Go Back   Horizons Unlimited - The HUBB > Technical, Bike forums > Which Bike?
Which Bike? Comments and Questions on what is the best bike for YOU, for YOUR trip. Note that we believe that ANY bike will do, so please remember that it's all down to PERSONAL OPINION. Technical Questions for all brands go in their own forum.
Photo by Daniel Rintz, Himba children, Namibia

The only impossible journey
is the one
you never begin

Photo by Daniel Rintz,
Himba children, Namibia



Reply
 
LinkBack Thread Tools Display Modes
  #1  
Old 31 Aug 2006
Registered Users
New on the HUBB
 
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: Vietnam
Posts: 3
To Minsk or not to Minsk

Hi,
My name is Jo. I am currently living and working in Vietnam. I have never owned a bike, and only have a bit of Asian riding experience. I wont pretend that I know anything about bikes or what to look for in a machine that will hopefully take me anywhere I want to go. Ultimately I would like to ride from London to Cape Town.

Minsks are everywhere in northern Vietnam. Apart from being stinky smokey things, they appear to be very very fixable, tough and, here at least, cheap.

Any advice would be greatly appreciated. I am really looking at setting up a bike that would be easy to ride (beginner, have my licence) maintain and just keeps on going! Any idea of budget for setting myself up with all gear would be great too.

Ta Much
Reply With Quote
  #2  
Old 31 Aug 2006
Registered Users
Veteran HUBBer
 
Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: the Netherlands
Posts: 138
as far as i know: a minsk is a mz cloon, so it should do pritty well. the 2stroke engine needs a mix of petrol and oil to run. if i was you i would try to find one that has seperat oil and fuel tank, that way you can adjust the mixture to you driving style.
i see no problem why you shouldn't drive one from london to cape town
__________________
I’m not afraid to go fast, it’s the crash and burn part that sucks.
Reply With Quote
  #3  
Old 30 Nov 2006
Registered Users
New on the HUBB
 
Join Date: Jan 2004
Location: France
Posts: 6
Hi Jo,
Great to read about your project if it is still planned. Should you speak french you could find interesting stuff on the following web-site http://perso.orange.fr/mathieu.bringer
A friend and myself both rode on a Minsk from Hanoi to Paris in 2002. Lots of hassles but if your budget is limited everything remains possible on it (!) especially in so called "third world" countries where mechanics are much more inventive and flexible than in the western developped world.

Axel
Reply With Quote
  #4  
Old 30 Nov 2006
Registered Users
New on the HUBB
 
Join Date: Jan 2004
Location: France
Posts: 6
Just another point concerning the oil/fuel mixture. The current system you may find on newer models that manages automatic mix will be always desactivated in Vietnam. The reason is that this system is not reliable at all (most will break ending up with no oil addition while riding, thus causing the engine to breakdown). By the way, don't forget a bottle of vodka if you run out of petrol. Minsks are thirsty!
Reply With Quote
  #5  
Old 7 Dec 2006
Registered Users
HUBB regular
 
Join Date: Nov 2006
Location: Sydney - Australia
Posts: 44
I'm a fan of riding a local type bike in the country I'm in - enfield in inia, ural in russia etc, even withthe headaches.

An interesting side note though - Honda used to have 70% of the market share in vietnam in the new motorcycle sales department, and now they only have 30%, largely as a result of the chinese invasion. Some of these are almost direct copies of the hondas, even with stickers like "hondarl".

So, maybe even consider a chinese bike.....but thoroughly go over it for safety, durability etc.

See which ones wiz by with a family of seven and the chickens on the way to market.....always amazes me how many poele they get on a bike in Asia.
Reply With Quote
  #6  
Old 7 Dec 2006
Registered Users
HUBB regular
 
Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: Switzerland
Posts: 23
Just do it ! Do it now !

Riding a Minsk in Vietnam is just great, especially in the mountainous area of Northern VN. Much more fun with a Minsk than with any other bike.

A couple of notes:

- last november, when buying my Minsk in Hanoi at Cuong's Motorcycle, I talked with a frenchman who runs Compagnie Bourlingue alias http://www.freewheelin-tours.com/

He told me that in the future, the Hanoi authorities plan to ban 2 stroke motorbikes in the city because of the pollution (infos to be checked). Anyway, even today, you hardly see any Minsk in Hanoi (or if you see one, the rider is a foreigner)

- You'll still find Minsk in the north and in some countryside area in the center and in the south, but they are little by little replaced by chinese motorcycles (Honda made-in-China or other brands).

In the north, spare parts still can be found, but I think, this bike is going to disappear quickly. Take your chance to ride it while you can. Vietnam is changing rapidly. When back again on a Minsk this year after my first Minsk trip in 1993, I was struck to find so few of them nowadays.

