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Buying A New Moto

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DallasSteve
  11/13/2019 10:05 EST

I said I'd never drive in Colombia and I said I'd definitely never ride a moto in Colombia. They say "Never say 'Never'". I'm living in a quiet neighborhood with very little traffic and I'm considering buying a moto to scoot up and down the hills and ride over to the grocery store. I still wouldn't drive in the heavy traffic.

So yesterday we passed a store here named "Alkomprar". It mostly has electrodomestics, but in front was a row of new motos like you might see at other large box stores in Colombia. The new, small motos started at around $3.000.000 (about $1,000 USD). I would consider buying used but I don't see used moto stores here and I don't feel comfortable buying off Facebook or OLX.

So my questions are:

1 - Are the department stores a good place to buy a moto or do you save money by going to a Honda dealer (or Yamaha, Suzuki, Auteco, etc)?

2 - Is the price on the sticker negotiable and by how much, or does everyone pay the sticker price at the department stores?

morganstern
  11/13/2019 11:09 EST

I question whether a department store can prepare the moto correctly or at all. I had a Yamaha scooter in Mexico and it was of no better quality than lesser known brand. For me....only new and only from a dealer and make sure that every single little thing works BEFORE you leave the dealer. Mine came from a department store....and that was a mistake.

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morganstern
  11/13/2019 11:11 EST

Another piece of advice.....I would only buy a model that had TWO hand brakes....not a hand brake and a foot break. I am not coordinated...and almost got killed on my moto which had one hand brake and one foot brake.

morganstern
  11/13/2019 11:13 EST

More advice...make sure that the gas tank is EASILY accessible....some are not.

tubes
  11/13/2019 11:29 EST

You won't find big name brands in the stores; Honda, Yamaha, Suzuki all have their own national sales networks.

If you are looking at something under $5 millon peso it will be an AKT local or Indian / Chinese budget production.

The sticker price is not generally negotiable but you may get some free servicing or insurance thrown in.,

There are no used moto stores here but many parts dealers have used machines on sale. Stroll around the motorcycle dealers district in your city.

PFleetwood
  11/13/2019 12:39 EST

Is a " moto" just a tiny little 50 cc scooter or can it be a 250 cc motorcycle?

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EpaEpaEpa
  11/13/2019 12:47 EST

Not a big deal but if you buy a moto lager than 125cc you have to pay annual tax like on a car.

PFleetwood
  11/13/2019 12:51 EST

I guess after rereading if they are all electric cc's dont apply.

DallasSteve
  11/13/2019 12:55 EST

PFleetwood

I think the term can apply to large or small. I'm looking for something about 125cc which is pretty small. I will probably get the "scooter" style because that is what my wife likes. She'd rather get the automatic transmission, but maybe I can teach her to shift

Thanks for the other replies. I understand better now what they are selling at the department stores. If I was sure that I would be staying here longer term I might go with a brand name, but the India/China scooters may work for 4 or 5 months then I will sell it at a loss. I've budgeted for things like that.

Steve

PFleetwood
  11/13/2019 13:04 EST

One problem I had with bikes was worrying about where to put them so they wouldn't be stolen when out shopping. I wonder if there is a similar problem with lightweight scooters.

SkyMan
  11/13/2019 13:29 EST

Dallas...in Colombia...always go to the dealer. Full-Price, yes...negotiation is word few Colombians understand. Most motos here are 125cc and below....over 900,000 in Medellín alone !

Have you ridden motorcycles before ? I hope so...if not make sure your Hospitalization Plan is paid...O.K. You say you won't ride in heavy traffic, but you probably will...and it IS an eye-opening experience. My first ride in Medellín(with a friend, on his BMW) was a Oh My God Experience ! And I rode Hondas in the States. The local riders "snaking" thru traffic is an experience to view, but a fast-beating heart experience to actually participate. I agree with all the other info. posted to your questions. Buena Suerte !

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tubes
  11/13/2019 15:18 EST

In Colombia 125cc is not considered small but is the most popular size (no annual road tax, lower insurances.)

