The Honda Win and Google Searches
Contents
- The Honda Win and Google Searches
- The truth about the Honda Win.
- Buy a cheap Honda Win
- The worst motorbike in South East Asia.
- But all the other backpackers are on Honda Wins!
- The Honda Win is dangerous
- Why do backpackers choose the Honda Win?
- The Detech Honda Win in 2017
- I am still not convinced, give me more content about the Honda Win
- When should you buy a Honda Win?
- What should you do?
A simple google of “Honda Win” will reveal the reputable sources and their opinions on the Honda Win motorbike. Most of us won’t touch the motorbike, the risk of reputation damage is not worth it. Some reputable places will stock it to get people in the door, but they don’t actually want backpackers to buy it.
At Tigit we do not use the Honda Win. We deal with genuine motorbikes for travelling Vietnam.
The truth about the Honda Win.
The Honda Win is a toy motorbike. A $600 piece of garbage that is so bad, it does not exist anywhere else in the world.
“Ah but Sufat Honda Win is made in Vietnam”.
Let Tigit explain: Before Sufat it was Ferroli, before Ferroli is was Mekado before Mekado…. well it was real bikers and this Chinese stuff didn’t exist until the top gear Vietnam special came along.
Common marketing tactics. As a brand gets tarnished we move onto the next “brand” and say it is better than all the others models because ….. “insert sales pitch”.
The Win is unreliable, unpredictable and generally expensive to fix. Even if they do work, they will never drive properly and have no handling and no build quality!
It is the new drivers who end up on these motorbikes. New drivers have no comparison to compare from driving a real motorbike. A shame in our eyes to see backpackers missing out on an amazing opportunity to drive a good motorbike through some of the greatest mountain roads in the world.
Buy a cheap Honda Win
Lets assume a Honda Win purchased for $250!
Assume a 2000km journey. 2000km/300km (suggested oil changes) = 6 times at 4usd a time. Total = $24
Breakdowns (realistically) between $50 and $100. Will continue this maths with $50 on the low end.
Expected sale value (leaving country quickly) = $150, Purchase value less the sale value, $250-150 = $100$100 (loss on sale) + $24 (oil changes) + $50 maintenance = $174 total expense
This is excluding the maths on the useless gas consumption of a Chinese motorbike over a 2000km journey against an authentic motorbike.
It is also excluding the math on what holiday time is worth to you! Yes, some people believe that spending their holiday on the inside of a random countryside mechanic is good value, but I imagine the majority of people out there, would rather be on a beach!
For the sake of argument and to shut the people up saying “but I spent less”. These numbers are definitely on the generous side to the Win and I think it is hard to massively dispute these costs.
Take a $174 holiday on a Chinese toy motorbike that may or may not work VS a $250 rent on a genuine motorbike by a reputable proven company.
These numbers show that the argument of ” small budget” from backpackers really is incredibly weak
The worst motorbike in South East Asia.
Looking around the city streets and it can be seen that locals do not use the Honda Win. They can be found in the mountains used by farmers. The nice thing about the Win is that it is so cheap to buy that it never depreciates. For farmers who can do maintenance at Vietnamese prices then the Win serves a purpose. For backpackers, they are a disaster of expensive breakdowns. On your journey, remember the key phrase motorcycle repair shops near my location.
But all the other backpackers are on Honda Wins!
Yes, because all the other backpackers have no idea what they are doing and seem perfectly happy to lie to eachother to save cash on ruined holidays of over budget breakdowns.
Just look on craigslist and facebook to see that every Honda Win advert has a copied and pasted “no breakdowns” and oil changes every “200-400km”. Take 14l gas tank of $10 which will go approximately 200km. This is claiming one oil change for every two gas tank fills.
This is $5 to every $20 of gas…. not a particularly economical way to travel long distance.
To put it in perspective, most motorbikes Tigit rents will need oil changes every 1000km. Our top end imported motorbikes and bikes found overseas will have oil changes every 10,000km.
