I've had mixed experiences with buying second-hand bikes in PP and after one particular lemon, I've vowed to start prioritizing quality over bargain to the best of my ability to assess. But that was always as a working professional, thinking as a long-term investor, with ever an eye to efficient use of time.
However, now a new adventure and set of priorities await: I'm planning to buy a Vietnamese-plated bike and backpack from HCMC to Hanoi...possibly making a full loop by crossing into Laos and driving back down to PP, hopefully recovering as much money on the original purchase price as I can by selling it off to the next backpacker. I have two months and no particular day-to-day agenda.
So why not just buy a piece of shit? Backpackers over there typically spend around $250 for a Chinese knock-off Honda Win or similar. If the bike breaks down in the middle of nowhere, I lose not-so-valuable time by wheeling it to the nearest village for a(nother) cheap duct-tape fix. It doesn't have to be a 5-year investment, just last me two months and then it's someone else's problem. (Caveat: That's two months of heavy use. I've read of some guys' bikes overheating and catching fire, Jesus.)
Worst case scenario (barring safety concerns): it's deemed unfixable, I'm out a couple hundred bucks, I take the bus home.
Versus, I spend time and money (mostly money) researching and buying a "good" motorbike that breaks down less, but in the end I can't recover my investment because it's priced outside of the backpacker price-range and no non-backpacker in Cambodia wants a VN-plated bike.
Seems obvious to me? But I have yet to find a motorbike-buying article on the internet telling me not to invest in quality.
Why shouldn't a backpacker buy a Chinese knock-off moto?
- horace
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I don't tnink you can cross into Laos quite so easily on Viet plate. I might be wrong but do some research first. Btw, I have cycled most of Vietnam so if you want any tips on where to go just ask.
k440, something to do when you're pissed.
- horace
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Also a lot of the backpackers actually rent a bike for something like 5 dollars a day, pick up in one capital and drop off in another, any repairs that need doing the company pays for. You take the bike to any mechanic anywhere give them a phone number which they call and bingo they are fixing yer bike. Seemed to work very well for the ones I met doing it.
k440, something to do when you're pissed.
Yeah - Style Motorbikes do this, they have offices in HCM, Hanoi and Hoi An. You can rent or buy.
You shouldn’t have any problems with a viet plated bike in Laos though
You shouldn’t have any problems with a viet plated bike in Laos though
They rent but you get totally stuffed on the price, even though you agreed a price beforehand. It’s a big scam.
That and telling dumb backpackers that they are buying a Honda with a Detech engine! Lololo.
That and telling dumb backpackers that they are buying a Honda with a Detech engine! Lololo.
pew, pew, pew, pew!
Most backpackers recover around 100% of their initial investments in their bikes when they resell, minus repairs, which typically account for 10%-20% of the purchase price. Renting is just throwing money out the window.
If I only had two weeks to make it from A to B, I would be a lot more concerned about preventing break-downs. With two months I can waste a day here and there pushing through the countryside.
If I only had two weeks to make it from A to B, I would be a lot more concerned about preventing break-downs. With two months I can waste a day here and there pushing through the countryside.
Who told you they recover money?
If they sell them in Cambodia in low season they literally have to give them away. I got offered two 2017 Wins for $500. They cost them $500 each.
Buy a $100 sell it for $100. Wow, quids in!
If they sell them in Cambodia in low season they literally have to give them away. I got offered two 2017 Wins for $500. They cost them $500 each.
Buy a $100 sell it for $100. Wow, quids in!
pew, pew, pew, pew!
- ផោមក្លិនស្អុយ
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Exactly this.YaTingPom wrote:Who told you they recover money?
If they sell them in Cambodia in low season they literally have to give them away. I got offered two 2017 Wins for $500. They cost them $500 each.
Buy a $100 sell it for $100. Wow, quids in!
After they finish using it they have 3 days to sell it.
Desperate, time bound sellers... of course they are going to get a good price for it!!!
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