Chinese Bikes

[Acorn1]

Whats do people think of Chinese bikes?

They are exploding on the market at the moment and offer astonishing value on the face of it.

I saw this in our local dealer yesterday and feel like I badly want one.

https://www.bennetts.co.uk/bikesocial/reviews/bike...

[A500leroy]

It's only a repeat of the 70s when the Japanese invaded.
Grab them while they are cheap, it's not like most things aren't made in China now anyway.

[TorqueDirty]

I'm increasingly tempted by some of the Chinese Tenere style adventure bikes. You just get so much bang for your buck.

I think the mechanical reliability will be fine, and it is not as if I'm about to compete in the Paris Daker so who cares if the bike isn't quite as good on super rough terrain.

My concerns are more focussed on the reported poor low end fuelling on some bikes (jerky at low speeds) and the potential for poor electrical reliability. With so many sensors and electronic control units the potential to be left stranded is much higher than on a basic mechanical bike.

Anyway, I'd love a Tenere, but the Chinese alternatives seem very tempting for the money.

[Pebbles167]

Yeah China make good some stuff now. Only concern with purchase would be dealer backup but that will become less of a problem as time goes on.

They've yet to make a fully convincing high end sports bike, though the market for that is smaller these days so they've aimed at naked and adventure categories. In this space their bikes often seem to compare favourably against the European and Japanese competition.

If I end up on the hunt for a new bike in the near future, it would probably be a CF Moto or a Kove.

[quigonjay]

Much like the car market they offer incredible value for money and before long I am sure they will take a fair share of the market percentage. It is not like they are cheap because they are of shoddy quality either and can compete with their Japanese and European rivals on that front. As pointed out the only real problem at the moment is the lack of a real dealer network though with more opening all the time it will start to become less of a problem. If I was in the market for a new bike right now would be happy to consider from the likes of CF Moto, Kove, QJ Motor and Voge

[CypSIdders]

I bought a brand new one, back in December, a Voge 300 Rally, 4050 euros, on the road, including road tax and a full tank of fuel.
I can't fault it, it's well put together, all the plastics and ancillary bits and pieces are held on with stainless fasteners, everything else appears to be nickel plated.
Its main rival is the Honda CRF 300 Rally, the specs and performance are near enough Identical. According to the reviews I've seen the Voge has better suspension than the Honda.
Having removed a few bits from mine, that I didn't want or need, the Voge is now 10lbs lighter than the Honda.
People I know, who've owned them for two or three years, are taking these off-road every week, I haven't heard any serious gripes.
There are plenty on the road and as far as i can tell there is only one used example for sale, people are holding onto them!

[Ghs]

If its the red bike we’re talking of , is it really that cheap , £8999 , I paid 1,000 less for my z900 , I’m not saying the Chinese bike isn’t better , just that £9,000 doesn’t look especially cheap to me or is there something about that bike I’m missing ?.

[Biker 1]

Lack of dealerships, spare parts availability, depreciation & whether the marqe will still be around in a couple of years are still big red flags for me.
You see cars such as Great Wall, Jaecoo etc & wonder how much they'll hemorrhage in depreciation....

[Ghs]

I know the Chinese like to copy things , but a Suzuki b king seems a strange route to go down .

[Hugo Stiglitz]

9k? Err no.

Soo many decent options out there already why would you need to go cut price à la Chery car or a Poundland Evoke

[Steve93]

Interesting this topic comes up just now

I just recently bought a Voge R125 to replace my older Chinese bike (Keeway TX125) due to it starting to use more oil than petrol, and the difference between the two (about 8 years of difference) in build quality and in general is night and day. It's obviously no Honda, but for something I've bought to keep me going till I get my full licence and will likely be keeping for winter/darker night use due to having an LED headlight and ABS etc it seems to be very much up to the task.

It will happily cruise at 60-70 which is better than the keeway which would be screaming at 50 and barely able to touch 60 (ancient suzuki 125 engine and 5 gears). I'll hang back from saying it will be reliable for now, but for the price I paid brand new with a 2 year warranty, I'm not overly worried.

[Ghs]

I know the Chinese like to copy things , but a Suzuki b king seems a strange route to go down .

[Time4another]

They continue to improve. It's only matter of when they reach a standard worth taking. Their dealer network and availability of spare parts is a major hold back just now.

[hiccy18]

As the review shows, that price could get a litre Hornet, MT-09 or Street Trip, GSX-S is around that too, how does it compare to them for an owner? Would need to be £7k-ish before I'd buy it over any of them, not that I'm in the market for any of them.

[Acorn1]

Time4another said:

They continue to improve. It's only matter of when they reach a standard worth taking. Their dealer network and availability of spare parts is a major hold back just now.

Agreed, the dealer network is dire, our local one is shocking.

I am tempted though nonetheless, This is an updated MV Augusta Brutale built by the same people with different styling for 9k

[OldGermanHeaps]

Unless spare parts availability changes drastically these will depriciate like a rock and end up unrepairable scrap way too early.

[robinh73]

I am seriously tempted by a Voge 900DS adventure bike as a second bike. It is a brilliant bit of kit. The engine is made by Lincoln and is the one used in the BMW f900GS. I have spoken to several owners and they have had no issues with servicing, spares or build quality at all.

[Iamnotkloot]

I just can’t do it - it seems wrong to back a country that’s out to stiff the West.

[carinaman]

Acorn1 said:

Whats do people think of Chinese bikes?

They are exploding on the market at the moment and offer astonishing value on the face of it.

I saw this in our local dealer yesterday and feel like I badly want one.

https://www.bennetts.co.uk/bikesocial/reviews/bike...

You've got the bug bad! It seems like you only passed your test a few months ago.

It's an interesting post. If you're at that dealers again a few photos may help us get an idea of what you're seeing and perhaps get a grip of your desire.

The parts brand manufacturers of the cycle parts reminds me of the Benelli 752S which I sat on at a Triumph dealers. There were rumours that there was going to be updated one that was lighter with a more powerful motor but it seems they were just that. I am sucker for the sparkly metallic green tank.

Perhaps this one of the bikes the 'bargain' CB1000 Hornet was trying to head off at the pass, offer a respected brand alternative at a tempting price to compete with the Chinese competition?

So the CB1000 Hornet was compared to a Ducati Streetfighter in looks, this one looks a bit Ducati Streetfighter to me too. I am not seeing Suzuki B-King.

To my eyes the styling is better than the CF Moto NK range, I struggle with the looks of the headlamp unit, though I've noticed the swingarm on the bargain NK 675 Triple which to my eyes looks better than the NK 800.

Previous gen. MV Agusta engine at a chinese price? Given the CB1000 Hornet oil consumption, like the FireBlades that used that engine is that MV Agusta engine proven to be reliable or it's problematic?

It wasn't leaping out to me from the article, but what's the warranty? It seems MV Agusta gives a five year warranty on new bikes.

Edited by carinaman on Sunday 12th April 21:18

[bimsb6]

robinh73 said:

I am seriously tempted by a Voge 900DS adventure bike as a second bike. It is a brilliant bit of kit. The engine is made by Lincoln and is the one used in the BMW f900GS. I have spoken to several owners and they have had no issues with servicing, spares or build quality at all.

Loncin