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your point of view
hello there,
i would like to hear your point of view for the following situation: my girlfriend is thinking of riding her own bike in southeast asia (cambodja, laos, thai). she thinks about a small 250cc but has no driverlicence, nor drivingexperience,but thinks it will be okay by learning on the road from me who will be in that case drive a similar bike. So, buying a bike in BKK, drive it into some small village to learn her handle the bike, and then off we go..doesnt it sounds totaly irresponsible or a good adventure? greetz niels thailand-belgium overland on a ttr25-2005 |
Well I actually envy you for such a cool girlfriend ;-))
No risk, no fun - only hope she won't blame it on you when thing's don't turn out the way she imagined ;-)) Good luck!! Winne |
Edge your bets and put her through a test or at least a course. Adventure's fine until your looking at the ceiling of a third world hospital along way from home; with life threatening injuries. Its preparation that will see you through a trip safely, thats you the bike and your girl friend.
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Hi,
So, you buy a bike in Bangkok, start driving without any experiance..... and do you expect your girlfriend to exit Bangkok in a coffin or on the bike? I don,t want to spoil your fun or your adventure, but be realistic. Trafic in bangkok is hectic.... Difficult for experianced riders... But there is an other factor, much more important: Your life, on a bike, has absolutly NO value here. Car,s or (10 times worse) busses wil NOT stop and wil NOT avoid a colision with "just a bike". Adventure is fun, cuicide is stupid! Just take some time to learn to ride a bike in a safe place. Check the statistics in "safty o the road" Thailand is nr 2 on the list of road-deaths! Sorry to sound a bit pesimistic. Maarten ------------------ - www.maartensworld.com - |
Russian roulette comes to mind.
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if we were going to leave BBK with the bikes it would be with the train. stop at some quiet place and learn there...
yep,appreciate your points of view. but i am still not really convinced about what to do... i drove myself in and around BKK for a month, without not much of experience and without any problems. . same azbout what they said about teheraN...you know, sometimes people really try to exagerate... any tips and advice welcome.... greetz Niels |
I would feel uneasy. If anything happens and she doesn't have a licence...
Try contacting David Unkovich of http://www.gt-rider.com/ . He lives there. |
Niels, ask the same question enough times your going to get the answer your after!
PK |
Hi Niels,
I don,t want to "bully" you, understand that... But why do you ask for advice? After a few "negative awnsers" your "not really convinced" ??? I did ride my bike around the world and now I live 2 hours away from Bangkok. After 180.000 Km in aprox. 50 country,s, I think I am able to ride a bike properly... But if I have to go into Bangkok with my bike.... I do it on a sunday-morning (and I still hate it). Maybe that makes me a coward, but it also keeps me alive and healthy. (and my bike in one piece) I see many, many dead people here... Most of them were riding a (small) motorbike just before they died. Please think it over. Maarten ------------------ - www.maartensworld.com - |
Have just returned from Cambodia ...Thialand Loas ...and believe me its no fun.... and i have like many others on here been travelling for a number of years now ...its not the place to ''practice''
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Hi Niels
If you and your girl friend are aware of the risks and exercise caution, then why not? I say go for it. All of us have started off biking taking risks,(we're still taking risks!) though the risks may be higher where you're going. Yes do it. Tell us how it was... Quote:
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Niels, the real question here is what does your girlfriend think of this? This should really be HER decision. Has she seen what traffic is like in SE Asia? Does she know the risks? If she has and is still confident, than maybe she could do ok. Some folks take up riding naturally, some don't.
