Need Help Choosing a Bike

[Steve_Halt]

Well, it is easier to stir a cup of tea with a tea spoon, then with a tablespoon...

Totally true. It's just that the feeling is different. I guess. I've never ridden one and will not give any opinion on what underbones (I mean underbones, not them big-wheel scoots) are until I actually ride one for an extended period of time.

[Zorge]

My experience with the scooter are two short rides - the first was about 20 years ago, when I was riding a 50 cc 2T PGO, and the second time a few years ago, when my friend FORCED ME to try his scoot, some rebranded Chinese scooter, also 2T 50 cc. OK, they squeeze all the juice from the engine, but, Gosh, I do not like the centrifugal clutch and the whimpering sound he makes. Also, IMO, variators (standard ones, not some hi-tech) have one bad characteristic: low speed - low revs. It is probably only a matter of habit, but I do not like it.

On the other hand, underbones, even those with a semiauto clutch (unless you count the fact that the front of the "crown jewels" do not have a fuel tank, but gap), are more similar to the lightweight motorcycles than any scooter with variator. Underbones are real motorcycles, "just add water".

[Steve_Halt]

My experience with the scooter are two short rides - the first was about 20 years ago, when I was riding a 50 cc 2T PGO, and the second time a few years ago, when my friend FORCED ME to try his scoot, some rebranded Chinese scooter, also 2T 50 cc. OK, they squeeze all the juice from the engine, but, Gosh, I do not like the centrifugal clutch and the whimpering sound he makes. Also, IMO, variators (standard ones, not some hi-tech) have one bad characteristic: low speed - low revs. It is probably only a matter of habit, but I do not like it.

On the other hand, underbones, even those with a semiauto clutch (unless you count the fact that the front of the "crown jewels" do not have a fuel tank, but gap), are more similar to the lightweight motorcycles than any scooter with variator. Underbones are real motorcycles, "just add water".

Then I should definitely try one. I'd be looking for the one with the clutch and gears, no semi-automatic stuff. Besides, they aren't so popular in Nanjing city here, it might be difficult to find a shop that stocks them. Should I ever go with this option, I'd opt for some Japanese underbone still. Enough of Chinese bikes for me for now.

[Zorge]

The thing is that most, so to speak, non-sporty underbones has semiauto clutch. Conversion to hand clutch is fairly simple, and above all, not expensive -
http://www.serjik.ru/tunCRF70_clutch.shtml . This refers to the clones of the good old Honda horizontal engine.

I do not know which Japanese undarbones are available in Nanjing, but I am confident that it will be at least three times more expensive than a decent Chinese ones (these exist, you know...).

And if you already have a choice, be sure to give a chance to scooters and even to cabbage bikes, as someone wrote. You're the one which should decide.

[Steve_Halt]

The thing is that most, so to speak, non-sporty underbones has semiauto clutch. Conversion to hand clutch is fairly simple, and above all, not expensive -
http://www.serjik.ru/tunCRF70_clutch.shtml . This refers to the clones of the good old Honda horizontal engine.

I do not know which Japanese undarbones are available in Nanjing, but I am confident that it will be at least three times more expensive than a decent Chinese ones (these exist, you know...).

And if you already have a choice, be sure to give a chance to scooters and even to cabbage bikes, as someone wrote. You're the one which should decide.

Pics were helpful :)
The whole procedure seems like a no-brainer. Still IF I went with that sort of a bike, I'd still choose the one that has manual gearbox stock.
I've ridden those "cabbage bikes", they're fun. Like someone posted here "It's more fun to ride a slow bike fast than to ride a fast bike slow"

[kikikillercat]

I have just received a TR650 from the factory, as i ordered it three months ago....put 200kilometers on it and found it smooth and very powerful. It came out of the crate fully assembled ready to go...anyway very good looking, display wonderfully bright...but no gear indicator...no center stand, head lights like a car... I would of bought BMW always first as i have had four BMW cars which i picked up at the factory with Euro delivery...but I dont know how to get one in China..and I think expensive. The BMW GS600 is about 8000k dollars in the states plus tax...here i dont know.
Yes im concerned someone will steal it..I goest in an underground garage and has two disc locks, gated small community..but who knows...any recommendations......i ordered a GPS locator...but Im sure it can be removed soon after theft.....
Help on this issue is appreciated....i will post further details about the TR650 as I drive it more.....it draws too much attention
I was told you cannot buy theft insurance for motorcycle in China is....that right? thanks in advance

[Steve_Halt]

I have just received a TR650 from the factory, as i ordered it three months ago....put 200kilometers on it and found it smooth and very powerful. It came out of the crate fully assembled ready to go...anyway very good looking, display wonderfully bright...but no gear indicator...no center stand, head lights like a car... I would of bought BMW always first as i have had four BMW cars which i picked up at the factory with Euro delivery...but I dont know how to get one in China..and I think expensive. The BMW GS600 is about 8000k dollars in the states plus tax...here i dont know.
Yes im concerned someone will steal it..I goest in an underground garage and has two disc locks, gated small community..but who knows...any recommendations......i ordered a GPS locator...but Im sure it can be removed soon after theft.....
Help on this issue is appreciated....i will post further details about the TR650 as I drive it more.....it draws too much attention
I was told you cannot buy theft insurance for motorcycle in China is....that right? thanks in advance

Suggestions would be common:
1. Ground anchor
2. Non-Chinese locks
3. Shed/parking place
4. Theft insurance (should be possible, since it's a legally registered vehicle)
5. GPS chip is a nice thing to have. TR has lots of plastic on it. You can hide it so that it'd be hard to find/remove it.
6. Alarm system (preferable non-Chinese)

Congrats on your bike, mate:)

[Zorge]

Or, suggestion No.7: tie to the bike extremely distrustful Caucasian Shepherd.

[kikikillercat]

thanks for the info.......where to get non chinese locks...taobao?? any recommendations??? do you believe in disc locks? its in an underground garage,,small apartment complex....guarded gate...
i checked with insurance co....when i bought mandatory insurance...no theft ins. available..damn

[Steve_Halt]

thanks for the info.......where to get non chinese locks...taobao?? any recommendations??? do you believe in disc locks? its in an underground garage,,small apartment complex....guarded gate...
i checked with insurance co....when i bought mandatory insurance...no theft ins. available..damn

Disk locks might be ok if used as secondary locks. To a Caucasian Shepherd :) Actually never tried, don't know.
As for taobao locks, here you go:
http://item.taobao.com/item.htm?spm=...id=15662095191
http://item.taobao.com/item.htm?spm=...id=16220024158
http://item.taobao.com/item.htm?spm=...id=14482042450
http://item.taobao.com/item.htm?spm=...id=14793273931
http://item.taobao.com/item.htm?spm=...id=14793273931
http://item.taobao.com/item.htm?spm=...id=15800000540
http://item.taobao.com/item.htm?spm=...id=15662015711

At least that'll be something to start with.
Strange they got no theft insurance :(