Riding in Thailand
Well, I am back after a whirlwind 10day holiday in Phuket Thailand and I thought I should report back on what only can be described is pure lunacy on 2 wheels.
It started out on the day I arrived and I noticed that everyone on this island (from the age of 5 and up), possessed at least 2 100 -110cc step throughs (not unlike the old farm CT110). I decided that these locals must be onto something so I decided to hire one. After searching around the hire stores I noticed that anything bigger than 100cc was extremely difficult to find and for the whole trip I think I managed to see only one 1000cc sports bike!!
After exhaustive discussions with various retailers explaining that yes 600cc super sports bikes do exist in the world, I gave in and went for a brightly coloured 110cc Honda Dream 
(sounds quick doesn't it!). I donned my matching helmet, which resembled something like a chainsaw hard hat, and headed out onto the highway. This was where the fun began. Thai drivers have got to be the most reckless drivers on this planet, there is no such thing as driving on the correct side of the road or keeping out of lanes designated for these little bikes (I might add with a top speed of 80kmph). For most of my trip I was sandwiched in between at least two 4 wheel drives that seemed intent on sending me to my death down a rather steep bank and a variety of these other brightly coloured midget bikes. At one point in my travels I was even passed by an entire family (no helmets) mum, dad and three kids all on the same bike!! (I sure that little machine was turboed as I couldn't catch it for the life on me 
)
Now for those here who are new to the concept of lane splitting you should go to Thailand, these guys are the masters. The rules appear to be along the lines of "if there is a gap take it" and "if someone cuts you off stick out your foot and push off the offending vehicle".
What was even more concerning was learning on my return that I was not insured and any damaged that occured to me or anyone else was gong on my credit card!! So if anyone else is thinking of this endeavour be warned that you will feel safer on a ZR12R on your learner license in Aucland traffic than on these little death traps.
All in all a great trip and I think it is worth getting on a bike if you are ever out of the country and getting some good experience at keeping yourself out of harms way
"Resort to the law so exhausts finances, patience, courage, hope, so overthrows the brain and breaks the heart, that there is not one honourable lawyer who would not give the warning "Suffer any wrong rather than come here".
Charles Dickens
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Originally Posted by WRT
Popping wheelies on sj50's since 2003 
Cheers.
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