Greetings from Argentina ..!

Some time ago I registered here and in that time I was a silent reader. But It's time to introduce myself :thumbsup:

I'm Gabriel (Nickname: Tordo), proud owner of a QingQi QM250-2D motorcycle. (Named Beta Chrono 2.5 in my country)

Very pleased to have this bike, which is doing very well, I'm almost reaching 6,000 km without any problems.

I'm part of a forum called "ClubBetaMotos" here in Argentina, which brings together many owners of these chinese bikes.

Here the bikes come from China in CKD to be finally assembled with Argentinian workmanship.

...These are the pictures of my beloved machine fresh out of factory!
http://img585.imageshack.us/img585/7815/img1159uw.jpg
http://img827.imageshack.us/img827/9802/img1160mx.jpg

Here with aftermarket accesories: Shad 42 top case, Puig windshield, and home made tail rack. (...Actually a modified Suzuki EN 125 original tail rack.)
http://img812.imageshack.us/img812/691/imagen086b.jpg
http://img831.imageshack.us/img831/619/1001460x.jpg

QingQi Cockpit:mwink:, with GPS Garmin Etrex Vista and RAM GPS holder.
http://img843.imageshack.us/img843/7391/1001496c.jpg

Here's a picture of me and my wife on a trip.
http://img840.imageshack.us/img840/8386/1001485at.jpg

Thanks for everything, and hope to be useful if you need me.

Tordo.

Hola, Tordo.

That's a very nice looking naked bike. I didn't know Beta sell re-branded Chinese bikes.

Have you considered putting a higher handlebar? I guess it would bake it even better tourer.

Hi Krasi..! Thank you for your quick reply.

I will not deny that at first the handlebar was a bit uncomfortable, I know it isn't best for longer distances, but I like the sporty handling with the Original handlebar; After a few weeks I got used to it.

The very first kilometers I rode, my arms and wrists ached... Crossed my mind to change the original upper steering stem, to raise the handlebar adapting the head steering stem of the QingQi QM250GY, I think this would be plug and play, but Im not 100% sure... See below.

http://s7.postimage.org/p08m55dp5/DSCF0514.jpg

Mainly I use the bike to ride around town and on the weekends I travel with my friends of the "Beta-club" forum, making several kilometers at different points in Argentina, sometimes back and forth on the same day.

I want to show you a few Qingqi models under the Beta brand.

http://img28.imageshack.us/img28/3510/motard1.jpg

This is a Loncin T-Rex 300cc. (Enlarged Suzuki GN 250 engine)
http://img220.imageshack.us/img220/5566/euro1w.jpg
http://img528.imageshack.us/img528/1857/tr201s.jpg

Cheers all... Thanks for everything..! :thumbsup:

Great thread, Tordo, and welcome to MCM. Lots of people here in China are jealous of you and that bike, since it's one of many Chinese made models that are not even sold here!

You must just now be entering winter. Can you ride all four seasons there? Do feel free to post ride reports, even after weekend jaunts. MCM is a great place to share your world with the world!

Cheers!

Hm, motards have a special place in my hart... now. Here in Europe Beta offer this "commuting" motard:

Attachment 7639

It's equipped with an authentic DR350 engine.

Thanks for your reply Euphonius,

I know I'm the lucky ones who may have a different Qingqi model, it's unfair! even worse knowing that you are so close to the factory, But sadly the market rules ...:rolleyes1:

But we have a big problem for the exchange rate of the "Argentinian Peso" (Ar) and the dollar (U$S 1 = Ar$ 4.50) that makes big displacement bikes very expensive, almost unaffordable, just for a very small market.

That's why Chinese motorcycles have here a rapid growth on the entire market. The important thing is that despite having different qualities of different chinese brands, we have Beta, which offers good quality at and affordable price.

Speaking of the big 4, only Honda and Yamaha compete in the market for the 250 single-cylinder models with the Honda CBX 250 (made ​​in Brazil) and Yamaha YBR 250 (also Brazilian too) But these are more expensive, generally between 25% and 35% more, compared with my motorcycle.

