Vietnam biking adventure
Discussion
HustleRussell said:
Don't finish in Hanoi, go to Sa Pa- you won't regret it.
Or sell the bike in Hanoi and take the Fanxipan express up to Sa Pa, find my mate hoong's garage and go on a tour with him. Ride through the hills smoking his mountain weed
Missed Sa Pa when I went out but my girlfriend loved it there. Your experience of the riding and the mountain weed sounds truly epic! (-:Or sell the bike in Hanoi and take the Fanxipan express up to Sa Pa, find my mate hoong's garage and go on a tour with him. Ride through the hills smoking his mountain weed
Gnits said:
Been thinking about something like this for a while, well ever since THAT episode of Top Gear to be honest.
Keep us all updated, this is great!
Agreed. THAT Top Gear episode has also given me some ideas. It is only in the last 10 years that i have explored Asia, i wish i had explored it in my 20's.Keep us all updated, this is great!
I look forward to the new Grand Tour, it appears to be advertising a bike trip in Africa or something - more grand ideas..
Enjoy..
I've been living in Saigon for 18 months now and the road culture takes some getting used to. Couldn't face a scooter so got myself a CB400 SF to cut around town on.We'll be chugging around the Cat Tien National Park next weekend on rental XR150's if you're in the area, lots of off road and river crossings.
As for getting around the country, Dalat is work a look but definitely head up north to Hanoi and Ha Long Bay and Sa Pa but don't overlook Hue, Da Nang etc. Apparently VN midlands are the pick of the Asian riding areas, meant to be stunning. You've picked the right time as well, rains are ending so nice weather for a trip.
I've been living in Saigon for 18 months now and the road culture takes some getting used to. Couldn't face a scooter so got myself a CB400 SF to cut around town on.We'll be chugging around the Cat Tien National Park next weekend on rental XR150's if you're in the area, lots of off road and river crossings.
As for getting around the country, Dalat is work a look but definitely head up north to Hanoi and Ha Long Bay and Sa Pa but don't overlook Hue, Da Nang etc. Apparently VN midlands are the pick of the Asian riding areas, meant to be stunning. You've picked the right time as well, rains are ending so nice weather for a trip.
Did you avoid the traffic cops coming in to mui ne? They're notorious for ripping off tourists with made up offences in exchange for 'fines'...
The coast road from Phan Rang to Cam Ranh is often overlooked by bikers but it's excellent. You can head back inland towards Dalat after that.
I did the journey the opposite way around from north to south earlier this year. On a Honda Winner......... winning! Cringe. Sorry.
You're in for a real treat with this trip. I look forward to reliving the fun through your updates so keep them coming.
The coast road from Phan Rang to Cam Ranh is often overlooked by bikers but it's excellent. You can head back inland towards Dalat after that.
I did the journey the opposite way around from north to south earlier this year. On a Honda Winner......... winning! Cringe. Sorry.
You're in for a real treat with this trip. I look forward to reliving the fun through your updates so keep them coming.
Thanks for all the great comments guys and I will be sure to look up the recommendations.
I have avoided the police at Mui Ne so far. Apparently the main check point is on the coast road north to the sand dunes which I am avoiding. I have heard horror stories of people handing over 3,000,000 to them!
I have one more night chilling at the hotel here and then im moving on to Cat Tien national park tomorrow for a couple of days to break up the Journey back to HCMC.
I should be going back through Cat Tien in a few weeks though on my way North (probably just in the new year) so let me know if you are around Steve Bass
I have some mods to do to the bike later so expect another update
I have avoided the police at Mui Ne so far. Apparently the main check point is on the coast road north to the sand dunes which I am avoiding. I have heard horror stories of people handing over 3,000,000 to them!
I have one more night chilling at the hotel here and then im moving on to Cat Tien national park tomorrow for a couple of days to break up the Journey back to HCMC.
I should be going back through Cat Tien in a few weeks though on my way North (probably just in the new year) so let me know if you are around Steve Bass
I have some mods to do to the bike later so expect another update
Edited by AceOfHearts on Monday 11th December 05:27
So today i have been tinkering with the electrics in preparation for my 200km journey tomorrow. This included fitting a USB phone charger which i brought over from England with me.
I removed the battery cover to find this:
Lots of dodgy wiring and wrapped up in strange yellow plastic
I looked at what i could and cleaned up the connections i could get to easily, including the battery terminals. I gave them a good scrape back with the screwdriver and used a little engine oil from the dipstick to hopefully keep them from rusting again. Same with the starter relay connections.
