Motorcycle in Nairobi

I'm moving to Nairobi next month and need to decide whether to ship my motorcycle along. I'll likely buy a car there as well, but prefer to travel around town on my bike. How are the roads? Well paved or pothole ridden? Is there motorcycle jacking in addition to car-jackings?

My husband has a KTM off road motorbike and has a fine old mid-life-crisis time burning over the Ngong Hills etc over the weekends with friends. Many people/friends do ride motorbikes in an attempt to beat the traffic, but generally speaking I haven't seen particularly flashy motorbikes on the road.

Havent heard to motorbike-jacking as yet. Car jacking takes place but it's all relative, there are millions of cars on the road, and only v few get car-jacked.

There are potholes but a lot of the roads are being re-tarmac/re-carpeted at the moment.

I reckon that if you left your bike at home, you'd regret it when you got here.

To qualify that - my husband said that cars here are not really 'motorbike aware' so you are taking your life in your hands when driving a road bike in the chaos that is nairobi traffic. Having said that, Kenya's probably one of the best places in the world to do off-road biking.

Thanks for the advice. The bike will be coming along. I plan on scouting out the terrain before taking it out. Even if it only goes on short rides, at least it is getting some use.
I may have to pick up a off road or dual use and find a group to head to the hills with as well.
adam

Hey,

...by chance i found this "motorbike-thread" of yours. I moved to Nairobi a few month ago and unfortunately decided not to take my motorbike with me. Now i would at least love to do a trip somewhere for the weekend. Can you tell me where exactly your husband rides on the Ngong Hills? (or any other trips)

Well appreciated, thx,

Andreas

Arrived a few weeks back and the roads I'll use are good enough to ride on. I won't be going very fast due to traffic and road conditions so I won't need a perfect surface anyhow. Traffic is a mess, but it is moves predictably enough that I don't feel there is much more danger than there is many places in the States or in Seoul were I first took up riding.
Now just waiting on my bike which is supposed to arrive at the end of March - just in time for the rains

Are there scooters/mopeds used in Nairobi too? I'm not keen on motorbikes, but maybe a scooter to nip around on might be an idea and I was wondering if anyone had any thoughts on that...

Thanks!

I don't see many if any scooters/mopeds in Nairobi. There are many small (100-250cc) bikes. I'm sure the price is the selling point, but their light weight and maneuverability in traffic (and sidewalks) probably makes them preferable to larger models anyhow.