Newer, Chinese and Cheap? Older, Recognised and cheap?
Discussion
Evening all!
A part of PH I didn't think I'd ever be posting in but here I am from the 4 wheeled section.
We have recently gone from 2 cars to 1. I only work about 3 miles away and taking the car there everyday seems alittle pointless, especially if my wife needs it. Best option seems to be I get alittle 125cc bike to run to work and back on.
Issue is I've not ridden in 18 years and back then was a little 100cc twist and go in my mid-teen years. Im now mid-thirties, 6'1 tall and knocking on 15 stone so don't think the same would quite cut it! I'd like a bike as opposed to a scooter that would be fairly comfortable, sit at 60mph when needed and just be easy to ride. Budget wise is cheap! Very cheap as went to one car mainly to save some money and SWMBO wouldn't be happy if I spend too much. I'm thinking £1K give or take a few hundred.
Had a look through Bike Trader and options seem to be older (2004/2005/2006) recognised brands like Suzuki etc or newer (2013/2014/2015) LexMoto etc.
Now I'll freely admit, I know little about bikes and what I do know is nearly two decades out of date!
Any suggestions to what to look for and what to avoid? Are these Chinese bikes simply not worth even considering or are they a better choice than an older "brand" bike?
Anything else anyone wants to add, please do! Hoping to be up and going by end of month depending when I can get a CBT sorted.
Thanks.
A part of PH I didn't think I'd ever be posting in but here I am from the 4 wheeled section.
We have recently gone from 2 cars to 1. I only work about 3 miles away and taking the car there everyday seems alittle pointless, especially if my wife needs it. Best option seems to be I get alittle 125cc bike to run to work and back on.
Issue is I've not ridden in 18 years and back then was a little 100cc twist and go in my mid-teen years. Im now mid-thirties, 6'1 tall and knocking on 15 stone so don't think the same would quite cut it! I'd like a bike as opposed to a scooter that would be fairly comfortable, sit at 60mph when needed and just be easy to ride. Budget wise is cheap! Very cheap as went to one car mainly to save some money and SWMBO wouldn't be happy if I spend too much. I'm thinking £1K give or take a few hundred.
Had a look through Bike Trader and options seem to be older (2004/2005/2006) recognised brands like Suzuki etc or newer (2013/2014/2015) LexMoto etc.
Now I'll freely admit, I know little about bikes and what I do know is nearly two decades out of date!
Any suggestions to what to look for and what to avoid? Are these Chinese bikes simply not worth even considering or are they a better choice than an older "brand" bike?
Anything else anyone wants to add, please do! Hoping to be up and going by end of month depending when I can get a CBT sorted.
Thanks.
There are two questions:
- Is a Chinese bike a heap of junk?
Personally, if you are thinking of a Lexmoto, they are ok. Unlike pretty much everyone else who will reply, I have owned a Chinese bike.
- Is it a good purchase compared to a Japanese bike (which might or might not be made in Japan)?
Maybe not value for money. They depreciate fast. Although if you are thinking of a 5 year old one, it’s already well depreciated. Make sure it is the right price and remember it will be harder to sell than a Japanese bike.
- Is a Chinese bike a heap of junk?
Personally, if you are thinking of a Lexmoto, they are ok. Unlike pretty much everyone else who will reply, I have owned a Chinese bike.
- Is it a good purchase compared to a Japanese bike (which might or might not be made in Japan)?
Maybe not value for money. They depreciate fast. Although if you are thinking of a 5 year old one, it’s already well depreciated. Make sure it is the right price and remember it will be harder to sell than a Japanese bike.
Thanks!
Just had a quick look on Gumtree, riskier I know but at this price point, can't see the harm.
Loads of Chinese stuff at under 1k miles and 2016 onwards. Jap bikes, things like Honda CBF, Yamaha YBR etc around 2011 seem to be popping up.
Have to admit, I did fancy a Suzuki Marauder 125 as friend had one way back when but they seem to hold their money rather well.
