I was quoted 1000 baht or $28 USD per day for a Honda CB500X by Pop Carnet. This seems a bit expensive as I can get the same bike in the US for about that price. What have others found the rates to be?

Any other shops I should contact? I'm going in the peak season in about three weeks, so I'd prefer to at least make contact with a rental shop before arriving so I can ensure the bikes my two friends and I would like to rent are available.

I dont think you will get them any cheaper than that. If you rent it for several days, for example a week - you might get the price down with 100 baht pr day.

POP is usually the cheapest afaik.

You could also try:

1. Tonys big bikes (not the cheapest but reliable and well serviced bikes) run by some english guys.
2. C&P. Small company but good service.
3. Mr. Mechanic - have mostly scooters but some big bikes too.

Sorry no webadresses - but I guess its easy to search online.

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In the end everything will be fine. If its not fine its not the end....

Yea, we are renting for two weeks, so I thought it would be a bit cheaper, but I guess not. At least I know we're getting a good deal. Thanks for the reply.

This is C&P prices for rentals. C&P lies next to POP and will therefore compete with POP....

Honda CRF 250l. 800 Thb. a day
Honda Motard 250M 800 Thb. a day
Honda CB 500x 1,300 Thb. a day
Honda CB 650f 1,500 Thb. a day
Kawasaki Versys 2014 1,600 Thb. a day
Kawasaki Versys 2015 1,800 Thb. a day
Kawasaki Z 800 1,800 Thb. a day
Suzuki V-strom 1,800 Thb. a day

You can usually get them a littlebit cheaper if you rent for a longer period, but not very much.

As you can see a CB500X is 1300 baht a day at C&P, thus POPs offer to you seems quite good/cheap.

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In the end everything will be fine. If its not fine its not the end....

I'd expect to be paying around 350Thb/day for a scooter hire, sometimes less so would be more expensive for a larger cc bike for sure. Am sure for a long hire period, a deal can be struck though.

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1000B is OK.

It's a very short high season as you say .. Like others say, 350B for a scooter is pretty expensive, but within the realms of possibility - The same scooter would be 150B a day in the low season, here in the south.

I can't think of many things you can do in the UK for 18 quid a day. Come to think about it 1000B doesnt go too far here these days either.

I have used C&P and I would recommend them, they were great with me

Also you can try Phil at Riders Corner in CM, he used to have bikes to rent

Wayne

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We used several places in Chiang Mai last year, subject to how long we wanted the bikes.
Pop was by far the cheapest for 2 x Honda Forza scoots for 10 days.
Pop himself voluntarily dropped the daily rate due to our rental duration.
It went from 1200Bt to 800/bike/day & a free GPS unit to help us get lost
We always buy new helmets each trip and leave them with the rental company at the end
1000Bt / day for a CB seems reasonable

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My memory is becoming that good, I should be able to organise my own surprise party soon

Does anybody know how we stand providing our passport as a deposit for a rental bike. Are their options.

Do you need a passport to get a hotel in Thailand?
What happens if you get stopped by the police, I've read its against the law not to produce a passport.

Your thoughts.
Geoff

Yeas there are options of course. You can pay a (higher) deposit and the rental company take a copy of your passport and maybe a copy your driving licence too.

In general you need a passport to get a hotel in Thailand. There are of course exceptions from this but as a rule you need that.

Its not correct that you need to carry your passport at all times while in Thailand. But a good copy of the details side and the visa/stamp side of your passport is required.

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In the end everything will be fine. If its not fine its not the end....

Thanks for the advice. I am currently emailing the bike rental companies in Chang Mai to see what is available for next year.
G

Hmmm .. Its a bit of a grey area. You are by law told to carry ID, this is left to the discretion of the person or organisation checking your ID wether it extends to a passport.

Sometimes they can demand that you return to your lodgings while your transport or spouse is held hostage at the side of the road, other times more than happy to accept a photo-reduced copy of your passport data page sealed in plastic .. its not a bad thing to copy your entry stamp and TM6 Arrival card and keep safe should something get lost or stolen. its only 1/2B - 2B per copy here.

On the whole if your on a bike, they are more concerned that you are road legal. Most of the time, if you have a helmet and can see you are western they will ask where you are heading and sometimes ask for a licence or an IDP.

You can find some reliable info here .. Carrying Your Passport in Thailand

Also bear in mind, its illegal to ride with a tinted visor here. It's never a problem but if the guys are on the look out for some tea money, it could be an issue. If you approaching a checkpoint, just lift it so the authorities can see your face.

Hotels .. I never carry my passport, just use a driving licence to check in, again, another grey area, but the hotel should take a copy of your data page and TM6 to file a notification to the immigration office.

Do you want to leave your passport behind as a deposit ? Hell no !! There are plenty of reputable bike shops in CM who would be happy to take a copy of your particulars and a small cash deposit. Just don't do it.