This is the situation:

I have a 650cc Yamaha with original green book. If I buy a different bike, which has no green book, can I transfer my existing Yam 650 green book (and in the process, destroy the Yam 650 for one reason or another) and use the book for a bike which has no green book?

I'm not trying to discuss anything illegal - in fact, I'm trying to find out if I can make a bike legal.

Any ideas?

This is the situation:

I have a 650cc Yamaha with original green book. If I buy a different bike, which has no green book, can I transfer my existing Yam 650 green book (and in the process, destroy the Yam 650 for one reason or another) and use the book for a bike which has no green book?

I'm not trying to discuss anything illegal - in fact, I'm trying to find out if I can make a bike legal.

Any ideas?

Not legally no..

If you bought an identical model bike, it doesnt take a genuis to see that all that has to happen is the numbers must match.. Legal ?? no.. Common ?? yes.

I am unsure about the legality of buying a full bike with 'invoice' import papers.. Keeping the frame from the old bike which is registered in the green book, then changing every other component. You then must change the engine listed in the book, for which presumably you need to show the import papers here (never done this and curious how the system works), and change the color if required etc.. Essentially the frame is the one defining unchangeable item in Thailand.

Livin LOS. You got it right except for the part about engine documentation. Replacing one engine with another is just a formality.

CH - describe the new Yamaha. Size model year.

LLOS - I thought the frame had to stay, as you say. The rest could be junked.

DC - not got a new bike yet, just wondering as I've heard prices of 40k+ to have a big bike made "legal".

My bike's a 1980 XJ Special, but the engine's knackered, so I was just wondering if I bought a bike with no green book if I could transfer it myself. But even if I did, I guess in the case of an accident the insurance company could refuse to pay out, eh. I haven't been able to source a recon engine from Japan and anyway, a 4-cyl engined bike of this age is hard to fix out in the boonies. Might just look for a complete (with book) V-twin instead, and let the local teens tinker with my old crate... Been offered 10k for the Yam's book, though! Cheers.

Well I know someone who could rebuild your motor, in Bangkok.

Livin LOS. You got it right except for the part about engine documentation. Replacing one engine with another is just a formality.

CH - describe the new Yamaha. Size model year.

I admit I have no knowledge of legally changing a engine number..

But if you can put any engine in there.. Why do engines with a 'invoice' import paper command a higher price ?? Dont they have a system of checking when you put an engine in ??

This is the situation:

I have a 650cc Yamaha with original green book. If I buy a different bike, which has no green book, can I transfer my existing Yam 650 green book (and in the process, destroy the Yam 650 for one reason or another) and use the book for a bike which has no green book?

I'm not trying to discuss anything illegal - in fact, I'm trying to find out if I can make a bike legal.

Any ideas?

Bit of a concontradiction in there old boy id say, .but its thailand so <deleted> it !,.yes it can be done, clone over all the numbers to another bike, the thais do it all the time, however it would realistically have to be another yamaha of similar age and engine size, a friend of mine bought a knackered kawasaki 150 for 10000 baht cloned it all over to his kdx 220 and bobs your uncle, no problem, been across to cambodia with me and no questions asked, when in rome, or in this case when in thailand ,.

In the case you recycle the book for another motorcycle you would sell the yamaha 650 -as - "no book".

It is still worth something. I see a lot of rolling wrecks on the road that clearly haven't been registered in decades nor insured.

The green book goes with the frame, can not be transfered, engines can be changed as long you stay with the same CC.

The CC has to do with the road tax level.