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Post by thxcuz on May 25, 2017 10:44:54 GMT -5
I see chineese scooters everywhere but not so much chineese motorcycles. I'd be interested in hearing what the opinions are of those. I saw a cool clone of an 70's Japanese bike that I'd like to learn more about.
However if these bikes are garbage and/or if they will get you laughed at or even worse beat up by your local leather clad biker fellas I should probably avoid these motorcycles no matter how cool they look.
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Post by Senna1Rossi on May 25, 2017 11:19:34 GMT -5
Yes, I'll even beat you up. heh
What was the 70's clone you mention? Pic
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Post by thxcuz on May 25, 2017 11:22:36 GMT -5
Yes, I'll even beat you up. heh What was the 70's clone you mention? Pic Can't see the picture |
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Post by Florida Antique on May 25, 2017 14:37:01 GMT -5
I see chineese scooters everywhere but not so much chineese motorcycles. I'd be interested in hearing what the opinions are of those. I saw a cool clone of an 70's Japanese bike that I'd like to learn more about. However if these bikes are garbage and/or if they will get you laughed at or even worse beat up by your local leather clad biker fellas I should probably avoid these motorcycles no matter how cool they look. I had a Chinese motorcycle for a couple of weeks. It was a 2012 DF 250 cruiser made by Dong Fang. They called it a Sunny Streak. It was a 230cc OHC single with a 5 speed transmission and chain drive  It was basically brand new with a messed up MSO that Florida would not accept for a title. I got a Vermont tag for it and after cleaning the gunk out of the carb, replacing the battery and re-soldering a couple of wires, it fired right up. It was the best starting bike I have ever seen. Hot or cold you just bumped the starter and it would fire. The speedo was way off. 70 indicated was about 55GPS and the fastest I could get it to was about 65. It was not my style so I sold it to a girl who was just learning to ride. Like any Chinese scooter, you probably will have to break out a wrench or two to keep it on the road. |
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Post by 90GTVert on May 25, 2017 14:39:00 GMT -5
I've heard that some aren't too bad, but after 13 or more years of playing with little Chinese bikes and scooters I would buy used top tier if possible for anything I plan to take long trips on. I take 10 hour rides on Chinese 50cc based stuff, so I don't mean to say Chinese bikes can't get the job done. I just think you're in for less headaches down the road if you find a good used bike from a major brand. I know when I was looking at scooters around 250cc for a bit, I could find some Kymcos and the occasional Honda for 1/2 of what a new Chinese 250 sells for and this is with a sparse scooter market in my area. I know the lines get blurred in your case though, because it sounds like you've found something intriguing that you can't buy new otherwise. Kinda tough to compare an actual vintage bike to a Chinese bike because of the enormous variations in condition and price from one bike to the next.
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Post by Florida Antique on May 25, 2017 14:54:15 GMT -5
I've heard that some aren't too bad, but after 13 or more years of playing with little Chinese bikes and scooters I would buy used top tier if possible for anything I plan to take long trips on. I take 10 hour rides on Chinese 50cc based stuff, so I don't mean to say Chinese bikes can't get the job done. I just think you're in for less headaches down the road if you find a good used bike from a major brand. I know when I was looking at scooters around 250cc for a bit, I could find some Kymcos and the occasional Honda for 1/2 of what a new Chinese 250 sells for and this is with a sparse scooter market in my area. I know the lines get blurred in your case though, because it sounds like you've found something intriguing that you can't buy new otherwise. Kinda tough to compare an actual vintage bike to a Chinese bike because of the enormous variations in condition and price from one bike to the next. I agree with Brent with this one. All of the Chinese motorcycles are going to be 250cc. Why buy one of those for $1200 ~ $1500 when you can buy one of the best most reliable motorcycles ever made (Honda 250 Rebel) for the same price? You can find a ton of used Rebels and even a high mileage one will outlast any Chinese motorcycle. The only reason I had the DF was I got it cheap because of the title thing. Once I got that straightened out, it appeared on Craigslist. |
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Post by Senna1Rossi on May 25, 2017 14:57:54 GMT -5
btw, I see tons of used 250 Ninjas in my local Craigs! most are under $2000. Never will break, or break down on ya
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Post by Senna1Rossi on May 25, 2017 15:02:00 GMT -5
p.s. here are some pics for reference...   |
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Post by thxcuz on May 25, 2017 15:28:22 GMT -5
Thanks for the advice.
I'm particular about the look of a motorcycle. I like the look of a 70's Japanese bike because growing up that's what I saw. HD was owned by AMF at the time and now a middle aged guy getting a harley is pretty cliché.
I really like the wolf 150. I'm not interested in anything too fast.
It's a pain to find an old bike with a title around here. Seems they just get lost over the years. It's not that their stolen, it's just that uncle Larry's motorcycle sat in his mom's garage after he got married in 1980.
It's not like scooters around here where "my cousin lost the keys so I had to pull out the ignition"
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Post by Florida Antique on May 25, 2017 20:09:33 GMT -5
Thanks for the advice. I'm particular about the look of a motorcycle. I like the look of a 70's Japanese bike because growing up that's what I saw. HD was owned by AMF at the time and now a middle aged guy getting a harley is pretty cliché. I really like the wolf 150. I'm not interested in anything too fast. It's a pain to find an old bike with a title around here. Seems they just get lost over the years. It's not that their stolen, it's just that uncle Larry's motorcycle sat in his mom's garage after he got married in 1980. It's not like scooters around here where "my cousin lost the keys so I had to pull out the ignition" That's why God made the Vermont DMV! |
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Post by 90GTVert on May 25, 2017 20:52:49 GMT -5
I really like the wolf 150. I'm not interested in anything too fast. Good news... that's not a Chinese bike! It's made by SYM in Taiwan. A more popular brand that may be similar enough to compare them to would be Kymco. www.alliancepowersports.com/models/wolf.html |
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Post by ThaiGyro on May 25, 2017 22:19:27 GMT -5
I think many would be shocked to find out just how many Japanese bikes and parts are manufactured in China. Their quality can be on both ends of the spectrum. I agree that Taiwan quality is far superior in general.
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Post by 90GTVert on May 26, 2017 5:08:22 GMT -5
I think many would be shocked to find out just how many Japanese bikes and parts are manufactured in China. Their quality can be on both ends of the spectrum. From what little I've read about big companies using China to make parts for their bikes; the big companies demand a different level of quality and quality control. It's not that China CAN'T make nice stuff. I think they can make about anything. The issue is that companies aiming to sell cheap scoots and bikes aren't going to invest in great materials and production, and prob can't if they want big profits at the price points they're usually aiming for. |
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Post by ThaiGyro on May 26, 2017 5:17:23 GMT -5
I believe that is exactly correct Brent. Often hard to verify, but I once bought a plastic body for my ATV in Montana. It was for a China brand which I cannot recall the name. It fit my Honda nearly perfectly, and had reinforcements where my original broke. Likely a Honda update to the same part. Difference in cost was just over $100 shipped...complete, versus $575 from the dealer...
Ugly graphics, but that's what you get!
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Post by aeroxbud on May 26, 2017 6:24:25 GMT -5
p.s. here are some pics for reference... She needs lessons on how to ride. Her feet are on the wrong pegs. Mind you all the kids round here ride their scooters like that!  |
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