ASIAWING Spark 500 (prototype)

[Nuhaus]

You can get the same information off of Taobao. Bikes for sale over the internet, send us your money and we'll mail it to you. I have no idea what the legitimacy of such offers is however. A shame it is so bloody difficult to buy a bike in a country where they are manufactured.

http://216.239.59.132/translate_c?hl...6ndQtmBXbN1CFA

[Niels Thomsen]

Think one should stay away from that company anyway, Their adress and other things about their products looked a bit dodgy.
http://resources.alibaba.com/topic/5...RT_LIMITED.htm

[CrazyCarl]

Niels,

Well they must have some kind of legit outfit and you could probably work with them if you contact the correct people.

Not sure who you tried to call but a good start would be their official web page "contact" list.

http://www.asiawing.com/english/direct_view.asp?c_id=7

Also, looks like they have an updated Anime headlight section...




Paz,
CC

[kingmarty45]

the headlights look cool, but do they actually throw any decent lumens?

[Niels Thomsen]

Well I tried to contact the factory on their email on that link, at first they informed me that it was not EEC Approved yet, but they didn't reply to my following mails. I found some other suppliers on Alibaba though.

[CrazyCarl]

Probably not, but one nice thing about the lens type lamps is they're better to use HID systems with since a properly focused lens system should reduce scatter and blinding other drivers or pissing off oncoming cops.

CC

the headlights look cool, but do they actually throw any decent lumens?

[gpPeej]

Niels, I'm curious about the %180 price mark-up you talked about...is that an import tax/tariff? And wouldn't you have to pay that on any bike you bring in and register? If so, is your goal to find a cheaper bike that will cost less befor the mark-up? Or are you going to import hundredsof units and start a business.

Have you looked at the Highland bikes, a Swedish/Chinese joint venture? They may just be vapor-ware, I don't know.

PJ

[Niels Thomsen]

Yes it is an import tax on cars and bikes; it is not exactly 180% of the whole retail prize. The newest updated tariff calculation from the Danish Tax administration is like this 105% of the value up to 79000 DKKR (15154$) and 180% of the value over this amount.

Meaning that for example a Suzuki SV 650 cost 15.340 $ on the Danish market in 2009.

But this is also why the Chinese bikes are sold at nearly the same prize in Denmark than abroad, the retail prize is simply so low that the taxation system does not impose any large amount. The Asia wing Spark would "only" get 1726 $ added on.

I know the Swedish Highland bike, http://www.highland.se/ It cannot be sold here, and the prize would be astronomic.

Anyway I am getting out of this plan of importing Asia wing. I just found out yesterday that a Danish company is planning to get them in. They also said that there, at the moment were some technical problems, which they wanted to be solved before it is getting on the Danish marked. But I might be inclined to buy one once it gets here.

There is of course a lot of debate about our tax-system, but it is a way to finance our well-fare state, and if they abandon it, they would just impose high road prizing,
Regards
Niels

[gpPeej]

OK, thanks for the info. I like to consider the business plans of other places and people. I'm somewhat familiar with the Danish system, as one of my good friends here in Milwaukee is Danish born.

Would the taxing scheme be the same if you became the "manufacturer"? One business model I've seen is to import the parts, and assemble them on your soil - sometimes this can avoid taxes and tariffs. Frames come from one place, engines from another, and assembly is relatively simple. IF this is an option you could create jobs AND still provide bargain bikes. TNG in the US uses this model.

Take your time. I'm sure you've already figured out the China has many assemblers...hundreds. Focus on the top ten or twenty. Do you search for Manufacturers on Alibaba dot com?

PJ

[Niels Thomsen]

Well yes, the tax would still be imposed if one assembles the bikes within the country.

Believe me, people have tried all kinds of tricks, including getting a rusty HD from the forties or fifties from the states, or the EU and then pay the tax, which is very low for old-timers. After this they rebuild the bikes, so they become virtually new. If this is discovered by the police and the Tax administration, they are facing a very big fine.

And of course there is the well-known Danish scam to buy a Bike or car from another country and ride around with the foreign number plate. If discovered, and every year it happens, the person faces the tax and a fine which is the same as the tax. So they end up paying the tax two times, quite expensive bill, if one rides a HD Fat Boy....

One of the reasons why this system operates is the fact that there are no car or motorcycle factories on Danish soil, so the different governments wanna get their share on the excessive import.