South East Asia- help getting started
 

Hello there. I am planning to buy a 125/250 motorbike and travel as much of South East Asia as possible over a 6-8 week period. I was ignorant enough to think it would be as easy as landing in Thailand, finding a bike and setting off. I am now learning that you have to register your bike to an address and there are import export fees when crossing borders?
Basically any tips would be good i.e

1. Which country (on mainland) would be the easiest to buy and register a bike, and how to go about it? only have UK car licence at the moment, but not thinking it will be a problem surely?

2. Which bikes are recommended (basic is best so locals can fix)?

3. Can I obtain short term visa on entering all countries (Thailand, Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos, Malaysia and possibly Burma)?

4. How much money to put aside for fuel (i know this one is a bit hazy)?

5. Thanks

South East Asia
 

Based on limited time you have in Thailand or South East Asia best option for you is to rent. Chiang Mai has many bike rental shops so that should be your first stop and stop over at Rider’s Corner for additional information’s on do’s and don’t in Thailand and South East Asia. Rider's Corner Bar & Restaurant - Chiang Mai Bikers Hotel Thailand they also have pretty good food.

Two bikes that are very popular in Thailand is Kawasaki KLX250 and Honda CRF250L and you can rent it for 650 – 800 Baht per day.

Getting visa is very easy; you can do in Thailand or at the airport of the country you are visiting.

In Thailand price of fuel range from 31 – 46 Baht per liter and you can pretty much get fuel anywhere.

If you have never ride or drive in Thailand take your time go slow and watch the locals. Bike accidents are very common so ride safe.

Thai cops like to stop tourist so keep your helmet on and always stay in left lane.

Hope this information help and have safe ride and enjoy your ride.

Here is web site might be useful.

RideAsia Motorcycle Community

I don't think this will be a problem as far as renting or buying is concerned but if you try claiming on your medical insurance for a motorcycle related accident it will be invalid, they all state that you must have a full motorcycle licence to ride any powered two wheeler. Even with a full licence you need to check that you are covered for bikes over 125cc, some do some don't.

Thanks for your reply. I actually don't have a time limit but just put that down as a rough guide, which is one reason why i'm keen on buying my own bike. Does this cause more hassle when crossing borders rather than having a rental?
I visited Chiang Mai last year and hired a bike from an English guy in city centre to tour the surrounding areas; this inspired me to make this trip. However, I think hiring will be too expensive over this amount of time. My basic concern is as above; buying, and is it necessary to register to cross borders, and will you get charged for every day you take the bike out of the country? This sounds daft to me but I read that if you leave Thailand on thai plates, you get charged for every day you had that bike out of the country (if you return i suppose). Thanks

If you rent a bike you have to leave your passport with the rental company so you will most likely not be able to cross borders.

If you buy in Thailand its complicated with all the paperwork. Sounds like a PITA to do unless you know a local.

Malaysia is a popular place to buy and you have no worries going anywhere pretty much. Vietnam is an option to buy as well (just know the paperwork will not be in your name) There is a company in Ho Chi Minh that sell reconditioned bikes and they have a buy back policy after your trip.

As for bikes as long as your not in a rush or want to do serious off road stuff then IMHO its a no-brainer. Buy a Honda wave. Can go just about anywhere, its cheap even new and absolutely any mechanic can work on it all through SE asia. Its a little workhorse.

I recently did 2 weeks in Laos on an XR 250 and had quite a bit of trouble with it. Mechanics there pretty much work only on scooters. They were no help whatsoever. Even in the remotest of places you can find somebody to fix a wave.

This is something that also interests me !

So you have to leave your passport with a bike rental company ??

Buying a cheap bike there is too much of a headache ???

I would recommend checking out following two locations if you want to buy.

Big Honda Thailand / Honda Worldwide | Thailand

Kawasaki Thailand Rama 9 / Kawasaki Thailand

Both bikes are 249CC, but I think Honda is about $600 or 17000 Baht less

Both locations have English speaking sales person so you should good and dealer should take care all the paper work, insurance and getting your green book for you. Kawasaki did for me. They only take cash!!!

They don’t care who you are long as you have the money. Make sure you have address in Thailand you can use.

I don’t think you can cross the border with a rental bike without a guide but personnel bike is very easy all you need is following documents to cross border.

• Bike registration
• Bike insurance
• Bike title (green book)
• Passport
• Bike Visa
• Two passport photo if you don’t have visa
• Cash. I can’t speak for other countries but Cambodia only take US$

You should really go visit this web site for additional information’s.
RideAsia Motorcycle Community

Yes you have to leave it and you just travel with a photocopy. I didn't have any probs in Laos showing the photocopy. Maybe half the hotels, guest houses asked for your passport.

I have heard Malaysia is easier than Thailand to register. Malaysia is also a good point to start your trip heading up north to Thailand.
Finding a decent 250 to buy which has not been flogged might be hard and then I would only do it if you were mechanically inclined. The locals pretty much only ride scooters.

I broke down twice in front of a bike mechanic. Neither had any clue about the XR. Would not even look at it. If I hadn't had some phone support on one occasion and a mechanical frenchman go past on another (he was like"man why are you riding a bike like this in Asia? lol) I would have been in some trouble.

My suggestion is, just get into Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia and buy whatever bike you want. Dont think there will be any problem and you can find all kind of bike in Kuala Lumpur.

Then get your visa to wherever you want to go in Kuala Lumpur and just ride where you want to go. Guess with Malaysian register bike, there will be no problem of going into Thailand, Laos, Cambodia and Vietnam.

I am more than happy to take you round looking for the bike you want in Kuala Lumpur if time is right. Cheers

Thanks... That's a good idea.

Maybe I can buy a bike in Malaysia and ride it to Vietnam and hopefully sell it there.

Hi Ted,

To buy is not a problem, but to sell it in Vietnam, am not to sure if that is possible or not. Maybe take it back to Malaysia and sell it after your tour.

Cheers

Yeah.... Maybe I'll have to do a little lap of S.E Asia.

That would be cool.....maybe can do it together, if the time is right.

You never know :)