Book, No Book Up To You

[H2oDunc]

I've posted before about havinga book for your bike and some people have told me how they have been riding for so long without problems so you dont need one. Well. My friend boughta Kawasaki 1100c ZZR without a book for 100,000 baht. Of course he was going to get round to getting one --------- someday. The other day he went for a run to Ranong from Chumphon across the mountains. A nice bike ride if you know the road and are prepared for the traffic. For some reason he failed to negotiate a corner and ended up in the jungle well off the road. Its cost him 100,000 baht in hospital bills for a broken wrist and broken ribs, cuts and contusions. The police are non too happy either. They have confiscated the bike and also want to charge him 20,000 baht for damage to the jungle. Thats got to be very expensive jungle. Hes also lost his job as an instructor to boot. So his cheap bike has ended up costing him a shed load of money and hes ended up with no bike.

All you people who run around without a book take note. Its just a matter of time!!!!!!!!!! Stay upright chaps

[Lickey]

the Kawasaki ZZR1100 is an awesome bike, ok, a sports tourer nowadays but it sure makes the planet smaller, its a heavy bike and dosnt take kindly to mid-corner braking,tends to upright you, Having owned one since 1994 and being set up by a Kawasaki race mechanic {Uk BSB} it goes like shit off a shiny shovel, and i cant wait to go home in October to ride it again,

To get to the point, the bike was in in-exeperinced hands, book or no book, he would have ended up in hospital,

Would a book save him from hospital bills and jungle bills? and would he have kept his bike?

This is an enquiry rather than a dig at your post Dunc, I have a 1200XJR Yam here in Issan with book ect, and if youve ever up this way on that Trumpet of yours, you are welcome to visit us, Cheers,

[JimsKnight]

An unfortunate tale H2O but for many people with the large cc bikes getting a book is near as dammit impossible unless you want to fund the next government kareoke bonanza for them to create a book for a bike import.

I know a guy who had to pay about 50,000 baht for an imported bike to have a book made up for it!!!

I'm gonna have to chase my book up with the Dealership when I get back to LOS though....

Paying for the jungle ??!!!!

I thought the German Politzi were bad charging my brother 1000 DM for the oldest tree in Hameln he destroyed.

Sounds like the BIB police want there bonus money on that one!

I'm guessing this poor dude was an OWSI dive instructor? Hmmm, that sucks if its his job on Koh Tao thats gone west.

I wish him well and hope hes alright in the end.

[stevemiddie]

I might be a bit dumb here but can anyone explain to me what difference a book makes if you are involved in an accident?

PS. Jungles are very expensive in Thailand.

Pattaya is a jungle and it always costs me a lot of money

[ray23]

Liabilty insurance probably, not having the book means you are more then likely more open to tea money, more then anthting else. But yes they can confiscate the bike on the spot, if they are so inclined. Don't here many stories about that. I did find somethign intersting here in Udon last week. Bought a new bike and waiting for the rego to be processes. I was stopped at the standard check points and asked for the sticker, told them it was in the porces a new purchase they were happy with that. But that is he first time in five years I have ever been asked.

[H2oDunc]

Likey, have to agree mate. Big bike , little hands. Just too much power for some people. For me though the roads here are not too suited to the racer/ cruisers for me. The riding position also wreaks havoc with my wrists after a 100km or so. Well happy with the big old Rocket. I have to say its the most comfortable mile muncher I've had. The wife and I are heading up that way when it stops raining so will look you up for a cold one. Heading down to Hat Yai later today for the bike weekend, Me thinks I might get a little wet!!! any of you guys going????. Catch ya later. Stay upright

[tahaan]

Yes, I agree with you that being fully legal is the way to go but as said, it's very difficult and expensive. Most of the Thais I've met ride w/o reg and don't seem bothered about it. When I ask about the process I get a smile and a "don't worry" sometimes from serving police.

