Hanoi is flatter than most capitals, but it is not flat: the ramps onto Long Bien, Nhat Tan and Chuong Duong bridges, the approaches to West Lake, and the roads up to Ba Vi all separate underpowered scooters from adequate ones - especially two-up. Power-to-weight (verified figures, retrieved 23 September 2026) is the honest way to rank climbing ability.
Verified power-to-weight ranking
Computed from manufacturer power and weight figures: Honda Vario 160 about 96 W/kg (11.3 kW, 118 kg), Yamaha Lexi 155 about 96 W/kg (11.3 kW, 118 kg), Honda SH160i about 93 W/kg (12.4 kW, 134 kg), Yamaha NVX 155 about 90 W/kg (11.3 kW, 125 kg), Yamaha NMAX 155 about 86 W/kg (11.3 kW, 131 kg), Honda SH Mode 125 about 71 W/kg (8.2 kW, 116 kg), Honda Vario 125 about 76 W/kg (8.48 kW, 111 kg). Light 125s (Janus, FreeGo, Gear, Latte) sit lower still - fine solo, working two-up on ramps. How we compute and read these ratios is explained in the power-to-weight guide.
Torque matters more than the ratio suggests
Peak torque at low rpm is what pulls you up a bridge ramp at city speed: the SH160i’s 14.8 Nm at 6,500 rpm, the Vario 160’s 14.1 Nm and the SH Mode’s 11.7 Nm at just 5,000 rpm all favour relaxed climbing. See our power and torque explainer.
Practical Hanoi advice
Hold your line on bridge ramps and watch for merging buses - our Hanoi bridges article covers the traffic patterns. Two-up riders should choose at least the 155-160cc class if their route crosses bridges daily. Contact us to confirm current availability of any model; rental fleets change.