Bicycle buyer’s guide: entry-level bikes up to £600 Newsletter Terms & Conditions Please enter your email so we can keep you updated with news, features and the latest offers. If you are not interested you can unsubscribe at any time. We will never sell your data and you'll only get messages from us and our partners whose products and services we think you'll enjoy. Read our full Privacy Policy as well as Terms & Conditions.Regarded by many travellers as the most dangerous vehicle on the road, scooters, if treated with respect, can also be the most fun! (Don’t tell your mum we said that!) There is nothing better than riding in the beautiful Thai countryside, with the wind on your face and the sun shining, free to go wherever the road takes you… It is without doubt one of the best ways to get off the beaten track and away from other tourists as fast as possible! You can hire a scooter in almost any town and village in Thailand and set off on your own tailor-made adventure.

Here are a few tips that will help you get the most out of your experience and most of all stay safe and in one piece… Nervous about riding alone? You can join group trips that assist you in riding down the coast of Vietnam!1200cc harley engine for sale Most towns, villages and islands in Thailand offer the facility to hire a scooter and you will see many travel agencies / hotels / grocers with scooters lined up outside. best lube for motorcycle speedometer cableThe company will usually charges per 24 hours. vespa for sale nha trangYou will need to pay in advance and leave your passport as a deposit. motorcycle helmets springfield missouri

If you don’t want to leave your passport you can also leave a deposit of around 5,000 baht. We have had no bad experience with companies failing to return passports so don’t worry too much about this, just make sure that you are hiring from a reputable place and take a business card with the company name address and phone number on. Motorbike adventures on the windy, mountainous roads of Northern Thailand There are three types of scooters available for hire at most motorcycle rental places in Thailand; the automatic (with no gears) and semi automatic (with 5 gears but no clutch.) If you are an advanced rider you can also plump for an off-road motorbike also known as a ‘crosser’ (5 gears and clutch.) The automatic is the easiest bike to ride for beginners, yet with a little effort most people can master the semi-automatic in less than a day which offers the rider much more control especially riding mountainous, windy roads. Costs are per 24 hours, however it is usually possible to barter if you want the motorbike for a longer trip, for example one week, where your daily rate can be reduced.

Insurance will often set you back an extra 20 or 40 baht when hiring your scooter and it is always worth paying the extra minimal fee. You don’t want to be faced with a huge bill if someone crashes into your bike or heaven forbid it gets stolen. Insurance covers all of this and the bike shop will often be able to pick you up and deliver the bike to a mechanics. Scrimping backpackers, this is one time you need to pay the extra 40p for God’s sake! For personal injury you should always get yourself a good travel insurance before you leave! We recommend World Nomads for the adventurous backpacker. It goes without saying, always wear a helmet on South East Asian roads. The rental of a helmet should definitely be free with bike rental so always ask for it before you ride off… Not Cool: Don’t forget your helmet like this stupid backpacker! Before you set off, make sure you give a thorough check of the motorbike. It is a good idea to take some photos on your phone from each angle to show any scratches on the bike that were there before you got your mitts on the handle bars.

That paper that you just signed says that you hired the bike in pristine condition. If there was a scratch or a dent in the vehicle before you set off, you will end up paying for it upon your return, despite it not being your fault. Beware, some motorbike companies are sticklers for this so make sure you don’t get bitten!This is South East Asia. There will no doubt be a friendly mechanic / grocers / hairdressers down the road who will help you get back on track in no time! Pumping tyres up is often free of charge / changing the oil around 20 baht and fixing a light around 200 baht. If you lose your helmet expect to pay around 200 baht for a new one and the same price for a motorbike key. Don’t let the company tell you that it is 1,000’s of baht to fix! Perhaps the most common injury in Thailand, Farang Tattoos are no joke! When you get off the motorbike, be sure to set off the left side to avoid brushing your leg against the boiling hot exhaust pipe on the right hand side leaving a nasty burn on your inside calf.

In the heat and humidity of Asia, the wounds take forever to heal and can cause scarring if not treated properly. If you’re unfortunate enough to get burnt, get to the chemist immediately and use antiseptic cream / bandage / iodine daily. Also avoid getting the wound wet as in many places the tap water contains bacteria that could cause infection. Drive slow and use your back brake on wet surfaces, Most accidents are caused by people braking with their front hand brake causing the bike to flip out and slide across the gravel. There are thousands of stray dogs in Thailand and chances are that many will wander out as you are driving along the road. It sounds cruel, but if you see a dog crossing the road, don’t panic and swerve to avoid it. Beep your horn, gradually brake and the dog will see you coming and slowly move (hopefully) people have died swerving to avoid frogs… And we know which creature your mum and dad think is more important! The beautiful scenery motorbiking in Koh Phangan, Thailand