For those who want to break free from the constraints of public transit and expensive taxi rides there is an escape: motorbikes. Motorbikes are relatively cheap, fuel-efficient, you can drive them on the sidewalk and park them just about anywhere, and we’ve all seen how motorbikes can easily weave around traffic and ignore traffic lights. You might think it would be too difficult to jump through all the red tape required to get a motorbike but it’s much easier than one might think.
If you’re in the market for a scooter or motorcycle, and you don’t already have an International Driver’s License, you’re first going to need a Korean Driver’s License but if you want to drive a 250cc or higher, you’ll need to get an actual motorcycle license. Most foreigners opt not to bother with one of these, because the motorcycle license requires a driving test, and 250cc bikes are more expensive. The good news is that getting a driver’s license is relatively quick and painless.

Take your Alien Registration Card (ARC), passport, three passport-size photos, and your valid driver’s license from your home country to the Driver’s License Agency (DLA). Foreigners from a few countries may need additional documents, so be sure to check the DLA website . In Daegu, the DLA is located in Tajeon-dong. You can find the agency in your own city through the website . There’s a special counter just for foreigners, and things will move very quickly. First, they’ll have you fill out a few forms and hand over your documents. The DLA is going to keep your foreign license until you leave Korea, so be prepared for that. Then you will go into an examination room where they will perform some very basic sight and hearing tests. After that, you’ll take the test, which consists of twenty basic traffic questions, just like you took back home. There are some very specific questions about speed limits and things you couldn’t possibly know without studying, but don’t worry, you only need a 60% to pass. Assuming you’ve passed the test, there’s a few more documents and the matter of paying. These things can change at a moment’s notice, but my license cost a total of w17,000. This entire process will typically take about an hour.

Okay, you’re a licensed driver in Korea. Time to buy a bike. Your two choices are scooter and motorcycle. If you don’t have any experience with a motorcycle, this is an easy choice: start with a scooter. If you are experienced with a motorcycle, and you want to go that route, you need to decide if one is in your budget. In my experience, used scooters range anywhere from w300,000 to w1,100,000, depending on condition and size. Lower-end motorcycles are going to start at about w800,000  and go up from there. Personally, I had no experience with motorcycles, so I went with a scooter. Most scooters are either 50cc or 125cc, with a few models offering engines in-between. The “cc” determines the size of the engine. A 50cc scooter has an engine that is 50 cubic centimeters. Likewise, the 125 has an engine that is 125 cubic centimeters. So, which one should you choose? That depends on a lot of factors. Are you big or small? Do you plan to travel with a passenger often? Are you going to limit yourself to local driving, or do you want to do some road trips? The 125 is a much more powerful engine, and it gives you more options, not to mention it is usually a larger scooter. On the other hand, 50cc bikes are not required to have plates or insurance. Like most people, I chose the 125. Regardless of which size you decide to go with, scooters are single-geared. You need not worry about any kind of foot-shifting like you do with a motorcycle.  If you’ve decided to go with a motorcycle, and you didn’t get an actual motorcycle license, the 125cc is basically your only choice.

Now that size is out of the way, you need to consider the condition the bike is in and a lot of that depends on your budget. When shopping for motorbikes, you really shouldn’t look at anything with more than about 5,000km on the engine. Motorbike engines are not the same as those in cars, and they don’t last nearly as long. You can get a really nice 125cc scooter with little wear for under 1 million. Expect to pay w500,000 to 600,000 for a similar 50cc. My advice would be to go for the newer bike, because the price difference will not be that drastic and you’ll be less likely to have it in the shop for repairs shortly after making your purchase. As far as aesthetics, I’ll leave that up to you.

So, you know what you want, now what? Where should you go to buy your motorbike? Luckily, Daegu has a street dedicated to the sole purpose of selling two-wheeled motorized transport with row after row of scooters and motorcycles, as far as the eye can see. Chances are, every major Korean city has a similar street. There are literally thousands of motorbikes up for sale on this little stretch of asphalt. But don’t let that overwhelm you. Remember, one of the most important factors in selecting a bike is curb appeal. First, look for bikes that are aesthetically pleasing to you, and narrow it down from there. While most of the shop owners don’t speak much English, they do know what “50cc” and “125cc” mean.

