Bought my first scooter Saturday morning, crashed 4 hrs later.

[BritManToo]

Just moved to Chiang Mai, been here a couple of weeks.

Decided to buy a new scooter to get around, despite never having driven one before in my life.

Walked into my local Honda showroom, was shown a new Wave 110i for 35kbht (plus 1,900 for 2 years theft ins), said I would buy it.

Being just over from the UK, thought it would take a week or so to get the documentation ready.

Nooooo, wait while we put oil and petrol in it and you can drive away.

No number plate, no tax disk, no insurance certificate, just a handwritten receipt.

(Come back in 6 months for the number plate, we will call you)

I was a little bit concerned, having no driving license and never been on a scooter before, but nobody seemed worried.

They showed me the brakes, the gear change, and where to put petrol, gave me a helmet, jacket, basket on the front, rack in the middle.

Off I went happily driving around the moat in CM, in really heavy traffic. Survived all morning.

Then in the afternoon, a really big pickup stopped suddenly, and I didn't, rear ended the pickup then toppled over.

The pickup driver wasn't bothered, didn't even get out, waved and laughed, then drove off (it was my fault and I seemed undamaged).

Inspected my newly crashed new bike, inspected me.

Front shopping basked crushed flat, no other damage to the bike.

Small mark on my right elbow, couldn't really call it a bruise or a scratch (wearing flipflops and T-shirt of course).

Drove to the local scooter pimping shop, can you fix my basket, it's all bent out of shape?

Yes can do, 100bht, what you can fix it for 100bht (I'm thinking that's too cheap he's going for his lump hammer).

OK, fix it, please, so the guy goes off round the back, comes back with a brand new wire basket, exactly matches the broken Honda basket.

Takes the old basket off, screws the new basket on, 100bht, job done.

Cheapest RTA I ever had in my life, I've done worse damage to myself shaving.

What an amazing country, it really is the wild west (and I've just proven myself a cowboy).

Narrow escape or what!

Oh,

Nearly forgot, just driven the scoot 185Km using 90bht of E20 petrol.

How cheap is that, couldn't even squeeze 100bht worth in the tank.

Edited March 24, 2014 by BritManToo

[speedtripler]

reminds me of myself a good few years ago in bkk ,exact same procedure

i picked the colour i wanted and while i was paying for it the mechanics were next door putting in the oil and a litre of gas

it took under half an hour i think from arriving at the shop to choosing one and riding away in bkk traffic with no experience

,licence ,insurance etc

not much changes in thailand lol

[namdocmai]

Mate you have been very lucky!! Go outside the city and practise some emergency stops and sharp corners and driving in mud and sand and test the brakes many times to get a feeling for them.

And for gods sake, wear a helmet, gloves, jeans, shoes, sunglasses and don't drive faster then 40 for a week.

Edited March 24, 2014 by namdocmai

[mania]

Good story Enjoyed it thanks

Take care out there

[papa al]

First day wrecks are not that uncommon.

Hopefully you learned something.

Check that E20 is compatible with the bike...I'm thinking not.

[BritManToo]

Honda recommends E20 for all the bikes with PGM-F1 engines.

[RubberSideDown]

You got the rental bike lesson (though I guess you can't expect much more out of a dealership):

'There's the gas, there's the brake, there's the road- good luck.';)

Watch it out there- that was a really cheap reminder of how a bike can bite you. Eventually you'll get to the point where gas/brake/shifter/signals/etc are second nature and you won't have to think about them- as a newbie, they require a lot of your concentration, and that's what gets most beginning riders.

Edited March 24, 2014 by RubberSideDown

[cooked]

I bought a Norton 350 about 45 years ago. Same thing, only I nearly had an accident in the first 5 seconds as a casual turn of the throttle resulted in my finding myself on the pavement on the other side of the road.

Sent from my GT-S7500 using Tapatalk 2

[H1w4yR1da]

How about some crashes while leaving the dealer?

Beautiful bike! Beautiful leathers. Beautiful helmet and gloves.

