Motorcycle Hire 
Motorcycles
are inexpensive to rent and can be found at numerous places
scattered throughout the city, especially around Tha Phae
Gate, Chaiyaphum and Mum Muang Roads.
They
come in models and sizes ranging from a small 90cc Honda Dream
to 250cc trail bikes and larger. Some rental agencies offer
full insurance and helmets. Songthaew (Songthaeo or Red minibuses)
These
strange red vehicles defy accurate description; yet, throughout
Chiang Mai are a very common site. The Songthaew is neither
taxi nor bus, but more like a combination of the two and more.
They
are in fact really just converted pick-up trucks with wooden
benches on either side. Sometimes they will stick to a predefined
route, other times they may take serious major detours and
thus this is where the confusion can set in for the unsuspecting
user.
Normally,
they will pick up passengers as they cruise the city Center,
wherever and whenever they are flagged down. So long as your
destination is within the route the Songthaew driver is heading,
one can be expected to pay a fixed fare of between 5-10 baht
for short journeys. A higher fare will be charged for a single
passenger and/or if the driver is asked to deviate from his
"usual" route?
Songthaews
can be very convenient as they can also be privately hired
(with a driver) to take you wherever you want to go for a
couple of hours or a full day and/or night of touring.
As
with the Tuk Tuk drivers, bargaining is advised if private
hire is required. Expect to pay around 700 - 1,000 baht for
an eight or nine hour day.
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