Well, considering I am at betong now with bike, I will chime in.

Documents.
You need your ori grant (or certified true copy, or if a borrowed bike, you also need the owners authorization letter), drivers licence (no one asks here) and insurance.

Border crossing Malaysia
Make sure you have your grant. Malaysia side will ask for it before you cross into Thailand.
Malaysia immigration is simple enough, just give passport. Takes less than 1 minute if no queue.

Once approaching Thai immigration, park your bike and walk to the immigration building.

Thai side a few things you need to do.
1) fill out the visitor entry card
2) fill out the "information of conveyance" form TM2 (2 copies)

You can get them to fill up for you at the counter outside the passport room, for 2rm and 3rm respectively, just pass them your documents. I can't be bothered, for 5rm I just ask them to fill for me. They speak Malay.

Then go to passport control room and hand your passport and the above 2 forms.

Thai immigration will hand you one copy along with your passport.

Take your bike and ride to Thai customs checkpoint (about 20m) and park. Take your grant and pass to customs officer. Fee is 3rm. Once you get your temp vehicle import permit, you can go get your bike and ride in. All done. Don't loose the temp vehicle import permit. You need to return it to Thai customs on the way out.



As for insurance, you can get it before exiting Malaysia or after you get into Thailand. I paid 140 for 1 year for bike >150cc (60 for 3 months, 90 for 6 months). It is easy..you will see signs.


Do note, roaming will not work here at yala province due to Thai government ban. You will have to get a local SIM. However, you can download Google maps before entry for offline navigation so you can still get navigation from border to Betong town if you only intend to get a SIM in town or not at all and depend on wifi.


Those who are riding in, please note Thais ride very slowly and at speeds we are not accustomed to. The roads are also slippery when wet, with speed limits down to 30 kmh.


Well , cheap good food, good climate, cheap and good massage. Those who like camp, many scenic places like Punapa, Gunung Silipat, Larnmork...etc

I did a half hotel, half camp trip this time for a week. Got rained out though.

This post has been edited by jaycee1: Dec 21 2022, 08:55 PM

Do you know if this is restricted to roaming from Msia phone or generally roaming from any country is restricted in Yala?

[Update]
Found my answer. It's for Malaysia mobile phone only
Article from Thestar in 2006 -->
https://www.thestar.com.my/news/nation/2006...uthern-thailand


This post has been edited by WH4CockcooBird: Dec 22 2022, 12:31 AM

Sure sure... but my bike low cc nia... haha...

You can split lane in most of South East Asian Countries.

Just for Thailand keep an eye when reaching Greater Bangkok area (starting from Ratchaburi just after Hua Hin) , bike are not allowed to enter Toll paying roads and certain road stretch. (Like those near Don Muang Airport) and also only 1 bridge (Thaksin bridge) bikes are allowed to cross the chao praya river.

In the summary, try to avoid entering Bangkok (Krueng Thep) if can.

Back in 2005 I rode a Modenas Elegan 150cc to Phuket in .. that is a 1000+ km journey towards Patong beach, with only a Nokia phone and no google maps assistance.

Seen many middle ages unker in same cc scooter or kapchai reaches China border.

Cc is not an excuse not to ride to land of Smile, you can't speed anyway while in there.. (legally)

Okok... hahaha... lai lai then... haha...

It's not the bike CC, it's the rider.

once you tuned in to biker groups especially Thai-going ones, you'll hear many info, including cases of accidents involving Malaysian riders

Rider must be comfortable with the bike, and the gears (riding gears, navigation, comm etc), and all those come with experience.

When going into Thai, and if the bike behaves differently, the rider can tell immediately and make necessary adjustments. For example, if at traffic lights in Malaysia, you can easily pull a wheelie, but in Thai, you're more likely to spin the rear.

Difference:
- timezone
- road surface, corner treatments, corner camber, oily, slippery, sandy etc
- a lot of right U-turns, so despite being the 'fast lane', it requires attention
- many kapcai, scooter, animal pull carts
- fuel (ethanol based, check your bike manual on allowed ethanol level)

And, the purpose of going there is to enjoy... scenery, food, hospitality, so best is to go slow. Some hilly rides are actually better with lightweight bikes.

But, mess with their interest (accident, destruction of property, violation of laws), things can get messy.

Phuket and Krabi is sunny and nice weather with not a single drop of rain.

Going back to Malaysia later today hopefully can pass. No more money haha

Compulsory insurance?
Or compulsory insurance + voluntary insurance?

Usually Thai kastam will ask for the insurance cover note before approving the import permit. So insurance must do before we cross the border.
You got the import permit approved with no insurance note?

Compulsory + voluntary insurance thailand + extension 101 is a MUST.

Another thing ppl tend to neglect, personal Travel Insurance. SIAM medical fees is not cheap.

IF you want to rent small cc scooter while in Thailand ensure yiu have International Driving Permit (IDP) and take note most of the bike rental they didnt have proper bike voluntary insurance since its expensive.

More than 250cc bike 1 year around 450Rm , cheaper if below 250cc. For voluntarily + compulsory insurance (Por Bor Bor)

Buy at reputable agent in Malaysia such AnF since i knew En. Fairuz personally since 2017 when he starting this business.

Yes accident do happen but with the proper insurance coverage it should be sufficient.

Double post

This post has been edited by ajaibman: Dec 22 2022, 11:54 AM

Lol Ivan

I'll add in: slippery even on fully sunny day dry.

Their road LOOKS smooth, but it isn't grippy for tires. More rubbery content than small stones/pebbles for tires to adhere towards.

So those Twisties after customs towards Betong town, totally not advisable to speed/have fun. It'll quickly turn into brown pants moments or touch wood outright crash.

To all reading this page, please x3 take note of this.

Will include this to the summary page on my next update.

Compulsory.

It's hit or miss with that one. They didn't ask for it in my case, in fact I don't know if they ever asked for it. But anyway I got mine done before crossing over so no Biggie if they did ask.



But for betong,they don't care, because many often only buy insurance after they get in. Or don't buy at all if they just want to go betong town and not ride/drive anywhere.



I paid 140 which seems a little much since the actual premiums was for 650thb. So maybe other agents inside betong will be cheaper. But what the heck.... It's for 1 year.

*I have my own travel insurance.

This post has been edited by jaycee1: Dec 22 2022, 06:25 PM

Yes indeed, but dry still ok I felt...but then I wasn't like gung ho Malaysian style blasting 100kph on small roads.

But when wet, going up to Gunung Silipat twisties...holy cow, were the roads slippery....even at 30kmh.

Big bikes max is 100kmh or lower as indicated on local speed limits.

So any TT planned for kaki Thai Riders?

https://www.thestar.com.my/aseanplus/aseanp...om-some-nations

This post has been edited by ajaibman: Jan 7 2023, 02:21 PM

Your favourite topic

Haha… lets do TT… driving to Thailand for cny le… ride bike will have to wait… haha…