Tony Stoner is a British motorbike enthusiast who has been running motorbike trips in the south of Thailand since 2006. In this interview he talks about the ins-and-outs of his off the beaten track motorbikes trips and some of the great ways to experience rural Thailand.
Motorbikes have been your passion for a long time. How did you manage to transform this interest into a successful business in Thailand?
I have been a customer on a number of motorcycle tours in different countries and when moving to Thailand – where the riding and scenery is spectacular – I noticed there were plenty of motorcycle tour companies in the north, but very few options in the south of the country. We started the business slowly with just a couple of bikes and now after hundreds of tours we are one of the bigger motorbike tour companies operating in Thailand.
What are the most popular motorbike tours South Thailand Motorbikes organizes?
Both our 7 and 10 days tours are very popular. Our 15 days tours are perhaps too long for most customers who only have a limited vacation time. This year we have launched two new tours – both 10 days – one is a “Luxury” motorbike tour and the other an “All Inclusive” tour. We’re hopeful these will give customers a more diverse choice both in terms of budget and availability.
What kind of motorbikes do you use?
We have a lot of Kawasaki’s – Versys, Ninja, ER6N – at different sizes from 250cc to 650cc. We use Kawasaki because they are not only great bikes, but also because they are made in Thailand; that means they don’t incur the high import taxes that Thailand applies. Also there are Kawasaki dealerships in every major town and that helps with maintenance and repairs.
How safe is it?
Safety is the major concern and thankfully over the 8 years we’ve been running our tours we haven’t had any accidents. Our guides are very experienced and we brief all our riders on the differences in road conditions, riding and driving compared to other countries and climates. Thailand doesn’t have the best record on road accidents, so we make sure our routes avoid know black spots and also our tours do not run during the wettest monsoon seasons.
What happens on an “adventure tour”?
The best way to find out what happens is to come try for yourself. The videos and photos on our website should help give you an idea of what happens, but to really find out, come join us on a 1, 7, 10 or 15 day tour.
Who are your customers and how much previous riding experience is needed?
The vast majority of our customers are very experienced motorcycle riders who have toured in other countries and have a great deal of riding experience. We have taken groups of less experienced riders, but do let us know your riding level upfront and we can tailor the tour towards the groups riding ability.
What are the costs involved?
Please see our website for pricing and offers. We have tours to fit a range of budgets.
