Thailand: Koh Samui motorbike rental and driving 2014

Motorbike rent shops are all around the island. The prices vary from 150 THB a day up to 300 THB a day or even more. If you are in a not so touristic location expect to pay way more as the local shops have no real competition.

We rented our Honda Click 150 cc Automatic bike on a monthly basis. The first month did cost us 4500 THB then we wised up, looked around and managed to get a newer bike for 3500 THB / month. Now, I think this price is as low as it can get.

Roads are generally in an OK condition, mountain roads tend to be slippery and very steep from time to time so watch out for that 🙂 If you decide to drive up to the mountains and you happen to be a little overweight it is better to rent a manual bike as the automatic ones might not going to make it to the top of the mountain.

Wearing a helmet is mandatory however many tourists are following the local fashion and drive without one. Now just a few words on road safety. Every week someone dies on Koh Samui’s roads either from drunk driving or not wearing a helmet. It is for your own safety to wear a helmet and closed shoes. Flip-flops are not designed for riding a motorbike, in case anything happens there is no way that you can hold your ground in flip-flops not to mention if you happen to slide with the motorbike your feet will be totally destroyed as there is nothing protecting it from direct impact with the asphalt.

There are also many westerners driving a motorbike without any actual motorbike driving experience. No, it is absolutely not the same as driving a car believe me. Do others on the road a favor and do not take out a 300cc chopper if you haven’t a clue how to drive it. I personally seen westerners on the road doing 20km/hr with a sport bike and holding off traffic behind them. If you have no experience driving at least try to keep to the left motorbike lane and do not leave it 🙂

The other issue is westerners driving a car and not being used to motorbike traffic passing them by from the left and also the right. If you drive a motorbike make sure that you are extra careful when you take over these guys.

Summary: Wear a helmet and closed shoes, be careful extra careful with unexperienced drivers, try no to drive after 10 pints, and you will be fine.

2014 update:

After driving on Koh Samui again for 3 months I have the following experiences:

– There are a lot more motorbike makes and models you can now choose from. Honda PCX which became very popular in the past years. It usually goes for 200-300/day. Bigger bikes and scooters ( 300c+ ) are now also available. A good example is Honda Forza which I can see more and more on the Island. I didn’t rent one myself but I have seen it priced at 700/day. That is very similar to the car rental prices which starts at around 900/day.

– Still many people riding without a helmet. I just read an article stating that 80% of motorbike related road deaths are caused by people not wearing one. Don’t be an idiot and wear a helmet it could save your life.

– Driving slower than the traffic is not safer!!! In fact you piss everyone else off behind you. There is nothing worse than angry people trying to overtake you. Don’t block the traffic, if you drive a motorbike man up and drive the same speed as everyone else does. Yes, even if your girlfriend or wife scared in the back. If you are scared driving a motorbike then DON’T DO IT!