Off-Road Bikes

Minsk 125cc

The two stroke, single cylinder Belorussian Minsk is a 125cc dirt bike capable of getting you anywhere in Vietnam. In its manual it says: “These motorcycles are especially suitable for service in the country-side with bad or no roads.” If you tinker with it, keep it clean and make regular inspections then the Minsk will become a true friend.

It’s got a top speed of around 85 kilometers an hour, its tank’s about 11 liters which will get you around 200 – 250 kilometers – the reserve will get you around 15 kilometers.

The bike has a simple design and has no battery. We have heard of one guy using a coke can as a clutch plate. You can open up the engine and have a look in side as there is no pressure seal. The tyre’s traction is excellent and capable of covering clay, rock or wet and its suspension is great.

The bike is ideal for any trip into the mountains of the north of Vietnam. Its drawbacks are its lack of speed on the strait and its Russian heritage which doesn’t like the heat. In hot weather you really need to keep the engine from overheating.

Honda XR 125cc

The Honda XR125L is is a great little commuter and green-laner. It lacks power up top but there’s more than enough for town riding and a spot of fun off-road. It looks absolutely gorgeous, too.


The Honda XR125L’s tall-ish seat gives a commanding riding position (great for city riding) but isn’t out of reach for the average rider. The bike’s narrow and very light, making handling easy and fun. Long travel suspension works well, brakes are ample and it’ll cruise at 50mph comfortably. Fifth gear’s a bit pointless: no extra “go” in it.

The Honda XR125L has a grunty, four stroke single with enough power to propel you around town with ease. Open roads and steep gradients prove a bit too much of a challenge, however. Very similar to the engine of the CLR125 City Fly and XL125R: in other words, it’s extremely reliable and long-lasting.

Plastic panelling ensures expensive dents are kept to a minimum whilst the Honda XR125L’s engine is capable of taking any amount of abuse thrown at it. However, problems with ignition coils and bikes cutting out prompted recalls on some machines. Make sure your bike’s sorted.

The Honda XR125L’s seat’s actually quite comfy, surprisingly, but equipment’s generally on the basic side. There’s a small screen, spoked wheels and a steel rear carrier for tying bits and pieces to.