Just got my license, looking to buy a bike now!

Hi guys, I just finished my motorcycle course while home in the states and got my motorcycle endorsement, now i can finally have it converted to a chinese license and buy a bike!

I'm hoping to stay legit and get a 京B plated bike, however, it seems like my options are very limited, especially given i want to get something relatively small.

Currently, the only bikes i know for sure which are sold here in beijing that fit my bill are:

Kawasaki Ninja 250 (I'm not even certain they sell the new 300s here in Beijing)
KTM 390 Duke

and... that's it! I called up the Honda dealership asking about the cbr250r, but they said they don't sell small bikes and that any i see are imported illegally. Sadly, i was really hoping to buy a Honda Grom, as i'd done most of my riding on that during my course. Another bike i've been interested in, but haven't been able to find legally in Beijing is the yamaha yzf-r15 or 25.

If anyone has any tips or pointers on where I could potentially find small sports bikes in Beijing, that would be most appreciated and helpful! I'm not really the type to buy something new as i hate that initial depreciation hit motor vehicles take, but it seems like 1/100 bikes i find are legit, so i may need to buy from a dealer for once, but sadly, it seems like my options are even more limited when i try to go legit...

Any thoughts or ideas would be helpful, i don't mind chasing leads! :)



Felix

I think the KTM 390 would be a very good investment. Honestly the way some people prattle on is that big bikes equal death, but really if you like you can easily ride a 600 or 1000cc like a 125 if you are woman enough! It's just the extra weight lesser fuel economy and cumbersomeness that are the honest drawbacks.

The 390 has enough balls to keep you occupied for few years, yet is very light for its size so shouldn't cause too many problems and economy would be good and parts should be available in a relatively shorter period as the bikes are assembled in China with CFMOTO these days.

If you are determined to go small the Sundiro Honda CBF150 is a nice reliable bike, and I also think there is no need to be afraid of a Honda CB500, for the same reasons as the KTM. However I'm sure someone else could help you get a CBR250 if that's the bike you really want. But because it's a single you will probably get bored of it way before a Ninja 250.

If you are mainly commuting go for the 150 or 250, if you want to ride out of town and escape to the mountains for weekend blasts then the 500 or 390, although nothing wrong with the Ninja either.

Honestly with a new license and new to biking I would buy an Ebike and get used to the way the local drive and the traffic flows. also if you are new to biking you may drop the thing a couple times... on an ebike it won't hurt the wallet so much...

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Originally Posted by Hok

Honestly with a new license and new to biking I would buy an Ebike and get used to the way the local drive and the traffic flows. also if you are new to biking you may drop the thing a couple times... on an ebike it won't hurt the wallet so much...

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Are you sure?

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Hi guys, I just finished my motorcycle course while home in the states and got my motorcycle endorsement, now i can finally have it converted to a chinese license and buy a bike!

I'm hoping to stay legit and get a 京B plated bike, however, it seems like my options are very limited, especially given i want to get something relatively small.

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I'm reading in that he's been in Beijing for a while already and knows what he's getting into, and might already have an ebike.

Well in my experience after driving a car in China few years it was a big eye opener when changing to e-bike/moto because of the difference in behavior from the other e-bike/moto I received. the other bikes will actively avoid cars, but i found that e/bikes would just ignore other e-bike/moto riders. Also the chaos in the e-bike/moto sides are a bit more. I found if I was along on the road then e-bikers would start swarming into my lanes and riding area. Also many e-bike/motos don't drive with lights on and will drive on incoming lanes and in other directions (without lights on) if they see my single light they still stay on the incoming lane. I found in a car they don't do this.

But that's just my experience. If you have had a lot of experience motoring in China then I guess there is no problem. (mine was in Shanghai so maybe BJ is much better, I don;t know). It was just a suggestion.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Hok

Well in my experience after driving a car in China few years it was a big eye opener when changing to e-bike/moto because of the difference in behavior from the other e-bike/moto I received. the other bikes will actively avoid cars, but i found that e/bikes would just ignore other e-bike/moto riders. Also the chaos in the e-bike/moto sides are a bit more. I found if I was along on the road then e-bikers would start swarming into my lanes and riding area. Also many e-bike/motos don't drive with lights on and will drive on incoming lanes and in other directions (without lights on) if they see my single light they still stay on the incoming lane. I found in a car they don't do this.

But that's just my experience. If you have had a lot of experience motoring in China then I guess there is no problem. (mine was in Shanghai so maybe BJ is much better, I don;t know). It was just a suggestion.

