Am I stupid to buy one of these...

[mebigdave]

Is the biggest Chinese bike around 250's? Anyone heard of them doing a 400/450?

The 300cc and 400cc are on their way - may be in NZ by early next year. check the china riders forums on the internet there are some really cool looking motorad bikes coming out of China soon.

[Sellout]

Hey Sellout.....what are you riding? Ya can't tell me that if it's in pieces it runs well!! LOL

My daily ride is the 1985 Yammie RZ250, and she is in perfect order!!

The bike in pieces is the 1986 NQ50 (Nifty Fifty) and it still runs fine (needs a carb tune though...) It is in pieces because someone tried to steal her, and when they couldn't force their screwdriver into the ignition to start it, they ripped the wiring loom out the back of the ignition and tried to "hotwire" it, when they failed at this they decided to smash up all the lights and destroy the plastics. Stoopid monkeys should've just thrown the bike into their boot, it only weighs about 50kgs!!

So, while she is in pieces, she still runs fine and I'm just waiting on plastic-work to get her back out on the road!!

So, both Jap bikes, over 20years old, 2 stroke, and going hard!!!

[NordieBoy]

That's the first time I've heard the words "Nifty 50" and "going hard" in the same sentence.

[Oscar]

That's the first time I've heard the words "Nifty 50" and "going hard" in the same sentence.

Nah, back in the day, when Moped Mayhem was first invented, we road a 1966 Honda C50 to fourth place in the first one.

Then at the first one in Auckland, we entered as Doyles Destroyers (Doyles the army surplus store) on our camo A50...

[CrazyFrog]

The bike in pieces is the 1986 NQ50 (Nifty Fifty) and it still runs fine (needs a carb tune though...) It is in pieces because someone tried to steal her, and when they couldn't force their screwdriver into the ignition to start it, they ripped the wiring loom out the back of the ignition and tried to "hotwire" it, when they failed at this they decided to smash up all the lights and destroy the plastics. Stoopid monkeys should've just thrown the bike into their boot, it only weighs about 50kgs!!

Ahhh, the ol' Nifty 50, taught me all I know about high performance motorcycles, got me my licence and a couple of hot dates,back in my day the girls were easy to please.

[warewolf]

HOWEVER (and I know there will be howls of discontent from the KTM/DR650 contingent) depending on how mental you want to go off road, don't be in a huge hurry to move to a bigger bike. I sold my BMW F650 and went back to the TT250R, which is (a bit gutless but) lighter and more indestructible, and can be bashed around the river bed, taken to trail rides and commuted on without turning a hair.

You do us a disservice, sir. Most of us regularly offer that very advice.

Heck, some of us have even been there.

[warewolf]

Well obviously mebigdave has had a great experience with his Chinee bike/s and poor experiences with old Jappers. Many people have had the opposite experience. Caveat emptor. There is still a much bigger risk associated with Chinese bikes, whichever way you look at it. Agreed, they are on the way up, but they aren't there yet.

Lifan and Shineray are probably good choices. The Chinese are good at setting up joint ventures with successful (Japanese) companies, then kicking out the parent and keeping the production knowledge and machinery. So their jap-based products would be the pick of the bunch. Their price reflects that.

Personally I have a philosophical problem with the "throwaway society" and don't think it should be encouraged.

[toebug]

Well obviously mebigdave has had a great experience with his Chinee bike/s and poor experiences with old Jappers. Many people have had the opposite experience. Caveat emptor. There is still a much bigger risk associated with Chinese bikes, whichever way you look at it. Agreed, they are on the way up, but they aren't there yet.

Lifan and Shineray are probably good choices. The Chinese are good at setting up joint ventures with successful (Japanese) companies, then kicking out the parent and keeping the production knowledge and machinery. So their jap-based products would be the pick of the bunch. Their price reflects that.

Personally I have a philosophical problem with the "throwaway society" and don't think it should be encouraged.

Totally agree. The chinese are good at ripping off others technology!

If you have any bike knowledge at all and keep up with your maintanence you should have no problems with just about any brand of bike. I have owned a chinese bike and yes it was a total piece of crap! I have also own problem jappas, but only after buying someone elses drama due the their lack of upkeep.

Buy a jappa and look after it. All the enduro, dirt bikes are pretty hardy. I can understand why mebigdave's YZ costs him money, its a Yamaha! And he's 130kg! I've had my CR 4 or 5 years and its cheap as chips to run and maintain (and I run it on avgas!). Engine rebuilds are cheap, only $60 for a manual! Costs add up when you involve bike shops.

[mebigdave]

Totally agree. The chinese are good at ripping off others technology!

If you have any bike knowledge at all and keep up with your maintanence you should have no problems with just about any brand of bike. I have owned a chinese bike and yes it was a total piece of crap! I have also own problem jappas, but only after buying someone elses drama due the their lack of upkeep.

The Chinese are good at ripping off others technology, however if you take a company like Lifan, they make there own motors and supply all the other bike manufactures with these motors as well as making their own design cars, none of which are direct copies of any other manufacturer.

What I do find with all those china bike bashers, is that they are quick to say how crap they are but never give details... Never any fact. How's a news flash, have any of you tried checking on the stats for motorcycle factory recalls?

Heres one website as an example:
http://www.webbikeworld.com/BMW-moto...50r-recall.htm

Remeber those days when people spoke of "JAP CRAP"

Just a little food for thought!

