A manual-clutch motorbike — what Vietnamese riders call a xe con tay — has three controls a scooter does not: a clutch lever on the left bar, a gear lever by your left foot, and a gearbox you manage yourself. Sport underbones like the Honda Winner R and Yamaha Exciter 155 are the models you will meet most often. Here is how the pieces fit together on a first ride.
The controls
Left hand: clutch lever. Left foot: gear lever (click down for first, up for higher gears). Right hand: front brake and throttle. Right foot: rear brake. Before moving, sit on the bike and work each control while stationary until your hands stop thinking about it.
Starting and moving off
- Key on, pull the clutch in, press the gear lever down to first gear.
- With the clutch still fully in, start the engine.
- Release the lever slowly until the engine note drops and the bike creeps forward — that point is the friction zone.
- Add a little throttle and keep releasing smoothly. You are riding.
Shifting
Roll the throttle closed, squeeze the clutch, click the lever up one gear, release the clutch while opening the throttle again. Repeat through the gears. Downshifting is the same in reverse, one gear at a time, choosing a gear that matches your speed before you release the clutch.
Stopping
Close the throttle, squeeze the clutch, hold both brakes gently, and click down through the gears as you slow. Stop with the clutch in, then find neutral before you take your hand off the lever if you will be waiting a while.
A safe first ride in Vietnam
Practise somewhere quiet first — our practice-area guide helps you plan the first hour. Hanoi traffic is forgiving of slow riders but not of hesitation in the middle of a junction, so build the basic motions before you join it. Ride with your head up, cover the clutch near junctions, and check the rental checklist before you ride off. To rent a manual bike you also need a licence that covers it — our A1 licence guide explains what foreign riders can legally ride. For rental availability of any specific model, contact us to confirm current availability.