Quote Originally Posted by ZMC888 View Post
Steve, CBR250R is made in Thailand and India. I wonder if China realize that with their red tape. ownership issues and poor quality they are losing and money.
Don't think they do. China's jumped forward one too fast. Motorbike market is still considered cheap/rural. Most of my Chinese friends (who ride everything from Yamaha scoots to HDs) aren't even aware of things like "You meet the nicest people on a Honda" or "HOG". Here motorbike's not a culture. Customizing bikes? Even less so.
I asked my students what they thought of the bikes. 99.9% said they were a symbol of poverty. That's a stereotype that'll be hard to eradicate. And they meant any bike, no matter if it's a CBR or some JialLing.
I never really looked into this question, but I think that the local authorities don't even take motorbikes as a serious market. Examples of those countries like Spain or Italy where it's a full-fledged industry aren't telling enough, I guess.
And still with the better half of Mainland China in subtropical-tropical climate riding here could've easily become something more of a hobby than of a shame.
Just hoping.