Owning a motorbike in Thailand
I reached a point in Phuket at which I had to get my own transport. As I don’t know how to drive a car, my choices were limited: motorbike or bicycle. Riding around on a bicycle all day wasn’t going to cut it, so a motorbike it had to be.
For several weeks I had a Honda Click on temporary loan. Unfortunately, the guy who lent me the bike asked for it back. This meant that I had to go out and buy my first form of motorized transport: a Yamaha Mio.
Although I have perhaps taken my life and left it hanging in the balance, I can now get from A to B without having to rely on other people. The independence of such a thing is fantastic.
Buying the bike was simple. It was just a case of turning up at a shop, filling out a few forms, handing over my work permit and passport and waiting for them to sort out my green book of ownership. The bike came taxed and ready, with a vague assurance that if it ever breaks down I can take it back to be repaired.
There were no questions asked. A three-year old, automatic Yamaha Meo cost me 24,000 baht. If you’re going to live in Phuket or anywhere that isn’t Bangkok, buying or renting a motorbike can be a necessity.
As for my driving, well, I have only had one minor crash, which involved me sliding the bike beneath a parked car, much to the bemusement of several bystanders. No worries. Hassle from the police is minimal. I haven’t once been stopped. The general consensus is that if you don’t make eye contact and you are wearing a helmet, the police leave you be.
I’ve made the trip to Patong twice now – once during the day and once at night. The hill isn’t as bad as I thought it would be. Petrol costs me about 90 baht a week. I’d say it’s the most useful thing I’ve bought since coming to Thailand.
January 30th, 2008 at 5:24 am
Couldn’t think of anything to write today?
January 30th, 2008 at 8:09 am
Well, it was a 2 am blog post. So sue me.
January 30th, 2008 at 9:13 am
Excellent move. Dangerous but the best way to get around any Thai city.
January 30th, 2008 at 12:48 pm
I hope you have a good insurance…
January 30th, 2008 at 6:30 pm
Believe me, even in BKK, a motorbike is the only option. The only difference is that even if you don’t make eye contact, the police will catch you!!!
March 7th, 2008 at 6:49 am
I purchased my Kawasaki ZX 130 in Phuket, but have been using it at my main base in central Thailand. In fact, I am in Phuket at the moment visiting family and finally decided to make the 900+ kilometer trip from Bangkok the yesterday. So it’s no super cruiser low rider bike as recommended for such a trip, but I enjoyed the drive despite the endurance of 15 hours on a bike. Once you learn how to stretch your buttocks while on the bike, combined with a break every hour or so, it’s not so bad! I got to make the trip from Phuket to Bangkok return sometime next week, if anyone want to join, hit me up, or just read more about my trip on my site.
Anyway, buying a bike is one of the best investments, transportation wise one could make if living in Thailand. It’s atleast four times more fuel sufficient than most cars, so unless you need to move around a family, say f off to the drunk motorbike taxis and take control of your own life! And, not to mention, living in a Thai city with high congestion and narrow roads…
However, motorbike owners, wannabe and actual alike should take driving very serious on and off the bike! it is not a ‘fun’ thing to take for granted, particularly when one’s life is in question. Thousands die every year on it in Thailand, including dozens of foreigners who don’t respect it like it should be.
And I’m confident that an outweighing majority of those fatalities was a result of their own ignorance or lack of seriousness for rules and ethics of driving, i.e. drunk driving, speeding, showing off, not following traffic rules, etc. etc.
Even myself was living on the edge years ago when first driving around a bike without a proper motorcycle license, thinking it was just a moped that you get on and pull the throttle. Now that I had to spend an entire day getting legal to drive, I’m much more responsible i.e. helmet and passing, etc. well, I’ve also lost several friends from motorbikes.
safe riding!!!
March 7th, 2008 at 6:54 am
in response to Bart,
my experience over the years with the police is that they aren’t as corupt or evil as i thought. I’ve never been ticketed or fined or prompted for a fine when I was following all the laws by the book, even though I used to bad mouth them all the time before. Just know all the laws, follow them to the teeth, and I’m sure you’ll not be fined.
October 29th, 2008 at 2:47 pm
dude
i have a hinda hornet in BKK and im gonna leave BKK and ride it down to phuket and start a new life down there.
BKK sucks big time
The police stopped me about 10 time already, once i got stopped 3 times in one day. can u belive it?
One time i got stopped on sukumvit cos the police guy said STOP, so i stopped, he then asked me why id stopped and said i couldnt stop here!
i replied: u just told me to stop! and so on and on, and a 500 baht fine etc.
anhone who aint been stopped aint riding the roads!