As of today, I'm a Honda wave 110i renter! I've never riden a scooter before and the traffic in Thailand is a bit crazy but I've been practicing in the small streets :)
Be Really FUCKING CAREFUL. The other scooter riders around you have a more comfortable relationship with death than you do. They ride accordingly. When you see a scooter gang, particularly at night, keep your eye out for the unmarked station wagon or truck that follows them. It may have lights, it may not. It's the body carrier. Because healthcare in Thailand is largely privatized and since those scooter gangs tend to collect injuries and fatalities, they can make a living by following them like sharks, waiting for someone to wipe out or die. Most of the time they take the casualties to the temple because it makes them more money than taking them to the morgue. Any traffic system that includes "body cleanup" as part of the ecosystem is a bad system to ride in. Watch your ass.he city has an average of four violent crimes and three fatal road accidents reported each hour of the night; there is no shortage of work.
I just got my car license less than a year ago and already managed to mangle my dad's van so i'll leave the actual scooter driving to my boyfriend who's an experienced motorcyclist (7 years, no accidents). He's very careful, but he was nervous too because of the left hand drive in Thailand. We're not in Bangkok but in Chiang Mai which is relatively small and touristy, lots of foreigners driving and pretty non-aggressive locals compared to Bangkok. Thanks for the heads up, i'll talk to him about the gangs and avoid driving after sundown in general :) From what I read, drunk driving is a popular activity amongst locals... Also, helmets of course. I've never driven a scooter before and it was really fun trying it out on the small road next to our building! Maybe i'll get myself one back in Canada if I find a way hide it from my mom lol.