Briton And Malaysian Die In Separate Phuket Big Bike Smashes

[Fgis]

Condolences, but anybody with a brain wouldn't ride this in Thailand. I know what I am speaking about because after 10 years riding at home I quit immediately when I arrived here...

[mikebike]

OK - I'm with all of ya who posted you really can't use a big sportbike on Phuket. A 150 smoker or 400 4-stroke are lots of fun on the coast roads and have more than ample acceleration for Phuket. What I don't get are the 'I wouldn't tour/ride in Thailand' bunch... What the whole country? Are ya nuts? Outside of the urban centres/Phuket/Samui touring Thailand by sportbike is amazing! Great roads, great peeps, great scenery. What's so scary about riding in rural Thailand?

Edited April 22, 2013 by mikebike

[Gweiloman]

It is so wrong to mention the two accidents in the same article as the circumstances are completely dissimilar, other than the sad fact that in both instances, the riders lost their lives.

In the first instance, we had a guy on a rented big bike, riding totally without any protection, in the wee hours of the morning. Even assuming that he's perfectly sober, riding at night on any road in Thailand is fraught with danger, due to the relatively poor lighting conditions coupled with the inconsistent state of the roads. We do not know either whether he's in fact qualified to ride such a bike.

In the second instance, I'm positive that the rider was wearing all the necessary safety equipment, helmet, gloves, proper jacket, shoes etc. Furthermore, at 9.15 in the morning, visibility would not have been an issue. He had ridden from Malaysia with his friends and he would almost certainly have been qualified (at least according to the Malaysian licensing requirements. In Malaysia, one needs to pass extra tests to progress from a 250 cc to a bigger bike).

It's hard to feel sympathy for the British guy as I think most of us have our own thoughts on his suitability on riding at the time in question. The same can't be said for the Malaysian, may be rest in peace.

[Gweiloman]

Condolences, but anybody with a brain wouldn't ride this in Thailand. I know what I am speaking about because after 10 years riding at home I quit immediately when I arrived here...

10 years of riding hardly makes you an expert on riding. But you definitely made the right decision to quit as there is no place for uncertain riders on Thai roads.

[Gweiloman]

Despite wearing a helmet, he died.

No kidding. Unless you buy your own helmet from an actual bike shop here you may as well be wearing a baseball cap.

He's a Malaysian, having ridden up from Malaysia for the Phuket Bike week. What makes you think he didn't buy his helmet from an actual bike shop? Do you think that Simoncelli was also wearing a helmet bought from Tesco?

Pathetic.

[jacko45k]

Ride in peace

I've seen so many inexperienced biker Deaths

It's time they made it compulsory to have a bike licence here

I've been riding 40 years

And even I get caught out now and again

God Bless

Yes of course people should be in possession of a full bike licence. I would go further to say large bikes should not be rented out. There is no need for them on Phuket, tourists can mange on a 125cc bike and enjoy their time. Big bikes should be confined to tracks, and possibly to specialist hire centres for those who want to tour the country.

[Johnsy]

Great point but I think something more than this is required but I very much doubt anything will change especially in our lifetime.

Ride in peace
I've seen so many inexperienced biker Deaths
It's time they made it compulsory to have a bike licence here
I've been riding 40 years
And even I get caught out now and again
God Bless

Ride in peace
I've seen so many inexperienced biker Deaths
It's time they made it compulsory to have a bike licence here
I've been riding 40 years
And even I get caught out now and again
God Bless

Great point but I think something more than this is required but I very much doubt anything will change especially in our lifetime.

Yes something else is needed it's called common sense!

sorry but no sympathy from me.

[jackh]

Stupid is as stupid does. Darwinism at work here.

That said RIP

[Colabamumbai]

Solution for the government and a money maker. Professional driving school. You fail, no license.

[Nowisee]

Happened in the US all the time. High speed in the city at an intersection no helmet 2 am drinking. Can't do anything about it except read it the next day.

One less idiot on the road.

I have little sympathy. And my insurance rates are high because we pay for the life flight and ICU care and collateral damage.

[TackyToo]

I rode my bike (1450 cc) about 200.000 km throughout Asia and only had one minor accident caused by a stupid 19 year old hi-so girl in Bkk thinking a red traffic light don’t apply to her. If you ride here, you constantly have to think about what the drivers in front, the rear, left or right may do next. The higher your speed the less affective is this precaution.

