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question about a bike
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Chinese bikes are going to catch up sooner or later, they have come a long way in a short time.
I don’t have experience with Chinese made motorcycles, but I bought a 250cc Chinese Scooter back in Mar 2008, other than it looks cheap and body parts seem fragile and lower quality build. The little scooter has been doorknob relaible, regularly get over 80 mpg, cruises nicely between 40-55 mph (according to GPS).
I perform all the maintenance on the scooter, most if not all the maintenance have been very easily performed, oil change takes 15 minutes and less than 1 qt. of oil, valve adjustment can be performed roadside 5 minutes, while engine is running at operating temperature with a single tool and pair of latex gloves. For a vehicle that cost $1699 deliverd to my driveway, $45 to insure per year, I’ve put over 8000 miles on it since I bought it, and other than blown fuses and flat tires, it has never left me stranded, even those were fixed roadside.
I think to really take advantage of a cheap, lower quality build vehicle, you should be mechanically inclined and have some tools ready in your garage. I have been riding motorcycles since 2001, I never thought a scooter would be for me, I tried it and love it. For my 10-12 mile one way backroad commute with speed up to 50 mph, the scooter has been most reliable and entertaining. The lack of shifting/clutching and the large amount of underseat storage makes it a better vehicle for my daily commute in stop and go traffic.
I am an avid cyclist, I even figured out a way to carry my bicycle and gear on the scooter, so I could burn less fuel when getting myself to those group rides:
All in all, I think Chinese vehicles deserve a try, but be mindful that you need to be mechanically inclined and know that these machines are not as well made as major brand vehicles. A little bit of “crab shoot” may still involved; don’t expected them to perform like the major brand machines when pushed to the limits, as long as you stay well within their designated purpose, most likely even a Chinese vehicle can last a while.
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