Premium unleaded means ron 97 or 95? If ron 95, then its more than triple the price here in Malaysia...
But then you got a more relaxed government stance on vehicle modification and registeration. There is no such thing here as a Q registration, own built, or cobbling up a bike from period correct parts and getting a new V5 (or grant as we call it here) for it. And own bike imports from outside or reregistering a foreign bike here is almost impossible. Thats why each and every bike with a valid legal and transferable grant (especially rare and old bikes) is worth like gold over here... Vehicle import tax and exise duties are low in UK, unlike here where a new superbike costs more than double the price in UK because of all the tax, and our salary is similar to yours... divided by 5!
As for the ruined roads, well everytime there is a long and heavy downpour around here, the same thing happens too...
The cost of new big bikes here that can cost easily 3-5 times our annual salary makes old school bikes the only alternative for us (or being cursed to ride mopeds for the rest of our lives)
Well as usual the grass is always greener on the other side...