How safe is touring Thailand by motorbike?

[sidjameson]

Very inexperienced but always cautious rider. Never takes risks on the bike. Daytime riding. Always under the speed limit.

Am I signing my own death certificate? 

[HLover]

No, is the answer to your question as you would surely remember signing your own death certificate, unless you were a highly functioning zombie.

 

[Thian]

Don't worry mate, you don't need to take risks because the Thai will do that for ya.

 

Buy the best amulet you can afford and Bob is your uncle.

[JaiLai]

Driven all over thailand on bikes, never had any issues. Just keep your wits about you...

 

Great way to see the country, guest houses, eating and beer all very cheap throughout the country.

 

Enjoy!

[cornishcarlos]

Just bring a good helmet with you, if you have one. Or you can buy one here before starting your trip.

Good helmet, gloves and boots/shoes are a minimum requirement.

 

As above, just expect the unexpected, keep the speed down and you will have a blast. Best way to see the country I think ?

[Rc2702]

Sid it sounds like a disaster waiting to happen. When you say very inexperienced perhaps you should give a bit more detail?

 

For example; if you were just scooting round an island/small town and that was your experience. I'd say you need a lot more time on the road in other areas.

 

What's the max time you have travelled on a bike without stopping?

 

I have about 6000km of road experience on a bike in two provinces. So fairly inexperienced myself too.

 

Good luck.

 

 

[chrissables]

Just do it!

 

You can't build your riding experience here is you don't ride. Just remember to forget all you learnt about riding in your own country and learn how it works here.

[sammieuk1]

Probably just as safe as bleach on your cornflakes in the morning??

[Brigante7]

Your biggest danger is wildlife running out while riding through the country side. 

 

 

 

Brigante7.

[colinneil]

8 minutes ago, Brigante7 said:

Your biggest danger is wildlife running out while riding through the country side. 

 

 

 

Brigante7.

Yes the biggest danger is the wildlife driving pickups, riding motorbikes.

[chrissables]

13 minutes ago, Brigante7 said:

Your biggest danger is wildlife running out while riding through the country side. 

 

 

 

Brigante7.

Only street dogs.

[cornishcarlos]

51 minutes ago, Rc2702 said:

Sid it sounds like a disaster waiting to happen. When you say very inexperienced perhaps you should give a bit more detail?

 

For example; if you were just scooting round an island/small town and that was your experience. I'd say you need a lot more time on the road in other areas.

 

What's the max time you have travelled on a bike without stopping?

 

I have about 6000km of road experience on a bike in two provinces. So fairly inexperienced myself too.

 

Good luck.

 

 

 

Only 1 way to gain experience and that's to go and experience it.... 

[Farangwithaplan]

After doing over 50,000km through most provinces north of Petchaburi, I feel I have at least some experience in this matter.

- The road surfaces in the North Central and North West improve, generally speaking, north of Phetchabun. From Est of Leoi road conditions get worse.

- Be on the look out for road washouts. I have seen wonderful wide, hot mix surfaced roads washed out more than a whole lane, with nothing but a branch or coloured flag warning you.

- Take a defensive line into all corners where you cannot see past your apex. That will give you the benefit of staying wide when entering a corner or drifting  wide safely when exiting a corner. Thai drivers up country tend to over take on blind corners a lot. If you were to take a racing line into a blind corner when you meet such a driver, it could hurt. If you don't know what a racing line or a defensive line is, read up on it.

- Like any place, if you are riding on roads that are tree lined, there will be sections of road that never see sun. That can affect traction. Keeping a steady throttle before apex and gradual roll on of the throttle on exit of a corner will help minimise any slips on the front or rear wheel.

-When you see an yellow / orange sign stating that Elephants are in the area, believe it.

- Get off the road before sunset. Insects in some areas can be in plague proportions at this time on occasions.

- Enjoy the road less travelled and meet the locals. I have seen some wonderful things that I've never read about. Having an adventure bike (albeit with road tyres) helps here.

- Take a basic first aid kit and a few pain killers.

- Travel light.