However, especially on Phuket it appears that at least to facts lead to disaster: greed and stupidity! Brainless 18 year old brats are renting super bikes with no proper license and experience. I only feel very limited mercy for these idiots ending up in wheel chairs. The rental shops only ask for a passport (to claim compensation after accidents) and then these morons leave the place with screaming tires only wearing trunks and flip-flops with a helmet hanging from the bike that would protect your head no more than a salad leaf.

In Europe it takes at least 3 months to obtain a 400cc bike license after tough tests and several test rides. One has to wait at least for one year before you are qualified to ride a bike with more power. Of course I passed through uncounted “police checks” where the brown vultures wait for 60-something tourists on a Honda Dream to ask them for their license and collect tea money.

I obtained 6 drivers licenses. Once I showed the cops the one (all classes and vehicles) of the Cook Islands- no problem. Instead of providing kids tablets to play games, why don’t they hand out some to the traffic police with samples of proper licenses?

However, R.I.P. morons!

Edited April 23, 2013 by TackyToo

[eezergood]

I pulled up alongside some white trash aussie idiot at the lights at Kamala last week. He was on a rented duc. He had thongs, a wife basher, fake billabongs shorts and lots of tatts. He saw my bike and put on a big fist full of revs and took off before the change to green...the duc hit the sand that often lies there on that stretch and he fish tailed out of control and barely missed an oncoming pick up by inches. I followed him on to the sharp right hander up past Fantasea and there he did a sharp right hand u Turn in front of me with no blinker. He almost dropped the bike just trying to complete a low speed u turn.

I screamed "GO HOME YOU F-----G IMBECILE"...

Just one example....don't start me on the packs North African idiots plying that section of the road on the big rented scooters...

WELL SAID THAT MAN!!!!!!!!!

[meatboy]

I pulled up alongside some white trash aussie idiot at the lights at Kamala last week. He was on a rented duc. He had thongs, a wife basher, fake billabongs shorts and lots of tatts. He saw my bike and put on a big fist full of revs and took off before the change to green...the duc hit the sand that often lies there on that stretch and he fish tailed out of control and barely missed an oncoming pick up by inches. I followed him on to the sharp right hander up past Fantasea and there he did a sharp right hand u Turn in front of me with no blinker. He almost dropped the bike just trying to complete a low speed u turn.

I screamed "GO HOME YOU F-----G IMBECILE"...

Just one example....don't start me on the packs North African idiots plying that section of the road on the big rented scooters...

he was only trying to impress you,like they do along the beach roads blowing kisses to the girls then looking back to see if they are watching,back in the eighties there used to be a missing manhole cover on the beach road in patts.outside svensens saw many posers end up on the deck looking at the birds instead of straight ahead.my bil.is a serious biker and he wanted to import bike helmets to los.as most here crap.

[sirchai]

Ride in peace

I've seen so many inexperienced biker Deaths

It's time they made it compulsory to have a bike licence here

I've been riding 40 years

And even I get caught out now and again

God Bless

"It's time they made it compulsory to have a bike licence here" - it's probably time they had proper pubilc transport here so people wouldn't have to hire them and ride, particularly whilst intoxicated

It's not the public transport system that makes inexperienced guys to a danger for themselves, but also to others.

I'm a biker and familiar with dangerous situations riding a big bike here. Some guys just leave their brains at home, hope they'll rest in peace and all the others who'll follow.....

Would somebody drive a big bike just wearing shorts in the UK? What foreigners should know is that even if a big has got insurance, it only covers 12,000 baht. Not enough for an operation.

Live To Ride- Ride To Live-

Edited April 23, 2013 by sirchai

[lostinisaan]

OK - I'm with all of ya who posted you really can't use a big sportbike on Phuket. A 150 smoker or 400 4-stroke are lots of fun on the coast roads and have more than ample acceleration for Phuket. What I don't get are the 'I wouldn't tour/ride in Thailand' bunch... What the whole country? Are ya nuts? Outside of the urban centres/Phuket/Samui touring Thailand by sportbike is amazing! Great roads, great peeps, great scenery. What's so scary about riding in rural Thailand?

Some buffaloes, cows dogs, cats, people, bikes, kubotas, people who can't drive,vehicles without light and the potholes..........