The Honda Win needs these regular oil changes due to a cheap Chinese engine that burns and leaks oil at the same time. This rapid oil consumption means that oil must frequently be changed.
The Honda Win is dangerous
Tigit Motorbikes started as a Honda Win dealer and we ran away from this horrible and dangerous market. The Honda Win catches fire, brakes fail and it wobbles around with no stability, control or handling.
We could use our reputation and scale to buy and sell to clueless backpackers who have no idea what they are doing. However we would rather try to educate and use our presence to steer people away from this horrific motorbike.
Tigit’s resilience to not get involved in the easy money grab of shoestring backpackers pretending to have no money is one of the reasons for our success.
For Tigit, respect on local markets and expat groups has led to word of mouth referrals and articles across the internet. Tigit is a place that gives the blunt truth and will not shy away from of an aggressive topic run by delusional backpackers.
Estimated value – $150-700
The Win and the Detech Honda Win are the most common motorbike to be found in the backpacker street.
A joke of a motorbike that wobbles around and breaks down all through the country. Surprisingly expensive to fix and generally an absolute burner of dollar notes in mechanic bills.
Why do backpackers choose the Honda Win?
Backpackers don’t choose the Win. The Vietnamese dealers choose the Honda Win as it is easy to sell to backpackers with its “cool” and cheap charactistics.
The Win is a dirty cheap manual motorbike that “looks cool”. On the Vietnamese market it can be bought for around $100 and it can be flipped to backpackers for $300+. Shoe string, budget backpackers tend to have no motorbike experience and have no idea what to look out for when purchasing a motorbike. This creates a market of easy money for backpacker street motorbike shops.
Backpackers buy the motorbike, then go up the country breaking down and spending money in mechanic shops. When it comes to the time to sell the motorbike the backpacker must try and sell for as little loss as possible. The best way to do this is to claim “no breakdowns”. The entire market of backpackers selling to each other is full of “no breakdown” motorbikes, so even with a moral compass on-board, a realization that to sell onward to another clueless backpacker then a copied advert of “no breakdowns” is required.
The alternative is to sell to a backpacker dealer for $100, where they will give it a “Matt black paint job” and flip it to the next clueless person that comes along.
This circle of “no breakdowns” creates a false image of the Honda Win within backpacker groups. The people buying this motorbike are the people trying to save money at all costs and they are also the people with no motorbike experience.
The people who know about motorbikes will quickly wise up to this Honda Win scam and start looking for other options. These are the people that end up in shops such as Tigit Motorbikes.
The Detech Honda Win in 2017
The Detech Honda Win has become popular on the backpacker market. A new brand and style of travelling where a new Detech Win can be purchased for around $600-700 with a guaranteed buyback. Essentially the same as a traditional motorbike rental.
Backpackers now have the decision of renting a Detech Honda Win for the difference of $180 or renting a genuine Honda motorbike for $250.
It is common for backpackers to email Tigit and ask if we believe these Detech Wins are reliable, despite the fact we don’t operate in this market. Our thoughts from watching the backpacker sales is that these new Detech Wins tend to work without breakdowns, however they still drive like toy motorbikes that wobble around and have no quality.
Simply put: in performance they can’t be compared to the experience of riding a genuine Honda motorbike. This is something that is difficult to explain in words or even capture on video. It has created a split in the market where experienced riders who understand about performance will use a company like Tigit. Leaving the inexperienced first time riders to the Honda Win.
Huge improvements on years gone by where backpackers were buying and selling incredibly dangerous Honda Win motorbikes on a mass scale. This market still exists, but has become considerably smaller!
I am still not convinced, give me more content about the Honda Win
For those of you who enjoy the Tigit Win bashing articles read our strongest anti Win article to date at why is vietnam popular for travelling by motorbike.
