Soberpete's YBR 250

[soberpete]

I may be wrong, but I'm fairly certain that the newer looking YBR 250 is the FAZER version that is being sold in Brazil right now. I also found that photo on the web while looking up info on the YBR 250 just before purchasing it. The FAZER's rear light is also more of a vertical diamond shape, opposed to the flatter rear light of our Chinese YBR 250. It also has protruding rear indicators whereas our YBR's have them included into the frame.

***I just took a closer look at that photo. You can see 'FAZER' printed on the fuel tank***

[Fred]

I may be wrong, but I'm fairly certain that the newer looking YBR 250 is the FAZER version that is being sold in Brazil right now. I also found that photo on the web while looking up info on the YBR 250 just before purchasing it. The FAZER's rear light is also more of a vertical diamond shape, opposed to the flatter rear light of our Chinese YBR 250. It also has protruding rear indicators whereas our YBR's have them included into the frame.

***I just took a closer look at that photo. You can see 'FAZER' printed on the fuel tank***

Yes, I think you're right Pete. Anyway, I'll go back to the dealer at the end of this week and I'll ask them about any new model coming to China. I'll report what I hear here.

One question : I sat on the YBR 250 at the dealer and felt a bit cramped, but maybe it's because I'm used to the Honda Shadow. I'm 1m83 (6 ft). It's not a problem for you for long trips ?

[soberpete]

Fred, I doubt that the Fazer will ever be available at a reasonable price (or at all) here in China. They seem to do fairly well selling the Jianshe Yamaha YBR250 in China so I can't imagine them building the Fazer here too. The cost of beginning to manufacture the new model here or even getting them imported would make them too expensive to buy. I wouldn't bother asking them if I were you, but you never know.

About the cramping issue, like I said "I'm 178cm tall with fairly long legs and only ever feel a little cramped after about two hours of solid riding". You're a few inches taller than me, so I can't say for sure but I would guess that you may begin to feel some discomfort in your legs after an hour or so of riding. Anyway, it's really just something that comes with riding a street bike. Better position, better control and a different feel albeit not as comfy as a cruiser.
A Honda Shadow! That's a nice big cruiser and I'm guessing that you never got crampt legs on that thing. Have you ever ridden a street bike or anything with a similar position to the YBR250? If not, then I would say it's a choice between bike types:
-Cruisers have the look of style and the feel of comfort but lack handling and the proper seat position to take corners at speed.
-Street bikes have the seating postion you need to take coners at speed and give you the feel of control and acurate balance (the way a motorcycle should be... some say).
My first bike was a 150cc cruiser and although I really like the look of cruisers I would never go back to one after getting a street bike.

[soberpete]

DSC01259.jpgDSC01260.jpg

The evil rust!
It's confined to the inside of that single piece of metal on the exhaust pipe. I'm not really worried about it though.

DSC01261.jpg

The chain began to get rusty after several months of me washing the bike numerous times and riding over 300km in rain without being oiled once. I've oiled it a few times since I began to take note of the rust.
I need some expert advice: Should I replace the chain or will it be ok if I just keep on oiling it?

[marcomagica]

Hi Peter,

For the chain you just need to clean it on the sides (WD40 and brush should be enough) and grease it. Chains are changed if some chain links are stuck or if the chain becomes too long. This is just minor rust, nothing important.


As for the exhaust I would suggest put some anti-rust paint on that little spot and paint it over black. It's not much at the moment but it could grow up in an hole in the exhaust over time, the paint job of the interior of that particular point was not done well at factory... or wait, is it the bolt that keep that piece that is rusting?

[Fred]

Fred, I doubt that the Fazer will ever be available at a reasonable price (or at all) here in China. They seem to do fairly well selling the Jianshe Yamaha YBR250 in China so I can't imagine them building the Fazer here too. The cost of beginning to manufacture the new model here or even getting them imported would make them too expensive to buy. I wouldn't bother asking them if I were you, but you never know.