[overherebc]

To ride a 1000cc bike at high speed and at night you will need several years of experience on 250-650cc bikes...

I often hear friends saying they wanna buy a 1000cc bike while they are still riding a 110cc scooter or an automatic car I just shake my head. LOL

you need not only a good helmet, but good clothing protection as well, a nice shoes, jacket, elbow and shoulder pads, gloves, and ideally back mount pad.

besides that Thai roads are so unpredictable, you can hit a pot and jackpot! you're dead.

Reminds me of many years ago when I changed from Brit Bikes to my first Japanese 750. It scared the willies out of me for a while. What it must be like to go from a 110 wave, or whatever, to a 1000 or 1100 two wheeled jet is quite beyond my imagination.

I would reckon most accidents like these two are caused by loosing the back wheel, if you're not experienced when you turn the bars you open or shut the throttle, ie turn the bars to the left and the action will, if you don't know what you're doing, open the throttle. With the power these things have and sometimes the very narrow power band, it's not long before your off and sliding down the road.

Anyway, always sad when someone dies like this.

[cup-O-coffee]

Ride in peace

I've seen so many inexperienced biker Deaths

It's time they made it compulsory to have a bike licence here

I've been riding 40 years

And even I get caught out now and again

God Bless

"It's time they made it compulsory to have a bike licence here" - it's probably time they had proper pubilc transport here so people wouldn't have to hire them and ride, particularly whilst intoxicated.

Nice thought! Put it on that list of to-dos for the nanny, which are relegated to resurface only as fodder for politician's sermons; because that is about as much attention it will get after I finish reading this thread. Seriously though, nice thought.

[DRONGOH]

Not enough room in the paper to list all the Thais who got killed in bike crashes the same day.

[NamKangMan]

Ride in peace

I've seen so many inexperienced biker Deaths

It's time they made it compulsory to have a bike licence here

I've been riding 40 years

And even I get caught out now and again

God Bless

"It's time they made it compulsory to have a bike licence here" - it's probably time they had proper pubilc transport here so people wouldn't have to hire them and ride, particularly whilst intoxicated

It's not the public transport system that makes inexperienced guys to a danger for themselves, but also to others.

I'm a biker and familiar with dangerous situations riding a big bike here. Some guys just leave their brains at home, hope they'll rest in peace and all the others who'll follow.....

Would somebody drive a big bike just wearing shorts in the UK? What foreigners should know is that even if a big has got insurance, it only covers 12,000 baht. Not enough for an operation.

Live To Ride- Ride To Live-

The majority of motorbike death and injury on Phuket are from scooters. You are just as dead coming off a 125cc bike as you are coming off a 1000cc bike.

The reality is, it's 200 baht minimum journey price for a tuk-tuk here and 200 baht a day to rent a motor scooter for 24 hours.

Unfortunately, many chose to rent the bike, with tragic consequences.

The question is, how many of those tragedies may have been prevented if there were metered taxis on the island, or baht buses running along the coast road?

I would suggest many families would not be missing their loved ones, and many people would not be carrying injuries for the rest of their life, if Phuket only had what other places in Thailand had, public transport.

[overherebc]

Renting a 'big' bike on holiday gives them boasting rights when they go back home.

Unfortunately these two poor guys won't get the chance to do that.

[NamKangMan]

Ride in peace

I've seen so many inexperienced biker Deaths

It's time they made it compulsory to have a bike licence here

I've been riding 40 years

And even I get caught out now and again

God Bless

"It's time they made it compulsory to have a bike licence here" - it's probably time they had proper pubilc transport here so people wouldn't have to hire them and ride, particularly whilst intoxicated.

Nice thought! Put it on that list of to-dos for the nanny, which are relegated to resurface only as fodder for politician's sermons; because that is about as much attention it will get after I finish reading this thread. Seriously though, nice thought.

While you're having "nice thoughts" about public transport on Phuket, thousands of tourists are hopping-on and hopping-off baht buses, only 1000 kilometers away in another major Thai tourist destination called Pattaya.

Also, thousands of tourists will hire a metered taxi today in Bangkok.

It has nothing to do with Phuket becoming "Nanny" - it has everything to do with providing public transport, an essential service, to the tourist who come here, which is the norm in any major tourist destination. Just like most tourisst need a plane and airport to get here - when they are here, they need proper public transport to explore and enjoy their holiday.

