Avialable Chinese Bikes vs actually registerable!

We seem to have a problem in China, some of the bikes being made in China these days seem pretty exotic compared to what was being made a few years ago, but in terms of availability we have some issues. It seems manufacturers want to crow about their new models, but when it gets serious they can't really register the bikes, especially bigger ones (with the exception of Jialing). Some bikes don't even exist other than being a a photoshop concept! :lol8:

Does anyone know if this is because the government is fussy about what bikes they allow on to the Chinese market, or because the companies are lazy and don't want to spend money on the Chinese market when they could be shipping bikes overseas?

So maybe it's time for us riders in China to largely forget about who makes what, and compile a list of what bikes can actually be tagged!

Best Chinese made bikes I've ever actually seen with real tags:

Yamaha YBR250
Jialing JH600
Honda CBF150
Zongshen 250
Qingqi 200
Regal Raptor 250cc cruisers and CB250 style. (not water cooled)
CJ750

Any others?

As with the majority of long term residents the last thing I want to do is ride an unregistered bike, if I was going to do that I'd buy a big Jap bike without plates! Not a Chinese bike, which is why I worry, I genuinely like Shineray and Asiawing, but take delivery of one and go to the Gong An to get it registered and be told 'sorry that bike cannot be registered in China' would not be very fun.

I was told this motorcycle is available from QingQi in China, but you have to order it from the factory. It can be delivered to your home or a local QingQi dealer for purchase. This is the only model using the new 250 engine that has been approved for domestic sale. I am still trying to verify if, and when, the 250 dualsport/motard versions will be certified.

http://www.contactdi.com/2009/qm/QM0002.jpg

Quote:

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Originally Posted by ZMC888

Does anyone know if this is because the government is fussy about what bikes they allow on to the Chinese market, or because the companies are lazy and don't want to spend money on the Chinese market when they could be shipping bikes overseas?

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After talking with the folks at QingQi, I think it's mostly related to sales volume. They develop these bikes for export and don't really feel the domestic market has strong enough demand for so many models. It sounded to me like the process for certifying the bikes for local sale is very time consuming, but I couldn't really get any numbers regarding price.

Cheers!
ChinaV

So the development of this 250cc road bike is complete? I notice the front end is prettier since it was a concept. Have any of the stats changed?

I'll go and find out the price at a local dealers. Bearing in mind that it's considerably heavier than the YBR 250 and less fuel efficient, I hope they don't think a price around 20,000 is reasonable, they'd need to sell at about 10,000-12,000 to tempt anyone away from a YBR, or away from the other 250cc competition.

As far as I can tell, stats are the same. I was given some brochures, need to scan them sometime.

I don't think you will have much luck at the dealer, probably just a blank stare :confused1: . I'm trying to work out exactly who to contact at QingQi to arrange a domestic purchase, hopefully we will know later today.

Price wise, I'm guessing above 15K under 20K, and I agree that's a bit high. What is the actual out the door cost for the YBR250?

Cheers
ChinaV

YBR250 price, it varies obviously, and having a foreign face doesn't help. I've asked at two dealerships locally and both said 23,000 RMB. Also another guy asked down in Jiangsu and he was told 23,000 RMB also.

Also the dealers are networked together, either that or all the dealerships are owned by one guy in this area.

So I'll get nasty and send in a Chinese family member to bully the price down, also talk to the factory possibly if I decide to buy one.

I suspect if you were Chinese you would probably get the bike for 19,000 -22,000 RMB registered after hard fought negotiations! :lol8:

I have a Honda Rebel 250 registered in China. Apparently these were available in China at some point. Mine is a 1996 (on another post I said it was a 2003, however, I have since had the registration explained to me). I can't find a single detail different from a Regal Raptor, except mine has spoked wheels instead of fake comstars.

Well the Honda Rebel is really a Honda, and the others are copies, made with less care and lower quality components, rest assured yours will resist the passage of time in better shape!

I was thinking about Chinese made, your Honda sounds like it was imported from Japan in the 90's.

My Honda has a mix of Honda labelled and Jialing labelled parts. How many Jialing labelled parts are replacements I don't know.

Wow, strange! :confused1: Maybe Honda had a joint venture with Jialing a very long time ago.

