buying a motorbike?

[marc26]

i assume alot of you guys who live in phuket have bought a motorbike. afew questions:
how much for a good new one
can you buy a good used one easy
do you have to get insurance or any other papers for it
do you think it would be easy to sell when i leave
or is it better to just rent
id appreciate any info you guys can give, thanks

[Jonas]

Are you asking about a Honda Wave - 125 now ?
or a real motorbike ....

Brand new Honda Wave between 35 - 38 000 bath , depends on shop .

[marc26]

not a motorcycle, like a honda wave, moped

[Nicke]

I paid about 42,000 baht for my Honda Dream(s), including registering & insurance fee's for the first year.

But you need a Non Immigrant visa if you want to buy it in your name.

The easiest way is ofcourse to rent a motorbike if you are staying for just few months.

[Jonas]

Ok ! Then you have Honda Wave - 125 brand new for 35 - 38
or a Honda Wave - 100 with drum brake in front for 33 000 bath

This was the prices i get when i look around in july for fun in Patong
Then you have to registrate (i think its included in price)
but you also need insurance.
But Nicke can give you all info about that ...

I dont think you get so mutch lower price for a used bike ??

[Jonas]

What Nicke !!! Do you pay 42 000 Bath for your bike ?

So this thai´s joke me when i was check around .
or mayby i just remember the prices from Kalasin ....

[marc26]

maybe ill just rent. do you guys know a good place that rents good,newer bikes?

[LivinLOS]

You dont need a non imm visa to own them.. Thats a common missunderstanding.. It can be done on even a 30 day visa on arrival.

You DO need a copy of the landlords tabien baan, which is tough if you are in a Hotel, to take to immigration and get a proof of address slip (300 baht) or you could use a service provided by a mate of mine that simply 'uses' a Thai address to register you at.

New bikes around the 35 (crappy) to 45 (good) to 55 - 60 for JRD style scooter..

Second hand, harder to find but usually can find something good at 18 - 25.. You may even find Phuket town shops with trade ins around the25 mark that are all done up with new brakes, tires etc.

You do need Gov insurance and tax but its a trivial cost.

Selling can be tough if people know you are leaving, however if your stay is >3 months it usually saves money.

Lots of places renting but find a good person.. 100 baht for a used normal 125 rental 125 - 150 for a new honda wave 125s is low expat pricing. many people will do a 3k per month deal on an ok bike.

[Nicke]

I have never heard of anyone who get a bike on tourist visa, when I bought my bikes and the car:

- Copy of passport (Non Immigration visa required)
- Notification of stay from Immigration (You need tabian baan to
get this paper)

LivinLOS, the case you have in mind, did you just transfer ownership or bought new?

Originally Posted by LivinLOS

You dont need a non imm visa to own them.. Thats a common missunderstanding.. It can be done on even a 30 day visa on arrival.

You DO need a copy of the landlords tabien baan, which is tough if you are in a Hotel, to take to immigration and get a proof of address slip (300 baht) or you could use a service provided by a mate of mine that simply 'uses' a Thai address to register you at.

New bikes around the 35 (crappy) to 45 (good) to 55 - 60 for JRD style scooter..

Second hand, harder to find but usually can find something good at 18 - 25.. You may even find Phuket town shops with trade ins around the25 mark that are all done up with new brakes, tires etc.

You do need Gov insurance and tax but its a trivial cost.

Selling can be tough if people know you are leaving, however if your stay is >3 months it usually saves money.

Lots of places renting but find a good person.. 100 baht for a used normal 125 rental 125 - 150 for a new honda wave 125s is low expat pricing. many people will do a 3k per month deal on an ok bike.

[LivinLOS]

Bought new (scooter)... Transfered second hand fireblade, jeep, another scooter.

any permit to stay in the kingdom (even the 30 day non visa) is suitable, you only need the registration of alien address done, that requires a tabien baan and could be difficult for a person living longer term in a guesthouse etc.. It seems to me that its a myth spread by Thai girlfriends that everthing needs to be in thier name

As I stated I have a Thai friend who will do the whole registration process for you so you dont even need to have the phuket town hassle, he has fixed a few peoples problems when the papers were not all available and also has people that will provide an address for you to be registered at for the immigration stamp (all for a fee)... Personally I now know the route throught the system and it is pretty trivial, you just have to get over the non english speaking staff at Phuket town. The first time is a hassle but once you suss it it is easy.

Also be aware of a small issue, if your GF has everything registered in her name, even if she is trustable, should she (god forbid) die unexpectedly you have no right of claim over anything if she has no will. The fact you bought everything or the fact she may have been a comon law wife means nothing, it all goes to her family. I found this out the hard way (but managed to keep it all in the end).

[alibaba]

LivinLOS is correct.
I bought a bike using 30 day n/immigrant visa + tabian baan.
Look in questions and answers in Phuket Gazette under heading of "Buying a car as a tourist." 18th. Sept 04 issue.

[alibaba]

Sorry,
That's a 30 day tourist visa.

[hugos]

Originally Posted by marc26

maybe ill just rent. do you guys know a good place that rents good,newer bikes?

Hi Marc,

i would buy a new one. Its very easy to sell again if you leave and you save money. (and you have a new motobike, not an old worn out).
Even you get a good price if you sell it again.
I bougth a honda wave for about 40.000 bath and sold it after one year (12.000 km and a little crash) for 28.000 bath. Cheaper then rent, or?
I bought it in phuket town in the big honda-shop.

And if you have any problem with your rented motobike (crash or something) they often take too much money from you.

As said no problem to buy and register on your name.




Hugo

[andy50]

hi marc, i noticed a shop that was hiring harleys out, when i was last there

[marc26]

i appreciate your help guys, ill be there in december and ill pm hugos and livininlos, maybe ill use your friend livin

[bakhlang_farang]

hi mayby a stupit question but do you need a licence for a motorbike like a honda wave or not ?