Hi!

Firstly let me introduce myself .My name is Juan and I am spanish motorbikes lover (sorry for my poor english).

Well... I am planning to go to south Asia (mainly Thailand and Malaysia) for 5 weeks on 2014. I have already had the oportunity of being in that region and for me is a paradise in most of the aspects. I am quite use to experiment different cultures (i was leaving in Bangladesh, Norway, brasil and now Colombia) so this is not going to be an issue for me.

My problem is the next, I will do the tour with my wife , who enjoy to travel on a motorbike as much as me . but unfortunately after my last move from brasil to colombia I do not have any more my GS . I couldnt use it so much and I decide to sell it (always thinking on buy a new one after a while) and keep the other one (ducati s2r).

So then, taking into account that it is gointo be "only" a five weeks tour I cannot consider any more options than a rent.

Do you know any place on these countries where I can find a GS1200 , f800GS or KTM 950-990?.

I alredy have one option but in my first approach he is asking for a bond or deposit for the total amount of the bike becouse I am not going to saty the whole trip in Thailand.

Any consideration or observation ?

Thank you all! I continue reading

I have been around in Thailand a bit but I have never seen one of those bike models you mention for hire. Theres a lot of Kawasaki versys 650 cm and an occasional Honda Africa Twin for hire - which is the model closest to what you mention. For what I have seen at least.....

If you want to take a Thai registred bike out of Thailand and to Laos and you yourself are not the owner - you need some extra paperwork in advance.
For Malaysia I am not sure.

But ask your questions in the GT-Rider forum. Those guys have a lot of information to share....

S.E. Asia Motorcycle Touring Forums - Thailand, Laos, Vietnam Trip Reports

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Thank you Snakeboy

I´ll do that, I am already register on gt-rider .

As you have said, most of the "big" bikes I could find where versys and in the last case could be an option. But becouse I am not totally sure about coming back after 5 weeks I prefer to be better covered.

Will see... Ill let you know my progress!

I toured Thailand on a 250 it was plenty for the roads and it kept the costs down , don't dismiss the smaller bikes , you can get them to a lot more places than the big ones . Pattaya was the best place to hire a bike although I did not like the town itself

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well.. I could be wrong, but I am planning to go with my wife and it means togo with a lot of things , mainly photography staff. Besides I dont really know if we are going to stay only for 5 weeks (it depends on some personal decisions to be taken) and i would like to be prepare in case of continuing travelling for 2-3 months. Then, the Gs panniers and the travel capacity of any os the 3 options I have mentioned make the difference.

I have some other options to get those motorbikes from europe and send them there (import process is not something new for me .. I suffer it a lot in my job) but I would like to make the things easier.

And finally i have to recognize that there is a sentimental part on my idea.. this tour is a long time dream for me , and I have always imagine me in the Gs

Of course, any option could be great

I was in Hua Hin on holiday and I saw a whole group of Thais riding big BMWs! They are there.

Good luck!

I do not believe you can easily take a Thai bike into Laos. I have ridden Laos a good bit. Best show up and arrange a rental from LARA ..

There are a lot of bif BMWs and KTMs for that sake in Thailand. But are there anyone for hire? Thats what the threadstarter asked for....

Its not impossible to take a thai registred bike into Laos. It just take some paperwork - eg you need a letter with permition from the owner (if you yourself not are the owner...)
And you cannot cross into Laos at every bordercrossing. Back from Laos to Thailand you can cross every border crossing....

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We went last year and rode 2 up on a 125cc Honda PCX.
We LOVED it.
So much that I sold my GS and bought a PCX in Belgium to commute.
Now on an offroad trip, but next one will be with our PCX, 2 up RTW (incl SEA).

You'll have WAY more fun in SEA on a small bike than on a big one, but the ultimate decision is yours of course. I'm just saying that I was really glad we did it on the small scooter and not a big GS, saw a guy on the GS when we were there and we felt sorry for him, us being in flipflops and t-shirt and he all dressed up.
And why do you need all the stuff for? In SEA accommodation is so cheap that there's absolutely no reason to take tent and stuff...

But that's my opinion.

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Anything over 250cc is overkill in SEA.
A 250 will power past just about anything 99% of the Locals are riding.

And you simply don't need that much power given roads and riding conditions.
I'd take less and get a smaller bike even 2 up.

Well - the locals use their mopeds for short distance commuting, going to the local market, driving to their jobs, driving their kids to school etc etc and neither can or should be compared to what a western person should want to travel around on and sitting all day on and travelling much longer distances on.

Most of the roads in Thailand and quite good all the way down those 4 digit route numbers and a bike less than 250 ccm wouldnt be able to drive at the speed of the general traffic. Especially with a lot of gear and maybe with a pillion also.

Even though I have been riding around in Northern Thailand on a Kawa KLX 250 and enjoyed it very much - it has many cons as well. The gas tank is on that model 6 liter and have a range of maybe 175 km with one person with little gear. And the seat is terrible for longer rides. (Maybe the Honda 250 are a little better....) And its very difficult, almost imposssible to find a 250 bike in Thailand for hire with panniers or even a rack to attach some gear on. I ended up buying a 40 litre backpack to use for my things when travelling and had to leave much stuff behind.

If I was going to travel 2 up on one bike in Thailand I wouldnt og for anything less than 500 ccm, maybe a 650. But if you ride one bike each a 250 is good fun if not so comfortable.

Just my opinion then. Other oeople other opinions.....

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