Buying used Motorbikes in the Philippines

I thought this is a good subject for People which may consider doing so.

There are two kinds of Motorbikes one can buy, but be aware of this:

a.) The regular ones, small displacement engines. Coming as Scooters,"normal"bikes etc.

b.) Big bikes, mostly imported by expats which then "think again" after living here for a while.


Type a.) has a big warning -those could have been used for running a tricycles or as "habal habal"bikes.
Considering that they run all day and nite with capacity overload they can have 10.000km and more per MONTH while still looking "ok". (The odometer cable breaks every 15k anyway.)
So check the previous owner carefully. Often they are still expensive anyhow, so one is better advised to buy a new one.

Type b.) very tempting, some are real nice Motorbikes and relatively cheap, but check the age. Even Yamaha, Honda, Kawa, Suzi and others do not manufacture parts anymore after 25 years, so one has to rely on orders from abroad for the most simple parts or manufacture them in Machine shops here.
Not to mention, that parts are not in stock anyhow for European or US models.
That is mainly why Foreign owners sell their bikes. Its frustrating to replace a (i.e.) Carburator needle and has to pay 90 US$ for Fedex after a one month ebay search/bid to find it.



My personal conclusion is to think carefully and maybe get in touch with some bikerclubs nearby first ( they are everywhere now ) and ask for advise and experience. And you may want to join them as well,as its more fun to ride along with others.


Anecdote by me- in 2011 i really considered buying a Yamaha XS 650 which was in trueA1 condition for only 45kphp or 1000 US$. Build1982 and really first hand owner who even kept a meticulous logbook.But with 80 he wanted to retire from biking.
I asked a friend of mine who also ran a Motorbike repair for big bikes about that bike ( he also knew the owner and said, its really a nice guy and all is true, but....then showed me two XS650 engines in his backyard and said, they are scrap now, because no parts available and all they needed were a few bearings, but no chance to get them. And engine bearings are kind of hard to re-manufacture in a machine shop.)

Went for the Kawasaki Rouser 220cc this morning have spent a year pondering over what to buy and it seems to be the best option financially as well as for reliability. P103,000 and a bike with a good reputation.

Would never buy second hand again, and wouldn't buy Chinese first hand!

Thanks for your opinion
Quite a lump of money, but intrested in your views as to why?

Second hand Yamaha I still have has been rebuilt 3 times in as many years due to Filipino tinkering (before I bought it and after).

The Chinese Rusi was the worst scooter I have ever experienced, exhaust fell off due to soft metal bolts that sheered after expanding with heat (obviously being an exhaust fitting you would expect them to use the standard cheap Chinese bolts). Electrics were a single loom so when you got a fault in anything the scooter lost all circuits from electric starts to horn and lights. Mag wheel split and now replacement "please buy 2 new spoke type wheels sir and tyres". Not on something less than 2yrs old I won't..lol But they had changed the model already so no spares. The final top off being it didn't start most of the time and had left me stranded in other towns multiple times.

Biggest problem with the Chinese products is not only sub standard but lack of available parts. They are improving and they are copying better (so that you can swap with Yamaha, Honda parts etc.). But the fact they are stealing engine designs etc. is another reason I am anti-Chinese as why should they lower the standard of the entire market by being thieves of other companies hard work? Yes they can produce cheaper at the cost to everyone as the people who buy their stuff (which are generally copies of Japanese models) are being taken away from the guys who developed the engines and designs in the first place.

Not a fan of Chinese in any form of bike!

Very interesting and useful thread.

Given the generally dire road conditions, importing my 20 year old pride and joy:



from the UK does not seem a good idea, so I was thinking of a smaller bike with some off road capability but with enough horses for a pillion. There must be a reason why these are scarce.

In Beijing, I rode a Changjiang 750 (Chinese copy of Russian copy of BMW R45) for five years, winter and summer. You would not believe what went wrong with and/or fell off that bike, but, it being the standard Chinese police bike, I was never far from help!

Braking capacity was limited to say the least...single leading shoe drums, front and rear...it hardly stopped at all. The electrics were awful.... well, I could go on... On the plus side the tickle carburettors, single seats and plunger suspension took me back to my youth...