Still does. Jialing Honda 125's are pretty common around here.

Ahh, OK that makes sense, so now Jialing make loads of Honda generators and lawnmowers. http://www.jlhonda.com/

I'd only seen Jialing 125s with Honda stickers on before, thought they were paying kudos! :lol8:

Saw another Rebel here the other day. I have seen enough of them that I am fairly sure they were either produced in China, imported or some combo. I doubt they are anymore, I would guess they would have been 15,000 rmb+ and couldn't compete with the copies.

I have seen enough Suzuki GN250's and GZ250's that they must be made somewhere here too and available.

I have seen some Yamaha Virago 250 copies around made by Lifan. There is also a 90 degree oil cooled (haven't had a good look at it) Chinese produced V-twin 250 (looks like an old VTR engine in a cruiser chassis) I see around very occasionally. You can buy them new at the Shanghai moto market starting at 11,000 RMB.

I've noticed the larger multicylinder Chinese bikes tend to be cruisers. I dislike cruisers but have to admit that the cruiser riding position allows a 6'2" laowai to ride semi comfortably a small bike.

We have a Honda and a Suzuki dealership up here.They only sell the 125 road bikes though. I wondered if they where made here or in Japan?

I asked the Honda dealer if he could get other models of Honda's like a trail bike.

He said they don't make any.:eekers:

Maybe something was lost in translation on that one.

Yeah don't make them! Jeez, I hear BS like that from Chinese mechanics and dealerships. If I go to the average dealership my knowledge of what the company makes is FAR superior to the workers on the shop floor!

All the bikes are made in China by the joint venture companies, but you do occasionally see the odd Jap imported scooter for twice as much.

At the Shanghai moto market there is a dealer selling Chinese copies of these. http://www.bikez.com/pictures/honda/...ermission..jpg

The pic is of a Honda Magna 250. If the Chinese copies have the same specs, it makes 29 hp, pretty damn good for a 250. Liquid cooled as well.

Oh yeah, seen that! Yhe copy bike is a Kymco, called Venox 250 AFI. It's powerful because it's fuel injected!

http://www.kymco.com/upload/CTConten.../Venox_big.jpg

Actually the Kymco is from Taiwan. The ones I saw at the Moto market were mainland chinese, but the name escapes me. Carbs, 90 degree v twin and even solid wheels. Perfect copy of a Honda Magna 250.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by iamcanjim

but the name escapes me. Carbs, 90 degree v twin and even solid wheels. Perfect copy of a Honda Magna 250.

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Chunlan

I believe the tooling was transferred by Honda to Chunlan.
Chunlan is quite a large manufacturerm bikes, trucks, aircon etc.



http://www.chunlan.com/en/

Unfortunately the bikes we saw are not on that web site. They were nice looking V twins, starting at 10,000 Rmb. Would like to know more about them if anyone has experience with those particular bikes.

Going back to the original topic, i'm also looking for a bike which can be legally registered in China. I live in Shanghai so need something that can be ridden downtown problem free. I'm not a fan of cruisers or dirt bikes, i'm specifically looking for a street or sports bike. I've limited my options so far to:

Yamaha YBR250
Regal Raptor NAC25
Regal Raptor DD250G-2

I just read on this site that you can register the JH600 in Shanghai! Are there any other options for >250cc that can be registered in Shanghai? Apart from of course the Harley, BMW, Ducati route which would burn a substantial hole in my pocket.

Also, would appreciate any other options out there for the type of bike i'm interested in and details of how to get hold of one.

Is buying second hand and registering using the proper channels an option? Everything i've read on this forum seems to be about registering new bikes.

Just had my Madass 125 stolen after 3 years of riding without plates. Now want to go bigger and register properly. Already have my Chinese bike license at least!

Thanks in advance.

Just had a look at the Qinqi QM200-2D which also seems like a decent option. Any advice?

Having not ridden any of those bike, i'm not sure my advice is worth much. However the general concensus seems to be that the YBR250 is propbably the best sub-250cc bike avalable legally in china, if money is not object. Remember it costs about twice what the other bikes you listed are worth. It is apparently very reliable though, which puts it in a different class from the other bikes.

