Obtaining western size riding gear in Hanoi.
 

I'm starting a 3 month trip around S.E. Asia shortly. I'm mostly backpacking with just hand luggage so not carting around riding gear.

I'm thinking of buying a bike in Vietnam. Something cheap. Maybe ride it back to Thailand and sell it in Bangkok.

Problem is, everyone tells me that you can only buy child size helmets and just forget riding boots.

I want to go into the mountains and off-road trails and don't fancy doing that wearing flip flops with a saucepan on my head.

Any advice ??

Cheers in advance, Ted

try these?
 

I looked into this last year ( didn't go in the end) Friend of mine used these guys, from what I recall he was happy with bike and gear, but can't remember what he had from them.......must have included a lid - he has a big head!

They appear to have shops in S & N.

Viet's Motorbikes | Sales, Buy, Repair, Custom, Service and Rental in Hanoi and HCM

I didn't look very hard but everything I could see there was crap, I would at least take your own helmet and leave it at a backpackers when you don't need it.

Hmmmm three months backpacking. With hand luggage only.

I really don't want to be dragging a helmet around for the sake of a couple of weeks riding. Hmmmmmm

BYO Riding Gear
 

Are you going to Vietnam via Thailand ... or is it a direct flight into Vietnam?

Years ago when I was there, we flew from EU to Bangkok, then small Russian Turbo prop to Saigon, then onto Cambodia from there. (this was for work)

After the job was over, I stayed on and sent my sound gear home with crew.

On two occasions I rented bikes in Thailand. Both times helmets were provided for small fee. Yes ... they were open faced crap helmets. But not much else for sale back then. Got to be better now. :confused1:

I'm guessing you'll be able to rent a helmet or buy one cheap and re-sell when you sell off the bike. No size problems for my large head.

Thailand is perhaps more well stocked than Vietnam with bike gear. Chiang-Mai Thailand certainly is (or was back in the 90's).

I had a large waterproof Duffel bag, wore Jeans to ride in ... NO ARMOR. I wore my work shoes (quality mid level hiking boots). Better than flip flops and all day comfortable to walk in. A bit warm.

I hit the ground twice in my thousands of miles around N. Thailand. About knocked myself out on one fall ... cross-rutted at about 40 mph. WHAM! I was lucky ... no serious injury on this deserted mountain dirt track. Such beautiful country, you can get distracted.

If traveling super light then you may have to forego armor and good protective gear and just rely on your skills to get you through in one piece.

Maybe you can cram a Mesh jacket into your pack? They weigh nothing and pack up small save the back, shoulder and elbow pads. Bring a light rain jacket too ... if you've got the space.

You could pack some motocross type knee pads ... they would work with any pants and certainly help in an "off". Gloves are easy to carry.

I know it's a drag to haul stuff around if you're not riding. After your riding portion of the trip ... give it away or sell it!

My guess is once you start riding around and get the hang of it ... you won't be wanting to get back on a bus!

bier

G'day Ted
 

Bugger public transport mate, trust me, you'll go nuts within days doh

Buy a cheap bike in Hanoi, plenty to be had CHEAP and some not so cheap but you are expected to bargain ! Just take the bare essentials with you.

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If you really want to blend in, don't forget the Hello Kitty face mask to go with your kids helmet ;)

Ted, If you use a local helmet make sure you ride as though you wern't wearing one, they are purely ornamental. We saw one poor guy lying dead in the middle o0f the road after a dispute with a bus. His head was split wide open and his helmet was in a thousand pieces all over the road. Having said that we did about 4000km over 4 weeks with hardly an anxious moment other than one rather too enthusiastic overtake ... LOL :oops2:

Done a fair bit in s e Asia you picked the worst country to buy a bike that any good especly a trail bike most of them are worn out nails some of the hire bikes aren't much better .my crash hat fits in my ruck sack you can suff cloths inside doesn't take up that much room . Use hiking boots to ride in had taken motocross boots but it a pain to carry .as I said bikes in Vietnam are poor travel with some tools there is a large market at the far side of Hanoi you can pick up tools there if you do find a 250 don't forget spare split link there are like hens teeth there ,may be better with a honda win 125 don't mess with the mists unless you are living the dream good luck Dave

S.E Asia is looking like the most difficult continent to travel by bike.... However, my experience is still limited to Thailand.

Thats a great reason to travel by bike then :)


regards Tim sent by tapatalk

Ted,
Any plans to put up a ride report? I'm sure we'd all love to hear your thoughts on the current nuts & bolts of travel out there.

beer

Not to bad just Vietnam difficult to bring in a bike from one of the other local country's I think that's why 250 bikes are so expensive also I don't think you are suposed to have a bike larger than 200cc the time I rented a 250 honda they gave me paperwork to say it was a125 cc if the police sttoped me ,they never did and had some good fun but spent alot of time repairing it . If you buy a small bike in Vietnam you can go into loas Cambodia and thialand but it is difficult to get into Vietnam with a bike from the others

Well for me this is a budget back packing trip. Rental is expensive and you have to hand over your passport. So I'm not riding here. Also, I'm not here long enough to justify bringing or buying a bike and if I'm totally honest, I can't be bothered with it.

I've been working and riding bikes 24/7 for the last few years and want a break.

I love bikes and riding. Its a part of my life but its not my whole life. I'm having a different travel experience which although can be frustrating, its different...

Looked in my notes,
HJC retailer in Hanoi,316 Cau Giay, Cầu Giấy, Hanoi.
another note was saying that mess gear as available cheap.
Have a great time,we will be in malaysia 3/18 thru 6/17 with some time on the eastern Thailand coast for about 3 weeks after songkron.