[mebigdave]

Thought I may give a few more just for shits and giggles:

http://www.motorcyclistonline.com/mo...nda/index.html
http://www.motorcyclistonline.com/mo...uki/index.html
http://www.motorcyclistonline.com/mo...aha/index.html
http://www.motorcyclistonline.com/mo...aki/index.html
http://www.motorcyclistonline.com/mo...ell/index.html
http://www.motorcyclistonline.com/mo...ati/index.html

I thought this one was quite nice.....NOT


Recall ID #4539
Recall ID #4539 - STEERING:WHEEL AND HANDLE BAR
Recall ID #4539 - STEERING:WHEEL AND HANDLE BAR
Recall Date JUL 11, 2008
Component STEERING:WHEEL AND HANDLE BAR
Motorcycle Affected SPEED TRIPLE
Potential Motorcycles Affected 93 Recall Details
Recall Date
JUL 11, 2008

Motorcycle Affected
2008 TRIUMPH SPEED TRIPLE

Summary
TRIUMPH IS RECALLING 93 MY 2008 SPEED TRIPLE MOTORCYCLES. DUE TO IMPROPER MACHINING OF THE HANDLEBAR RISER, THE HANDLEBAR MAY SLIP IN THE CLAMPS.

Consequence
IF THE HANDLEBARS CLIP, LOSS OF CONTROL OF THE MOTORCYCLE COULD RESULT INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.

Remedy
DEALERS WILL INSTALL CORRECTLY MACHINED HANDLE RISERS FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN DURING JULY 2008. OWNERS MAY CONTACT TRIUMPH AT 1-678-539-8782.

Potential Motorcycles Affected
93

Notes
TRIUMPH MOTORCYCLES AMERICA LTD

[MXNUT]

How's a news flash, have any of you tried checking on the stats for motorcycle factory recalls?

Recalls, all they mean is that the manufacturer cares enough about the quality and image of their product to rectify faults on bikes that may also be out of warranty at no charge to the customer.

I doubt if you will see any chinese manufacturer doing this any time soon.

[warewolf]

My nephew's Chinese quad nearly made two laps of the hills hoist before the rear end twisted so badly out of alignment with the rest of the bike that the drive chain would derail. When they bought it, something broke off it when they picked it up to put it in the ute. The salesman said, "oh, that happens all the time, don't worry, you don't need that bit anyway."

Pardon me for not drinking the red kool aid.

[mebigdave]

My nephew's Chinese quad nearly made two laps of the hills hoist before the rear end twisted so badly out of alignment with the rest of the bike that the drive chain would derail. When they bought it, something broke off it when they picked it up to put it in the ute. The salesman said, "oh, that happens all the time, don't worry, you don't need that bit anyway."

Pardon me for not drinking the red kool aid.

These quads are shipped in crates and normally require some assembly. If this was done by the bike the vendor, it may not have been done correctly. If something fell off my sons new quad/bike while I was loading it, I would be checking it over before he road it - Just my two cents worth.

You can't just say that Chinese bikes are crap because of poor maintenance and lack of assembly inspection. I got my first Chinese bike home and checked it over, checked the visible bolts where tight and headed off for a short ride. Stopped back at home and checked things like the oil level and checking the temp of the motor and when I was happy that all was good, I headed out again. At 200km, I changed the oil and checked that there was only a small amount of silver in the oil tray and no big bits of steel. Over 15000Km with oil changes around 1000km intervals has seem me have trouble free riding at a fraction of the price of a Jap bike.

Ps I will be collecting my new bike tomorrow which is a direct copy of the XR250L - http://www.compucall.co.nz/images/250LH.jpg

My Shineray will go to my Son for commuting to school and back in the new year after he gets his license.

[mebigdave]

Recalls, all they mean is that the manufacturer cares enough about the quality and image of their product to rectify faults on bikes that may also be out of warranty at no charge to the customer.

I doubt if you will see any chinese manufacturer doing this any time soon.

Not true! Vehicle manufactures are required by law to do this! Should some one get hurt, they can be sued big time and have been in the past.

[Oscar]

The Chinese are good at ripping off others technology, however if you take a company like Lifan, they make there own motors and supply all the othe bike manufactures with these motors as well as making their own design cars, no of which are direct copies of any other manufacturer.

What I do find with all those china bike bashers, is that they are quick to say how crap they are but never give details... Never any fact. How's a news flash, have any of you tried checking on the stats for motorcycle factory recalls?

Heres one website as an example:
http://www.webbikeworld.com/BMW-moto...50r-recall.htm

Remeber those days when people spoke of "JAP CRAP"

Just a little food for thought!

This equine is deceased, why apply further external physical violence?

You can protest all you like, but anyone with an ounce of mechanical knowledge can see the facts for themselves.

As far as those days when people spoke of "Jap Crap", that was mostly true - so I don't see how it helps your argument.

I would also point out, however that it's all relative - the gap between Jap bikes and the competition is nowhere near as great as the gap between these Chinese knock-offs and the rest is today. For example, you could thrash a Bonnie with your RD350 or CL350 and the thing would be as (or more) reliable as the Trumpy. "Jap Crap" may have been true, but the competition was oil leaking Britbikes, temperamental Italians and antediluvian Harleys...