Hi All,

I leave in 28 days (on 1 Nov) for Saigon, arriving on 1 Dec. Will spend the first few days locating and buying a bike.

Then, it's up the coast to Hanoi, over to Halong Bay, back west to Sapa, and then down through Laos, over to Cambodia, Thailand, and Myanmar, before heading back to Saigon for Tet at the end of January. Am solo as of now, and would very much like to meet up with anyone who may be in the area.

Just heard about the HUBB get together in Chang Mai and will hit that, if I can.

Am keeping a blog--sporadically for now, hopefully daily during the adventure: ridingseasia.blogspot.com. Stop by and say hello...

John

will be at the chiang mai meet myself... should be riding a Malaysian registered 125 scooter thingy.. see you guys there.

Do you have contacts to rent in Bangkok?

Its not normally a popular spot to rent from in Thailand.

More renting options available if you rent from another region like chiang mai.

And unless you are very experienced in extreme traffic Bangkok is a nightmare to ride around.

I'll be doing the same journey late January. I havn't planned a route yet but this forum RideAsia Motorcycle Community is another good place to look/ask for details of the best roads and places to stay etc.
I think the secret of travelling around asia by motorcycle is to avoid the major roads that trucks and lorries use -if possible. Earlier this year I had a nightmare ride from Vientiane down to Nakhon Ratchasima on Highway 2, I had to use the 'refuge' lane most of the way to avoid the nutcase lorry drivers. Unfortunately the refuge lane is peppered with debris and every now and again you have to swerve onto the highway to avoid melon sellers/kids/cyclists and all mannaer of hazards.
I'd be interested in what route you take to Chiang Mai.

Good thread, but I still have a question: How easy is it to leave Asia with a bike from Malaysia? What about getting a carnet?

I'm looking into buying a small bike in Malaysia (or India or Nepal?) and heading to Europe.

Thanks!

not sure on my route as yet but starting in kuala lumpur and riding up the east coast to Thailand and into Bangkok or somewhere around there for new years.. then following up the west side towards Chiang mai, haven't done an route as such. only now starting all my research
on stuff to visit.
will be on small local roads only.

After reading the above posts (page 1), I'm thinking that my plans to start the trip with a purchase in Vietnam May be asking for a challenge. Too late to change my flights, so does anyone know of a reputable bike shop in Saigon (HCMC)?

What about carnets? According to Member Countries, only Thailand may want one. Does anyone know if an Asian bike needs one there?

Thanks,

John

Since one cannot send a PM until after 5 posts and this is my fourth, I'm posting...

I've done extensive research into what to see in Vietnam, Laos, Cambodia, Thailand, and Myanmar. If anyone would like the lists, email me at the address below and I'll send you a PDF of one or as many as you want.

If anyone else has such lists, I'd greatly appreciate them at jdpearce at comcast dot net.

Cheers,

John

Sherrie McCarthy and Patrick Schweiser produced a book titled:

Buying and Riding A Motorcycle in South East Asia (Smashwords, Amazon...)

They researched your options and ended up buying small motorcycles in KL.

They then rode around SE Asia and even managed to work in a stop and slide show at Horizons Unlimited Mini Meeting 2012 in Chiang Mai, Thailand.

The book is an ebook and details much of their research and options.

Motorcycles are more expensive in Malaysia (a $20,000 USD BMW GSA in the USA costs $42,000-$45,000 USD in Malaysia depending on accessories) and the surrounding countries, but the big bikes are around. Of course many seldom see 6th gear of more than 120 KPH. A 125cc will do you fine most of the time.

Maybe see you at HU in Thailand Jan 10-11 with your new purchase? Share with the attendees your "fly-and-buy" experience as a slide show?

Good luck on your acquisition adventure.

