Game Changers
 

What is the next game changer? Chinese OHV’ s have come along away in 15 years. Some have even gathered huge fandom. For example the Hawk-making dual sport affordable- can be found parked in every city across the USA. Likewise the Apollo RFZ 125 has FaceBook pages, Insta-devotees and big sales on Amazon. The RFZ is significantly more popular on YouTube compared to Japanese counterparts like CRF 110 or Ttr125. So, what’s the next bike, atv, scooter or even go cart to move buyers away from traditional OHV’s into Chinese models? What qualities are most important to consumers?

it seems people will over look build quality and reliability for prise...
So prise is the number factor for China bike buyers..
build it at the right prise and people will buy it....

The GPX bikes are VERY good quality … but do not sell in big
numbers in Thailand as they are to close to the jap bike prises...

I spend quite a bit of time in Thailand... Going back in 7 weeks....


..

I do see quality!
Very nice motorcycles. Classic style.
What is the retail price?

not really sure but I think around 80,000 bahts..

I would love to turn one into a scrambler....




..

The next big thing will hopefully be turning out something, anything, with a motor larger than 229cc for the export market.


With China's mastery of the economy of scale they could be killing it with something along the lines of the various Hyosung bikes but cheaper. A lot of new riders, or indeed riders in general, would jump at the chance to own an "off brand" 300/400/450cc street bike at half the price of a Ninja 400. Or for dual sport, a cheap competitor to the CRF450L that doesn't cost $11,000 and require an oil change and valve adjustment every three feet. Or a clone of the DR400.


Think about it, every owner's question about the Hawk and similar street capable bikes is "how do I make it go faster?" Or, "how do I make it highway capable?" These bikes would stop being a niche item outside of Southeast Asia if they were reasonably highway capable out of the box.


That said, I think electric bikes are going to be the next big thing out of China. It's already happening. Reasonably powerful (enough for city use) bikes are already appearing there, but most/none of them are DOT approved and actually street legal in the US. I hear you can operate them in Canada, though.

CSC already has the RX4 with the 450cc and Lifan will have the KP350 sometime this year.

Long term, I would say electronically actuated valves in ICE engines. No cam or valve springs to rob power.
-In the short term, I think China will lead the way in electric powered transportation. The Chinese have the most experience with e-bicycles and e-motorcycles because they use them every day.

Really? I spent a year in Chiang Mai I saw them all the time esp the Legend 150, lots of 150 Demon GR's too(Baby Ducati). Dwarfed by Honda's and Kawasaki's in the "Big Bike" segment, but still a very noticeable amount around very affordable 50-60,000 baht (around 2k US or a bit less). We had a nearby shop that sold Ducati decals for the 150GR, always amusing to see them.

I saw the scuttlebutt about the RX4 when it was announced. I am watching closely. But 449 pounds dry. Ouch! That's around the weight of my KLR. And that underslung exhaust pipe... Not a fan.


Still, it's progress in the right direction. Here's hoping the power plant will become as ubiquitous and as thoroughly understood and supported by the aftermarket as the GY and CG motors are now. Someone is bound to come along and shove it in a proper dual sport frame!