How to purchase and own a motorcycle in Singapore

You’ve passed your first motorcycle license, class 2b, and you can’t wait to get yourself a new bike. The only issue is that you have no idea how to go about doing so. Here’s what I know about making a purchase on a motorcycle and how to go about owning it.

Remember that a 2B license only allows you to be able to own a motorcycle with an engine capacity of up to 200cc. You can either a motorbike new or used. For new motorbikes you have no choice but to get them from a dealership. Used motorbikes can be bought from either a dealership/motorcycle workshop or directly from owners. 

For this post, I'll just cover how to purchase a used 2B motorcycle.

If you are planning on getting a used bike from a dealership these are the steps involved.

1) Decide on a bike

2) Either choose between paying installment or full cash

Note: Some dealerships will charge you extra if you choose to pay full cash because of a new law that has been passed, it is colloquially known as lemon law AKA Consumer Protection (Fair Trading) Act. You can read about this here https://singaporelegaladvice.com/law-articles/what-is-the-lemon-law/ . My friend was told he had to pay 200 SGD extra because of this and he decided to just pay via installment. 

3) If you decide to pay via installment, you will have to tell them what your down payment is and they will work out your monthly installment plan. 

4) Next either the shop will get an insurer for you or you can source your own insurance. The price of the insurance will depend on the bike you're getting, how long you've held your license, your age and whether you've had any accidents before. These are the ones I know of. 

5) Lastly will be the transfer of ownership at LTA if you're paying full cash. This is 11 dollars by right but shops will charge you extra.Doing this will transfer the ownership of bike to you.

Another side note: Dealerships also tend to add a lot extra hidden costs like administration fees ,new IU unit, etc so be sure to clear this up before you sign anything. 

For getting a used bike directly off an owner, these are the steps.

1) Contact the owner of the bike you want.

2) Go for a viewing, if it is to your liking then decide on the final price of the bike with owner. 

3) Settle full cash or source for your own loan with a financing company

4) Find your own insurance, same thing as before; price of insurance depends on the bike you're getting, how long you've held your license, your age and whether you've had any accidents before.

5) Go to LTA to transfer ownership to your name, again it will be 11 SGD. 

Personally I won't get a used bike from a motorcycle workshop unless it is recommended to me by a friend. This is because there have been too many cases where people get ripped off by these motorcycle workshops. The common misconception is that they will fix up the bike for you meaning the bike won't have any major problems but this is not true. They only fix what is necessary for the bike to be able to start. Of course, not all motorcycle workshops are bad but that is why I will only buy a used bike off a workshop that my friends recommend. 

When buying a used bike off the owner directly, bring someone who is mechanically inclined. If you cannot do this then ask the owner to bring the bike to a workshop that you know is reliable, to do a full check on the bike to see if there are any problems with it. Of course you will have to pay for it. Only do this if you are really serious about buying the bike. This will save you a lot of problems down the road if you purchase the bike. It is generally better to buy a bike directly off the owner.

If you want to purchase and continue to own the bike, there are a few things to keep in mind. You will need to put aside cash for a few extra things other than the price of the bike. Here is a list of it.

1) Insurance - Every year you will have to put aside money for insurance, it will keep going down year after year if you don't get into any accidents.

2) Road tax - This has to be renewed every 6 months - 1 year. The price will depend on the engine size of the bike you have and your bike's carbon emmision. If I'm not wrong.

3) Season parking - It is less than 20 SGD for HDB

4) Cash Card- You need to have money for cash card when entering car parks with gantry and also for paying ERP

5) Fuel - Depends on your bike's tank size and it's fuel consumption

6) Regular motorcycle maintenance

7) Motorcycling gear - Raincoat/helmet/gloves

8) Parts replacement- Tyres/brake pads/clutchplates/ or if anything goes wrong

For now this is all I can think of, so owning a motorcycle is not so cheap, although it is WAY cheaper than owning a car. Be sure you have enough funds for all of these so that your bike doesn't take a toll on your wallet. Don't regret making a purchase on a bike just because you couldn't wait to get your hands on a motorcycle. 

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Learning about motorcycles.

To me, it is important that you do enough research on motorcycles before you make a purchase on a motorbike. Know the different types of bikes that there are. Between sport bikes, street bikes, cubs/underbone, dirt bikes, scooters, cruisers, etc. 

Also understand that there are 2 types of engines for bikes in this 200 cc category. There are 2 stroke engines and 4 stroke engines. There is a lot more to understand between these 2 engines but the major difference to know for me is that 2 stroke engines are more powerful but require more maintenance (you have to keep adding 2t oil to the bike every time you top up ­your fuel) and 4 stroke engines don’t have as much power but they are easier to maintain and generally have better fuel economy. Most of the old smaller cc sport bikes are 2 strokes, to name a few 125z,NSR 150SP, KR 150, RXZ,etc. These 2 strokes are known for being less eco-friendly due to the excessive smoke it emits and it's also louder compared to 4 strokes.

