Find a Good Mechanic in Hanoi (7 Tips)

a Hanoi mechanic busy at work

Table of Contents

A Total Minefield

If you have bought your own motorbike (rather than rented one), sooner or later you will need to get it serviced. You will probably not have much experience with different mechanics in Vietnam and you may not know a good mechanic in Hanoi. Nor may you know the true cost of spare parts labor and repairs. This is a total minefield, which you are tiptoeing blindly through, and you could get hurt. Beware.

Rentabike bikes are serviced and repaired for you

When you rent a motorbike from Rentabike, you don’t need to find a good mechanic in Hanoi or to worry about servicing. We keep track of the mileage and know what has been done (or not done) to the bike in its recent history. That way we know what the bike needs and when. All we ask is that you keep an eye on the mileage. If you use the bike lot between rental payments, let us know and we can arrange to service it. We find most bikes are good with a bi-monthly service and you only need to listen out for strange noises. In this case, call us and we will fix what needs to be fixed.

Our Mechanic Recommendation

We recommend DC Motorbikes if you are in the Tay Ho area. They are good mechanics in Hanoi, who work on a general motorbike, nothing too fancy. They are honest and reliable, speak some English and have lots of foreign customers so they know what is expected. Below, we have outlined the important tips for when you are at the mechanic.

Dung and Cuong – DC Motorbikes  Address: 99B Ngo 374 Au Co    Tel: +84 90 491 94 59

Servicing and Repairing

Servicing is quite simple It should not take more than 20-30 minutes even in the busiest of shops. Stay with the bike while they check the fluid levels, maybe change the oil, and check the nuts, bolts, brakes, bearings, steering, tyre pressure and the fuel system. Be on hand so that if they think anything more detailed needs to be done, they can ask you straight away.

Repairs are much more difficult as things really depend on a case by case basis. There is no one correct answer as many factors play a role. So, be flexible and with time and experience, you will learn what seems right or wrong. Here are a few tips to help you out of the gate:

Get a Recommendation

You can’t live in Vietnam without knowing someone with a motorbike. It’s impossible. Therefore, ask a few friends which mechanic they use and why. Everyone will have suggestions of a good mechanic in Hanoi that they trust. If they have the same bike as you, even better. However, even if they don’t have the same type: brand, auto, semi-auto, manual, they can give you good advice.

Ask the Price Before Work Begins

The first thing to say is ALWAYS, ALWAYS try to make sure you know the price quoted BEFORE you agree to the work. This kind of goes without saying when living in a country where price lists or displays are few and far between. You will need to nail down the mechanic to a rough figure BEFORE they start the work. If you can also make it known that you want to hear about any increase in price BEFORE any work is carried out.

Don't Leave the Bike

Sure, if you are going to have your engine rebuilt, you will need to leave the bike. However, for most work, you can stay with the bike and watch what is going on. Once you have built up a good relationship with your mechanic, you can walk away. This isn’t something to do the first time. Simply being around so that the mechanic can ask about things is reason enough. Let’s not get into what a not honest mechanic can/will do if you are not there.

Check the Parts

This is a tough one. You are unlikely to know which parts are good expensive parts and which are cheap. Basically, opt for foreign parts when given a choice. Tyres from a Thai manufacturer or a battery from an Indonesian company. Steer clear of anything Chinese as it is likely to be cheap quality.

Test Drive the Bike

A lot of people either forget to do this or are too lazy to do so. It only needs to take a minute and you only need to shoot up the road. Take the time to go for a spin on the bike and see if the problem is fixed.

Ask a Friend

Ask a friend to help with translation or if you are confused. This can be done over the phone or in person, it doesn’t matter. Also, if you have a friend that recommends a mechanic, ask them to take you there. That way the mechanic knows who you are and that you are friends with their current client base. This increases the chance that they will treat you well.

Be Prepared to Shop Around

Remember, what works for one person, might not work for you so be prepared to find a different mechanic. In a country of some 40 million motorbikes, there is the demand. This does mean that you have little bargaining power but it also means there are plenty of alternatives if you are not happy.

