What you Need to Know
Renting a Motorbike for the Thakhek Loop
Renting a Motorbike for the Thakhek Loop: What You Need to Know
The Thakhek Loop is most commonly done on a motorbike/scooter and it’s important that you know what you’re looking for when choosing to rent one. You’ll be spending the next 3-4 days riding a bike so it’s important that you rent a bike that is safe, reliable and right for you.
The Thakhek Loop is a popular motorbike loop in central Laos. It attracts many travellers for its unique scenery and once in a lifetime type of adventure. Throughout my travels the Thakhek Loop stands as one of my best experiences! In my opinion the nature, scenery and adventure you go on is unmatched and definitely the best thing I did when travelling Laos.
So here, I’ll be sharing what you need to know and my experience renting a motorbike for the Thakhek Loop.
If you are interested in doing the Thakhek Loop, check out my full guide:
Do you need a motorbike for the Thakhek Loop?
Doing the Thakhek Loop by motorbike is by far the most common and in my opinion the best way to do it. It’s fun, affordable and gives you the raw sense of going on an adventure!
If you don’t know how to ride a motorcycle there are options to do it such as by bicycle or car though these options are much less common.
Automatic or Semi Automatic Bikes
There are 2 main types of the motorbikes available for people wanting to do the Thakhek Loop
2 main types of motorbikes:
- Automatic Motorbikes (scooters)
- Semi Automatic Motorbikes
Automatic Motorbikes (Scooters)
Automatic motorbikes or scooters are definitely the more common type of motorbike you’ll see on the Thakhek Loop.
They’re easy to ride, reliable and capable enough to handle all the terrains on the Thakhek Loop. The most common scooter you’ll see on the Thakhek Loop and the one I rode was the Honda Click 125cc. They are great to ride and comfortable to endure on the Thakhek Loop.
Semi Automatic Motorbikes
Semi automatics are also a great option on the Thakhek Loop. The main difference between an automatic and a semi automatic is that on a semi automatic you’ll have to manually cycle through the gears.
The most common type of semi automatic on the Thakhek Loop is the Honda Wave 110cc. Although they are a bit smaller bikes at 110 cc they definitely pack a punch and are more than capable for anything on the Thakhek Loop.
Given that you can manually choose which gear you want, the semi automatics can handle inclines much better than the automatic scooters. On the Thakhhek Loop, there aren’t any super steep roads or hill climbs so it isn’t necessary to choose a semi automatic. I will say however, they are a lot more fun and exciting to ride!
Do I NEED a semi automatic?
Semi automatics are better in the sense that since you can cycle through the gears manually you are better adapted in riding in steep terrain as you can gear down to lower gears. In saying that the Thakhek Loop doesn’t have much steep terrain or at least nothing an automatic can’t handle.
Choosing to ride a semi automatic motorbike for the Thakhek Loop is purely a personal choice. Whether you choose a semi auto or auto, it’ll be more than enough to handle the roads on the Thakhek Loop.
What bike should beginners choose?
If you are a beginner or have limited experience with motorbikes, I would recommend choosing an automatic scooter as they are much easier to ride and have less of a learning curve. The most common automatic scooter would be the Honda Click 125cc.
Where to Rent a Motorbike
Since basically all the travellers that make their way to Thakhek are here to do the Thakhek Loop, there is no shortage of bike rental shops available. As a general rule, always rent your bike from a reputable rental shop by either checking their google ratings or by recommendation. Hostels and accommodations are also a great and reliable place to rent motorbikes from.
Recommended Motorbike Rental Shops
When I did the Thakhek Loop, my group rented motorbikes from 3 places, and we all had a great experience with them.
Recommended Motorbike Rental Shops:
All these places are very reputable and offer a similar reliable experience. I personally rented mine from Mixay, and from my experience I can say that their motorbikes are very well maintained, reliable and have a very large selection to those from (mind you that they don’t sell out). The owners were also great people who were very helpful in planning our route for the Thakhek Loop.
Passport Deposit?
Most places will want to take your passport as a deposit when you choose to rent from them. In general, giving your passport is always risky so I try to negotiate something else to deposit. Usually they will ask for a cash deposit however it will be a large sum, something like $2-$300 USD.
I rented my bike from Mixay and I was able to deposit my driver’s licence instead. I don’t know if they regularly accept driver’s licences but I was able to do so, so I guess it wouldn’t hurt to ask.