But as others have said, riding in the big Asian cities, especially Bangkok, is very risky even for an experienced rider. It sounds like you are familiar with these conditions too. I think the decision is ultimately up to your girlfriend...with your guidance of course. Just make sure she knows what she is up against. BTW, mmaarten, where are you in Thailand, we will be there in a few days with our bike. Email me if you are interested in meeting for a beer or something. We are going to try to avoid Bangkok riding as much as possible too! ------------------ Dave www.mototrekker.com |
hello,
you posted this topic on the HUBB, so you dont know what to do. In 2002 me and my girlfriend were in the same situation, only in a different continent. We bought a bike (an XR200R) for her in Buenos Aires. She had no licence and never ridden a bike on the road. I thought her how to ride, around the one-way streets and around the block. But I made her wearing protective gear, mx boots and an european type mc jacket and of course a good crash helmet. She learned fast. Three days later we left together, she followed me, on a Saturday morning very early with nearly empty roads. We used the highway (ringroad) to leave. On Sunday she had her first fall offs on gravel roads together with a bunch of Argentinean bikers. We travelled 22.000km in South America, on some of the worst roads, she did very very well, up to Bogota in Colombia. In 2004 we started riding together in Africa. She had made her license in Switzerland and got a DR 350, Kickstarter only. We rode 35.000km thru Africa together. She loves riding. Let your girlfriend decide, but help her with your expierence. Yes, Maarten, Bangkok is very bad for beginners. One of the worst cities, if it comes to riding your bike, maybe together with Cairo and some Indian or Nigerian Cities. But you could put the bikes on a truck and leave town this way. Dont forget that in Thailand, or India, or Nigeria, everybody makes mistakes in traffic and everybody expects others to make mistakes. So everybody is aware. In the western world you cant make mistakes because nobody expects the others to make them, and that is dangerous for a beginner. Obvoisly your girlfriend does not enjoy riding as a pillon, which is understandable. She will never be happy if you just tell her, it is too dangerous. Do it. And I am sure most others reading this thread envy you for such a girlfriend. Or Maarten ? Thailand, Laos and Cambodia are fantastic countries for riding a bike, and 250 cc is enough. Greetings MIKA (www.weltreise-motorrad.de) ------------------ |
fyi, although rape and murder of female backpackers makes the headlines, the biggest cause of death amongst tourists in Thailand is motorcycle crashes - I would guess mostly inexperienced ones who think a little scooter won't do any harm...
CS |
oh yes,
if you would have believed in all the newspapers and statistiks, would you have ever crossed Iran ? of course there is a risk and of course tourists die, everyday for all kind of reasons. do Thailand in a tour bus with a tourguide and you will live forever ... ... enjoy live and learn to accept that there is a risk ... MIKA ------------------ |
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If she rides a bicycle in traffic then it will be easier to ride a motorcycle.
If she does not ride a bicycle at all then she should learn that first. |
aha! thanks to everybody on this forum for your lovely advice.
I was surprised to read so much reactions on this thread ,that exctualy started out as something in between like a joke/and cry for help to get my girlfriend convinced about what to do. To be honnest I was convinced in the beginning that it was undoable, but i was not really in peace with that conclusion because its so much nicer for the both of us if it really could work. Now i really dont know anymore what to do, to be honnest i think it could work but i am to concerned about her. guess it is going to depend on her what she wants to do. Is there somebody out there who can give her some more advice? anyway, we will let you know about our, no her, decision... greetz Niels |
Hey Niels,
Are you in Thailand already? If not, why complicate things for yourselves, by NOT learning to ride in nice and safe Belgium, with the added benefit of actually obtaining a license? They have these nifty 3 day courses (at least in the Netherlands they do, surely Belgium has something similar). I did one days before the start of my trip and it made me feel very comfortable having a official license with the added bonus of actually being able to ride a bike legally in countries where people do give a shit, or are able to read in more than one language (Western Europe). Anyways if you are in Thailand, I recommend a HONDA Scooter (Wave or similar) with an automatic clutch. First of all the absence of the clutch will help your girl learn how to ride the bike before learning how to operate it (does this make sense?). KISS - keep it SAFE and simple. Get one with regular front suspension (not the swing arm) and a disc brake for a more 'big bike' feel. Secondly these buggers never break down and in the unlikely event they do spare parts are everywhere. Then if she likes riding the HONDA, you flog it and buy a bigger bike. OR...go for a real adventure and ride the scoot back to Belgium. If you opt for the last, let me know, I am very interested. Don´t tell me it can´t be done, Anchorage - Ushuaia on a HONDA scooter in 6 months presented no problems at all (www.honda50.cc). Well, hope this was helpfull to you. Have fun , stay safe and remember: "You meet the nicest people on a Honda" Dirk ------------------ |
I think the sensible thing to do is to find another solution. Ride in BKK without sufficient experience will be dangerous.
Without a license I think she will not be able to get an insurance cover so in case of an accident you will have to rely on your own finances. Moreover she could be in trouble with the authorities for not having a license especieally if involved in an accident with locals. |
I was in Thailand in '88 and it was total carnage. You wouldn't have got me on a bike in BK for love nor money. I rode a bit in the south and spent a few months on Koh Samui during which time there was an average of almost a death a week on the island! Met a couple of Brits doing a London-Sydney trip on a pair of Beemers and had been accident free - until Thailand. I hope for your girlfriend's sake road safety has made a dramatic improvement since then.
