I drive here and I'd recommend getting the Honda Scoopy. Not my choice back home but here I think its best.

The main reason is that should you be in a minor accident/crash it offers some protection of your legs/feet. Its not glamorous but it gets you from point a to point b. And it has a small compartment in the seat for some groceries/stuff. Lots of used bikes available.

As others have said, you'll want to drive a bit slow and use common sense (and make sure you leave any anger at home regardless of how stupid other drivers may be). I avoid rush hour when possible and take lesser travelled routes when possible.

Be honest with yourself about your ability to drive - I've seen a few barangs crash due to driving on gravel or sand like dirt and simply not being able to control the bike. ALWAYS wear a helmet and don't drive after drinking. Keep the brakes in good working order and get the oil changed regularly. If your driving at night you may want to try to find a better helmet - I've found the cheap $20-25 ones work fine during the day but aren't the best (for seeing) at night. Best of luck.

When in Rome..

It isn't nearly as chaotic as it looks.

Lots of good points made earlier.

I recently sold my trusty scooter of over 4 years to Mrs Cargo's sister. After spending more time at the mechanics than in operation, her previous mini scoopy has gone to the moto graveyard and she's been without a moto. Ulterior motive here... the sister had convinced Mrs Cargo to go guarantor on expensive shop finance to buy a new moto. Apart from the high interest, I could see many potential pitfalls so it was easier/better for her sister to buy mine outright (at family price)..it being low kms and very reliable.

Anyway, that's off topic but it's only been a few days without moto and I do sort of feel naked without it. Sure, Grab is cheap and easy and no messing about with cash with debit card link but I do miss it so far...Something about having that convenience/freedom, wind in your face haha, rides with GF on the back etc Even though it's not really a necessity in my case, I think I'll nevertheless get another, newer one.

Jerry Atrick wrote: ↑Sat Jan 09, 2021 2:11 pm If you wear a full face helmet with a strap, ride assertively, not too slow, not stupidly quick and don't descend into some kind of unbecoming road raging anger at every small incident you’ll be fine.

Don't overthink. Ride

Yes. You get the hang of how to ride just by being a passenger for a while. You learn the techniques used to cross intersections and how to merge when turning into side streets. Having ridden a moto for my first time in PP recently I realised I was being overly cautious as I've been riding a bicycle for the past couple of years, and it's not the same, as obviously you can accelerate faster when needed. I'll need some more practice as I haven't ridden a moto regularly for nearly five years now. And that was in Australia where they actually have rules.

timmydownawell wrote: ↑Sat Jan 09, 2021 2:55 pm

Jerry Atrick wrote: ↑Sat Jan 09, 2021 2:11 pm If you wear a full face helmet with a strap, ride assertively, not too slow, not stupidly quick and don't descend into some kind of unbecoming road raging anger at every small incident you’ll be fine.

Don't overthink. Ride

Yes. You get the hang of how to ride just by being a passenger for a while. You learn the techniques used to cross intersections and how to merge when turning into side streets. Having ridden a moto for my first time in PP recently I realised I was being overly cautious as I've been riding a bicycle for the past couple of years, and it's not the same, as obviously you can accelerate faster when needed. I'll need some more practice as I haven't ridden a moto regularly for nearly five years now. And that was in Australia where they actually have rules.