Oh dear!

No! No! No!

[andreandre]

You were bloody lucky you didn't hurt yourself or someone else...

What on earth would possess someone who has no bike riding experience to go and do as you did?

And to do it in a country where a bikerider is treated with less regard than a soi dog really takes the cake mate..

Pm me if you want some help to learn the ropes....i used to teach 'ride to survive ' techniques..

[ZigZagMan]

I think off road riding is the way to learn.

Crashed my 125 enduro over and over and over on the trails and hill climbs.

[andreandre]

I think off road riding is the way to learn.

Crashed my 125 enduro over and over and over on the trails and hill climbs.

It is one good way to learn many many control techniques for sure..i learnt by instruction from a very good trials rider..slow speed control of a bike is a crucial element and i've found that if riders have a good mastery of slow/very slow speed riding they usually carry that through to good high speed control..

[thepool]

Brilliant !

Never ridden a bike but clearly thought a 125cc scooter was just a toy !

Lucky not more damage was caused

BEWARE -------------he is out there somewhere --------wobbling about with no clue as to how to control the bike !

[yankee99]

You got the rental bike lesson (though I guess you can't expect much more out of a dealership):

'There's the gas, there's the brake, there's the road- good luck.';)

Watch it out there- that was a really cheap reminder of how a bike can bite you. Eventually you'll get to the point where gas/brake/shifter/signals/etc are second nature and you won't have to think about them- as a newbie, they require a lot of your concentration, and that's what gets most beginning riders.

The rental companies always said the horn was the most important thing but I honestly hardley ever hear people use their horns here.

[kurnell]

Show some common sense and down six pints before you go out again.

[moe666]

They will fix a broken arm for 100 baht and a leg for 200

[rhythmworx]

I don't know where to start with advice to the OP if it is not a troll post.

Just as you think hey I'm getting the hang of this someones brake lights don't work and you repeat the process.

Oh where did that pothole come from.

Shit I've got eyes full of mosquitos and can't see.

There will be many surprises ahead just don't get too confident.

Hope nothing bad happens on your journeys, if you are not wearing a full face helmet you really need a pair of safety glasses.

[thrilled]

All that I have to say your lucky.I started back in 67,riding thru the woods.I won't ride 2 wheels in any large city in Thailand.Good luck to ya.You survived this one.Next time you might possibly bite the bullet.

[stoli]

All that I have to say your lucky.I started back in 67,riding thru the woods.I won't ride 2 wheels in any large city in Thailand.Good luck to ya.You survived this one.Next time you might possibly bite the bullet.

Might even bite the bullet just walking across the street. That is life, Live it, enjoy it.

To The OP: They say you have never truly ridden a bike until you have had your first lay down. Congratulations. You got your first lay down on day 1. I would suggest, as others have, go into the country and practice, practice, practice. Try sand. Try potholes. When I say try, I mean try to avoid them safely.

You will find your life in Thailand to be far cheaper if you get a Thai Driver's License. Please, always wear the helmet. They do work, and you will have a need for it, eventually.

[bramds]

As far as I know, there are only two kinds of bikers:

those who have fallen and those who will fall.

[VocalNeal]

As far as I know, there are only two kinds of bikers:

those who have fallen and those who will fall.

There are two kinds of bikers.

There are old bikers and bold bikers but there are no old,bold bikers

[H1w4yR1da]

The rental companies always said the horn was the most important thing but I honestly hardley ever hear people use their horns here.

Apparently it's 'impolite' to use the horn in LOS. This was explained to me when I first took my test for the 5-year bike driving license. Thais get angry when their poor driving is pointed out to them.

That's one of the reasons why I use the horn all the time.

Edited March 25, 2014 by H1w4yR1da

[speedtripler]

The rental companies always said the horn was the most important thing but I honestly hardley ever hear people use their horns here.

Apparently it's 'impolite' to use the horn in LOS. This was explained to me when I first took my test for the 5-year bike driving license. Thais get angry when their poor driving is pointed out to them.

