French · 7 years on Samui
French motorcycle tour guide living on Koh Samui for 7 years. Marc leads group rides across southern Thailand and knows every road on the island.
Updated: May 2026
Above the Nathon plantation last August after 35mm of overnight rain, I took the ADV 160 onto the laterite track in conditions that would stop most rental scooters before the first corner. Mud depth: 40 to 60 millimetres on the surface, with firmer red earth below. My technique that morning: seated weight, smooth throttle, eyes 10 metres ahead, and speed kept above 15 km/h to maintain directional gyroscopic stability. Below 10 km/h on loose mud the rear wandered; above 15 km/h it tracked reliably.
Riding the Hin Lad access track last September in light rain, the critical technique was throttle modulation from a standing start on wet sections: I opened the throttle from a stop over 3 to 4 seconds rather than in a single motion. Sudden throttle on wet laterite spins the semi-knobby rear tyre before it builds traction - the bike steps sideways and the correction costs momentum. Smooth throttle from stops lets the tyre compress into the surface and find grip before speed builds. This technique transfers directly from tarmac riding.
At the sandy section of the Silver Beach approach last February, I shifted weight rearward on the ADV's seat before entering the loose surface - centring my hips toward the rear and reducing weight over the front tyre. This prevents the front tyre from ploughing into the sand rather than skimming across it. Both feet stayed on the pegs throughout. Moving a foot onto the sand as a stabiliser is tempting on loose surfaces; in practice it creates an unpredictable pivot if the tyre bites unexpectedly. Both feet on the pegs, weight back.
The descent from the Nathon viewpoint track last October in the wet required a specific braking pattern: rear brake only on loose sections, front brake reserved for hardpack between them. Applying front brake on wet laterite with the ADV 160 pushes the front tyre into a plow position - the bike continues its direction while the tyre tries to stop. Rear brake only allows the rear to slide slightly and correct with throttle. I confirmed this technique across five separate wet sessions on this specific track before trusting it in varied conditions.
On the rooted descent above the Hin Lad first stream crossing last November, maintaining momentum was more important than any other technique. Stopping on a root crossing to assess the route ahead loads weight unevenly and makes restart difficult on the slope. I rode this section at 25 km/h, reading the line 8 metres ahead and adjusting direction with body weight rather than handlebar input. Handlebar steering on roots tends to catch a bar end on exposed wood; body-weight steering allows the bike to find its own path within a controlled line.
Seven years of riding Koh Samui's mixed-surface trails on the ADV 160 has produced a short technique summary: smooth throttle from stops, weight rearward on sand, rear brake first on loose descents, speed above 15 km/h on mud to maintain stability, and body weight for steering on roots. None of these techniques are advanced - they are the five adjustments that separate a controlled trail ride from a recovery situation on Samui's specific terrain. Learn them dry before applying them wet and the ADV 160 makes this island's tracks genuinely accessible.
Interested in renting Honda ADV 160?
Check live availability and pricing for the Honda ADV 160 on Koh Samui.
Show availableFirst-hand Honda ADV 160 guides from our local team - where to ride it, when, and how to get the most from it on Koh Samui.
Browse the fleet, check availability, and contact us directly from your phone. Free on iOS and Android.
First-hand road and trail guides written by our local team - where to go, when to ride, and what to watch out for.
