Best country in SEA to own a bike as a tourist

[edu986]

Hello everyone,

Maybe this is a common question, I’ve looked in the forum but I’ve not found my answer

I’m planning a trip around SEA in motorbike,
My ideal route will be from Thailand to India/Nepal trough Burma, and then back

First of all, I’ve looked to rent a bike, but I think the border crossing will be difficult,

So the option is to legally own a bike in order to take it out of the country easier.
I will be looking for a 250cc bike, like a CRF or similar, new or used, same for me.

Anyone have recent information about which is the best country in SEA to buy and own a bike as a tourist?

Is any country that you can legally do that as a tourist?

I’ve found some information from Buying A Motorcycle In South East Asia - Unleash Your Adventure
But this info is from 2011, so a little bit old

Thanks a lot for your help!

Eduardo.

[robert ksng]

Malaysia. You can get a carnet and the bike is in your name.

[alfonso-the-wanderer]

Thailand-Burma-India and BACK????
Be realistic: going one-way is already a MAJOR headache and a HUGE purge of your money. You won't want to do that twice.
To enter India, you NEED a carnet, which IMHO can only be obtained in Malaysia (considering the entire SE Asia region). Hence you will need to buy in Malaysia, have it registered there on your name, get a carnet (with 400% guaranty for India).
I hope you're a millionaire.
My advice: rent a bike in all three countries for local use (or buy/sell a cheapy). You'll save yourself a ton of money and even more worries.

[azooki]

if ur going to do that, cruise thru all those countries just using a bike, thats a LOT of hassle. i suggest just rent a bike in the country where u at. then go on country hopping. u really don't need to own one.

[edu986]

Hello,

First of all, thanks for your answers,

In fact, after the earthquake in Nepal, I’m not sure if I’m going through Burma,
I will try to do Thailand/Laos/Cambodia/Indonesia and maybe Vietnam,

I’ve heard that crossing to Vietnam in a bike is really difficult, so I’ll be renting…

And I’m still looking if is better to buy and sell, or to rent one bike,
I’m planning to rest at least 3 months, so, I’ve done some calculations,
The bike I’m looking for is a CRF-L 250, or similar,

I would like to buy, I think is cheaper, (around 100K THB, for a second hand in good condition)

And I can sell it in 80K or less, so 20K/90 days -> 220 THB per day
I can modify it as i want, and I’ve heard a lot of stories about bad experiences renting in Thailand,
But I’m not sure if I can legally register the bike to my name, as a tourist.

If I rent one, yes is easier, I can change it between countries,
But is expensive, around 1000 THB per day,

So I’m still thinking about it…

If you have any other ideas/experiences, you are welcome!

[Lonerider]

You can rent a bike in Chiang Mai with C & P and they will allow you to take it over the border both to Laos and Cambodia and they provide all the paperwork. I used them in Dec/Jan and had no problems crossing from Thailand to Laos. Details are on my ride report (see signature block), they were great and would use them again, also they did not rip me off when i came off and damaged the bike
Their website Choose the bike - Choose the road - Choose C&P
As for Vietnam it is hard to get bike through their border crossings so better to rent there.

Wayne

[edu986]

Hello Wayne!

Yes! thanks! i've read your topic at least 5 times!
great source of motivation!

[recom273]

You can register a bike here on a tourist visa, but its tricky.

First you need a bike, then you need a certificate of residence from immigration to register the bike in your name - I would try and work out the best immigration office to get a certificate of residence then move to that area. Some immigration offices don't issue them at all, I think you may have some luck in Pattaya. Bangkok CW won't issue to tourist visas as far as i know.

To get a Certificate of residence, you need a residence ( within that immigration office jurisdiction ) and a contract or letter from the owner of the place, copy of owners ID card, your passport, 2x photo's

Take the bike to DLT who will ask to see the certificate of residence to register it in your name. Do all the paperwork and check the bike, this will take you a couple of days, Its not hard, some DLT's are cool, some make you stand around waiting on queue numbers for hours. A Thai friend would be really helpful here, I know a couple of local bike shops that will do all the legwork for 300-500B, it must be the same all over the country.

After that your good to go.

Without your name on the green book or a letter of authorisation from the legal owner then you may have a problem crossing borders.

