MOTORBIKE RIDING LESSON FOR BEGINNERS AND NOVICE RIDERS IN HANOI

Beginners may want to take a deep breath and think twice before riding a two-wheeler in Vietnam. Riding here requires confidence, awareness, and some experience, so it is best recommended for intermediate and experienced riders.

However, if you feel ready and want to learn how to flow with Vietnam’s unique traffic river, join our motorbike riding lesson. We focus on manual clutch touring motorbikes and help you build the skills and confidence needed for your Vietnam riding adventure.

Motorbike Riding Lesson In Hanoi For Beginners

This motorbike riding lesson is only available for customers who rent scooters for commuting in Hanoi or riders joining our guided trips. It is not offered as a stand-alone service. If you want to explore Vietnam on your own and need a riding lesson first, sadly we don’t provide this service.

Riding in Vietnam requires much more than just riding skills. It’s about understanding traffic, staying alert, and safely making it back in one piece!

Recently, some clients who had never ridden any two-wheel vehicle before tried the lesson, but it didn’t work. Please make sure you have experience with at least a bicycle, electric scooter, automatic scooter, or pushbike. If not, rent a bicycle in Hanoi first – it will help save time.

The photo below shows a typical mountain road where water buffaloes rule.

Learn to ride a motorcycle in a safe and controlled way. Always put safety first and make sure you have the right gear for your type of riding.

Come and see us – we know how to ride safely and come back in one piece. Our guides will coach beginners and show you what to do.

Watch the video below and see how two beginner riders handled Honda XR125L dirt bikes. With our guide leading the way, you can do it too. Flow like a fish in the river!

Detailed Motorbike Riding Lesson

First, put on all of your safety gear: helmet, gloves, eye protection, knee and elbow pads, and proper shoes. Remember: “ALL THE GEAR, ALL THE TIME.”

Secondly, we’ll take you to a wide-open space for practice. Public parks, closed roads, or parking lots are great choices where there are few people around.

We begin by familiarizing you with your motorcycle. Make sure you know where all the controls are and can reach them without looking. This is very important, as you can’t take your eyes off the road every time you shift gears.

Next, get on the bike and start the engine. Although most motorbikes have an electric start, you’ll also learn how to use the kick starter (if the bike is equipped with one).

Clutch Control – The Most Important Part of a Motorbike Riding Lesson

Practice getting a feel for the clutch’s friction zone. Pull in the clutch lever and shift the bike into first gear, or preferably second. Place your feet out in front of you with your heels on the ground and your toes pointed upward. Slowly release the clutch lever until the bike begins to roll forward. Once your feet are flat on the ground, pull the clutch lever back in. Then rock back onto your heels and repeat until you develop a good feel for the clutch.

Next, practice “power walking” the bike. Start with your feet in front of you again, then slowly release the clutch until the bike begins to move forward on its own. Using only the clutch, walk the bike from one end of the practice area to the other while keeping it balanced with your feet. Repeat this exercise until you can keep the bike upright even after lifting your feet off the ground.

Riding

After mastering power walking, it’s time to practice riding in a straight line. Slowly release the clutch while gently rolling on the throttle to build a little speed. As the motorcycle begins to move, place both feet on the footpegs and continue riding in a straight line, maintaining a relaxed and balanced riding position.

When you’re ready to stop, pull in the clutch lever and gradually apply both the front and rear brakes at the same time, using slightly more pressure on the rear brake. Brake smoothly and progressively to keep the motorcycle stable as it slows down.

As you come to a complete stop, place your left foot on the ground to support the motorcycle while keeping your right foot on the rear brake. Once the bike is fully stopped and balanced, you can place your right foot on the ground if needed.

Turning & Cornering

Next, practice making a left turn. Remember to SLOW down, LOOK through the turn, PRESS the handlebar in the direction you want to go, and gradually ROLL on the throttle as you ride through the corner. SLOW, LOOK, PRESS, ROLL.

As you reduce your speed, turn your head and look toward the end of the corner. Your motorcycle will naturally follow your line of sight. If you keep looking straight ahead, the bike will continue moving straight instead of turning.

Press the handlebar on the side you want to turn. If you are making a left turn, gently press the left handlebar. This input causes the motorcycle to lean to the left. Lean naturally with the bike and smoothly roll on a little more throttle to maintain balance and stability as you move through the turn.

As you exit the corner, gradually ease off the throttle and release the pressure on the handlebar. The motorcycle will naturally return to an upright position as you continue riding straight.

Test Your Skills

There is much more to riding a motorcycle than this, but these steps will get you started. When you feel confident with your motorbike, you can move on to riding on quieter public roads. After about one to two hours of practice, you should be able to ride on your own.

At least 80% of customers who take our motorbike riding lesson can ride comfortably. If you do not feel comfortable using a manual clutch bike, or if it does not suit you, we recommend trying a semi-automatic or an automatic scooter instead.

The Cost of a Motorbike Riding Lesson

The cost of this friendly motorbike riding lesson is 30$US, and it includes an instructor, the motorcycle, fuel, and safety riding gear. The lesson typically takes one to two hours, depending on how quickly you learn.

After completing the lesson, you can rent our bike and ride on your own with greater confidence. Please note that this lesson is not offered as a separate service; it is included with the bike rental, which is charged separately.

Other Essential Things

Safety riding gear 
Driving license
Insurance
Things to bring
Mechanic basics
Terminology
Travel documents