Chinese motocross bikes

[IT490K1983]

I would much prefer a machine that is built to a standard, as opposed to a price. I also believe that lesser priced bikes that are aimed at a niche market can actually undermine the stability of an existing market rather than adding stability. The only way they they can compete is on price; but we are talking apples and oranges here, so the entry point for them into the market is to weaken the existing one. A weak market can easily also become a very unsustainable one. I guess it is stating the obvious. As was stated earlier, "the Taiwanese are very good at copying but not inventing". Sorry, but there is very little inventing going on with most of the pit bikes, just copying.

[Nathan S]

I would much prefer a machine that is built to a standard, as opposed to a price. 

We all would, but none of us will actually buy them.... Everyone now sells disposable rubbish, because emphasising (actual) "quality" and "long life" is a hiding to nowhere in the modern world.

Modern manufacturing is about building stuff of adequate quality and being able to sell it at a competitive price while maximising your profits.



 

[b490]

I would much prefer a machine that is built to a standard, as opposed to a price. I also believe that lesser priced bikes that are aimed at a niche market can actually undermine the stability of an existing market rather than adding stability. 

I suspect that many of  the  "niche market " you refer to  are  usually  the knobs that  you see riding those cheap crappers recklessly around parks & streets in suburbia  giving people  the shits  & proper dirt bikers a bad rep.
 

Regards ,
                Steve

[Marc.com]

I would much prefer a machine that is built to a standard, as opposed to a price. I also believe that lesser priced bikes that are aimed at a niche market can actually undermine the stability of an existing market

While we are shipping minerals to China I am pretty sure the government is not going to worry too much about any niche market in the cross trade.

Besides would you describe BMW as built to a standard, yet the 450 engines are made in Taiwan which was definitely Chinese last time I was there.

[chrisdespo]

Being a motorcycle mechanic of around 38 years, and with plenty of time on my hands I like chinese bikes. My daughter bought one hot pink with a honda lookalike engine. the engine seems OK, the rest of the bike, when we go for a ride we take a big bucket and put all the parts in it that fall off when we get home we go through the bucket and match up bolts and fasteners with new or old good quality ones and then cause i have plenty of time ( i run a cattle property and work as a workshop foreman on local council) and love my trade i put it all back together again. after about 12 months of this we have a bike that is holding together ok  , but we have had rain recently after a long dry spell, and now we can concentrate on the electrix.

[oldskool]

slakewell they do make a xr 80 copy made by shineray i bought one from ddr motorcycles $1395 brand new my wife and eldest daughter used to ride it 200cc 4 stroke had it for about 2 years very reliable never had valve clearance checked used it nearly every weekend never even changed a spark plug.when i sold it it hadn't been started for about 1 month 3rd kick it fired up and off it went.shineray company also have there own motorcross team that do very well on the asian circuit.
ps havent had internet since 16th of december storm knocked it out only got it back today.cheers gary

[IT490K1983]

 

I suspect that many of  the  "niche market " you refer to  are  usually  the knobs that  you see riding those cheap crappers recklessly around parks & streets in suburbia  giving people  the shits  & proper dirt bikers a bad rep.
 

Regards ,
                Steve

Yep Steve they would be part of the same crew that are giving all motorcyclists a bad name because many (note, not all) members of the public put us all together in the same group. Guilty by association. Some more members of the same crew can be viewed on Youtube at various times, riding like an indestructible lunatic and then posting it as though they have achieved something really significant. 

[vmxrider]

For a bit it under 3K these look pretty good, for the occasional ride a round the local mx track would probably be ideal. I spoke to a distributor recently about part prices and all pretty reasonable. A 290cc big bore upgrade including cylinder, piston etc was around $300.
http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/NEW-SHINERAY-XY250GY-2-DOHC-4-VALVE-DIRT-BIKE-MX-ENDURO-TRAIL-BIKE-THUMPSTER-PIT/261225218889?_trksid=p2045573.m2042&_trkparms=aid%3D111000%26algo%3DREC.CURRENT%26ao%3D1%26asc%3D27%26meid%3D8708903533580448666%26pid%3D100033%26prg%3D1011%26rk%3D2%26sd%3D321150012721%26

[firko]

I've been reliably informed that there will soon be Chinese made Rickman Metisse frames available to the public.

[GD66]

Now, now...

[Nathan S]

For a bit it under 3K these look pretty good, for the occasional ride a round the local mx track would probably be ideal. I spoke to a distributor recently about part prices and all pretty reasonable. A 290cc big bore upgrade including cylinder, piston etc was around $300.
http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/NEW-SHINERAY-XY250GY-2-DOHC-4-VALVE-DIRT-BIKE-MX-ENDURO-TRAIL-BIKE-THUMPSTER-PIT/261225218889?_trksid=p2045573.m2042&_trkparms=aid%3D111000%26algo%3DREC.CURRENT%26ao%3D1%26asc%3D27%26meid%3D8708903533580448666%26pid%3D100033%26prg%3D1011%26rk%3D2%26sd%3D321150012721%26

They do ADR'd enduro versions of those. Supposed to be pretty good: similar grunt to a TTR250, but with better handling and suspension.
The feedback is that they're pretty reliable.

I sometimes wonder if they'd be the modern DT1, if the market wasn't already flooded with 40 years of decent bikes.

[Rookie#1]

I've been reliably informed that there will soon be Chinese made Rickman Metisse frames available to the public.

 :'(

[Iain Cameron]

I've been reliably informed that there will soon be Chinese made Rickman Metisse frames available to the public.

mmm I think Ive heard this before , didn't there used to be a thread on this .

[bazza]

 and the famous Lickman mongalese