Renting a scooter in Southeast Asia is so easy! For only $5 a day you can ride a motorbike through the countryside. Don’t worry if you don’t know how, you can practice driving it in the parking lot!Except I too was one of those fools… Before I came to Southeast Asia, I had these romantic ideas of exploring places on the back of a motorbike. Wind blowing in my hair, rice fields as far as the eye can see, stopping in rural towns along the way for a little break… I know, I know, I think back now and shake my head at that girl with those naive ideas. If she only knew back then what driving is really like in this part of the world… Renting scooters is something that Sam and I went back and forth on for a while. I wanted to ride a scooter around northern Thailand; he kept telling me how dangerous the roads were and how drivers (in bigger vehicles) had little regard for measly scooters on the highway. I, of course, thought he was being overcautious and scoffed at his lack of adventure.

Well, yesterday sealed the deal for me. I’ve been travelling around SE Asia for four months now and I’ve seen my fair share of hazard on wheels, but it was yesterday’s trip from Chiang Mai to the Thai-Burmese border, that really made me see how reckless it would be to ride a scooter along the roads we were travelling on. I was travelling in a 14 person minivan and I basically spent the entire journey holding onto the hand rail in front of me for dear life. Our driver sped uphill, downhill, around curves, onto oncoming traffic, nearly nicked a motorbike, passed trucks and buses as he continued speeding down the wrong side of the road, braked last minute tossing us into the seat in front, nearly nicked another vehicle… I knew I wasn’t overreacting when the laid back German backpacker in our minivan decided it was time to strap on his seat belt, tight. It was four hours of torture there, and four hours of torture back. The signs along the highway which stated ’40 km/hr’ and ‘use low gear’ were invisible in his eyes, as was the yellow line dividing oncoming traffic.

Sure, seeing the countryside by motorbike sounds like a great idea, but the problem is that in a place where drivers don’t follow rules, THEY are putting YOUR lives at risk. You might think riding a scooter looks easy as pie, but what about the other motorists around you? They’re not going to be looking out for you and slowing down just because it’s your first time riding and you want to have a nice holiday.used motorcycles for sale by owner broward county And then there’s the girl I saw a yesterday returning a motorbike at a rental shop in Chiang Mai with the nastiest burns and scrapes ALL OVER HER BODY. bmw motorcycle dealer perth waShe had clearly toppled over and you could tell it was a nasty skid by all the marks on her forearm, elbow, shoulder, calf, and knees. gumtree glasgow motorcycle boots

But she’s not the only one. If you’ve spent any time in SE Asia, you’ve seen them too – travellers with bruises, exhaust pipe burns on their legs, bandaged elbows, and even arm casts. Chances are that was a motorbike accident. I’m not trying to scare you into not riding a scooter or motorbike around Southeast Asia, but the reality is that a lot of travellers get hurt every day, so don’t go into it blindly thinking it’ll be like getting on a bicycle.used motorcycles for sale macon ga Riding a motorbike can be trickier than it looks, so do yourself a favour, if you’re really keen on doing the motorbike thing, take a few lessons back at home. motorcycle tires revzillaThat way you’ll at least know how to deal with sharp curves, gravel, wet roads, and you’ll know how to kick the bike away should you fall while riding. motorcycle dealers joliet il

Also, wear appropriate clothing – shorts, flip flops and a sleeveless shirt aren’t going to do you any favours. Sure, maybe I am being a bit too ‘safe’ and I’m missing out on having a great time, but at the end of the day, I know I don’t have the skill to ride a scooter or a motorbike on these roads. Plus getting on a highway where people are driving like it’s NASCAR would be asking for trouble.suzuki bikes for sale in karachi olx Have you traveled on a scooter/motorbike around SE Asia? Do you have any tips for people who want to do so?Before you hire a rental vehicle, please read this: 1. You occasionally hear of Motorbike Rental scams around Phuket. he Hirer taking back a rental motorscooter with a spare key or previous damage being claimed against the customer. The first is probably an urban myth, but the second is not. Choose the company you want to hire a scooter or any vehicle carefully.

Disputes can get nasty with some unscrupulous operators. Scooters can rent for as low as 150 (manual) - 250 (auto) Baht a day but there is little insurance. In the event of an accident or theft the customer is obligated to pay for injuries and damage to the motor scooter. The bikes are worth 50,000 baht new, so that would be the maximum amount you could be up for to replace the bike (we at Cheap as Chips Motorbike rental charge out bikes at 40,000Bt). In the event of an accident, you will be required to fill in a Police Report, have applicable license, and make your own claim with the hospital(if required) and your Travel Insurance company. In the event of a dispute, the best advice is to get the Tourist Police involved. They are volunteers that help smooth out problems for Tourists. The Tourist Police number is 1155 and the regular Police 191 or 123. Do not admit to anything, let them negotiate an outcome. Choose a Hire Bike that looks well maintained, has a current registration sticker, and has tyres in good condition.

