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Totally true. It's just that the feeling is different. I guess. I've never ridden one and will not give any opinion on what underbones (I mean underbones, not them big-wheel scoots) are until I actually ride one for an extended period of time.Quote:
Originally Posted by Zorge
My experience with the scooter are two short rides - the first was about 20 years ago, when I was riding a 50 cc 2T PGO, and the second time a few years ago, when my friend FORCED ME to try his scoot, some rebranded Chinese scooter, also 2T 50 cc. OK, they squeeze all the juice from the engine, but, Gosh, I do not like the centrifugal clutch and the whimpering sound he makes. Also, IMO, variators (standard ones, not some hi-tech) have one bad characteristic: low speed - low revs. It is probably only a matter of habit, but I do not like it.
On the other hand, underbones, even those with a semiauto clutch (unless you count the fact that the front of the "crown jewels" do not have a fuel tank, but gap), are more similar to the lightweight motorcycles than any scooter with variator. Underbones are real motorcycles, "just add water".
Then I should definitely try one. I'd be looking for the one with the clutch and gears, no semi-automatic stuff. Besides, they aren't so popular in Nanjing city here, it might be difficult to find a shop that stocks them. Should I ever go with this option, I'd opt for some Japanese underbone still. Enough of Chinese bikes for me for now.Quote:
Originally Posted by Zorge
The thing is that most, so to speak, non-sporty underbones has semiauto clutch. Conversion to hand clutch is fairly simple, and above all, not expensive -
http://www.serjik.ru/tunCRF70_clutch.shtml . This refers to the clones of the good old Honda horizontal engine.
I do not know which Japanese undarbones are available in Nanjing, but I am confident that it will be at least three times more expensive than a decent Chinese ones (these exist, you know...).
And if you already have a choice, be sure to give a chance to scooters and even to cabbage bikes, as someone wrote. You're the one which should decide.
Pics were helpful :)Quote:
Originally Posted by Zorge
The whole procedure seems like a no-brainer. Still IF I went with that sort of a bike, I'd still choose the one that has manual gearbox stock.
I've ridden those "cabbage bikes", they're fun. Like someone posted here "It's more fun to ride a slow bike fast than to ride a fast bike slow"
I have just received a TR650 from the factory, as i ordered it three months ago....put 200kilometers on it and found it smooth and very powerful. It came out of the crate fully assembled ready to go...anyway very good looking, display wonderfully bright...but no gear indicator...no center stand, head lights like a car... I would of bought BMW always first as i have had four BMW cars which i picked up at the factory with Euro delivery...but I dont know how to get one in China..and I think expensive. The BMW GS600 is about 8000k dollars in the states plus tax...here i dont know.
Yes im concerned someone will steal it..I goest in an underground garage and has two disc locks, gated small community..but who knows...any recommendations......i ordered a GPS locator...but Im sure it can be removed soon after theft.....
Help on this issue is appreciated....i will post further details about the TR650 as I drive it more.....it draws too much attention
I was told you cannot buy theft insurance for motorcycle in China is....that right? thanks in advance
Suggestions would be common:Quote:
Originally Posted by kikikillercat
1. Ground anchor
2. Non-Chinese locks
3. Shed/parking place
4. Theft insurance (should be possible, since it's a legally registered vehicle)
5. GPS chip is a nice thing to have. TR has lots of plastic on it. You can hide it so that it'd be hard to find/remove it.
6. Alarm system (preferable non-Chinese)
Congrats on your bike, mate:)
Or, suggestion No.7: tie to the bike extremely distrustful Caucasian Shepherd.
thanks for the info.......where to get non chinese locks...taobao?? any recommendations??? do you believe in disc locks? its in an underground garage,,small apartment complex....guarded gate...
i checked with insurance co....when i bought mandatory insurance...no theft ins. available..damn
Disk locks might be ok if used as secondary locks. To a Caucasian Shepherd :) Actually never tried, don't know.Quote:
Originally Posted by kikikillercat
As for taobao locks, here you go:
http://item.taobao.com/item.htm?spm=...id=15662095191
http://item.taobao.com/item.htm?spm=...id=16220024158
http://item.taobao.com/item.htm?spm=...id=14482042450
http://item.taobao.com/item.htm?spm=...id=14793273931
http://item.taobao.com/item.htm?spm=...id=14793273931
http://item.taobao.com/item.htm?spm=...id=15800000540
http://item.taobao.com/item.htm?spm=...id=15662015711
At least that'll be something to start with.
Strange they got no theft insurance :(
Seriously would you provide theft insurance here? ??
