Can I buy a motorbike in Thailand with a tourist visa if the registration is under a friend's name?

You can look at buying a second hand

In Bangkok you can obtain from your embassy - "affidavit of residence". If you have problem with this, go to more expat friendly like pattaya, you should have no problem to get your residence certificate there.

I got a truck 22 years old put in my mates name never had any issues with insurance or police. Everytime we meet up we do discuss changing it over.

7 years ago I brought a motorbike at an auction in jomtiem.

I had only tourist visa.

The auction handled all the paperwork.

Transferred to my name.

Stress free.

Yes. Shitshow #1: The entire residence certificate requirement is BS ... as all it does is stating what visa you are on and where you stay (which could easily be obtained from your passport entry stamp and your TM.30 receipt). Shitshow #2: Every immigration office has vastly deviating rules and procedures (they should not have that kind of autonomy, as the underlying laws are the same, but they do). Shitshow #3: Bangkok immigration does not seem to issue residence certificates for people who have not done any 90 day report, yet (consequently all on Tourist Visa). Best you can do when having to deal with the usual immigration office mess is to shop around immigration offices (and officers) until you have your desired outcome. Meaning go take a vacation in another district / province, do a TM.30 there. And then deal with that (hopefully more beneficial) immigration office. It is painful, dealing with bureaucracy here.

You won't get a residence cert living in Bangkok, from Bangkok Immigration or from your Embassy on a tourist visa. However you can get one from Phuket after filing a TM30 (one night stay). Even easier with an agent in Pattaya. You'll also need a second residence cert (the first will likely have expired, valid only 30 days, for the white plates and the number plate will be from a Chonburi

I'm in Hua Hin on tourist visa. Have certificate of Residence on that. Bought bike will put in my name . Yes it can be done. I done myself

If it is not in your name you are going to have serious problems trying to take it out of the country if the owner is not physically with you.

You are way over thinking it but the best option is to get the certificate. If cannot then rent the rent the best bike you can until you sort it out ..even if it takes months. Don't think too much!

I bought mine in my landladys name as I couldn't get a Thai license due to offices being closed because of Covid. I have insurance in my name. I have renewed the tax without problem. I'll probably leave it in her name until I sell it now. You'll need the Compulsory government insurance with minimum coverage and you can get further cover separately. If you want 1st class insurance, there's not many doing it for scooters, only big bikes. I used MSIG. Not sure about leaving country. An agent can get you the residence certificate for a fee.

If you can’t figure out how to get a Residence Certificate on a tourist visa, hire an agent to do it for you.

IMHO you are crazy to put a vehicle in someone else’s name.

For years Ive ridden a mbike in my girlfriend's name. No issues when I take it for annual Tax and MOT (manic lol!) or the once or twice Ive been stopped by police who only asked for my licence.

You should be able to get residential permit with tourist visa. Try a different office if you can

What happens if you have any issues while driving?