March 25th, 2006 | The lowdown by Gordon Candelin

Need a Moto? Get Lucky! Lucky!

Lucky! Lucky! motos is one of many rental places along Monivong Boulevard that provides small scooters (100cc) for your daily commute in the city, as well as larger dirt bikes suitable for visiting the provinces - or if it's the rainy season - navigating the flooded roads with their jacuzzi sized potholes.

Scooters go for $3/day and $45/month, though if you press them you can knock it down to $40.

Before you try your luck on the streets, there are a few things you should look out for first:

Make sure your moto has a current traffic tax sticker. If it doesn't, ask them to put one on.

Be sure to check the brakes - the front ones too.

Motos don't usually come with mirrors, as they usually get swiped fairly quickly, but if you would feel more comfortable, ask if they have any spares.

A basket is very convenient to have, and Lucky! Lucky! usually has some extras laying around.

Your moto will have exactly 2 drops of gasoline in the tank - the first thing you should do is go to a nearby gas station and fill up. It is best to avoid the roadside gas stands (sold by the liter out of coke bottles), since the gas there is usually diluted with other solvents which won't do your motor any good.

Finally, if you do run into a problem, call them. They are usually very good about sending a mechanic out to see what the problem is. If it can't be fixed very quickly, they will provide you with another moto. BE SURE TO CHECK THE GAS TANK FIRST! The most common call they get for moto trouble is from people (your truly included) who simply ran out of gas.

Lucky! Lucky! also provides insurance for an extra $7 a day or $30 per month - but since scooter insurance is about $30 a year with most of the local companies, save your money and DRIVE CAREFULLY.