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Whatever, no point in arguing over it, we don't have enough information from the original poster to be able to tell his personal transportation situation.

Hi guys, my thanks to both of your for your thoughts and advice.

To prattle on a little more about myself, i've been in and out of beijing all my life, grew up here as a kid at ISB and went home for uni, work, and am back working again. I've been driving in Beijing legally and illegally for quite some time now, and more recently have also been biking to and fro work (our office is near jinglemen-Y and i've a place at 'the place.' yea... hahahaha

i'm looking to buy the bike mostly to commute and maybe ride around the country side on the weekend, my family lives in Riviera, so it's nice and quiet out there. (the new honda dealership is right down the street!)

But yea, regarding bikes, i'm mostly looking at the KTM 390 & the Ninja 300 right now, as those're the only 2 'small' bikes i'm certain can be purchased legally here in China, the cbr250r and the small yamaha yzfs are... gray at best it seems (meaning i can probably get an out of town plate, but it prolly can't be transfered to 京B because some of the paperwork will be iffy, but that's just my guess?)

If anyone has suggestions as to where i could find a legal cbr250r, yzf-R15 or even a Honda Grom, i'd be very much obliged as those might be cheaper than the bikes i'm looking at now. I *believe* i'm a good driver / rider as i've been operating motor-vehicles for ... 10+ years now and have never been in an accident, *knocks on wood*, hopefully i'll continue that tradition with the bike. :)

Anyhow, looking forward to your guys' thoughts and opinions, feel free to let me have it, i won't take offense. and regarding the e-bike, i heard there're some crazy new bikes that put gas-owered ones to shame, but the price tags have all been north of 12,000USD, so... that sounds a little much for me as i'd just get a smart car then...



Cheers,

Felix

btw, is CFmoto the only importer of KTMs? Also, the only 'dealer' i've found for kawasakis is FHL? Is this correct?


Thanks in advanced!


Felix

also, has anyone dealt with this club? : 速度驿站机车俱乐部?




Felix

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Hok

Honestly with a new license and new to biking I would buy an Ebike and get used to the way the local drive and the traffic flows. also if you are new to biking you may drop the thing a couple times... on an ebike it won't hurt the wallet so much...

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Fair comment??? its your view but becarefull you could get yourself banned by the person who don't think your comments are "to his liking" i did ? :confused1:

Can we keep things on topic? :thumbsup:

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Originally Posted by ZMC888

Can we keep things on topic? :thumbsup:

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ok fair comment....:thumbsup:

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Originally Posted by phlxvi

Hi guys, my thanks to both of your for your thoughts and advice.

To prattle on a little more about myself, i've been in and out of beijing all my life, grew up here as a kid at ISB and went home for uni, work, and am back working again. I've been driving in Beijing legally and illegally for quite some time now, and more recently have also been biking to and fro work (our office is near jinglemen-Y and i've a place at 'the place.' yea... hahahaha

i'm looking to buy the bike mostly to commute and maybe ride around the country side on the weekend, my family lives in Riviera, so it's nice and quiet out there. (the new honda dealership is right down the street!)

But yea, regarding bikes, i'm mostly looking at the KTM 390 & the Ninja 300 right now, as those're the only 2 'small' bikes i'm certain can be purchased legally here in China, the cbr250r and the small yamaha yzfs are... gray at best it seems (meaning i can probably get an out of town plate, but it prolly can't be transfered to 京B because some of the paperwork will be iffy, but that's just my guess?)

If anyone has suggestions as to where i could find a legal cbr250r, yzf-R15 or even a Honda Grom, i'd be very much obliged as those might be cheaper than the bikes i'm looking at now. I *believe* i'm a good driver / rider as i've been operating motor-vehicles for ... 10+ years now and have never been in an accident, *knocks on wood*, hopefully i'll continue that tradition with the bike. :)

Anyhow, looking forward to your guys' thoughts and opinions, feel free to let me have it, i won't take offense. and regarding the e-bike, i heard there're some crazy new bikes that put gas-owered ones to shame, but the price tags have all been north of 12,000USD, so... that sounds a little much for me as i'd just get a smart car then...



Cheers,

Felix

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Felix, if you have been riding as long as you say you have I'd seriously suggest you get a CB500 if you like Hondas (as I do too). Don't worry about it being bigger, the resale value will stay high, and the bike will grow with your skills. I have seen a CBR250 at a dealers, he said it could be registered, but that was in my backwater 3rd tier city. I imagine CFMOTO are the only people who supply/assemble where the Duke 390 and smaller bikes, but I don't really have information on it. I suggest you just choose between a Ninja 250, the KTM 390 and the CB500. You can't go wrong with any of them IMHO, except the KTM would be better for parts, but CFMOTO are useless at supplying them under warranty.