__________________
Sun Chaser, or 'Dr.G', Professor of Motorcycle Adventure at SOUND RIDER magazine. Professional Motorcycle Adventurer/Indian Motorcycle Racer/journalist/author/global economist/World's # 1 Motorcycle Adventure Sleeper & Wastrel
Soul Sensual Survivor: www.greataroundtheworldmotorcycleadventurerally.co m

Many thanks for that info Gregory, I in fact remember having a very brief chat with yourself at the mini-meet in Chiang-Mai earlier this year, (I think we were talking about though) and there was some great presentations that evening too of course. Sadly I won't be able to make the next meeting.
I like the idea of doing a slide show of my trip but I thought I'd try and do an edited video with cinematic music and narration, I used to do similar films when I was a resort diver on Koh Tao so I'll certainly give it a go. Plus of course I could raise some funds by selling copies of my videos.
As you say KL seems to be the most hassle free place to purchase a machine and then take it it accross borders (I've just found the ebook and downloaded it -cheers). I'm after something like a CR250 or perhaps a Suzuki DRZ400 or similar but as you say anything above 125cc is adequate.
I'll have a blog going somewhere but will post progress on this thread for sure.
I hope others on this thread will keep us all informed of their progress, when you are out on the road and find yourself staying in a one horse town it's great to check in and read how others riders are doing and then posting your own 'report'.

Phil TK

i have emailed a few bike shops in KL asking about buying a 125cc scooter from them and if they can process the papers to my name but not had even one reply which seems strange after contacting 5 different shops. I am hoping to have something for my arrival on 23rd dec or I don't know how long i'll need to wait after due to christmas

Kevin.
Check out Zainal's post #6.
I wouldn't worry about getting the your bike sorted. There are a couple of threads on Rideasia.net about buying in Malaysia and it seems that it's not difficult and everything can be sorted out once you are there, I should think there will be a huge number of bikes to choose from.
But I would indeed research how the xmas break might affect paperwork etc. That's a time factor that could change your plans and is worth investigating.

Hi People, I'm presently in the coffee capital of Vietnam about 3-4 days ride from HCMC. I am travelling on a rental 125 Yamaha which in the 7 weeks so far I have ´done´northern Vietnam, north and central Lao, back into Vietnam and have almost completed the HCM highway, also known as Highway 14. In about 3 weeks I hope to fly from HCMC to KL and there obtain another tiddler and then head north sampling the s of Thailand, Cambodia and if possible Burma. The reason than the trip profile is that whilst it seems that you can take a Malysia registered to all the ASEAN? countries you cannot take it into Vietnam and may well have difficulties entering Lao. I asked as many questions as I could at the VN/Lao crossing when leaving VN and for both, 125cc max and no foreign bikes whatever size unless part of an organised tour group. On my return to VN via a new crossing, at Dernsavan and again the questions and the same answers but I must emphasize the friendliness and helpfulness of both customs, immigration and police from both countries. You cannot get a VN visa at the land borders but there is a VN consulate in Savannakhet which allegedly dispenses VN visas. To give you some idea of the 'Russian Roulette' of VN border crossings, I crossed int Lao at Na Meo with a young French couple who had bought a VN tiddler and were trying to get it to Bangkok via Cambodia to sell the moto. 3 days previous they had been turned back at the border post at Dien Bien Phu, this situation is not uncommon. A word of warning, VN and Lao are set up for people on little bikes, and it works, however, forget about the command position on the road and the correct way to position and ride corners, both will get you killed very quickly and as to route planning, 300k is a very long day, no, make that a very, very long day especially in the hills. But, the is very drinkable, the accommodation very cheap and the food very entertaining. I expect to be in KL in about 3 weeks as I said and expect to stay there for about 2 weeks so if anyone fancies cocktails in KL, I'm you man. Ride safe.

__________________
Mike
---------
Mike is riding the twisty road in the sky

Kevin
Check out this webpage and scroll down to the underlined heading Malaysia.

Buying A Motorcycle In South East Asia - Unleash Your Adventure

thanks for that phil.... 2 working days looks good to me. I have just emailed kok motors to see if they reply but it sounds good to me

cheers buddy