GingerAdam's TransAsia Adventure!!!

[GingerAdam]

Yeah, your pictures are good though!

Well I went down to the South West market and the QuinQi and Yamaha shops are right next door to each other so I looked at both, and a random friendly guy then took me around all the second hand shops. Second hand was expensive for what it was - I think I'm still going for the new, Yamaha prob YBR-G, even though it's not a dirt bike geom (It seems like the shocks and Geom are unchanged for the -G, they just raise the mud guards and change the fairings?!) for the and it was 8890RMB before haggling - due to the big headlamp, big comfy seat, good rack and reliable build quality (touch wood). Thanks for the info about the emissions Tokyokid, that helps swing it for the Yamaha. Is it the 09 version only? From that I guess you speak/read Chinese... How hard were you hitting the bumps on the way, and what speeds do you think you could have done 1 up?

As for the QuinQi the QM200-1 was cheaper than the YBR at 8480RMB although I was advised to take the QM200-2 at about 9000RMB. They'd probably haggle though. (By the way they quoted the Sundown at 1500RMB. The Quin Qis have about 30% more power for the same weight as the YBR, I think the chain and sproket is better and the geometry is proper off-road with much more travel. But it would be great if people Crazycarl, Forchetto, ChinaV or someone else with one can tell me how to avoid the following concerns...

Firstly the build quality. In the shop the display models had missing footrests, loose hoses, missing parts (e.g. the dirt protector for the rear shock) and cracked plastic fairings - for sales they get one from the back but it doesn't bode well for the quality control or doing 15,000kms without major problems?

One of the guys in the shop had his -2 in the back for repair; a friend had ridden it and 'broke' it. Suzuki designed Quin Qi engine but bigger than the locals have, so would parts be a problem in some places?

The rack is OK but the seat is so narrow so tying a bag (plus a coke bottle or two) to the top looks difficult - the Yamaha had an extra set of tie points for this. I guess I'd have to get a modified rack for that bike, or go with two smaller bags, one front, one back. And is the headlight on the -2 powerful enough for riding at night? Finaly, is it registerable in Europe?? Not a major concern but would be nice to know.

BTW I don't want to beat up on the Quin Qi, just work out what machine will be better/easier for crossing the continent. The final decision might depend on how well the haggling goes at the shops!!!

As for registering either bike, I need to find a Chinese friend to help me out... Hopefully at the uni I can. It costs 1200RMB to do that here in Sichuan and you can buy the bike without but I think not doing it would just create more problems later on. I'm hopeful of confusing officials in further countries with rego documents written only in Chinese!! Got to go and get a visa extension then hopfully buy the bike Tuesday or Wednesday...

Thanks!
Adam