These are the two areas of scootering here I see people new to bikes have the most problems with. The problems are then compounded by bad advice from others I see online little more informed but that like to give some opinion. This is just mine also but as a qualified mechanic and experienced rider I'd like to think it offers some value. STARTING YOUR ENGINE The starting procedure can vary between bikes and certainly between carburetted and fuel injected bikes but whichever

Most often when customers come to me to buy or rent a bike they have some idea of what they like the look of but little idea of what will suit their physical size, intended use, experience and budget the best. We sell and rent everything so without bias I take pride in matching people with a bike they will be happy with ongoing and not just the day they pick it up. Here's a basic overview of type and some of our preferred sales and rental models for your perusal. Full Automat

In the last year or so we have seen a significant spike in stolen and confiscated motorcycles and scooters. Heres a few tips to help keep yours safely in your posession. PARKING YOUR BIKE Anytime you are parking without receiving a parking ticket LOCK your steering. Hot spots for stolen bikes are convenience stores. You jump off your bike to get a bottle of water and by the time you get to the fridge the bike is gone. Two guys are sitting on a scooter watching. You don't loc

Tyres at the incorrect pressure are the leading contributer to AVOIDABLE accidents here in my opinion. Of course lack of concentration, ability, spatial awareness and experience all contribute to the carnage. What i am referring to is the rider doing their best to stay safe and ride responsibly but unknowingly are riding on incorrect tyre pressures. If you could see a tyre in slow motion under braking you'd see the tyre flatten out to create a wider contact patch on the road

This helmet could well be the best compromise between safety, comfort, affordability and practicality on the market. I have been wearing it over a year now and as much as i need to test others, keep going back to it. I moved my little boy into it from a bucket about six months ago and he won't let his mum put anything else on him now. It is not ECE or DOT rated. As the chin is removable I assume it cannot get the rating. Around the city and at sensible touring speeds though I

Just thought after two months and 11,000km living in the vented Helite jacket I'd share some feedback to anyone interested in this next level of protection. Firstly the best news is I didn't have it deploy so happy I can't provide that experience. To be honest I expected to compromise some comfort for the piece of mind when making the purchase but that wasn't the case. Having had the vest deploy on me at the demostation night was enough to reassure me it was efficient but I t

After putting 10,000km on the Baby Beemer here's the summary for those who have been asking. I've got the 1200GS in Australia and while a great touring bike there, too heavy for the riding I like to do here. Been punting Ducati's around for many years here but again a bit limited even though at times they didn't get much of a choice. Did my last few big rides on XR 150's which are great and will take you anywhere but the first 2000 odd k's of this ride was two up and I knew w

Considering this has been our biggest selling helmet so far this year I thought I should point out a few reasons why. A lot of customers come in for a basic bucket to replace their completely ineffectual local hat and that's great. I will always offer them something with a little more face protection and comfort however and this fits nicely so many seize the opportunity. Still an open face but 3/4 so the side pods coming down the jaw line combined with the recess fit across y

This, like many of my blogs, is aimed at new riders to Vietnam. Anyone here for a while if they've survived has probably picked up on most of it. FLASHING THE HEADLIGHTS In Australia and I assume most Western countries if a driver flashes their headlights at you it is a courtesy which means one of two things. On a highway or country road they will be alerting you to a hazard ahead. Animals on the road, an accident situation or most likely a police radar. In an urban environme

LAW It is mandatory that any person over the age of six years wear a helmet on all public roads in Vietnam. We don't like foreigners in our home countries not abiding our laws. We should respect this law here. ROLE MODEL As adults we are roles models to our children. As expats we are also role models to the Vietnamese children and to a degree also the adults. None of us would want to be indirectly responsible for an easily avoided tragedy. RESPONSIBILITY So many times since l

SPATIAL AWARENESS I've been thinking about this for a while and recent events, one in particular, has motivated me to pen some thoughts. MIRRORS If you do not have two functional, correctly adjusted mirrors you can not possibly be spatially aware to the rear. When recommending mirrors to someone a few days ago they said "oh i just turn to look". With the unpredictable nature of the traffic conditions here I think that's risky at best. A glance to a mirror, eyes back to the r

Thanks to Ian Gibbons, his wife Karen who first asked me to get involved and the staff at the British Consulate for there initiative in getting us all together around this very important topic. Lets hope the other consulates follow their lead. Too many expats of all nationalities don’t get to leave this country at a time of their choosing be it injury or worse so lets hope tonight we lay some foundations toward building positive improvement around motorcycle safe practice. I’

I will be sharing some information from a riders perspective along with speakers from the medical sector. Please feel free to share this event. We all know people that could benefit from it. Are you a tourist riding a motorbike during your visit to Vietnam or a resident riding a motorbike here? Did you know that motorbike accidents are the leading cause of death, severe injury, and emergency evacuation of foreigners in Vietnam? 🛵 Join us for an open discussion on how we can

That is the question and we hear a lot of debate and opinion around the answer. Here are some facts and a pricing structure to help you make an informed decision The most common argument against spending the money and taking the time to become legal on the roads here is that the police don't seem to care about it. In a roadside stop situation a small fine (200 - 500k) is usually enough to get you on your way so I understand where that rationale comes from. The police can char

Firstly may I say I am not trying to teach experienced riders how to suck eggs but more give inexperienced riders or those who may have developed some bad habits a few things to think about. RIDING THROUGH FLOOD WATER This poses a significant risk at any time but the risk can be minimised. Often we are forced to ride the same sections of flooded road regularly. Try and memorise where the holes and other hazards are otherwise follow the wheel line of another bike or car and ha

I like to wear a helmet for a month or so before reviewing it. I will continue to do that but under sufferance having to leave this one at home. It's very comfortable and even at higher speeds locked into the full face position surprisingly quiet. Also I find it a comfortably cool helmet. Ventilation is good and the lining material seems to breath well against your skin. I tend to wear it as an open face with the tinted screen down a lot of the time scooting around the city a

I used this helmet for two months or so for short trips around Thao Dien. Not because its the best we have but that is so easy to put on and off and I'm a frequent rider of very short trips. The liner is simply removed to wash and keep it fresh and its light weight for the protection it provides. The face shield is incremental. Fully down it blocks all airflow so is perfect in heavy rain or those few seconds stuck behind a dirty bus or truck. One click up though and wind flow