Next to understand for me is between a carburetted bike and a fuel injection bike. You can find out by yourself what these 2 do. What makes some people favour a fuel injection bike is that it is easier to start the bike when it is cold (eg. If you haven’t started your bike for a few days or if it was raining during the night). However a carburetted bike is cheaper, reliable and easier to fix if it breaks down. Fuel injection bikes have a lot of electronics involved in the bike making them more expensive to fix should a problem arise.

If you are new to the bike scene, you’d probably have no/very little idea of what different type of bikes there are and also the different model names. I’d suggest that you go to the different platforms (carousell, gumtree, singaporebikes.com, sgbikemart.com,etc) where people sell their bikes. This is for you to go and see what different bikes there are on the market and also the price of the bikes. Usually doing this will get you to set a budget, decide what type of bike you want and also decide whether you want a bike new or used. Well at least that was the thought process that I went through when I first went through them. 

Considering you've decided what bike you want, do ample research on the bike and browse through forums/fb pages or watch youtube video reviews on the bike to understand what it is good at and also where it lacks. Don't get a bike just because it looks really nice or just because it is cheap and you are itching to get a bike. Do thorough research on the bike so that you do not make a hasty decision and end up regretting getting the bike. Buying a bike is not cheap so be sure you don't waste your money because of an impulse buy. 

• It is important to equip yourself with knowledge on basic bike stuff like checking the chain slack, replacing engine oil and filter, plugging your tyres, checking your tyres to make sure they're still good to go, and a lot of other things. Of course you will learn as you ride but to me it's just better to know. 

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Expressway Familiarisation Course (EFR)

The Expressway Familiarisation Riding will be done after you pass your TP. It is compulsory to complete it if you want to be able to make your license. If you book it on the day itself, it will be free but if you choose to do it on another day then you will have to pay for it. Essentially it is just getting a feel of riding a bike on the Expressway.

I don't remember exactly where we went but I know we went to SAFTI, Discovery centre and some other places before heading back to BBDC. Before the EFR I was excited for it but I got bored pretty quick as the bikes we used, CB 125F, had no power. It was a struggle to reach 90 km/h on the bike for me and the bike also swayed at higher speeds due to its lightweight-ness. It was however, very easy to ride the bike. Just enjoy the riding in a group during the EFR. It was an experience for me. We had to be in a staggered formation and remember how to ride in a group.

Upon completion of this course, we were given a EFR paper to certify that we completed the course. This paper is important when applying for your license. If it is your first time making a license, you will need a passport size photo, your IC , the EFR paper and $50. It will take them about a month to mail your new license to you but they will issue you with a temporary license which will allow you to ride on the roads, just be sure to have it on you when riding. Since I already have a license, they will just paste on a sticker to show that I am licensed to operate class 3 and class 2b vehicles. It is free if you already have a license.

I managed to complete my 2B license on 10/08/16. It took me about 3 months to complete my license from Prac 1 to TP. It is really fast considering I took a year to complete my Class 3. I recommend everyone to take their license at BBDC as they have slots all the time. Even the TP slots are available every 3-5 days. I spent around $900 on my 2b license.

It doesn't matter if you keep failing your pracs and even your TP tests. What matters is that you don't give up halfway even if you feel that no matter how many times you take you will still fail. I learnt this from taking my car license as I had to retake my TP 4 times. Just keep trying again, eventually you will pass your 2b license and it will feel like a great accomplishment when you do. 

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Traffic Police Practical Test (TP)

Finally I reached the stage where I was at my TP. I've had experience with taking TP before this as I took my car license before my motorcycle license. I had to take the TP test for my car license a total of 4 times before passing and I was really really hoping to take this test once. I was really nervous when I reached the driving centre.
I believe that for motorcycle the TP only has 1 timing which is at 0750 am. Your warm up will be roughly around 0930 am.

The first thing to do when you report to the motorcycle office is to give your PDL and IC along with the booking slip to the instructor at the desk. They will hand you a small plastic folder that your PDL and IC will be kept in. Afterwards you will sit where your tag number is placed. The instructors will give you a briefing about the warm up. You will pass the plastic folder to the instructor in the order that is being called out. Then you will go out to warm up the bikes and do all the necessary checks for the bike you will be using. Make sure that it has no problems at all. Once this is done you will start to do the warm up inside the circuit. Note that there will be no warm up outside the circuit.

