Can anyone update me on the possibility of some bikes "arriving" for sale in Thailand that don't attract huge duty, Kawasaki have dont ok with the Ninja 250 but what about the 500cc plus market, any models and dates known?

Hello Alan,

First the bikes not have to be Thai build to have a lowered government duty, bikes which are Japanese build or anywhere are also lower on duties. Actual the Kawasaki Ninja 250R is build in Thailand, but not to Thai custom law, it is build in a so-called bonded warehouse manufacturing plant, which means that it still needs to be imported into Thailand even it is already in Thailand.

Currently the only Thai manufacturer who builds 250cc motorcycles in Thailand is Tiger Motorcycle, with its Tiger Boxer 250 RS, which is not a bad choice at all, being halve the price of what Kawasaki is offering, and surely not half the fun.

We can expect that other manufacturers will introduce 250cc motorcycle models on the Thai market, any larger engine displacement motorcycles we probably have to wait until the end of March for 30th Bangkok Motorshow.

Or you could wait just two weeks and see if Kawasaki does start selling the ER-6n here. 600cc and built here...good enough? Expect a price of around 280k (registered).

I would not expect Kawasaki to introduce the ER-6n soon, surely not before March, into Thailand, matter of fact I would find it interesting to see how they will survive the global economic crisis.

For Thailand I would not be surprised that they moved production out of Thailand, their Indian partners (Bajaj Auto) made them a sweet deal they basically pay for the factory, which can support world dement. Expending the current Thai factory will play a demand on cash and credit Kawasaki not has….

I rode the ER-6n at the Kawasaki showroom yesterday! Should be on sale in a week or two. Price...about 225K.

Hi Chris,

That is indeed a nice price for the Kawasaki ER-6n, and is the 225,000 Baht sales price including Thai registration?

I believe that the 225,000 Baht price for the Kawasaki ER-6n is without the registration cost. So the price on the road in Thailand at least if you want to ride legal, is still 280,000 Baht.

Price includes registration. This is an official, dealer (manufacturer) sold, Thai made bike. Richard, don't confuse this with an import. It's a nice deal. But don't all hurry to get one, because I want mine soon!

Hi Chris,

The registering cost is something completely different then import duty. The registering cost for the Kawasaki ER-6n is something like 55,000 to 60,000 Baht.

If the 225,000 is including the 60,000 Baht for registering then the price for a unregistered bike would be 165,000 Baht.

Kawasaki does the same with the Kawasaki Ninja 250R, selling the Ninja 250R without registering cost, the difference is that the registering cost of a 250cc is only much much less then registering a 650cc.

Therefore I belief that the 225,000 Baht is excluding registering, but I could be wrong... But lets hope I'm wrong..

P.S. Thai build Kawasaki motorcycles still need to be imported into Thailand, as they are manufactured under a special BOI bonded warehouse manufacturing schema.

Maybe I got the words wrong, but I put my money down today anyway, and the only extras on top of the 225K, are about 600B for compulsory insurance and less than 1000B for the plate. Sorted.