I had an accident in Loie on an unregd bike a couple of weeks ago. A clown jumped a red light and we both went down. Having heard the many horror stories of farang/Thai collisions I was expecting the worst certainly judging by the reactions of the other party when he saw me. Luckily I was with a bunch of Thai bikers and we were on our way to meet up with others. They took charge of the scene, sorted my bike out and dealt with the police while I went to hospital.

A couple of mates later joined me in casualty and said the police wouldn't get involved as long as all parties reached an agreement over costs of medical treatment and repairs etc. which basically meant me buying off the other guy. Negotiations between him and his family who had gathered by this time and my reps took place around his gurney. After some time I was told he would settle for B2,000 and it didn't take me too long to agree. I was a bit p*ssed about the principle of the thing, being out of pocket for something I'm convinced was not my fault but hey, TiT!

Anyway, to get back on track, I later made enquiries about what would have happened if I'd been fully legal and I've been told that it would have, at best, been the same but if I'd have been on my own, it would have probably ended up far worse for me. I love getting out on my own but my last trip has taught me the value of riding with decent local support and that's not just mechanical. I've met a few people here who seem to think the book and plate is some kind of magic bullet. It must be great to ride with the confidence that your legal but I'd hate to put some of the bikes to the test. Are you sure the books not been altered? Is it on a list of stolen bikes somewhere?

I've made enquiries locally about getting full insurance for a fully legal (if and when I have one) bike over 200cc here but have been told by the agents I've approached that it is not possible. I think that I'll be following advice from another thread, ditching what I've got now and buying new from a main dealer in bkk as long as they can convince me that I have the full dealer support.

...now where's that Triumph dealer Dunc?

[Netfan]

I've got no plate on a 1000cc bike. I do have an insurance sticker and all the import paperwork plus reciept from bike shop. what i don't have is a second signed copy of the original sellers id card and house paper, which i was told i needed on my second visit to registration office. i did get a ticket for no plate the other day- 400 baht on the spot and an offer to let the officer take a ride down the block (turned down with a laugh) took care of it. i do not stray too far from my hometown though, which really limits the fun. getting the bike registered has been a pain in the a$$ and my next bike will also be new and from a factory dealer in bkk. Oh, and the Ducati dealer told me i can get full collision insurance on a new bike. I've heard the same about BMW.

[torrenova]

I looked into bike insurance a couple of years ago for a rental business I was investigating and I found that on small bikes it was nigh on impossible (could get at that time but it was later withdrawn) whilst there was no real problem with legal larger bikes.

[ray23]

The other down side to no plate, you want to explore Laos, an easy thing from Udon, you will not get the bike across without a book. That was one of the big reason's for getting a legal bike recently. The other si yuo stand out like a sore thumb in an area like Udon, your on a big bike and your a farrang. Once the local cops get you the first time anytime they need a little extra for lunch, one little stop and the entire crew has a great lunch any time they want it.

A I said before I really didn't see it as a problem, you were never asked well I have been asked. But in our cases I think the light may have just went on here in Udon and we may become a great source of Tea money.

Insurance when I had an accident, the first thing the insurance rep wanted to see was the book on the bike I was riding and in that case I did have it.

Tahan yes you were lucky to be with the Thai guys normally the first thought out in the villages starts at a 100K. Personally I have a good attorney in Nong Khai, and I have he phone number with me all the time. In the accident I was in, the driver wiped out the entire front end of his truck. The Thought was I was going to be rebuiding that pickup. The end result after bringing her in, it was deemed to be his fault and he was to pay me. Didn't happen he didn't have any money but he spent one day a week for a year working around my house. It cost more then yours 5K.

She got a friend out of trouble with just a phone call and I don't think he ever paid here any money.

The assumption here is we have no idea what we are doing, that goes to the cops as well. The truth is the cop can not enforce a civil matter unless the parties agree. If the parties don't agree the matter has to go to the court. The other truth is the vehicle involved are evidence and will be held until there is a settlement. If yuo relaize this an understand the Thai needs his vehicle as much if not more then you do, it's a good bargaining chip. Me I will pay the lawyer and get out of the way.

