Registering A Used Big Bike - No Visa Of Any Kind

[Kf6vci]

Hi All,

I'm ready to buy that Honda CB 750 for 50,000 Baht. My wife can ride bikes but she doesn't have a license. And I do not have a VISA or a work permit. Q: is this a show stopper? Or can I register the bike in her name and ride it?

Another issue: I only have German and UK bike licenses, no international ones. Can I hope to exchange one of those for a Thai licernse?? It worked when I went to study in the UK. They exchanged my German license for a UK license. But that VW Polo G40 could not be insured by a young man in his 20s

What would you do with a new old 1986 bike? I thought of getting all fluids & filters replaced, the chain checked and maybe those tires will be too old to be good much longer? Sanding and chroming the exhaust would be a must, too as I do not want to be seen on a rat bike Q: any other things to consider? New spark plugs, maybe a new battery.

Overseas, I would choose a master mechanic and stick with him. Knowing the guy who does the work...

This baby comes with Green Book and 1 owner. And I'll be wearing full protective gear as I once fell off riding pillion and do not want my leg to resemble a pizza ever again!

Ride on!

Chris

Edited February 15, 2009 by Kf6vci

[LivinLOS]

She doesnt need a license to have it in her name..

Technically you need a long stay visa (non imm) but where I am on Phuket they currently ignore that rule.. Even a 30 day stamp can be used.

[spidercat]

Hi Chris.

I bought a CB600f in Pattaya about 4 yrs ago and once I had all the paperwork in place (you have to have a letter from the seller explaining the sale etc) I took the bike, green book etc to the registration office and had it registered in my name.

I did not have a Thai driving licence, only a UK/EU full car licence.

I only had 30 day tourist visa. At the time I was staying in hotels and doing monthly visa runs to Cambodia.

It took most of the day but once they had given the bike the onceover and checked the paperwork out, they checked my passport and by the close of the day I was the legal owner.

I dont know if things have changed lately but there are a couple of other things you should consider: -

1. Does it have to be in your name. As a farang, if you are the owner of a vehicle and it is involved in an accident (even if it is parked offroad with no engine) you will be at fault: If farang not have vehicle the accident not happen (Thai logic!).
   
2. A big problem is spares, especially with the older models. If you are near Bangkok or Pattaya it shouldnt be too much of an issue as you will be able to find a reasonable mechanic but if you are out in the sticks as I am now (Nong Khai) its a bloody nightmare. I have a 200km ride to Udon which is the nearest place I have found where there is someone who can actually work on big bikes and even so, he is still 'dodgy', they will quite happily replace parts with unsuitable replacements because they fit and all they say is "It OK, this Thailand". I am sure you are aware, you do not compromise when you are working on a performance bike, just because it fits does not mean it will perform. I have had some muppet put a rear moped tyre on the front wheel, a drive chain and sprockets for a CB400, poor quality engine oil etc. Just make sure they know what they are doing!
   

Basicly, I dont think you will have much of a problem if you want to put your name in the green book but you have to make sure you can trust your mechanic especially if its a performance bike. Good Luck and enjoy the ride but dont forget, the Thais see a headlight and think its a moped, they dont understand how performance bikes opperate.

[Thumchok]

There is a Thai bike mechanic up in Nongkhai , forget his name but the mrs has his number . We went to the Nongkhai for the bike week a couple of years ago , and a mate went to ride off the next morning but his clutch wasn't working . His wife called the mechanic who turned up about 30 mins later , push started the bike and took off down the road on it leaving us bewildered and wondering if he would return .

He turned back up on it about 20 mins later with the problem solved . ( just some air in the clutch master cylinder )

From memory he rides a CBR 929 .

Cheers ,

Jim .

Hi Chris.

I bought a CB600f in Pattaya about 4 yrs ago and once I had all the paperwork in place (you have to have a letter from the seller explaining the sale etc) I took the bike, green book etc to the registration office and had it registered in my name.

I did not have a Thai driving licence, only a UK/EU full car licence.

I only had 30 day tourist visa. At the time I was staying in hotels and doing monthly visa runs to Cambodia.

It took most of the day but once they had given the bike the onceover and checked the paperwork out, they checked my passport and by the close of the day I was the legal owner.

I dont know if things have changed lately but there are a couple of other things you should consider: -

1. Does it have to be in your name. As a farang, if you are the owner of a vehicle and it is involved in an accident (even if it is parked offroad with no engine) you will be at fault: If farang not have vehicle the accident not happen (Thai logic!).
   
