I entered Thailand from Laos. But I took the big Vientiane Nong Khai Border, so I think there shouldn't be any difference down in Cambodia. If there is, Nong Khai works, should only be a 8 day drive or so

And Selous: 75$ a day?! WTF, she got soo ripped of. You can get the Easy Riders in Dalat down to way less than that for a whole North South Tour. As to the Minsk, of course they"re unreliable, that's why we love them!

What paperwork is involved in buying in Vietnam?

Is an address reqd?

Does having/not having the correct paperwork affect selling the bike at the end of the trip? I'm thinking price/time.

Cheers

Adam

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UNLESS you are only going to spend your time in capital ciries, a small 100-150cc is a BIG mistake. The ideal bike size is a 250 -400cc, here is hwy...

a) You can double-up (and even if ur travelling alone you're going to want to at times... especially if ur a guy ) and allow for luggage and still hit good touring speeds.

b) If you get a DRZ 400, KLX or XR you have a bike light enough to tackle hill climbs, river crossing, jungle trails etc... tha a big BMW tourer or a 650 can't handle.

c) MOST parts are interchangeable and accessible

d) It's still a big enough bike to attract alot of interest and cultural interaction when you get into the countryside, take a couple of rice farmers or kids for a spin and see if you will be allowed to leave before you've attended half a dozens weddings, birthday paries etc...

e) Not ideal but still a small enough bike to commute the big cities on.

I prefer the 400cc range (XR, DRZ as the ideal size).

ALSO, as a jump off point Cambodia is the ideal. because:

1) Business Visa on entry (just write businessman and tick the Business Visa Box when you arrive) means registering a bike legally in your name with photo ID costs you $26, and you just use a guest house receptionist to do the footwork for you... NO HASSLES whatsoever. You can then enter Thailand, Laos and Vietnam with a legal bike with photo ID.

2) Bikes are about 30% cheaper than Thailand, Thailand has 100% tax, Cams has standard $500 for over 250 cc, $250 for 250cc so they imported more cheaply), Vietnam simply has hardly any bikes available so your up for $2500 for a 20 year old Baja or DR 250.

3) There are a plethora of DRZ, XR 400-650s, KLX XR DR 250s, WR/CRF450, TransAlp400s for sale because its almost all an expat market...

Most bikes are sold via notices but you can try Jobs and Classified Ads in Cambodia - Bong Thom Dot Com for bikes or Khmer440 forum to confirm how bloody easy and cheap it is to get legal!!!

An old post, I know, but my question fits here best. I'm about to cross to Malaysia in Padang Besar on an old Belarusian Minsk I drove down from Hanoi. Where do I get insurance exactly, is it on the Thai (maybe even possible in Het Yai?) or Malaysian side?
I will try to sell the bike in Malaysia, most probably in KL to someone who'd be crazy enough taking care of the old lady. Any tips on that? I plan to follow beddhist's suggestion as for crossing the border.

I have written guides for Satun, Dannok and Betong but never this border despite having travelled through it many times ( usually coming in )

Insurance isn't sold at the border or within the complex.

1. Ask the Thai motorbike taxis on the way into the complex, and maybe look in the Thai Padang Bezar town - look for someone advertising "Kurnia" "Insurans Generalli".

2. I had an old Kurnia cover note from Satun, maybe a year old - and the address of the main agent was in Padang Bezar, but it was a Malaysian address.

Wisut LongKao, Padang CT SDN BHD
No. 83, Main Road, 02100 Padang Bezar, Perlis 04 94 92316

You may have to ride through and search out in Malaysia, then return to the JPJ to get a ICP, which is just before the 'bend' where Malay customs sit.

You may want to call in to the JPJ there and see where to buy insurance, but by then its too late ..

Please report back if you are successful, but to avoid the headache I would ride through Sadao. Padang is a good border to enter into Thailand, because they are so "easy-going".

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I spoke to another guy the other day who got stopped at a JPJ roadblock on the way to Penang. The guys threatened to take his bike and he would have to go to the compound and pay 600 ringgit ( 6000 THB / 120 quid ) to release it. Just be aware of the consequences of riding without a ICP in Malaysia.

How much do you expect to get for the Minsk ? I might be interested, I'm in Hat Yai.

Thank you recom. I'm just not sure if it will be easier to sell it with or without an ICP. In Thailand there is a 10'000 Baht fine if you leave Thailand without the bike (with the temporary import papers). What's the deal with the Malaysian ICP / JPJ?

I just arrived in Hat Yai as well! I'd be happy to show you the Minsk and have a drink if you're free some time? Send me a PM

Quick update here: I made it over the border Thailand-Malaysia in Padang Besar with the Vietnamese bike. It was time consuming but easier than expected. Wrap-up:

I found an insurance office on the Thai side in Padang Besar, however they were only selling Thai insurances. After some misunderstanding they called an other office that should be able to issue Malaysian insurances but they were closed that day (Wednesday, huh?). As a result I decided to cross the border without insurance and without JPJ/ICP if possible. The Malaysian immigration was a huge pleasure: whereas at the Thai side you need to fill out a departure card and stand in line, on the Malaysian side you can actually stay on your bike passing your passport through the window. It goes so quick you don't need to turn off your engine. Wow! Thereafter you proceed in a dedicated lane. A group of officers stopped and told me: "Please continue and read the sign that's coming up." I figured that was about the JPJ I didn't want to bother, so I just continued and passed without looking back.

In Malaysia I was looking for an insurance company. I knew it'd be tricky: Belarusian bike, Vietnamese registration, Vietnamese motorcycle license not in my name (blue card), but (Vietnamese) ownership document (that got me into Thailand). First insurance office explained they can't do it and they didn't think it would be possible at all. Second one–after some sweet talk–did issue an insurance (collected/copied: blue card/license, ownership document, IDP). Cost for one month, 125cc, brand: "other", incl. plate sticker for front: 44 MYR.

I decided to head back with the forms to JPJ and look at that: they were skeptical at first, asked for the original licenses, but they delivered the ICP. About 10 minutes time, free of charge. Really happy!

This was the insurance office that helped: KURNIA Wakil Insurans, Fang Chee Foong (left side main road 200m after the roundabout). https://goo.gl/maps/fnXyPtxQdC62
Sure enough, when I continued on 79 down South after 15 minutes or so a checkpoint stopped every vehicle. Young officer only asked where I'm heading to.

Thanks again recom for your support!

Yeah! Nice one - Thanks for doing the leg work on finding the insurance office. - I will do another report for that border.

It's one of the most inconvenient / ass-about-face border systems, getting through the border then buying insurance, then returning to the border to sort out the ICP paperwork.

Im looking for an agent on the Thai side / Hat Yai, that I can go and do the paperwork the night before. It's all too time consuming on the day.

Happy trails mate and nice to meet and hear your story .. If we can talk about the Minsk another day - I'm still very interested.

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I know that checkpoint further down, it was a JPJ stop ? did they check you papers, I thought it was police. To be honest, in the past I have ridden up with in the cover of a pickup, ridden around out of site and avoided stopping.

There are a lot of concern in that area about the movement of 'extremists' across the borders, so there are lots of checkpoints.

And, yes, isn't it great ! .. not even having to get off your bike, just throwing the passport through the window and getting a stamp. Its even quicker some days - getting off and walking to the foot traffic window. If only other nations would take on this system.