After that i wrapped the wiring and starter relay in a plastic bag to hopefully keep it away from the worst of the weather, and fitted my little charger unit. As the bike has no accessible handlebars i had to mount it to the front rack.
The front disc is so bad its laughable. Gutted i didnt spot in the shop but live and learn. I really think its not a good idea to leave it for the duration of the trip as its basically unusable, so i will be hunting around for a mechanic in the next few days that can get a replacement disc for not silly money
I removed the battery cover to find this:
Lots of dodgy wiring and wrapped up in strange yellow plastic
I looked at what i could and cleaned up the connections i could get to easily, including the battery terminals. I gave them a good scrape back with the screwdriver and used a little engine oil from the dipstick to hopefully keep them from rusting again. Same with the starter relay connections.
After that i wrapped the wiring and starter relay in a plastic bag to hopefully keep it away from the worst of the weather, and fitted my little charger unit. As the bike has no accessible handlebars i had to mount it to the front rack.
The front disc is so bad its laughable. Gutted i didnt spot in the shop but live and learn. I really think its not a good idea to leave it for the duration of the trip as its basically unusable, so i will be hunting around for a mechanic in the next few days that can get a replacement disc for not silly money
Edited by AceOfHearts on Monday 11th December 09:47
AceOfHearts said:
Thanks for all the great comments guys and I will be sure to look up the recommendations.
I have avoided the police at Mui Ne so far. Apparently the main check point is on the coast road north to the sand dunes which I am avoiding. I have heard horror stories of people handing over 3,000,000 to them!
I have one more night chilling at the hotel here and then im moving on to Cat Tien national park tomorrow for a couple of days to break up the Journey back to HCMC.
I should be going back through Cat Tien in a few weeks though on my way North (probably just in the new year) so let me know if you are around Steve Bass
I have some mods to do to the bike later so expect another update
3mil is the ultimate fine but there's a trick to working with the Viets.I have avoided the police at Mui Ne so far. Apparently the main check point is on the coast road north to the sand dunes which I am avoiding. I have heard horror stories of people handing over 3,000,000 to them!
I have one more night chilling at the hotel here and then im moving on to Cat Tien national park tomorrow for a couple of days to break up the Journey back to HCMC.
I should be going back through Cat Tien in a few weeks though on my way North (probably just in the new year) so let me know if you are around Steve Bass
I have some mods to do to the bike later so expect another update
Edited by AceOfHearts on Monday 11th December 05:27
Never give them your license
take the keys out and put them in your pocket.
have 200k in a pocket and claim it's all you have
They'll take the 200k and move you along. Time is $$$$. Or tell them to keep the bike.
I blasted past the police on the Vung Tau to Mui Ne road at about 130kph some weeks back and they just looked away. But then again I never ride in the "bike" lane as it's tantamount to assisted suicide......
When you're in HCMC give me a shout.
Did the same trip coming up on 10 years ago now (except I shipped my bike up on the train for the northern half), and one heads up is to get inland and avoid just cruising up the 'coast road'. Its basically just a stream of churning lorries (which you probably got a taste of on the way to Mui Ne!) and apparently you barely even get to see the coast either.
We headed inland to Dalat (some great quiet mountain/jungle roads leading up there) and then basically followed the old Ho Chi Minh Trail (highway 14 I think it is) northwards, diverting off to the coast at Danang (to take the amazing Hai Van pass a la Top Gear fame).
This is the route we took ( https://www.google.co.uk/maps/@13.699953,105.99197... ) and it included some interesting parts...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1c5Oe-cHe2I
We headed inland to Dalat (some great quiet mountain/jungle roads leading up there) and then basically followed the old Ho Chi Minh Trail (highway 14 I think it is) northwards, diverting off to the coast at Danang (to take the amazing Hai Van pass a la Top Gear fame).
This is the route we took ( https://www.google.co.uk/maps/@13.699953,105.99197... ) and it included some interesting parts...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1c5Oe-cHe2I
AceOfHearts said:
The front disc is so bad its laughable. Gutted i didnt spot in the shop but live and learn. I really think its not a good idea to leave it for the duration of the trip as its basically unusable, so i will be hunting around for a mechanic in the next few days that can get a replacement disc for not silly money
You'll have seen the little mechanics shops every few km along the side of the road. They'll probably replace the disc for $5 in under an hour!So today i did 180km to Cat Tien national park which was a much better ride than the last one. Total distance so far is 432km.
