Slabo,
The 200GY "family" of bikes are all based on a common frame, engine and swing-arm. After many hours of tinkering with my old QM200 dual-sport and my new QM250 motard, I'm fairly confident that almost everything can be swapped between bikes. Using a modular manufacturing approach helps QingQi reduce cost and parts inventory. This flexibility is both a blessing and a curse. Although it gives you great options for customization, it has created a huge amount of confusion for the consumer as we constantly see different variations of the same thing from country to country. Most Chinese motorcycles are being refined by the importers, and
they are the ones who decide on the component selection. What we often find on the dealership floor in China is the "worst case scenario" of how that company can make the bike. Generally you are going to see the lowest end components on the bikes found in China shops.
Originally, the QM200 used a drum brake on the rear wheel. When QQ decided to move to a disc design, they greatly improved the rear hub. It doesn't matter if we're talking dual-sport or motard, both models can be found with the old and new design.
http://www.contactdi.com/2009/qm/QM0052.jpg
http://www.contactdi.com/2009/qm/QM0051.jpg
http://www.contactdi.com/2009/qm/QM0049.jpg
http://www.contactdi.com/2009/qm/QM0050.jpg
In the rear, the dual-sport uses an 18" X 1.85" rim and the motard has a 17" X 3.5" rim. Up front, the dual-sport uses a 21" X 1.60" rim and the motard has a 17" X 2.5" rim.
CAUTION: If you're going to purchase replacement parts, or try to swap between 17/18/21 inch wheels, be very clear about which version of rear hub you have/need. It ain't gonna do you much good buying a 17" wheel with disc brake and 520 sprocket if you have an old dual-sport with drum brake and 428 chain :eek2: .
Moving up to the front end, we have another issue that requires some clarification, the forks. When I saw the QM200 motard with upside down forks, I couldn't understand why QQ didn't do the same with the dual-sport. I though the length or geometry might be different, but eventually I stumbled on a few pictures showing dual-sport models
with the upside down forks. You will almost never see one, but it is available. As far as I know, all motard models came with the upside down forks and only a handful of dual-sports can be found with the upgraded front end.
http://www.contactdi.com/2009/qm/QM0055.jpg
The rest of the differences, as CC mentioned, are mostly cosmetic. The motard has lower handlebars, the dualsport comes with a rear rack (usually), headlight design can vary based on which front forks are on the bike etc etc.
OK... so what about the price issue? I can't figure out the price differences either. At the component level, the price
difference for the forks is about 750 Yuan, the improved hub with disc brake is around 300 Yuan, street tires add maybe another 200 Yuan to the cost. All together, it's only 1250 Yuan extra cost for the improved parts (based on general pricing from TaoBao). So I can't see why your local dealer can't get you the "improved version" of the dual-sport for around 13,000.
I can try to inquire at QingQi about getting hold of one of these, but it usually takes a few days to get a reply..... and then a few more days to actually get the correct answer :rolleyes1:
Cheers!
ChinaV