I am wondering, is there a process to make some of these illegal bikes for sale on ruten legal?
I just ran across an FTR for 70,000 NT
剛從日本進口進來型男專用 全車完稅還沒請過臨時牌不扣車 已整理ok好發好騎 一切正常~~ 請誠意看車議價~~ 謝謝~~
I think it’s illegal, and it’d be a shame to live in the constant fear of police snatching it away.
Does the government or DMV here have some papers to make these bikes able to be registered?
Nope. Just run it until you get caught and impounded. They might deport you but hell that’s half the adventure. I had a friend with an old Kawi GPZ 1100 rotting in his basement that he wanted to give me. I had a long discussion with the director at the DMV on Ba De Rd. in Taipei and he politely told me to fuck myself.
Most of the big bike shops can give you ideas and creative ways around this. (Read illegal) A few years back you could see a lot of non-plate bikes in most of the MC cafes. Stupid that the TW government is missing out on the revenue from these bikes. In the US I grew up around guys who made a living rebuilding scrape yard wrecks from the ground up. It's another example of Taiwan taking its cues from Japan on owning old vehicles. $70,000NT could get you and even better non-plate bike than the FTR. What about parts and service?[quote=“Rennes”]I am wondering, is there a process to make some of these illegal bikes for sale on ruten legal?
I just ran across an FTR for 70,000 NT
剛從日本進口進來型男專用 全車完稅還沒請過臨時牌不扣車 已整理ok好發好騎 一切正常~~ 請誠意看車議價~~ 謝謝~~
I think it’s illegal, and it’d be a shame to live in the constant fear of police snatching it away.
Does the government or DMV here have some papers to make these bikes able to be registered?[/quote]
No! If the bike came to Taiwan in parts and was put together, than no it is illegal. If that bike was never imported to Taiwan, than it will be illegal. If the engine is actually legal (like it was registered in a legal bike and then taken out and put in an illegal bike) then that is kind of a loop hole. Lots of racers do this. The take a legal engine and put that legal engine in their race bike so they can ride it legally on the street. The plate will match the engine, so it is kind of legal. A cop probably wont give you a ticket or wont be able to snatch the bike from you. But if you wanted to sell that bike as is then it would become illegal. You would have to put the engine back in the original bike, transfer the papers, then put the engine back in the other frame (bike) and you could sell it and it would be kind of legal.
So pretty much to answer your question…no you can’t. If a foreigner leaves without transferring his papers into your name and never comes back to the island then it is impossible to make even that scooter or motorcycle legal again.
A bit of ancient history
http://www.forumosa.com/taiwan/viewtopic.php?f=75&t=33708&p=359190&hilit=GPZ%26%25+#p359190
Correct me if I’m wrong but won’t you be in a heap of trouble if you’re in possession of a stolen bike or one with a big stack of tickets. You’ll probably be able to wiggle out of it but that would be a giant PITA.
I wouldn’t want to test a stolen bike. If you were riding an illegal bike like a fake plated bike and the police stopped you than I bet they would just take your bike from you. I have heard of horror stories but in my 8 years here have never actually met someone that this has happened to. I don’t even know if you would get a ticket though. I think if you had a fake red plate on it then the cops would just confiscate your bike. If you have a huge stack of unpaid tickets on your bike and you get pulled over then you are fine. The police don’t have the resources to check that. If the bike is actually stolen then you are going to have to prove that you didn’t steal it. If you want to sell that bike then you are screwed once you transfer the papers. You will have to pay for all those unpaid tickets.
If you have an engine and license plate that is legal and you throw that engine and plate on some crazy race bike for a mountain joy ride and get pulled over, then the police can’t take the bike from you, but they could give you a small violation ticket for something like no lights, or noise pollution. I have never heard of that happening though.
At my motorcycle club we have tons of illegal bikes. I mean just bikes that were never imported to the island. Like NSR 250cc’s, FZR 400’s, Supermotards, full race bikes, ect. Most of the guys will put their legal while plates on them when they want to ride the mountains. They have never been pulled over or had any problems, but if they get into an accident and cause serious injury
I think you guys are being a bit paranoid.
What people did back in Canada… that’s CANADA… were the following:
Buy an imported Japanese engine (with low mileage) and stick it in their otherwise stock cars. This was a grey area in terms of legality… and no one ever had their car taken away due to this. The police check your plate for make and model… not for engine VIN.
At the extreme… import a JDM (Japanese Domestic Market) car into Canada in pieces… re-assemble it in Canada. Buy a busted Canadian car of the same make and model… swap VINs and destroy the unwanted car. I suspect this is much easier with a motorcycle.
In the 'wan, they DO check your chassis VIN and your engine serial no. in a motorcycle inspection.
How good are your welding skills?!
But, when is this motorcycle inspection required? Only when transferring ownership?
What if you’ve bought and registered a Yamaha SR150 or something… and then oops… it somehow turned into a Yamaha RD350 and you never ever sold it or ever transferred ownership to someone else?
There’s definitely an inspection when you first register a motorcycle, and thereafter when title changes hands.
Yes, but the OP was asking about buying a probably paperless bike that has probably been modded. If you at least have the original papers which mean the bike hasn’t been stolen it’s one thing but buying a completely paperless bike for 70K seems foolish. I know the police are for the most part incompetent and really don’t care but I’m surprised that they have no way of checking a bike/engine VIN if they pull over a paperless bike.
They do have a way, they can access the VIN/engine numbers if they choose to. I answered the question, “When is a VIN/engine no. check mandatory?”
Also, with only the papers, if the registration is not in the name of the driver, the issue of “stolen” is unresolved. I would be stunned if 'wan police went a step more if the driver had papers in a different name … unless the vehicle was reported stolen. Most owners keep the registration with the vehicle, so stolen vehicles usually have the registration in them.
[quote=“maunaloa”]They do have a way, they can access the VIN/engine numbers if they choose to. I answered the question, “When is a VIN/engine no. check mandatory?”
Also, with only the papers, if the registration is not in the name of the driver, the issue of “stolen” is unresolved. I would be stunned if 'wan police went a step more if the driver had papers in a different name … unless the vehicle was reported stolen. Most owners keep the registration with the vehicle, so stolen vehicles usually have the registration in them.[/quote]
Where do you store the registration in a motorcycle? This would be foolish since you need the papers if it gets towed.
I agree if you are at least getting the original papers then it’s not that bad but buying a completely paperless bike of unknown origin seems questionable.
I keep a copy of my reg and insurance in a ziplock bag under the seat or in a top case. On enduro bikes with bolt-on seats, I tape the bag to the inside of a side panel with half-turn fasteners. There’s no way I’m going to remember to bring the right paperwork every time I hit the start button (or the kick starter).
I’ve been pulled over about five times in four years, only one time did they actually ask me who the scooter belonged to and verified my father in law’s name via radio… but I was giving them a bit of lip and a bad attitude.
There was no VIN check, he just looked at the number plate.
On the other hand, what would they do if the frame and engine numbers had been removed? What could they do?
Probably nothing, but who wants to risk it on a pimp bike they’ve put countless money and man hours into?
Out of curiosity, exactly where does one find the engine and body VINs on a motorcycle (and scooter)? I’ve looked mine over, and don’t see those, but I’m sure they must be there.
cheers,
DB
It depends on the model and make, but usually the VINs are located on the right side of the motorcycle engine block, high up, and on the frame before it meets the forks, usually under some cowling. Bigger bikes often have plates containing VIN data instead of having the VIN etched into the metal.