About the cramping issue, like I said "I'm 178cm tall with fairly long legs and only ever feel a little cramped after about two hours of solid riding". You're a few inches taller than me, so I can't say for sure but I would guess that you may begin to feel some discomfort in your legs after an hour or so of riding. Anyway, it's really just something that comes with riding a street bike. Better position, better control and a different feel albeit not as comfy as a cruiser.
A Honda Shadow! That's a nice big cruiser and I'm guessing that you never got crampt legs on that thing. Have you ever ridden a street bike or anything with a similar position to the YBR250? If not, then I would say it's a choice between bike types:
-Cruisers have the look of style and the feel of comfort but lack handling and the proper seat position to take corners at speed.
-Street bikes have the seating postion you need to take coners at speed and give you the feel of control and acurate balance (the way a motorcycle should be... some say).
My first bike was a 150cc cruiser and although I really like the look of cruisers I would never go back to one after getting a street bike.

Thanks for the reply Pete, I dont have any more questions... for now ! ;-))

About the Honda Shadow, I'm not talking about the 750cc version of course, but the 150cc Honda-Sundiro Shadow you can buy in China !
Yes, the position is very comfortable on that thing, and yes too, it's maybe not the best to take corners at speed. I can't wait to try a street bike to feel/experience the difference.

My mind is made up on a red YBR 250 now, but all the paperwork will be terribly "mafan" :
- changing the plates registration from the Honda to the Yam
- changing the insurance to the new bike
- selling the Shadow (I'll post an advertisement on the forum later) and helping the buyer to get it plated.

[marcomagica]

Thanks for the reply Pete, I dont have any more questions... for now ! ;-))

About the Honda Shadow, I'm not talking about the 750cc version of course, but the 150cc Honda-Sundiro Shadow you can buy in China !
Yes, the position is very comfortable on that thing, and yes too, it's maybe not the best to take corners at speed. I can't wait to try a street bike to feel/experience the difference.

My mind is made up on a red YBR 250 now, but all the paperwork will be terribly "mafan" :
- changing the plates registration from the Honda to the Yam
- changing the insurance to the new bike
- selling the Shadow (I'll post an advertisement on the forum later) and helping the buyer to get it plated.

Hi Fred, Hi hope you also pull the trigger on the YBR. As Peter says "The YBR doesn't disappoint"!

Why you don't just sell your bike plated and get new plates for the new one? Or wait, you have one of those expensive Shanghai plates on yours?

[Fred]

Hi Fred, Hi hope you also pull the trigger on the YBR. As Peter says "The YBR doesn't disappoint"!

Why you don't just sell your bike plated and get new plates for the new one? Or wait, you have one of those expensive Shanghai plates on yours?

Yes I do, bought mine in March for RMB 46,000, currently they sell for RMB 50,000, so no, I don't really want to sell them yet and buy new ones. ;-)) I'm hoping my plates could be a good investment if the prices are always increasing.

Moreover, I think that selling a legal bike WITHOUT the plates could be easier in Shanghai :
- with the plates : RMB 50,000 + the price of the bike
- without the plates : the price of the bike + possibility for the buyer to choose a Hu C plates, much cheaper.

[euphonius]

I don't recall anyone posting in detail about the relative merits of selling a bike in Shanghai with plates vs without plates. ryanjpyle recently sold one of his MKRide.com bimmers, and sold the bike and plate in separate transactions, so he should have some sense of this.

If you keep the plate, there still will be a procedure for disassociating it from the bike, then reassigning it to your new bike. Not sure which is more mafan.

Guess it depends on whether your buyer wants a plate or not.

cheers

[marcomagica]

Yes I do, bought mine in March for RMB 46,000, currently they sell for RMB 50,000, so no, I don't really want to sell them yet and buy new ones. ;-)) I'm hoping my plates could be a good investment if the prices are always increasing.

Moreover, I think that selling a legal bike WITHOUT the plates could be easier in Shanghai :
- with the plates : RMB 50,000 + the price of the bike
- without the plates : the price of the bike + possibility for the buyer to choose a Hu C plates, much cheaper.

Congratulations for the plates then, must hurt to know the value of the plates is more than the bike you ride!

But yes, that should be a good investment, that is if they don't suddenly rise the number of plates issued making the price dropping.
I really can't see that coming though, what Shanghai doesn't need is even more cars than they already have.

Good luck on your paperwork, and report back on the progresses when you pull the trigger!