psychology in general and the Balinese youth’s in particular. You obviously must have passed Psych 101 with flying colors.
I also think the bit about [quote] ...buying him a used [i]bemo[/i]... [/quote] worth investigating, which could lead to some new, unforeseen opportunities. Abang area is rather isolated, and I would guess public transport to be limited. But first, a serious market survey is a must.
Sanurian
Hello [b]Roses[/b]
[quote]...I am wanting to buy a small used bike to help a young man we are assisting with education get to his school...[/quote]
It's a very admirable thing you are trying to do.
Many years ago, I sponsored a young boy possibly from the same village. I was already paying his school fees, buying school clothes, books, pens, etc. And he gave me a similar story to you, about transport. I quizzed him a bit about this:
"Why do you [b]really[/b] need a motorbike?"
His thinking was that if he had a motorbike, he could rent it out and make some extra money on the side. Nothing wrong with that, [i]per se[/i], except for how much time would he be spending trying to rent the thing and not being in school? I resisted at the time, and he was no more the worse for it. Walking 5kms in Bali is not necessarily a big deal - it's more about "fashion" and "looks" (especially these days). He didn't get a motorbike from me but managed anyway. Eventually, he got a job in Benoa (a long way from Abang), with some boating business. He survived, in other words...we still laugh about the motorbike bullshit.
In any case, used motorbikes in Bali are not hard to find. If you trust/believe him enough, get [b]him[/b] to find one and let [b]you[/b] know how much it costs. On the other hand, maybe you could consider buying him a used [i]bemo[/i] so he can provide a service that doesn't exist in his area? A new business.
Attempts at empowering poor Balinese to take responsibility for their own lives is a wonderful thing. The kick-start they might need is not all that expensive, by western standards. The two-way dialogue to get to the roots of what they imagine they want can be a bit hard. Find out and then something more positive can ensue, both now and in the future. Mere gifts of money is never enough and even undesirable, in my opinion. Please consider.
:)
Roses
Sanurian and Tin Tin,
Thank you for your replies. Yes it is hard to know what is the best thing to do in particular circumstances, and you can't blame people for asking you to help when you yourself have started the ball rolling so to speak. I am involved In Australia on a voluntary basis outside of work with disabled people, and this young guy has a sister with cerebal palsy. His family is quite poor as far as I can see, no motor bikes TV etc. and look to him to help support the family, hence our interest in his gaining a good education.
Yes I am aware that 5 k's each way is not impossible, used to do 3 each way myself, but the hours of study at college are irregular. Still I am sure he will cope, as I have so far found the Balinese to be a resourcefull bunch. I think we will leave it in abeyance at the moment, and check it out on our next trip over. Thanks for your advice. I certainly do not want to spoil our young friend.
Roses.
Sanurian
[b]tintin[/b]
I was replying to [b]Roses[/b] in a more or less general way, in that I knew less about the young fellow's situation than I do now (after she's posted a bit more info). [quote]...and this young guy has a sister with cerebal palsy. His family is quite poor...[/quote] I have personally sponsored 16 Balinese (from various parts of the island) for up to ten years, or so.
One thing I've learnt to be a little wary of is the possibility of "charitable acts" creating jealousies within villages. Sometimes it may be more prudent to work out a way that the whole village benefits rather than certain individuals, no matter how deserving they may be. Wouldn't it be better if the village felt more empowered to deal with problems like this (albeit with outside "help"?). That way, everyone can share the problem(s) and feel more involved rather than feeling isolated and powerless. Poor people still have dignity.
[b]desmond[/b]
[quote]...I say buy the bike, bugger the psychology! Help werever you can - and to hell with the expense...[/quote]
I applaud your interventions, in principle. I was not trying to "psychologise" Roses' quandary in any shape or form. Going from what you've done so far, I can only surmise that you are reasonably wealthy. Not everybody is in a position to cough up thousands of dollars for projects like yours. And not everybody can simply say "to hell with the expense".
Your offer to help Roses acquire a motorbike for the young man is extremely generous. But, further to my comment above, what kind of message does this send to other Balinese, in similar or even worse circumstances? "My school is too far to walk to, my family is poor and my sister has a dreadful disease - I deserve to get something for free?" As sad as the situation is, I believe that's not the right message to convey.
