I wonder if any of you could offer an opinion
Discussion
Looking around to buy myself a 125 once I turn 17, and I come across this pretty little number
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Phoenix-Rapid-Racing-Motorbi...
and I'm just a bit dubious as to whether these are utter pieces of junk or not, due to there being no specified manufacturer or anything of the like. Top speed of 75mph seems decent and not too unreasonable, but at £800 brand new would I be right in assuming it's probably gonna fall apart as soon as I get it out the drive, or guzzle petrol like there's no tomorrow, or something of the sort. Just wondering if any of you have any experience with such bikes as I can't seem to dig up anything with so little information given.
thankss
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Phoenix-Rapid-Racing-Motorbi...
and I'm just a bit dubious as to whether these are utter pieces of junk or not, due to there being no specified manufacturer or anything of the like. Top speed of 75mph seems decent and not too unreasonable, but at £800 brand new would I be right in assuming it's probably gonna fall apart as soon as I get it out the drive, or guzzle petrol like there's no tomorrow, or something of the sort. Just wondering if any of you have any experience with such bikes as I can't seem to dig up anything with so little information given.
thankss
Most of above is what's on my mind tbh, I just came across this and thought it'd be an idea to look into it.
I'm pretty much set on getting myself a Honda NSR125- decent sized cos I'm a big guy, plenty of speed to keep me entertained with Honda reliability and that so it doesn't fall apart on me. But I'm not ruling out other possibilities just yet, can't start properly searching the market until October time.
I'm pretty much set on getting myself a Honda NSR125- decent sized cos I'm a big guy, plenty of speed to keep me entertained with Honda reliability and that so it doesn't fall apart on me. But I'm not ruling out other possibilities just yet, can't start properly searching the market until October time.
I think you'd be nuts to buy anything else...I wish they had bikes like that when I was a learner!! 4-Stroke as well...so at least it'll sound OK.
Try and find out what it's based on, and if you can get parts...it's probably a bored out Honda Cub 90 engine or something- bomb proof.
Go for it.
The only down side is that you'll probably have to register it yourself. Shouldn't be a problem though (as long as it comes with a certificate of conformity).
Try and find out what it's based on, and if you can get parts...it's probably a bored out Honda Cub 90 engine or something- bomb proof.
Go for it.
The only down side is that you'll probably have to register it yourself. Shouldn't be a problem though (as long as it comes with a certificate of conformity).
Edited by Hyperion on Friday 15th August 19:14
Youd probably have better luck looking for info on http://www.thechinesebikeforum.com/forum/default.a...
Personally I am awaiting my chinabike (a POR apache 125 - XL 125 clone with CG125 engine), have done my research and aside from expecting to use a lot of loctite, and doing some early preventative maintenance ie getting rid of chinese oil and sparkplug I cant see it being too much trouble.
Personally I am awaiting my chinabike (a POR apache 125 - XL 125 clone with CG125 engine), have done my research and aside from expecting to use a lot of loctite, and doing some early preventative maintenance ie getting rid of chinese oil and sparkplug I cant see it being too much trouble.
Chinese bikes are generally rubbish, fall apart quickly, poor quality parts and materials and little to no spares and warranty back up. I'd avoid it if I were you, spend the £800 on a decent branded second hand bike. I'm sure you could pick up an RS 125, Mito, CBR 125, NSR etc etc for not much more than that.
Darkslider said:
Chinese bikes are generally rubbish, fall apart quickly, poor quality parts and materials and little to no spares and warranty back up. I'd avoid it if I were you, spend the £800 on a decent branded second hand bike. I'm sure you could pick up an RS 125, Mito, CBR 125, NSR etc etc for not much more than that.
Id do this. Its bound to have a much better resale value when time comes to move it on too.
WALK AWAY!!!
I spent s few years importing Chinese bikes.
Quality is random to say the least.
If that bike were a Pukka jap bike it would cost a couple of grand,
There is a very good reason that bike is that price.
It's crap, no one will want to honour the warranty and you will not get spares anywhere.
And you WILL need them.
What are your intentions?
Pass your test ASAP and move up?
Get a used bike, like a CG125 and take you test on or buy a used Jap 125
TZR/NSR etc
Edited by odyssey2200 on Friday 15th August 21:35
DaleJ said:
Yeah plans are to take test as soon as I possibly can, probably on the aforementioned NSR, and then, funds-dependant, perhaps move up to a restriced 400 or such until the two year restriction is out.
Mixed reactions on chinese manufacture, i'm a little surprised.
In my view the chinese bike market is a bit like the japanese car one was in the early 80s - a bit untrusted, with some seriously moody things being produced but quick to mature and produce some good products.Mixed reactions on chinese manufacture, i'm a little surprised.
As said I have yet to receive my bike but ive kept my eyes open - one of my neighbours commutes on one of the jinlun 125s which given its a cruiser type with associated lots of chrome and yet it lives outside has remained in really good condition and evidently does its job daily. I've also seen a 2 year old example of one of the bikes ive ordered which is still in great condition.
The variability people experience is in my opinion down to the fact most of these bikes are shipped requiring final assembly so they can pack more in a container, and people then put it together wrong at the end or fail to run it in correctly.
Theres a lot of pub talk about them by people who havent checked it out or owned one, id like to hear more from odyseey2000 though.
Sensible answer is get a dull dependable 125 till you have done your test and then buy something nice....
But.....A cagiva mito, rs125 etc are 2-stroke and are not exactly bomb proof and often bought by 'enthusiasm over ability' types so could be a pain in the arse if you get a naff one...
Its a gamble but it does look very pretty... i wouldn't rule it out for that money
But.....A cagiva mito, rs125 etc are 2-stroke and are not exactly bomb proof and often bought by 'enthusiasm over ability' types so could be a pain in the arse if you get a naff one...
Its a gamble but it does look very pretty... i wouldn't rule it out for that money
Ahh the £800 includes delivery, oddly enough.
But yeah, I kind of assumed this was one to avoid. It just looks so pretty! Maybe if I had the money to fit it out with a different engine and all, but I guess it's a bit iffy given a 17 year old's budget.
I've emailed the guy to see if he can give me a more in-depth spec, i'll let you guys know if he comes up with anything.
But yeah, I kind of assumed this was one to avoid. It just looks so pretty! Maybe if I had the money to fit it out with a different engine and all, but I guess it's a bit iffy given a 17 year old's budget.
I've emailed the guy to see if he can give me a more in-depth spec, i'll let you guys know if he comes up with anything.
with some different mirrors that'd be a good looking bike.
i had a chinese 125, ok i only had it two weeks before my test (impulse purchase as test got cancelled) but i sold it to a mate so knew of it for the next 3 or 4 months. it had daft problems like throttle springs snapping but for the price it was a good bike.
known lots of people with chinese bikes too & they are all about the same. yes they'll break but hell you've paid 1/3 of the price for a jap one that wont. besides at £800 new who cares if it passes the MOT in 3 years? you throw it away & get another one.
EDIT: almost everyone i've seen has been a clone of a CG125 engine.
i had a chinese 125, ok i only had it two weeks before my test (impulse purchase as test got cancelled) but i sold it to a mate so knew of it for the next 3 or 4 months. it had daft problems like throttle springs snapping but for the price it was a good bike.
known lots of people with chinese bikes too & they are all about the same. yes they'll break but hell you've paid 1/3 of the price for a jap one that wont. besides at £800 new who cares if it passes the MOT in 3 years? you throw it away & get another one.
EDIT: almost everyone i've seen has been a clone of a CG125 engine.
Edited by Hooli on Saturday 16th August 14:36
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