Thailand long term rental ideas

[Eegah]

Long term bike rental ideas wanted:

I've rented bikes out of Chiang Mai for a few weeks,( including the CB250) but wanted to get a bike for a longer stay in Thailand and possibly one that can go over the border into Lao legally (this is not a requirement right now though). For sure I want to go all around Chiang Rai/ Mae Hong Son, and down to Phuket maybe but at least to Hua Hin, and east to Udon Thani, and down to my friends house near Mukdahan.
I always stay in the Hua Hin area for most of my stay and that is my "home" there for my monthly winter vacations for the last 14 years.
Starting this winter I can go for more than one month- probably two to three months. I'd like to use a CBR250 as I really like that bike.
My idea was maybe to buy one and sell it at the end of my trip, buy one and find a storage place for it, find someone who would rent me their licensed one, etc.
Does anyone living in Thailand have any helpful ideas on how to get a CBR250 or possible another bike for long term and legal to ride all over Thailand, cheaper than a daily rate from the rental shops? I've used Mr. Mechanic exclusively for the last 4 years, although I had so skip last winters trip.
Thanks in advance for any ideas .

[sac]

Homepage for Bangkok Bikes Rental

[gtr666]

id buy a 2nd hand cbr250 for about 73000 - 85000 baht these price might drop again soon due to the 500cc being released ,that shop ive had some bad dealings with no answer email facebook phone call and the shop on rama 9 is mostly unmanned

[Michael]

As you anticipate crossing borders, buying would be the way to go. I doubt that you would be allowed to take a rental out of the country, unless you are part of some tour organised (and escorted) by the rental company. Even taking your own vehicle across a border involves a bit of paperwork. Once done it is good for the long term for that border, but still it is not as straight forward as in Europe (and maybe North America).

Your two to three month time frame also suggests buying would be the better way to go. Even at a reduced rate for long term rental, by a couple of months you could already have paid close to half the cost of a second hand bike.

Second hand would be the way to go. Getting a new vehicle fully registered takes up to three months, and there are restrictions on red plate (new, registration not complete) vehicles. Sure they are only occasionally applied, but could be a hassle none the less. Strictly speaking, red plate vehicles can only be used in daylight hours within the home province. There could be a problem with insurance cover too.

With a second hand vehicle, changing ownership takes just a few minutes, costs about 100 baht (as I recall) and you are good to go.

To own a vehicle in Thailand you should be on some kind of a longer term visa such as "O" or "B", but I have heard of people swinging it on a two month tourist visa. You certainly won't be able to own on the 30 day visa free entry which most people enter Thailand on these days and often extend with visa runs.

[sac]

Get married and put it in your wife's name :P

[Michael]

Originally Posted by sac

Get married and put it in your wife's name :P

It can work. Getting a marriage registered in Thailand takes less time than it takes to get a vehicle registered. So too does getting divorced.

A friend, who works in oil exploration, has been based in Thailand for about 20 years, coming and going on the 30 day visa free tourist entry. He has been with his girlfriend for more than a dozen of those years. He wants to marry her, but she cannot see the point. Her sisters bot married and divorced, so she figures why upset a good thing. Everything he "owns" here is in her name, and all is sweet. I don't foresee any problems there.

On the other hand there are more than a few guys who have married here, and put things in their wife's name...... and have lost the lot when the wife decides to move on (to the next victim).

[Eegah]

Originally Posted by sac

Get married and put it in your wife's name :P

Then all the in-laws would want to ride the bike and it'd be broke by the time I returned.

I've lived with the same Thai girl here in the USA for the last 8 years. Met her here in the USA too. Before that I had a few other girlfriends in Thailand that never came here. One managed two popular beer bars in Bangkok. I got to know a lot of the girls, and their "victims". Some girls were actually ok and honest (till they worked there long enough).

Well, buying a second hand sounds like the good idea. Maybe hard to accomplish in a short time though. Maybe I'll get lucky next trip, (hopefully in February) and find a good bike for sale. It doesn't necessarily have to be a CBR250 but that is my favorite one I rode there so far. Maybe they'll have the 500s for rent next time?