@Axel: great adventure you did with those mighty Minsk !
Reply With Quote
Reply


Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 Registered Users and/or Members and 1 guests)
 
Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are On
Pingbacks are On
Refbacks are On


Similar Threads
Thread Thread Starter Forum Replies Last Post
MINSK motorcycle Pierk Trip Paperwork 0 10 Nov 2005 01:37
MINSK Motorcycle Pierk Europe 0 10 Nov 2005 01:33
Vietnam on a Minsk ? brclarke Route Planning 2 14 Jul 2000 22:07

 
 

Announcements

Thinking about traveling? Not sure about the whole thing? Watch the HU Achievable Dream Video Trailers and then get ALL the information you need to get inspired and learn how to travel anywhere in the world!

Have YOU ever wondered who has ridden around the world? We did too - and now here's the list of Circumnavigators!
Check it out now
, and add your information if we didn't find you.

Next HU Eventscalendar

HU Event and other updates on the HUBB Forum "Traveller's Advisories" thread.
ALL Dates subject to change.

2024:

Add yourself to the Updates List for each event!

Questions about an event? Ask here

HUBBUK: info

See all event details

 
World's most listened to Adventure Motorbike Show!
Check the RAW segments; Grant, your HU host is on every month!
Episodes below to listen to while you, err, pretend to do something or other...

2020 Edition of Chris Scott's Adventure Motorcycling Handbook.

2020 Edition of Chris Scott's Adventure Motorcycling Handbook.

"Ultimate global guide for red-blooded bikers planning overseas exploration. Covers choice & preparation of best bike, shipping overseas, baggage design, riding techniques, travel health, visas, documentation, safety and useful addresses." Recommended. (Grant)



Ripcord Rescue Travel Insurance.

Ripcord Rescue Travel Insurance™ combines into a single integrated program the best evacuation and rescue with the premier travel insurance coverages designed for adventurers.

Led by special operations veterans, Stanford Medicine affiliated physicians, paramedics and other travel experts, Ripcord is perfect for adventure seekers, climbers, skiers, sports enthusiasts, hunters, international travelers, humanitarian efforts, expeditions and more.

Ripcord travel protection is now available for ALL nationalities, and travel is covered on motorcycles of all sizes!


 

What others say about HU...

"This site is the BIBLE for international bike travelers." Greg, Australia

"Thank you! The web site, The travels, The insight, The inspiration, Everything, just thanks." Colin, UK

"My friend and I are planning a trip from Singapore to England... We found (the HU) site invaluable as an aid to planning and have based a lot of our purchases (bikes, riding gear, etc.) on what we have learned from this site." Phil, Australia

"I for one always had an adventurous spirit, but you and Susan lit the fire for my trip and I'll be forever grateful for what you two do to inspire others to just do it." Brent, USA

"Your website is a mecca of valuable information and the (video) series is informative, entertaining, and inspiring!" Jennifer, Canada

"Your worldwide organisation and events are the Go To places to for all serious touring and aspiring touring bikers." Trevor, South Africa

"This is the answer to all my questions." Haydn, Australia

"Keep going the excellent work you are doing for Horizons Unlimited - I love it!" Thomas, Germany

Lots more comments here!



Five books by Graham Field!

Diaries of a compulsive traveller
by Graham Field
Book, eBook, Audiobook

"A compelling, honest, inspiring and entertaining writing style with a built-in feel-good factor" Get them NOW from the authors' website and Amazon.com, Amazon.ca, Amazon.co.uk.



Back Road Map Books and Backroad GPS Maps for all of Canada - a must have!

New to Horizons Unlimited?

New to motorcycle travelling? New to the HU site? Confused? Too many options? It's really very simple - just 4 easy steps!

Horizons Unlimited was founded in 1997 by Grant and Susan Johnson following their journey around the world on a BMW R80G/S.

Susan and Grant Johnson Read more about Grant & Susan's story

Membership - help keep us going!

Horizons Unlimited is not a big multi-national company, just two people who love motorcycle travel and have grown what started as a hobby in 1997 into a full time job (usually 8-10 hours per day and 7 days a week) and a labour of love. To keep it going and a roof over our heads, we run events all over the world with the help of volunteers; we sell inspirational and informative DVDs; we have a few selected advertisers; and we make a small amount from memberships.

You don't have to be a Member to come to an HU meeting, access the website, or ask questions on the HUBB. What you get for your membership contribution is our sincere gratitude, good karma and knowing that you're helping to keep the motorcycle travel dream alive. Contributing Members and Gold Members do get additional features on the HUBB. Here's a list of all the Member benefits on the HUBB.




All times are GMT +1. The time now is 12:36.