Once you’ve narrowed down your choices and done a test drive or two, it’s time to start negotiating. The most important thing to remember about Motorcycle Street is that they will always negotiate, especially if you are paying cash.There’s simply too much competition on Motorcycle Street for them not to. They are especially accommodating to foreigners. Everyone I know who has purchased a motorbike has been able to get the price reduced, had a new helmet thrown in, and possibly some other freebies. When it comes down to brass tacks, the salesmen will usually have a calculator handy to show you figures. Personally, I chosee a 2007 Jace Noblesse that sold new for 1.6 million. Mine had 363km of use on the engine, and I was able to talk the salesman down from w1.05 million to w950,000. When you finally make your purchase, they’ll have you fill out some documents, and you’re on your way. Now it’s time to register and insure your bike.

Now, this is a point of contention among many foreigners driving motorbikes in Korea. While registration and insurance are technically required on anything above 50cc, most agree that the police will not hassle a foreigner, especially one driving something 125cc or less. Of all the foreigners I know driving bikes, roughly half don’t have any kind of registration or insurance. If you plan to throw caution to the wind and drive without registration or insurance, you’re taking a risk, especially when it comes to insurance. If you are involved in an accident, even when the other driver is at fault, you don’t have a leg to stand on. Only an insurance company can seek compensation from the other driver’s supplier. You can’t do this independently. But let’s say you want to play it safe. The easiest way to arrange your insurance is through the Motorcycle Korea website or through one of the major suppliers like Samsung and Hyundai. Insurance for one year will cost around 100,000 Won. Once you’re insured, take your proof of insurance, ARC, passport, license, and all the documents given to you by the salesman to the Transportation Administration Division at your local District Office. In Daegu, those can be found at the Colorful Daegu website. The cost of registering each bike is different, and largely dependent on the price you paid for it, but should be well under 100,000 Won.

The easy part is over with. Now you have to actually drive your motorbike. The act of driving itself is pretty easy, especially on a scooter. It’s the other drivers on the road that make it difficult. If you can ride a bicycle, you’ve pretty much already learned how to drive a scooter. The first step, of course, is starting it. Most modern bikes have an electric start, and all have a kick start. Regardless of which method you use, you must apply one of the brakes as you start it. On a scooter your right hand grip is the throttle, the front brake is on the right handle bar, and the rear brake is on the left, as well as your lights and turn signals. The front brake is the primary brake on a motorbike. Your rear brake is weaker and should only be applied after you’ve already applied the front, if at all. Using only the rear brake can cause a dangerous fish-tailing effect. After first purchasing your scooter, it’s a good idea to head straight to the nearest parking lot or park for a little practice, and stick to secondary streets until you’re comfortable. Once you get out on the road, you have to always be aware of your surroundings, and of course wear your helmet. Motorbikes are much less forgiving than cars.

Now, if you’re like me, and end up spending more than one year in Korea, there’s a good chance that you may eventually want to upgrade to a motorcycle. The major difference in driving a motorcycle is shifting. Motorcycles have either four or five gears, but driving one is not the same as driving a car with manual transmission. For starters, you apply the clutch with your left hand, and shift with your left foot. Your right hand is still the front brake and your right foot is the rear. If you’re in neutral, you click down once for first gear, then up once for each succeeding gear. In other words, neutral falls in between first and second. This definitely takes some getting used to. Personally, I had driven cars with manual transmissions all my life, and knew in theory how to drive a motorcycle, but it still took me a few days of practice before I had the hang of it. You’ll also want to be aware that a motorcycle is simply heavier. This may sound like common sense, but it’s certainly an adjustment from a scooter. Motorcycles are harder to stop quickly and are more prone to skidding, especially in wet conditions, as I learned the hard way. My experience with purchasing my motorcycle was virtually identical to the one I had with the scooter. I found a Daelim Daystar II and got the dealer to knock off 100,000, throw in a new helmet, and add a brand new cargo trunk to the back. He even drove me to a nearby park where I could get used to it, seeing as I had never driven a motorcycle. On top of all that, he also gave me a three-month “fender to fender” guarantee, which came in handy when I discovered a few days later that a hole had rusted through one of the tailpipes.

When it comes to maintenance, there’s a lot of dispute about how often to change your oil, but the safest bet is to get it done every 2,000 km for a motorcycle and about 500km for a scooter . There’s a bike shop on just about every other block in Korea, and they should charge you no more than w7,000 for an oil change. It’s much better to have the oil changed too often than not often enough. Have the mechanic check your other fluids too, and always keep an eye on your tire and brake wear. I’d also recommend buying a lock, even if your bike has an alarm. Motorcycle insurance does not cover theft. You can get a lock for your helmet too, which I again had to learn the hard way. Wear bright clothing if possible, and always be especially careful on wet roads.

Printable Korean/English taxi directions

No related posts.

Related posts brought to you by Yet Another Related Posts Plugin.