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  1. #1 What's up with Hi-Bird? 
    Senior C-Moto Guru culcune's Avatar
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    I am directing this more to the Chinese-based members. What is the Hi-Bird story? They became well known in the US (and Canada?) around 1.5 years ago with their virtual clone (as far as shape and plastics) of the Lifan GY-2, right down to 163 FML engine.

    They buzzed around Ebay as the poster boy for the discount bike along with some of the models of Shineray.

    About a year or so ago, they introduced one of the first Chinese 250cc GY's available for a decent price.

    The last few months, the price went down, and their 250 enduro has been selling like hotcakes here.

    Going to their site, they show several EPA models, including a slick-looking chopper powered by a 250 V-Twin Zongshen powerplant.

    My question; is this company predominantly set up as an exporter, or are people riding them in China? What is their story? They seem to have some capital backing them up, and far more EPA certified machines than Lifan--and far more interesting to boot!
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  2. #2  
    C-Moto Not-so-Noob
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    Hey, culcune!

    You're EVERYWHERE, dude!

    hahahhahhahaha!
    Nuff said!

    olds_cool63

    DON'T BE A SQUIDIOT!
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  3. #3  
    Administrator-tron CrazyCarl's Avatar
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    Culcune,

    We'll look into it. In the meantime, could you post some links to Hi-Birds sites?

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  4. #4  
    Senior C-Moto Guru culcune's Avatar
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    http://chinaatv.en.alibaba.com/

    http://hbmusa.us/

    www.komoto-motors.com

    http://www.hi-bird.com.cn

    Try these sites...they do show up on alot of the business to business sites
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  5. #5  
    Administrator-tron CrazyCarl's Avatar
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    Hi-Bird does seem to be their own manufacturer and claim to be in the top ten of China so they aren't an assembly company. Odd that looking at some industry info, they don't even rank in the top 15 exporters. They do seem to offer a full range of products worth looking at including ATV's and a pretty mean looking V-Twin chopper I'll show on a different post.

    It seems funny that for such a large manufacturer, I've almost never seen or heard anyone talk about the Hi-Birds. I also don't think I've seen any dealers but then I may need to go back and look more carefully.

    Would be good to get some first-person Hi-Bird user experiences on here to help fill in some gaps.

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  6. #6  
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    According to a Feb 2008 story in China Economic Net, the ten largest Chinese motorcycle manufacturers are Grand River Group, Loncin, Chongqing Jianshe Yamaha Motor Co., Ltd., Lifan Group, China Jialing Group, Zongshen Industrial Group, Qianjiang Motorcycle Group, Luoyang Northern Enterprises Group Co., Ltd., Sundiro Honda Motorcycle Co., Ltd. and Guangzhou Motor Group. They said these manufacturers accounted for ~60% of the 25 million units produced in China in 2007.

    Let's say the remaining 40% - that's 10,000,000 units - of the production is shared by 90 other manufacturers and assembly houses. To put this in prespective: that would mean on average each of these "small" producers build more motorcycles each year than BMW, or more than Triumph, Ducati and Moto Guzzi combined.

    So it's possible that a Chinese motorcycle manufacturer could have it going on and still not rise out of the noise and confusion of the Chinese market place.

    Hi-Bird in the USA seems to have been making a fair amount of noise in the world of ATVs for a while. Of course, that impression and $5 will get you a cup of coffee at Starbucks.

    Scoot safe,
    tcs
    Last edited by PresterJohn; 05-24-2008 at 04:42 PM.
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  7. #7  
    Senior C-Moto Guru culcune's Avatar
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    Yes, and on Chinariders.net, several members have recently purchased the 250cc enduros to great reviews. Many, many people have bought them in the past few months, so much so that the few online dealers for them have run out! (vbikes blamed it on the earthquake, as far as getting new shipments in)
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  8. #8  
    Administrator-tron CrazyCarl's Avatar
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    PresterJ,

    Is coffee that cheap at Starbucks now? :wink:

    Culcune,

    That's some very good news! Glad to hear people are satisfied with the first run of 250's. I think the second generation of 250's to come out will be even more exciting, powerful and reliable. Price may be a little higher though but the quality should be there.

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  9. #9  
    Senior C-Moto Guru culcune's Avatar
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    I am pushing Vbikes to bring the Hi-Bird GY-6 with both the 200cc and 250cc engine. According to one of the guys at HB who I have been corresponding with, the GY-6 with both the 200 and 250 engines are EPA/DOT legal.

    I was very envious of Jim's Lifan GY-6 when he got it (only in Canada--no American Lifan GY-6 in sight), but Hi-Bird's GY-6 looks nearly identical, and is available now for our market. Sure it has a goofy name, but I will still ride it with pride (maybe after removing the Hi-Bird stickers :thumbup: )!
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  10. #10  
    C-Moto Guru Jim's Avatar
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    Where do you see it on a USA dealer site for Hi-Bird? I only saw it on the China Hi-Bird site... It does look pretty much identical.
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