Why Don’t We Use Other Well-Known Brands Like KTM, Suzuki or Yamaha?

Many of our guests ask why we mainly use Honda CRF250/300s and a few Kawasaki KLX250s for our tours in Vietnam. Why don’t we use other brands such as KTM, Suzuki, or Yamaha?

Leaving aside the fact that the Honda CRF has proven itself over many years, and that the Kawasaki KLX is available in Vietnam at a very competitive price, let’s talk about the other brands.

KTM is one of only two major manufacturers that has officially sold off-road motorcycles in Vietnam, the other being Kawasaki. Surprised? Honda has never officially distributed the CRF in Vietnam. These motorcycles are imported in limited numbers by private dealers rather than Honda Vietnam.

Back to KTM. The off-road motorcycles they brought to Vietnam were the desirable EXC models. There is no doubt that they are dream bikes for many riders—lightweight, powerful, and beautiful. However, import taxes in Vietnam make these motorcycles cost nearly twice as much as they do in many other markets, and that’s where the problem begins.

Paying USD 15,000 to USD 20,000 for a motorcycle is a huge investment in Vietnam. Even the people who own these bikes rarely take them off-road.

What about other motorcycles, such as the Suzuki DR-Z400 or the Yamaha WR250R?

They are both excellent motorcycles, but they are older models, relatively expensive, and quite rare in Vietnam. That makes them less practical for motorcycle tour companies.

To finish, unless there are major changes to Vietnam’s tax policies or motorcycle market in the near future, the Honda CRF and Kawasaki KLX will probably remain the most common motorcycles used for off-road motorcycle tours in Vietnam.