I will preface this post by saying this: riding a motor bike especially in developing countries IS dangerous. Anyone who tells you otherwise is either misinformed or lying. That being said many people, including myself, take a calculated risk in doing this. The ease and freedom that comes with renting or buying your own motorcycle while travelling is unbeatable.
I was pretty adamant I wouldn’t ride a motorbike during my trip but after around a month I caved and rented one for the first time. I got quite frustrated not being able to get to more remote places and taxis although cheap do still add up. I was so glad that I learnt and it opened up so many possibilities for me.
Safety 👷🏻♂️
If you do choose to ride a motorbike you should do so as safely as possible. Many backpackers seem to feel invincible in South East Asia (SEA). You are on top of the world doing what you’ve always wanted to do. It feels great. But it’s easy to get over confident. Would you drive a motorbike back home under the influence of alcohol or drugs? If your answer is no then it’s probably best to avoid doing so in Asia.
Ideally you should learn how to ride a motorcycle at home first, although the majority of travellers don’t do this. If you do choose to learn in Asia be very careful. I recommend watching a couple of YouTube videos to learn the basic operations of a bike to avoid crashing right out the gate. (The most common way I’ve seen this happen is people grabbing too hard on the throttle and then panicking and instead of grabbing the break twisting the throttle even more… you can see how that ends)
Think about your clothing and footwear. Proper shoes are a must, especially when you are still learning. Long sleeves and trousers will give some protection from low speed falls.
Top tips:
- Always keep your left hand over the back brake!
- Drive at a pace you are comfortable at – don’t try and keep up with people
- Look where you want to go
- Always wear a helmet
Is it hard to ride a motorbike?
Honestly no not at all. If you can ride a pedal bike then more than likely you can ride an automatic scooter. It takes a short while to get used to how your balance feels and to trust leaning while taking corners but once you’ve done that it feels quite natural.
What do I need to ride a motorbike legally?
To ride a motorbike in SEA you need an International Driving Permit (IDP), this has to have a motorbike stamp in it. You also need your home driving licence. It is common for people to drive without these and in most countries after getting stopped by the police a small fine is all it takes to be back on the road.
Be aware most travel insurance will not cover you for accidents if you are not licensed to drive a motorbike in your home country.
Conclusion
Hopefully now you know a bit more about driving a motorbike in SEA and can make an informed decision about whether you should do it on your upcoming trip.
Have you ridden a motorbike before in South East Asia? Let me know where you’ve been in the comments below!