Two good answers here alone, also many more above for the OP.
I personally ride a motorcycle because I enjoy riding them, also I want to be independent, I certainly don't want to put my life regularly in the hands of some old Moto Dop riders, tuk-tuk drivers around town or bus drivers on longer journeys, some will say that these drivers have experience and the knowledge, but I also read about them often involved in road accidents in the daily news.
I like to go at my own time and pace, when I wish to go somewhere, if it's only just to pop out to the local super market or even a longer journey to Koh Kong, it will be that of my own choice, and not to be dependent on another person.
Don't get me wrong or even misunderstand me, there are times when the other paid modes of transport maybe needed or even welcome at some point, and overall I have used most, Moto dop, tuk-tuk, bus and taxi, even private ambulance, I mostly prefer the train being the safer option, but even that mode of transport has had problems, that singular incident (there's been a few) of someone having a accident with a train that's on a track so obviously can't deviate from any danger, being reported when the police arrive, that the train was in the wrong for not moving out of the way. Likewise most accidents are always the other persons fault, unfortunately if you are not Cambodian it certainly is going to be your fault, "why"? Because firstly you should not be there, and Cambodians will mostly side with their own people, but most importantly, you are portrayed as being the one with money. There are many Cambodian people that think you should not, or are not allowed to ride a motorbike, and the motorbike is plentiful being the cheaper mode of transport for many, but unfortunately it is down the pecking order to whom and what has the right of way before you, might and money come first, and if you are a westerner, everything else on the road has right of way over yourself. People who drive and ride on the roads here (I have met exceptions) seem to only think of themselves, there are very few caring road users, and they tend to do selfish and stupid things that are dangerous to themselves and other road users.
timmydownawell - quoted - And that was Australia were they actually have rules. They have rules here too but its rare for many to follow them, you may too want to download the App Cambodian driving rules. There's traffic laws here too, even since the law changed in some aspects and fines increasing 5 fold you still see people riding motorcycles without helmets, in effect braking the law, risking fines and putting themselves in danger, I would safely say overall there is little regard for traffic laws.
All this said, it's just common sense, just be aware of everything going on when you are riding, let everyone else have right of way, you will find that there is no need to rush about putting yourself in danger, you may find quickly that others are capable of doing that for you.
Mostly I enjoy motorcycling here, the variations of roads, views from the bike of different areas, such has towns, cities and countryside. But mostly I enjoy the purpose of having simple freedom.

I'd say :
- Honda Click -> Quick enough, leg protection, heavy bag on the platform, no gears, not bad when raining. Yeah a bit old...ok as long as the spares are available. The newer the easier stolen.
- The faster you go, the more movements around to process and anticipate. Shit happens randomly here, beware.
- The brakes and cables are your best friends, take good care of them. Keep a spare lightbulb front and back for night issues, just in case....
- The dust / sand : bad braking, slow down near projects.
- Brake before starting to turn, don't accelerate while turning. Dust or oil or else are awaiting you there.
- Leave your worries or thinking or sms for when you're arrived. Distraction is the weakness in this business.
- Invest a bit in a upper-range local helmet, or imported. I crashed twice with the same 30 $ helmet and i was fine. It wasn't a great helmet, but made the job.
- Find a reliable mechanic can be a painful quest. But i believe the forum is resourceful there.
- Don't find yourself trapped in the middle of the road (i mean, the center line of the road, where everybody overtakes). Overtake when you know the guy in front knows you're doing it, and the road isn't too busy, and nothing seems to be ready to bother your overtaking plan (stray dogs won't care, and other fun random shit).
- Noise (horn, honking, music, screams and else) shouldn't affect you. It's just noise.
- 50 cc doesn't allow a push to get out of a tricky situation, just in case. And the overall quality seems low.

Personally i ride agressively, so i have only the frontside to check, so i can leave the hazardous drivers behind me, and so i can adjust to the frontcoming flow, and so i can keep enough lateral safe space even if i have to slalom a bit. When in center town, i ride more equally, less slalom except for when stuck in traffic. Headset with music, no insurance, no problem but...i started motorbike at 9, had my licence at 18, rode 10 years in Indonesia and 3 in Cambodia, learned to drive car last year at 47, so, yeah. Happy to still be alive, happy without major accident. But bikes are behind me now, family man.

