Hi! All,

I'm planning to travel Europe by motorbike.
My motorbike licence (basic) from Singapore allows me to ride only 200c.c. bikes which is a very small bike by European standard.
I read that the minimal Swiss motorbike licence allows one to ride 25KW already!!! And that translates to a much powerful bike.

Can I convert my motorbike licence to a Swiss one and ride a 25KW bike?
What are the procedures for converting to a Swiss motorbike licence?

I'm only travelling in Europe for 5 months, so time is tight. Dun wanna take too long converting. Will getting to Germany for conversion procedures be faster?

If I can convert and buy a motorbike in Switzerland, can I ride out to other parts of Europe already?

Kind of a strange line of questioning for this, but I have seen worse.

I don't know about getting your license converted here, unless you are a resident or Swiss.

More important, why would you ever consider driving a small bike like that through Europe?
A bit dangerous on the 120/130km/hr main highways.

I had a very light 600 many years ago and it was no fun at high speeds or passing traffic.

If 600 is a bore to you, a 200c.c. will be a disastrous boredom...
And in Singapore, the minimal motorbike licence (which takes me more than a year to take and pass) is only 200c.c.!!!

I read somewhere in this forum that it is possible to convert a EU car licence to a motorbike licence by attending a few hours of lesson and practical. Hopefully, I can ride up to 500 after such conversion.

The problem is my motorbike licence and my car licence are both from Singapore, and I wish to know if I can convert. If I convert from my motorbike licence (up to 200c.c.), will I be resticted to 200 c.c. bike too?

If I convert from my car licence, can I get a class A motorbike licence?

In fact, the forum only discuss about conversion from EU car licence to motorbike licence....

Another problem is that you can't register a motor vehicle in Switzerland unless you're a resident. I'm guessing here - but that probably also means insurance is out too.

cheers,
(Mr)Wibble

indeed - insurance and constant supplies of two-stroke will be your enemy here. Why not bring a 200cc moped in your hand baggage?

Can I get my brother (working currently in Basel on a 1yr work permit Kurzaufenthalter) to buy a vehicle and I use it?

Maybe I can offer a liitle advice:

1) It sounds like you may have problems converting your license but I suggest that you go to your local Strassenverkehrsamt Des Kantons Zürich and they will be happy to tell you what can be done/must be done. Link: www.stva.zh.ch

It's best to talk to them first before you make any plans so that you are clear about the situation with your license. If you have to take your motorcycle test in CH, then I would recomend that you do this as I think when/if you return to Singapore (or go to any other country) the entitlement to ride a motorcycle should be added to and remain on your license. (Hopefully, you will never have to take another motorcycle test)

2) Once you have sorted out your license, I strongly advise you to look at getting a bike over 25kw. For touring europe, I would say that a good starting point would be around 55Kw. Personally, I am about to buy something like a Hayabusa around 125Kw. (I like to get where I am going in good time!)

3) If your brother was to buy a motorcycle, then most insurances will have an option to allow any driver. However, be aware that even if he has full insurance, if you 'borrow' the bike and crash it the insurance will only cover third parties and they will not pay for any repairs to the bike. If you're lucky, they may transport it back to his home address.