Ha. This thread reminds me of the Isle of Man in TT week. The island's numbers swell by 25% and the number of motorbikes here at the time are colossal.

Agree with you in most parts, but with a "bit of how to avoid it."

One has to think back 70'. (ok,ur to young for that)
Back then japanese motorbikesflooded the market in germany andallof them were 'corroding" awaylike hell. So the common people said.

Problem was that the people were spoiledby a1 quality steel from all the Standard manufacturers. And Dealers knew also the screws to tighten up etc.

Then came the Japs with half the price bikes and "catastrophies" occured. Such as we experiencce now (me again) with the Chinese bikes.
See, i got no real trouble with my Skygo/Lifan "harley wannabe clone".

I wash off the salty sediments after riding and even when parking regular (We live by the Sea in the Philippines, anywhere actually!)
Then i tighten the screws a lot and replaced a few "butter/cheese" ones right away.
And then i had no troubles.

So far, 20.000 km since mai/11. knock knock on wood.

yes, there are some optical damages,mainly plastic paerts, but not moree than i had on my bikes in Germany.

Parts- yes, big trouble, but whenone goesto COLON in CEBU or in manila there are no problems to find parts for up to 5 years old bikes.
For the engines anyhow, as the engines are all license engines from Honda/Suzi/Kawa/Yama
and the parts are compatible.
if not, the Pinoy make them compatible. (cutting gaskets,buying bearings by size etc.)

(Actually just like i did with my engine parts in Germany in the seventies. I made them myself, cause they were all "tunedand improved. And the original parts would not have fit anyhow... lol.)

Thanks for that post, i was always curious about those Chinese Beamer copies...never met one first hand who rode them. The Russian ones yes. mixed opinions.
--
depending on where you would Import the Blue beauty its possible, but then you get no parts for her here. Only from the UK.
Taxes will eat you up still, so you may consider storing her in the UK or sell her.

The Honda XLR 250's and similar off roaders may be something for you in the Phil's,250?! Yup, its enough HP , trust me. One can only drive 40 in town ( and thats scary already) or 60-70 overland.
And if you go off road, well, the lighter bike is what you want. I tried the XT 600 yamaha, great bike, but way to heavy for here. IMHO

That is the advice that I was looking for, Guenther - thanks!

dont know if this thread is still going but i am going buy a bike when i go in november , i do not want a big one as i have never had motor bike i hired one last time i was there i do not go fast nor want to girlfriend drove it with me on back told her she was going to fast and that was on one of those scooter types but want one that i can tour with two people and luggage any advice what size how much to buy one

We used a Kawasaki Barako - 175cc very simple and sturdy - in Mindanao. I'd recommend going with whatever is popular in your locality as a "habal habal".

Methersgate others have said dont bother get a four wheel drive. been looking at honda cb125cl they come already with side car place to fit.
i felt more safer on back of girlfriend than taking the small buses they drive like maniacs.
brand new scooter type in estancia that girls father has 45000 cash or 48000 installments but dont think they fit side car to them ,all those i rode in where motor bike types.

Get a small van, rusco or something similar, much safer than a bike. You can get them for 160,000 peso brand new.
If you are not an experienced biker avoid bikes over there in Fils because they drive like lunatics

jim will look into that rusco van can i drive it without taking test there and what about girlfriend can she also drive it with no test license

You need a licence and insurance. The Phils test is like the American one - easy.

You can drive on a British license for so many months, not sure how many, could be three or six not sure. Your girlfriend will have to take a test, its easy but includes a
urine test. ah just found this
Driver's Licensing - LTO

And a medical and eyesight test ... Takes about 2 to 3 hours altogether.

I have a valid foreign driver’s license. Can I use it in the Philippines?
Yes, 90 days from date of arrival.

3. Can I convert my foreign driver’s license into Philippine driver’s license?

Yes. If valid, no exams. If expired subject to written / practical exams

THIS IS WHAT SITE SAYS SO I DO NOT NEED A TEST JUST PRESENT ENGLISH LICENSE AND THEY GIVE ME PHILL LICENSE

WHAT ABOUT MOTOR BIKE