What about Chinese bikes?

[entityof1]

well i worked in a scooter/motorcycle shop for a year, and i got to test drive the kymco 250 and was certainly impressed because it was dirt cheap. But, there is another side. It felt definitively.....cheaper. I felt like that if i wrecked it every piece of pot metal and plastic would break. i dunno just my opinion.

[obxbiker]

well i worked in a scooter/motorcycle shop for a year, and i got to test drive the kymco 250 and was certainly impressed because it was dirt cheap. But, there is another side. It felt definitively.....cheaper. I felt like that if i wrecked it every piece of pot metal and plastic would break. i dunno just my opinion.

Everyone is entitled to an opinion.

But my "test drive" has been owning one for over 4 years and a second one for a year and a half. I ride everyday and have over 36,000km between the two bikes and have never had them let me down unlike many other "metal" bikes that I have owned. (I have owned and rode bikes for over 38 years)

My "plastic and pot metal" venox ON THE ROAD and not in the shop like many of the "metal" bikes I've owned...well its hard to put a price on dependability !

Just wondering...what "metal" bike do you ride ?

[intotherain]

CHINA BIKE BAD, KOREA GOOD, JAPAN GOOD
DONT GET LIFAN or any of those chinese bikes.

I have to tighten almost every single thing on that bike every week. Everything comes loose, the chooke holder, handlebars, pegs, wheel. Its quite scary.

I had the same sit. as you where I just wanted a cheap bike to start with, but now I just wish I saved up for 1 more month and gotten a ninja 260 or 500.

I saved up another month and bought a Yamaha.

what kind?

[intotherain]

CHINA BIKE BAD, KOREA GOOD, JAPAN GOOD
DONT GET LIFAN or any of those chinese bikes.

I have to tighten almost every single thing on that bike every week. Everything comes loose, the chooke holder, handlebars, pegs, wheel. Its quite scary.

I had the same sit. as you where I just wanted a cheap bike to start with, but now I just wish I saved up for 1 more month and gotten a ninja 260 or 500.

I saved up another month and bought a Yamaha.

what kind?

[Daikuma]

Lots of great comments about the Hyosungs and Kymco.

Have a little to add about Kymco.
Like Hyosung was involved with Susuki , Kymco for 40 years had a close relationship with Honda up until the 2000's.

Have you ever seen a Honda Magna 250/vt250 ?
They were made for the overseas market from the mid 90's till 2002, the same year that the Venox 250 was released overseas.

They are "basicly" the same bike.

The Venox has a diffferent seat, body panels and larger gas tank. The engine also has been retuned.Most of the other parts are the same. Thats why the Venox has such a great record as it is really not a new bike with new bike problems.

Here is a photo of the Honda Magna 250/VT250:


Kymco Venox:


HONDA MAGNA 250............vs..................KYMCO VENOX 250


Engine and transmission


Displacement:.....249.00 ccm (15.19 cubic inches)....................SAME
Engine type:....... V2 ..............................................................SAME
Stroke: ...............4.................................................................SAME
Power: ................27.00 HP (19.7 kW)) @ 10000 RPM............28hp [27.50 HP (20.1 kW)) @ 10500 RPM]

Torque: ...............23.00 Nm................................................. 19.80 Nm
(2.3 kgf-m or 17.0 ft.lbs) @ 7500 RPM................................... (2.0 kgf-m or 14.6 ft.lbs) @ 8500 RPM ]


Compression: ......11.0:1.....................................................N/A
Bore x stroke: .....60.0 x 44.1 mm (2.4 x 1.7 inches).............58x47.2
Fuel system: ........Carburettor.............................................SAME
Valves per cyl:..... 4.............................................................SAME
Fuel control: .........DOHC.....................................................SAME
Cooling system:.... Liquid.....................................................SAME
Gearbox:.............. 5-speed...................................................SAME


Physical measures


Dry weight:............171.0 kg (377.0 pounds)........................418.5 lbs.
Seat height:........... 690 mm (27.2 inches)...........................29 in. (736.6mm)
Overall height:........1,065 mm (41.9 inches).........................1,080 mm (42.5 inches)
Overall length:....... 2,315 mm (91.1 inches).........................2,325 mm (91.5 inches)
Overall width:.........880 mm (34.6 inches)............................840 mm (33.1 inches)
Ground clearance:...130 mm (5.1 inches).............................N/A
Wheelbase: ............1,620 mm (63.8 inches)........................63 in. (1600.2mm)


Chassis and dimensions


Front tyre: .............120/80-17 61S ....................................SAME
Rear tyre: ...............150/80-15 M/C 70S..............................SAME
Front brakes: ...........Single disc..........................................SAME
Rear brakes: ............Expanding brake.................................DRUM

Speed and acceleration


Power/weight ratio: ...0.1579 HP/kg...................................... 0.1571 HP/kg

Other specifications


Fuel capacity: ...........11.00 litres (2.91 gallons).....................3.7 gallons(14 liters)

Here is a lot more information on the Venox and the Hyosung Cruisers:
Kymco & Hyosung

Wow! Practically the same bike.

So can you bolt on older Magna 250 Accessories straight across? I'm thinking saddles, seatbacks, and saddlebags specifically, but knowing where anything might fit would be cool.

[DireWolf]

I'm more into the retro bikes. There is a Chinese builder building pre-WWII BMW style replicas. (They're a little bigger --750's---than what you're looking for, but I just had to throw this out there).

I was a little leery, but I have a local dealer who's pretty awesome with support & service (I bought my Enfield there). These are just sweet looking/riding bikes.

Chang-Jiangs. Check out the passenger seats & saddle-style handle...

[Sev]

I have zero faith in Chinese built units.

[JC Viper]

Like Rodney Dangerfield said in a Simpson's episode: falls apart like a chinese motorcycle .

The Kymco was reviewed some time ago by a motorcycle mag and it was considered a good bike along with the 250cc Hyosung. Besides Kymco has been building pretty good scooters for Taiwan (publications said good but I have no experience with them).

[NWTrtle]

I bought my '08 Hyosung GV250 cruiser last August and it has been doing great. I had a little issue with the kickstand kill switch killing the engine with the kickstand up, but that was fixed easily. Other than that, it just cruises along (no pun intended). Bike feels solid to me and feels fine at 70 mph on the freeway. The v-twin hovers at 8000 RPM at 70 mph with a red line of 12,000 RPM. There is not a lot of oomph when in 5th at 70 mph, but a shift down will not red line and give you the power you need. Around town riding is easy and comfortable.

When I bought mine, there was a $300 instant off rebate if you passed a MSF BRP within the last 60 days. The last incentive I saw was a free year of gas in the form of a gas card....but I think the number of miles ridden on average was pretty low.

I have no problem recommending a Hyosung to anyone looking at a bike.

[shane-o]

I know its not very adventurous, but, why would one bother risking their hard earned on a company newish to bikes when japanese bikes have been running rampant in the market for 30+ years.

30+ yrs of R & D, thats why japanese bikes are king for price=quality type.

japanese bikes have owned the sport market for more years than Ive had hot sunday dinners, and now they are taking over the heavy weights, cruisers.

I have nothing against SE Asia, China etc etc, but if I want a low cost reputable bike from a proven company with more back-up than a UN policing operation, then japanese is the one !!!!!



incidently, A chap over here has just put 50,000 kms on a hyosung 650 in the last 2 years, and apart from the regular service and usual running costs, has had absolutely no issues thus far!!!! thats not bad for a relatively new bike to the market that has had reliability questions hanging over its head.