Green book for motorbike (I'm confused)

Ok, my situation...

I'm looking at buying a second hand motorbike to ride around Bkk.

One bike that I'm looking at is an 1100 Dragstar. Current farang owner rides the bike with a red number plate (local area only). He's got a mate that works at the registration office who can register the bike for 35000 baht. He'll use an old book from a bike that's no longer in use and replace the ID numbers with the ID numbers of the 1100 Dragstar that I'm interested in.
My question is : Is this 100% legal, and if I want to re-sell the bike in the future am I going to come across any hurdles?

Another bike that I'm looking at is a 400 Honda Steed. Farang owner says it comes with invoice and white numberplate(?). Tax is paid but it doesn't come with a green book. It was imported in 2004 and at first had a red plate which was later replaced with the afforementioned white plate. Owner says the bike's been all over Thailand and there's never been any problems with the bike not having a green book, ie it's fully legal. Is this correct???

If anyone on here has any current info or can answer some of my questions I'd appreciate it. I've tried to do some research on the web but can't actually get my head around this registration thing.

Cheers.

Both are illegal. The 1st one is what many older bikes are like in Thailand. Not 100% legal BUT as long as its in the system at the DMV then you are unlikely to have a problem (only buy it when the green book has been done and in your name) they will grind off the frame number (make sure its a frame number relevant to the bike ie dragster not steed) and replace then they will do an engine number change at the DMV. Its this that can highlight a dodgy book. many owners then get a new book the next year ( limited mention of engine change in new book)
Hope this helps
Allan

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Originally Posted by The Muffinman

Another bike that I'm looking at is a 400 Honda Steed. Farang owner says it comes with invoice and white numberplate(?). Tax is paid but it doesn't come with a green book. It was imported in 2004 and at first had a red plate which was later replaced with the afforementioned white plate. Owner says the bike's been all over Thailand and there's never been any problems with the bike not having a green book, ie it's fully legal. Is this correct???

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Farang owner is a stupid lying bastard. Bike is illegal and will get you into more trouble displaying a number plate that is not backed up by a correct green book on a bike than not displaying one at all.

Walk away from both.
Consider buying from a reputable dealer. Such as Triumph, Ducati & Harley Davidson.

the way thailand is going with regards to future crackdowns on such things, save yourself the future possibility of a big headache. Buy legal, then no worries hanging over you.

I was contemplating doing the same a few months back, followed my head instead of my heart and decided to go for the legal option.

2nd night and I'm done at a road block next to Mochit without a licence, long story short, piece of shit cop wanted my bike, after 3 hours of going through everything he could about me and bike he had to settle for only the licence issue, still trying to get me to fuk off and leave the bike without any ticket/documents/reciept, refusing to give so much as his name while confiscating it to the police station to keep it.

Piece of shit.

Go legal.

Agree with all texts above. I've been there with my 1958 Triumph. Forget all these fabricating assholes and go legal to start with - if you don't, you may slide for a bit, but it will eventually come back and bite you in the ass, either when you have an accident, or try to sell it, or get stopped by that overeager cop.

I can't believe you are even considering this.

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Originally Posted by the dogcatcher

I can't believe you are even considering this.

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I'm not considering anything, only looking for info, which is why I'm asking the questions here. I've never owned a vehicle, car or bike, in thailand before and am not aware of the do's and dont's.

Any advise on where to find fully legal choppers in and around Bangkok?

What to look out for when dealing with private sellers who claim their bikes are fully registered?

Is it really worth risking your freedom and your life for a silly over sized motorcycle? Of course it's illegal and the first time you have an accident or meet the "wrong" cop you can be sitting in a Thai jail while they figure it out at their leisure. An 1100 CC bike in Bangkok would fit your needs about as well as a 200 kilo woman.