As for registering a 2nd hand bike, i guess in theory it should have been registered by the previous owner. If it was, make sure it comes with the little blue book and the big green book. If it wasn't, the previous owner will need to still have the fapiao at least, but i'm not too sure about how it would all work. Sounds like a head-ache and a half!

Nothing wrong with the QM200, based on Suzuki DR200 technology. Starting to look a little outdated compared to some of the other bikes out there.

Cheers!
ChinaV

TOE,

don't hesitate to PM me if you'd like to know more about bigger-bore registration here in shanghai, though i suppose I've pretty much shot my wad on that topic already. There are several more expats in the process of buying the JH600 right now, so we'll probably find more and more ways to skin the proverbial cat. But rest assured, it definitely is now legal to register as an expat.

cheers

Registering in downtown Shanghai? 30,000+ for the plate isn't it?

I've got a Regal Raptor DD250G, I wouldn't buy one to put 30,000 RMB of plates on! Get the YBR for that. What separates a Regal Raptor from a Honda CB250 is component quality, this is an issue. But the big is issue is the factory assembly. Regal Raptor certainly haven't got this right on their street bikes. If you are mechanically minded or have a friend who is, buy a bike and using a bucket of grease, rubber matting, torque wrenches, threadlock and oh with maybe a pressure vessel capable welder friend at hand and strip the entire bike and put it together properly. You'll also need to fix the exhaust from new.

Just want to add and remind the OP that two note-worthy considerations should include CFMoto (see their website www.cfmoto.com ) for the new Jetmax 250cc scooter. before you dismiss it, please go read my post under scooters... because the Jetmax has a top-end of 140km/h and gets up there pretty darn quickly. I'll be taking delivery of mine this coming weekend. Reading my scooter posts you'll find I've owned a few scooters including a 250cc CFMoto before, and you'll also see why I think scooters are great rides for and in China. Also CFMoto will have a 650cc road bike on sale at years end, and it'll be available both internationally and domestically. See my relevant posts on that subject... too

Ok, slightly off topic and I shall be careful because it is easy to upset folks without intending that - BUT how the hell do you corner on those scoot thing? I have ridden and fallen off a number of the original Lambrettas and Vespas in pub car parks over the years (fortunately belonging to friends and maybe a little under the weather myself at the time) and I am happy to blame that on myself not learning the art! Has design changed or was I always just leaning to far on those little wheels? Is it just a learning curve? Can you 'ruggedise' them for off road? Serious question that. Otherwise they seem to be very practical and smart machinery that I sort of want one of!

I dont' want to dis anyone's opinion but just say my opinion. At least for me looks really doesn't matter except (unfortunately) when I am buying a bike. But after I have got used to the bike it is a workhorse for me, whose purpose is to get me anywhere and back without issues. By then the less it have ding dong the better it looks and I could not care less does it look old or new. If the bike looks clean and not broken and if there is not stupid stuff to be seen, then it looks damn good and I am very happy to mount on it.

For BEIJING riders ... a city that is not exactly motorcycle-registration-friendly ...

Just yesterday, I have managed to get the FULL list of ALL motorcycles that are currently permissible for registration in Beijing. It is several MS Word documents that I have zipped into a file (about 500K), and it is in Chinese. If you send me a PM with your email address, I will send it to you. It is rather confusing, but you might find your proposed bike on it (or not). I think MS Word has a search function.

Is there some way I can put the zip file on this website?

NOTE: this is ONLY for Beijing. Each city, province, whatever, has different rules. Good luck trying to figure them out.

I may buy a JH600 but I wanted to make sure that it was able to be registered in this city with a "京A" plate. In fact, it is, although the sidecar version (JH600B) is not.

The Galaxy XTR250 was another consideration of mine, but it is not on the Beijing list. I spoke with the factory and it said it could arrange an adjacent province's registration (where it is approved)

Now, here's a Beijing kicker ... there is a new law in Beijing effective July 1, 2010. All new registrations will only be permitted for bikes that meet the new Level 3 emissions criterion. I have no idea what chaos this will create, but TIC (This Is China).

You cannot imagine what a hassle it was getting these lists.

If I was going for the cheaper option, which would be a better option QM200 or Regal Raptor DD250G? and why?

Also, is the JH600 the ONLY big Chinese bike that you can register?