Hopefully you are already convinced and can head straight over to looking at the rental motorbikes that we provide. Guess what, the Win isn’t there… if the motorbike actually worked, we might consider using it. After-all, they are easy enough to sell to clueless backpackers, it is no different from taking candy from a baby.
When should you buy a Honda Win?
Hopefully the answer is never, but perhaps a group of lads on a holiday aimed at laughing at each other whenever anything goes wrong. The Honda Win can provide some additional entertainment and story lines.
Having said that, not even the Top Gear guys were dumb enough to buy these motorbikes, now that is saying something!
What should you do?
Rent a motorbike from Tigit. Breakdown warranty, damage waivers. Safe, reliable and modern motorbikes.
Tigit has scooters, manual motorbikes and large capacity adventure motorbikes.
Still don’t trust dealers? Backpacker to backpacker pact ? Ok then…. watch these!
My boyfriend and I rented two Detech Wins in December in Hanoi and dropped them in Hoi An.
We chose the Wins because we definately wanted manual bikes.
It was such a horrible experience. The bikes were crap, handling was horrific, brakes were bad, my suspension was damaged so I got back pain after 100km. (the list is not complete)
We are both experienced drivers (I have a Honda CBF 1000 and my boyfriend a Triumph Speed Triple 1050).
We want to go back to Vietnam and we will definately avoid the fake Wins, spend a bit more and get other bikes.
This is a common and sad story for the “real bikers” out there, that just skip out on a little bit of research.
Especially in high season when all the main rental companies run out of stock and it becomes impossible to get a proper bike.
I grew up riding off road vehicles such as motocross bikes. Started rising ATCs and ATVs when I was about 7. I have owned a handful of dual sport bikes such as a KLR650.
A few years ago, in Thailand I rented what I think was a Win or some clone. It had that horrible toe heel shifter, which I was incapable of using properly because I instinctively tried to use it as a regular shift lever. Because there is no clutch, muscle memory also made me repeatedly grab the brake lever.
It handled like a monstrous mix between a scooter, moped and a granny bicycle. The brakes were worthless.
After a few hours of miserable attempts at riding the abomination I returned it to the rental company and changed it for a 150cc scooter.
The only reason I took the first bike was what you mentioned in the article– it looked like a real motorbike. I don’t like riding automatics, but I will do that before I ever get on another one of these.
Anyone defending it has either never been on a real bike, is lying to themselves, or is a dealer.
Yes common for a “real biker”.
Going through these blog comments, it is becoming more and more appart that.
“real bikers hate the Win, everyone else has no idea what they are talking about.”
My best experience ever, was possible with Honda win, crossing from the north of Laos to the south of Cambodia. with no licence driving ok, with some little few mecanical issue ( 1 or 2 $ to fix it ) ok but its was the best trip ever !
when we backpack, it’s mean we are not so rich ans we don’t care so much for comfort, we adapt to the situtation, we live adventure, bad situation or good one are part of an authentical trip.
bravo for your article but you won’t change my mind about the HONDA WIN !!!
HONDA ….WINs !!
You sound like an adventure traveler. So fair play, and for people with an adventurous spirit I have nothing against the choice of the Honda Win bike.
Once again though, and going with the theme of other comments on this article. To your own acknowledgement…. you have no experience on motorbikes.
“Nah, this is just a Win driver talking who doesn’t know about motorbikes. A Honda bike can happily go up and down Vietnam with no strain at all. This is what companies like Tigit thrive on, the high reliability and low maintenance of Honda motorbikes.”
I’d love to hear your insights to what gives the Honda its levels of reliability compared to the Honda Win from a specific technical standpoint.
The word “unreliable” is fairly vague.
Let’s start with the Honda Win engine. In your view what is the main failure mode of Honda Win? Improper casting material selection maybe its problems arise from casting porosity that is formed incorrect manufacturing methods on engine components?
Maybe Honda has engineered and focused on controlling engine oil temperatures as part of way to increase reliability? The Kanban system adopted by Honda to increase to production consistency has surely got to play a part? I know Toyota adopted it originally, I’m not stupid. But that’s maybe something you have insights into as well?
