After riding our own scooter for a few months on our learner’s permit we had one last training session with Doug and then booked in for our licence test. To get our licences we had to do the full motorbike test — not just scooters, actual motorbikes — even though we’ll only ever ride scooters in Asia.
For years i have always dreamed of riding a scooter in Asia. Weaving through traffic in Ho Chi Minh City or finding beaches in Bali that the tourists can’t reach. It would just add another element to exploring these destinations. While that is my dream, Bec is on the fence.
We’ve been watching people on scooters in Asia for as long as we’ve been travelling there. It looks incredible. It also looks terrifying. And for a long time, the terrifying part won. Mainly because you see so many travellers starting GoFundMe pages when they have accidents that their travel insurance does not cover.
We don’t have any motorbike riding experience. We don’t have motorbike licences. We don’t have a motorbike. We don’t want to kill ourselves or anyone else. And are we just too old — i’m 51, Bec is mid-40s?
Are we too old to get motorbike licences?
Age and experience are the main concerns to be honest. Bec is a really cautious driver in a car and tackling the traffic in Asia on a scooter is just a whole different level. I’m all guns firing — keen as mustard as we say here in Australia. I genuinely cannot wait.
We also live in Maffra, a small country town where it’s considered a traffic jam if you have to wait at a roundabout for more than two cars. I have driven through European cities — Berlin, Amsterdam, Warsaw — even though Bec would say i’m not the best driver. She’s not entirely wrong.
How to get a motorbike licence in Australia
So we decided to do something about it and booked ourselves into a motorcycle licence course. We weren’t sure what to expect — whether it would be intense, hard or all of the above. Our instructor Doug made it pretty easy for everyone. Not too intense, simple and easy to follow. We learned the basics, did some riding on a tarmac — stopping, starting, changing gears, weaving through cones. Nothing crazy but enough to get us out on the road on a learner’s permit.
The whole thing from go to woe takes about three months and costs around $1,000 AUD. Yes, a grand to get a motorbike licence in Australia. It’s a lot but we think it’s worth it for what it opens up when we travel.
We also bought ourselves a Honda SCV 100. It’s about 15 years old and if you’ve got hurricane winds behind you it might crack 90 kilometres an hour. But it’s enough for us to get the feel and road skills we need. I’ve been riding it to work most days when the weather allows and i must say, i love it. It’s so much fun.
Passing the motorbike licence test
After riding our own scooter for a few months on our learner’s permit we had one last training session with Doug and then booked in for our licence test. To get our licences we had to do the full motorbike test — not just scooters, actual motorbikes — even though we’ll only ever ride scooters in Asia.
We had to ride from the training facility into the closest town and follow a route set out by the instructor. It generally included busy streets with stop signs and give way signs. He checked whether we were using our blinkers and whether we were positioned correctly on the road.
I am glad to say we both passed our test and are now holders of motorbike licences. This takes away a lot of the anxiety surrounding whether you are covered by travel insurance overseas when riding a scooter. Even though it is always good to check your travel insurance policy terms and conditions before you go.
Our first ride in Asia — Koh Yao Noi, Thailand
Our next destination is Thailand and we’re going to do a soft launch on the island of Koh Yao Noi. It’s an island that isn’t overly busy and will be a good place to take to the roads of Asia for the first time as midlife travellers on scooters.
We’ve booked a stay at Koh Yao Seaview Bungalow which rents scooters directly to guests staying at the hotel — which makes it even easier to get out and explore the island at our own pace. Koh Yao Noi is the perfect place to ease into riding in Asia. The traffic is light, the roads are quiet compared to the mainland, and the scenery makes every ride worth it.
And if you’re heading to Thailand and need an international driving licence to ride legally, sort that out before you leave home.
Age is no barrier in the end. Have confidence in yourself and go out and try something new, just like us. If you see us in Asia cruising around on scooters, give us a wave.
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