Motorbike Chronicles

Motorbike Chronicles

Bitcoin
Motorbike

Bitcoin
Blunder

Acquiring
Motorbike

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Finally Acquiring the Motorbike

Location : Siquijor Poblacion, Siquijor Island, Philippines

Bitcoin to Spendable Cash
Having transferred Bitcoin from my private wallet to a Bitcoin exchange center, having it converted into Philippine Pesos and cashed it out for a GCash cash-in, I now had spendable money for a motorbike.

Honda Wave 110 Alpha
I wanted to buy a brand-new Honda because it's reliable and I chose the Wave model because it was the cheapest at P47,700 and perhaps the most gasoline efficient.

Since the Wave Alpha was being phased out (thus the low price), none of the dealers (Du Ek Sam, Premio and Motorlandia) in Larena carried it.

Honda Wave 110 RSX
I had to buy the next cheapest available model which was a Wave RSX for P64,500. It was a big price jump but I had no choice. I reverted back to Du Ek Sam Larena as the manager was recommended by Auntie - apparently, everybody was related to everyone. The manager, Ms. Daday, was accommodating and tried to make things happen for me.

The unit was not physically available but can be shipped from Dumaguete and be made available the following day. I was assured of my 2 concerns:

1. Same-day ride out - if the unit was there and payment was made, that I can leave the dealership with the motorbike with me
2. GCash payment - they will accept GCash as payment (an online money transfer)

Honda Wave CX 2014 model
The following day, I met them in Lazi because the dealership had a caravan - community outreach with free tune-up and oil-change. I was ready to make the purchase, but Ms. Daday mentioned that a brand new Honda Wave CX 2014 model (9 years old) was discovered in storage at the Siquijor branch and can be had for only P35,000. That's practically half the price and I still get a brand new bike! I liked that idea better.

GCash Issue
I talked to the Siquijor branch manager to confirm the details but there was one snag: no GCash payment. How could the Larena office and the Yamaha affiliate accept GCash but not Siquijor Poblacion? They are all owned by the same company.

Not taking NO for an answer, I called the home office. They promised to talk to the branch manager and sort out the problem. A few minutes later, the branch manager messaged me saying she can now accept GCash. So they could accept GCash after all!

So much time was lost that day because of the GCash issue that I had to make the purchase the following day.

At the Siquijor Branch
Early the following day, riding with Kris on his motorbike, we went to the branch. There, I saw the motorbike. It didn't look brand new...more like a 2nd hand unit with torn upholstery, broken ignition switch and broken tail light. Apparently, it was just put on storage 'as is' for 9 years - no protection whatsoever to preserve the unit in good condition. I was dismayed but it was still a good deal. I still agreed to buy the unit, albeit half-heartedly.

The ignition switch was repaired and I even paid to have the oil changed (even though the oil was 'new', 9 years is a long time for oil not to be used. It would collect moisture which can ruin the bike). No cleaning was done on the bike - I had to take it 'as is'. I really didn't feel any effort on the branch's part to make the sale or to have its customer leave the place happy. The staff was helpful, but the branch policy itself seem to say, "Take it or leave it. I get my paycheck at the end of the month.".

Kris and I drove away with our own motorbikes. I was supposed to be happy and excited over the new bike, but the dealership experience was really a downer.

Kris and I were now ready to do an Easy Rider adventure

No Registration, No Use
I thought that was the end of all the hassle. But there's one more. I cannot legally use the bike until after the 3-5 month registration process is completed. 3 to 5 months? And if apprehended by the LTO officers, it's a whopping P10,000 fine! I was told that the police are lenient but not the LTO officers.

LTO Chief
I went out of my way to talk to the head of Siquijor's LTO (Land Transportation Office), Mr. Gerald. I've met him before and had a fleeting conversation with him. I find him to be a reasonable man and a man of integrity. Luckily, I chanced him at his restaurant. This is more or less how I presented the problem:

"Sir, I am law-abiding, but there are times when the law seems harsh and excessive. I am here to appeal to your sense of fairness and reason. I recently purchased a brand new motorcycle from an authorized dealer who will take 3-5 months to process the registration. The law states that I cannot use this motorcycle until the registration process is complete. This means not being able to use my motorcycle for as long as 5 months. And if I do, and I get apprehended, I am liable to pay as much as P10,000. Here is my question: For what crime? I paid for the bike, it's not stolen. I purchased it from an authorized dealer...not from any shady black market. And the registration process is already underway but the processing time is beyond the control of the dealer. Given that situation, was there a crime committed to warrant a P10,000 penalty? I appeal to your sense of leniency in enforcing this law."

Mr. Gerald, being a reasonable man, replied that he appreciates and understands the situation. He advised that I bring all the pertinent documents with me when I ride my motorbike and present them when requested by any LTO personnel. That's all I really wanted to hear. I didn't expect him to say "It's ok to drive around with your unregistered motorbike". It's enough for me to know that a reasonable man who has the authority, appreciates and understands the situation - and perhaps an unofficial gentle persuasion can be passed down the line in order for the law to be more meaningful and relevant.

talking to with Mr. Gerald

Ending Thoughts
After going through peaks and valleys from Bitcoins's price to dealership negotiations, and LTO restrictions, I finally have this motorbike.

What's the next challenge? Learn how to drive one. I know how to ride a bicycle and that helps a lot. But I still have to develop reflex and muscle memory in gear shifting, foot braking, signals, etc.

Lessons learned along the way?

1. Money - having the money for a purchase doesn't mean all is well and dandy. There will always be hurdles. Expect the unexpected and keep moving forward
2. Level-up - when a bad decision is made that adversely affects you, level-up to the higher decision maker. Chances are, that higher person is smarter and reasonable.
   
   Had I just accepted the "no GCash" policy of the branch manager, I would not have purchased the bike - and she can care less. So I talked to head office to call their attention, and the branch was made to accept a GCash payment (and thus enabling the sale to happen instead of losing it)
3. Talk to the Man - when your request is reasonable and logical, talk to the main Boss. Chances are, he became boss because he is also logical and reasonable. And it will not be too difficult for him to appreciate the situation.
4. Be grateful - once you have achieved your goal (buying a motorbike), pause and give thanks. Always be grateful

--- Gigit (TheLoneRider)
YOGA by Gigit | Learn English | Travel like a Nomad | Donation Bank

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More on Siquijor Island:

Siquijor Island Map

Siquijor - Cebu (Liloan) - Cebu City BUS Trip

(as of Jan 2023)

There is only one bus plying this route - Sugbo Urban. Tourist class coach, a/c, comfortable, Sun-Fri (these dates keep changing). P420 for bus, P275 for ferry to Liloan. Larena Port around 5 am, makes a clockwise roundtrip around Siquijor Island - Larena, Enrique Villanueva, Maria, Lazi (stops at Lazi market for breakfast and leaves 6:50 am), San Juan, Siquijor (arrives 8am, P50 from Lazi to Siquijor Poblacion) and catches the 1pm ferry at Larena Port (Sundays at 3 pm) for Liloan, Cebu and resumes its land route. Arrives Cebu City (South Bus Terminal) 10 pm.

Sugbo Urban is the cheapest and most convenient way because it goes around the island (clockwise) along the circumferential road, passing through - Enrique Villanueva, Maria, Lazi, San Juan, Siquijor...and back to Larena where it takes the ferry at 1 pm. This saves you the hassle and high transport cost of a tricycle. Besides, it's a long trip from the other side of the island to be taking by tricycle.

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