Reliable Chinese scooter?
Discussion
If you properly maintain the scooter (changing oil, consumables, regular maintenance), then even Chinese, or Taiwanese, they will last about the same. Moreover, almost all scooters, even Honda or Yamaha, are made in China. Real Japanese scooters made in Japan are a myth. If they can be found outside of Japan, it is very rare. They are produced only for the domestic market and only in limited quantities, because large motorcycle manufacturers have long time ago moved the production of scooters outside their main factories. The main scooter producing countries are China, Taiwan, Vietnam.
I recommend to pay your attention to Lifan Turin (150cc, 4 stroke) or Regal Raptor (50cc, 4 stroke).
If you are only concerned about the price, but about the country of origin, then I highly recommend you Sym (Taiwan). The price segment is the same, but I like the quality more.
I recommend to pay your attention to Lifan Turin (150cc, 4 stroke) or Regal Raptor (50cc, 4 stroke).
If you are only concerned about the price, but about the country of origin, then I highly recommend you Sym (Taiwan). The price segment is the same, but I like the quality more.
That Jap branded bikes are made in China isn't all that relevant. It's quality control (or lack of) that's the problem when buying 'no brand' Chinese bikes. Things like metal parts that rust into dust after one winter.
I've no doubt you would probably do ok if you keep a cheap Chinese bike out of the weather, but that isn't typically what scooters are used for.
I've no doubt you would probably do ok if you keep a cheap Chinese bike out of the weather, but that isn't typically what scooters are used for.
DaviBrons said:
If you properly maintain the scooter (changing oil, consumables, regular maintenance), then even Chinese, or Taiwanese, they will last about the same.
This.Any machine will fail faster if it isn't maintained properly.
Yes, you do need to spend a bit more time fettling a cheap Chinese scooter initially, but once you've done the important stuff (changed oil and plug, set valve clearances properly, lubed and adjusted literally everything) it will be as reliable as something costing a lot more.
Donbot said:
That Jap branded bikes are made in China isn't all that relevant.
It's quality control (or lack of) that's the problem when buying 'no brand' Chinese bikes.
This ^^It's quality control (or lack of) that's the problem when buying 'no brand' Chinese bikes.
I know a few people who have used Chinese production for everything from carpets to tyres they all say that they have to have a company representative on site otherwise corners are cut and quality plummets
I worked in a bike shop that sold KYMCO bikes and I bought one as did a few other guys who worked there. They were quite good imo, they had a good single cylinder 125 engine that went on most of their range at that time, it made good power and went well with no engine claims coming our way over a fair few years.
KYMCO were about 3/4 the price of yamaha which we also sold.
Resale is the kicker with chinese/Taiwanese stuff, it absolutely plummets in value compared to the yamahas. I had a KYMCO zing, but ended up replacing it with a Yamaha drag star which was inferior in most ways, it was slower and less stable and cost more (crucially tho it was a v twin rather than single).
If cost is a big factor I'd look at 2nd hand jap or italian stuff, will be the same price as new chinese stuff once it's a year old.
KYMCO were about 3/4 the price of yamaha which we also sold.
Resale is the kicker with chinese/Taiwanese stuff, it absolutely plummets in value compared to the yamahas. I had a KYMCO zing, but ended up replacing it with a Yamaha drag star which was inferior in most ways, it was slower and less stable and cost more (crucially tho it was a v twin rather than single).
If cost is a big factor I'd look at 2nd hand jap or italian stuff, will be the same price as new chinese stuff once it's a year old.
A mate had a chinese scooter for his mrs , servicing intervals were 1000kms , the valves stretched so the valves needed resetting regularly , the engine mountings crumbled . It didn’t make it to its first mot , 1000km servicing was crazy ,dealership costs would have made it cheaper to buy a jap built 125 .
I used to work with a guy who bought one - got suckered in the by 'low price for a brand new machine' thought process, and to keep the miles off the other (rather nicer) bikes he had, as his commute was 20 miles each way, every day so they got salty all winter etc.
It was absolute dogs
te. Constantly breaking, rust, engine parts made of cheese. Scrapped at 2.5 years old, and was effectively worthless once it was a few months old anyway as no-one wants a secondhand one.
Buy a second hand Jap-brand machine. As mentioned, it's not really about where they are made, it's the QC that really matters. And on the never-heard-of brands that are cheap enough to be really appealing on price, there is none. A second-hand smallish Honda will retain most of it's value as long as it's in good nick and has some history, so the actual cost to own one is limited to consumables and petrol, with little depreciation.
It was absolute dogs
te. Constantly breaking, rust, engine parts made of cheese. Scrapped at 2.5 years old, and was effectively worthless once it was a few months old anyway as no-one wants a secondhand one.Buy a second hand Jap-brand machine. As mentioned, it's not really about where they are made, it's the QC that really matters. And on the never-heard-of brands that are cheap enough to be really appealing on price, there is none. A second-hand smallish Honda will retain most of it's value as long as it's in good nick and has some history, so the actual cost to own one is limited to consumables and petrol, with little depreciation.
rat840771 said:
Looked at £2k options but went for the 3k option and bought a Honda PCX 125 for daughter, she loves it they also demand good money on 2nd hand market. I have seen examples going for near on 3k with 15k on the clock. Deliveroo love them !
It's mental. I let my 35k miles 3 year old one go for 1200 quid before the pandemic and before prices went silly. I paid 2400 new so it owed me nothing. I had no idea how much I should have sold it for given its high milage. Phone didn't stop ringing so know the guy who got it got a bargain even it if was a baggy bargain. Seen it up for sale recently with 55k on for 1600! My lad got a Sym Jet14, he's only done 1200mls but it seems OK, performance is on par with an Nmax, servicing intervals are short, they only hold 0.8ltrs of oil and only have a wire strainer filter, but its an easy enough job to do yourself, I have a PCX on order, apparently there's 1500 coming this month with a 1000 already sold.
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