Rent/buy a motorbike in Laos

I know of bike rentals from Vientianne and also Vang vienne for bigger bikes ie trials bikes but they can be expensive also you will have to pay for someione to return the bike to base ie Vientianne or arrange delivery to you in houyxai there is a good web site useful for you
http://www.gt-rider.com/ it can get cold aroiund teh mountains until the sun rises or sometimes wet roads and mist can cause problems cheap 120cc Chinese honda pretendalikes can rent for $3 a day but the bigger bikes are $10-$20 speed limits will be the roads themselves hence the small bikes can get many punctures also ie in pou khoum the GH on the junction will park your mobo inside his restaurant overnight. I also know that big bike tours run from Vientianne to Houyaxai with back up and in tour groups

Buying a bike for a 3 week trip would be too time consuming - unless you are prepared to write the cost off at the end of the trip or had someone to sell it for you. A foreigner cannot own a motorbike under his own name now, so you would have to get it registered under someone elses (or the dealers) name. Renting is the best way to go.

There are 2 main agencies that do one-way rentals to individuals, Green Discovery and Jules Classic Rentals. Jules' office is in Vientiane only, but Green Discovery have offices in Luang Namtha, LP, Thakhek and Pakse also. Both have websites so contact them and ask about your trip. As a minimum you should be able to pick up from Green Discovery in Luang Namtha and drop off in Pakse.

Costs for bikes these days are about $8-10 for a real Honda/Yamaha 110cc semi automatic, or from $25 for a 250cc trials bike (Baja). Jules has other models of bigger bikes up to $50 or so. There is also a charge for one-way, $50 I think. Check the websites.

http://www.greendiscoverylaos.com/
http://www.bike-rental-laos.com/

The roads in the north change annually as they are never professionally maintained, but are generally absolutely fine for motorbike travel. The route you propose is all on National Roads so they get maintained. You might want to look at a map and take some detours off this main road.
From Houayxai - Namtha the road is perfect, Namtha - Oudomxai -LP patchy, and LP- Vang vieng-Vientiane fine for the most part.

The speed limit is set by the bends in the roads more than the occasional sign, but you do get some idiots in their Prados doing 120kmh along the straights on the last 80km to Vientiane. Also watch out for people coming round blind bends on the wrong side of the road, or overtaking against head-on traffic.

Edited by: nabanga

I have done a trip with a rented bike in Laos in November 2011, however starting and ending in Vientiane. I rented a Honda 250 Baja from
http://www.remoteasia.com/bike_rental_laos.php

My experience with them were absolutely great and i can recommend them. James, the owner, is very knowledgable and the bike was in good condition. Price was abt 35 USD per day and he is also renting out gear. However, I don't know whether he has an option to rent a bike in Huay Xay and return in Pakse.

The Honda Baja is a good bike and I would prefer over a smaller one. Actually with a 250 you'll be pretty much king of the road, few cars and trucks and locals hardly have 250 bikes.
Roads are usually asphalted but many potholes and occasionally unpaved sections. I took a dirt road between Luang Prabang and Pak Xeng and with a trial bike it is OK.

Speed limits: I recall seeing some occasionally but as nabanga sais, road dictates. I doubt there is any enforcement with radar in Laos. Having said that: I would not risk anything in Laos by speeding. If you have an accident outside Vientiane or Luang Prabang don't at all count on any medical help that would be anywhere near western standard.