While there may be some disagreement, I might add that of all of the places around the world in which I have had bikes, Bangkok is one of the worst to drive in. Hot as hell, LONG traffic lights while you sit there pouring sweat surrounding by little rice rockets spewing exhaust fumes over you, fast and dangerous traffic - and the list goes on. Manila is almost as bad, primarily because the drivers are worse than in Thailand, and the roads SUCK. I'm down in the province here, as I was in Thailand, where the roads are pretty empty and you can actually occasionally enjoy a ride. I guarantee you won't enjoy riding in Bangkok. And, there is always the problem, especially if you have an unusual (to Thais) bike, of where to safely park it once you get where you are going. I would think hard about this. Just an opinion.

Gee what a bunch of scared little girls, Did the false number plate thing and the bike hit and put two Thais in Hospital. Coppers didnt give a hoot it wasnt the right number plate.
I also bought a second hand book and just had the number changed in the book, miss placed the book. Then got the missus to apply for a new book
Easy.
You aint going to go to jail, I know of some really serous accident where people have died on un plated bikes and no recourse from the police.
But I would also recomend you bought a bike with a book to start with as its just one less thing to worry about

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Originally Posted by Rigger

Coppers didnt give a hoot it wasnt the right number plate.

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different cops have different morals here.

i've been both tapped on the shoulder and waved on, and dragged to police station to pay 1000b 'fine' for the same offence.

remember the squads going around after illegal bikes only six months ago, even hit Udon one weekend if I remember correctly. Bikes taken and 'fees' in the tens of thousands to release them.

Just go legal.

and a Dragstar just tells everyone that you can't afford a Harley.

Best advice I have recieved on this subject was from the english guy who works at TP motorcycles - about 1.5km up the Rd from Siam Paragon.
Worth having a talk to him and have a look at what they have up for sale - may not be as cheap but the paper work will be legit.

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Originally Posted by BobR

Is it really worth risking your freedom and your life for a silly over sized motorcycle? Of course it's illegal and the first time you have an accident or meet the "wrong" cop you can be sitting in a Thai jail while they figure it out at their leisure. An 1100 CC bike in Bangkok would fit your needs about as well as a 200 kilo woman.

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I tend to agree with BobR and would be seriously considering buying a automatic TMax or a 600cc Burgman /Majesty for an inner city, daily ride. Plenty of power to move away at the lights and a bit more body work between you and the taxi panels.
BUT.....Up Country..... the bigger the better!!!

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Originally Posted by the dogcatcher

and a Dragstar just tells everyone that you can't afford a Harley.

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Not everyone likes pre-war bikes.

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Originally Posted by the dogcatcher

and a Dragstar just tells everyone that you can't afford a Harley.

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Geez, there's always one isn't there? You some underpaid English teacher by any chance?:smileylaughing:


Perhaps I just don't feel like bolting my Harley back together after every 100 kms.

No, sea captain.

Buy a new bike from one of the dealers. Plenty in Bangkok now.
Kawasaki.
Yamaha.
Suzuki.
Triumph.
Ducati.
Harley Davidson.
Tiger.

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Originally Posted by Chairman Mao

remember the squads going around after illegal bikes only six months ago, even hit Udon one weekend if I remember correctly. Bikes taken and 'fees' in the tens of thousands to release them.

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Yes its the super samie thingy I went to the Khon kaen office and paid mine before getting pulled, its to show your bike is in Thailand legally and you have paid the tax on it, Once you have done it they cant take your bike. So really other than a small fine for no plate the chance of lossing your bike are next to zero. I know hundreds of bike riders in Thailand and do you think any of them have lost a bike and even more amazing is they them selfs dont know anyone that has lost there bike.

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Originally Posted by BobR

Is it really worth risking your freedom and your life for a silly over sized motorcycle? Of course it's illegal and the first time you have an accident or meet the "wrong" cop you can be sitting in a Thai jail while they figure it out at their leisure. An 1100 CC bike in Bangkok would fit your needs about as well as a 200 kilo woman.

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Bull shit do you have any experince of riding bikes and accidents in Thailand

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Originally Posted by Rigger

Yes its the super samie thingy I went to the Khon kaen office and paid mine before getting pulled, its to show your bike is in Thailand legally and you have paid the tax on it, Once you have done it they cant take your bike. So really other than a small fine for no plate the chance of lossing your bike are next to zero. I know hundreds of bike riders in Thailand and do you think any of them have lost a bike and even more amazing is they them selfs dont know anyone that has lost there bike.