If you want to use the same bike for your test, place your helmet on the bike when you park it. You will go back inside and the instructors will assign leaders for a group. If I'm not wrong you will be in a group of 5 as that will be the amount of learners that can go for the TP at a single time. The first number of each group will be the leader. The leader has to do nothing other than tell the instructor your name and IC number when everyone is lined up outside.

Once this is done, everyone will go back in except for the first 2 groups. They will standby outside to start their test. Group after group will be called outside to start their test after that. It is important to stay calm during the test. If you want to freak out and panic before the test, it doesn't matter. Just be sure to calm your nerves during the test. Remember all the waiting points that the instructor have briefed you about. This is essential as there are points where you do not have to wait and will be given points if you wait.

I went through the circuit generally with ease except for the slope as I waited for the instructor when I was already supposed to go. The instructor was quite rude as well as he looked at me with a really shitty face for a while before asking me what I was doing. At first I thought there was something wrong with me or the bike. Be mindful that some of these instructors are rude so don't lose your cool and always be polite.

After I was done with my last course ( E-Brake) , I proceeded to go out of the circuit. Be reminded that you don't have to wait after completing your circuit, just proceed out as per normal. When I was riding outside, during the U-turn area I accidentally put my right leg down as I wasn't too stable. Once I did that, I was really nervous as I really did not want to go for my TP again. I hoped and prayed that the instructor didn't see it as there were 2 other riders behind me. I just proceeded as per normal from there and completed my test. I could say that putting my right leg down was the only major screw up for me, the rest of the test was quite okay.

Upon completing the test, return the bike to the end point and you can rest. We were just required to report back to the Classroom at level 3 by 1145 am. I went to the classroom slightly earlier and talked to some of the other test takers there. We were all nervous as we discussed all the mistakes we did.

At around 12pm one of the instructors came in and started calling tag numbers. Those who were called had to go to another room. If your number was being called it would mean that you failed the TP test.

Thankfully, my name was not called. I was so relieved at this point and so happy that I passed my test. I incurred 18 demerit points so it was just nice for me. Those who passed were required to watch a safety video in the classroom. Afterwhich we were required to book our Expressway Familiarisation Riding (EFR) course. We will need to complete the EFR to be able to apply for our license. 

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Immediate Failures and Demerit Points

I will go through all the Immediate Failures and Demerit Points when taking your TP test for a 2B license. To be able to pass your license you will need 18 points or below.

There are a total of 22 Immediate Failures for 2B license TP. These are things you should NOT do if you want to pass your license.

1) Run off course/ Strike kerb/ Foot touches ground/ Fall off motorcycle at S course
2) Run off course/ Strike kerb/ Foot touches ground/ Fall off motorcycle at Crank course
3) Run off course/ Strike kerb/ Foot touches ground/ Fall off motorcycle at Slalom (Pylon course)
4) Run off course/ Strike kerb/ Foot touches ground/ Fall off motorcycle at Plank

5) Strike / Skip Pylon

6) Taking more than 13 sec at S course
7) Taking more than 8 sec at Crank course
8) Taking more than 8 sec at Slalom (Pylon course)
9) Taking less than 3 sec at Plank

10) Roll backwards more than 0.5m at Slope

11) Unable to stop within stipulated distance at Emergency braking course
12) Lose control of motorcycle at Emergency braking course

13) Change lane without due care

14) Fail to give way to pedestrian at Pedestrian Crossing
15) Fail to give way to vehicle with right-of-way

16) Fail to form up correctly at junction
17) Remain in junction and cause obstruction
18) Proceed on Red light
19) Fail to obey Mandatory / Prohibitory Sign
20) Fail to stop at stop line

21) Improper action causing accident / near accident
22) Proceed on wrong course

The next to avoid doing are these as they incur 10 Demerit points.
1) Stopping on Pedestrian Crossing
2) Slow reaction in avoiding danger caused by others.

These actions incur 8 Demerit points.
1) Not enough side clearance given to other road users
2) Fail to take precaution against pedestrian/cyclist
3) Cause other vehicle to slow down or take evasive action
4) Proceed on Amber light / Flickering Green Arrow

These incur 6 Demerit Points.
1) Taking more than 12 sec at S course
2) Taking more than 7 sec at Crank course
3) Taking more than 7 sec at Slalom (Pylon course)
4) Taking less than 4 sec at Plank

5) Fail to attain the required speed at Emergency braking course

6) Fail to keep left (road hogging)
7) Fail to keep a safe following distance
8) Fail to keep within lane at bend
9) Change lane at bend

10) Fail to slow down when approaching road hazard

11) Cause inconvenience to cross traffic at junction

These actions incur 4 Demerit Points.  
1) Taking more than 11 sec at S course
2) Taking more than 6 sec at Crank course
3) Taking more than 6 sec at Slalom (Pylon course)
4) Taking less than 6 sec at Plank