2. A big problem is spares, especially with the older models. If you are near Bangkok or Pattaya it shouldnt be too much of an issue as you will be able to find a reasonable mechanic but if you are out in the sticks as I am now (Nong Khai) its a bloody nightmare. I have a 200km ride to Udon which is the nearest place I have found where there is someone who can actually work on big bikes and even so, he is still 'dodgy', they will quite happily replace parts with unsuitable replacements because they fit and all they say is "It OK, this Thailand". I am sure you are aware, you do not compromise when you are working on a performance bike, just because it fits does not mean it will perform. I have had some muppet put a rear moped tyre on the front wheel, a drive chain and sprockets for a CB400, poor quality engine oil etc. Just make sure they know what they are doing!
   

Basicly, I dont think you will have much of a problem if you want to put your name in the green book but you have to make sure you can trust your mechanic especially if its a performance bike. Good Luck and enjoy the ride but dont forget, the Thais see a headlight and think its a moped, they dont understand how performance bikes opperate.

[Kf6vci]

Thanks for the support, I do appreciate it! Now I need to go shopping for protective clothes for hot weather (I noticed a post for that). The black Harro leather gear is not quite right for BKK, eh? Chris

[Bard]

Hi All,

Another issue: I only have German and UK bike licenses, no international ones. Can I hope to exchange one of those for a Thai licernse?? It worked when I went to study in the UK. They exchanged my German license for a UK license. But that VW Polo G40 could not be insured by a young man in his 20s

Ride on!

Chris

Hi Chris,

Regarding the driving license, no you can't exchange it for several reasons.

1. You are required to hold a national license, with a supporting international license

2. You need a non immigrant visa to get it

Get yourself a non-imm visa it's not hard, then go and just do the silly Thai license it's so easy anyone will pass it first time without reading anything up front.

Cheers Bard

[spidercat]

There is a Thai bike mechanic up in Nongkhai , forget his name but the mrs has his number . We went to the Nongkhai for the bike week a couple of years ago , and a mate went to ride off the next morning but his clutch wasn't working . His wife called the mechanic who turned up about 30 mins later , push started the bike and took off down the road on it leaving us bewildered and wondering if he would return .

He turned back up on it about 20 mins later with the problem solved . ( just some air in the clutch master cylinder )

From memory he rides a CBR 929 .

Cheers ,

Jim .

Hi Chris.

I bought a CB600f in Pattaya about 4 yrs ago and once I had all the paperwork in place (you have to have a letter from the seller explaining the sale etc) I took the bike, green book etc to the registration office and had it registered in my name.

I did not have a Thai driving licence, only a UK/EU full car licence.

I only had 30 day tourist visa. At the time I was staying in hotels and doing monthly visa runs to Cambodia.

It took most of the day but once they had given the bike the onceover and checked the paperwork out, they checked my passport and by the close of the day I was the legal owner.

I dont know if things have changed lately but there are a couple of other things you should consider: -

1. Does it have to be in your name. As a farang, if you are the owner of a vehicle and it is involved in an accident (even if it is parked offroad with no engine) you will be at fault: If farang not have vehicle the accident not happen (Thai logic!).
   
2. A big problem is spares, especially with the older models. If you are near Bangkok or Pattaya it shouldnt be too much of an issue as you will be able to find a reasonable mechanic but if you are out in the sticks as I am now (Nong Khai) its a bloody nightmare. I have a 200km ride to Udon which is the nearest place I have found where there is someone who can actually work on big bikes and even so, he is still 'dodgy', they will quite happily replace parts with unsuitable replacements because they fit and all they say is "It OK, this Thailand". I am sure you are aware, you do not compromise when you are working on a performance bike, just because it fits does not mean it will perform. I have had some muppet put a rear moped tyre on the front wheel, a drive chain and sprockets for a CB400, poor quality engine oil etc. Just make sure they know what they are doing!
   

Basicly, I dont think you will have much of a problem if you want to put your name in the green book but you have to make sure you can trust your mechanic especially if its a performance bike. Good Luck and enjoy the ride but dont forget, the Thais see a headlight and think its a moped, they dont understand how performance bikes opperate.

Hi Jim.

I would be very grateful if you could find his number and perhaps 'PM' me with it, cheers. The bike has been off the road now for almost a year, I had some problems with it last year (rust in fuel tank) and I also wanted to put a new cam chain in it so I took it to Pattaya coz I new a Thai guy who was mechanic for a 7 years for a friend of mine on the international race circuit, I thought he would be reliable but...... I asked him to clean the fuel system, fit a new cam chain, put new fork seals on and get me a new flywheel. All he done was got me a flywheel and gaveexcuses for the rest. I got the bike back to Nong Khai (Bung kan-120km east of city) and visited a mate, when I was ready to leave the bike wasn't- We later found out that rust had prevented the float chamber making a seal and fuel had flowed in to the cylinders and prevented the engine turning over, I was too busy building a house to bother with it and left it, some weeks later I took a look and the previously full fuel tank was empty and the sump was full to the brim. To add to my problems, because the tank sat there empty for so long its full of rust now . I really could do with a reliable local mechanic, I was going to wait until the house was done and do it myself but explaining what parts I need and actually getting them is probably too much to ask over here.