G'Day Felix, welcome aboard the MCM craZies bus... as you are likely finding we're all pretty passionate about MC's and MCing. I think ZMC888 has offered you a pretty good bit of advice. Go for a CB500 either CBR or F. Unfortunately the better model in the CB500 range, the CB500X isn't being distributed by the Honda PRC distributor - yet. Who knows if or when this might change.

Having ridden a CB500X for ~15000km over two months (Jan & Feb '14) I can say that the CB500X is a fun, forgiving ride very suitable to the riding environment here. As usual though PRC being a logic free zone, the one model that best suits the local conditions is absent from the locally available line up IMO. TIC!

FWIW, CFMoto are the distributor for all KTM products, and the local production partner with KTM for the 200 & 390 Dukes. In terms of CFMoto warranty claims and the like, it's important to appreciate that one understands that any CFMoto products is required to be returned to the official point of sale for that product. If one bought their CFMoto MC from anything other than a "official CFMoto" dealership then this where the waters get murky. Not all MC sales/dealers are official CFMoto sanctioned dealers. This really does complicate Point of Sale warranty issues/claims. However, CFMoto aren't the only MC manufacturer that one could point a finger at over warranty issues. Ask any number of BMW MC owners with their high end, R1200GS's, R1200RT's, F800GS's et al.

FWIW one would likely not get an accurate or truely thruthful forthcoming response given the number of Beemer owners who drink the Beemer kool aid.

Now I'd like to add that if you want to simply ride round the big smoke, instead of wanting or buying a sporty lil MC, why not consider a scooter. Not a wee lad of a scoot, but something bigger - a maxi scoot. Silverblade (Benelli), Jetmax or Jetlux (CFMoto) and a host of others. If you got a big wallet then there are legal Yamaha's, Suzuki and Kymco maxi scooter options. Ideally something 250-400cc would do. 400cc IMO would be ideal. To my mind, a maxi scoot, offers many advantages over a similar sized MC. Weather protection, shopping conveyance, ease of use in stop/go traffic, blend in more to the surroundings and not stand out like a set of dogs b@11s. A 400cc maxi, even a 250 maxi, do well for weekend excursions out of the city. My preferred MC's in my fleet are my maxi's. Just a shame no manufacturer has really developed a more fitting dual purpose/ADV style maxi.. though the Honda NC700D - 750D Integra with the larger 17" wheels would likely handle rougher surfaces better than most.

Which brings me to the next point, if you plan or might plan on riding out of the city for longer excursions, further, deeper, for longer, then a more dual purpose/ADV styled ride is the way to go. Figure on 30% crap riding surfaces, and likely 10-15% of those being only suitable for a suitably styled ride.

Another point worth consideration, as touched on by ZMC888, is that any ride you buy - need to factor in part availability and costs, aside from the skills of any wrench monkey. This is where locally manufactured rides are better placed. If one buys an imported bike, then these very issues need careful consideration and analysis. That's where the locally assembled KTM/CFMoto Dukes have an advantage IMO over say, a CB250-CB500 or the like.

But, at the end of the day - it's your money... enjoy the ride.

BTW, luv the Honda Grom... saw lots of them in Thailand in Jan-Feb '14, and thought they'd make a fun platform for riding here. Sadly they aren't being distributed here officially.

Honda Grom, as modded in Thailand ...

http://i58.tinypic.com/2ilyb1g.jpg

http://i59.tinypic.com/b4yzao.jpg

http://www.asphaltandrubber.com/bike...ster-gromcati/

http://www.x-speed.co.th/

BTW, 速度驿站机车俱乐部 deals in illegal bikes. If you are at the Riveira, and looking for an "undocumented" bike, Shao's is much closer on JingMi (make a left onto JingMi, he's on the right).

A few more pictures of Honda modded in Thailand .....

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From the nice to the MAD....



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wow, i'm really excited to read all these posts, but sadly will have to wait till i get home as my iphone screen just won't cut it.

Re Lao Jia Hou from earlier, I'm definitely looking to buy a legit bike, so thanks for the clarification in what that shop deals in, much thanks for saving me the headache of finding out later!

Seems like it's the 390 Duke or Ninja 300 for me! :)

hopefully i'll get to swing by the 'dealers' over the weekend.


Cheers,
Felix

ooo, question i just thought of, are there any other authorized Kawasaki dealers asides from FHL? I know CFmoto does the KTMs.


Thanks!

Felix