I see your points about depreciation and re-sellability (Is that a word!?). Have to admit, I'd love to ride for a year or two then go for a direct access, start doing it properly.
Just had a quick look on Gumtree, riskier I know but at this price point, can't see the harm.
Loads of Chinese stuff at under 1k miles and 2016 onwards. Jap bikes, things like Honda CBF, Yamaha YBR etc around 2011 seem to be popping up.
Have to admit, I did fancy a Suzuki Marauder 125 as friend had one way back when but they seem to hold their money rather well.
I see your points about depreciation and re-sellability (Is that a word!?). Have to admit, I'd love to ride for a year or two then go for a direct access, start doing it properly.
Ill try to cover the Chinese part of your question.
I have a 2018 Benelli TNT 125 that I use as 7 miles each way, winter commuter, as well as a bit of a fun mess about bike. Its done around 6k miles so far.
It was cheaper but new, especially when compared to its Honda equivalent, the Grom. Approx a 2k saving iirc??
I think I paid around £1800 for it after the dealer I bought it from had done the NC500 on it. And its worth around 1k now
Being Chinese i half expected it to disintegrate halfway through the 1st winter, but it took it in its stride. Apart from a couple of fasteners that rusted it looked like a bike that was only used in dry weather. I must add that I do ACF50 it every year though.
I'm 6'-2" and was 15+ stone and I've done 6 hour rides on in total comfort.
It tops out at 71mph.
Sits pretty happily at 50 to 60 mph. Going uphill will see this drop though.
Does about 90mpg.
Crashes really well, surprisingly well actually.
Parts for it are cheap as chips.
And its hilarious to ride! I also have a 1000cc supernaked, but still love riding this daft little thing.
Other than crashing it, the only problem I've had with it is a cold start problem. It doesn't tick over on its own till its warmed up. But once warm it ticks over fine. The part I think thats causing the problem is only around £25 though.
I know you said you don't want a Scooter but we also have a family Vespa ET4 from 2001. And you couldn't get much cheaper than this.
My Mrs used it to gain road confidence on before she passed her direct access last year, and I taught my son to ride on it too.
We bought it for £500 four or five years ago, its passed every MOT without any advisories and its being sold tomorrow for £475 absolutely nothing has gone wrong with it and for a short distance commuter its even better than the Benelli. I know people sneer at scooters, but for that particular job they are absolutely perfect.
I have a 2018 Benelli TNT 125 that I use as 7 miles each way, winter commuter, as well as a bit of a fun mess about bike. Its done around 6k miles so far.
It was cheaper but new, especially when compared to its Honda equivalent, the Grom. Approx a 2k saving iirc??
I think I paid around £1800 for it after the dealer I bought it from had done the NC500 on it. And its worth around 1k now
Being Chinese i half expected it to disintegrate halfway through the 1st winter, but it took it in its stride. Apart from a couple of fasteners that rusted it looked like a bike that was only used in dry weather. I must add that I do ACF50 it every year though.
I'm 6'-2" and was 15+ stone and I've done 6 hour rides on in total comfort.
It tops out at 71mph.
Sits pretty happily at 50 to 60 mph. Going uphill will see this drop though.
Does about 90mpg.
Crashes really well, surprisingly well actually.
Parts for it are cheap as chips.
And its hilarious to ride! I also have a 1000cc supernaked, but still love riding this daft little thing.
Other than crashing it, the only problem I've had with it is a cold start problem. It doesn't tick over on its own till its warmed up. But once warm it ticks over fine. The part I think thats causing the problem is only around £25 though.
I know you said you don't want a Scooter but we also have a family Vespa ET4 from 2001. And you couldn't get much cheaper than this.
My Mrs used it to gain road confidence on before she passed her direct access last year, and I taught my son to ride on it too.
We bought it for £500 four or five years ago, its passed every MOT without any advisories and its being sold tomorrow for £475 absolutely nothing has gone wrong with it and for a short distance commuter its even better than the Benelli. I know people sneer at scooters, but for that particular job they are absolutely perfect.
I ride motorbikes and have been in the same situation, a very short commute.