- It goes without saying, wear your gear. A comfortable helmet is important. Make sure you have broken it in before you start your trip.

- Learn your bike's fuel consumption and know how big your reserve is for the tank. Thailand can be a remote place.

-Enjoy.

 

[Rc2702]

Just now, cornishcarlos said:

 

Only 1 way to gain experience and that's to go and experience it.... 

Yh but swimming pools have a deep end and a shallow end and if you are admittedly inexperienced then it's a gradual process as opposed to jumping in at the deep end.

[ThaiFelix]

Great idea so long as you keep off the roads!

[Farangwithaplan]

5 minutes ago, ThaiFelix said:

Great idea so long as you keep off the roads!

Could you give some specifics on why you think that based on your motorcycle touring experience in Thailand?

[BritManToo]

3 hours ago, sidjameson said:

Am I signing my own death certificate? 

Maybe not a death certificate, but you're likely to be making an insurance claim.

https://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/1052572-the-world’s-riskiest-place-to-visit-if-you’re-british/

[Vacuum]

28 minutes ago, cornishcarlos said:

 

Only 1 way to gain experience and that's to go and experience it.... 

And if you're lucky, you'll get it.

[cornishcarlos]

29 minutes ago, Rc2702 said:

Yh but swimming pools have a deep end and a shallow end and if you are admittedly inexperienced then it's a gradual process as opposed to jumping in at the deep end.

 

Nah, jump in and sink or float... Life is too short to fanny about in the shallow end with the toddlers ?

[Briggsy]

250,000 kms over 20 years biking in Thailand. Knocked off once. That's my record. Bumped from behind a few times by other bikes too.

 

You state you are very inexperienced. I wouldn't risk it if I were you. But clearly you have to start somewhere.

 

Always assume that Thai drivers will pull out on you without looking, from side streets, from U-turns, through red lights, from illegal median strip crossings.

 

Always assume the guy tailgating you will not be able to brake in time if you brake.

 

Never escalate an incident. Road rage is common and many drivers carry weapons. Once they lose their temper and feel they have lost face, they just keep escalating.

 

Have first class insurance 'cos nobody else will!

[colinneil]

40 minutes ago, Farangwithaplan said:

Could you give some specifics on why you think that based on your motorcycle touring experience in Thailand?

You want some specifics?

Well almost every Thai is a loveable kind decent person, until they get behind the wheel, or on a motorbike.

Then they become wild/ crazed idiots.

How do i know? A crazed idiot here made me paraplegic, thats how i know, and that happened only 1 kilometer from my home.

[soistalker]

Please don't travel Thailand by motorcycle.

 

I'm begging you.

 

Go to Cambodia, Vietnam, Laos and have a great, safe trip.

Watch several hours of YouTube videos on THAILAND CAR CRASHES. You will see that in the majority of accidents, brakes were not applied prior to a crash. Thais simply cannot process information quick enough to be safe drivers. And they lack empathy for the human condition, so are unconcerned with your wellbeing whilst riding.

[Gecko123]

Most people carry minimal levels of insurance coverage; in many cases bodily injury limits are capped at 100,000 baht or less per person, meaningless in the event of a serious disabling injury. Not to mention how many people have no insurance, which contributes to hit-and-run rates. Not to mention the epidemic of driving under the influence (alcohol and amphetamines). Not to mention free roaming dogs, improvised road infrastructure and repairs, drivers (especially truck drivers) who swerve out of their lane without warning, aggressive macho drivers who show poor spatial consideration for motorcyclists and cyclists, drivers who have vision problems, drivers who have never obtained a driver's licence, drivers who have lifetime driver's licences who really shouldn't be driving, etc., etc.

 

There are simply too many additional risk factors associated with driving in Thailand which make putting yourself at the additional risk of riding a motorcycle for long distance touring in unfamiliar territory extremely ill-advised. OP needs to watch Thai TV news for a week to get an idea of just how dangerous Thailand's roads can be.

[Farangwithaplan]

10 minutes ago, colinneil said:

You want some specifics?