All scooters these days have belt-drive automatic transmission.

There is quite a price jump from the very cheapest motos ($3,000,000 peso) to scooters ($4,500,000++) but more technology too.

Second hand values can be very high, so don't worry about making a big loss.

DallasSteve
  11/13/2019 15:40 EST

SkyMan

I rode a Honda 250 in Dallas for a couple of years so I'm not a total "newb". I may get into some moderate traffic near our barrio, but I won't get into the heavy traffic, ever.

I'm planning to stay at 125cc or less because I have read you don't need a special motorcycle license for those smaller motos in Colombia. Do you know if that's true? My USA license is just for cars, not motorcycles.

Steve

Calle2Will
  11/13/2019 17:44 EST

I purchased my first motorcycle in Colombia. It's a Yamaha NMax and I have not had any problems with it for the past four years. Yes, I have taken a fall while riding and ended up leaving some skin on the road. But fortunately, Río Negro has some excellent health care and patched up my scraps.

My only fear is riding in the dark. It's hard to see the conditions of the road.

AaronMDE
  11/13/2019 18:33 EST

Yes, you need a license for any motorcycle. They do break them in to 2 size categories so the 125 is in the lower one.

Aaron

EpaEpaEpa
  11/13/2019 19:22 EST

If you are planning to be in Colombia on a tourist visa for three months then an extension of three months you may not need anything more than your US drivers license since it is valid for as long as the tourist visa is valid.

DallasSteve
  11/13/2019 22:54 EST

Aaron

Your answer doesn't clearly address my question. Yes, I agree, you need a license for any motorcycle. What I read is a regular drivers license qualifies for less than 125 cc and over 125 cc you need a motorcycle license. I think there may be some truth to that because when I check the specs on most 125 cc bikes they say something like 124.8 cc. Coincidence?

Steve

AaronMDE
  11/14/2019 00:06 EST

OK, don't know what you've read stating that a car drivers license will allow you to drive a motorcycle of 125 cc and below legally but it's incorrect.
To legally operate any motorcycle in Colombia you need a license for a motorcycle.
If the license is issued in Colombia then you also would need a license for the classification of the motorcycle you are operating. If your license is A1 then you can only legally operate a motorcycle of 125 cc and under. If it's larger than 125 cc it needs to be an A2 classification.
A bit earlier EpaEpaEpa mentioned using your US license if in Colombia as a tourist. This is correct. although you'd still need that US license to have a motorcycle endorsement in order to use it in Colombia.
To make sure I had this info right I called a friend here in Colombia who is a policeman and also rides.
Hopefully that clarifies it.

Aaron

EpaEpaEpa
  11/14/2019 07:20 EST

How, and from where do you get a motorcycle endorsement for your US drivers license?

tubes
  11/14/2019 07:45 EST

The moment that you have residency in Colombia (and a cedula) you will need to have a Colombian motorcycle licence. Years ago this used to be just a formality for foreign licences but the laws have changed and you now have to do the full driving school, course (in Spanish) as well as the medical tests.

Traffic police do regular check on motorcycles and if you cannot show your licence, insurance (SOAT), ownership and inspection documents, they will impound the machine on the spot and give you a hefty fine.

AaronMDE
  11/14/2019 09:06 EST

You get a motorcycle endorsement from the state in which your license is issued.
In most states you'd need to pass a test......written and driving at a DMV office.
Some states also accept certifications showing that you've completed a riding course instead of making you do the test at the DMV.

Aaron

DallasSteve
  11/14/2019 09:40 EST

Aaron

Thanks for the response. That clarifies it. I may have to take the exam and get a Colombian license. if they hold up getting the moto registered or insured (if they are alert enough to detect that my US license doesn't cover motorcycles).

Thanks, Steve

AaronMDE
  11/14/2019 10:30 EST

DallasSteve check your private messages.

PFleetwood
  11/14/2019 10:44 EST

I've had several large motorcyles in California and I don't believe I ever had to get a qualification for them on my driver's license. Maybe it depends on the state?

