Buying an electrical kickbike for commuting?

honestly the kickbike is a solid choice for lane splitting but you gotta think about where you park it. most places won't let you bring it inside a building so you're locking it up outside which in bangkok means it might grow legs. i know a guy who had his stolen from outside a 7-11 on sukhumvit 39 in like 2 minutes

also if you're commuting during actual rush hour the heat is brutal. standing up on a kickbike means you're catching all the sun and exhaust fumes. a motorcycle at least has some wind. i'd say go for it if your commute is under 5km or you're just doing the last mile from the bts

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I've been using one for about eight months now from On Nut to Silom. The trick is getting a model with a proper suspension, the standard ones will rattle your teeth out on the concrete slabs near Ekkamai. You'll also want to invest in a good U-lock and always chain it to something bolted down, I use the bike rack at the BTS station near my office and it's been fine so far.

The range is the thing nobody mentions. Most of the cheaper ones claim 30km but you'll get maybe 18 in actual stop-and-go traffic with a 70kg rider. So if your commute is longer than that you're pushing it home, there's no pedal backup like on an ebike. I'd recommend taking one for a proper test ride on your actual route before buying, the shops near Chatuchak market let you do that on weekends.

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yeah i've seen a few guys on kickbikes around sukhumvit and they're definitely faster than a scooter in the really packed bits. the main thing is you gotta watch out for those soi dogs that chase wheels, especially early morning or late night. also the bigger wheels handle the bumpy lanes way better than those little one wheel things, i tried a friend's once and almost ate it on a pothole near asok

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Krua Dok Mai Kao is solid but I've always found their som tam a bit tame on the pla ra. If you want the real funky version, try the shophouse spots along Soi Udomsuk 26, near the night market end. They pound it fresh with fermented fish that'll clear your sinuses, and it's like 60 baht. Different style from the On Nut places, more Lao-leaning.

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for som tam specifically i'd say the Isaan spots in Chatuchak are underrated, weekdays only though since the weekend crowd ruins the vibe. there's a stall near gate 2 that does tam pa with fermented bamboo shoots, super sour and funky, not something you see much in On Nut. if you're already heading north for Or Tor Kor anyway its worth the detour.

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honestly the som tam at Krua Dok Mai Kao is good but what got me hooked is their nam prik pla raa dip with the raw veggies, that funk hits way harder than the papaya does. think most people sleep on it cuz they just order the som tam and gai yang. also pro tip, go before noon on weekdays, after that teh pla ra gets milder cuz they batch it for the lunch rush

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