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What's this about? First I have heard of it. I'm thinking of moving to Chiang Mai and would need something more than an invoice to ride up there. Do you just pay some tax but still no plate? I should probably just get the book here in Phetchabun as the mrs knows someone in the licensing center here.

Bung
all you need is photos of your bike both sides, You need a paper stensil of the engine and frame number, and your import pappers. In Khon kaen the office wouldnt deal with anyone except Anan and the HD shop, I guess they had some deal worked out.
But in Udon you could take you paper work straight to the rego place and pay 10 to 20k depending on make and model. This also makes it easier to get a book,

They had a specail deal going that ended on the 25th of Aug but you should still be able to do something it will just take a bit longer I guess

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Originally Posted by Rigger

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Originally Posted by Chairman Mao

remember the squads going around after illegal bikes only six months ago, even hit Udon one weekend if I remember correctly. Bikes taken and 'fees' in the tens of thousands to release them.

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Yes its the super samie thingy I went to the Khon kaen office and paid mine before getting pulled, its to show your bike is in Thailand legally and you have paid the tax on it, Once you have done it they cant take your bike. So really other than a small fine for no plate the chance of lossing your bike are next to zero. I know hundreds of bike riders in Thailand and do you think any of them have lost a bike and even more amazing is they them selfs dont know anyone that has lost there bike.

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As we all know rules and regulations can change in a second here.

On top of the organised criminals that are the police, and their penchant for suddenly enforcing these rules when they want some more money - the licence for bars to play copyright music last year, how many bars were suddenly shut until they paid in the tens of thousands. The big bike scam as mentioned earlier.

I went legal simply because of the instability of the law, the corruption of the police, and most of all, when I get pulled over or come to a road block and the cops eye up my bike, I don't have to worry about anything happening.

My advice is to go legal, there's no need not to. If yours differs, fair enough.

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Originally Posted by Travelmate

Tiger.

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Very funny...

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Originally Posted by Rigger

Bung all you need is photos of your bike both sides, You need a paper stensil of the engine and frame number, and your import pappers. In Khon kaen the office wouldnt deal with anyone except Anan and the HD shop, I guess they had some deal worked out. But in Udon you could take you paper work straight to the rego place and pay 10 to 20k depending on make and model. This also makes it easier to get a book, They had a specail deal going that ended on the 25th of Aug but you should still be able to do something it will just take a bit longer I guess __________________ Work to ride & ride to work.

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Cool. I'll pop into the licensing centre and ask. Seems pretty easy to do things around here compared to other areas. Be good to secure it if I end up out of here.

I think paying money direct to the DMV only means that page 18 of the green book will show appropriate duties have been paid - ie. the spare parts have been re-assembled onto a complete machine. If my memory serves me correctly, this is 3% of the "value" of the bike. Once this tax has been paid and recorded, the BiB cannot seize the machine. As far as I'm aware paying this "tax" has nothing to do with getting a green book and number plates. More like a quick money spinner.

Cheers

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Originally Posted by INTJ

As far as I'm aware paying this "tax" has nothing to do with getting a green book and number plates. More like a quick money spinner.

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I would have guessed that the dutys would have to be paid before you got a book, When I did my bikes which only had the import papper I asked if I had to do it on my plated bike and they told me if it has a book you dont need to do it.

There was an issue in Phuket (and maybe still is) where if a registered bike does not have the details of the duty being paid on page 18 of the book they will transfer the title. As this information is not automatically transferred into a new book (if the old one is lost/damaged/full), many older bikes did not have these details recorded, even though the taxes *may* have been paid. As I understand it, the 3% had to be paid in these cases as well, as the bike was deemed illegal even though it had a correct green book.

The whole bike registration thing is a nightmare. I have quite a bit of experience, and would recommend buying a bike that is already plated and can be transferred at DMV.