With 50K legal bikes in the market now I would do that before some other company did. It's a market demand that shouldn't be ignored. Probably I'd limit it by the price point of the vehicle itself. Say, legal bikes over 10999 yuan can be insured. Others - not.Quote:
Originally Posted by zhu
It seems there is just discrimination against motorcycles when it comes to insurance. A year ago I managed to purchase substantial additional coverage to supplement the mandatory basic third-party liability insurance that we all buy. I went back to renew last month, and was refused. They would only sell it if a bike is owned by a company rather than an individual. How does that make any sense?
I've often asked about theft insurance, but there is no such critter that I've been able to find. Logic and market demand are not always the driving forces behind decision-making here in the People's Republic.
Cheers!
True :(
Back to the bike choice options: saw a 大地鹰王350e-6c today, that's a Regal Raptor 350. Looks nice, heard they ere imported in US under Johnny Pag brand. Any hands-on experience with those???
350cc EFI, liquid-cooled, 2 disc brakes front, 2-piston disc brake rear. Inverted fork. Sounds promising. All at a bit over 23000 yuan.
PaultheDevil just bought that bike this week, and posted a substantial review today.Quote:
Originally Posted by Steve_Halt
Good luck.
This Regal Raptor for everyday commuting in crowded city...
Steve, you're masochist. :lol8:
Thanks, will read it :)Quote:
Originally Posted by euphonius
Yeaaaah!Quote:
Originally Posted by Zorge
Actually, you're right. Not the masochist part, the commuting part :)
Right. Choice made.
Impulse purchase - went to the Yamaha bike shop off 水西门大街 to ask them all sorts of technical questions about Regal Raptor.
Got all the info I wanted and on my way out of the shop noticed QingQi U-Zeal (also known as QM-125 3B).
And bought it for 7980 yuan. Will be getting my plates ASAP.Attachment 7777
Whoa!!! It's a bike! Congratulations! :goodtime:
It's cute one, if I may add. I think that you're the first owner of this bike on this forum. As far as I know, this is not the original Qingqi's, but Somoto's project - http://www.somoto.cn/products.asp?nid=20.
I'm not going to rush you, but when you find free time, treat us with detailed walk around.
Thanks :)Quote:
Originally Posted by Zorge
Somoto and QingQi look similar (especially that Somoto Classic-B and my bike), but at a closer look the're different. The engines are different and QingQi doesn't offer 150 and 250cc options of that bike. I'd buy a 250cc if there was one :)
Besides, Somoto classic lineup has been around for some time, whereas QingQi claims to have put their U-Zeal in the market last month.
Anyways, is there any info on Soomoto sold in China? I went through their contacts, and apparently they're located in GuangZhou, but I haven't heard about the brand/haven't seen their dealership before you posted that website link.
I'll sure do a writeup on my QingQi as soon as I got time (this summer happens to be a busy one).
Dear Steve,
Nice looking bike -- great retro styling! Any further details about this steed? EFI or carb? Hope you can launch a new thread where you can give us an ongoing review and update that is easy for others to find.
Did you ride it yet? Tell me again, isn't Nanjing a dry city? How and where will you register it?
cheers!
Docs first: I'll register it through the dealer I bought it from. It's 8500 yuan for plates all the fuss taken care of by the dealer.Quote:
Originally Posted by euphonius
I have ridden it indeed and it's everything you'd expect from a 125cc carburetted bike. No Hayabusa, still great for traffic. I'll post a review as soon as I get to it :)
And, yes, that was the styling that I bought it for.
So Nanjing is still wet (for bikes)? Hurrah for the little things! 干杯！
That is a grand looking bike Steve i am just plain envious of the seat!
That must be a really new model. Qingqi has a bike with a similar model number but it's got dreary sport bike styling.
Dying for details!
There is one interesting detail: for this motorcycle under Qingqi brand, I've heard more than a year ago. They showed it at some motorcycle show and what instantly attracted my attention (other than orange paint and chessboard labels, which have directed me to Somoto), is the motor. Not Suzuki derived one, but the old Honda CG pushrod clone.Quote:
Originally Posted by Steve_Halt
Attachment 7783
I have noticed a lot of seemingly unusual things in Chinese motorcycle industry which couldn't explain. A fresh example: do you remember that a few days ago I mentioned Qingqi's Suzuki Grasstracker wannabe? Literally yesterday I found this article - http://www.skymoto.com.ua/images/DTR 125.pdf . What is wrong with this picture (except the front fender, fairing and gauges; on this bike they look like a saddle on a cow)? Engine again. God knows who made this "saddled cow". Qingqi is probably not, and there is no mention of this bike on the Pioneer's site too. "You have now crossed over into The Twilight Zore..." :eekers:
It's all very obscure here in China since nobody knows who's whose friend and who stole/copied what from who. Plain guesswork here...
Posted my first impressions of QingQi U-Zeal:
http://www.mychinamoto.com/forums/sh...-to-the-Basics
Oh it is :)Quote:
Originally Posted by euphonius