Renting motorbike Cr: Hotels.com

There’s no question about it, getting around Phuket by motorbike is generally more efficient and convenient than driving a car. Sure, one must contend with torrential downpours, routine and obnoxious police checkpoints, and the very real dangers on the roads. However, scooters and motorbikes are mostly cheap to buy, operate, and maintain and enable one to snake through traffic and easily find a parking spot. As the island continues to be developed and get more congested, these considerations become even more prescient. 

bikes in the sub-400cc Cr: chobrod.com

We’ll be discussing bikes in the sub-400cc class as these are arguably the most practical machines for Phuket. Many choose larger displacement bikes, but these are impractical for our small island where many roads are narrow, get congested, and there are few stretches of road where high speeds are even remotely safe. Sadly, many learn this the hard way through severe injury and, all too often, death. 

The tricky thing is, of course, there is no “best” bike when we are generalizing about thousands of people. For some, the cheapest one is the best while for others the most stylish is the best. Instead, let’s look at bikes like politicians – there’s no single one that will please everyone so we’ll find some that please most people most of the time. 

Honda Click Cr: bigbikeinfo.com

Without having access to actual sales numbers for Phuket, it’s safe to say that the Honda Click is the most ubiquitous bike. They are cheap to buy, easy to operate with no manual gears, very efficient, and require little maintenance, which is why the majority of bike rental shops will have a small army of these. The Clicks also have handy storage under the seat, smooth, peppy, and quiet engines ranging from 110-160cc, and have a seat height that makes them a good fit for the majority of people. Downsides are that they are not very comfortable for longer rides, anti-lock brakes are only available on the 160cc models, and although there’s a low center of gravity it is positioned more in the rear of the bike giving them a not-so-solid feel, especially in the front. You’ll find that the other big brands such as Yamaha and Suzuki have a very similar version of the Click.

For bigger folks who are more comfortable on a bike with a larger form factor, the Yamaha Aerox and Honda PCX are good options. The Aerox has a 155cc engine and a bit more of a sporty style than the PCX. Meanwhile, the PCX comes with either a 125cc or 160cc engine with a more refined look. Both are a bit wider with larger seats and have longer wheelbases than the Click. 

 Grand Filano

Those with a greater eye on efficiency have several petrol/electric hybrid models to choose from as well. Yamaha has interesting models like the Grand Filano and Fazzio that both have 125cc hybrid engines and Honda with the 160cc hybrid PCX, however the more powerful PCX is about double the price of the Fazzio at 107,00 baht. Unfortunately, thus far none of the major manufacturers offer a fully electric scooter in Thailand. However, there is a brand called Deco that is making inroads to the Thai market. Made in Taiwan, they have several models with various specifications from 1,000 to 3,000 watts. They are reasonably priced, come with a warranty on the battery and motor, and are nearly silent and a pleasure to drive. 

Lastly, we’d be remiss to not mention the semi-automatic bikes like the Suzuki Smash and the Honda Dream (Super Cub) – the latter being the best-selling motor vehicle in history. These are extremely popular all over Asia because they are inexpensive, simple air-cooled machines so easy and cheap to repair, and pretty much last forever if rust doesn’t devour them. Larger diameter wheels give them a more solid motorbike-like feel compared to the automatic scooters and having four speeds gives you better control for the hills.