Total JUNK out of China.

[FROSTY]

Not much really gets me pissed off. But I've had a spate of customers comeing in here with cheap and nasty quads and little trail/pit bikes out of China.
These people have no clue as to the difference between something of reasonable quality and the crap that falls to bits literally 5 minutes after they buy it.
So far I've seen -broken wheels,broken frames and seized engines.
I know the whole buyer beware situation but the trader5s are touting themselves as legitimate businesses with premises etc.
I can see some poor lil kid getting badly hurt as a result

[SlideMoto]

Hang on. didnt I see your car yard offering a lifan 200 or some other such high quality machine for sale recently? the right up said it would cane a 250 ninja to. i laughed and laughed and laughed

For the record I've got two chinker minimotos and other than normal stuff like wheel bearings and brake pads and chains and shit i've never had a problem. kids ride them too and they've never died.

[Owl]

Yeah my workmate bought a quad for his kid and it's spent more time being pushed than ridden. It was so bad they replaced it with another and swapped over the plastics, only to have them fly off on the trip home.:(

[Meanie]

Thats what you get when your not prepared to pay for something worthwhile

[wbks]

A five year old I know got one of the little bikes (chinese) for his birthday and it started leaking fuel onto the head pretty much right after they started riding it for a while. But what do you expect from the same people who make fake chicken's eggs

[MIXONE]

I've seen them with broken frames,footpegs snapped etc.Pieces of shit in mine.
Thank God for the free trede agreement eh.:wacko:

[Katman]

I refuse to work on them and if a few more workshops took a similar stance we much see the end of them sooner rather than later.

There will be a couple of Chinese motorcycle manufacturers who (like Hyosung did) begin to realise that they will not get anywhere continuing to churn out cheap and nasty shit. Lifan is already showing some signs of being one such brand.

[xwhatsit]

Hang on. didnt I see your car yard offering a lifan 200 or some other such high quality machine for sale recently? the right up said it would cane a 250 ninja to. i laughed and laughed and laughed

For the record I've got two chinker minimotos and other than normal stuff like wheel bearings and brake pads and chains and shit i've never had a problem. kids ride them too and they've never died.
Lifan stuff is pretty good, comparably. Their 125cc step-throughs do very well, even to the point of being successful in the UK. I dunno about being quicker than a 250 ninja though, I think a GN250 would be more lively.

[Katman]

I ordered in an aftermarket headlight assembly a while back. Printed in big red letters on the box was..........

THIS TAIWAN COPY - NOT CHINA COPY!

(I loled.)

[wbks]

What do you say to them, katman? Sorry I don't know how to work on these bikes...Or what? not a dig btw

[Katman]

What do you say to them, katman? Sorry I don't know how to work on these bikes...Or what? not a dig btw

I just politely tell them that I have chosen not to work on them as the job invariably becomes more trouble than it's worth. (And that the bill is likely to come to more than the bike is worth).

The conversation usually starts off something like.............

Customer: "I'm having some trouble with my scooter can I bring it in for you to have a look at?"

Me: "What brand is it?"

Customer: "Ummm, I don't know."

[FROSTY]

Hang on. didnt I see your car yard offering a lifan 200 or some other such high quality machine for sale recently? the right up said it would cane a 250 ninja to. i laughed and laughed and laughed
You heard the word slander ?
Total cut n paste from my advertising
IF YOU ARE JUST STARTING YOU MOTORCYCLING CAREER OR WANT A MOTORWAY (100km/h) CAPABLE COMMUTER YOU WOULD BE HARD PRESSED TO FIND A BETTER BIKE THAN THIS ONE.
hERES WHY.
#ITS A FULL SIZED BIKE BUT NOT HEAVY
#NEUTRAL RIDING POSITION SO NO STRAIN ON THE WRISTS.
#FAST ENOUGH FOR MOTORWAY TRAFFIC
#SPARE PARTS AVAILABLE AND INEXPENSIVE
(in case of those little car park whooops)
#ECONOMICAL FOUR STROKE ENGINE.
#ELECTRIC START
#DIGITAL GEAR POSITION INDICATOR
#SIDE STAND CUTOUT-CANT START ON THE SIDESTAND
#HAS BOTH SIDE AND MAIN STAND-VERY UNUSUAL
#FUEL GAUGE LIKE A CAR
#MODERN STYLING -ITS A LEARNER BIKE WITH ATTITUDE
#12 MONTH WARANTY
#WELL ESTABLISHED COMPANY IN NZ
#LIFAN BIKES PASS ALL NZ SAFETY STANDARDS

