Think it's about time to get a proper bike

[golfmade]

Current ride is ten years old and still runs well but just tired of having to pay to get this replaced, that fixed, etc.

Looking to start small as I've never been on a proper bike before and I found one I like, just wondering opinions from ya'll around here.

First off I apologise that the link I'm supplying is only in Chinese, but this version of the bike is only sold in Taiwan as far as I can see.

http://buy.yahoo.com.tw/gdsale/gdsale.asp?gdid=1610332&act=gdsearch

It's an SYM Wolf 150 CC bike. It's got front disc brake and rear drum brake. 4 stroke engine and electronic fuel injection.

That aside one reason why I'm looking at this particular one is because all the post workers drive these around town, and if it's good enough for the kind of driving they do around town it should be just fine for me.

Oh and the conversion from NT$ to NZ$ the bike is about NZ$3,800, that a decent price?

[nallac]

Theres a few on trademe,

http://www.trademe.co.nz/Trade-Me-Motors/Motorbikes/Motorbikes/Tourers/auction-260367501.htm

http://www.trademe.co.nz/Trade-Me-Motors/Motorbikes/Motorbikes/Other/auction-269608655.htm

heres one with the specs

http://www.trademe.co.nz/Trade-Me-Motors/Motorbikes/Motorbikes/Tourers/auction-268247264.htm


3800 is a little more expensive than here.

[golfmade]

Thanks for the links, only the one I'm looking at is 150cc not 125.

Otherwise drat, the damn bikes are made here why are they more expensive than down there?

[The Everlasting]

I really like the look of em,looks much better than a GN imo.


This be the one you want then?


http://www.scooter-news.com/index.php/en/component/content/178?task=view

[golfmade]

I really like the look of em,looks much better than a GN imo.


This be the one you want then?


http://www.scooter-news.com/index.php/en/component/content/178?task=view

Good find, yeah that's the one.

[golfmade]

Sorry to bump my own thread but found a decent write up about the bike here http://2strokebuzz.com/2009/08/13/%E2%80%99tween-wolf#more-5650

[The Everlasting]

Yeah,good write up,I'm guessing you will be ordering one?

I know I would,if I were looking for a new 150.

[golfmade]

Yeah,good write up,I'm guessing you will be ordering one?

I know I would,if I were looking for a new 150.

I think so yeah. Still need to give her a test ride and whatnot and see if I can bargain for a better price. Oh and I still gotta get rid of my current ride.

[tcpdump]

Current ride is ten years old and still runs well but just tired of having to pay to get this replaced, that fixed, etc.


Sorry for the offtopic, but since when 10 years is a lot for a bike? My 1992 XElvis runs absolutely great and didn't have one single issue in 3,000km and 4 months since I bought it.
Saying that, it is only at 33,000km and probably this makes the difference, not the year.

[golfmade]

Sorry for the offtopic, but since when 10 years is a lot for a bike? My 1992 XElvis runs absolutely great and didn't have one single issue in 3,000km and 4 months since I bought it.
Saying that, it is only at 33,000km and probably this makes the difference, not the year.

I don't mean to imply that it's too many for a bike/scooter but it's nearing 40,000KM and lately it seems like everything is failing at the same time.

Both disk brakes probably need to be replaced, the suspension feels a bit iffy, not to mention now the starter is starting to act strange. Was riding along at 50km/h on Wednesday when the engine cut out... as I'm slowing to a halt, trying to get out of the way of traffic, try to start her up again. Push the igntion and throttle it and.... a big nothing, engine doesn't turn over at all and all I hear is a loud WHIRRRRR sound. Nearly get run into by a few scooters as I pull over and get off, kick start it and it starts right up. Turn it off, try by the ignition, again, whirrrrr. Turn it off, on, kick start, starts fine. Turn it off, try the ignition again and starts right up no problem.

[The Everlasting]

^Looks like you have some electrical gremlins in there..

[golfmade]

It's worrying me honestly. Very intermittent and dunno when it will strike. Thankfully I don't have to work next week because of Chinese New Year, so don't need to ride it.

[YellowDog]

If a large corprate runs a fleet of them then they must be pretty goood or someone will get fired over the decsion.

Make sure you go for a decent length test ride before making your decision.

[golfmade]

If a large corprate runs a fleet of them then they must be pretty goood or someone will get fired over the decsion.

Make sure you go for a decent length test ride before making your decision.

Aye. They also have a very distinct green paint job that doesn't look too bad honestly. Thought that perhaps if I get one to get it painted the same color but then again the cops might actually get off their asses for once and arrest me thinking that I stole a postal bike... :D

And yeah, I've actually been riding around on a friend's 125cc bike just to get some practice before I do any test rides.

Really appreciate the help everyone, thanks. When I eventually get a new bike I'll take lots of pictures and update ya'll.

[thebadger]

$3800 will get you a much better bike than that if you're willing to buy second hand. A friend of mine recently started riding and got himself a 1992 Suzuki Bandit 250 in perfect condition jet black. 13,000km on the clock. Absolutely wicked bike, made in the days where quality was king rather than cost-savings.

Personally I wouldn't buy anything that not from the big names; Suzuki, Honda, Kawasaki, Yamaha etc...

Resell price just wont hold and the bikes themselves are cheaply made. Hell - for $3500 you should be able to buy a NEW GN250 - not a great bike but their damn cheap to run, maintain and fix.

In short - don't buy it!

[The Everlasting]

^Ginny? No thanks if i had to choose between the above two i would go for the wolf,it just looks so darn good,I can even see a slight resemblence to the Triumph Scrambler. :p

[golfmade]

$3800 will get you a much better bike than that if you're willing to buy second hand. A friend of mine recently started riding and got himself a 1992 Suzuki Bandit 250 in perfect condition jet black. 13,000km on the clock. Absolutely wicked bike, made in the days where quality was king rather than cost-savings.

Personally I wouldn't buy anything that not from the big names; Suzuki, Honda, Kawasaki, Yamaha etc...

Resell price just wont hold and the bikes themselves are cheaply made. Hell - for $3500 you should be able to buy a NEW GN250 - not a great bike but their damn cheap to run, maintain and fix.

In short - don't buy it!

If I were home in the States or down in NZ I would give more consideration to buying second hand. But having lived in Taiwan for nearly four years now I see how majority of folks here treat their bikes. And several foreigner friends have bought scooters/bikes second hand only to later find out there are serious problems about the rides they weren't told about.

Suzuki doesn't even sell motorcycles in Taiwan officially. Or at least, if they do, they don't any more. http://www.suzukimotor.com.tw/motor/index.htm I have seen the GN250 and TU250 around so there's obviously some way to get them here but I'd have to do more research to find out how.

As for big names, many of the big names cooperated with local companies for years to manufacture and sell things. One example is Honda. They cooperated with Kymco starting in the 60s I believe to make Honda parts. However now Kmyco is making and selling it's own bikes under it's own name. Honda still makes and sells cars in Taiwan and I have seen a Honda motorcycle now and then, but as far as I know Honda doesn't sell motorycles here.

I'm not 100% sold on getting the Wolf 150, still other brands such as Kymco that have some decent bikes.

However there is also a chance I can bargain the price down to below $3500, will see.