I would also steer clear of anything with a Prachinburi plate. It screams restamp.

Cheers

Well when i got my bike in march it had been of the road for about 5 years

i looked on the forums and read many nightmare stories of how hard it is and after x years its not in the system i had tp motorcycles rip of bunch of cunts tell me it will cost 50 k to regester coz not in Bkk province ( and by the way there paper work is far from ligit as a friend of mine found out when he paid through the nose for a 250 scooter which also ended up having bent forks and scotch brite as an air filter after coming from them for a service ). lol rant over .

any ways just this week my gf took the papers to the office in catuchat spent an hour doing paperwork

the guys of my local big bike shop rode bike there yesterday

got new plate engine number change and new book all done and dusted insurance included 1800 bht

my advice is get the gf to go dont show your ugly farang mug and all is easy

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Originally Posted by loz944

tp motorcycles rip of bunch of cunts

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Yep these guys nearly killed me after maxing my bike at top speed, I pulled up at my mates place, and he said you got a oil leak, checked the bike and the whole rear tire was coated with oil from a pinched oil filter that had let go.

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Originally Posted by loz944

got new plate engine number change and new book all done and dusted insurance included 1800 bht

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So did he have a old sabre book ? or did you already buy it, as thats the cheapest I have heard of anyone getting it done.
Congrats lucky man

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Originally Posted by loz944

got new plate engine number change and new book all done and dusted insurance included 1800 bht

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Too cheap to be true.
But nonetheless well done!

An update on my situation and some more questions.

I've agreed to buy a 400 Dragster this week, imported parts and assembled in Bangkok, comes only with invoice.

Before some of you start jumping down my throat for ignoring your advice to go legal let me explain the situation.

I plan on making the bike fully legal (if I can?) before I take it out on the road. If that's not possible I will sell the bike on to my brother in law (Thai) who will just ride it unregistered.

My question to any of you who have imported these kinds of bikes is : what is the procedure to get an imported bike into the system? Where do I start and what steps do I take?
I'm aware that there's plenty of dodgy Somchais out there who can get me a grey book for the bike, but I'm not prepared to go down that route.
Also, how much would I be expected to pay for everything if I were to manage to get the bike fully legal?

Any helpfull advice will be greatly appreciated.

^ The shop who imported & built it should be able to do the paperwork for you as it is their responsibility.

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Originally Posted by INTJ

I think paying money direct to the DMV only means that page 18 of the green book will show appropriate duties have been paid

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They give you a sticker that you stick under your seat to say you have paid the duty.

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Originally Posted by INTJ

There was an issue in Phuket (and maybe still is) where if a registered bike does not have the details of the duty being paid on page 18 of the book they will transfer the title

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PHUKET are the hardest on bike regos in Thailand,

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Originally Posted by The Muffinman

how much would I be expected to pay for everything if I were to manage to get the bike fully legal?

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I think if you do it legaly and do all the work yourself probably between 40k to 50k. I would pay the extra money and get the shop to do it as it is much less hassle and if they are conected you wont have to leave your bike in bangkok of a week

Ok, but if I get the shop to do it, won't they just get me a recycled tabien anyway?

I'd like to have a 100% legal book, where to go for that?

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Originally Posted by The Muffinman

Ok, but if I get the shop to do it, won't they just get me a recycled tabien anyway? I'd like to have a 100% legal book, where to go for that?

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No not if you ask them for a real book

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Originally Posted by Rigger

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Originally Posted by loz944

tp motorcycles rip of bunch of cunts

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Yep these guys nearly killed me after maxing my bike at top speed, I pulled up at my mates place, and he said you got a oil leak, checked the bike and the whole rear tire was coated with oil from a pinched oil filter that had let go.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by loz944

got new plate engine number change and new book all done and dusted insurance included 1800 bht

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So did he have a old sabre book ? or did you already buy it, as thats the cheapest I have heard of anyone getting it done.
Congrats lucky man

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I already had a green book but because the bike was not on the road for over 5 years and i changed engine we had to get a new book but that was all in the 1800 bht