Will that insurance you buy cover you when you don't have a legal bike I have no idea, but buying it and getting a claim paid are two different things. Every insurance policy has exclusions if that is one them I have no idea, I don't read Thai.

[PeaceBlondie]

I get a pang of jealousy every time I see a big bike, like a 4 cylinder sportbike. If I had unlimited dosh, I'd buy something that I could get fully registered, with full liability insurance. But I don't, I won't, and I'm happy with a 150. Besides, the dealer knows how to fix it and has spare parts.

[solo siam]

I've posted before about havinga book for your bike and some people have told me how they have been riding for so long without problems so you dont need one. Well. My friend boughta Kawasaki 1100c ZZR without a book for 100,000 baht. Of course he was going to get round to getting one --------- someday. The other day he went for a run to Ranong from Chumphon across the mountains. A nice bike ride if you know the road and are prepared for the traffic. For some reason he failed to negotiate a corner and ended up in the jungle well off the road. Its cost him 100,000 baht in hospital bills for a broken wrist and broken ribs, cuts and contusions. The police are non too happy either. They have confiscated the bike and also want to charge him 20,000 baht for damage to the jungle. Thats got to be very expensive jungle. Hes also lost his job as an instructor to boot. So his cheap bike has ended up costing him a shed load of money and hes ended up with no bike.

All you people who run around without a book take note. Its just a matter of time!!!!!!!!!! Stay upright chaps

Are you suggesting that had your friend had a registration book for his bike he wouldn't have fallen off? or that it would have somehow cost him less money?

[ray23]

Well, the first bike I had was a Pahntom 150, just sold it to a friend and it is still running strong. Rode from Chaing Mia to Udon straight through. It held up a lot better then I did

We took it to the shop today and changed out some studs on the back sprocket a whopping 75 baht including labor. I t ran at 120 all day long two people up, which is about t ten more then I ride the dragstar at. So woudn't get to envious if I were you. Over the four years I had the bike it went when nothing esle would. Thats a good bike and you can go anywhere I can. I just do it in a little more comfort

[H2oDunc]

I've posted before about havinga book for your bike and some people have told me how they have been riding for so long without problems so you dont need one. Well. My friend boughta Kawasaki 1100c ZZR without a book for 100,000 baht. Of course he was going to get round to getting one --------- someday. The other day he went for a run to Ranong from Chumphon across the mountains. A nice bike ride if you know the road and are prepared for the traffic. For some reason he failed to negotiate a corner and ended up in the jungle well off the road. Its cost him 100,000 baht in hospital bills for a broken wrist and broken ribs, cuts and contusions. The police are non too happy either. They have confiscated the bike and also want to charge him 20,000 baht for damage to the jungle. Thats got to be very expensive jungle. Hes also lost his job as an instructor to boot. So his cheap bike has ended up costing him a shed load of money and hes ended up with no bike.

All you people who run around without a book take note. Its just a matter of time!!!!!!!!!! Stay upright chaps

Are you suggesting that had your friend had a registration book for his bike he wouldn't have fallen off? or that it would have somehow cost him less money?

I think Ive made my thoughts very clear my friend. He may have still fallen off but he would at least have a bike to rebuild or sell or whatever. Now not only has he been hit with a shed load of bills but NO BIKE!!!! I also was talking to a guy at the Hat Yai bike week who lost his bike on route to Hat Yai. No Book No bike thank you very much. Policeman now has a very expensive bike. So my posting was to remind people who ride bikes without books they risk losing them. Up to them but I wouldn't like to kiss 100,000 baht away.

[solo siam]

If it was a registered 500,000 baht bike that he crashed, wouldn't it have cost him more money?

Did he lose his job specifically because it was a non-registered bike?