[24MurinivaMak]

Thanks for the info MrBrad. When I was in Chiang Mai last July we stayed at the Chiang Mai Gate Hotel. Not a very nice Hotel but somebody at the train station booked it for us saying it compared to Prince Palace Hotel that is where we were staying in Bangkok. There's no comparison. I think Chiang Mai gate Hotel is in the old city and maybe not far from where you mentioned. Thanks again!

[hoconnor6605]

In Chiang Mai I recommend Queen Bee (just a couple of blocks south of Tapae Gate inside the old city) for motorcycle rental. By all mean get the insurance also; for the few extra baht per day, it is well worth the cost.

Three years ago I rented a Honda Dream from Queen Bee. I was proceeding slowly--actually stopped--into an intersection waiting for the traffic to thin so that I could make my turn. Out of nowhere a Songkrahn reveler and his passenger broadsided my cycle. I was knocked unconscious, and woke up in the hospital. Other than a few scrapes and a broken toe, I escaped quite luckily. My cycle, however, was totaled. Kuhn Adisai at Queen Bee took care of everything. Insurance covered the cost of replacing the cycle, as well as my overnight hospital expenses and outpatient care.

Get insurance!

[Roorseprate]

Riding a motor cycle in Thailand is to dangerous, not just for you hip picket in an accident, but for your life.
Basically it is not worth it.

[DoctorDeryOne]

We always hire a moped in Phuket and travel the Island.As long as you are competant then it is perfectly safe.The people who have problems are the people who have not ridden before and go and hire huge bikes which they can not handle.All you have to do is ride safe.However I would not reccomend hiring a bike in bangkok as they are "mentalists"

[QbCp7LaZ]

This site has a message board where you might get good info also, being specifically for motorcycle enthusiasts in Thailand.

http://www.gt-rider.com/

[24MurinivaMak]

Hi there
Thanks for your replies Mat & Paul_au.

[mireOpekrhype]

in 15 months i have definately had a few fender benders my shop always give me the invoice for the work. Always reasonable prices.

[Anteneprorid]

Quote[/b] (paul_au @ Feb. 18 2005,19:01)]Riding a motor cycle in Thailand is to dangerous, not just for you hip picket in an accident, but for your life.
Basically it is not worth it.

I agree with you. Even in quiet Chiangrai where there are much fewer cars. My girlfriend and her 2 best friends all were hit by irresponsible car drivers. Fortunately, because she was responsible enough to wear a helmet (woke up only in the hospiital), she only suffered some abrasions on her shoulder and knee and also sprained her foot. 1 of her best friends had facial injuries (though healed by now, but the scars will remain for a while. The other was not so fortunate and suffered mo9re serious injuries to her head and require a lot of stitches. Could have been worse.

[24MurinivaMak]

Thanks jaibaan the link you posted supplied some informative reading and nice pics!

[I9dydJrX]

Hi all
I assume when tuktukman said that he had hired bikes with his country identity card and driving license it was a copy of them and not the original as otherwise you would still have a problem. Chang Mai is a lot safer to drive or ride a bike.

[Jackson]

Would care to respond to one issue brought up there and that was in regards to the motorbike's owner in possession of the farang's passport, i thought this practice was over now.

Let me advise you that is actually, in theory, illegal for any Thai to have in their possession your passport unless of course it is the authorities themselves.

It is best, if you do decide to rent at all, to rent from someone you know or as what happened to tuktukman you could get severely ripped-off if the bike you rent gets damaged in any kind of way.

Or as Mat pointed out, rent a bike that you can ride and not a 3000cc monster like those mad tattoed up to their forehead Swiss and Dutch do down in Pattaya carrying on the back at little 4 foot 10 lady-of-the-night.

[24MurinivaMak]

Hi Mat
Thanks for your reply I was sure I read it somewhere before but was not sure were. Not very encouraging is it knowing the way they drive there especially in Bangkok. Thanks again! Skat

[24MurinivaMak]

HELLO EVERYBODY!
I am not sure where I read this but can anyone tell me if it is true that if you rent/hire a motorbike in Thailand you are not insured? What happens if you have an accident or the bike gets stolen? If this is true is this all over thailand or only in certain places?
Thanks Skat!

[DoctorDeryOne]

On several occasions I have seen the Tourist police turn up at a hotel with the person who has rented out a vehicle which has been in an accident.Basically what happens is the police tell the foreigner to go to the bank and withdraw money to pay for damages.

[mireOpekrhype]

Bkk is no place to drive your own motorbike. Everywhere else in thailand it is the very first thing i do when i get to a town usually before i pick my hotel. Most shops offer insurance with a 1000 baht deductable for an extra 50 baht a day. i usually don't bother with it. However i am usually in chiang mai for long periods and i am friendly with my bike shop.