What bike would I recommend? A pushbike!
Riding around on a 125 might seem like a good idea, but when you factor in getting ready, putting all the gear on, potentially warming up, then the associated tax/insurance/fuel/parking it becomes a bit of a grind for a 3 mile commute. That's what i did in the end, chuck on a pair of shorts and away you go. Also wasn't much difference in time compared to my motorbike either.
If you're learning to take a test fine, and enjoy a decent long ride on a motorbike but bike or electric bike for a 3 mile commute all day long.
What bike would I recommend? A pushbike!
Riding around on a 125 might seem like a good idea, but when you factor in getting ready, putting all the gear on, potentially warming up, then the associated tax/insurance/fuel/parking it becomes a bit of a grind for a 3 mile commute. That's what i did in the end, chuck on a pair of shorts and away you go. Also wasn't much difference in time compared to my motorbike either.
If you're learning to take a test fine, and enjoy a decent long ride on a motorbike but bike or electric bike for a 3 mile commute all day long.
Afraid a bicycle is a complete no no from me.
Two practical things limit that option. My main work location is situated on top of a very steep and long hill, I'd rather not arrive knackered and dripping in sweat. Second reason is I need to carry loads occasionally, not overly large but sometimes heavy. Will easily fit in a decent top box but I wouldn't fancy them hanging off my shoulders and smashing into my back. Afraid cycling really is not for me! I've not gone near a bicycle since I was about 13.
Im swinging towards older Jap to be honest, some of the Chinese ones (especially the Benelli) look very nice but as was said before, something easy to sell once I'm ready to go for Direct Access or any other reason I end up selling is a major factor.
Two practical things limit that option. My main work location is situated on top of a very steep and long hill, I'd rather not arrive knackered and dripping in sweat. Second reason is I need to carry loads occasionally, not overly large but sometimes heavy. Will easily fit in a decent top box but I wouldn't fancy them hanging off my shoulders and smashing into my back. Afraid cycling really is not for me! I've not gone near a bicycle since I was about 13.
Im swinging towards older Jap to be honest, some of the Chinese ones (especially the Benelli) look very nice but as was said before, something easy to sell once I'm ready to go for Direct Access or any other reason I end up selling is a major factor.
If a bike or ebike's out, Japanese scooter all day long. I've done a similar short commute on Honda H100 in the past, up and over Cromford Hill to Matlock Bath. Bikes are great, but the relative extra weather protection, not having to change boots/kecks and not arriving at work stinking of petrol is well worth it imho.
I'd agree that for the distance a proper bike is probably abit of a hassle, but if you're set on that I'd recommend the CBF125, I picked a 2012 one up for a grand about 3 months ago in great condition only 11k miles on the clock, just flew through its MOT no bother and seems to run on fresh air - tank of fuel is about 9 quid and you get 200 miles out of it.
V8RX7 said:
^^^ This
But remember to budget for some decent gear too - I buy most of mine used from ebay but it still adds up.
This tends to be the default statement but I'm not sure I'd agree. Some Chinese bikes are pretty good now (I've had a couple) if they are looked after. Likewise you can get some really good 2nd hand Chinese bikes as most of the value has been lost. About 3 months ago I picked up a 2020 Herald 125 scrambler with 500 miles on it for £1500 on FB marketplace. Haven't touched it yet as I'll potentially sell it on when the weather picks up, but have coated it in ACF50 and its a decent little bike.But remember to budget for some decent gear too - I buy most of mine used from ebay but it still adds up.
However, id never buy one new.
Even as one of the most keen people on adding to my engine collection, 3 miles isn't far enough to bother imho. I'd walk most days, and if you need to take stuff then go in the car. After a couple of weeks you'll probably quite enjoy a wander, and it's healthsome.
Otherwise I think I'd be tempted to a twist and go scooter or an eScooter, easy enough to ride and use.
But get yourself a bike and do DAS for the weekends.
Otherwise I think I'd be tempted to a twist and go scooter or an eScooter, easy enough to ride and use.
But get yourself a bike and do DAS for the weekends.
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