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'servus' from on the road!
What do i think about your/her idea? Don't ask other people for their opp. you will anyway pick out what you want to hear! I am right now (since 10 month on tour) with my Royal Enfield Motorcycle on the roads of central america. As a lady, by herself - dont ask what i had to hear. About SE Asia, - i loved it and i think the only way to travel there is on a bike but please .... not the first time! Go for some practice at home, take her to the max.situation and then take off to your great yourney. (250 is in SE A big enough) Take care, respect and have a lot of fun!! |
hi guys,
we finally arrived in thailand and because we dont find a big bike my girlfriend decided to drive her own suzuki cross 200 cc. so we are going for it. as mentioned before, we are going to transport the bikes outside of BKK to learn her to drive there... i keep you informed..she will start learning in about two weeks..wish her luck greetz niels |
Hee Niels,
Drop by in Kanchanaburi ! 07 154 6616 We have a train-station and a motocross track and a lot of quit streets to learn. Maarten ------------------ - www.maartensworld.com - |
Hi Niels, just catching on to this thread and although you are already in SEA, I would like to comment anyhow.
I toured through Thailand, Laos, Vietnam and Cambodia one year ago and found Vietnam traffic to be very dense, especially HCMC, by far. It is a very crowded country and appears chaotic but there is an amazing flow to how people commute in HCMC. Laos, on the other hand, is quite the opposite. Low population and very easy-going society. Thailand is wonderful riding in the north but Bangkok--wow!! Nuts! It took me over 4 hours to escape that city, one hot afternoon, last May. Cambodia is very easy as well, except Phnom Phen can get a bit hectic but not bad, really. My perspective is from a very experienced, long-time motorcyclist and I found nothing too daunting but a new rider in the "crazy areas" I would not approve of. Extreme road and traffic awareness is called for. Enjoy the trip. |
yep art, i agree on Laos were I was 2 years ago for a quick visit. the traffic seemed very relaxed compared to the other south asian countries i saw before. and the people are just great...
we were not planning to go to cambodia because of the restrictions they have for big bikes and it seems that everything above 175 cc is not allowed. enfin, this is what i saw mentioned in the gt-rider site and the topic How to enter vietnam. its good to hear that cambodja is also more relaxed to drive around... thanks maarten for the invitation. my girlfriend knows a friend who lives in phetchabun, and our bikes are going to be transported over there for price of only the petrol.. maybe we will visit you on the way back, and then it will be even possible that we put our bikes their on the train back direction Bkk to avoid the hectic traffic if my girlfriends doesnt want to drive the bike into town.. greetz Niels |
Niels, we are in Bangkok too at the moment, check your email...
------------------ Dave www.mototrekker.com |
My girlfreind did the same as yours.
No experince and we rode out of the centre of Mexico City, 12 months later we are back in Australia after travelling up to Canada and across Japan and Russia. Only a couple of prangs and she is itching for more, I need a rest. It will be stressful watching her negotiate traffic. Try and keep your cool, and keep an eye on her late in the day. As fatigue sets in the riding deteriates super fast and they start to hit every pot hole around and beet themselves up fast. Stop when you have to. Some days you wont get far, others you will cover great distances. Dont rush her and dont loose it with her. Defend her at all times in traffic if you can, not always possible. And have a ball. Get the best travel Insurance you can. |
Hey Neils,
One of the large sports manufactures has a saying, I believe it is Nike! I envy your gf's courage and wish more people were like this. I have a lot of experience on bikes since I was 6 and now 43. The worst thing people can say to you is that it is too dangerous to do this or that because soon you will start to believe it! And this I can tell you is worse than never doing what you feel. As Mika says, help her and give her encouragement. Do your think V Rossi got where he has with his mum saying it's too dangerous to do what he does? If she wants to and is that keen what the hell, "Just do it" and have fun while your doing it! Cheers Ivan |
hi everyone there,
first of all thanks to you all for sharing your pont of views and giving me advice.. Jeanne and me arrived yesterday in sukothai. we have been riding 2 days en everything is going well. the most important thing is that she likes its. altough the cities give her sometimes the creeps.. for me it also goes well. during her practising period in petchabun i was sometimes scared or stressed, but i was able to let it go. to be relaxed is so important as well for me as for her. we practised in the city with me a passenger and i think this was the most rewarding exercise. sometimes i was scared as hell but could keep cool wich worked for her... greetz Niels |
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