The Chinese are coming: to the UK, at least

[Papa Lazarou]

Well, let's see how this goes. Three Chines motorcycle factories have teamed up to build an inline 4 600cc range, directly targeted at Japanese sportsbikes. Initially, they'll be UK only.

Chinese bikes are not known for the quality of finish or longevity-many of the imported 125cc bikes and scooters die within 6 months. But, if this is successful, expect middleweight Chinese bikes to become more common in the West. Who knows, a Harley clone next?



http://www.visordown.com/motorcycle-news--general-news/new-chinese-middleweights-set-for-uk-market/5386.html

THREE OF China's biggest motorcycle builders have teamed up to make the country's first modular 600cc sportsbike that will go on sale in Europe.

Loncin, Zongshen and Jialing have joined forces to create an all-new 600cc, four cylinder motor that will power three different motorcycles next year.

The bikes are being directly targeted against current Japanese and European motorcycles in what is believed to be the first serious attack on the sportsbike market by Chinese motorcycle makers. Not only are the manufacturers joining forces, they are each taking separate parts of the motorcycles in-house for further development. So one firm is working on the fuel-injection system for all three, another is sorting out suspension and the third is making and refining brakes and instruments.

Late 2009 (No-not here yet!) is being fixed as when we'll get our first real look at the bikes, expect prices to be around the 6,000 Euros mark. (that is around £5,500 or about $7750)

[mugwump58]

[veefer800canuck]

I predict they will be down on power, up on weight, plain hardware store fasteners holding everything together, and crude steel stampings all over the place.

Have you looked at the BAJA branded small dirtbikes and quads? They look like they were hammered out of scrap metal by a blacksmith.

Also see: Hyosung bikes close up and in the flesh. Very crude engineering, totally built on the cheap, and it shows in the fit and finish.

[Rincewind]

I like the air intake on that Loncin - reminds me of the Triumph Speed Fours.  

This article is from 2008 with a target import date of 2009 - I guess that didn't happen for you Brits?

[Hunter]

Well the more important question that no one seems to be asking is will the crappy chinese made "Chrome Vanadium" tools actually fit the fasteners on this bike instead of just rounding them off.

[HipGnosis]

I wanna know who's engine they copied - even though I wouldn't touch a first year or two model.

I question their tactic of starting in the 600 sport market - it's highly competitive and driven greatly by specs and magazine reviews.  

I wonder if they'd do better w/ a 350-500 standard.  I can see some market potential for a 'disposable' beginners bike.

[Papa Lazarou]

I like the air intake on that Loncin - reminds me of the Triumph Speed Fours.  

This article is from 2008 with a target import date of 2009 - I guess that didn't happen for you Brits?

No-hence my interest.

[vulcanbill]

I predict they will be down on power, up on weight, plain hardware store fasteners holding everything together, and crude steel stampings all over the place.

Have you looked at the BAJA branded small dirtbikes and quads? They look like they were hammered out of scrap metal by a blacksmith.

Also see: Hyosung bikes close up and in the flesh. Very crude engineering, totally built on the cheap, and it shows in the fit and finish.

Nothing a little corporate espionage can't fix.  The honey trap...she is very effective against engineers all around the world.  

[Mr.Black]

No thank you.

[jeepinbanditrider]

They can build some good quality gear depending on the price point.  They know people aren't going to pay the same prices as they do for Japanese bikes so they build to a lower (sometimes much lower) price point to move the product and still bring in a profit.  Hyosung did/does the same thing.  That's why fit and finish are down cause even if they did build to a higher fit and finish to compare to a Japanese bike noone would spend that kind of money for them cause they are from China.

The Base MSF course owns 2 Hyosung cruisers and 2 of the standards all in 250cc V-twin configuration and I talk to the guy who runs the program all the time.  He says they have been reliable with minimal downtime even with the students using them all the time.  Just the usual stuff such as busted levers and what not.  They yanked the blinkers when they first got them.

[Baz]

I wanna know who's engine they copied - even though I wouldn't touch a first year or two model.

I read an article where Suzuki licensed some factory in China to make their SV 650. I turned out that before Suzuki received their 1st bike, there were thousands of copies running around the streets of Beijing under an unknown brand name.

[jeepinbanditrider]

I read an article where Suzuki licensed some factory in China to make their SV 650. I turned out that before Suzuki received their 1st bike, there were thousands of copies running around the streets of Beijing under an unknown brand name.

I think that was the rumor flying around about Hyosung when they came out with their 650cc V-twin standards.  

I was listening to one of the podcasts I think it was the pace and they interviewed a lady that went to Intermot I think.  She said that for every best selling Euro or Japanese bike there was a Chinese copy.  

[Papa Lazarou]

I think that was the rumor flying around about Hyosung when they came out with their 650cc V-twin standards.  

I was listening to one of the podcasts I think it was the pace and they interviewed a lady that went to Intermot I think.  She said that for every best selling Euro or Japanese bike there was a Chinese copy.  

Only if it is under 250cc. Most are Cb125 or Cg125 copies.

Suzuki did ask their Chinese "partners" (stupid term) to build the early prototypes of the Suzuki 650-the inline twin. They withdrew the contract after a number of badly made lookalikes were found breaking down in China. Honest, right now, China will copy anything and the quality control is worse than 1980's Triumph.

[Rabidsnipe]

Check out this offering from Keeway...



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