Here I show a picture of a short trip, coffee in a service station and then to Buenos Aires airport (Aeroparque airport) to see the aircrafts pass close to our heads!
From left to right: Beta Motard 2.5, Honda CBX 250, a hidden Yamaha YBR 250 and my Beta Chrono 250.
http://img853.imageshack.us/img853/6...8309482417.jpg

I promise to post trips with photos and everything!:thumbsup:

Krasi; I would like to have that engine in my bike! I think it would go well with the great chassis and powerful brakes of the QingQi, it would be a dream!

Cheers All..!

Pd: Here in Argentina we have different climates and temperatures, But you're right Euphonius! Is winter now. I'm in Buenos Aires, where winter temperatures range from 0° C to 15° C (celcius-not farenheit!), so I'm on my bike all year round!

Hi everyone!

I did my own introduction some time ago.
See: http://www.mychinamoto.com/forums/sh...3242#post23242
I'm a friend of Tordo and I ride the same bike. I did some km more than he.. i'm almost over 28.000 kms on my Beta Chrono 250.
Nice to have you Tordo here around...
Saludos!

Hi Gus! Is Good to see you here ..!

Gus is a close friend and one of the Administrators/moderator of the Betaclub here in Argentina.

I think he is the one who most kilometers did to our QingQi 250 street model in argentina, doing over 70 Km per day, because he lives outside Buenos Aires, and his job is there; so every single day he has to commute between cities, using his motorcycle which is doing flawlessly.

Thank you for your reply my friend. See you soon!

Cheers all..!

That's three! Besides you two Argentinians, this model, but under the local brand, recently bought a guy from Russia.


Gus and Tordo, what I would like to ask is - what is the story of rebadging Chinese motorcycles in South America? How the "Regal Raptor" SPT became Jawa, a bike that is similar to the Honda CBX 250 became "Gilera", "QingQi" became "Beta". Are there more similar examples of rebadging?

Hi Gabriel!
My name is Alexander.
I have the same bike as you.
Did you have any problems with speed shift (with transmission)?
It's very hard to switch on the 2nd -3d-4th-5th on my first 190km mileage.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Zorge

That's three! Besides you two Argentinians, this model, but under the local brand, recently bought a guy from Russia.


Gus and Tordo, what I would like to ask is - what is the story of rebadging Chinese motorcycles in South America? How the "Regal Raptor" SPT became Jawa, a bike that is similar to the Honda CBX 250 became "Gilera", "QingQi" became "Beta". Are there more similar examples of rebadging?

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Dear Zorge, could you please clarify about Jawa?
Best regards,
Alexander

Do not "Dear Zorge" to me! People can mistakenly think... some things.:lol8:

Here's "Jawa" 350 "Ruta 40" , also known as "Regal Raptor" SPT.

http://img80.imageshack.us/img80/6720/jawa3505.jpg

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xm_xKRmyHno

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Krasi

Hm, motards have a special place in my hart... now. Here in Europe Beta offer this "commuting" motard:

Attachment 7639

It's equipped with an authentic DR350 engine.

---

this one is awesome 350 DR engine and light looking frame and comfortable seat.....

It was some time ago that it was posted that Qingqi was working on a 350, the Beta Alp 4.0 may offers a glimpse of what that may someday result in.

Since Qingqi is a Suzuki JV (Joint Venture) that is very likely the 350cc they would introduce and it could end up in a line similar to the 250 line Qingqi currently offers.

http://www.aktualnimoto.cz/images/42...-alp-4-0-1.jpg

27hp and a sixth gear, yes that engine in the street version would be sweet.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Zorge

Do not "Dear Zorge" to me! People can mistakenly think... some things.:lol8:

Here's "Jawa" 350 "Ruta 40" , also known as "Regal Raptor" SPT.

http://img80.imageshack.us/img80/6720/jawa3505.jpg

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Not so sure about Jawa in Argentina, they are really mixing the products aren’t they?
Compared to what they offer domestically.
http://www.jawa.eu/

http://jawacz.com.ar

Other then the 660 they are all Lifeng models.