Thanks mate.

[Thumchok]

There is a Thai bike mechanic up in Nongkhai , forget his name but the mrs has his number . We went to the Nongkhai for the bike week a couple of years ago , and a mate went to ride off the next morning but his clutch wasn't working . His wife called the mechanic who turned up about 30 mins later , push started the bike and took off down the road on it leaving us bewildered and wondering if he would return .

He turned back up on it about 20 mins later with the problem solved . ( just some air in the clutch master cylinder )

From memory he rides a CBR 929 .

Cheers ,

Jim .

Hi Chris.

I bought a CB600f in Pattaya about 4 yrs ago and once I had all the paperwork in place (you have to have a letter from the seller explaining the sale etc) I took the bike, green book etc to the registration office and had it registered in my name.

I did not have a Thai driving licence, only a UK/EU full car licence.

I only had 30 day tourist visa. At the time I was staying in hotels and doing monthly visa runs to Cambodia.

It took most of the day but once they had given the bike the onceover and checked the paperwork out, they checked my passport and by the close of the day I was the legal owner.

I dont know if things have changed lately but there are a couple of other things you should consider: -

1. Does it have to be in your name. As a farang, if you are the owner of a vehicle and it is involved in an accident (even if it is parked offroad with no engine) you will be at fault: If farang not have vehicle the accident not happen (Thai logic!).
   
2. A big problem is spares, especially with the older models. If you are near Bangkok or Pattaya it shouldnt be too much of an issue as you will be able to find a reasonable mechanic but if you are out in the sticks as I am now (Nong Khai) its a bloody nightmare. I have a 200km ride to Udon which is the nearest place I have found where there is someone who can actually work on big bikes and even so, he is still 'dodgy', they will quite happily replace parts with unsuitable replacements because they fit and all they say is "It OK, this Thailand". I am sure you are aware, you do not compromise when you are working on a performance bike, just because it fits does not mean it will perform. I have had some muppet put a rear moped tyre on the front wheel, a drive chain and sprockets for a CB400, poor quality engine oil etc. Just make sure they know what they are doing!
   

Basicly, I dont think you will have much of a problem if you want to put your name in the green book but you have to make sure you can trust your mechanic especially if its a performance bike. Good Luck and enjoy the ride but dont forget, the Thais see a headlight and think its a moped, they dont understand how performance bikes opperate.

Hi Jim.

I would be very grateful if you could find his number and perhaps 'PM' me with it, cheers. The bike has been off the road now for almost a year, I had some problems with it last year (rust in fuel tank) and I also wanted to put a new cam chain in it so I took it to Pattaya coz I new a Thai guy who was mechanic for a 7 years for a friend of mine on the international race circuit, I thought he would be reliable but...... I asked him to clean the fuel system, fit a new cam chain, put new fork seals on and get me a new flywheel. All he done was got me a flywheel and gaveexcuses for the rest. I got the bike back to Nong Khai (Bung kan-120km east of city) and visited a mate, when I was ready to leave the bike wasn't- We later found out that rust had prevented the float chamber making a seal and fuel had flowed in to the cylinders and prevented the engine turning over, I was too busy building a house to bother with it and left it, some weeks later I took a look and the previously full fuel tank was empty and the sump was full to the brim. To add to my problems, because the tank sat there empty for so long its full of rust now . I really could do with a reliable local mechanic, I was going to wait until the house was done and do it myself but explaining what parts I need and actually getting them is probably too much to ask over here.

Thanks mate.

No problem , I will try and get the number over the next couple of days and pm you .

Cheers ,

Jim .

[BSJ]

Rusty fuel tanks are not a major drama if you use PPC tank sealer.

Save buying a new or replacement tank. Fixes seam wells, pinholes, & stops rust for good. Leaves a ceramic like finish inside the tank. Fuel tank repair is more than just pouring in a litre of sealer and sloshing it around. If gum, varnish, sludge or fuel is inside, it must be removed first, because no sealer will work in a contaminated tank. Our very popular Tank Repair Kits have everything you need to do the job right.

The Motorcycle Repair Kit is specially designed for bikes and other small tanks as well, including outboards, recreational vehicles, chain saws, lawn mowers, generators, tanks, etc. Enough for a 20 litre tank.

[thaicbr]

or if the tank is a big problem there is a 2nd parts place near taksin bridge in BKK. also if you look on mocyc.com there is another place up near you(i think).

