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[sonbuenas2]

It seems I will most likely need some sort of motorbike to keep transportation costs low during my stay in VN. For you guys who have been through the process of buying one... where should I begin?

Any particular models you recommend? What should I expect to pay roughly? I've heard somewhere in the neighborhood of $500 usd.

How the heck do I learn to pilot one of these things in the chaos of HCMC traffic? Find some quieter times of day to ride perhaps?

As always thanks in advance... this forum is immensely helpful!

[toiyeuthitmeo]

Hi,

I think if you search some of the old postings, you'll find lots of advice, probably better than this.

$500 will definitely get you something used, but you can spend less (heavily used Honda Cub or a Chinese knock-off) or more (nicer new bike e.g. Honda Airblade). The standard bike in terms of popularity and reliability seems to be the Honda Wave. Your basic Honda Wave Alpha (new) runs more than $500 (usually round $800). Several co-workers have purchased these with no complaints. They also seem to keep their value well for later re-sale.

For the most part, you can't outright own a motorbike, and will need to find a Viet person to put their name on the title. There are lots of tricky ways to deal with this, see old posts for some pointers.

Automatics are more expensive than step-thru bikes, not worth it if you ask me. Cheapest bikes are used, cheapest new bikes are Chinese copies of Honda models. A rough scale from cheapest to most expensive might be Honda Chali, Cub, Dream, Future, Wave, Airblade, Click, Lead. You see some Yamahas around. A few coworkers drive the Nouvo. A bit pricey but they are satisfied. Some used Vespas around if that's your thing.

As for learning to drive it, it really isn't that difficult. I'm not a Saigon resident, but when I've visited I've noticed some streets calm down considerably at night, so that might be a time to practice. One tip is until you get the feel of your throttle, it can help to start from second gear, which is less sensitive and will save you the embarrassment of crashing into a parked taxi on your first day out, not that that happened to me or anything

Hope that helps.

[mark_in_saigon]

the best deal on motorbikes is the older honda supercubs that have been restored, often with a newer, larger engine retrofitted. The supercub is not visually exciting to these folks, as they have seen them for 50 years or so. Supercub is considered the greatest motorcycle ever produced with the largest numbers of any motor vehicle ever produced, some 70 millions. Some consider it to be the most important machine ever made, not sure how you judge that, but I cannot argue about it being the greatest motorcycle ever made. Cheap to buy, fix, operate, easy to get parts for, very reliable, good configuration for these rough conditions. 50cc versions supposedly do not require a drivers license. Lots of guys juice em up with 70, 90 or 100 cc engines. You can do some very serious hauling ass with a 100 cc supercub. The 50s are a little slow on highways, but fine for in town. Going rate is usually about $450, there is a 70cc one for sale right now on Craigslist in HCMC for about $250. Looks like a bargain to me. Worst thing about the supercub here is girls do not find them to be high class, it is kinda like picking up a girl in an old pickup truck or something. Other than that, supercub still rules.

[Buffalo Boy]

I bought a new Honda Wave a few months after I arrived. I chose it because it seemed to be the most common bike and I wouldn't have any problems with parts/repairs or people wanting to steal it. I never had any problems with it. Cost about a thousand bucks.

To learn to ride, a friend took me out to the deserted streets in Phu My Hung where the new construction is and showed me the controls. Only took about 10 minutes. To learn how to ride in the streets I went out alone on Sunday afternoons when most people in Saigon are having long family lunches. Scary as hell at first, but you soon get used to it.

If I was staying longer I would buy something with a bit more personality like the Super Cub that Mark talked about or one of those Russian Minsk dirtbikes, but the Wave was fine- reliable, boring commuter transport.

[mark_in_saigon]

is it is a Russian motorbike, and it is difficult to get parts for them. Supercub is so standardized, you can get parts for them all over VN. Yeah, the Minsk is a 2 cycle, love the sound they make, and they do totally kick ass, but it is not a good "one and only" bike, it is a special interest bike for people who can keep more than one bike. If it breaks half way to where you are going, lots of luck on getting it fixed.

Supercub is probably considered boring by most people, even though it runs so good, the new wider Vespa type machines are much more coveted here by the young people. A supercub with a 90 or 100 cc engine will really haul ass though, as the machine is so light, the power to weight ratio really comes into play. This is the bike you see converted into the all purpose haulers of stuff, half bike, half cart, hauling everything from live animals to bricks to ice to furniture. Take a look at some of them, they look so beat up they bring tears to your eyes, then watch em go, they will still be running when the fashion bikes have been melted down to become stainless steel toilets in a Chinese prison.

[Buffalo Boy]

True about the Minsk. I was always thinking about buying one and never did. They are like old jeeps or landrovers- they appeal to romantics but only hardcore mechanics can actually keep them on the road.

The Super Cub is cool. Shortly after I arrived in VN I saw that Discovery Channel show where they threw it off a building and it kept running. Some of my students told me about Super Cubs that have been in the same family for forty years and are still on the road. In the end I decided to get a new bike because of the warantee and low stress involved in owning it.

Getting back to the OP's question, for five hundred bucks you're either going to get a new Chinese knock off Honda or something used. I was warned not to buy a used bike off a local because they don't maintain them very well. My wife says Vietnamese people usually only sell a bike if their gambling debts get out of control or something. You could try notice boards in cafes around the PNL area as you sometimes see expats who are leaving and selling bikes.

The question of whose name to put the bike in is a sticky one, as is whether to get a VN drivers licence.

[lou_la]

Are there any 50cc bikes around? Can't drive you see, a little scared of anything bigger, and I heard you don't need a licence for something that small, which would mean a lot less faff. There were lots of these little ones in Taiwan, but the smallest I've noticed here is 100cc. IS it fairly simple to get a licence for these?

Ta!

[mark_in_saigon]

of course, CL here is focused on the expat community, as it is all in English, but that is okay, the bikes there may be a little cleaner. I had a VN offer a running supercub to me for 50 bucks once, looked nasty, but it ran. I pay up when I get a bike, 4 or 5 hundred bucks for a machine that reliable and nicely restored is quite a deal even to a cheap guy like me. You can find them for less, one was going for about $250 recently on CL, it looked fine. You can also get great deals on the old sport hondas, they call them 67's here. Same basic technology, but cafe racer appearance, get a modern 100cc engine on one of those (costs about $450 configured like that), and you are just totally kicking ass. Problem with those is they are a manual clutch, which is fine for streets in the west, but for here, you better really know how to operate one of those, not ideal to learn that in these conditions, but if you are a seasoned biker from the west, go for it. 67's with the original 50 cc configurations can be had for about 250 or so, depending on the condition. These old hondas are some of the worlds greatest machines, and one of the great joys of living here if you are a true aficionado of classic vehicles. If you just have to get the one that is most useful, get the supercub. If you want to feel the power and spend a lot of time on the highway, and can manage the manual clutch, get the 100 cc honda 67. If you can afford to, get one of each.