TNH

Yet another 5-star rating for VIP Bikes. After contacting Andrew by email and getting a prompt response, I took my Bonus in to get checked out and tuned-up. I only brought it in because I was forced to sell my bike earlier than I wanted, due to an abrupt and unplanned end to my time in Vietnam. Since I was going to be selling it, I wanted to make sure it would be running well for the next owner.

I brought it in, and Andrew let one of his employees take it for a drive to pinpoint any specific problems. While my bike was out, I explained my situation to Andrew, who didn't try to take advantage of me at all; rather, he tried to dissuade me from doing much (if any) work to the bike, since I'd be selling it in the immediate future.

When the bike was brought back in, I was pleased to hear there were no obvious, significant problems. Elated, I asked if he could simply fix the right turn signal, which wasn't working. Instead of just fixing the turn signal, I got a full (?) tune up - cables tightened, everything oiled, transmission ... fixed? When this was all done, he didn't even want any payment!

If I were sticking around Hanoi, VIP Bikes would have earned a customer-for-life from just one visit!

66 reviews averaging 4.98/5...

A seemingly endless flow of praise and thanks from diverse customers...

Scores, if not hundreds of motorbikes around Hanoi bearing the hallmark of VIP service...

Led by a bloke who shuns the limelight, staffed by blokes who follow an excellent leader...

Stratospheric expectations? You bet!

So much has already been written about VIP bikes and the great job they do. I have little to add from my own experience, except to say that I dropped off a hack-bike masquerading as a Honda Dream Excess in urgent need of major surgery.

What I received back was a motorbike. Safe, roadworthy, tight and tuned. Here's what impressed me the most. My brief was to tidy it up, pull it together and make it better. VIP's brief was simple - let's make it safe first then see what else needs to be done. Perfect.

I received the full itemised invoice and a report on future, non-urgent work required. They showed me my old parts as I quietly shuddered at what used to be pretending to hold the bike together...

About those expectations - met? No - exceeded! I had my bike VIP'd - you should too.

End of story.

Let me be one of the first to give a non-5 star review.

I've been to the shop to make an appointment, but Andrew was not present. Then by phone and e-mail try to found out when I can come back for the repair and what the costs will be.

After a few reminders mails and phonecalls I got half a quote on after about 2 weeks.

Quoted price of 300K for oil and 90K and hour are on the high side, so I decided to look elswhere. Oil change came in at 85K including oil and hours elswhere.

Afterworths I took a other bike (my Yamaha) to the Yamaha dealer. Had the carb cleaned, one part replaced of the carb, sparkplug, rear light, engine oil, dif-oil, brake fluid, front brake pads, rear brakes pads. This 2hr job costed 70K in wages and 760K in parts at the official Yamaha Dealer.

My conclusion is that prices are high (guessing they are aiming for western clientèle) and that contact/planning wise it could use a big improvement.

I fully trust that the work being done here is great and the parts used are magical, so I give it 3 stars, but based on price and organization I cannot make it more.

EDIT: After getting some fails and private messages, let me clarify on the review:
1) A review is about a personal opinion. You do not need to agree. That is why you read many reviews. You take the few that you believe and based on that decide if you go there or not

2) I know this is a charity, I do not say he is doing a bad job, or that is not a nice guy. But the review we (or atleast I) am doing here, is the review of a MOTORBIKE-SHOP. And for a motorbike shop, I feel the customer contact was not great and the quoted prices are high. Hence as a motorbike shop, I give it 3 stars. That he uses the extra money for the kids, is nice for reviewing him as a charaty, but as a Customer of a Motorbike shop, it is basicly irrelevant.

So my review of the shop as a MOTORBIKESHOP stands and stays at the 3-stars. I did not edit the above post, I only added this comment.

Unlike many of the others here I am not renting but I bought my SYM bike through VIP.

They bought it, fitted the accessories I wanted, did the paperwork etc etc.

After 500ks they did a free service and oil change (I only paid for the oil) and they did another after (1000ks).

The bike is fabulous and runs like a dream. Like others I had used a rental beforehand. It was so jumpy that I ended up having a small accident.

Andrew tells it like it is and will run your through the strengths and weaknesses of bikes he has available and can order them for you.

I had assumed that what I was paying for my bike was a little more than the going rate as it was an expat business which was also doing great NGO work. However when I admitted the price I paid to Vietnamese colleagues they all made that "not bad" face at me.

If this business was simply a money making organisation then I'd still give them five stars. Seeing as it also does great work with at-risk young Vietnamese then I wish I could give them ten.

I could gush on but I'll stop there.

Except to say: there really is absolutely no reason, whether you are buying or renting to go to anywhere else but VIP.

I am going to be one of the many to give VIP bikes 5 stars. Took my Classico there on Saturday for a full service, giving them the request 'check it, clean it and fix what needs fixing'. I had a good idea of what I wanted done anyway, but after reading reviews, just trusted them to do the job. I also hired a bike for the weekend, and was told my baby would be ready on Monday.

Sure enough, she was ready Monday afternoon, with a complete inventory of all that had been done, as well as full descriptions by Andrew of the work involved and what was replaced. It was comprehensive, from inlet pipes to the tyres, they took her apart and made her like new. Now she looks wonderful and is running beautifully. Yes, it was a little more expensive than I thought, but they were super thorough, and I was extremely pleased to see the full list of what they had done. Unlike most mechanics dealing with women, I didn't feel like I was being treated like an idiot who knows nothing. Andrew was friendly and professional.

I would thoroughly recommend them to anyone who wants to service a bike, especially if you know what you want and dont know how to explain it to the local mechanics. I will certainly be taking my baby there from now on!