AaronMDE
  11/14/2019 11:22 EST

A search for California motorcycle endorsement found this.......

Every motorcyclist in California, no matter what type of motor-driven cycle you drive, will need a valid motorcycle permit. To operate any two-wheel motorcycle you’ll need a Class M1 license, also known as a motorcycle endorsement. As long as you meet the basic requirements outlined below you can become a legal motorcycle driver in California.

Motorcycle drivers who are 21 years old or older
Must complete a California Motorcyclist Safety Program (CMSP) or pass a motorcycle driving test at a local DMV office.
Present your California driver license or I.D.
Complete a DL 44 form.
Pay the $33 application fee.
Pass the vision test.
Pass the written test.
Provide a thumbprint.
Take a photo for the motorcycle permit.

Electricista
  11/14/2019 11:35 EST

"My only fear is riding in the dark. It's hard to see the conditions of the road. "

The only time I rode a moto in Colombia at night was at the south-east side of Providencia 12 years ago.
I encountered a migration of 300-500 blue colored crabs crossing the highway. It was scary until I realized what was actually going on. The highway was moving.

tubes
  11/14/2019 11:36 EST

Don't worry about what a US licence may say, I has no bearing on obtaining a Colombian.

PFleetwood
  11/14/2019 13:18 EST

Well Aaron, maybe my memory is bad but I don't recall having to have one in the seventies.

EpaEpaEpa
  11/14/2019 16:55 EST

"The only time I rode a moto in Colombia at night was at the south-east side of Providencia 12 years ago.
I encountered a migration of 300-500 blue colored crabs crossing the highway. It was scary until I realized what was actually going on. The highway was moving."

Those were Black Crabs, cangrejos negros. They are terrestrial and live in the mountains but come down to the ocean en mass to breed. Now a days the road around the island is closed to traffic during that migration. Must have been scary at night.

EpaEpaEpa
  11/14/2019 17:22 EST

Well DS two more thoughts on this: if you're only going to keep the moto for six months or so I see nothing wrong with buying an AKT or such at a department store chain like Exito, La 14, Jumbo etcetera. You may not even have it long enough or drive it enough for it to require it's first servicing.

Second thought is in regard to your US drivers license. If you are stopped at a reten, have SOAT, Tarjeta de Propiadad etc., show the police or Guarda your US license which is of course in English they will recognize that it is a drivers license though they can't read it and it it is most unlikely they will say momentico señor donde esta la autorización de adar en moto?

Add to that, while I don't know about motos per se, but every time I've been stopped, having driven here for sixteen years I'm only asked for my cedula. Only twice in all that time did they ask for my license and that was by Guardas. So in your case should you be stopped at a reten you would show your US license and have your passport (maybe copy) handy to show as well. Furthermore in Colombia unlike in the US it is customary to argue with authorities so if asked for some authentication for driving a moto you would just say no señor en mi pais el pase serve para todo...y ya.

My take but don't take it to the bank.

Just my

tubes
  11/14/2019 18:47 EST

I get stopped almost daily here in Manizales and they always want to see my licence and often my cedula too.
I keep all my motos documents in a clear plastic folder yet they still pull them all out and peer at them for ages.

There is always a truck ready at the stops, loaded with possessed motos, some almost new.

The minute that you own a moto here you can forget showing passports and foreign licences; you are a resident and not a tourist.

BeerLover74
  11/15/2019 05:49 EST

I bought a new Sim 125cc and love it. cost $1,450 USD. I get stopped often and show just a copy of my passport and my TX motorcycle DL. But once I 180 days end or I get a permanent visa, I know I'll need to have the proper documentation since they are always impounding bikes.

Waltercito
  12/13/2019 19:20 EST

Love those crab claws when I'm in San Andres. The islanders make a delicious crab soup, normally cooked over a fire. Yum.

Waltercito
  12/13/2019 19:23 EST

I've been looking at that NMax. How does it handle? Does it feel stable, nice center of gravity, tracks and steers easily? Do you notice the advantage of the 155cc over most other 125's?

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