Hi...
I'm a long-time motorcyclist who has done some short-term tours overseas. I've rode a variety of street bikes, and currently ride a little Honda CBR125 in Canada. After talking with my manager, it sounds like I'll be able to take 4 weeks leave in February-March 2012, and I'm thinking of going to Mexico.

I have three options:
a) Ride or trailer my 125 down to Mexico in the middle of winter. Riding from Canada south could be terrible depending on weather. Trailering/shipping would be very expensive (say $1000 each way).

b) Rent a small motorcycle. The trouble with this is that any moto rentals I can find with Internet searches are Harleys or BMWs at $120/day. That's fine for a few days maybe, but I want to do as much riding in four weeks as possible - and I'd be happy to plod along on a 125cc rather than a big honking bike.

c) Buy a cheap little 125cc in Mexico. I think this might actually be a great option. You can buy something like a CGL125 or a YB125 for less than 20,000 pesos ($2000 US). The worry here is paperwork and registration.

So... what do you think? Does anyone know of some thrifty motorcycle rentals in Mexico? ...
Or is there a dealership in Mexico that is accustomed to dealing with us 'extrajaneros' who want to do a quick buy/ride/sell in a month..?

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Bruce Clarke - 2020 Yamaha XV250

Where are you coming to in Mexico?
I bought a little Suzuki 125GN. It is a great little bike and costs 21,000 pesos. At the time it was the best option around and I think it still is. I don't think you will find a dealer interested in doing a buy back plan but you should check around.
When I got my bike I was looking for something second hand but there really wasn't a big saving. I can help you get a new bike and can give you a habd selling it but why not just keep it here so you can use it whenecer you visit?

That's not a bad idea at all, and in fact that was the sort of idea I had in mind.
I know a couple of people who teach in Huatulco, Oaxaca, so I could leave the bike in storage with them, but I'm not sure there is a decent motorcycle vendor there that would help me get the papers and registration in order...

When I look at rental rates, I find that Mexico seems to be really high. For example, I can do a search and find places in Guatemala or Nicaragua that rent out 200cc bikes for about $50/day. However, when I Google "Mexico motorcycle rental", these are about the only rates I can find:
Kawasaki KLR 650 7+ days: $115 per day
BMW R 1150 GS 7+ days: $145 per day
Harley Sportster 883 7 days: $475 /week
KTM 640 Adventure 7 days: $975 /week
Suzuki V-Strom 650 14+ Days: $110.00 Per day
plus insurance, etc.

The cheapest bike there is $70/day for off-season, and it's a 500lb Sportster out of Cancun. All I really need is a 125 or a 250.

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Bruce Clarke - 2020 Yamaha XV250

Over 250 views in one day - and only one response?

No one out there has ever bought a small bike in Mexico..?

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Bruce Clarke - 2020 Yamaha XV250

Only me by the looks of things.

I haven't, but I'm interested in what you find out. I'd like to do the same thing in Mex. and maybe elsewhere in the world, too.



..................shu

I just purchased a New Honda CGL-125 for $15,028 ($1307 USD) in Merida. Plates should cost around another $300 ($26 USD). Hope it helps. Have fun on your trip.

I have just arrived in Oaxaca and planning to buy a bike here. Have been to the Honda dealership where they have a good deal on for the Cargo 150 but I am after some advice about getting it registered. From what I can tell this is going to be difficult without having a good grasp of Spanish (and I am not at this stage yet) or finding someone local who is willing to help. Any info greatly appreciated!

First of all you are going to need something that states a local address like a phone bill or a water bill or an electricity bill (this is called the "comprobante de domocilio"). Since you don't live there, you will have to borrow one, and it doesn't matter if it is not in your name and if you don't live there. Without that, you won't be registering anything. The second absolutely necessary document is the "factura" or bill of sale. You need originals and a copy of both of these or you are going nowhere.
You will need your passport and your tourist visa (or your FM document if you have a number 2 or 3 type) for identification. It is quite a simple procedure, you show up with the paperwork and then you go to a bank to pay and then you return with the receipts stamped and they will give you your plate with a document that corresponds with it and also your "tarjeta de circulacion" which is your registration for the vehicle. You will get two documents, one for the plate and one for the bike, and the plate itself and don't lose any of these.
If you bought the bike at a dealer they likely have a "coyote" who you can pay to do pretty much everything for you. It is an easy process, just time consuming standing in line but the coyotes usually have a connection and move to the front of any line or hand the request to someone in the office that will do it quickly.
If the office you are registering it at is a busy one, they will probably have experience registering vehicles for foreigners. They will ask you for your "credencial electoral" which is the voter registration ID card that almost all Mexican adults have for universal identification in Mexico. You don't have one so you will use your FM tourist or resident document and your passport. This might confuse them unless they have worked with these documents before, but they will sort it out with a little time.
Don't go paying a fortune for this, the coyote should do it for less than $500 pesos maximum and if you have the time and the documents you can do it yourself, get there early in the morning and smile a lot. Don't listen to someone telling you that you can't do it because yes, you can get the registration. They might say that just to get some more money out of you. If you use a coyote, go with them because they will have your papers and a power of attorney that you have signed (carta de poder). I recommend you do it yourself.
The only difficult part is that it is boring. Even with the most basic Spanish it is not difficult, you just have to follow the bureaucratic procedures. It is also very likely that if you are not pushy and not loud, someone in the office will spend some time with you and help you and they probably will speak enough English to get you through it.
It is Mexico, and you generally will find someone around to help you out.
Don't even think about riding a bike that size on any toll highway, stick to rural roads and stay off the highways. Stay well to the right, way over on the shoulder if you do have to go on a highway. That bike will do about 80kmh flat out with you and luggage and it will take a long time to get to that speed. Also, those little bikes are among the most stolen in Mexico so get a good lock for it and keep it safe or it will disappear fast. Big bikes are rarely stolen, it is the delivery models that get ripped off all the time.

Thanks a lot for that - exactly what we needed to know.

Remember, the price for the coyote's service does not include the price of the registration and plates. Usually, the state hacienda office will charge you a fee based on the value of the bike on the factura bill of sale. It will be a percentage of the price of the bike and each year it will change when you renew your registration. If you fail to renew your registration you risk a fine and having your bike impounded or at least a hefty bribe to avoid that. When you sell the bike and the new owner goes to register it, they have to pay the previously unpaid registrations.
Many foreigners can get screwed badly if they don't understand the past registrations must be paid before a new "alta" will be given in someone else's name.
You are buying new so that is not a problem.
If you buy used, demand complete proof that all the previous "tenencias" registrations have all been paid in full.