Police named the dead man as Ludovi Didier Donny, 37, who had arrived in Phuket just hours before.
His passenger, Jerome Sebastien Heras, 35, also from France, was severely injured. He was taken initially to Patong Hospital then transferred to Vachira Phuket Hospital.
Pol Lt Col Boonlert Onklang said that both men had checked into the Valero guest house in Patong the previous day.
Based on the injured passenger’s high blood alcohol level, Col Boonlert said he believed the duo had probably been out drinking and were on their way back to the guesthouse when the crash happened. The bike was a rented 400cc Yamaha.
Looking at the condition of the bike after the smash, he said Mr Donny must have been driving at high speed. He added that a contributing factor may have been the fact that the driver did not know the road well.