-----------------------------------------------------------------------
On a recent road test by an experienced motorcyclist he had this to say

Although Im usually sceptical about bikes out of china I was pleasantly suprised by the build quality of the two Lifan 200cc bikes. Easy to fire into life with either the electric start or the handy kick start. Being Full sized unlike the suzuki FXR150 makes the riding position quite comfortable. Riding the bike in a 50km/h zone the GS sport was very comfortable and easy to manouver.On the open road the handling compared to the Kawasaki GPX250 and up to (and a bit beyond) 100km/h the fairing showed its value.-A lot more pleasant than the yamaha scorpio 225 when in the wind.
Impression I got was its not a VTR250 or zxr250 performance wise but bang for buck is hard to pass by.

Can you ANYWHERE in that advertising see it would "cane" a GPX
Have YOU actually ridden one and a GPX250 back to back to see if the comparision is a fair one ?
The Ninja 250 is $6999 The Lifan is $3600. So basicly half the price.
For a learner licence rider It seems to me to be bloody good bang for buck.

The cheap sht Im refering to is the $100 reserve stuff selling on tard me--and the 3 month warranty seems to meen nothing

[wbks]

Pretty careless thing to say about someones buisness, slidemoto

[FROSTY]

I'm getting them turn up here from locals who know I sell bikes.
Pretty much the conversation always goes.
Bikes broken"
Take it back
Can't they wont hounour the warranty
Well yer ferked aincha.
You're mean
No I told ya --buy a LT50 (pw50/JR50) REMEMBER
Ohh yea--so whacha gonna do to help me
Sell ya a LT50 (pw50/jr50)

[Tank]

You heard the word slander ?
Total cut n paste from my advertising
IF YOU ARE JUST STARTING YOU MOTORCYCLING CAREER OR WANT A MOTORWAY (100km/h) CAPABLE COMMUTER YOU WOULD BE HARD PRESSED TO FIND A BETTER BIKE THAN THIS ONE.
hERES WHY.
#ITS A FULL SIZED BIKE BUT NOT HEAVY
#NEUTRAL RIDING POSITION SO NO STRAIN ON THE WRISTS.
#FAST ENOUGH FOR MOTORWAY TRAFFIC
#SPARE PARTS AVAILABLE AND INEXPENSIVE
(in case of those little car park whooops)
#ECONOMICAL FOUR STROKE ENGINE.
#ELECTRIC START
#DIGITAL GEAR POSITION INDICATOR
#SIDE STAND CUTOUT-CANT START ON THE SIDESTAND
#HAS BOTH SIDE AND MAIN STAND-VERY UNUSUAL
#FUEL GAUGE LIKE A CAR
#MODERN STYLING -ITS A LEARNER BIKE WITH ATTITUDE
#12 MONTH WARANTY
#WELL ESTABLISHED COMPANY IN NZ
#LIFAN BIKES PASS ALL NZ SAFETY STANDARDS

-----------------------------------------------------------------------
On a recent road test by an experienced motorcyclist he had this to say

Although Im usually sceptical about bikes out of china I was pleasantly suprised by the build quality of the two Lifan 200cc bikes. Easy to fire into life with either the electric start or the handy kick start. Being Full sized unlike the suzuki FXR150 makes the riding position quite comfortable. Riding the bike in a 50km/h zone the GS sport was very comfortable and easy to manouver.On the open road the handling compared to the Kawasaki GPX250 and up to (and a bit beyond) 100km/h the fairing showed its value.-A lot more pleasant than the yamaha scorpio 225 when in the wind.
Impression I got was its not a VTR250 or zxr250 performance wise but bang for buck is hard to pass by.

Can you ANYWHERE in that advertising see it would "cane" a GPX
Have YOU actually ridden one and a GPX250 back to back to see if the comparision is a fair one ?
The Ninja 250 is $6999 The Lifan is $3600. So basicly half the price.
For a learner licence rider It seems to me to be bloody good bang for buck.