Ultimately, you need to decide which works best for you: renting or buying. However, knowing a little about what to be wary of when dealing with mechanics can serve you well in all your daily dealings. Good Luck.

Quick Connect

BMW 1250 GS

Engine Type

air-liquid cooled, twin cylinder, DOHC, boxer engine

Displacement

1255 cc

Bore X Stroke

102.5 mm x 76 mm

Ignition

FI

Fuel System

fuel injection

Compression Ratio

12.5:1

Starter

electric

Gearbox

6-speed

Front Suspension

BMW Motorrad Telelever; stanchion diameter 37 mm

Rear Suspension

single-sided swing arm with BMW Motorrad Paralever

Front Brakes

dual disc brake, floating brake discs, diameter 305 mm, 4-piston radial calipers

Rear Brakes

single disc brake, diameter 276 mm, double-piston floating caliper

Front Tyres

120/70 R19

Rear Tyres

170/60 R17

Wheelbase

1514 mm

Seat Height

850 mm

Ground Clearance

790 mm

Kerb Weight

249 kg

Fuel Capacity

20 litres

Dimensions

2207 mm (L) x 952.5mm (W) x 1430 mm (H)

Honda XR 150 motorcycle rental

Engine Type

air cooled, OHC, single cylinder

Displacement

149 cc

Bore X Stroke

57.3 mm x 57.8 mm

Ignition

CDI

Fuel System

20 mm piston valve carburettor

Compression Ratio

9.5:1

Starter

electric with kick starter backup

Gearbox

5-speed

Front Suspension

telescopic fork, 180 mm axle travel

Rear Suspension

single shock swing arm, 150 mm axle travel

Front Brakes

dual piston caliper, 240 mm disc

Rear Brakes

mechanical drum

Front Tyres

90/90 19

Rear Tyres

110/90 17

Wheelbase

1362 mm

Seat Height

825 mm

Ground Clearance

243 mm

Kerb Weight

129 kg

Fuel Capacity

12 litres

Dimensions

2091 mm (L) x 811 mm (W) x 1125 mm (H)

Honda CB 500X motorcycle rental

Engine Type

liquid cooled parallel-twin four stroke

Displacement

470 cc

Bore X Stroke

67 mm x 66.8 mm

Ignition

PGMI – FI

Fuel System

fuel injection

Compression Ratio

10.7:1

Starter

electric

Gearbox

6-speed

Front Suspension

41 mm SFF-BP USD Forks

Rear Suspension

Prolink Mono with 5 stage pre load adjuster

Front Brakes

dual 296 mm discs with 4 piston calipers; ABS

Rear Brakes

240 mm disc; ABS

Front Tyres

110/80R19M/C (59H)

Rear Tyres

160/60R17M/C

Wheelbase

1445 mm

Seat Height

830 mm

Ground Clearance

180 mm

Kerb Weight

199 kg

Fuel Capacity

17.7 litres

Dimensions

2,155 mm (L) x 830 mm (W) x 1,410 mm (H)

Honda CRF 300 motorcycle rental

Engine Type

single cylinder, DOHC, liquid cooled

Displacement

286 cc

Bore X Stroke

76 mm x 63 mm

Ignition

Full Transistor Digital

Fuel System

PGM-FI electronic fuel injection

Compression Ratio

10.7:1

Starter

electric

Gearbox

5-speed

Front Suspension

43 mm telescopic upside down

Rear Suspension

Prolink Mono with 5 stage pre load adjuster

Front Brakes

256 mm disc, 2 piston caliper

Rear Brakes

220 mm disc, single piston caliper

Front Tyres

80/100 21

Rear Tyres

120/80 18

Wheelbase

1455 mm

Seat Height

880 mm

Ground Clearance

285 mm

Kerb Weight

142 kg

Fuel Capacity

7.8 litres

Dimensions

2230 mm (L) x 820 mm (W) x 1200 mm (H)

Tourist

One-Way

Expat

Pricing

N/A

N/A

Damage Waiver

$0/day

N/A

N/A

Security Deposit

N/A

N/A

Required Docs

passport

N/A

N/A

Mileage Limit

unlimited

N/A

N/A

Touring

N/A

N/A