I've said it before, Phuket is being run by criminals, for criminals - what long term future do you see in that????

Seriously, if things are allowed to continue the way they have been, I can only see a decrease in the enjoyment of living on Phuket and a decrease in the quality of life and value for money living here. Most relevant to this is the old, failing, poorly maintained and never upgraded infastructure, and the fact I am seeing more and more concrete and less and less jungle.

The way Phuket is being admisitered is devaluing Phuket as a "brand."

Edited April 23, 2013 by NamKangMan

[Scorpio1949]

Very tragic and a crazy way to drive. I not understand why people drive like this. I also not know what this guy used to drive back home. I think rental places should checkout to who they rent. Wonder also if wearing protection would have saved him reading about high speed makes it already tricky You see it when you read about the Malaysian guy who was wearing a helmet.

R.I.P.

[Travelman868]

Ride in peace

I've seen so many inexperienced biker Deaths

It's time they made it compulsory to have a bike licence here

I've been riding 40 years

And even I get caught out now and again

God Bless

ah yes, a motorcycle licence.

"what colour this red dot? this yellow dot? this green dot?......ok!

press brake pedal when red light come on.........ok!

look at 2 sticks inside this box...........ok!

now you go pay over there....you got big bike licence".

"why thank you mr testing man, i will of course ride it sensibily".

I think that what was being said is :- before being able to hire a bike in Thailand you should have a BIKE licence from your

home country.

Being able to hire a big bike is nothing short of criminal. A friend of mine who used to race bikes says modern bikes are

dangerous for most riders and he sells them.

[brianb1944]

Ride in peace

I've seen so many inexperienced biker Deaths

It's time they made it compulsory to have a bike licence here

I've been riding 40 years

And even I get caught out now and again

God Bless

"It's time they made it compulsory to have a bike licence here" - it's probably time they had proper pubilc transport here so people wouldn't have to hire them and ride, particularly whilst intoxicated.

No one "has to ride whilst intoxicated" its a choice people make.

[stevenl]

Ride in peace

I've seen so many inexperienced biker Deaths

It's time they made it compulsory to have a bike licence here

I've been riding 40 years

And even I get caught out now and again

God Bless

ah yes, a motorcycle licence.

"what colour this red dot? this yellow dot? this green dot?......ok!

press brake pedal when red light come on.........ok!

look at 2 sticks inside this box...........ok!

now you go pay over there....you got big bike licence".

"why thank you mr testing man, i will of course ride it sensibily".

I think that what was being said is :- before being able to hire a bike in Thailand you should have a BIKE licence from your

home country.

Being able to hire a big bike is nothing short of criminal. A friend of mine who used to race bikes says modern bikes are

dangerous for most riders and he sells them.

I presume he sells them only to the people he thinks can handle them?

[heazille]

My Shoei helmet came with me from the Isle of Man, along with a full bike licence taken there.
If it's a hired bike 90% sure they will not even be insured!

RIP to both of them.

[Johnnie99]

Thats not an R1 also! Its not even a Yamaha, the picture is of a Kawasaki z1000

Read the article and stop making a fool of yourself.

[eezergood]

Thats not an R1 also! Its not even a Yamaha, the picture is of a Kawasaki z1000

Read the article and stop making a fool of yourself.

Read it, piss poor journalism as per normal! Why anyone needs a 300kmh/hr race bike for Phukets roads is beyond me!

Edited April 23, 2013 by eezergood

[Fgis]

Condolences, but anybody with a brain wouldn't ride this in Thailand. I know what I am speaking about because after 10 years riding at home I quit immediately when I arrived here...

10 years of riding hardly makes you an expert on riding. But you definitely made the right decision to quit as there is no place for uncertain riders on Thai roads.

And we know how it end for the ones who are so sure about their abilities...

Anybody smart would quit ridind here, nothing to add.

[inapeartree]

Thats not an R1 also! Its not even a Yamaha, the picture is of a Kawasaki z1000

Read the article and stop making a fool of yourself.

Read it, piss poor journalism as per normal! Why anyone needs a 300kmh/hr race bike for Phukets roads is beyond me!

The article is about TWO accidents, one of them was a Malaysian on the bike pictured and the other a Brit on an R1. http://www.dailynews.co.th/crime/198903