Honda Click or Yamaha Aerox: which to rent in Phuket?
Practical and cheap versus fast and flashy. This is not a better-or-worse choice but a match for your riding style – here it is point by point, no hype.
The Honda Click and Yamaha Aerox sit side by side in nearly every Phuket rental shop, yet they are opposites in character. The Click is the practical city machine half of Thailand rides. The Aerox is a sporty scooter with aggressive styling that begs for photos and accelerates eagerly. Choosing between them comes down to three questions: do you ride two-up, how experienced are you, and what matters more – convenience or dynamics.
Honda Click 125/160: boring but ideal
The Click is light, low and predictable: it fits everyone, short or tall. The flat floor lets you place your feet freely and carry a small bag or market shopping. In Patong and Phuket Town traffic it threads between cars effortlessly. The 125 engine is enough for one rider almost everywhere; the 160 adds confidence on the hills. True, it impresses nobody visually – but it is the best first scooter: forgiving of mistakes and cheap both to rent and to fix scratches on.
Yamaha Aerox 155: fast and uncompromising
The Aerox is about dynamics: a responsive 155cc engine, stiff composed suspension, wide tyres and an almost motorcycle-like stance. It holds corners superbly and accelerates keenly. But sport costs convenience: the seat is tall and firm, shorter riders struggle to plant their feet, there is no flat floor – your feet rest on side ledges and there is nowhere for a bag. The passenger part of the seat is narrow and sloped: half an hour two-up is tolerable, a full day is misery. A helmet does not fit under the seat.
Price, traffic and everyday practicalities
- Rental: the Click typically 200–300 THB per day, the Aerox 300–400. Over a week the gap adds up to 700–1,000 THB, over a month more still.
- Traffic: the light, narrow Click is easier in dense traffic and on cramped beach parking lots. The Aerox is wider at the bars and less forgiving at crawling speeds.
- Luggage: the Click has a flat floor for a bag and usually a bag hook; a compact helmet fits under the seat. The Aerox offers only a tight underseat bin that will not take a helmet.
- Fuel: both are frugal; the Aerox drinks slightly more when ridden hard, but it barely dents a holiday budget.
- Paperwork: both require an International Driving Permit with category A (motorcycle) – without it insurance does not apply. Helmets are mandatory for rider and passenger.
| Your situation | Better pick |
|---|---|
| First-ever scooter or limited experience | Honda Click |
| Riding two-up with a passenger | Honda Click (or better, a PCX) |
| Solo, confident, want dynamics | Yamaha Aerox |
| Tightest rental budget | Honda Click |
| Shorter rider, need to plant both feet | Honda Click |
Verdict
For most tourists and all couples, the Click: cheaper, more practical day to day, easier in traffic and kinder to beginners. Take the Aerox if you ride solo, handle a scooter confidently and want the fun of dynamics, and can live without a flat floor and storage. It is an honest trade: practicality versus thrills. And if you want both dynamics and two-up comfort, look at the NMAX or PCX – they cover both jobs at once.
Not just transport
Balm Rentals now also lists real estate: apartments, houses and condos from local owners – on the same Phuket map.
How to rent an apartment in Phuket →FAQ
How much more does an Aerox cost to rent than a Click?
Roughly 100 THB per day: a Click typically rents for 200–300 THB, an Aerox for 300–400. Over a week that is about 700–1,000 THB of difference. Exact pricing depends on season, model year and the condition of the specific scooter.
Is the Yamaha Aerox comfortable for two people?
No, that is its weak spot: the passenger part of the seat is narrow, firm and sloped forward, and the suspension is stiff. A short hop is tolerable, but a full day around the island will wear the passenger out. For regular two-up riding the Click is better, and a PCX 160 is more comfortable still.
Is the Aerox suitable for a beginner?
Not the best choice. The Aerox is harder to manage at low speed, has a tall seat and a lively engine, all of which raise the cost of a mistake. A beginner is wiser to start on a Click 125: lighter, lower, more predictable and cheaper if scratched. Move to an Aerox once Phuket traffic no longer intimidates you.
Where do a helmet and belongings go on the Click and Aerox?
The Click takes a compact helmet under the seat, and a small bag sits on the flat floor; there is often a bag hook too. The Aerox’s underseat bin is tight – no helmet fits, and there is no flat floor. With an Aerox you carry the helmet with you or lock it on, if the shop provides a cable.
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Updated 2026-07-15