The cheap sht Im refering to is the $100 reserve stuff selling on tard me--and the 3 month warranty seems to meen nothing

Gee Frosty - backing up your argument with facts, and logic...

Having Met Frosty and seen the effort, and genuine joy he gets helping get kids out onto bikes - I know he wouldn't sell shit like that to kids.

If he had a bike suitable (and I had the $$$ at the moment) - I would buy any bike off his lot for my son with the confidence that he has the balls (and honour) to back it up.

[MIXONE]

Well said Tank and I totally agree.Even though I haven't met Frosty to date I would have no hesitation sending one of my family or friends his way to buy a car or bike.The man appears to stand behind his word and that goes a long way in my books.

[scumdog]

I have heard but without proof that when the Chinese mini-choppers etc arrive in NZ they arrive with shit-loads of instructions/safety ideas etc and indicate they are only toys.

But those purveyors of fine mini-chopers tend not to pass on said info.

[Max Preload]

I have heard but without proof that when the Chinese mini-choppers etc arrive in NZ they arrive with shit-loads of instructions/safety ideas etc and indicate they are only toys.

But those purveyors of fine mini-chopers tend not to pass on said info.

As there are significant differences between what can be imported as a moped and what can be registered as one (http://www.landtransport.govt.nz/factsheets/43.html#isi), I expect that's part of the work-around.

[KingJackaL]

http://www.consumeraffairs.govt.nz/consumerinfo/cga/index.html

CGA, tell them to use it.

There's nothing wrong with selling poor quality goods here in NZ. However, if you do, you must fulfill your legal requirements under the act if and when those goods fail to live up to the minimum standard.

If they're saying 'warrant is only 3 months', it's small claims tribunal time. I don't see the problem - surely the bikes are worth more than the $50 court application? And in such cases it's almost a certain slam-dunk, as well as having no lawyer fees etc?


Having said that, I can totally empathize with where you're coming from. You're trying to provide a reputable service, but you have to deal with the fallout of somebody else failing to do the same. Tis frustrating... :(

[nosebleed]

...#DIGITAL GEAR POSITION INDICATOR
#FUEL GAUGE LIKE A CAR...

Bloody hell its better optioned than mine. If you tell me the back brake works, I'll cry

[quickbuck]

If you tell me the back brake works, I'll cry

Na, ya don't need that.....

[chocobo_ff]

http://www.consumeraffairs.govt.nz/consumerinfo/cga/index.html

CGA, tell them to use it.

There's nothing wrong with selling poor quality goods here in NZ. However, if you do, you must fulfill your legal requirements under the act if and when those goods fail to live up to the minimum standard.

If they're saying 'warrant is only 3 months', it's small claims tribunal time. I don't see the problem - surely the bikes are worth more than the $50 court application? And in such cases it's almost a certain slam-dunk, as well as having no lawyer fees etc?


Having said that, I can totally empathize with where you're coming from. You're trying to provide a reputable service, but you have to deal with the fallout of somebody else failing to do the same. Tis frustrating... :(

Hmm... reading info from that link, it says: "The Act does not cover: # goods bought by auction or by tender". Correct me if I'm wrong but wouldn't purchases from TradeMe fall under "auction"???

[naphazoline]

Not much really gets me pissed off. But I've had a spate of customers comeing in here with cheap and nasty quads and little trail/pit bikes out of China.
These people have no clue as to the difference between something of reasonable quality and the crap that falls to bits literally 5 minutes after they buy it.
So far I've seen -broken wheels,broken frames and seized engines.
I know the whole buyer beware situation but the trader5s are touting themselves as legitimate businesses with premises etc.
I can see some poor lil kid getting badly hurt as a result

can't go too far wrong if they stick to the big 4 jap brands.

it's not worth trying to save a few bucks,when they're worth nothing if ya can't get the parts for them,or the back up service.

[SARGE]

These people have no clue as to the difference between something of reasonable quality and the crap that falls to bits literally 5 minutes after they buy it.


i run into alot of that in the supposedly "professional" shops..

"i can get a socket set from [Supercheap, Repco, Bunnings] for a THIRD of that price..WITH a warranty"

yep.. sure can..youre probably gonna use that warranty too.,.


quality costs..