[spidercat]

Hi BSJ.

Do you know if this stuff is available over here? Almost anywhere else in the world a rusty fuel tank is no big deal but over here its a case of who you know if you need specialist kit! In the UK I can simply pop to an engineering store and get a couple of thousand ball bearings to rattle the rust out and the sealer is available at many outlets but its hard work trying to explain something to these folk to get what you want, the wife tries her best but she doesn't know what things are called even if she sees them.

Hi thaicbr.

Thanks for the info, I will check the website out and see if I can find somebody useful in the Nong Khai area. I was considering getting a second-hand tank but the chances are it will be similar to mine if its been sat empty for any period of time.

[spidercat]

BTW Chris, how are you getting on? Have you treated yourself to a motorbike yet? If you have, good luck with it and if you can..... Any chance of a pic??

Andy

[thaicbr]

Spidercat/andy are you coming down to the Khon kaen bike show this weekend. lots of guys from udon are going so maybe a bit of networking. also alot of us from BKK are coming up.

Allan

[Kf6vci]

BTW Chris, how are you getting on? Have you treated yourself to a motorbike yet? If you have, good luck with it and if you can..... Any chance of a pic??

Andy

Cheers, Andy:

yep, but I'm over at a place where it has been snowing heavily the last few days. Got some pics, but cannot open them due to some obscure Nokia G3 file extension But I will do it next week, when I'm back in BKK!

In the mean time, it will look nicer than these bikes:

[Kf6vci]

Oops, given the chance, I would happily swap that 1986 CB 750 for the BMW with the sheep skin... The paint job is light blue and sucks. But hey, my last one was purple Chris It's on Wikipedia as BMW R 100 R (the buyer put it there...)

[spidercat]

Spidercat/andy are you coming down to the Khon kaen bike show this weekend. lots of guys from udon are going so maybe a bit of networking. also alot of us from BKK are coming up.

Allan

Hi Allan.

It would be a good idea to get down there and mingle but I am too busy trying to do a bit more building on the house (I have to do it myself coz every time I have had people come to help they have done a piss poor job- Even the so-called roofers, they didn't understand my drawings to start with and I let them get on with it..... Now I have a brand new roof that leaks in 7-8 places !

The bike has been put on the back burner for the time being, its probably for the best though.... With the performance of a cb600 and the quality of the roads here, not to mention the ignorant 'local road users', I sometimes feel like I am a 'crimson shape on the road waiting to happen .

Back to your question though, right now is not a good time but later I will make an effort. Cheers.

Andy

[spidercat]

BTW Chris, how are you getting on? Have you treated yourself to a motorbike yet? If you have, good luck with it and if you can..... Any chance of a pic??

Andy

Cheers, Andy:

yep, but I'm over at a place where it has been snowing heavily the last few days. Got some pics, but cannot open them due to some obscure Nokia G3 file extension But I will do it next week, when I'm back in BKK!

In the mean time, it will look nicer than these bikes:

Hi Chris.

Your bikes look great and somewhat kitted out for proper travel, I guess you will be touring Thailand once you are sorted. I have been around most of Thailand myself, I did enjoy it but you have to be constantly on your guard- I was seeing what the bike would do once on a dual carriageway near Korat, I was doing about 135mph (220kmh) and I was greeted by headlights coming toward me on the hard shoulder, I have also been forced between two oncoming cars (one overtaking the other) on three occasions on single carriageways - you know yourself, you cant swerve on to the side of a road on a big bike like you can on a Wave.

I have attached a couple of pics of the bike, its a 1989 CB600F- one of the early ones. The first is how it was when I bought it (I dont know why they put Fireblade on it, there isn't a 600cc Blade!) the other is how it was shortly after I had it done up a bit.

[LivinLOS]

I dont know why they put Fireblade on it, there isn't a 600cc Blade!) the other is how it was shortly after I had it done up a bit.

Whats the CBR600RR then ?? It had fireblade markings on the fairings..

Not back in 89 tho agreed.

[spidercat]

I dont know why they put Fireblade on it, there isn't a 600cc Blade!) the other is how it was shortly after I had it done up a bit.

Whats the CBR600RR then ?? It had fireblade markings on the fairings..

Not back in 89 tho agreed.

Good one LivinLOS, I stand corrected but you must agree that my bike does not resemble a Blade, just take a look at the seat, therefore it doesn't deserve to be wearing that badge!

BTW, are these pics of your bike or just stock pics?

[LivinLOS]

Stock pics..

Mines a lot uglier and a lot more naked. A reflection on its owner perhaps

[Kf6vci]

Unable to upload a .3g photo file or to convert it to .jpeg etc. I am attaching some bike photos instead