Chinese make? Honda CB190R? Benelli BN250? KTM Duke 200?

So it is like this. I have a Chinese electric motorcycle now but I want to get out of town when I have a few days off. In the states I ride a Triumph Speedmaster. Big heavy and slow.

I was looking at the CB190R because it is so cheap (14800 to 16800) and a little more umf then the slightly smaller 150cc bikes. After reading the forums, everyone keeps mentioning how it may still be to weak for travel.

So I looked at the Benelli 250bn but I have a friend that has a 300 and he has so much trouble keeping it running. I see about as many good reviews as I see bad and the parts seems oddly expensive.

So now I am looking at the KTM Duke200. It is a little more expensive then I hoped at 30000 but it seems like a great bike from what I have read. Anyone know anything about this bike? Parts?

I have considered another Chinese bike but they all seem to heavy when comparing it to HP. I have very little to choose from here in Changchun and very little exp with them also.

My biggest necessity is that the bike is as light as possible. I will have to push the bike every day up a ramp into my building. Security wont let me ride it up. It also needs to be powerful enough to move a 220 pound fat guy.

Any thoughts on the subject? I am a novice rider so any input is appreciated.

The Duke 200
Attachment 18134


The Honda CB190R
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The Benelli BN250
Attachment 18136

All I know about the KTM is that it's actually Bajaj and is made in India.

For Benelli bj250, you would expect a powerful 250 engine (comparable to Honda CBR250rr), liquid cool and EFI, light and nibble, good for big buy. I'm 1.78 meter average tall, it has comfortable seat. Service parts are relatively cheap.
The weak points: 1) Tyre is less than average. 2) Brake power is not good enough

TD

The Duke 200 and 390's are assembled by CFMoto, Hangzhou. The units are imported from India as CKD kits.
The Duke 390 is really the bike you need out of the two models. Very good power to weight ratio. Very well balanced bike/package. It's just a shame that the local PRC MSRP is a real premium on the MSRP for the same bike in India. But then you aint in India, so that's the reality. At the Duke 390 price point (~50K) then other makes and models can start to come into play. Even the Duke 200's MRSP price point starts to open up some possibilities...

You may want to browse the for sale section on this forum... there's a few options for some good used stock. Not to take you of topic too much.

:naughty:

I agree with Bikerdoc, the KTM 390 is the best bike for China. However reading between the lines your budget is about 20,000, max, not 50,000.

The Benelli will be the most fun and powerful bike, but the Honda despite being a tad underpowered and boring will be easily be the easiest to sell on, most refined and most reliable.

Buy the Honda with your brain, the Benelli with your heart. Honda will be easily the best for a novice rider.

For that budget I would go for a used Benelli BJ600 with a trusted history.
You can find a bike like this for about 30k with 5k km on it.
I know a certain number of guys in BJ riding it and never heard about big troubles.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by ZMC888

I agree with Bikerdoc, the KTM 390 is the best bike for China...

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Please help a noob understand why this is the best bike for China.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Mot

Please help a noob understand why this is the best bike for China.

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Why? KTM Duke 390 is the bike I always wanted for touring China.
A few ideas, but not complete;
-based on lightweight dirt bike technology with decent ground clearance so can handle itself when the Chinese roads get rough or are under construction which is very often.
-single cylinder engine won't befuddle Chinese mechanics, fuel efficient and reliable
-Light and nimble
-Decent brakes (absolute lifesaver in China)
-Exciting enough that when a rider becomes experienced you can keep the bike, but small enough not to scare a new rider, or at least someone who is familiar with a 125cc single like a cbf or ybr 125 should be able adapt to it quickly. So no need to buy and sell bikes to upgrade.
-Quality brand, good resale.
-Not hard on the eyes.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Mot

Please help a noob understand why this is the best bike for China.

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ZMC888 makes some good points IMHO.

But to clarify my statement, The statement I wrote should be read in the context of the reply to the original question to which it was written and to which I was replying. Out of the Duke 200 and the 390, then the latter is IMO the better of the two- bikes for PRC. While the Duke 390 is a worthy bike for all the reasons ZMC888 has alluded to - it may not tick all the boxes for all riders.

YMMV

I understand where you guys are coming from. If I was just blasting around solo and riding semi-local, I would buy it in a heartbeat. But that itty bity fuel tank and pillion seat make it a one trick pony. It so frustrating, because in my mind neither of those compromises were necessary.

Well it's made in India and assembled in China, which is scary. Also expensive compared with a quality Japanese 250 from Thailand, or the price tag for the same bike internationally. I find that the price is too much in China compared with the price of £4,500 including sales tax of 20% in the UK. In my view the the bike should be 40,000 yuan, so that's simply why I'd never buy it in China.

Wouldn't worry much about the fuel tank size, 11 litres goes for miles and China has some of the most frequent service stations in the world.