As Promised, My New Toy.

Nice one,bike has got some goodies already.
Interesting looking shop and bikes, are most of the bikes inported from Japan?

Thanks.

Yep, most of the big bikes (over 150cc) are bought at auction in Japan. They are broken down, and then imported as spare parts because the import taxes on whole bikes are crazy. They are then reassembled on arrival. Most of the Thais then ride them unregistered because the cost of registration is as much as the bike.

Mine is fully registered, so I paid a premium. As a foreigner, I don't feel comfortable riding an unregistered bike. The cops can take it away if they feel like it.

Great pictures.

Be interesting to know the cost of shipping a container of used bike parts from Japan to the U.S.

Used-anything in Japan is nearly give-away, and freight on a shipping container would be relatively cheap. Getting non-U.S. spec motor parts past U.S. customs might be difficult, however -- or there might be no problem. If I had a bike shop I'd look into it. Now would be the time while the Yen is still low against the Dollar.

One of the bikes in the first photo of the shop still has the Japanese plates, and given the strict Japanese law on "deregistering" motor vehicles and turning in the plates, it makes me think the owner may not know the bike went to Thailand.

How can you tell if a bike is stolen?

(Great reply to that question the other day on Jockey Journal: "You wake up and it's gone.")

Most of the Japanese import bikes for sale here have proper Japanese invoices for the frame and engine. I don't think they are stolen. I have seen photos of the auctions in Japan. They look very organized, so I don't believe there is anything funny going on. That said, the shop has quite a collection of Japanese license plates. The kids here like to put them on their unregistered bikes.

Actually, the riding in Northern Thailand is awesome. As anywhere, you need to be aware. Once you get into the mountains, there is almost no traffic, and even better, no cops!

Here are a few snaps from a four day road trip I did with my buddy visiting from OZ last month. Should give you an idea of the conditions.

Cheers.













This is the finest road in Thailand!

More great pictures. Clever idea to go riding in Thailand. Lot's of us are probably wondering why we didn't think of that.

I believe you're right, things there at "Burning" are probably legal and the store's name doesn't come from dealing in hot mechandise.

But I rode for 14 years in Japan, and I'd be very surprised if the Japanese government knew bikes with plates were leaving the country. I'd be just as surprised if a missing bike or two didn't go in a shipping container once in awhile.

Don't get me wrong, I certainly wouldn't be bringing this up if I was in Japan or Thailand, and I probably wouldn't show much interest in the plates or take a lot of photos of them either.