That's one of the reasons why I use the horn all the time.

be careful using the horn on thais in cars and pickups

a guy nearly wiped us out in his car gran turismo style and i nearly locked up the front wheel to avoid the back of his car

i followed him in a rage holding the horn and waving him to pull over ,he hit the brakes again and i nearly went down to avoid his back

bumper and i kept following him thinking he has to stop somewhere so i can beat him to a pulp

he did end up stopping , i pulled in behind a distance him and ran up to get so he couldnt reverse over me and my bike so easily

drivers door opened and a thai guy with a gun in his hand jumped out ........maybe high on yaba or ice or just enraged that a farang would be pissed off at his dangerous driving ...im not sure which but after a bit of shouting he got back in and drove off and i pulled into the next 7-11 to have a beer and calm down a bit because my blood was boiling

dont bite off more than you can chew ,eh ..........

[mania]

There are two kinds of bikers.

There are old bikers and bold bikers but there are no old,bold bikers

heheh that axiom works for pilots as intended

since they are periodically tested & need to stay current.

But Bikers?

I dunno but see many old bikers here who seem quite bold to be riding the middle

line with baskets, animals or 4 kids etc. lashed to their seats

[slipperylobster]

Just keep lots of air space between you and other moving vehicles. I look at myself as a target, and my reward for avoiding direct hits are another day with no pain. It works.

[PMZ]

It is a lovely country to ride a bike in, mostly great riding weather, but be careful and aware of what's going on around you.

It's nowhere near as dangerous as many people say or think, but its up to you to stay aware.

Watch out for other bikes and buses, they seem to be the most inconsiderate.

As said above, wear a helmet, wear a quality European / Japanese helmet, not one of the biscuit tins the locals favour.

I have driven about 50,000 KM in Bangkok traffic. One accident, 100% my own fault. My helmet saved my life.

Have fun but take care.

[Pinot]

I think the most valuable tip I got when I first started riding was NOT to try and steer the bike by turning the handlebars in the direction you want to go. Instead gently pull with the opposite hand to the direction you want to go. The bike will lean in the direction you want to go. Difficult to explain, easy to do. Get someone to show you.

I put a new bike down in the first two weeks I owned it but not again in the last four years. Practice on deserted streets can help.

[Overandout]

I recall my bike training for my first licence back in the UK... the instructor told us all to ride as if everyone else on the road were trying to kill us.

With one slight change to the wording that applies in Thailand also:

Everyone else on the road IS trying to kill us.

[johng]

I think the most valuable tip I got when I first started riding was NOT to try and steer the bike by turning the handlebars in the direction you want to go. Instead gently pull with the opposite hand to the direction you want to go. The bike will lean in the direction you want to go. Difficult to explain, easy to do. Get someone to show you.

I put a new bike down in the first two weeks I owned it but not again in the last four years. Practice on deserted streets can help.

I think its easier to understand this counter steering if you say push on the handlebars with your right hand if you want to go right

push on the handlebars with your left hand if you want to go left

pull left to go right allways confuses me.

[Faranguy]

Yes, Andreandre, go slow until you know, just like my music teacher said. I am a regulalar rider of a bicycle but have not ridden a scooter since I was a teenager. I got a new bike 2 days ago and had it dropped off at the school so I could practice everyday before I hit the road. Good thing too. First mistake, driving on the wrong side of the road. Second mistake, not remembering how to do signals without looking, not being a steady driver, jerky motion. Slowly it is all coming together then I will drive in a dirt lot nearby as per tv recommendations. I will also practice quick braking, u-turns and try to get used to applying the right power for various manouevers. Yes I would have bit the dust several times without this practice. Thanks all for additional hints. I was recommended to have a helmet with a full face mask, jacket with elbow pads, pants with knee pads.

I ride daily with a motorcyle taxi, same guy always. He drives slower than others, follows other motorcycles, does a lot of mirror checking, does quick uturns by leaning only and is very smooth. He is more expensive than other guys (130 vs 100) but these are cheap lessons from a survivor..