Used motorcycle with blue card but no Letter of Sales & Transfer

Whatever you do remember this - bikes, especially large CC bikes - with an NN plate will be police magnets to shake you down for coffee money.  I would never NN plate a bike.  I bought a new KTM Duke 390 when I arrived.  It has been a good bike.  I have some friends with CB500X's and they have been happy with them as well.  I wish I would have known you when I left the end of March.  I just parked my Duke at my in-laws house for the four years I will be gone.  Would have made you a good deal on it.  Mine is plated in my wife's brother, or cousin or uncle's name.  I don't even know who.  Never had and issue with the police with it.

Also if you had a motorcycle endorsement on your current license it's very easy to get an A2 license.  A2 is over 150 cc.  Some paperwork, show your current license, wait a week and a few dollars.  Don't be like me.  I picked my Duke up and got stopped on the way home with no license.  That was 2M VND coffee money.  They ding you hard on violations on over 150cc bike offenses.

I can't help you on the purchase or resale of used.  Never done it.

Buying a secondhand bike is simple, match the blue card to the bike and get a letter of transfer signed and stamped. If its a bike thats is still in the original owners name and been onsold, that is a risk for you to decide.

Thanks for all the useful advice, after speaking with a few others, it seems no one has a “letter of transfer”, it might be due to a second or third transfer, which renders such a letter useless without the original owner’s signature.

Nonetheless, with all the social distance in place, I think I best stay put and wait for all these to pass before looking for a ride again.

Thanks to your advice, I have decided to wait for my A2 in hand before trying to buy a big bike.

By the way, may I ask how is the KTM service level here in HCMC? I am considering a KTM but still worry about if the dealer has technican that with factory training so they can do more than just oil change and grease the chain.

BR, Edward Chen

Edward x Kitty wrote:

Thanks to your advice, I have decided to wait for my A2 in hand before trying to buy a big bike.

By the way, may I ask how is the KTM service level here in HCMC? I am considering a KTM but still worry about if the dealer has technican that with factory training so they can do more than just oil change and grease the chain.

BR, Edward Chen

There are two legitimate KTM dealers, one in Thao Dien and one out by the airport.  I think they are both owned by the same group.  I suspect they have some training because they sell the full line up to 1290 super Dukes and I doubt they could get a dealership without some factory training.  Don't look at the price on those.  It's crazy with the tarrif and additional charges for large CC.

  I've only had mine in for service twice but they seem competent and fairly quick.  I bought mine near the airport but when we moved to District 2 An Phu the Thao Dien shop was only a mile from my house so I went there.

If you are interested in buying a 390 Duke could have my brother in law bring mine down from hometown.  I put it in storage but it will be four years before I move back.  He got his A2 license so he can ride it around once a month to keep it fresh.  Should have sold it before I left but I like it and wanted to keep it.  I think it has 3,000-3,500 km on it.  I bought it new.  It's never had any issues and has never been laid down.  I also have a full GIVI pannier set on it, top box and two side bags.  If you are interested send me a PM.