Infrastructure, infrastructure, infrastructure...

[redhandmoto]

Once upon a time - three years ago - I briefly rode a China bike that an acquaintance had purchased over the 'Net, and was very positively impressed.

Mentioned it to my brother (a life-long rider and wrencher) at the time, and he cautioned that obtaining parts or service would be a nightmare.

Fair enough.

Fast-forward to Present Day: I begin researching and reading enthusiast's sites, and it looks like the China bike sales/parts/service network is maturing nicely, so I buy a small bike from a reputable authorized dealer. It arrives very quickly - the seller's communications and responsiveness are excellent, and I am one happy pup.

I am not a wrencher, but uncrate it, throw myself into doing a PDI, and and am riding within a couple hours. But because I failed to assure that one exotic part was securely torqued down, it soon came loose and was broken. The bike is still safely rideable.

I contacted my dealer. I hear back immediately, and am assured that the part will be forthcoming. I wait, inquire some more, and wait. Then I begin to contact sources in the secondary market, and here I find out the facts: the part is not available, hasn't been available for some time, and doesn't look to be arriving from China any time soon.

From the nature of my dealer's replies, I believe that this was also news to him, too. From the parent distribution company, silence.

The broken, hard-to-find part? A speedometer cable. Not a crankshaft or transmission parts or CDI, just a simple speedo cable.

Now, finally, here's my "issue": because I found the quality of the little bike to be very good and the value outstanding, I'm interested in getting another, bigger China bike, a 250 cruiser. I've researched the available marques, and they all mostly look pretty good.

So which of the companies has the best parts availability and distribution?

The little cable-less bike I already have is produced by a very large company with a significant permanent US presence. They have a warehouse, they have dealers, they have bikes, they are responsive, polite, but they don't have a speedometer cable, & haven't had any such for a long time.

I suspect that the problem with their parts inventory lies over in the PRC, and not in the American operation. That same model holds for the Italian bike I own - good, professional dealers in the US who are embarrased by the 'indifference' and mysteries of the Italian parent company

So, M'Lords, I ain't gonna order a 250 from them. That said, which company have you found to have the most complete parts inventory and distriubution system available?


Thanks

[Qingdao]

I feel your pain I have been hunting an exhaust valve for my bike for a while (its bent up good so I don't know how long it originaly was), but you can use jap parts on these bikes. Speedos are pretty universal.

Have you tried using a digital bicycle speedo?

[redhandmoto]

Oh, I'm gonna slap a bike speedo on there anyway, but it'd still be nice to have the original in place and kind of working, since the speedometer is part of the headlight housing and it looks dumb, just sitting there not doing anything...

And I have a query out with an aftermarket parts guy to see if the cable from the Japanese 'original' from which the bike was cloned will work.

But yours is a case in point - why buy a bike - no matter how good or cost-effective - if I'm not gonna be able to get a simple part?

Reliable Japanese 250s are everywhere. If Chinese companies want part of the market share, they'll need to have parts around. Parts make money, often a greater profit margin than bikes.

Maybe folks in the PRC just aren't up to speed with the industrial capitalism/marketing thing yet...

[AZ200cc]

http://www.hooperimports.com/product.aspx?pf_id=PBSpdDrvCbl

http://www.hooperimports.com/product.aspx?pf_id=TRSpdCbl

http://www.hooperimports.com/product.aspx?pf_id=LF200GYSPEEDOCBL

Any of those match?

[Jim]

Mind elaborating on what bike you are looking for a cable for? Cables were available for my Lifan's when I had them...

[phil]

im working on the parts end now :lol:

[redhandmoto]

http://www.hooperimports.com/product.aspx?pf_id=PBSpdDrvCbl

http://www.hooperimports.com/product.aspx?pf_id=TRSpdCbl

http://www.hooperimports.com/product.aspx?pf_id=LF200GYSPEEDOCBL

Any of those match?

No, they don't, unfortunately, but the great thing was that the folks at Hooper's spent two days looking through their inventory, tryng to help me out and find something I could use, staying constantly in touch.

Kudos to Hooper's - again, I was impressed by their surprising responsiveness. They were really pitching, trying to find me one inexpensive part - it wasn't like I was getting an engine.

It is a sheer pleasure to see a company putting that much effort for one part - just because they know a customer wants it, and not because it's going make them a fortune.

Dealers and parts guys here in the US have all been really great, in fact. Makes you appreciate what they must go through.

