Where To Rent Motorbike In Pattaya?

[daxbr]

I have diligently searched previous posts but did not find anything. What is the best place in Pattaya to rent a small Honda motorbike for a few days without leaving passport or cash deposit?

[COBBER]

Leaving your passport as security seems to be a thing of the past. Just take a walk 100 metres or so from your hotel room and youl find one. Every small buisiness appears to be renting motor cycles these days.

[Ajarn]

I can't even imagine a bike shop not wanting security, especially for a few days.. Have things really changed, as COBBER says?

When I rented bikes a few years ago, I had a similar dilema. I didn't like being without my passport.

When I asked the shop I rented from, he said, '"Sure, no problem. Just leave me your Amex gold card for security"... So, before the next rental, I called in my Amex card as 'lost' and had another re-issued through Amex's Bkk office. I then took my 'lost' card and offered it up to the surprised rental guy. He took it with no problem..

Now, I had no intention of trying to escape any damage fees or anything, so I felt I wasn't scamming anyone... But, if the shop were to try to scam me with my card, the cops would be on him in a flash since they had to personally call in any Amex charge... He was protected by my integrity, I was protected by Amex.

Here are a few suggestions for bikers, including the one above.. http://asian-links.com/larry/motor.html

[konangrit]

Most places should be happy with just copying the details from your passport. Try the lady who rents bikes on Soi Pattayland, Beach road end, she doesn't take your passport, just a ฿1000 deposit.

I rent from Jans motorbikes at the Bowling Club, ฿2000/month, and all she took from me was my mobile phone number.

[fw1]

The Soi with Pizza Hut on the corner, beach road has two good renters to go to. The guy on the opposite side of the street has less bikes but deoes a better job of maintaining them, he will also accept a 1000Baht as a deposit.

I usually hire out a sports 400 and have noticed that some of the places along the beach front don't maintain their bikes very well. On Pattayasaisong (2nd road) there's a guy opposite the Apex hotel who rents out bikes that typically have bald/balding tires, damaged fairing, and are dirty. Fortunately, I've never actually seen anyone rent from him.

So my advice to you is if you do want to hire a bike out from someone who is a bit lapse regarding their business, make sure you check out the condition of the bike out thoroughlyfirst. It does without saying that you should do that anyway but I really think that you need to be especially careful with some as they really don't give a toss what condition their bike&you come back in.