Great info Vette.....:thumbup1:

Do know if the Company you referred to have any 250 ccm's like Honda Crf or XR or Kawa Klx?

Or maybe a 100-125 ccm gives just enough speed the road and traffic conditions considered?

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I don't know if they have any 250cc bikes, maybe they do.

But to be honest, I really don't think you need or want a 250cc.
In Europe etc, one wouldn't be seen dead on anything less than 250cc, but in Vietnam, it is totally different.

It really is a mind change.

I think in the month we were there, we didn't see any local bikes bigger than 125cc, just not needed.

Most of the time, outside the cities, which is most of your riding, you will be riding at about 50km/h to 80km/h.
The 110cc and 125cc do that with ease.

Plus, as mentioned above by some one, if you buy a bike, it would probably be a copy of a Honda, and as such, may run into more breakdowns on the longer stretches of road.
The copy bikes are no problem for around town, but on the open road, at 80km/h. I think that that becomes a bit much for them, when they are older, like the one's typically bought for touring by foreigners.

The vast 99,99% of bikes there are 100cc to 125cc

The 110cc bikes we had would more than easily keep up with the generally slow traffic.

vette

uk_vette,

My friend and I are about to take the same trip, although we're only going as far as Hoi An. How long did it take you to get from Cat Ba to Hue--do you remember?

Thanks!
Robb

One reason? Because I wanted to ride into Cambodia where my KTM is stored :thumbup1:

My Shit honda wave copy cost me $250. A plane ticket from HCMC to Phnom Penh was $130. No one asked any questions at the border and now I'm in PP with transportation while I get my KTM ready for the next leg of my trip.

So far on your RTW, how many times have you had to fly your bike to next destination? Any estimate as to what that's cost all up?

I did not know a foreigner (on a foreign plated bike) could pass all the borders
in Asia. If you've made Cambodia ... then you've done well. Did you ride it there or fly it in?

Flight Canada to Europe = $2000
Ferry Sakhalin Russia to Japan = $400
RORO shipping Japan to Thailand = $600 boat, $200 customs in Japan, $800 customs in Thailand = $1600.

I probably could have done the customs in Thailand cheaper but this company was recommended on GT rider. Whether or not they are taking advantage of this is debatable. I would not have been able to clear customs in 1 day in Thai with out their help.

As for Cambodia, they didn't know what the fook was going on at the border when I brought my KTM in. I showed them customs documents from Russia, Kazakh, Japan.. I said where are yours? They said "you had to get them before you come in". But I replied "your website does not say anything about it". Finally they photocoppied my registration and stamped it. I'm not sure what it accomplished. But here I am now.

When I came in with the scooter, no one even asked to see paparwork.

Flamingo Quote
 

Im planning this trip for April. Got a quote from Flamingo, they offered me a choice of 3 bikes,

Win Sunfat 110cc for $10 per day,
Honda XR 150cc for $28 per day,
Honda XR 250cc $40 per day,

Picking the bikes up in Ho Chi Minh and dropping them off in Hanoi, they are charging $50 per bike for dropping them back at a diff location plus 2 days rental fee per bike for the delivery of the bikes from Ho Chi Minh.

So for a 12 day rental it would be a charge of 14 days plus the $50 fee.

Does this sound like a lot to you guys?

Cheers

Colm.

Ho Chi Minh Trail
 

Quoting Snoah,
Don't ride the coast rode if you decide to go south. You will make better time in the Ho Chi Minh Highway or other inland roads.


I agree... riding Hyw 1 will not take you on any scenic routes and it is crammed with heavy traffic. Better the Ho Chi Minh trail or inner roads, which will allow you safer traveling and better scenery!
Then turn into the coast when you want to visit places.

Note, traveling in a southerly direction, the Ho Chi Minh trail splits into 2... West and East trails just after Phong Nha-Ka Bang National Park. The East takes you towards Hui.

We were advised that if we went the West route to make sure we carried fuel and a two rope. The guy that told us this was a biker who had been all over Vietnam. He said it is really a military road and you will come across road barriers and dogs that are trained to chase motorbikes. He actually said "Just keep on the same trajectory and speed up just before the dog gets to you"

How true this is I don't know...but it is true that fuel may be an issue on the Western route..so be prepared!

Enjoy riding in Vietnam :funmeteryes::funmeteryes:

Hiring a bike in Vietnam
 

It's about the same price I was quoted by Flamingo along with the drop off fee.
I think they also have a buy back service in place now.

Motorbike in Vietnam
 

You might like this description of a tour an Italian guy did using a bike from Flamingo
See it HERE

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Hi can't remember to be perfectly honest.
Some days we ride longer, some days shorter, some days no riding at all.

On a riding day, we would do about 200km maximum.
Taking about 5-6 hours, we were in no rush.

Just take each day as it comes, and enjoy the cheapness on the holiday.

vette