Click your helmet, wear good shoes, and have fun

lagrange wrote: ↑Sat Jan 09, 2021 10:01 am

HappyChappy wrote: ↑Sat Jan 09, 2021 9:40 am

lagrange wrote: ↑Sat Jan 09, 2021 8:57 am Don't be put off by all the negative aspects - I have ridden scooters for years in Hanoi and Saigon in the world's worst traffic, and now riding a scooter in Cambodia. Over the years I have come off twice, both times my fault, luckily at fairly low speeds. Traffic rarely moves at more than 20 kmh to 30 kmh in town, often less! It can be a lot of fun and the important thing is to remember that road users are not constrained by rules much, so you just have to be awake all the time, wary of people coming out of side streets without looking, doing U-turns in the middle of a busy road, intersections with no clear right-of-way etc etc. Once you get into the rhythm with the locals its no problem.Like you I got fed up with arguing with tuk tuk drivers who wanted $5 to take me on a 5 minute ride, or waiting around for ages for the Passapp guy to turn up. Go wherever you want, park wherever you feel like it, its a taste of freedom. If you get a moto less than 125cc you dont need a license and if you wear a helmet and look like you know what you are doing the cops leave you alone. Anyway, who wants to live forever?

Right, very well said. Now here's my question, do I get a 50cc or a 110cc?? I plan on going slow so I thought 50cc would be best bust is 110/125cc handy incase I need to get outa the way of something quickly???

I have a Yamaha Nuovo, 115cc, acceleration is snappy enough to get past slow-moving tuk tuks etc. Just around town 50cc would be fine, although its more to do with your weight on a small bike (no offence, I just assume that like me you are a normal size barang). Just make sure its fully auto, like a Honda Click for example. Also I would recommend you buy a cheap, old bike first to get used to it - my first bike here was a $250 Honda Click, it did me well for a while and I sold it for the same when I got the Yamaha. Given the state of the roads - dust in summer, mud in winter - I would never spend $2,000 + just for something to run around on.

That's why I wanted to know!! I've seen Honda clicks for sale but they're all about 10 years old, is that still going to be a good option or do they start to fail at that age?

I rented a 50cc to see how it went and it was super easy, monkey see monkey do and I can kinda follow the flow of motos out here rather than in the UK where I'd be the only person on one!

Doc67 wrote: ↑Sat Jan 09, 2021 10:18 am Do you have medical insurance? If not, get some. You are about to embark on a dangerous new activity with no experience, in a city with few rules of the roads and lots of stupid and selfish people driving huge cars (often drunk).

Have you done a proper cost analysis? Purchase costs (bike and helmet) fuel, maintenance, night storage, etc. Also, unless you intend to ride when drunk, you'll still have tuk-tuk costs to factor in.

As you go to the gym, have you considered a push bike? Cheap, reliable, cops will take no interest in you, (I think you can even go the wrong way on a street) and easy to chain against something solid. It might give you a taster for what you're in for without the hassle of buying a moto, crashing it, healing and selling the bloody thing.

As you probably can tell, I don't have a moto and won't even get on one.

If you have medical insurance check the small print to see what it says about this. Cambodia doesn't require a license for under 125cc, but it is possible your insurance policy states you are only covered if you hold a license for the country you are in. Don't give them an excuse to not pay up.

Ghostwriter wrote: ↑Sun Jan 10, 2021 7:52 am I'd say :
- Brake before starting to turn, don't accelerate while turning. Dust or oil or else are awaiting you there.

Don't turn with an idle engine. Opening the throttle will increase the grip of the tire on the tarmac quite a lot. Highly needed in for instance the rainy season. Brake before the turn, open the throttle a bit when turning.

Bluenose wrote: ↑Sun Jan 10, 2021 8:21 am If you have medical insurance check the small print to see what it says about this. Cambodia doesn't require a license for under 125cc, but it is possible your insurance policy states you are only covered if you hold a license for the country you are in. Don't give them an excuse to not pay up.

This. I've mentioned it too a few times on earlier threads. I think it's never been made explicit that that rule includes foreigners.

For this reason, I personally wouldn't want to test the 'you don't need a licence for under 125cc in Cambodia' when claiming on medical insurance. Hence, I would recommend getting the 'big bike' local licence regardless just to be sure.