250cc options in China.

[euphonius]

Dear Dewsnap,

Interesting news, and nice find!

If this can be confirmed, it's definitely worth its own thread! It would signal a really major development if one of the Japanese majors finally raised its China game above farmer bikes, and that would add a fifth player to the roster of international brands in China (the others being H-D, BMW, Ducati and Benelli). And if Suzuki jumped in, surely Kawasaki, Honda and Yamaha would have to follow. Isn't that how Japan works?

(Not that these would be any more affordable than the bimmers, ducs and hardleys, as they'd also face massive import duties. I cannot see the Japanese building big bikes in their China JVs.)

Are you saying that Pubei Lu is setting themselves up as an official dealer for imported Suzukis?

cheers!

[dewsnap]

Wrangler is the man to talk to about the Suzuki's big bores. He's had dialogue with the guys at Pubei Lu and i think he's pretty clued up. I was in the store with him over the weeked and they were going through the Suzuki catalogue and it seems there's an impressive range of bikes coming to China. We were saying that if the Suzuki's really become available then it's only a matter of time until the Honda's and Kawasaki's follow suit. The anticipated prices of the Suzuki's are ridiculous but with fiercer competiton hopefully prices will become more competitive and realistic. I'm also hoping this new development is an indication that Shanghai isn't going to ban motorcycles outright. But who knows?

I'm hoping Wranger can chime in and perhaps start a new thread with more detail.