The CMX250 engine…Jawa did not get the lines right on that model, but bet it is a fun bike to ride.
http://www.jawa.eu/editor/filestore/...el PB Stin.jpg

MJH thanks

As i check the overall size of the gearbox and the engine , this engine is much smaller and hopefully lighter than the GN 250 with 5 speed gearbox and also left more room for foot pegs and

you can consider a narrow frame to hold this engine ..that means a lot in some situations ...i like BETA and their new enduro line up with 350-400-450 and 498 RR models and unfortunately i

cant find any in iran (what a shame ) .recently some guys in the motorcycle - usa.com made a test for 2012 enduro range and beta was the only bike out there that make them act more

surprised by the overall performance ....

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Zorge

That's three! Besides you two Argentinians, this model, but under the local brand, recently bought a guy from Russia.

Gus and Tordo, what I would like to ask is - what is the story of rebadging Chinese motorcycles in South America? How the "Regal Raptor" SPT became Jawa, a bike that is similar to the Honda CBX 250 became "Gilera", "QingQi" became "Beta". Are there more similar examples of rebadging?

---

Hi Zorge; sorry for the delay. Excuse me for not replying earlier.

That's because in Argentina, several decades ago, many motorcycle world brands produced here, but after a while and finally after the 90's this brands move their production to other countries, even to brazil, seeking for lower production costs.

Importers had an important role in the 90's importing motorcycles from US market, And finally in the 2000's when Argentina fall in a great recession, the purchasing power (delaluation) of our money, force the remaining importers to rearrange their way of selling, buying the rights to rebadge chinese models with an important brand manufacturers. That's the case of Gilera, for example.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by alex_ander

Hi Gabriel!
My name is Alexander.
I have the same bike as you.
Did you have any problems with speed shift (with transmission)?
It's very hard to switch on the 2nd -3d-4th-5th on my first 190km mileage.

---

Hi Alexander! Nice to meet you. Good to know another user of this great machine!

When I bought the bike had a similar issue, but I solved it by adjusting the clutch cable. Also check your motor oil, and refill to max level if you have to, and important thing to do: break-in procedure following the instructions of the user's manual, after 2000 kilómeters you'll notice a softer gearbox. Also check the position of the gearbox lever, just in case, sometimes comes misplaced from the gearbox axle teeth.

Cheers all my friends, Here I leave you another picture of our last Betaclub reunion, two days ago, very few friends due to low temperatures :icon10:

http://img802.imageshack.us/img802/8...0830024431.jpg

http://img171.imageshack.us/img171/6...7229681486.jpg
http://img51.imageshack.us/img51/775...9230231549.jpg

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Tordo

Hi Zorge; sorry for the delay. Excuse me for not replying earlier.

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Excuse me because I have not thanked for the response earlier. Now some things make sense.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Tordo

Here I leave you another picture of our last Betaclub reunion, two days ago, very few friends due to low temperatures :icon10:

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Wanna swap? It is so hot in here, that would be gathered even fewer people.

Lol, no way! I really like cold weather... :thumbsup:

At the other hand, Buenos Aires city summers are so so hot... and the worst thing, the humidity!!!

Cheers my friend;

Tordo.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by MJH

It was some time ago that it was posted that Qingqi was working on a 350...

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Hi MJH; I searched the net and this forum to find info about "QingQi" DR350 engine, with no results. You know something else?

This is really interesting. As you said, the QingQi street version (and of course, other versions too) would be sweet with that engine. I would be happy to have extra power to hit open roads, my motorcycle top speed reached 128 KM/h (GPS), not bad really, but a few extra horses would be really nice, not only for top speed, but for overtaking in crowded highways, etc...

Thanks for everything, Cheers all;

Tordo.

It was a rumor….one that has a high degree of feasibility. But do not hold your breath waiting for anything out of the good people in Jinan.

I understand... Maybe the DR350 would be a logical step in Suzu-Qingqi engines evolution, and could be mounted in the 200/250cc line, hopefully designed to mount a larger engine (but not too large) in a not too distant future.

We'll see how the story goes. :thumbsup:

Thanks for everything,

Tordo.