I had been asking about the front brake in a few smaller garages but nobody could get the parts or were interested in doing it. I did try to explain to one guy who misunderstood me and pulled the front wheel off to replace the bearings
Good thing the wheel was pulled off again though as the speedo drive washer was massively bent and chewing itself up in the housing. Must have been something the tyre guy did.
Anyways it all got cleaned up, speedo drive straightened and new wheel bearings for good measure. 100,000 dong (£3)
I carried on the ride and happened to stumble upon a Honda main dealer! Asked in there and he pointed me to a small garage just around the corner. I was in luck!
Explained the issue and one of the guys scooted off to find parts whilst the other started stripping the bike. He wasnt happy with the caliper so pulled it apart, cleaned up the pistons, new seals and rubbers fitted. The new discs and pads turned up, were fitted and now its working great, albeit i think it could do with a more thorough bleeding. Best of all it was all genuine honda parts used and the mechanic doing the work really knew his stuff. 45 minutes later i paid the 300,000 (£10) and was on my way!
Cant tell easily from the pics but the old disc was amazingly thin in the centre and badly warped. Anyways im here for a few days to explore the jungle so no more updates for a while. Apologies for all the text!
I had been asking about the front brake in a few smaller garages but nobody could get the parts or were interested in doing it. I did try to explain to one guy who misunderstood me and pulled the front wheel off to replace the bearings
Good thing the wheel was pulled off again though as the speedo drive washer was massively bent and chewing itself up in the housing. Must have been something the tyre guy did.
Anyways it all got cleaned up, speedo drive straightened and new wheel bearings for good measure. 100,000 dong (£3)
I carried on the ride and happened to stumble upon a Honda main dealer! Asked in there and he pointed me to a small garage just around the corner. I was in luck!
Explained the issue and one of the guys scooted off to find parts whilst the other started stripping the bike. He wasnt happy with the caliper so pulled it apart, cleaned up the pistons, new seals and rubbers fitted. The new discs and pads turned up, were fitted and now its working great, albeit i think it could do with a more thorough bleeding. Best of all it was all genuine honda parts used and the mechanic doing the work really knew his stuff. 45 minutes later i paid the 300,000 (£10) and was on my way!
Cant tell easily from the pics but the old disc was amazingly thin in the centre and badly warped. Anyways im here for a few days to explore the jungle so no more updates for a while. Apologies for all the text!
Edited by AceOfHearts on Tuesday 12th December 12:11
Edited by AceOfHearts on Tuesday 12th December 12:13
love this. what a cool adventure
just to remind you of how amazing the value is that you are experiencing...yesterday i paid £108 for a BMW Motorrad battery charger. my existing perfectly good CTEK one doesnt work properly due to some BMW specific canbus issue blah blah (clearly designed so you have to buy a BMW one)
just to remind you of how amazing the value is that you are experiencing...yesterday i paid £108 for a BMW Motorrad battery charger. my existing perfectly good CTEK one doesnt work properly due to some BMW specific canbus issue blah blah (clearly designed so you have to buy a BMW one)
supercommuter said:
What are you budgeting for the trip? Can't believe how cheap it has been so far!
Do you need insurance over there to ride?
How long are you doing this for?
I do have travel insurance which covers bike riding but only from a health perspective. Basically its illegal over here for a foreigner to ride a bike but so many people do it the police turn a blind eye if tou slip them a few quid (so i have heard!) Do you need insurance over there to ride?
How long are you doing this for?
I have yet to be pulled over but i expect it to happen once or twice.
I have a 3 month visa for Vietnam but i have rented my house out for a year contract, so after Vietnam I will be travelling a while longer but not sure where yet.
Great trip!
The reason the bike it a complete piece of crap is because it is not a Honda but a Viet copy, made from KDK (Knock down kits) from China. Same as the "Honda" Win, which are either a Sufat (Pretty good) or Chinese junk.
They have all been beaten within an inch of their lives!
The reason the bike it a complete piece of crap is because it is not a Honda but a Viet copy, made from KDK (Knock down kits) from China. Same as the "Honda" Win, which are either a Sufat (Pretty good) or Chinese junk.
They have all been beaten within an inch of their lives!
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