[phil]

give us a hint on what your looking for maybe some measurements you may be suprised how helpful the folks here are :wink:

[redhandmoto]

Mind elaborating on what bike you are looking for a cable for? Cables were available for my Lifan's when I had them...

Hi, Jim - you know, I didn't want to talk about specific brands or dealers because it's my feeling that this is a problem for all US dealers trying to make a living seeling decent bikes and supporting them. I think it's beyond their control, and they're often left hanging out to dry by the marques they're representing.

Like I said, I'm very positively impressed by the efforts and professionalism of all hands I've dealt with. It's gotta be tough for them.

[redhandmoto]

give us a hint on what your looking for maybe some measurements you may be suprised how helpful the folks here are :wink:

Thanks, Phil - PM sent.

Whoa! Just noticed you're way down in the SW highlands! I'm way up in NoVA.

That's what I've come to appreciate in riders of Chinese bikes - they just sort of formed a huge mutual support group in exchanging components and tech info. while the, uh, infrastructure gets itself organized.

So, Everybody! Which marque has a reasonably stocked parts inventory? Nobody yet? Who's getting there?

[phil]

i got the message if you still need the part ill round it up shouldnt be too hard to find

[redhandmoto]

Great - I must've muisunderstood your reply. If yopu do have one, just PM me the details ans I can get payment off.

I'm still wondering which marque has their parts inventory sh*t together so's I can look at their 250s...

[SpudRider]

...I'm still wondering which marque has their parts inventory sh*t together so's I can look at their 250s...
I hate to say it, but the silence is deafening. ;) Don't get me wrong; I love my Zongshen Sierra 200GY-2. The fact that I can use so many Yamaha parts on it is one of the reasons I like it so much. In general, the Chinese manufacturers do not do a very good job keeping parts in supply. If you definitely must have a handy supply of parts, you should seriously also consider buying a Japanese motorcycle. ;)

Spud :)

[phil]

i really hate to agree with you on this spud but your right, just in case anybody wants to know you should try it from my end what i hoped to have ready before may i will be lucky to have by the end of june and maybe july but i have have it firmly grabbed by the hair on the head and will drag this 800 lb gorrila even if i just end up just a monkey on my back

[redhandmoto]

thanks, Spud - well, Zong's on the list. The only dealer within 75 miles or so who has any China cruisers at all has two Zongshen ZS250-5s.

First time I saw them briefly, thought I'd like to see if some of the plastics could come off and how it might be bobbed. Good to hear about the Yamaha parts. My hunt for a speedo cable will probably end this week by using a Big Four part, adapted (vendor wasn't 100% sure about workability without some mods).

[SpudRider]

thanks, Spud - well, Zong's on the list. The only dealer within 75 miles or so who has any China cruisers at all has two Zongshen ZS250-5s.

First time I saw them briefly, thought I'd like to see if some of the plastics could come off and how it might be bobbed. Good to hear about the Yamaha parts. My hunt for a speedo cable will probably end this week by using a Big Four part, adapted (vendor wasn't 100% sure about workability without some mods).
I don't want to mislead you, Red. The high degree of Yamaha parts compatibility is probably limited to the Zongshen Sierra 200GY-2 model. I doubt that the Zongshen ZS250-5 models will be similar in this regard. However, I will conduct a little research and see if I am wrong.

Good luck with the speedometer cable. I easily purchased a spare clutch, throttle and speedometer cable for my Zongshen Sierra 200GY-2 from Zongshen America. :)

Spud :)

[SpudRider]

i really hate to agree with you on this spud but your right, just in case anybody wants to know you should try it from my end what i hoped to have ready before may i will be lucky to have by the end of june and maybe july but i have have it firmly grabbed by the hair on the head and will drag this 800 lb gorrila even if i just end up just a monkey on my back
Good luck, my friend. Everyone here is wishing you the best of success. :)

Spud :)

[phil]

spud, just between us i think the fill on my order will be over 95% and for a idea the $ would buy about 3 bikes if they would just send the invoice and get it out

[redhandmoto]

A happy ending.

Well, the OEM part arrived yesterday, but unfortunately will not work.

In follow-up with the original dealer this morning, however, he was very surprised to hear that the package of replacement parts he'd sent when the problem was first reported hadn't arrived, but had gone to USPS Heaven. A new parcel is being sent.

On the Zongshen 250, I got back yesterday to look it over in detail. Dealer wants $2999, though I (wrongly) remembered $2499. Boy, that's a hefty bike. Looking for detailed reviews on the 'Net, I found only one at a site in Oz - fellas there found it well-made but decidedly "mild."

