Doi Suthep -Scooter Suitable?

[willfreeman]

is it easy/safe to ride a scooter up doi suthep? or is it advisable to get a bus/songtow? i think i noticed a bus stop for doi suthep near the entrance to chiang mai zoo? thanks

[tornado24]

Yes you can ride a scooter without any problem, however, is not the best time of the year due to the smoke.

[daoyai]

There are a couple spots that regularly cause inexperienced riders to have a very bad day. Be prepared for sharp turns, oil slicks and loose gravel.

[62strat]

125cc automatic shift or 115 manual shift gets you there if you are a liitle heavy or rather large like I am !!

[Newguy70]

Yes...

[chiangmaiexpat]

On an MTB, you can probably take over any scooters venturing up there...

Cheers, CM-Expat

[wjmark]

For a beginner, go slow. There are a lot of nut-case drivers who come around mountain corners fast, and in the wrong lane. Stay to the left and go slow.

Most of the road is fine except near the top - oil, water, potholes, and a steep sharp hill.

Also, keep going up to Doi Pui behind Doi Suthep and even further (take the first right after Doi Pui goes to a nice lookout - when no smoke...).

(edit) An afterthought - the most dangerous part of the ride is probably after the last hill (the very steep one that has a very sharp left curve) before you reach the level road to the temple. There is a small lane that comes in from the left, and people come out of there quickly. And also people turn across the traffic to go in that lane. I have seen a few bikes wiped out by tuktuks and things right there. Just as you are coming onto that level road with all the little shops etc...

[eek]

Easy peezy! Just make sure you know how to ride one.

Its actually a doddle, ive taken a basic automatic scooter up Phu Chi Fa, Doi Inthanon, and Mae Salong..now THAT was a challenge!

[jackr]

Cinch. Going up the back way is a little more interesting.

[wjmark]

Could not re-edit my last post...

That is a fairly nasty little intersection.

https://maps.google.com/maps?q=Sridonchai+Rd,+Mueang+Chiang+Mai,+Chiang+Mai,+Thailand&hl=en&ll=18.802709,98.920965&spn=0.001749,0.00284&sll=18.781221,98.99826&sspn=0.006674,0.011362&hnear=Sridonchai+Rd,+Mueang+Chiang+Mai,+Chiang+Mai,+Thailand&t=k&z=19&layer=c&cbll=18.80267,98.920516&panoid=DPOi8XxU-5uRP3ZKeSsEOw&cbp=12,294.9,,0,11.31

[eek]

Cinch. Going up the back way is a little more interesting.

Agree ^^

..and that was after the trickier part!

[pgthompson]

Cinch. Going up the back way is a little more interesting.

Ain't that always the way!!

[dickyknee]

I've gone up the Doi Suthep and further on a scooter no problems. I Even popped out the other side at Huay Tung Tao once, that was a bit bumpy though.

[amexpat]

I completely agree. Scooters can handle the mountains of Northern Thailand. I've done just about all of them on an auto.

But I clicked on this expecting to see posts from the usual bunch that claim you can't do anything on less than 600 cc.

I wonder where they are. Maybe the scooter people just got here first.

[HaleySabai]

Sure, a scooter will get you up to Doi Suthep.....its coming down you have to worry about

If you are on one of those "girlie" automatic scooter with the small tires I would be careful on rough road or off-road action,very easy to blow-out those type of tires since the bike is basically designed for street hopping in the city.

[barefoot1988]

its fairly easy as long as you stay vigilant . with a pillion, i would suggest just take a red truck up

[PoodMaiDai]

Watch out for Thais in cars and trucks (and vans) FLYING around corners, coming into your lane, heading right at you. Almost been nailed a few times head on. Stay on the far left side as you go up and down and be ready for ANYTHING.

[Anks]

Cinch. Going up the back way is a little more interesting.

That's what she said

[KRS1]

the road has recently been repaved (just days ago) the traction is much better than it use to be.

closer to the top there is some loose dirt to watch out for from the repaving.

[sfokevin]

Just remember going up is the easy part... But be careful when you are coming down as speed apcan pick up and it is a lot harder to stop... And if you ride the brake you might make a couple stops to let the brake drums cool down...

[sfokevin]

Cinch. Going up the back way is a little more interesting.

That's what she said

That's what he said...

[kjhbigv]

Absolutely fine but just watch out for any spilled diesel on the corners deposited by songthaew's.

[BlackArtemis]

made it fine in a 100cc swapped honda Chaly with my girlfriend on the back.

But it's more fun on the 650r

[northernjohn]

Absolutely fine but just watch out for any spilled diesel on the corners deposited by songthaew's.

Is there a law that say's only songthaew's are allowed to spill diesel?

[kjhbigv]

Absolutely fine but just watch out for any spilled diesel on the corners deposited by songthaew's.

Is there a law that say's only songthaew's are allowed to spill diesel?

Errr, no law that I am aware of!

But the most likely culprit.

Sent from my GT-I9300T using Thaivisa Connect Thailand mobile app

[Tonto21]

If you have to ask...........................Best get the bus, Doi Suthep....No make that Thailand is not the place to learn how to ride a bike!

No disrespect intended.