Recommendations for a Dualsport bike

[culcune]

This company are near me, in the next city. Maybe 10 or so years ago they got some new management and practically all worthwhile (to our mind) development was stopped and the company started to manufacture Peugeot Scooters and 125-150cc Suzuki badged scooters and singles. As far as I can tell their 250s were a half baked proposition until only a short time ago. Yes they are a good choice with the Suzuki licensed engines and match up pretty well in power to the YBR250 with actually dual sport models. They could have (and really should have) done all this ten years ago meaning that they are now heavily overlooked by the Chinese and expat community alike.

The YBR would and should be considered based on its reliability..l just wish they would make a proper adv bike out of it at the factory! My guess it would absolutely take over the Chinese market!

[zhu]

Honda NX 250 1989

Displacement:	249.00 ccm (15.19 cubic inches)
Engine type:	Single cylinder, four-stroke
Power:	26.00 HP (19.0 kW)) @ 8500 RPM
Top speed:	128.0 km/h (79.5 mph)
Compression:	11.0:1
70.0 x 64.8 mm (2.8 x 2.6 inches)

Fuel control:	DOHC
Cooling system:	Liquid
Gearbox:	6-speed
Transmission type, final drive:	Chain

Close but no cigar RX3 is single cam NX/AX 250 is DOHC engine as used by Shineray in the X2

[ZMC888]

Close but no cigar RX3 is single cam NX/AX 250 is DOHC engine as used by Shineray in the X2

OK, then whatever. But your ideas that the RX3, a good bike or in any way original is a seriously flawed proposition.

Up against genuine made in China Japanese technology an RX3 doesn't make much sense.

[modron]

The YBR would and should be considered based on its reliability..l just wish they would make a proper adv bike out of it at the factory! My guess it would absolutely take over the Chinese market!

Im with you on this one.
They should bring the XT250 Tenere to China. Its the same engine as YBR250 and since they already make them here it shouldnt be too difficult
http://www.yamaha-motor.com.mx/xt250tenere.html

[zhu]

they should and they could build the xt 250 in china

but they don't

As for the YBR 250 as an adventure bike, it needs a fair bit of work on the suspension front and rear as it has short travel and quite under damped for any kind of load.

Great engine though

[cryptographicide]

I've never really heard it's harder to bring a 250cc plus bike into Laos, are you limiting yourself on heresay or reality? I think you should really think about a Jialing JH600 if your buget allows, seems like the right bike for all that touring.

I am going off of things I've read on the golden triangle website and on unlimited horizons. The evidence that I have that gives me the most confidence is this official(?) website regarding imports and exports into Laos. (http://www.asean.org/communities/ase...ty/item/laos-2) Near the bottom, it talks about about vehicles prohibited for import. Below that it mentions that all vehicles brought into Laos must have a temporary vehicle import license. I am assuming that the same restrictions apply to vehicle imports as to temporary vehicle imports. I have heard that that border is easy for larger bikes with one of those fancy Swiss documents that says you have prepaid any taxes or damages that may occur if the vehicle is somehow left in the country. Those, however, are pricey. Other than that, I can't get any solid sounding first hand accounts.

Does anyone have any information about the NEW Jialing 250GY designs. I look for images of them and those images never match the images on the website.
This is the image from the website.
223CC+Off+Road+Motorcycle.jpg

I cannot find a single place where a jialing bike has that wide passenger seat. If I can find this bike with that seat, this would be my preferred choice.

[bikerdoc]

Riding/driving Chinese plated bikes/vehicles across borders to (most) ASEAN countries is not that complicated. As an example MCM member Prince666 is today riding (for the second time this year Hainan-Laos-Thailand-Laos-Hainan) across the Boten border crossing (PRC-Laos) on his PRC plated YBR125GK. Actually he should be almost to the other side of Laos just about now, and I expect to hear from him later on this evening when he makes it into Chiang Rai (lucky bastard!). I was speaking with him around lunchtime today by phone when he was about 100km or so away from the PRC-Laos Bolten border crossing. If I didn't have as many commitments as I do at this time of the year, I'd be riding along too on my GS. However for now, I have to see another month through before I too make the longer ride from Ningbo - Laos - Thailand for a couple of months riding out of this madness.

The main issue OP is that PRC's increasing economic power makes it easier than previously for PRC plated bikes to cross many ASEAN borders (but not all) than it does for ASEAN plated bikes to cross into PRC. It seems that many of the ASEAN countries are so willing to jump on the PRC cash cow gravy train, they have seemingly sold their own citizens short when it comes to any reciprocity of arrangements. A PRC legally plated bike for example, can be ridden from PRC - Laos - Thailand and other bordering countries without major hindrance, provided the bike in question is legal. However, Thai legally plated bikes can cross into some boardering countries fairly simply however that does not extend to PRC without a prearranged (PRC government approved) tour guide, should the rider want to ride into PRC. One of the Thai border customs officers was complaining about this inequity and inequality earlier in the year, the complaint being that it was unfair that Ch!nese vehicles and drivers etc can cross from PRC through Laos into Thailand fairly easily, but not so for a Thai plated vehicle and driver wanting to do the reverse trip.

Aside from the border crossings...

The major issue I see is that there are not that many choices in the <250cc dual sport category, fewer if one really wants a bike of reasonable quality/manufacture. But each to his/her own. I'd also suggest sticking with one of Japanese JV partner companies products here, but few if any make a 250cc dual sport model, so you may have to consider a more road orientated ride and swap over the tyres. Still as stated, there are the inherent problems with limited suspension travel and ground clearances.

As has also been suggested, maybe you might want to consider a bigger displacement ride and open up your options and budget.

YMMV

[ZMC888]

Im with you on this one.
They should bring the XT250 Tenere to China. Its the same engine as YBR250 and since they already make them here it shouldnt be too difficult
http://www.yamaha-motor.com.mx/xt250tenere.html

You and Culcune are absolutely correct, it's a no brainer. Also Sundiro Honda should be manufacturing the CB500 as well.

[ZMC888]

As for the YBR 250 as an adventure bike, it needs a fair bit of work on the suspension front and rear as it has short travel and quite under damped for any kind of load.

Great engine though

I think if you are riding in China you're going to be 50% good tarmac, 30% potholed/smashed uneven and 20% lunar landscape. You can see with bikes like the YBR125K or G that they have the clearance, some road trail tires and maybe handguards and box paniers, you'd be fine. Sure ideally off road you could have more travel and if only and ideally a XT250 Tenere, but that travel just isn't needed 80% of the time, so buying a Chinabike with all the potential cheap parts and mediocre assembly is IMHO a poor decision. Many people have gotten pretty much anywhere on a YBR250, most of the time they end up dropping them because they use the original tires off-road, which is a pretty simple fix.

[cryptographicide]

Alright. I'm convinced. I'll bite the Yamahook. But I'm a little scared about the price. How much am I looking at for a XT250 Tenere? (In RMB, and including the cost of importing and registering)
How bout a YBR250 Chinamade.

Next, how do I go about buying one of these pretties. Who do I talk to? How good does my putonghua need to be? Do I have to go somewhere to pick it up?

When it comes time to sell, will I get anything for it. I plan on staying here between 2-5 years.

BTW, I really appreciate all your advice on this.
Looking forward to reading more.