Recommended cheap scooter/motorbike models?

[greves]

Update here, finally got my scooter today. After extensive testing (sitting and rotating handlebars all the way and eyeballing distance to my knees), it seemed like the Suzuki Skywave/Hayate was the largest of the bikes. The seat is also quite a bit wider and than the competitors (if you put them next to each other in a line, it's obvious). This is good news because it's also a) the only bike with a sizable under-seat storage space, and b) the 3rd cheapest of the 4 options I was looking at. The downsides are a) the floor is not flat (due to the large underseat storage), and b) the resale value will not be as high (but this is mostly made up for by the low purchase price of a used model - buying new the low resale value would make quite a difference).

I went to all the stores on Jl. Ciateul and found 2008/9/10 models in stock for approx 8.5/9.5/10.5 jt respectively, and ended up finding a 2008 model for 7.5 jt at the Suzuki dealer on Pasteur. I've seen some 2008s for ~7jt on tokobagus, but all of the Skywaves & Hayates currently posted on there have already been sold.

Haven't ridden it extensively yet but it has pretty good pickup and I'm happy with it so far. Would recommend.

As an aside question to anyone who knows since this is my first vehicle purchase in Indonesia - is there any reason not to leave the name on the STNK/BPKB as that of the previous owner, as seems to be common practice here? It seems quite expensive to do (what one would think is) a simple name change - the dealer said he'd take care of the paperwork for 700.000.

[bad_azz]

Mine is still in the old owner's name... I have the papers though.

[Howie]

Forgive the newbie who's yet to move, but how safe and easy is it to get around on a bike?

Would it be worth the cost to ship mine over when I transfer?

vulcan.jpg

[greves]

Forgive the newbie who's yet to move, but how safe and easy is it to get around on a bike?

Would it be worth the cost to ship mine over when I transfer?

vulcan.jpg

Easy and safe? Depends on what you're used to I suppose. Coming from Taiwan for me it's pretty easy. Coming from somebody used to cruising the long straight empty highways of the central US, it might be a challenge dodging the bakso carts and potholes while getting out of the way of the endless line of speeding MPVs blowing past and trying to avoid head-on collisions with trucks passing on steep, curvey, narrow mountainous paths. If you're used to driving in Asia and you can keep a cool head with 10,000 things happening all at once, it's fine!

As far as I know import duties on something like a motorcycle would be pretty high though... I'm sure somebody will chime in who knows what % of the "market value" would be charged, and how that value might be ascertained.

If you're concerned with not finding a big bike, there are plenty of larger models (like proper motorcycles) to choose from, they're just out of my price range.

[PhilippeD]

Forgive the newbie who's yet to move, but how safe and easy is it to get around on a bike?

Would it be worth the cost to ship mine over when I transfer?

vulcan.jpg

Officially, you can't bring any used car/motorcycle of any part of them.
We are in Indonesia... everything is possible if 1-You have good contact, 2-You are ready to pay.
In any of this two way it would be troublesome as much to get in IN and to get it OUT.

I have a Ducati Monster in my original country and I have forget the idea to bring it in Indonesia.

If you want a motorcycle for cruising around... forget that! Indonesia is not America! it don't have road for that here, motorcycle are not even allowed on toll road whatever the size.
If you want a motorcycle for traveling through Indonesia, you better look for a "adventure" bike due to the state of the road.
If you want use it only inside the city, I suggest to keep it to a small motorcycle, even a scooter. Too much power in the traffic here (and it always have traffic) it's not interesting.

[Howie]

Thanks. Looks like I'll be in the market there soon.

[PhilippeD]

Howie,
Take in note, motorcycle more than 250cc have a very high tax. Kind of 100% tax.
The same motorcycle will cost twice than what you will paid in the West.
The good thing is they keep an extremely good value when time come to sold it.

For giving you an idea, a 15 year old motorcycle in good condition is still sold for 4000-5000$!!!!
While a brand new Kawasaki ER-6N (or the Ninja 650) are sold for around 10 000$