The rear brakes on motorbikes are easily adjusted if they are a little soft. 2. Motorbike Rental Phuket, trading as Cheap as Chips Motorbike Rental does not require you to leave your Passport, but a photocopy is required, along with a 3000Bt (100USD) deposit. It is in your interest to have your Passport available should the need to produce it arise. If you choose a Hirer that wants your Passport, then walk away. 3. Before hiring the motor scooter, go over the bike with a fine toothed comb. Check tyre tread, check for marks and scratches, especially the front mud guard (which previous hirers have probably jammed into a wall while parking). It is super important to check down low as well, under the foot well area. If there are any chunks or gouges out of the bike or the paintwork, be sure to show this on the hire form and if you are really stressed, take photos of it - and maybe even get the hire person to point to the scratch, in your photo!

Motorbike Rental Phuket's hire forms have damage diagrams to show existing damage. 4. Motorbikes are supplied with near empty tanks, that's the way they are returned. The best way to buy gasoline is at a Service Station. Cost of gasoline is about 35Bt a liter. The smaller motorbikes hold 3 liters, the larger ones 5 liters. As you tour around you will see bottles of petrol for sale. They are normally 40Baht for about half a liter but will do if you are running low. 5. Motorbike Rental Phuket supplies 2 helmets with their rental bikes. We suggest you wear them when riding the motorbike. Virtually all bikes have a place to secure your helmets, either helmet storage under the seat, near the fuel tank, or hang them on the security hooks also under the seat. The Royal Thai Police CAN and DO pull up 'farangs' for non-helmet wearing. The fine for Tourists in Phuket is 500Baht and for locals 300Bt. 6. If you have never ridden a bike before - ever - think very carefully about starting your bike riding life in Thailand.

The roads can be shocking and some roads with many potholes. Phuket is a very busy place to ride in parts, especially Phuket Town and Patong. If you ride on any dirt roads, most are sandy and gravelly (ie. really tricky) road, go VERY slowly (10kph and if it is risky, put your feet out ever so slightly, in the event the bike starts to go from underneath you in the sand/gravel. It'll help you keep it upright. If you have ridden a mountain bike off-road, you will use many of the same skills to stay upright on a scooter in Thailand, on dirt. Use the brakes correctly. Usually right hand side brake is for front, left hand side is for rear. Always use BOTH brakes simultaneously - about 60/70% rear brake, and 30/40% front brake. If you only use full front brake, and the wheel locks, a crash will result. 7. Whatever you do - if you have been drinking - DON'T RIDE your bike. You will come unstuck. Same goes for other substances. Just don't do it.

Your dream holiday will turn to nightmare in the blink of an eye if you drop the bike. 8. Check your travel insurance policy covers motorbike riding - they generally do, up to 150cc. But read the fine print. You don't have travel insurance? If you can't afford it, you shouldn't be getting on a plane to LOS (or almost anywhere overseas). 9. Be sure to drop back into the bike hire shop every other day to say g'day to the person who hired you the bike. Build some friendly rapport with them, buy them a bottle of 'nam' (water) if it's hot. Have a chat with them, ask them how business is going today? And make sure they see you are taking good care of their bike (asset). Tell them you are taking good care of the bike 'like it's my own' and that you just put fuel in it today. 10. And here endeth the lesson. DON'T STACK YOUR BIKE! Don't ride like you are Casey Stoner. There is absolutely NO need in Thailand to ride more than about 30-40km/h - ever. Ride like the older locals, stick to the left, be conscious of cars coming up behind you (use your mirrors frequently).

Don't ride like the invincible Thai 'boy-racers' who fly past at warp speed on their tricked up scooters. Take some time to learn how to 'double' with someone on the back seat. It changes the entire dimension and ride-ability of a scooter. Watch out for crazy Europeans who come round corners and forget what side of the road they should be riding on (happens all the time). Shoes are a good idea too (barefoot = insanity). If you stack your bike and cause damage, expect to part with somewhere between 3000Baht right up to the cost of full replacement of the bike 40,000THB (You do the conversion and work out what a bummer that will put on your trip, if you don't take care and heed this advice). Thai dogs have a suicide gene in them. They just love to wander onto the road when a farang comes hurtling up the bitumen on a scooter. If you see dogs (or young kids) - on the side of the road, up ahead ... EXPECT them to wander out in front of you. Be prepared for it.