Scooter Rentals

[TheFishman1]

Any body know the cost of Scooter rentals by the month,and what sizes are best.Also the price to but one? 125 cc 175cc or bigger. And what brand is best as far as repairs,etc.

[H2oDunc]

I suppose it depends where you are ? Here on Samui you can get a decent auto scooter for 2000 baht a month. They are all around the same ride wise. A 200cc Phantom will cost a bit more. Just make sure that you have a good look round the bike and note and damage as some renters can sting you for perceived damage sometimes.

[IanForbes]

They run about 200 baht a day, depending on where you rent them. I would rent a few different ones before buying just to learn their limitations. You can sometimes find a good deal for around 2000 baht a month, but you have to do a little searching. My experience has been that most dealers want 1500 baht a week for a reasonably new bike.

Most bikes are in the 100 to 125 class and are perfectly adequate for what most people need. I took mine on a 620 km trip from Chiang Mai, to Pai, to Mae Hong Son, to Mae Sariang and back to Chiang Mai with no problems.

I haven't found many bikes in the 175 cc class, but there is the occasional 150 cc bike. But, they are seldom for rent.

There are a few good bikes for sale around 20,000 if you look around.

Honda has the best name and are probably the most common, but Yamaha and Kawasakis are also good bikes. You can get a brand new Yamaha for around 35,000

Go to the bike forum on thaivisa for more and better advice than we can give you here.

[bunta71]

175cc Kawasaki Boss is good but is a motorcycle and not an automatic scooter

[IanForbes]

175cc Kawasaki Boss is good but is a motorcycle and not an automatic scooter

And it's under powered like the JRD 150. Even the Honda Phantom 200 cc is underpowered for its weight. The 125 scooters are quicker by a long way. What the Kawsakin Boss, the Phantom and the JRD have in contrast is a more comfortable ride, better vision through the mirrors, and better handling on the highway with big trucks whizzing by.

[Semper]

"as far as repairs,etc. "

This would not be your problem if you are renting.

[happyjune]

When you rent it, take heaps of pics with the shop int he back ground for scratches etc.

Also, Google the shop, to see if people have reported horror stories like jet ski scams.

NEVER leave them your passport.

You might want to buy another helmet, unless you like inverting salad bowls on your head.

[TheFishman1]

When you rent it, take heaps of pics with the shop int he back ground for scratches etc.

Also, Google the shop, to see if people have reported horror stories like jet ski scams.

NEVER leave them your passport.

You might want to buy another helmet, unless you like inverting salad bowls on your head.

IS There salad in the bowls LOL

[cdnvic]

When you rent it, take heaps of pics with the shop int he back ground for scratches etc.

Also, Google the shop, to see if people have reported horror stories like jet ski scams.

NEVER leave them your passport.

You might want to buy another helmet, unless you like inverting salad bowls on your head.

Excellent advice, especially on the passport and helmet.

Also, don't do dumb things like ride in your flip flops. Regardless of how many people you see doing it. Feet abrade quickly.

[IanForbes]

You can SAY, "Don't leave them your passport", but just try finding a place who will rent you a scooter without leaving a passport. It is their protection if you smash the bike and take off without paying for damages. I've had difficulty renting a scooter many times just using a PHOTO COPY of the passport and my driver's license, and it's still a No Go. .

[bunta71]

175cc Kawasaki Boss is good but is a motorcycle and not an automatic scooter

And it's under powered like the JRD 150. Even the Honda Phantom 200 cc is underpowered for its weight. The 125 scooters are quicker by a long way. What the Kawsakin Boss, the Phantom and the JRD have in contrast is a more comfortable ride, better vision through the mirrors, and better handling on the highway with big trucks whizzing by.

I usually agree with the venison eater but to read comparisons of the JRD and the Boss and Phantom in the same category or even sentence is blasphemy. One major difference is that the Honda and the Kawasaki don't have several parts falling off on the ride home minutes after purchases. Yes the girly scooters are faster off the line. I had 5 Bosses as rentals in the Philippines and they are bulletproof when it comes to breakdowns. owned two more later in Chiang Mai without problems.The best part if you are a motorcyclist from waaay back you don't have to tell your friends you are now riding a "motorcycle with a grocery basket on the front". All in jest mind you except the part about the JRD. Worst bike ever made perhaps.

[cdnvic]

I just find a place that accepts credit cards and there's no problems. Some will take T-checks or cash deposit. It's against the law to use you passport as collateral in many countries (aside from where local law demands it). If your embassy has to retrieve it for you it may mean difficulty getting one in the future.

Not worth taking short cuts. Even if it costs a few baht more.

[IanForbes]

I just find a place that accepts credit cards and there's no problems. Some will take T-checks or cash deposit. It's against the law to use you passport as collateral in many countries (aside from where local law demands it). If your embassy has to retrieve it for you it may mean difficulty getting one in the future.

Not worth taking short cuts. Even if it costs a few baht more.

Good suggestion. I'll try the credit card trick next time. I have 2 motorbikes in Chiang Mai, but I use rentals when I travel elsewhere. It might be worth a few extra baht to use a credit card.

[manarak]

You can SAY, "Don't leave them your passport", but just try finding a place who will rent you a scooter without leaving a passport. It is their protection if you smash the bike and take off without paying for damages. I've had difficulty renting a scooter many times just using a PHOTO COPY of the passport and my driver's license, and it's still a No Go. .