If passport deposit was your only option, since the rental shops I listed above are reliable places I wouldn’t be too worried to deposit my passport with them. But always, check reviews and ask around before you do so.
Cost of Renting a Motorbike
The costs associated with renting a motorbike for the Thakhek Loop is the daily rental fee, fuel and deposit.
Automatic scooters are around 150 000 Kip to rent daily.
Semi automatic bikes are around 110 000 Kip for rent daily.
Fuel would be around 40-50 000 Kip daily.
If you want a full budget breakdown of the Thakhek Loop check out my guide:
Checklist for Choosing your Bike
Take a video
The most important thing to do when renting your motorbike is to take a video of the condition the bike is in before you rent. A common scam is where vendors accuse you of a scratch or a dent when it wasn’t your fault. Taking a thorough video will ensure that if a situation like that occurs, you have evidence to prove you weren’t at fault.
Make sure your video is thorough and capture the bike’s condition at all angles.
Lights
Make sure your lights are working including head lights and indicators. Many parts of the Thakhek Loop do not have street lights and it would be a nightmare to be caught in the dark.
Brakes
Ensure your brakes are smooth and not squeaky. Give it a quick test run to see the conditions of the bike. If the brakes work smoothly but are squeaky ask for a replacement. A squeaky brake will become extremely annoying especially over the course of the Thakhek Loop.
Tyres
Ensure that tyres have enough tread, especially around the tire. If tires are looking too bald, ask for them to be replaced.
Mirrors
Ensure mirrors are in a fixed position and not swinging around. If they are swinging around, don’t be afraid to ask to fix it as it is a simple fix.
Gauges
Ensure that all gauges are working properly, mainly the speedometer and fuel gauge.
Take for a test ride
Ask the shop owner if you can take it for a test ride just up and down the street. Riding the bike will give you a much better feel for the bike and you may notice things that aren’t visible on the surface especially when it comes to steering or wheel alignment.
When taking a test ride test that:
- Throttle response is good
- Brakes are effective
- Steering is good.
Not sure which caves to visit on the Thakhek Loop, check my post out!
Don’t Rent a NEW Bike
I tend to stay away from the new bikes and steer more towards the slightly more beaten up ones.
My rationale is especially on the Thakhek Loop, you are going to scratch up your bike whether that’s from hitting potholes, riding through rubble or just trekking over some off-road. On a new bike small scratches and damages would literally glow. That’s why I like to choose the mechanically sound but slightly beat up bikes. That way even if you scratch it, it’s hard to notice.
Licencing and Insurance
Reality vs Law
By law you are required to have a valid international drivers licence to rent and ride motorcycles in Laos. This is hardly enforced by rental shop owners in reality and you can get away with renting a bike without a licence.
Police activity
From my experience from doing the Thakhek Loop, I didn’t hear of anyone getting stopped by the police. We did go past a few police check points however we were just signaled to ride through.
I don’t know if the police do stop any one however if you are stopped, just be calm and comply with what they’re asking for. Usually it’s just a fine and they’ll let you on your way.
Insurance
Unless your insurance specifically covers riding a motorcycle, no amount of travel insurance will cover any sort of accidents. So always be careful and focused. You are riding a motorcycle in a foreign country like Laos, the risks can be high if you are not careful.
Safety Tips for Riding the Thakhek Loop
Road Conditions
Generally the road conditions on the Thakhek Loop are pretty good. However, maintenance is poor so there are many large potholes around. As long as you are careful around corners and aware when riding, you’ll be fine.
Weather
This is more something to be aware of during the rainy season. There are sections of the Thakhek Loop that is dirt or gravel road. I’d imagine when it is rainy these sections will be slippery and hazardous to get through. Plan your Thakhek Loop accordingly.
Ride During Daylight
As a general rule of thumb it is much safer to ride during the day than it is at night. Especially on the Thakhke Loop, many sections and routes do not have street lights so it becomes difficult to drive at night. When I was doing the Thakhek Loop we planned our itinerary accordingly so we wouldn’t be in such a rush to get to our accommodation during sun down.
Final Thoughts
The Thakhek Loop is a once in a lifetime type of adventure. Choosing the right bike is important when doing the Thakhek Loop. As long as you go over the checklist and have a thorough look over your bike before you rent, you should have no problem.