Lihan 250cc VTwin

**Ixion** · 13th August 2005, 14:46

I see that Lifan, who do the minibikes are advertising (in NZ) a full size (I presume full size!) 250 VTwin. About $6000 I think

Anyone seen one in the metal, or ridden one ?

No, I don't want one myself, but given the dearth (literally Mr Hitcher do I get a brownie point for that ? ) of 250's available new, another model must be good, if it's any good.

My perception is that the Lifan minibike is reasonably good for what it is - not that I know what I'm talking about though. Somebody here has one though (a Lifan minibike I mean)

**Motu** · 13th August 2005, 15:30

Whoa - this is going to happen fast.The Japs took many years with their bikes getting bigger and bigger and more sophisticated as the years went on,until they are the dominante force in the market.No slowly,slowly,catchee monkey with the Chinese - one to the gut,an upper cut on the double over and a full strength slam to the head to finish them off.Like the British before them,the Japs are going to wonder what the hell happened!

**SARGE** · 13th August 2005, 15:37

Originally Posted by Ixion

My perception is that the Lifan minibike is reasonably good for what it is - not that I know what I'm talking about though. Somebody here has one though (a Lifan minibike I mean)

JUNK JUNK JUNK JUNK JUNK JUNK

i hope they parts availability is better than when i carried them at my last shop

**Bonez** · 13th August 2005, 15:53

Originally Posted by SARGE

JUNK JUNK JUNK JUNK JUNK JUNK

i hope they parts availability is better than when i carried them at my last shop

Always thought they where Chinese made older Honda models.

**skidMark** · 14th August 2005, 19:01

im the one with the mini bike lifan i work for lifan newzealand and assemble all the bikes for them these 250cc vtwins are a nice bike and yes the are full size ive pulled one apart for spares just recently so i got to see quality on them seem to be put together well and are a good looker

as i am not a prick who is only out to sell you something.

my personal opinion is it is a good bike for a learner or someone just wanting to casualy ride around on it is good for long trips my boss took one up to orewa which is about a 1 hour ride with the girlfriend on the back came back and said it rode well.

feel free to come check one out and ask if marks around i most likely will be monday to friday not open on weekends

so if any of you want to come in and check them out go for it we have all the models in the showroom which you can have a good look over and see what you think

we have had alot of interest in the v twins...(delta)

165 morrin road panmure you will see the bikes out front

better for you guys to see the bike yourself than me say hey it's great or not as i have not yet ridden one

**skidMark** · 14th August 2005, 19:03

Originally Posted by Bonez

Always thought they where Chinese made older Honda models.

the minibike /monkeybike is a replica of the old honda z50's

**chris** · 15th August 2005, 10:02

In the June issue of KR there is a mini test written by yours truly.

**XTC** · 15th August 2005, 10:09

Originally Posted by chris

In the June issue of KR there is a mini test written by yours truly.

Yeah you didn't really like it did you

But with some refinements....... maybe they can get it right?

**chris** · 15th August 2005, 10:25

Originally Posted by XTC

Yeah you didn't really like it did you

But with some refinements....... maybe they can get it right?

Simple fact is that buyers in NZ are going to be far more demanding of build quality and reliablity issues than their Chinese counterparts. It is possible that the Lifan will have a future in NZ if the problems highlighted can be rectified before the bikes hit the dealers showroom floors.
I fear not, as problems such as shoddy welding have to be sorted at the factory. At the moment, my advice would be to buy a GN250 for half the price.
But, go and have a look, check them out and make up your own mind.

**geoffm** · 15th August 2005, 15:15

What sort of dollars are they? I would be dubious about spending to much with my past experiences of Chinese build quality.
OTOH, those Chinese trailbikes (aka a Chinese made XL125) look good value as a trail hack for a couple of grand. Probably better than a 10-12yo Honda XL for the same money.
Geoff

**Hitcher** · 15th August 2005, 15:27

Originally Posted by Ixion

No, I don't want one myself, but given the dearth (literally Mr Hitcher do I get a brownie point for that ? ) of 250's available new, another model must be good, if it's any good.

You immediately lost the brownie point for "dearth" through subsequent incorrect apostrophe use...

**Motu** · 15th August 2005, 15:53

Originally Posted by chris

Simple fact is that buyers in NZ are going to be far more demanding of build quality and reliablity issues than their Chinese counterparts. It is possible that the Lifan will have a future in NZ if the problems highlighted can be rectified before the bikes hit the dealers showroom floors.
I fear not, as problems such as shoddy welding have to be sorted at the factory. At the moment, my advice would be to buy a GN250 for half the price.
But, go and have a look, check them out and make up your own mind.

Young wipper snapper - let me tell you in my day sonny we called it Jap Crap,and that's because it WAS crap! Not the bikes,by the time we were getting Japanese bikes as the main bike on the floor quality was 100% better than ''other'' countries offerings.But back when I was a boy in the 50s and early 60s,Made in Japan meant total crap with a life expectancy of minutes.They turned it around so most people these days see Made in Japan as the best quality - what do think are the chances of China turning out quality? We are seeing high quality Chinese products now,bikes won't be far behind....

**Big Dave** · 15th August 2005, 16:00

It's the old adage - 'You get what you pay for.'
They offer a new bike for a very cheap price. Not as 'refined' as one you pay more for.

And i'm sure it loses something in the translation - but the message on the factory wall is quite......something.

**N4CR** · 15th August 2005, 16:02

Sad to say it but Motu is right.

Chinese started hitting the textile markets - they are winning by a large margin now, they can afford to individually check socks (for example) on production and therefore have pretty much 100% Quality control at the lowest price possible.

As soon as that happens to bikes and they manage to get the latest plastic bike from honda/kawasaki/suzuki and copy it and get reliability up high - Japan is doomed.

Long live Japan