Hiring a motorcycle in Thailand
Motorcycle in Thailand
Some tips for hiring a motorcycle in Thailand
You will no doubt encounter scores of travelers with oozing bandages or healing road rash scabs. Having a motorcycle wreck is almost a rite-of-passage here and some people call it the “Thai tattoo”. This is mostly because people aren’t used to the road conditions, aren’t very good riders, or just plain got drunk and went down.
Still, don’t shun that little Yamaha just yet. Riding a motorcycle or scooter around Thailand can be terrible fulfilling in some twisted Che Guevara way and it is just plain fun. Even if you have never been on one before, find a quiet place in the islands and give it a shot!
Only Westerners call it a “scooter”. It may not carry much credit in a gang, but they are still “motorcycles” in Thailand.
Always try to leave a copy of your passport at the rental office rather than the real deal.
Always check a rental motorcycle from top to bottom for scratches and scrapes. Some dishonest places will try to charge you for scrapes when you bring it back.
Always wear sunglasses when riding your motorcycle in Thailand. The road is usually dusty and a pebble or Southeast Asian sized bug could easily cause enough eye damage to ruin your trip.
It is actually law to wear a helmet in Thailand – but it is rarely enforced and usually just against travelers. The locals almost never wear them. Go ahead and get one from the office and despite the heat, wear it – if it doesn’t save you a few Baht on a ticket, it might save you from taking home an interesting brain injury.
Always use the chain and lock up your motorcycle in Thailand when you aren’t on it. They disappear rather quickly in some places.
Ask for a couple of bungee cords at the rental office. They will come in handy for keeping your daybag in the basket and may keep someone from snatching it as they drive past on another bike.
The good news is that petrol is cheap. You can purchase it in glass bottles at small shops or find a guy with a barrel and a hand pump like this one.
or better yet….this one!
Go read this funny story about riding a motorcycle in Thailand!
