Detech Win 110cc / 127cc – Vietnam

The Detech Win is a copy of the Honda Win made by a Vietnamese company. It is still often called Honda Win but is certainly not a Honda anymore, with production ending in 2005. This became the bike of choice for backpackers riding Vietnam on a budget.

Cheap, easy to repair, easy to buy and sell, and simple to ride.

Technical Details

Engine

4 speed

110cc or 127cc

7hp or 8hp

Height and Weight

760mm seat height

90kg curb weight

Other Specs

7 litre fuel tank

200km tank range

Why the Detech Win

The simple reason that the Detech Win got so popular was the price. A brand new bike was $550 – $700, whilst an old used bike was often $200. Around 10 years ago at the height of popularity of the Detech Win, renting motorbikes in Vietnam was not an option as shops didn’t have more than one location, unlike today. There were tour companies but these were much more expensive and a different trip. This meant buying and selling your bike and if you wanted a manual bike this really meant the Detech Win. 

At that time it was more common for backpackers to decide once they were in Vietnam that they wanted to travel by motorbike instead of motorbiking Vietnam being their trip. This meant the budget for the bike was much lower than now. 

In recent years the rental market in Vietnam has become very well known as is how good the riding in Vietnam is. This means that customers come specifically to ride, bring a budget to get a good bike and generally rent to ensure the quality of the bike and service. As such the popularity of the Detech Win has died, where you now really see backpackers on these cheap motorbikes. 

Its Limitations

The limitations of the Detech Win were endless. They were not reliable, they had weak drum brakes, low top speeds which is good since the brakes were weak, and were not comfortable for long trip. But for many people this was part of the charm of the bike and part of the experience that they wanted. Riding a good bike through Vietnam was not the expectation, but riding a cheap bike and having issues to fix and overcome on the way was.

Who is the Detech Win Recommended for?

It is not recommended for anyone. The motorbike market in Vietnam is so much bigger now that it once was that there are endless possibilities of bikes. The Detech Win is still the cheapest option on the market bit it is harder to sell at the end now due to the lower demand anh repair costs mount up.

The most likely person looking for a Detech Win now in someone who 8 years ago rode Vietnam on a Detech Win andwants to do it again using the same bike. They know what they are, they know what they can AND CAN’T do, and that is what they want.

There was a time and a place where the Detech Win worked great in Vietnam, that is no longer the case as better bikes have replaced it, customers want and expect better bikes as well and have the budget that this should be the case.

On a tight budget and considering the Detech Win then if you don’t need a manual the Honda Wave is not much more expensive but it is Honda, it is reliable, and there is much great demand for it. If you want a manual then the bike we rent at Style Motorbikes to replace the Detech Win is the Suzuki GD 110, similar in size, cc and weight but being Suzuki it is much more reliable.