Apparently they are US/Canada approved. The bikes look good, especially the new dual sport--supposedly 30 hp?!:thumbsup:
http://www.hbmoto.com/Products.asp
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Apparently they are US/Canada approved. The bikes look good, especially the new dual sport--supposedly 30 hp?!:thumbsup:
http://www.hbmoto.com/Products.asp
I would take that hp figure with a large pinch of salt. It looks like the usual air-cooled two valve Lifan motor as used on a lot of other dual sports.
The outrageous Harley XR copy looks good though. Mind you the image has that "Photoshop" appearance about it, No indicators, undersized exhaust not likely with todays emissions and noise regs, etc:
http://www.hbmoto.com/bookpic/200861617448654.jpg
I am quite sure the hp figure is just a little exaggerated :mwink:, but I am impressed with their overall lineup. Yes, that Harley-like thing is quite the bike, if they are actually producing it! :confused1: I thought the same thing of Asiawings 500 KTM-like bike, and they do have video (finally) of one in action, so we can only hope that hi-bird will produce their bike. They do have the chopper, which looks good, and is quite different, considering all the near-exact bikes that China has been putting out, and looks even more "authentic" than the Raptor/Johnny Pag chopper that is supposed to be the standard in 'custom' Chinese choppers, due to Hi-Bird's use of an actual V-Twin, chromed engine, and exhaust. (Hi-Bird had/has a decent looking street, standard 250cc bike that was introduced a couple years ago or last year that is/was US legal--simple design, yet unique as no one else had that particular bike, so hi-bird does have the capability to produce 'their' own designs, it seems).
The fact that they have EPA/DOT for the US is a big step forward as the US market had become quite stale lately, and this company is showing a big step forward with unique designs.
I am being optimistic, but since they are supposed to be at the Indianapolis show next month, we can wait and see if they put out what they are showing! :goodtime:
30 HP and a 12:1 compression ratio?!?!?! :eekers:
5 gallon tank on the dual sport??? :eekers::eekers::eekers:
Apply large pinch of salt with those specs for sure!
I am planning to attend the Indy show so i they are there we'll see!
:thumbsup:
CC
So, you got in? :mwink: :naughty: :riding:Quote:
Originally Posted by CrazyCarl
I haven't heard from the Asiawing dude so will ahve to write him myself in a short while. Tickets are only 9 bucks so I figure I'll just splurge. :lol8:
I wonder if it would be cheaper to fly or drive? Hmmm...
CC
Carl, check out the chopper while you are there--it looks like a promising, and hopefully lower cost alternative, to the Raptor/Johhny Pag chopper, and searching around their site, it looks like it is in production (and dealer samples are available, in the US). Maybe they will "unveil" that Harley-like-bike there, too! It looks good animated...
Will do my best. As Forchetto mentioned, it does look a little photoshopy though! :icon10:
CC
That time of year, riding is out :eekers:Quote:
Originally Posted by CrazyCarl
I wonder what is the significance of Indianapolis in February for a premier motorcycle show? :confused1:
Well the show is at the end of Feb and runs into March 1. I think they try to get the show done early so people can prepare their pocketbooks for the annual spring emptying. :mwink:
CC
The 'other' chopper in red--can only cross my fingers that the Harley-sorta-one is there!! :thumbsup:Quote:
Originally Posted by CrazyCarl
Makes sense for the timing--just not the location!Quote:
Originally Posted by CrazyCarl
Well before Detroit, Indianapolis was considered to be the center of the American auto industry. I guess it's just a tradition thing... also it may be less expensive to run it there than other places like LA or NY.Quote:
Originally Posted by culcune
You're can't stay at even a crappy hotel in NY for less than 250 bucks a night. :eek2: I just about had a heart attack when I had to go to my friends wedding in Long Island for two nights!