Well almost every Thai is a loveable kind decent person, until they get behind the wheel, or on a motorbike.

Then they become wild/ crazed idiots.

How do i know? A crazed idiot here made me paraplegic, thats how i know, and that happened only 1 kilometer from my home.

I am sure you feel a lot emotions over what happened to you and I hope your quality of life continues to improve.

 

With respect, I did however ask for specifics relating to touring motorcycles around the country as was noted by the OP.

[JaiLai]

28 minutes ago, Gecko123 said:

Most people carry minimal levels of insurance coverage; in many cases bodily injury limits are capped at 100,000 baht or less per person, meaningless in the event of a serious disabling injury. Not to mention how many people have no insurance, which contributes to hit-and-run rates. Not to mention the epidemic of driving under the influence (alcohol and amphetamines). Not to mention free roaming dogs, improvised road infrastructure and repairs, drivers (especially truck drivers) who swerve out of their lane without warning, aggressive macho drivers who show poor spatial consideration for motorcyclists and cyclists, drivers who have vision problems, drivers who have never obtained a driver's licence, drivers who have lifetime driver's licences who really shouldn't be driving, etc., etc.

 

There are simply too many additional risk factors associated with driving in Thailand which make putting yourself at the additional risk of riding a motorcycle for long distance touring in unfamiliar territory extremely ill-advised. OP needs to watch Thai TV news for a week to get an idea of just how dangerous Thailand's roads can be.

<deleted> me buttercup, you're as well locking yourself in the house, away from sharp objects!!

 

I'd hate to go through life worry as much as you, before you know it you'll be on your death bed thinking 'what if'.

 

But, as they say up to you....

[Eaglekott]

5 hours ago, sidjameson said:

Always under the speed limit

I would follow the flow of traffic, driving slower than traffic might be dangerous also since many is catching you up and will have to overtake you.

[4MyEgo]

You can wear your leathers on the plane, as you can your helmet ?

 

Thai's are mostly careful drivers in outer built up areas, that said, cops are usually nowhere to be seen as they're normally busy collecting their tea money or running their Karaoke bars.

 

The only thing you have to worry about are the drunk drivers, hardly any roadside breath tests, some drivers are uninsured and unregistered due to the lack of police presence on the roads, and some even like to drive without lights at night so the ghosts don't follow them home, but you riding in the daytime should be fine.

 

Good international travel insurance with medevac coverage just in case you end on the wrong side of the road, and if someone hits you, don't expect them to stop or render assistance because most don't want to have to pay for your damages as they cannot afford it.

 

I have been on bikes since I was a teenager, motocross, and big road bikes, the last one I owned was a Kwaka ZZR 1100 and have lived here for a bit, that said I would get on one for a tour, but depending on your time here, I would suggest you travel in a car with the comforts of air conditioning and air bags to give you some kind of protection if in an accident, I say this because the sun is quite harsh, can be the tropical downpour depending on the season, potholes are another thing as Thai's are very slack in fixing roads, and when I say potholes, I mean you hit one and you will be airborne, that and the fear of some farmer coming out of a side gravel road on his 5km tractor and cutting in front of you because he thinks you can stop in time or go around him.

 

Once you have done a few days in the car and you think your game enough to get on a bike, go for it.

 

Best of luck 

[Cadbury]

Good luck but always keep in your mind that Thailand has the highest motorcycle death toll in the world.

I suggest you take that into consideration when making your decision.

[rwill]

lots of tourists come here and ride motorbikes around.  Some that have never rode one before.  The great majority do so without any problem.  But there are those that do get into trouble.  It can be very dangerous to ride here even when experienced.  Wrong place at the wrong time no matter what you are in trouble.  There are around 60 or so deaths per day, so there must be thousands that are injured each day.  Always remember there is no such thing as right of way here.  Always be aware of your surroundings and expect the unexpected at any time.

 

[ChiangMaiLightning2143]

Be as careful as you want with full safety gear, this is the driving you'll encounter.

"It is the pedestrians fault because he cut in front of me".

Get front and back cameras at least your family and  Estate will not be insulted with such rubbish!