Adventure Motorcycle Magazine Subscribe Now

Page 1 of 2 12 LastLast
Results 1 to 10 of 31

Hybrid View

Previous Post Previous Post   Next Post Next Post
  1. #1 What's up with Hi-Bird? 
    Senior C-Moto Guru culcune's Avatar
    Join Date
    Apr 2008
    Location
    Yuma, Arizona (the 3:10 left me here)
    Posts
    1,624
    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!
    Reply With Quote  
     

  2. #2  
    C-Moto Not-so-Noob
    Join Date
    May 2008
    Posts
    19
    Hey, culcune!

    You're EVERYWHERE, dude!

    hahahhahhahaha!
    Nuff said!

    olds_cool63

    DON'T BE A SQUIDIOT!
    Reply With Quote  
     

  3. #3  
    Administrator-tron CrazyCarl's Avatar
    Join Date
    Apr 2008
    Location
    NoVA
    Posts
    2,540
    Culcune,

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

    CC
    ---------------------------------------------------
    Subscribe to the hippest, most happeneing Adventure Motorcycle Magazine around!
    Adventure Motorcycle Dual Sport News Magazine

    Help support MCM!! Buy "The Return - Riding Western China" DVD! -

    http://www.motocyclops.com/buydvd/

    Personal China travel info, photo and video site:

    http://www.carlparker.com

    Reply With Quote  
     

  4. #4  
    Senior C-Moto Guru culcune's Avatar
    Join Date
    Apr 2008
    Location
    Yuma, Arizona (the 3:10 left me here)
    Posts
    1,624
    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
    Reply With Quote  
     

  5. #5  
    Administrator-tron CrazyCarl's Avatar
    Join Date
    Apr 2008
    Location
    NoVA
    Posts
    2,540
    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.

    CC
    ---------------------------------------------------
    Subscribe to the hippest, most happeneing Adventure Motorcycle Magazine around!
    Adventure Motorcycle Dual Sport News Magazine

    Help support MCM!! Buy "The Return - Riding Western China" DVD! -

    http://www.motocyclops.com/buydvd/

    Personal China travel info, photo and video site:

    http://www.carlparker.com

    Reply With Quote  
     

  6. #6  
    C-Moto Not-so-Noob
    Join Date
    Apr 2008
    Posts
    32
    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.
    Reply With Quote  
     

  7. #7  
    Senior C-Moto Guru culcune's Avatar
    Join Date
    Apr 2008
    Location
    Yuma, Arizona (the 3:10 left me here)
    Posts
    1,624
    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)
    Reply With Quote  
     

  8. #8  
    C-Moto Noob
    Join Date
    Jan 2009
    Location
    777777
    Posts
    3
    never heard about "Hi-bird" in chongqing.



    Quote Originally Posted by culcune View Post
    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!
    Reply With Quote  
     

  9. #9  
    Senior C-Moto Guru culcune's Avatar
    Join Date
    Apr 2008
    Location
    Yuma, Arizona (the 3:10 left me here)
    Posts
    1,624
    Quote Originally Posted by leehow1024 View Post
    never heard about "Hi-bird" in chongqing.
    That was what was mentioned several months ago when I had originally posted this. They were very successful with their 250 GY enduro several months ago in the US, as well as with their 250 standard street bike, and their low-cost ATV's. Their products are known for being low-cost and decent quality (for being Chinese as opposed to the japanese products) here in the US. Now they have a new site and new products coming to North America and look very promising, while those of you in China have never even heard of them!
    Reply With Quote  
     

  10. #10  
    Senior C-Moto Guru culcune's Avatar
    Join Date
    Apr 2008
    Location
    Yuma, Arizona (the 3:10 left me here)
    Posts
    1,624
    Here is their alibaba site, as their hbmoto site seems to be more directed to North America/US. Don't know if this helps you find them easier...

    http://chinaatv.en.alibaba.com
    Reply With Quote  
     

Page 1 of 2 12 LastLast
Bookmarks
Bookmarks
Posting Permissions
  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •