Tips to Safely Travel Asia by Scooter

As most of you can imagine, or would have seen in those jaw-dropping “travelgram” pictures, Asia is home to a vast number of different cultures, stunning, white sandy beaches, delicious street food, thousands of ancient temples, and amazing motorbike routes. I mean, just look at the beauty captured in the images of our recent post, and here too!

Renting a motorbike in Southeast Asia is a very popular, exciting, cost effective, and memorable way to get around. But there is no doubt that you could face some challenges for staying safe, both on the road and in the rental shop.

People traveling here for the first time often rent a scooter or motorbike at some point or another regardless of having little to no experience in riding. While renting a scooter may seem like a kind of historic steampunk fantasy from the Victorian industrial era, in Asia, scooter power is one hugely popular cultural phenomenon.

While a lot of foreigners are making use of the relaxed riding laws, the fact that anybody can ride a motorbike in most parts is not always a good thing. The rest of this article will assume you have little experience on two wheels and aims to provide you with all the important basics.

Motorcycle Rental Basics

Whether you are qualified or not, many countries in Southeast Asia will allow you to rent a scooter without a motorcycle license or international license. Although, this does not mean that it’s allowed. There is a fair chance that you will still encounter some kind of issues down the road with the local authorities. More often than not, with a little bit of luck on your side, the consequences will not be too severe and you might just get away with an on-the-spot “fine.”

Most rental companies will require some kind of documentation as a guarantee for the safe return of their scooter. This could be in the form of your passport or a decent cash deposit. You will, most likely, also be asked to sign a rental agreement, making you liable for damages that may occur to the scooter.

Important Tips for Renting a Motorcycle in Asia

• One of the easiest scams to fall into is renting a scooter from an individual hustler. You’re much safer renting from an established and reputable rental dealership.
• Make sure you examine the motorcycle before you drive it off. I always like to take a few pictures or even a video of all the existing scratches and damages as proof that you’re not responsible for causing them.
• Take note of the contact information of the shop. Write it down or save it on your phone in case you experience any problems down the road. Some smaller issues you will need to be responsible for handling are things like small scratches, flat batteries, and flat tires. Not to worry, these types of repairs usually don’t cost too much.
• Make sure you familiarize yourself with the contract in case there are any underlying clauses limiting your range of travel and maximum kilometers.
• You will notice many riders opt not to wear a helmet. I highly recommend you use one. It’s your life on the line. Check out these 45 reasons to wear a helmet from First Checkpoint. The helmet should fit comfortably, but secure enough to not wobble around as you ride.

Vital Motorcycle Gear

As I stressed above, please follow your common sense and wear a helmet, even if no one else does. Even a really slow crash could result in very serious injury.

Almost no one in Asia dresses in the proper protective attire. Upon arriving at your destination, you’ll notice that just about everyone is wearing a similar style. Flip flops, short shorts, and a vest. Possibly the three worst items of clothing to wear as far as protection is concerned.

Asia is well known for its hipster-like culture of open-mindedness and spirituality. You will certainly come across many free-going individuals with long dreadlocks, operating unique shaving scuttle's to achieve that perfectly styled beard. While this lifestyle is very enticing, remember that it’s in your own best interest to cover up your soft skin with an extra layer; even swapping the short shorts for a thicker pair of jean shorts can make a huge difference.

Riding bare foot or with flip flops is also incredibly risky. Your feet are the only part of your body that ever come into contact with the ground, so it’s definitely worthwhile having something a little sturdier than a flip flop underneath your soles. Coming to abrupt stops is a very common incident, and your feet are often flung out in a hurry to assist. Get yourself a pair of comfortable walking shoes, or even a pair of swimming/rock shoes will be advantageous.

Tips for Your First Day of Riding:

If you’re new to riding on two wheels, don’t worry, it’s really not that difficult. The rental agents have years of experience in providing quick crash courses. Ideally, your first attempt should be on a flat, smooth surface, away from any obstacles and traffic.

Most scooters are automatic, so it’s as simple as gently pulling backwards on the throttle (right-hand grip) and you should start moving forward.

The most important aspect to remember is the brakes. You have two of them. I would suggest using the back break most of the time (left-hand side), as it’s safer to use, especially on wet roads, sand roads, and when going around corners.

Take your time getting the feel of the controls. It will be much easier if you don’t have a passenger on the back.

Most importantly, just remember, you’re on vacation. So enjoy yourself, and take in all the beauty of your new and exciting adventure.