There's a dealer about 100 miles away who carries the Johnny Pag line. A road trip may be called for to see the 300cc machine. The quest continues...

[SpudRider]

A happy ending.

Well, the OEM part arrived yesterday, but unfortunately will not work.

In follow-up with the original dealer this morning, however, he was very surprised to hear that the package of replacement parts he'd sent when the problem was first reported hadn't arrived, but had gone to USPS Heaven. A new parcel is being sent.

On the Zongshen 250, I got back yesterday to look it over in detail. Dealer wants $2999, though I (wrongly) remembered $2499. Boy, that's a hefty bike. Looking for detailed reviews on the 'Net, I found only one at a site in Oz - fellas there found it well-made but decidedly "mild."

There's a dealer about 100 miles away who carries the Johnny Pag line. A road trip may be called for to see the 300cc machine. The quest continues...
I am pleased to hear the dealer sent you another parcel. I always enjoy hearing reports of good customer service. :)

If you are interested in the Johnny Pag motorcycle, you might also want to check out the Hyosung and United Motors naked sport bikes. Both bikes are competitive in price with the Zongshen and Johnny Pag bikes; however, the Hyosung and UM bikes are of decidedly higher quality. ;) If you are interested, check out the following thread. :)

http://chinariders.net/modules.php?name=Forums&file=viewtopic&t=7924

Spud :)

[redhandmoto]

Thanks, Spud. I was pleasantly surprised, too. Dealer originally told me he'd take care of me, nothing arrived, and I'd just figured that he also had been unable to get parts.

UM... Hyusong... Two more marques to check out - still need to see Lifan, Qlink...

Prices for Chinese bikes of this class are beginning to reach the levels of Suzuki GZ/TU 250s, Honda Rebesl, and Yamaha VStar 250s. As that happens, what advantage in buying a China bike remains?

[SpudRider]

...Prices for Chinese bikes of this class are beginning to reach the levels of Suzuki GZ/TU 250s, Honda Rebesl, and Yamaha VStar 250s. As that happens, what advantage in buying a China bike remains?
You are exactly correct; the only advantage in buying a Chinese motorcycle is price. When the price difference gets small enough, you are definitely better off getting a used Japanese motorcycle instead of a new Chinabike. As the price approaches $2,000, I believe, in most instances, you are better off getting a used Japanese motorcycle. In most cases the Japanese motorcycle will be better constructed, hold its resale value better, and handle better than the Chinese bike. Also, you will never have trouble getting parts for a Japanese motorcycle. ;)

Don't get me wrong. I love my Zongshen Sierra 200GY-2. I bought my Zong directly from an importer, new, in-the-crate, delivered, for $1,188. At that price I consider it an exceptional value. :D However, I am very surprised to see the recent price inflation for many Chinabikes. :roll:

Spud :)

[redhandmoto]

One glimmer, Spud: what's been lacking in Japanese imports are 300-400cc sized machines (strictly street machines, that is). I think there may be a little market there among people who started with the old scramblers and mild tourers - the Cbs and CLs, etc. Lotta 'em getting restored. I once had a '68 Honda 305 - for me, that size is the perfect compromise.

Don't say anything just yet, but I have heard a rumor that the EPA has finally approved the Lifan LF400, so maybe we'll finally see them around August. 399cc, shaft-driven, 5-speed, and the Lifan site still shows the MSRP at $4049...that'll fill a gap in the market that's screaming for attention, and for now, no Japanese competition.

Price increases on Japanese bikes are staying ahead of price increases on China bikes still. I was very interested in the TU250; fuel-injected, yadayadayada. It was announced as available for $3499 in the US in Dec '08 (?). By the time they hit the dealer's floors in April, the price was $3799. Add dealer's fees, sales tax, etc, etc., it's $4600 or so OTD.
For a 250.

Now if some authorized Lifan dealers offer free shipping as they have in the past AND the price stays where it is now, then the LF400 will have a big advanatage. Just pay yr 4049, state sales tax, title & tags, & yr done...

'Scuse me: I have to go start whining to my Finance Officer - she just got back from the grocery...

[Qingdao]

In Charleston you can get a 40' container FULL of Chinabikes for less than $10000.

[redhandmoto]

Ain't that somethin'? Guess that means a container is $8k at the Port of Los Angeles, where they didn't have to go through the Panama Canal...