See, I wouldn’t really have a clue because I’m just a Win driver.
Perhaps Honda being an international brand recognized for reliability. Tigit owns over 200 Honda Motorbikes. If the Honda Win is cheaper to buy and for arguements sake lets say it costs the same to maintain as a Honda…… then why not invest in the Win instead? Much cheaper!
You think a company like us doesn’t have analysis over the long term maintenance of motorbikes? Of course we do, it is in our best interest to get the cheapest motorbike possible over time. We do research and tests for this.
There is a reason why nearly all our bikes have ended up as Honda and not Yamaha, etc etc etc… This is no accident!
“Honda Wins” are copy Chinese companies. Dangerous to the point they can’t be sold anywhere else in the world. Not even Cambodia has them ^.
The very existence of the “Honda Win” is down to the import taxes on manual motorbikes in Vietnam.
I am very close to calling you an idiot who is trying to be smart. But I will give you the benefit of doubt and go with “you are innocent and need to spend some time in South East Asia.”
This is correct. You are clueless.
Had you have spent any real time on other motorbikes you would know that your comment is so incredibly stupid and naive that it is difficult to respond to.
I do appreciate your efforts to sound like you have researched the concept, but reality is… you need to A) get out into other parts of the world to live and B) experience more time on motorbikes that are not Chinese 😀
Weird, I have rented a detech win from Style Motorbikes in Vietnam, rode something over 2000km with a backpack mounted on the rack. I had no bad experience with the bike, no wobbling nor suspension or brake problems. I’m not saying I wasn’t just the lucky one, but I was quite surprised by this article and video.
At home, I ride Honda Shadow Spirit, 750cc
I am not sure how can you can suggest the Win is not a wobbly bike. You can’t really go above 60kph, not because of the power, but because it wobbles to the point of being un-drivable. Appreciate the comment, I really do!
But if you are suggesting the Win is on the same level of wobbliness as your Honda Shadow 750, then I highly suggest you get all the bearings checked/serviced on your Honda Shadow. As the only explanation to claim they are the “same” is if your Honda Shadow is broken.
It’s pretty obvious you’re promoting your business model by completely dissing your biggest market competitor. It’s not a good look.
Small capacity bikes doing the length of Vietnam, up and down is going to be a strain on any bike. Air cooled, Vietnamese climate, owners not knowing anything about maintenance. The bike will feel the strain.
I’ve had two Wins and done big mileage on them. No worries, just maintenance on the way.
Stick to your own market.
There’s still a big market for backpackers with little money and a sense of adventure, that’s one of the draws for alot of people.
Nah, this is just a Win driver talking who doesn’t know about motorbikes. A Honda bike can happily go up and down Vietnam with no strain at all. This is what companies like Tigit thrive on, the high reliability and low maintenance of Honda motorbikes.
Another standard Win owner comment. “just maintenance along the way”… = high maintenance as you go.
Tigit is / was a backpacker company (changing). If I wanted to sell Wins I could. It is like taking candy from a baby. Backpackers don’t have a clue what they are doing which makes it easy money.
Morals and safety are in the way. So I won’t sell the bike.
A reputable company like Tigit selling Wins… the backpackers would flock here. I won’t do it though, dangerous garbage.
There is, but the Win generally works out more expensive than the rental of a motorbike from somewhere like us. This is why the rental companies using genuine bikes climb up rankings and become large (Tigit), and the Win buy/sell shops are stuck on backpacker streets fighting negative reviews from people who have no idea what they are doing.
The Win market brings in the masses, it is my job to educate the people who care. Or at the very least to have an option of a proper motorbike available for people who already know what they are doing.
You’re antagonizing the readers too much. Calling everyone that disagrees “win drivers” or “don’t know anything about motorcycles”. There’s no arguing with you. cheers