I want a cheap 125 motorcycle, Chinese?

tbourner

scotsman4th wrote: »

OP, buy one, you are going to make excuses for every problem or piece of advice anyone comes up with by the looks of it.

Not really, but so far I've only had 1 reply from someone who's actually owned one. I've read all the horror stories and spoken to 'bikers' who say I should definitely NOT get one, but none of those people have actually tried it - they're the same people who warned about "those dodgy Jap built cars/bikes" 30 years ago, look where they are now!

My experience of Chinese if you're interested; I bought a Yiben 125 scooter for £650, 3 years old, 12,000 miles on it. Rode it for 6 months through winter, replaced the battery in the first month, the sight glass on the brake cylinder broke when I jabbed it with a screwdriver so I replaced that (see link I posted earlier for parts), and 2 new bulbs (£6). Sold it for £500 a couple of weeks ago - saw the guy riding it around on Friday!!
Is that a bad experience in your opinion?

darich

tburner

I appreciate your experience seems to have been ok.

but you have to ask yourself a few questions

if the chinese bikes were ok, why would people like me spend double the amount on a used Honda?
if/when the bike needs a part, I can ride/drive to honda dealer and show him broken part or let him see bike. Chinese one means you need to email picture. which is easier? quicker? more likely to receive correct part?
if you find a cg125 with 30k on it and it's fomr 1980, it tells you that they last for decades......will the linglong still be running in 5 years?
When you buy the linglong you've admitted it's worth 15p when you sell it.....that may well be in as little as 3months time. My honda cost £1800, still had 6 months honda warranty, aa cover, and there's a good chance when I trade up or sell it i'll get most of that back.
what is the economy of the chinese bikes? my honda gets 127mpg....yeh, no typo, that's 127mpg. based on around 500miles. 240 miles for £11....and still have 1/4 of a tank left.

and on a more superficial note
what street cred will a linglong give you?

I'm not having a go....I considered one too. But having thought about all the above points, I decided I'd be better shelling out a bit more and getting something with a proven track record, dealers nationwide, easy access to parts and servicing, lots of forums with fellow riders, I didn't need to build it (although I appreciate some may enjoy that part), and something that others wouldn't laugh it when I was next to them at the lights.

I went for a 2009 Honda CBF 125.....great bike. Brand new, they're £2420. Mine was 18months old and dropped £600. With fuel prices climbing I and learners needing small bikes, I expect I'll probably get most of my money back when I sell it.

I'm not sure you'll get many replies from people who've owned them - most go for the big 4 from Japan.
Best of luck whatever you decide.

oldtoolie

If I bought a chinese motorcycle new, it would have to be from a local shop who would back it up. I would ask to talk to some satisfied customers as well. Perhaps better would be to buy one privately so you could see how it runs and how it has aged.

Actually, I have one, a BTS GY200, new old stock which I'll be eBaying soon. I paid £200 for it, setup and running but unregistered. I cleaned and serviced it but after realising that the rear shock had no damping and not finding an economical replacement, it's got to go. I've bought a 15 year old Yamaha for £1000 -- it is unlikely to depreciate if I keep it in good shape.

I also purchased a non-running BTS GY200 for about £90. It had gone 10,000 miles commuting in London and was a rustbucket. It wasn't hard to get it going but it would never pass an MOT. The engine is now chugging away happily in a 20 year old Honda frame.

So if you buy a Chinese motorcycle you will be joining literally millions of people around the world who have done so. But don't expect it to be a trouble-free motoring experience. If you are happy to buy the Haynes manual and a few tools and like to tinker with things, you may enjoy it.

bigjl

Ask yourself the question.

How many couriers, knowledge boys and pizza deliver riders use Chinese bikes?

After you have wasted your time thinking go and buy a Honda of some description.

The reason a 20 yr old CG 125 is the same price as a brand new chinaling is due to demand.

The demand is there due to inherent reliability and durability.

I would personally go fo one of the physically larger scooters.

And avoid the cheap nasty parallel imported CG 125s from the ninities that had chrome mudguards, they were meant for a different market and made to lower standards and using the design of the CG prior to the "Brazil" models they had a squarer tank and coloured mudguards and came out in the late eighties.

But from i have read the OP is trying to justify buying one no matter what anybody says.

Good luck with that, but if it breaks down the only advice i can give is send it to Africa which is where it should have gone in the first place.

I looked into Chinese bikes about 3 or 4 yrs ago with the intention of sending them to Ghana, i could have bought a reasonable, for Africa, 125cc motorbike with some spares for £165 each FOB.

scbk

tbourner wrote: »

Not really, but so far I've only had 1 reply from someone who's actually owned one.

I own one, have worked on a few, and have come accross plenty through my work.
As said, the build quality is nowhere near the same of the big brands

I'm someone who buys value baked beans, and I wouldn't bother with a chineese motorbike/scooter again

tbourner

I think what I'll do is keep an eye out for a YBR or CG going cheap and local, and keep the idea of a new Chinese bike as a last resort. I'd really like to be riding in the next few weeks so the fact I can walk to a Chinese bike dealer and get a brand new bike is quite nice, rather than the hassle of buying second hand from someone with all the annoying things that often come with it. But I'll hold my breath for a bit and hope, then see how I get on.

tbourner

Ooh how about this:
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=120733284061
No idea how much work it needs though, would possibly sit there for some time doing nothing, but at least it's cheap (with no bids).

Flyboy152

asbokid wrote: »

why not? the assembly of a cheap chinese motorcycle is more interesting than doing a royal wedding jigsaw or an airfix kit.

Considerably more skill and competence is required to build a motorcycle than an Airfix kit. Also, if your plastic 1:72 Spitfire falls apart, it is unlikely to kill anyone.

grizzly1911

Whatever happened to MZ:question:

Saw a J plate (late eighties) "trail bike" last month based on a CB125, still looked as though it would do the business it was designed to.

That CB and then the CG125 are like Dakotas from WW2.

Simple cheeky and reliable.

griffga

mate bought his son chinese one off ebay the seller was in uk and he imported them and assembled them, hasn't had any trouble with it and a uk contact if any probems?