8)
Sanurian
Hi [b]Desmond[/b]
[quote]...I believe that Roses has a relationship with this young boy and his family already and, perhpas like you, feels the need to support him. I can only say that our support to Nyoman, his family, and the other that we have assisted - is returned many times over - in the sheer joy of watching this little boy's life change dramatically for the better...[/quote]
I understand what you're saying completely. And you remind me of myself when you say:
[quote]...I am not a wealthy man, but I do give whatever and whenever I can. I do however have lots of friends and I am a persistent requester of help...[/quote]
That's brilliant and I sincerely wish you all the very best. If there were more people like you, a lot more positive outcomes will be possible here. I salute you. Please reflect upon my so-called "insights", however. I believe they should be considered carefully. For example, have you ever asked the Balinese about whether [b]they[/b] think what you've done/been doing is "good"?
I did, many times, but not in the beginning. Early on, most Balinese told me I was a very good guy. Some years down the line I had the pleasure of meeting an older Balinese near Ubud who was sponsoring/looking after hundreds of Balinese children. Of course I felt humbled, but it wasn't a competition. Although I already knew it (I'd been to India several times before), he gave me the sugar and ants story. "Put the sugar on the ground, and many ants will come."
After that, I seemed to meet more Balinese who thought what I was doing (sponsoring individual children), was [b]not[/b] a good thing. Some were even aggressive to me and questioned my intentions. Others gave me reports of the jealousies I'd inadvertently created in some villages and even between adjacent villages. That's when I realised what I was trying to do may not have been the "right" thing, after all.
Both compassion and charity are worthwhile, in my mind. But what about those who don't receive it? What happens/happened to them? That's where it's necessary to tread carefully, and slowly, despite what we feel in our western guts.
:)
Fred2
I'm thinking of buying a new bike, looking at the Nmax or PCX. Markit has had a good run out of his Nmax, anyone had a good run with there PCX ?
BestofBali
Never tried the PCX but the Nmax is smooth to ride (and looks better :icon_wink:)
This was a good read :)
https://www.semisena.com/4628/spesifikasi-harga-yamaha-nmax.html
sakumabali
Hah looks better? Never! The PCX is so much prettier but more expensive (for a reason)
Markit
I actually don't give a little toss about the bike itself as the most important thing for me is being able to sit on the damned thing for extended periods and therefore if for no other reason the Nmax wins hands down compared with any bike I've sat on since then. All my mates have to get off after an hour with frozen-butt syndrome but me I just keep on chugging for 4/5 hours with no pain.
Creme on the cake - the bike itself is lovely to drive, about the aesthetics everyone can have their own opinion. I've had mine for about 6/8 months and at the beginning I was the only owner but now every fecker has one - not the case with the PCX, for a good reason.
If you want to get Nmax even cheaper just wait until Galungan/Nyepi when all those Balinese will be feeling the money pinch and selling their nearly new bikes.
Mark
Nowadays on my regular visits to Bali I only rent the Nmax. Fully agree with Markit that the bike is a joy to drive, with good power (even with a passenger), handling, traction, etc. Also the ABS has come in handy on more than one occasion. Gas mileage also seems to be good.
justgary
I have ridden the Nmax and it is a great bike to ride. Corners well, it's very neutral. I can ride it for hours with no issues
bunyip
Mmmm... May well be going into production for Indo market :) [ATTACH]2838.vB[/ATTACH]
justgary
Nice :)
Markit
Looks like one of those "Transformers" about to change into a vacuum.
tel522
sakumabali wroteHah looks better? Never! The PCX is so much prettier but more expensive (for a reason)
the pcx is not made here so it attracts import duty , hence the expensive price .
I agree with the majority re the nmax also it has abs a great safety feature , im interested to wait until next year for the smax 250 , that will be a cracker !
Fred2
That bike looks like the Supra GTR 150 with a few mods.
The PCX is Rp42,000,000 , the Nmax is only Rp26,000,000 non ABS or RP29,000,000 for the ABS model. I was looking at a review about both bike in the UK but the prices were very close and the Honda came out in front. Here the price difference is just too much.
justgary
I'm waiting for it too.
Fred2
[ATTACH]2840.vB[/ATTACH]
Kawasaki Versys-X 250, Rp73,000,000 would be good for long distance travel on Indonesian roads.
balibule
<QUOTE><s>[quote]</s>[ATTACH=CONFIG]2840[/ATTACH]
Kawasaki Versys-X 250, Rp73,000,000 would be good for long distance travel on Indonesian roads.<e>[/QUOTE]</e></QUOTE>
Nice bike but how big are they? Most of these bikes are fitted to Asian size. Another good looking bike but also Asian size is the Kawasaki Estrella at about 75 juta. But looking at the specs also a small bike.
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