Things May Be Changing In Udon

[ray23]

This was posted on a local forum these laws have not been enforced in the past:

"

3 days ago i was stopped by the traffic police near Ratchapat university,riding a Honda CX500 turbo,have insurance,papers.....no plate.

I was fined 200baht,told to report to the main police station in Udon,where i was told that if i continued to ride my bike without plates,it would be confiscated.!!!!

I would be interested to know whether anyone else has been fined,and any suggestions other than paying 70000 baht for a plate "

[Lickey]

Hi Ray, dont think Honda made a CX500 turbo, they were all 650s, inmaterial in this case but good news in another way, it never fails to astound me that pick-ups cars bikes dont have plates, could you imagine this happening in the west?I also see a lot more bikers are wearing helets in Udon now, but still 3/4 on a bike on the wrong side of the road, but getting nicked for no plates is a start, lets hope the cops will start to do something about the overcrowded hospitals, Cheers Lickey.

[Richard-BKK]

In 1982, the Honda CX500 received a turbocharger and a very complex fuel injection system with multiple redundant fail-safe systems. The following year, all CX500s and GL500s were enlarged to 650 (actually 673 cc), and the turbo version got a much simplified fuel injection system.

[ray23]

Well this one doesn't really efffect me I paid th extra 70K to begin with. Got a lot less bike then I wanted because I wanted a legal one as close a I could get to legal one here

I know a lot of riders who don't have plates and it hasn't been an issue in Udon before. But the law has always been there and could be enforced at anytime.

All of them can afford to cough up 200 baht, ocassionaly for a fine but 70K thats a lot of money. The fine wasn't any big deal let the guy know the bike would siezed if he didn't correct it is where I see the big difference.

Overall I have noticed the cops here in Udon have been fair in mos of the dealings I have had with them. I have never been approached for Tea money in Udon and yuo will note the guy paid a fine and was told to report, not exactly a tea money situation.

I think farrangs were basically looked over before, but these days I get stopped at least once a month when I'm down town. Usually a new guy who doesn't recognize me or the bike. I dont think we are being treated any differently then the Thai's.

Udon's population has grown a lot in farrangs over the past five years. They see a lot more of us on big bikes. So the day of us being ignored becuase the cops might be uncomfortable in dealing with us may just be over. The simple answer is do things leaglly and then you can do as I do and enjoy a chat with them at the stop.

I was hoping that someone might see this and protect themsleves before thier bikes are siezed.

[Etrigan]

Get the plates and the green registration book.

Without these, eventhough you have insurance papers, the insurer is not obliged to cover you in the event, as the bike was never "road legal". I know we all carry a little of the "mai pen rai" attitude, however, this does not crossover to motoring, because when you do have an accident, you must face the consequences, and I would hate to imagine the bill that an uninsured farang biker would eventually have to pay.

Seriously if you can afford the bike, you should be able to afford registration.

Like Ray mentioned earlier, once road legal, you can enjoy a natter with the cops when they pull you over!

[JimsKnight]

It's not always that simple though. Some bikes just don't have the plates and papers to begin with and to register a big bike retrospectively is BIG money and can cost as much as the bike in some circumstances.

Up here in CM I can go out and buy a 2nd hand Yamaha R1 in good nick for 250,000 baht with no plates.

A Triumph Daytona fully road legal costs nearly a million baht.

I don't know many full time expats who can plonk down a million baht for a bike when theres a much cheaper one around the corner

[Lickey]

Ok, R1 for 250k, book and plates 320k, get a personal accident insurance, 25/35K max total 355K, about a third of a Triumph whatever, But at least your insurance company will have no-get out clause because youve done everything the law asks you, And my view is that big bikes are more likely to have an accident because all car-pick-up drivers think they are a little bike and will pull out in front of them, little bikes can stop or turn on a penny, big bikes cant, Lickey..