Motorcycle Visa Runs - Anyone still doing this?

[SS1]

I remember reading some articles before about an option of buying a bike in a neighbouring country and then bringing it to Thailand as a temporary import regularly. Now it sounds like a lot of hassle, but I could easily justify a couple of trips outside the country every year for a saving of 300k baht on a new bike. (Comparing KTM prices in Thailand and Cambodia).

I read that one can import a bike temporarily as long as documents are in order for 30 days first, and then extend the stay to a total of 6 months. If it really was this simple, surely this would be a viable option for many bikers who don't want to pay Thailands ripoff prices.

But is this only possible on a tourist visa? I am just about to go and get me a non-B as I got a new job, so I'll be having that visa from now on and no more TR.

Anyone actually doing this, or too much of a hassle or potential issues?

[seedy]

Some info here - http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/886486-registeringriding-a-cambodian-bike-in-thailand/

[tomyumchai]

while we're here can anyone tell me why so many big buck superbikes owned by thais never have a number plate? i live on the 107 and see 100+ bikes a week pass through. a large amount never have a plate.... if you buy a new bike you pay for the tax and plate when you hand the cash over....leastwise i always have.

[recom273]

while we're here can anyone tell me why so many big buck superbikes owned by thais never have a number plate? i live on the 107 and see 100+ bikes a week pass through. a large amount never have a plate.... if you buy a new bike you pay for the tax and plate when you hand the cash over....leastwise i always have.

It doesn't make sense to me to own an invoice / imported sports bike, something like spending all that money on a hayabusa then run the risk of having it taken at the first roadblock.

I guess the Thai riders that you see have connections.

-- going back to the OP -

I was thinking to buy a couple of cheap Vietnamese bikes and asked a similar question as your a few months back - I think the reply was that the maximum fine wasnt worth running the bikes out of the country and back.

But with something like a decent bike, there has to be a catch somewhere, otherwise all KTM owners would be doing it.

BTW KTM have a branch in Laos now, selling the Cambodian assembled bikes.

[Jdiddy]

while we're here can anyone tell me why so many big buck superbikes owned by thais never have a number plate? i live on the 107 and see 100+ bikes a week pass through. a large amount never have a plate.... if you buy a new bike you pay for the tax and plate when you hand the cash over....leastwise i always have.

I rented an R3 for 2 months last year, didnt have any plates on it, rode it all over the north, Maesai, Chiangmai, Kohnkaen, Mukdahan.. no problems with police and army checkpoints

[SS1]

while we're here can anyone tell me why so many big buck superbikes owned by thais never have a number plate? i live on the 107 and see 100+ bikes a week pass through. a large amount never have a plate.... if you buy a new bike you pay for the tax and plate when you hand the cash over....leastwise i always have.

I am not 100% sure on the subject but I understood that the main reason why most of the big bikes don't have number plates is just because they are new, and it takes so long to receive the number plate?

while we're here can anyone tell me why so many big buck superbikes owned by thais never have a number plate? i live on the 107 and see 100+ bikes a week pass through. a large amount never have a plate.... if you buy a new bike you pay for the tax and plate when you hand the cash over....leastwise i always have.

It doesn't make sense to me to own an invoice / imported sports bike, something like spending all that money on a hayabusa then run the risk of having it taken at the first roadblock.

I guess the Thai riders that you see have connections.

-- going back to the OP -

I was thinking to buy a couple of cheap Vietnamese bikes and asked a similar question as your a few months back - I think the reply was that the maximum fine wasnt worth running the bikes out of the country and back.

But with something like a decent bike, there has to be a catch somewhere, otherwise all KTM owners would be doing it.

BTW KTM have a branch in Laos now, selling the Cambodian assembled bikes.

Hmm yeah, but if you have done the temporary import legitimately I don't see any reason why they would fine you or confiscate your bike. On the other hand, I'd be worried about them refusing to extend the allowed time, as I understood from another forum that you get 30 days first and can extend to 6 months.

Laos would be even easier. If I could buy and register a KTM there and use it in Thailand, return to Laos every 6 months, that would be perfect. But I doubt it would be easy.. otherwise I don't think anyone would buy from the Thai dealers with their rip off prices.

[recom273]

while we're here can anyone tell me why so many big buck superbikes owned by thais never have a number plate? i live on the 107 and see 100+ bikes a week pass through. a large amount never have a plate.... if you buy a new bike you pay for the tax and plate when you hand the cash over....leastwise i always have.

I am not 100% sure on the subject but I understood that the main reason why most of the big bikes don't have number plates is just because they are new, and it takes so long to receive the number plate?

while we're here can anyone tell me why so many big buck superbikes owned by thais never have a number plate? i live on the 107 and see 100+ bikes a week pass through. a large amount never have a plate.... if you buy a new bike you pay for the tax and plate when you hand the cash over....leastwise i always have.

It doesn't make sense to me to own an invoice / imported sports bike, something like spending all that money on a hayabusa then run the risk of having it taken at the first roadblock.

I guess the Thai riders that you see have connections.

-- going back to the OP -

I was thinking to buy a couple of cheap Vietnamese bikes and asked a similar question as your a few months back - I think the reply was that the maximum fine wasnt worth running the bikes out of the country and back.

But with something like a decent bike, there has to be a catch somewhere, otherwise all KTM owners would be doing it.

BTW KTM have a branch in Laos now, selling the Cambodian assembled bikes.

Hmm yeah, but if you have done the temporary import legitimately I don't see any reason why they would fine you or confiscate your bike. On the other hand, I'd be worried about them refusing to extend the allowed time, as I understood from another forum that you get 30 days first and can extend to 6 months.

Laos would be even easier. If I could buy and register a KTM there and use it in Thailand, return to Laos every 6 months, that would be perfect. But I doubt it would be easy.. otherwise I don't think anyone would buy from the Thai dealers with their rip off prices.

Sorry, going a bit off topic .. the big bikes without plates are 'invoice' or 'crate' bikes from Japan or wherever. They used to come over as parts and were assembled here, I gather it's a little harder to do these days.

You need a plate on your bike, you did a legit temp import, but you still had plates from the country of origin right ? I'm talking about spending 500,00B + and not having a reg document or a plate.

If you don't have a legit plate, the police COULD seize the bike ( or fine you ), there was a post about lost plates with similar stories a while back.

But yeah, you are right, why not buy a bike from KTM Laos and do a border run with it. There has to be some hitch.