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Chinese bikes
Posted: Mon Sep 09, 2013 11:20 am
by slparry
I've hated them with a vengance, the build quality on the ones I've seen has been dire.
However, this one
http://www.whateverwheels.co.uk/smsimg/wk650tr.pdf
appears to have received a favourable review, and is being offered for £5100 with a
5 year parts and labour warranty!!! here
http://www.whateverwheels.co.uk/m3b0s38 ... r-Warranty
Surely that has to be the commuting bargain of the century doesn't it?
If you commute on it for the 5 year warranty period it's a grand a year or £20 per week plus fuel etc, and just throw it away and get a new one in 5 years time

Posted: Mon Sep 09, 2013 11:46 am
by Gromit
You know Steve, I quite like that, and good to have Alan Cathcart as the guy writing about it too.
Posted: Mon Sep 09, 2013 11:48 am
by slparry
Gromit wrote:You know Steve, I quite like that, and good to have Alan Cathcart as the guy writing about it too.
It sort of looks like a mini St1300 Pan

Posted: Mon Sep 09, 2013 11:57 am
by conkerman
Shame its not a shafty.
Is this the one using the ER6 clone engine?
Posted: Mon Sep 09, 2013 12:05 pm
by Topcat
Got a pretty good review in the latest Bike mag - just poor suspension but I guess they are used to the latest high tech stuff.
The Chinese stuff is getting better. I posted somewhere else about my daughters Kymco 125. Lives outside, she has no idea what a bike cover is let alone bike cleaner but can't kill the thing with a stick - which a couple of low life tried a few years back after stealing from the front of the house. Wife and daughter found it 100yds down the road at the back of a car park, on its side with dents on the instruments and tank from being hit with a bar! Muppets couldn’t start it.
Stood it up and damm thing started on the button. Still going strong and she does now know what a lock and chain is!
Posted: Mon Sep 09, 2013 12:13 pm
by conkerman
I thought Kymco were Korean?
Posted: Mon Sep 09, 2013 12:26 pm
by slparry
conkerman wrote:I thought Kymco were Korean?
They are, and ISTR they're the ones who supply the engines for the BMW scooters the C600 Sport and C650GT
Posted: Mon Sep 09, 2013 1:21 pm
by conkerman
Didn't know BMW made a maxi scoot. They want pretty stiff money for it though.
The idea of a maxi scoot is beginning to appeal. For commuting purposes only.
Kill me now.
Re: Chinese bikes
Posted: Mon Sep 09, 2013 1:25 pm
by bikesnbones
slparry wrote:Surely that has to be the commuting bargain of the century doesn't it?
No.
Some years back I bought a Yamaha 900 Diversion for £900 from a BMW dealer who'd taken it in and just wanted rid quickly.
It was fairly tidy, came with Givi panniers, and had done 40,000 miles. Over the next 4 years I took that up to 80,000 miles.
I used it as a daily commuter all year round, all weathers, pretty much never cleaned it and only did the most basic servicing.
It never went wrong, and never failed an MOT.
I sold it for £300 just before moving down to the South West.
£600 for 4 years hassle free riding, is what I call the commuting bargain of the century.
Posted: Mon Sep 09, 2013 1:30 pm
by slparry
conkerman wrote:Didn't know BMW made a maxi scoot. They want pretty stiff money for it though.
The idea of a maxi scoot is beginning to appeal. For commuting purposes only.
Kill me now.
Having sat on one they're really nice and I too have been fancying one for a while, as you say they're an horrendous price tho'.
Aprilia do a v twin 800 cc one that's a bit of a goer. I reckon it would make one heck of a tourer, and wouldn't the sports boys get upset at a scooter whizzing past them

Re: Chinese bikes
Posted: Mon Sep 09, 2013 1:31 pm
by slparry
bikesnbones wrote:slparry wrote:Surely that has to be the commuting bargain of the century doesn't it?
No.
Some years back I bought a Yamaha 900 Diversion for £900 from a BMW dealer who'd taken it in and just wanted rid quickly.
It was fairly tidy, came with Givi panniers, and had done 40,000 miles. Over the next 4 years I took that up to 80,000 miles.
I used it as a daily commuter all year round, all weathers, pretty much never cleaned it and only did the most basic servicing.
It never went wrong, and never failed an MOT.
I sold it for £300 just before moving down to the South West.
£600 for 4 years hassle free riding, is what I call the commuting bargain of the century.
very very true

Posted: Mon Sep 09, 2013 2:46 pm
by conkerman
Agreed, but I reckon the big scoots are the ideal tool for commuting, better than the ubiquitous GS even.
Just leave your machismo at home.
Re: Chinese bikes
Posted: Mon Sep 09, 2013 5:06 pm
by cros
slparry wrote:I've hated them with a vengance, the build quality on the ones I've seen has been dire.
However, this one
http://www.whateverwheels.co.uk/smsimg/wk650tr.pdf
appears to have received a favourable review, and is being offered for £5100 with a
5 year parts and labour warranty!!! here
http://www.whateverwheels.co.uk/m3b0s38 ... r-Warranty
Surely that has to be the commuting bargain of the century doesn't it?
If you commute on it for the 5 year warranty period it's a grand a year or £20 per week plus fuel etc, and just throw it away and get a new one in 5 years time

Didn't we say that about the jap crap in the 1960`s or am I to old to suggest
.
Posted: Mon Sep 09, 2013 5:12 pm
by cros
slparry wrote:conkerman wrote:Didn't know BMW made a maxi scoot. They want pretty stiff money for it though.
The idea of a maxi scoot is beginning to appeal. For commuting purposes only.
Kill me now.
Having sat on one they're really nice and I too have been fancying one for a while, as you say they're an horrendous price tho'.
Aprilia do a v twin 800 cc one that's a bit of a goer. I reckon it would make one heck of a tourer, and wouldn't the sports boys get upset at a scooter whizzing past them

I have just parted with a Piaggio X9 500 that would top 110 mph and would sit there all day at 85 mph, 65 mpg, good for long commutes, good comfort. I do not know if it will go good up the ponderosa!
Re: Chinese bikes
Posted: Mon Sep 09, 2013 7:23 pm
by eyore
[quote="cros
Didn't we say that about the jap crap in the 1960`s or am I to old to suggest
.[/quote]
Yes , buy the difference is the Japanese were innovators, the Chinese are plagiarists who have so far shown themselves unable to invent anything of note.