vietnam motorcycle trip

[the Ferret]

Awesome trip report CB400four, some workmates and myself are planning a similar tour of Cambodia in November so this is much appreciated!

Oh and I have to ask, is it common for young women to ride side-saddle on the pillion? I think it looks very lady like and surprisingly appealing!

Tim, I've worked a bit in Timor-Leste where the practice is very common. Usually a scooter and sometimes with a couple of kids as well.

Tim, I've worked a bit in Timor-Leste where the practice is very common. Usually a scooter and sometimes with a couple of kids as well.
MrTim, the trip to Cambodia should be great for you, my wife and I travelled there (not by bike) and we enjoyed ourselves thoroughly. Drop me a PM if I can be of any help; plus, I'd love to hear about the proposed itinerary.

+1 on Cormanus' comment. In my experience, sidesaddle pillion riders are even more popular in India where long skirts are common; when I was travelling there I noticed that many of the motorbikes have a chrome 'grille' on the left side only which covers the rear wheel and keeps skirts etc from entangling in the wheel when riding sidesaddle.

chrome grille (always on the left side)

and in use

Interesting. I wonder what it's like for the passenger when the the driver makes a right turn and the passenger is leaning backwards.

 

[emptysea]

Great report with great pictures. I've never had much interest in riding in remote/exotic places like Vietnam, but after reading this, I may have to look into a trip like this.

Thanks.

 

[VTR1000F_imp]

This kind of pillion riding was popular in Europe in 50s and 60s..My grandmother used to ride with my grandfather like this on a large CZ 175 scooter in mid 60s... Later they prohibited this by law.

 

[Cormanus]

Ferret, I don't think they ever go very fast so there's not much leaning. The chaps who make their C90s very loud, smother them with bling and tear about the place either don't carry pillions or have them sit astride.

 

[GoldOxide_imp]

Yes, a bit of a stretch, but will park this crazy Vietnam journey here ... (click on image)

 

[Charlie Bravo_imp]

Sounds like a great trip! While in the army, 1968-1971, I was stationed in Thailand, at the Deep Water Port of Sattahip, on an army tugboat as a marine engineer. I and a buddy used to rent Honda 350s in Pattaya, and ride between Bangkok and Sattahip, sometimes getting so far off the main routes that the locals had never seen a "felong", a foreigner. The people were always friendly, and the food was always delicious, and the riding was spectacular. I wrote my first novel based on my time there.