NMAX rental in Phuket: the rider's scooter
If riding is part of the holiday rather than just transport, an NMAX rental in Phuket is the bike you will enjoy most. The Yamaha NMAX 155 is the sportiest scooter we keep: it steers quicker than a PCX, sits you further forward, and the 155 cc liquid-cooled Blue Core engine with Variable Valve Actuation keeps pulling from the first twist of the throttle right up to ring-road speed.
The route it was made for is the coast road from Kata over the viewpoint, down through Karon and on to Nai Harn, then the loop past the Windmill Viewpoint to Promthep Cape. It is also perfectly happy with the everyday stuff: Old Town traffic, the Patong Hill climb with a passenger, the Big Buddha switchbacks, and the airport run.
Yamaha fits ABS on both wheels, not just the front, which is a real advantage on the steep and often wet descent into Patong. The 770 mm seat suits most riders, and the 7.1-litre tank at roughly 42 km per litre covers a long day of exploring before you need petrol.
Who it suits, and who should choose something else
Confident riders who have ridden before and want feedback from the bike will prefer the NMAX. If comfort matters more than handling, especially two-up on longer rides, the Honda PCX 160 has the softer seat and the bigger boot at a similar tier. If you want ABS on a lighter, cheaper scooter for mostly flat days, the Honda Click 160 ABS is the budget-friendly option. If you are weighing petrol against the electric scooters you see around Bang Tao, our electric versus petrol scooter comparison for Phuket explains why we still rent petrol.
What's included
Two helmets and a phone holder come with every NMAX, and delivery to any hotel, villa or the airport is free island-wide. The deposit is refundable on return. Thai law requires a Thai motorcycle licence or an International Driving Permit that covers motorcycles; if you are wondering about the rest of the paperwork, read renting a scooter in Phuket without leaving your passport as deposit. We are open 10:00–19:00 every day and take cash, credit card and Alipay.
Best areas for the NMAX 155
The NMAX is a top-three pick for scooter rental in Patong, where the hill road rewards good brakes, and for Kamala, the start of the beautiful coast road north to Surin and Bang Tao.
Compare every model on our Phuket scooter prices page, or start again from the Nicky Scooter Rental home page.
