Zongshen Cyclone 500 cc prototype

[Niels Thomsen]

Zongshen presented this single 500 cc Cyclone model at the 2009 CIMA Motor Show.
http://www.othermakes.net/

http://www.motorcycle.com/events/200...t-1-88775.html

[forchetto]

I want one...

The second link has some interesting facts and figures. Like this:

What's Happening in China?
1. There are more than 130 motorcycle manufacturers in China

2. Chongqing-based manufacturers produced 10 million units

3. Twenty-three Chinese OEMs each produce more than 100,000 units annually

4. Twelve manufacturers produce more than 500,000 units a year

5. At least five manufacturers produce more than 1 million units a year (four are based in Chongqing)

6. China produced 27.5 million bikes in 2008, nearly half the world's production

7. China has passed Japan as the number-one motorcycle producer

8. More than 15 million motorcycles are sold annually in China

9. Less than 20% of China's production goes to foreign markets

10. Chinese bikes sold in export markets like America are often marketed by independent companies operating under different names

[CrazyCarl]

Niels,

That's great and thanks for the links! I was wondering if anyone was going to cover the 09 CIMA... it looks MUCH more developed this year than last year.

CC

[forchetto]

On the second link there's also another link to a roadtest of the Qlink XF200. They're fairly impressed, although there are some comments like:

"Ride quality from the budget suspension was surprisingly supple without being too mushy."

If you want to see and FEEL a "budget" suspension try the new Triumph Bonneville SE. Utter crap. From a 100 year-old firm producing highly praised modern classics...

[CrazyCarl]

I think it's only another couple years before the western market start to take Chinese bikes a little more seriously. IF it's true, that's really not bad. The Japanese took at least 10-20 years before people stopped saying the same things about them as they now say about Chinese bikes. Korean manufacturers are in the same boat.

I'd REALLY like to know what kind of royalties (or whatever) the Japanese companies get from licensing their designs to foreign firms.

CC

[Niels Thomsen]

Just found this news about the Cyclone from a french site.
http://www.moto-infos.com/actualite-...0-cyclone.html

The text says that the design is made by italians and that it might share it the engine with a ATV model.

But I don't know if Zongshen ever have made an ATV with 500 cc? There is no such on their homepage.

They also say that Zongshen is certainly going to present the model in Salon Eicma in Milan in november.