Is A Motorbike A Motorcycle?

[lordofdelusion]

Hello,

First time poster here. I am obtaining an international driving permit here in the US which mirrors your state license. Since I don't have a motorcycle endorsment here, will I be legal to drive a motorcycle in Thailand? More importantly, is a motorbike considered a motorcycle?

Thanks

[Crossy]

Hello,

First time poster here. I am obtaining an international driving permit here in the US which mirrors your state license. Since I don't have a motorcycle endorsment here, will I be legal to drive a motorcycle in Thailand? More importantly, is a motorbike considered a motorcycle?

Thanks

Welcome to TV

In the UK a motorbike and a motorcycle are one and the same (motorcycle is used in a more formal manner). Do the US have a different interpretation?

Your IDP won't cover you for a 2-wheeler here as it doesn't at home. HOWEVER, 99.9% of the Boys-in-Brown will never know the difference. BUT, if you come off, your travel insurance will find it a suitable excuse not to cough up. Take care, please!

[phibunmike]

I agree 100% with Crossy.

For further confusion, the Thais seem to refer (conversationally) to the small bikes as "lot motorsai", anything above around 250cc becomes a "chopper". Not quite the same as the UK (or US) definitions. However these are only conversational terms, they don't apply to the license.

[lordofdelusion]

Thanks for the info. In my state anyway, anything under 100cc is a moped and doesn't require a motorcycle endorsement. Sounds like the best thing to do for insurance reasons would be to get a motorcycle license here.

[Totster]

Thanks for the info. In my state anyway, anything under 100cc is a moped and doesn't require a motorcycle endorsement. Sounds like the best thing to do for insurance reasons would be to get a motorcycle license here.

Or, to save hassle... when in Thailand just ride a 100cc Honda Wave etc..

totster

[PeaceBlondie]

I doubt there's a uniform, standard definition. In most states of the USA, a motorcycle is any motorized two-wheeler, but what we motorcyclists consider a 'real bike' would not be a step-through. A real bike would have at least 400cc or 881 cc. In American slang, a 'motor-bike' might be a motorized bicycle or a moped.

Americans haven't called Harleys and Harley clones "choppers" since about 1975. And it's funny if Thais would call a Honda CBR600RR superbike a chopper. Hey, they call a Kawasaki 175 Boss a chopper, and my boyfriend's Tiger 125 Joker is a chopper, too.

When I got my IDP, I made sure it stated what was on my Texas license: cars and motorcycles. Hopefully, if I ever get to the Thai license bureau after 35,000 kilometers in Thailand, they'll give me both licenses without requiring me to take a road test.