CC
I'm not talking about the city reasoning, but the weather. I wouldn't want to go to New York in the winter, hell in the summer--for anything, now that I think about it! :lol8:
It's just that Phoenix would make a much better place for the show, and it's not because I happen to live 3 hours away....:mwink:
(ok, it is)
OK, back to topic for me...just looked at the photos of the dual sport (duh, there is an album there) and this bike looks great. Not sure if it will have anywhere near 30 hp, but judging from the container-load or so of their "old" GY250 that several people bought and reported on chinariders last year, this one should be stout enough even if they just throw any old Zongshen single in it. The complaint from the owners of their old 250 was the gas tank size being too small, and if this is really going to have a 5 gallon, that should alleviate the 1.6 gallon tank that their old bike had. However, all reported great quality, and one guy even rode cross-country on one!
http://www.chinariders.net/modules.p...ewtopic&t=6356
I guess that this brand is new to most members who don't reside in the US, or aren't members of chinariders, as I remember the ? from Carl when he lived in China when I asked about the Hi-Bird brand several months ago.
They are fairly established, at least in the US, and their products are somewhat proven here. They are known as fairly solid-for-the-price bikes with their 250 sport quad able to be bought for under $1k US (at least several months ago), and their 250 GY was one of the first widely available 250's in the US, and could be bought and shipped to your home for under $1300 US, and since it was DOT legal could be registered in 49 states (Californians need not apply :lol8:) or at least most of them from what I remember.
They will be worth consideration for anyone who can get hold of them and are looking into Chinese bikes.
Where is the nearest motorcycle show to you?
CC
I know that Phoenix has some, but they aren't THE show.
Got any dealer contact info for Hi-Bird in the US?
CC
I cc'd you to an email I mailed the US contact...
Got that and thanks. If you have any DEALERSHIP info for the US or Canada (as in places in the US or Canada one can actually buy a Hi-Bird), I'll put up a separate section in "Manufacturers" forum for Hi-Bird.
CC
Hi-Bird never really had a dealer network, but rather two mail-order dealers who may or might not have been one in the same-- vbikeusa and anamcycles were/are still (:confused1:) the dealers. I know they were trying to establish a network, but didn't seem to get around to it,and the old hbmusa.us site was left alone and never updated. Komoto-Motors was another Hi-bird offshoot brand that had its own site and was trying to find dealers, too. In fact, the 250GY Hi-bird came as either a Hi-Bird branded bike (standard forks/drum rear brake) or a Komoto-Motor branded bike for $100US more that had upside-down forks and a rear disk brake (like how Chevy trucks are with GMC trucks as the slightly "upscale" versions).Quote:
Originally Posted by CrazyCarl
It seems that they might now have a better lineup to establish a dealer network, but as far as I know, there are probably very few existing "brick and mortar" Hi-Bird dealers, if any. I don't think they ever had, or now have enough product for a stand alone dealership. I personally would like to see, at least one day, a Shineray, Hi-Bird, and Asiawing dealership if these bikes are really as stout as they seem to be.
They have up-dated their web site and now the power claims for the dual-sport have been reduced to 18 bhp, with a note saying that "30 bhp engine available":
http://www.hbmoto.com/Products_view.asp?id=64
The "5 gallon tank" also looks suspect, in US gallons would be 19 liters, UK gallons 22,7 liters...if they're right, they've found a way of concealing that bulk very well.
30hp was a little optimistic :eekers:
forchetto, here is the alibaba link if you hadn't found it already; I wonder if the chopper has a different exhaust for Europe? :confused1:
http://chinaatv.en.alibaba.com//index.html
Not this year. The dates for this year's show are Feb 13-17. I'm registered to attend but waiting to see if I'll actually go.
Regds,
Jim
www.bmwsidecar.com
Quote:
Originally Posted by CrazyCarl
17hp@ 8000rpm (12.5KW) that's what the stats say now on their site??!!
Must of been a typo.
The picture has wheels that don't even look round!
It's amazing what the Chinese can produce nowadays :lol8:Quote:
Originally Posted by ZMC888