You will be limited to Laos, Thailand, Cambodia, Singapore and Malaysia. Vietnam won't allow Thai bikes in. I don't know about indo, I can't comment.

You should look on Facebook groups, on my local group there is a 2012 KLX 125 ( too small i know ) 30,000 km - 45,000 - thats 100B a day at your calculations. Y'cant get a scooter hire for less than 150B a day.

It all depends on how long your tour is ? 90 days, it took me 10 days to register my Versys, over the course of a religious holiday.

++ I just noticed, you wrote, "I heard horror stories.." meaning, you have never been here before ? How about the horror stories of buying a bike here, only to find its not road legal.

[edu986]

Hello recom273 !
Thanks very much for your complete answer!
Is exactly all the information I was looking for!
Cheers!

[recom273]

Sheeeeet !

I haven't managed to put you off ???

PM me if you need some help.

[edu986]

Hello everyone,

So im leaving this week, im going to BK first to visit,
then maybe Chiang Mai,

Anyone knows something about Cambodia?
Can a tourist buy a bike?

Any help is good!

Cheers!

[ta-rider]

I would not buy a bike in SEA scince you can rent them so cheap in every country but it is a nightmare to take them across the boarder. If tryed it: http://schoene-motorradreisen.de/?re...ailand_bangkok

[recom273]

Dude .. What is driving you to buy a bike here ?

You can rent bikes at these places, they come recommended. A XR250 for $25 seems a fair price to me

Angkor Motor Cycles
Straydog Adventures Dirt bike - Sihanoukville, Cambodia

If you buy a bike in Cambodia, you will be OK taking it into Laos. I think your not permitted to take it too far into Thailand, maybe the border provinces and although Vietnam may let some local traffic in, I doubt a westerner will be allowed.

I would suggest you buy a decent helmet in Chiang Mai, check out Helmet2home in CM, he's a cool guy, you will find a lid and some clothing cheap there. Avoid Thai made dog bowl helmets.

We also have lots of local made enduro gear, check x_wolf or K2 adventure ( on Facebook ), you might find some cheap luggage to help you on your way.

[edu986]

Hello recom273,

In fact I'm looking to buy one because it's going to be cheaper and I can modify it , I'm planning 3 months of travel.

So if I buy one (100k thb) and sell it for 80k thb, is 222 de thb/day roughly 7 USD

About the bike gear, thanks for the recommendation, I'm coming with my own complete offroad equipment.

[recom273]

Originally Posted by edu986

Hello recom273,

In fact I'm looking to buy one because it's going to be cheaper and I can modify it , I'm planning 3 months of travel.

So if I buy one (100k thb) and sell it for 80k thb, is 222 de thb/day roughly 7 USD

About the bike gear, thanks for the recommendation, I'm coming with my own complete offroad equipment.

Yes, you know I'm with you on the idea that its cheaper, but for a 3 month tour ?
and like other pointed out, its easier to cross borders with your own bike.

Please don't buy a bike in Cambodia, 100K THB is a lot of money - There are lots of bikes in Thailand, its a richer country, there are more guys doing enduro, and more bikes for sale, you should get better value. You will find plenty more crooks in Cambodia. My first couple of bikes here were a bit of a disaster, No.1 had no book, I knew no better and the seller just told me to go get one from the DLT when I red'd it ( no biggie, was a 10K bike ) the next so many unpaid road tax fines, I was forever running police roadblocks.

You also need to research yourself about where you can take your bike. I forget where I heard about Cambodian bikes, but generally anything Cambodian is generally viewed with suspicion in the rest of SE Asia.

I would join some Thai enduro facebook groups to judge the prices. I'm not really into Enduro bikes, so I don't know what group is busiest at the moment but as its entering the rainy season, the market is very slow at the moment. A lot of Thais just don't ride, just like the European winter.

This would have ben a good hit Kawasaki D-TrackerX 2011 250cc 95,000 Baht - Touring Forums | GT-Rider

The seller was in Pattaya, where the DLT is a little more used to registering bikes to westerner.

Have you also built into your calculations that, should you decide to buy in Thailand, you will need at least a 3 month multi-entry visa and you will also need to rent an apartment ( in order to get the certificate of residence ) in order to transfer the name, this means a deposit + x amount of rent upfront ( not expensive, you might find a landlord to hook you up for 6-9K ) ?

Good luck with everything and I hope you enjoy your trip