- This topic has 2 replies, 2 voices, and was last updated 15 years, 9 months ago by iGeng.
Verucci Phantom VC250
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July 3, 2008 at 11:11 pm #1664iGengParticipant
Does anyone have any information on this bike? I’ve just recently got my permit. I will be taking the basic rider course in August but I’m currently looking to purchase a beginner’s bike, preferably a 250.
July 4, 2008 at 1:01 pm #8324MattParticipanthttp://www.verucci.com/html/products/cruisers/VC250-2.htm
Okay, so just looking things over very quickly. The cruiser you point to appears no better than any of the japanese 250 cruisers.
The about us page describes Verucci as an Italian / American company specializing in watches and apparel that is now moving into helmets and vehicles. Vehicles seem intended primarily for South America with some going to North America and Spain…
My first thoughts are: Man they look just like Lifan bikes. Even the naming convention on their dirtbike is the same as the lifan. The 200cc sport bike looks a lot like the Lifan… but the engines are different from the Lifan bikes. Different displacements, and in the case of the sport bike, noticibly less power.
Between that and the fact that their parent company is called Qingqi leads me to believe they are a chinese manufacturer. Even if they say “american and italian designed”.
Reading their warranty, I’d avoid them: 90 days, parts only. Basically, if there is something wrong with the bike, you’re on your own. And getting parts may be very difficult.
If you are going to go the route of a super cheap new bike (aka Chinese made), go with a Lifan sold through American Lifan. Other importers do not have all the paperwork to put those bikes on the road legally. Even the Canadian Lifan importer recognizes that Lifans, while the highest quality of the chinese bikes, are inferior to their japanese equivilants. Roughly one in 6 bikes out of the factory have an issue (usually an electrical harness that wasn’t put together properly). I’ve read a number of posts on forums all saying that the first thing you need to do with any chinese made bike is go through the entire bike taking off each bolt and loctite-ing it.
Seriously, for the money, buy a used japanese bike. A used Rebel or Virago will be much much easier to deal with.
July 4, 2008 at 4:00 pm #8335iGengParticipantThanks for the great info! I saw an ad on craigslist for $800. Being that it’s going to be my first bike, I thought it would be a great first bike. Obviously, I need a reliable bike to learn on and less time to fix/maintain. I don’t even like cruisers, I prefer standard or sport, but the price is just so enticing. I guess I will avoid the phantoms because, as you’ve pointed out, getting replacement parts will be difficult. I would like to grow with my future bike (learning the ins and outs of a bike), but not if I can’t find any replacement parts.
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