Kaosan Motosai Rental - Why Not?

[samlowry]

Dear friends, can you tell me, why there aren't bike rentals in Bangkok? Especially in hot places, as Kaosan, Nana, etc.

[Soi Sauce]

Coz it's too dangerous to ride here, even if you are an experienced biker back home. Doubt it's economically viable for a company to rent bikes, bearing in mind what they'd spend on repairs and insurance..

[yoslim]

I drove my moto from pattaya to Nana a few times, very practical to get around but the trip back home wasn't so fun

[Dancealot]

Nobody in their right mind wants to drive a bicycle there. Renting a motorbike is a minimum for safety. But not recommendable..

[samlowry]

bike = means, motorbike.

Ppl, what you talking about? All rentals everywhere in Thailand charge for any damage by overpriced rate, in some places (like Koh Phangan) - multiplied by 10-20 (10000-20000 for any scratches). Accident is a chance for earn some real money, who cares about ppl? More accidents = more money, BKK is a sweet place for this. So - that's why I wondering, why nobody give bikes for rent.

P. S. As about bicycles - Dancealot, you completely wrong, in the historical part of BKK you can take bicycle FOR FREE at municipal bicycle station and drop it at any other station. I'd seen some station very close to Kaosan.

[Dancealot]

Ok fair, so my new answer to the OP is: You cannot rent a motorbike(easily...) because it would hurt the (thai)motorbike business.

[DP25]

Ppl, what you talking about? All rentals everywhere in Thailand charge for any damage by overpriced rate, in some places (like Koh Phangan) - multiplied by 10-20 (10000-20000 for any scratches). Accident is a chance for earn some real money, who cares about ppl? More accidents = more money, BKK is a sweet place for this. So - that's why I wondering, why nobody give bikes for rent.

That is true accidents are an opportunity for the renters to make money. Maybe in Bangkok the city or the police don't allow them in tourist areas as they just don't want tons of tourists riding around crashing and disrupting everything. There is serious business going on in the city and they will just mess up traffic even worse and get in the way and kill people. On an island it's a different matter.

[fasteddie]

Used to be able to, had a cbx750 for a couple of weeks, got it from some guy who had a couple of cars and bikes somewhere near the malaysia. Was a time ago though.

[asanee]

a bike is a BIKE-the other thing is rightfully named MOTOsay. If you do not even know that?! Pushbikes are for rent in many places in and around Khao sarn road-even for free-by the BMA.

In fact no place in bigcity BKK will rent motosay to farang.

[DP25]

Where are these free rental bikes near Khao San and how do they work?

[tinfoilhat]

so the short answer is nobody knows though some of the posters here seem unable to read a thread title let alone drive a bike

[loserlazer]

Bc it s hard to ride in bkk besides roads in bkk are very complicated. For example you cannot ride through expressways, tunnels etc

So if you do not know where you are going - dont tell me gps - what will you do with a bike in a big city? - Just to show Thai people and other tourists what a glorious rider you are?

Bkk is not an island man.

Just walk, use free bicycle and/or use the mass transit if it is not your home city.

Sent from my GT-P1000 using Thaivisa Connect App

Edited October 17, 2012 by loserlazer

[samlowry]

Who cares???? I'm pretty sure: some flashpackers from Kaosan and macho from Middle East will be happy to ride.

[Jueputa]

I heard that it's now illegal to rent bikes in Bangkok to farangs just because of the danger,ridiculous really if you have had a full motorbike license for 30 plus years and have ridden all around India etc!

[KIFKIF]

Hi

I am the founder of the biggest bikes rental shop in BKK,we run a fleet of more than 30 bikes,more than half are big bikes over 500cc maximum 2 years old.

More than 10 of my scooters are actually rented in BKK with expats,teachers,asians,indians ,cheap charlies,few tourists ,so far since 2009 ,with my partner we have declared very fews incidents with these small bikes in BKK.

Most issues are lost keys even the bike sometimes,few scratches.I do make money to propose a good service and assistance ,not rip off riders.

In the past and still when i am in holidays i rent a vehicule,when i've got issues i was never overcharged ,this is a matter for the guy who acting like a colon on stranger field with locals.

Most of the accidents involve our big bikes and happened outskirt Bangkok,rarely my fellow riders are wrong.

The last one was last week a couple of thais rented to Versys 650cc.They were apparently racing along phetkasem road in Hua Hin when a large SUV point is nose to U-turn then hit 1 of my bike ,the riders was ejected,lost his helmet, the bike is wrecked...

The guy was transferred a couple of days to an hospital in Bkk,he was badly injured but seems to get better now.

SUV's insurance is responsible to pay me a new bike and hospital expenses for my costumer,my insurance and lawyer are taking care of the case.

Its a question of managing and relationship to run this business here once you get a fair amount of good bikes ,an honest and competent lawyer, proper insurances,an high back up relationship in case of troubles,a fair but strong business policy for your costumers ,then a well targeted market and you will be able to make something serious.

Hot places?For the khao san rental shop scheme between beers,insecticide cocktails bars , an hashish/rocks sales man ,to rent motosai to backpackers ...Dead trap.

From my experience of riding small,large or sport bikes in and outside BKK on motorway,tunnels,bridges... for more than 7 years ,+1 with my rental business since 3 years i can say that it's safer to ride in BKK or say accidents in BKK occure less injuries than anywhere else in LOS.

Most of BKK drivers and riders are aware of the potential danger here,psychologically it help to canalise a good "behaving on roads",of course the stupid dranker or grandpa on his 2 strokes rocket has no idea of what i am talking about,the Bangkokian who got an 8 years finance on his back for his brandnew Toyota understand very well .

We say in French "un home avertit en vaut 2"

The gain of times and independance that procure a 2 wheeler is so high that there is noway for me to considere any else kind of transportation in Bkk.

Franck

BBR