2019 - 2021
I am fortunate to have parents who instilled Vietnamese culture early on in my life. Beyond language, food culture and family values, we travelled to Vietnam at least once a year and became accustomed to life here. Mopeds and scoopers were common, however, big motorcycles were very rare. Note this was during the late 1990s to early 2000s where laws around big bikes weren't really established so even law enforcement wasn't sure what to do with them. Even so, my father somehow managed to own a number of big bikes during this time and I was the little boy who would sit on the tank and hold onto the handlebars pretending to ride it. The influence of motorcycles (or the 'bug') was caught on very early, only I didn't know it then.
I am fortunate to have parents who instilled Vietnamese culture early on in my life. Beyond language, food culture and family values, we travelled to Vietnam at least once a year and became accustomed to life here. Mopeds and scoopers were common, however, big motorcycles were very rare. Note this was during the late 1990s to early 2000s where laws around big bikes weren't really established so even law enforcement wasn't sure what to do with them. Even so, my father somehow managed to own a number of big bikes during this time and I was the little boy who would sit on the tank and hold onto the handlebars pretending to ride it. The influence of motorcycles (or the 'bug') was caught on very early, only I didn't know it then.
Me with my dad on a Yamaha Virago on Thanh Nien street, Hanoi
Flash forward to 2019 and my interest for motorcycles only grew. After riding a moped for a year, I was ready for something special and that was the Triumph Bobber Black. A bold choice now looking back, however, I didn't consider any other option at the time. The floating seat, the side profile, chunky tyres on the spoke wheels and bar-end mirrors were enough to make my choice. I was very much a novice in the world of motorcycle world during this time as I didn't know much about the different types (like adventure, cruisers, sports), what practicality, fuel economy, comfort or any of that was. Logic didn't apply. Just intuition.
Whenever my dad and I travelled, he would ride his trusty Kawasaki Z1000 (sold in 2022) and me on the Bobber. I learned in the first 120km that the Bobber probably wasn't designed for the uneven, rough terrain we experienced riding in Yen Bai, nor the heavy storms to Da Nang where I was leaning to one side to keep the bike straight. The ride itself was stiff as the Bobber had monoshock suspension and very low ground clearance. Scraping pegs was normal, especially riding down Hai Van Pass. All these 'impracticalities' as many would describe it, I thought was just part of what motorcycles withstood. When you love a bike so much, you feel you can ride it anywhere. That was how I felt at the time.
In 2021, I was part of the Moto Hanoi Club with my dad, a large club that participates in national events such bicycle marathons and competitive cycling events. The role of the motorcycles were to ride alongside and convoy the cyclists, while making sure the public roads were clear. It was a national, televised event with local police cars leading ahead while stream of cyclists raced from one province to another. The ride from Hanoi to Quy Nhon totalled over 700 miles in 10 days. Still, the Bobber triumphed and handled the job without an issue. What made the event more special was being part of it with my father.
When VTV (Vietnam's national broadcast) learned about a father and son who were part of the event and shared the same passion for motorcycles, they asked if we could be in a short segment of their broadcast. Nerve-wrecking and my Vietnamese wasn't as good at the time, but we both agreed to it. It was the first time I'd seen my father nervous as he often avoids being in the centre of attention. That said, it remains a very fond memory and once-in-a-lifetime experience.
Upon reflection, I remember the adventures and stories connected to the Bobber more than the bike itself. Aside from some minor changes like indicators and a cat-delete, I didn't personalise the Bobber as at the time, I was still finding my own sense of identity. I believe your bike is your canvas; to express and add yourself to it, and I was still early on in my journey.
I moved back to London in 2021 due to the Pandemic and sold the Bobber in 2022. It deserved more life than sitting in a garage, especially after the adventures we had. I'm a firm believer that you can ride any bike anywhere. Despite the Bobber being advertised for weekend trip to cafes, urban meet-up with friends and cruising, I remember it more as The Bobber "rode through heavy storms, conquered rough terrain, scraped pegs on the mountain pass and riding alongside my father".