5) Incorrect posture during Emergency braking course

6) Change lane abruptly
7) Wobble when changing lane / negotiating bend / turning

8) Fail to change to appropriate gear before turning / stopping

9) Improper turning (Incorrect lane)

10) Fail to check blind spot
11) Fail to look out for traffic at Junction

12) Fail to signal / Give wrong signal
13) Fail to cancel signal twice

These actions incur 2 Demerit Points.
1) Excessive revving of engine at slope

2) Incorrect technique at Emergency braking course

3) Incorrect posture when moving off / stopping
4) Delay in moving off
5) Poor acceleration
6) Wobble when moving off / stopping
7) Stall engine repeatedly
8) Slow in restarting stalled engine

9) Speed too slow

10) Fail to overtake when necessary
11) Brake whilst negotiating bend / turning
12) Unnecessary stopping

13) Incorrect positioning at Junction
14) Improper turning (Wide turn / Sharp turn)

15) Improper checking of blind spot
16) Fail to look out for traffic from side road

17) Fail to signal in good time

It is impossible to not get a single demerit point during your test but try your best to minimise the demerit points and don't get a single immediate failure.

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Practical Stage 8.01 (Assessment)

This will be the final assessment before you can go for your TP. If you are able to pass this lesson you should be confident that you can pass your TP on the first try. This is because you were able to demonstrate that you understand how to ride a motorcycle safely on the road and that you are capable of handling the bike well in the circuit.

At the start of the lesson you will be assigned to an instructor, he will either bring you outside to practice your test route or get you to complete a few rounds of the courses in the circuit. I had to go outside to practice my test route on the road. It is fine if you mess up during this warm up as I messed up quite a bit (i turned right at the traffic light when I wasn't supposed to). I went through 2 rounds of the test route before heading back in. 

When we got in the circuit, the instructor told me to go and practice 2 rounds of the courses inside the circuit. I don't know why, but i forgot the order of the courses at this point. I accidentally went for the plank course first so I just continued to do the pylon and e-brake. After E-brake i was really confused as to what to do so I just went back to the starting point to listen to the briefing done by the instructor.

The briefing was about how they will assess us during the courses as they only had 2 instructors to test 5 of us. After the briefing, we lined up in order of the tag numbers so the instructors had an easier time to assess us and the assessment started. 

Just to recap this is the order of the courses with a picture of the test route inside the circuit.

1) Lane changing2) Slope Course3) S and Crank course4) Plank and Pylon Course5) Emergency Braking Course

After completing the courses inside the circuit, we went out to complete the 2nd part of the assessment on the road. You will only get one shot at this so be sure that it is your best try even if your warm ups were bad. Upon completing the assessment you will be given a Riding Assessment Checklist.

 

I managed to pass the assessment on my first try on 31/07/16.

I received 8 demerit points with no immediate failures. 

Change lane abruptly - 4 points

Poor acceleration - 2 points

Brake whilst turning - 2 points

I booked my TP test right after I passed my Assessment. I didn't book it earlier as the dates were too near so even if I wanted to, I couldn't. 

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Practical Stage 7.01

This lesson will be the last lesson before your final assessment. In this lesson you will be going to familiarise yourself with the test route and also you will be doing a U-turn.

For BBDC the test route is pretty simple. At the exit of BBDC, you will turn left. Lane change to the left into the filter lane at the junction. Make sure you do all the necessary checks. After exiting the filter lane, you will lane change all the way to the extreme right lane.
Ensure you are at the extreme right lane before you reach the traffic light. After the traffic light will be where you make your U-turn. During the lesson the instructor will explain where to wait if there is someone making the U-turn.
When it is your turn to make the U-turn, position your bike perpendicular to the road divider and push your body forward while engaging the front brakes to check for oncoming vehicles. If it is clear, check your blind spot and move off slowly into the extreme right lane. Keep the bike stable. At the traffic light, turn right. Be sure that you understand how the traffic light works as there will be a right arrow that will appear after the red light. You can turn right when you see this green light arrow. Also understand that you can turn right at the green light if there are no oncoming vehicles you don't have to wait for the green light arrow. When turning right be sure to check for oncoming cars that may appear from the filter lane on your left. From this road you will just go all the way straight until you reach the T-junction. There are a few side roads so be mindful of them. At the T-junction you will make a left turn and turn in to BBDC.
During this lesson however, you will keep going through the test route until the lesson ends so only at the last round will you be entering BBDC. It is important to show the instructors you are able to complete the U-turn without any problems by the end of the lesson as I was pretty bad at the U-turn during my first 2 rounds. I managed to get the hang of it and complete it smoothly by the end of the lesson.
I managed to pass this lesson on my first try, 28/07/16.

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