Help my choose a China-bike in Australia!

[bigdamo]

Thank you for understanding both sides of this debate, of course I accept that Chinese bikes are here to stay and they are improving even if at what seems a snails pace. I have tried to work with our local distributor for a brand we did sell for a while however trying to get those guys to appreciate and understand our concerns is near impossible, as they have a totaly different motivation and grasp of what should be before it's put on sale in our market. They want their retailers to correct the factories shortcomings as they have no technical understanding or appreciation themselves. A Chinese brand along side a Japanese brand is a major gamble of your dealerships reputation and the daily issues encountered cause no end of stress for the staff and technicians also who can't help but ask why are we envolved with these lesser bikes. For me the real worry is the safety concers I have for the rider, as I see shocking assembly and poor materials which would not be allowed or accepted if the bikes were built anywhere else.

I thought the Japanese motorcycle manufacturers would never allow a Chinese brand motorcycle to be sold in the same dealership.I've seen Honda pull their brand from my friends shop because he was selling Yamaha as well.They gave him the choice though one or the other.

A reputable motorcycle dealer who is selling Japanese or European motorcycle's must have rocks in their head to take on a Chinese motorcycle brand as well.

Interesting to note how the Australian public is coming to terms with Chinese car manufactures establishing their market in Australia.

[lipsee]

I just read this track test on the CF moto 650 by Alan Cartright. He pretty well the top racing bike tester in the UK and has been since Genesis chapter 1..take time to read,,,,all the best http://cyclenews.coverleaf.com/cycle...000&pg=83#pg83

[euphonius]

I just read this track test on the CF moto 650 by Alan Cartright. He pretty well the top racing bike tester in the UK and has been since Genesis chapter 1..take time to read,,,,all the best http://cyclenews.coverleaf.com/cycle...000&pg=83#pg83

Dear Lipsee,

Amazing post, and an amazing, compelling review. I've repeated this review in the CFMoto 650NK thread.

cheers!

[MJH]

Changzhou Kawasaki and Kwang Yang engine co., ltd, that is were Kawasaki in china is located?
Hangzhou and Changzhou are both in the same region.

http://www.khi.co.jp/english/company/pdf/group.pdf

There is obviously some technology sharing going on in Jiangsu province, the above Kawasaki facility manufactures engines and was established in 2009.

I would not be surprised, Kawasaki partnered with KYMCO in that facility and likely struck a deal with CFMOTO…formally I would hope.

[td_ref]

I think Japonly has risen two other issues, false promises and irresponsible to owners.

[MJH]

Australia does have a very small market,
http://www.fcai.com.au/motorcycles/introduction

[bigdamo]

Australia does have a very small market,
http://www.fcai.com.au/motorcycles/introduction

Really ??

"A total of 109,067 new motorcycles, all-terrain vehicles (ATVs) and scooters were delivered to customers during the full year 2011,Australia"

"Number of Motorcycle Domestic Sales
Domestic sales (factory shipment) for Fiscal Year 2011 stood at 407,567 units. America"

Australia has a population of 22 million people.

America has a population of 311,591,917

Per capita I think Australia has a rather large motorcycle market hell we are even taking the motorcycles that the USA can't sell now.

[lipsee]

I just read this track test on the CF moto 650 by Alan Cartright. He pretty well the top racing bike tester in the UK and has been since Genesis chapter 1..take time to read,,,,all the best http://cyclenews.coverleaf.com/cycle...000&pg=83#pg83

well well well ,,, I know so much about Alan Cathright I got his name wrong,should be Alan Cathcart,and rumour has it he,s a knight of the realm.Even so he got his moneys worth out this story ,he sold it to the very same magazine to which I subscribe,and apart from a few commers and full stops its exactly the same.....all the best

[japonly!]

I just read this track test on the CF moto 650 by Alan Cartright. He pretty well the top racing bike tester in the UK and has been since Genesis chapter 1..take time to read,,,,all the best http://cyclenews.coverleaf.com/cycle...000&pg=83#pg83

While I wouldn't normaly read a road test on a Chinese Motorcycle with so much interest, when I saw the name Allan Cathcart I had to see what he had to say. I have read many of his tests over the years including the top Grand Prix bikes and World Superbikes (multi-million dollar machines!) and thought his views deserved my attention.
He made many very good points which I'll breifly touch-on; Firstly this bikes obvious similarity to Kawasakis ER6N, a bike I know quite well, what better way to attempt to produce your own model than to copy a successful Japanese model. Secondly Michael Pointon of Mojo Motorcycles comment that CFMoto "gets quality in a way other Chinese manufacturers which are primarily price-oriented, still don't get." I have had many dealings with Mojo motorcycles as we sold one of their brands, and Michael and his team were always good to deal with and backed up their product well. Mojo and CFMoto seem like a good partnership! Thirdly Allans comments about his own past experience with Chinese bikes (first half of middle colum page 98, and his point "solid, rather than flimsy.") which I see are exactly in-line with my own experiences as I expressed in my initial post. It is a surprising review of a bike which on paper looks impressive, I'll reserve my final verdict until after I have had a chance to see the 650NK in the flesh, have a ride and get it on the bench. I'd say from what I've read that this bike would be the smartest Chinese buy available here in Australia at present. As Allan said, the question of durability can only be answered in time, however I suspect these bikes will still wear out far quicker than their Japanese inspiration due to inferior materials and manufacturing processes, and the question of reliable long term spare parts availability will likely be dissapointing when compared to the Japs. Good on CFMoto for going their own way, the future of their band looks bright, I hope the other Chinese manufacturers follow their lead or lose market share to them for the benefit of the consumer. I'll end with one last quote from Allan "At last a Chinese manufacturer more interested in quality rather than price or volume

[bikerdoc]

all I can say is, I said as much over a year ago when I saw CFMoto manufacturing and assembly processes up close in Hangzhou - first hand, and after having bought my CFMoto Jetmax which was my second CFMoto ride... guess I could say "I told you so"