Thanks for all the great advice. I will definitely look into those models. There are a few good shops in the area, but I'm not above going to Sala Kham to find something decent.

Also, thanks for the tips about the emissions, I think if I stick with a new bike I should be ok.

The Yamaha Spark 135i is also a great machine and easily available in Thailand.

Big bike rego just seems like too much hassle and time consuming process, I would love to ship my 2008 CB600 hornet over to Thailand but that sounds like a nightmare process and very expensive too.
So i have decided that when i arrive in Thailand in 2 months time for a stay of 1 year, that i will buy a NEW bike under 250cc.
I have studied most of the models available in Thailand and in my opinion, considering performance and value is the Yamaha Spark 135i.

The Kawasaki KLX / Dtracker 250cc would be a great bike but its 3 times the price of the Spark135i
The Kawa Dtracker 125cc is nice too but its 34000 baht more expensive and only has 10hp where the Spark 135i has 16hp, thats 60% more power.
So i will be buying the Yamaha Spark 135i

Can anybody recommend an Honest , Reliable and Helpful YAMAHA Dealer? or tell me which Dealers to avoid?
Can be anywhere in Bangkok, or any major city in North East Thailand, I dont mind travelling to buy and wont be staying put in any one particular place so dont need the dealer to be "just around the corner"
Any suggestions or help apperciated.
Matt...

If you just look for a motorcycle around 125 to 135cc the Yamaha Spark 135i is an excellent choice. The Spark is sporty, fuel-efficient, and remarkable easy to maintain. On fuel-injection technology the Yamaha is a bit simpler then the latest Honda PGM-FI, but that can also be seen as an advantage for Yamaha. Rural Yamaha dealers can still service your fuel-system without even understanding the basics of fuel-injection basics.

Quote by: news

The time it takes to generate a greenbook depends a bit on where you live, in Bangkok it can take a day to a week – when busy it can take up to 2 weeks. Up country it can take a bit longer, some people report that they needed to wait 4 weeks before the greenbook arrived.

In Bangkok, if you plan to ride your motorcycle while waiting for the greenbook to arrive, it's highly recommended that you take a copy of the purchase papers and a business card of the shop you bought the motorcycle from with you. Depending on the mood of the police officer you need to pay 200 Baht for not having a legally required license plate or he lets you go with a smile.

Most up-country motorcycle dealers supply a temporary red-colored license plate, which is officially only valid during the day, riding on your motorcycle after 20:00 you can expect the same 200 Baht for not having a legally required license plate or just a smile and a warning...

There's an offer from private seller (local people) a big bike without green book, but with invoice. Tax not paid as well, but he said it can be paid around THB14.000. Saw few in BKK people riding big bike without license and it seems free to go. Unless get caught by the police then your 200 baht story might happen. Is this always the case where by having invoice and let say we pay the tax, we can pay the fine to the police without having worry the bike will be confiscated by them? thanks.