[FROSTY]

All I can say is please guys spread the word.The only way to get rid of these parasites is to let everyone know what junk those things are

I KNOW DARN WELL THIS COMES ACROSS AS A CASE OF BUSINESS JELOUSY --I PROMISE ITS NOT--SOME POOR LIL KIDS GONNA GET BADLY HURT

[quickbuck]

yep.. sure can..youre probably gonna use that warranty too.,.


quality costs..

Exactly the reason I get turned off when one of the "Features" is a warranty.
If the product is any good it doesn't need one.
The consumers guarantees act covers it for reasonable use, so even if the item is one that suffers from "Infant Mortality" then it will be replaced.

When it gets through the infant stage all other failures are random until it is so darn old it has paid for itself.... Well by the fact you haven't had to keep returning it to the shop.

[riffer]

Which ones of these are you talking about Tony?

http://www.trademe.co.nz/Trade-Me-Motors/Motorbikes/Motorbikes/Pocket-pit-bikes/auction-193465384.htm

http://www.trademe.co.nz/Trade-Me-Motors/Motorbikes/Motorbikes/Pocket-pit-bikes/auction-193466281.htm

These two seem to have the most on trademe.

[quickbuck]

I KNOW DARN WELL THIS COMES ACROSS AS A CASE OF BUSINESS JELOUSY --I PROMISE ITS NOT--SOME POOR LIL KIDS GONNA GET BADLY HURT

I'm hearin ya Frosty.
I remember when the big red shop got that shipment of MX looking bikes in.

Went down to the boxing day sale to see one of these little fellas returned.
No surprise there!

What shocked me was to see the bit of the swing-arm that the axle bolted into was nothing more than two bits of 10mm steel (at most, could have been 8) welded to the swing-arm!
Yep, one of the welds failed (not a surprise when you consider the load on it) and the rear wheel was sitting at 45 degrees in the swing-arm.

Now, this could have really hurt the rider if he was just blatting around the house! Houses don't move to much when you hit them....

[FROSTY]

Which ones of these are you talking about Tony?

http://www.trademe.co.nz/Trade-Me-Motors/Motorbikes/Motorbikes/Pocket-pit-bikes/auction-193465384.htm

http://www.trademe.co.nz/Trade-Me-Motors/Motorbikes/Motorbikes/Pocket-pit-bikes/auction-193466281.htm

These two seem to have the most on trademe.
I can only suggest you are on the correct track here and that the vendors most often discussed have english as a second language

[Max Preload]

Hmm... reading info from that link, it says: "The Act does not cover: # goods bought by auction or by tender". Correct me if I'm wrong but wouldn't purchases from TradeMe fall under "auction"???

That's correct, unless you use 'Buy Now'.

[nodrog]

Which ones of these are you talking about Tony?

http://www.trademe.co.nz/Trade-Me-Motors/Motorbikes/Motorbikes/Pocket-pit-bikes/auction-193465384.htm

http://www.trademe.co.nz/Trade-Me-Motors/Motorbikes/Motorbikes/Pocket-pit-bikes/auction-193466281.htm

These two seem to have the most on trademe.


we have a 125 pitbike brought of 1 off these guys (nearly a year ago), it was purchased with the attitude "if it breaks who cares, it cost fuck all", it has been rolled bowled and arseholed, had its arse wheelied off, been down the road countless times, even been jumped 2 up, and the only thing wrong with it was the clutch lever broke on one of its many attempts at a backflip (so what? it would have broken even if it was a yamazukikawahonda).

excellent value for money.

people need to realise that they are like edible undies, they are cheap and fun but not a permanant solution.

[chocobo_ff]

That's correct, unless you use 'Buy Now'.

So... going back to CGA and TradeMe, does that actually mean you are NOT covered by CGA if you buy something there since the trade will be an auction and CGA doesn't cover auctions? :confused:

Oh well, all the more reason to stay away from TM and the made in China crap :jerry:

[FROSTY]

people need to realise that they are like edible undies, they are cheap and fun but not a permanant solution.
Mate i think the difference is that you actually knew you were buying questionable product. The people I'm talking about actually don't know the difference between good stuff and rubbish.