?

You bring your passport with you, they copy it and you go with the original.

Never had any problems doing that.

[TheFishman1]

O.K. never leave my passport,in Chiang Mai are there places that I won't have to leave my passport,I don't think I would ever leave my passport with any body.To me thats like leaving a blank check. And thanks for all the advice I think a 125 cc should be fine for what I will use it for.

[manchesterlalala]

They run about 200 baht a day, depending on where you rent them. I would rent a few different ones before buying just to learn their limitations. You can sometimes find a good deal for around 2000 baht a month, but you have to do a little searching. My experience has been that most dealers want 1500 baht a week for a reasonably new bike.

Most bikes are in the 100 to 125 class and are perfectly adequate for what most people need. I took mine on a 620 km trip from Chiang Mai, to Pai, to Mae Hong Son, to Mae Sariang and back to Chiang Mai with no problems.

I haven't found many bikes in the 175 cc class, but there is the occasional 150 cc bike. But, they are seldom for rent.

There are a few good bikes for sale around 20,000 if you look around.

Honda has the best name and are probably the most common, but Yamaha and Kawasakis are also good bikes. You can get a brand new Yamaha for around 35,000

Go to the bike forum on thaivisa for more and better advice than we can give you here.

This is excellent general information for the OP - a very helpful post.

[dmax]

pattaya 100 baht per day at moment if you take for a week , if a month then its around 2000 per mth. if only one day then usually 150 baht

[robblok]

pattaya 100 baht per day at moment if you take for a week , if a month then its around 2000 per mth. if only one day then usually 150 baht

Im sure you would not ride a scooter as you told everyone in the motoring forum you sold your car because you thought it was unsafe to drive on in Thailand. Driving a scooter must be more dangerous.

[jackr]

Honda Wave 125cc is the way to go. Easily beats anything else here for price and reliability and will go anywhere. Has a fair bit of poke, too, and any place can repair them if you get caught out, change a tyre in minutes. One of those direct drive scooters would be ok for around town but a waste of time for going off-road or mountain riding (permanent revving and needing both hands for braking). Those clunky, fake big bike 175cc things ( ) would have to be a last resort if you wanted something like the real thing but didn't want to shell out.

happyjune has some good advice.

Bikes can indeed be rented without handing over passport - many in CM, for example, will take a cash deposit for a plastic pig, in the region of 2 or 3k. Always look it over and point out any damage, taking pics.

[robblok]

Honda Wave 125cc is the way to go. Easily beats anything else here for price and reliability and will go anywhere. Has a fair bit of poke, too, and any place can repair them if you get caught out, change a tyre in minutes. One of those direct drive scooters would be ok for around town but a waste of time for going off-road or mountain riding (permanent revving and needing both hands for braking). Those clunky, fake big bike 175cc things ( ) would have to be a last resort if you wanted something like the real thing but didn't want to shell out.

happyjune has some good advice.

Bikes can indeed be rented without handing over passport - many in CM, for example, will take a cash deposit for a plastic pig, in the region of 2 or 3k. Always look it over and point out any damage, taking pics.

I have driven a wave 125.. nice but nouvo elegance beats it hands down (current ride)

I have also driven those fake big bike 175cc things (must say i liked my kawasaki boss)

I have also driven a real 400cc big bike thing.. nice.. but hell to find parts and because of age not reliable and bad for traffic

I have also driven a Honda cbr 250r (great ride more power and good for traffic)

To be honest of all those rides the wave ended last so taste differs quite a bit between people.

[TheFishman1]

Honda Wave 125cc is the way to go. Easily beats anything else here for price and reliability and will go anywhere. Has a fair bit of poke, too, and any place can repair them if you get caught out, change a tyre in minutes. One of those direct drive scooters would be ok for around town but a waste of time for going off-road or mountain riding (permanent revving and needing both hands for braking). Those clunky, fake big bike 175cc things ( ) would have to be a last resort if you wanted something like the real thing but didn't want to shell out.

happyjune has some good advice.

Bikes can indeed be rented without handing over passport - many in CM, for example, will take a cash deposit for a plastic pig, in the region of 2 or 3k. Always look it over and point out any damage, taking pics.

I have driven a wave 125.. nice but nouvo elegance beats it hands down (current ride)

I have also driven those fake big bike 175cc things (must say i liked my kawasaki boss)

I have also driven a real 400cc big bike thing.. nice.. but hell to find parts and because of age not reliable and bad for traffic

I have also driven a Honda cbr 250r (great ride more power and good for traffic)

To be honest of all those rides the wave ended last so taste differs quite a bit between people.

SO the nouvo elegance is the one to look at Thank You

[gmac]

You can SAY, "Don't leave them your passport", but just try finding a place who will rent you a scooter without leaving a passport. It is their protection if you smash the bike and take off without paying for damages. I've had difficulty renting a scooter many times just using a PHOTO COPY of the passport and my driver's license, and it's still a No Go. .

If more people refused to leave their passport (the law requires you to keep it on you at all times) the rental companies would stop asking for them to be left. Having said that, the only time I rented a bike I left a 1000 Baht deposit and it took me about 2 weeks to get it back off them at the end of the rental!

[robblok]

SO the nouvo elegance is the one to look at Thank You

I think so or a PCX both seem to be close. But i like the hook for groceries on the nouvo. I usually dont use my car but my bike for short trips