Buying a motorbike in Astana/Riding unlicensed
 

Has anyone recently bought a used motorbike in Astana and what was your experience like? Did you have difficulties registering it? I'd like to ride it back to Europe through the 'stans, Iran and Turkey.

Also, I have a lot of experience riding motorbikes, I just don't have a license (only car). Have others managed to do similar trips without a valid license?

You possibly would get away with no licence but your medical insurance will not be valid, if you try claiming for a motorcycle accident the first thing they will ask for is a copy of your full motorcycle licence then you will be on your own.

I had to show my license a few times at the border.

So it will be hard.

In KZ they have different colour number plates for vehicles registered to foreigners and stateless persons. The plate is assigned to you personally, not the vehicle. So you would need to show them proof of address and entitlement to ride. Also, the police reputedly look out for the different coloured plates as a good source of "spot fines", which again would mean a licence check.

So you do have a licence, just not the motorcycle entitlement.

If I was to show my UK driving licence to many staff at borders they probably couldn't figure out if it is for car or bike, so I wouldn't worry.

However, if you were to get an international driving licence, this has a tick box for car and motorcycle, and would be easier to spot that you are not entitled to ride a bike.