buying a motorbike in mali ?
 

After travelling four months in West Africa by public transport, we discovered that this is not the best way of exploring a country at all. In order to improve our experiences, and to see all the beautiful things between two busstops, we are thinking of buying to small motorbikes to continue our journey and sell it in Ghana.

We are currently in Mali, where everyone seems to have a (blue) Yamaha YB100. Is there anyone who can advise us on 1: what we might need and can expect in paperwork, 2: what is a reasonable amount to pay for a second-hand motorbike like this and 3: whether this is actually a good idea?

Jacco & Mariken

the bikes that everyone has aren't Japanese, they are Chinese copies. And by all accounts terrible quality. The real Japanese (Honda and Yamaha) are about 10 times the price of the cheap copies.

If you need info about buying (in Bamako) try the cafe directly opposite the Catholic Mission. Ask for Alex and he should be able to help you out with any local info.

It's probably a good idea if you don't mind losing the money...ie you don't get upset when the bike breaks.

cheers,
Doug

[This message has been edited by DougieB (edited 12 March 2005).]

Thanks for your reaction

We found out that the price for the bikes is:
300 000 franc CFA (around 450 euro) no matter who is selling it.

We also, by coincidence, met a fellow with clear and honest information about the bikes and what paperwork we would need. He worked in a cafe opposite the Catholic Mission.

The biggest problem we would encounter was not the buying and driving around in Mali (you do not even need a drivers licence) but taking it over the border to Burkina-Faso and then to Ghana in order to sell it.

So in the end we decided to continue by public transport and come back soon with our own.

-greetings-
Jacco

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Thanks for your reaction

We found out that the price for the bikes is:
300 000 franc CFA (around 450 euro) no matter who is selling it.

We also, by coincidence, met a fellow with clear and honest information about the bikes and what paperwork we would need. He worked in a cafe opposite the Catholic Mission.

The biggest problem we would encounter was not the buying and driving around in Mali (you do not even need a drivers licence) but taking it over the border to Burkina-Faso and then to Ghana in order to sell it.

So in the end we decided to continue by public transport and come back soon with our own.

-greetings-
Jacco

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