Whether you're a long-term expat or a two week millionaire tourist if you hit the road touring without carrying the right equipment in Thailand you could be up shit creek before you know it.
If you're a city dweller it's usually not a major deal as there's usually a solution nearby that can fix a problem. But if you're in the back-of-beyond with no help in sight not having the right tools and equipment is can mean a serious set-back.
The Essentials:
Carry a passport or photocopy of passport.
Basic Insurance/rental agreement.
Your homeland driving licence.
At least a modicum of sobriety.
Road sense.
The Recommended:
Premium/First Class Insurance.
A&E Medical insurance.
A Thai drivers licence.
Sobriety.
Road sense.
A Tool Kit
Almost always i find that few folk in Thailand have access to the necessary tools to carry out basic checks and maintenance on your bike. It is easy to pay a thai mechanic to work on your ride but things like checking the tire pressure and the fluid levels are important before you set out on a blast.
Every bike has a small dedicated toolkit for maintenance, they are usually stored under the riders or pillions seat.
Older bikes may not have them though as the previous owners may of either lost them etc. This is normally not a major problem unless you have an exotic big bike no-one has heard of. In this case the tools may be specific to that make and finding the right tool to take apart something could be awkward.
Owners Manual
Another important, but often overlooked, item. Without you'll have to hunt around on the internet and via the local mechanics for essential info like tyre pressure settings and more mundane matters of what engine oil the bike best runs on.
If you've bought you're bike in Thailand brand new there's a chance that it won't be in english! But this is still better than having nothing to refer to.
For one thing, wearing any type of helmet, even a stout hat is better than no protection at all. Besides the obvious goal of keeping out skulls intact they can act as a barrier against the intense thai sun, keep your eyes shielded, especially with a tinted visor.
For some in Thailand the attitude is Mai Pen Rai and let the spirits guard over us. Unfortunately I, for one, have heard, seen and read in the papers too many stories of unfortunate Thai folk being killed in accidents where a helmet could of prevented what the spirits and fate could not. If nothing else wearing a helmet means the thai police cannot fine you for breaking the law.
This can vary, but it starts with (at it's most basic) externally padding vulnerable knees, elbows and hands. For cheapness and ease of availability this is quite popular amongst a few thais and farangs.
The next level of protection is wearing an armoured jacket, leggings and biker gloves. These tend to be thick, tough, abrasion-resistant materials of leather/kevlar with carbon lamellar sections. They often have reinforced armour plating/padding which can be inserted/removed to protect the spine and shoulders etc.
The drawback of armour is the more you wear, the hotter it gets. In the tropics this isn't easy, especially if you're in built-up areas and aren't touring long distances (where the wind-chill can counter-balance the armour heat).
Source: On The Road Thailand.
Biker Gear - Thailand