[ManDownUnder]

I know the whole buyer beware situation but the trader5s are touting themselves as legitimate businesses with premises etc.
I can see some poor lil kid getting badly hurt as a result

Q for you - is there a point at which a MV dealer has to become licensed (i.e. they sell more than 5 a year or some such?)... and at that point do they then become accountable under different legislation re merchantability of goods?

[davereid]

Q for you - is there a point at which a MV dealer has to become licensed (i.e. they sell more than 5 a year or some such?)... and at that point do they then become accountable under different legislation re merchantability of goods?

These are generally sold by unregistered dealers. Registration is not required for the sale of mopeds, or toys, so they have an "out".

In any case, MV registration is now virtually a case of paying a fee - I havent heard of anyone being declined.

Many of these bikes are imported as toys, and then sold as mopeds. This can be done as mopeds, quads, tractors etc don't require a VIN check, so they never need to actually be checked.

I had a chinese scooter come in the other day - it was electric and was registered as a Honda. It was not, and never had been anywhere near a honda factory, IMHO it was complete garbage.

Many of the > 60cc bikes being registered are able to be VINed as they have met some basic EEC tests.

These tests do not mean the bike is well made, just that it met the standard required for brakes, lights etc.

I also see chinese bikes come in, "its the same as a LIFAN, so you can sell me the parts and fix it yeah ?"

Nope. I won't touch 'em.

I'll cheerfully sell, and fix the Lifans, Jason and Karen are honest, and carry spares and run Lifan NZ professionally. By and large the bikes have been good, at half the price of anything else they go very well.

But the other chinese stuff ?

Often rubbish, and in spite of what the sellers say, Lifan parts don't always fit other makes.

Even if on occasion they do fit, why should Lifan NZ be the defacto parts warehouse for all the dodgy importers who just promise to carry parts ?

The CGA Should apply if you used "buy now", but just try getting trade-me to release a dodgy traders address so you can serve him the small claims papers.

It really is buyer beware.

Perhaps one day, Kiwis will realise that a decent Scooter will cost more, cos its better, and that cheapest is not likely to be best.

[FROSTY]

Q for you - is there a point at which a MV dealer has to become licensed (i.e. they sell more than 5 a year or some such?)... and at that point do they then become accountable under different legislation re merchantability of goods?
Now mate heres the rub. The law ACTUALLY says you can sell up to 6 vehicles a year and not be a dealer which is only about HALF of what it says.
The half that the smartasses forget is that if you are selling ANY -read one or more vehicles with the intention of making a profit then you need to be a registered dealer.
Yes i know that even state insurance conciders 50cc and below kids bikes as toys (household chattles) but thats a fucked up loophole that needs to be closed (IMHO)
No I dont want a nanny state with kids wrapped up in cotton wool but you dont expect a 20kg kid to break a bike touted as for offroad use
You dont expect disreputable fuckwits to remove the huge sticker on the tank of minichops that says --OFFFROAD USE ONLY
You DO expect that when "shit happens" -and even happens the the jap stuff that the "dealer" stands up to be counted and honours the warranty
--doesn't scuttle back to his rented container and move it to another location.

[FROSTY]

In any case, MV registration is now virtually a case of paying a fee - I havent heard of anyone being declined.
Mate actually they have --if you have a criminal record you will be declined
I'll cheerfully sell, and fix the Lifans, Jason and Karen are honest, and carry spares and run Lifan NZ professionally. By and large the bikes have been good, at half the price of anything else they go very well.
But the other chinese stuff ?
Often rubbish, and in spite of what the sellers say, Lifan parts don't always fit other makes.
isnt it funny how these dodgy traders compare themselves to LIFAN
.
nuff said really

[gixxer-king]

Trade me I think needs the biggest kick up the arse. allowing unsafe shit to be sold to kids. I mean hell lets sell hand guns to kids with a hotmail account and mummys credit card number.

jesus fairfax this kiwi <-> roo rivalry has gone a bit far dont you think.

[Pedrostt500]

I used to fix the chinese junk, now I dont have to, I laughf at any one who does buy it, and tell em the only way to realy fix em is to buy a gallon of petrol and a box of matches, you can get about 10 to the gallon this way.
Mitre 10 mega has some of this crap for sale, when I see some one who looks like buying one I tell them to take their money into the car park and just BURN IT, its a lot less pain involved.