Motor scooters in Chiang Mai, am I crazy?

We thought it would be fun to rent scooters and drive up to the top of Doi Suthep. There are 6 of us crazy fools. Are we nuts? Am I really endangering my life and 5 of my closest friends? We are getting international drivers licenses just in case. Any feedback? Anything we should stop and see on the way up?

Thanks a bunch,

Susie

Motor scooters in Chiang Mai, am I crazy?

No you are not crazy! you would be crazy to take the Bus if you ride!

All you actually need is a English language drivers license and some basic skills before you arrive I would not recommend to learn there.

I also advise all riders to concider it a like a stream traffic flows backwards often on the edges of the road and be aware of it.

Also go with the flow if you make a navigational mistake. Don%26#39;t suddenly take a sharp turn to correct, relax and take time and later just turn around when safe to do so.

There is small waterfalls and view points but once you have mastered the hill try a wonderful ride out Mae Rim and up to Sumung and back by hangdong or you can do the circle the other way there is a beautiful day trip with everything from elephants to waterfalls and botanical park even.

Motor scooters in Chiang Mai, am I crazy?

make sure you have the best medical insurance and that it covers for riding a m/cycle

hiring a bike and touring around must be a fantastic way to see thailand, but well risky imo

especially if you havent ridden one before keep alert and always look straight ahead whilst ridihg --not at the ground in front of you --and check whats behind often

give way to all larger vehicles and NEVER show ANY agression to others

--btw my friend lives near issan and has run over 2 snakes on his m/cycle so far, !take care

i was pleased to see this review i will be in kanchanburi in january and plan to hire a motorcycle l,and then going up to chiang mai to hire one there as well, i was also told no need for international licence, but also told to carry passport with you at all times.

sure it will be a great way to see places of the beaten track

rob

you need an international d/l or you,ll be in trouble

A passport and driver%26#39;s license is all you need ... and your own helmet if you have a larger head.

check out the search facility regarding the subject

I rented a motorcy in Chiang Mai last year for three weeks and it was fine. Expect the unexpected. Drive on the left except onone road by the south end of the night market which was drive right because of some Thai logic. I got my international drivers license at AAA. It was easy and they stamped it for a motorcycle endorsement also. Most places hold your original passport untill you return the bike so just carry a color copy of one in case the police wave you over which they might . If you give them a 100-100 baht apology fee for the infraction ( which will won%26#39;t make sense unless it is a helmet violation) and they except it then you save the hassle of picking up your licesce at the police station in the afternoon and paying 400 baht even though the ticket says 500. It seems to be a fairly flexible system. Make sure they point out where to go on your map and you might have to help them pick out your license from a boxfull of them. I payed 150 baht/day for an automatic scooter type bike which was 100-120 cc and worked great for going up to the temple on Doi Suthep. Keep going to the summer palace and go past that some more to a hill tribe village. I found just driving around a lot of fun. Your behind might get sore after a few hours though on a long trip. You can get away from the tourist crap which wears thin after a short while. Good luck. GL

GL,

Thanks so much for your info. Sounds like you did exactly what we want to do! Was there anything worth seeing on the way up to Doi Suthep? And tell me more about going on to the Royal Summer Palace and Hillside tribe please!

What else did you do in Chiang Mai?

Thanks,

Susie