Hello from NE Ohio
 

I have been riding since 11 (now38) and have always ridden the "big four".
However, I cannot stomach the high prices and am now looking into Chinese
Quads and bikes.

Welcome DaddyDave!
I am 44 and been riding since I was 8. I also rode the big 4.
The purchase of the Lifan GY-5 was done as an experiment (with the wife's blessing :D ).
Read around this board. It is really a good sounding board for the good and the bad.
The quality of the China bikes isn't up to the Japanese but neither is the price. You probably need a little higher mechanical ability with these bikes because there aren't too many dealers around to work on them.
But, they are sure fun. I would buy one again in a hearbeat!

Glad to have you join in, DaddyDave.

Dlunt said a mouthfull as you can see for yourself browsing through the posts ... both good and bad.

What you will find mostly is a group of guys and/or gals that enjoy the sport of riding and owning a NEW bike that didn't force them into the pocket book TOO deep. Also, the chance to sharpen their skills as you will be forced into servicing your ride in most cases as dlunt said about not having a lot of dealers nearby. I am located in MS and I am a dealer for Lifan products, so if you choose to lean towards these bikes, I may be able to help with parts for you. Just ask if I can be of any service. Whatever bike you decide on, be sure to check into the parts situation for that particular company, it will prove to be invaluable later on. A lot of stuff on this forum for you to devulge in that will help a whole lot with that decision.
I, too, have owned many of the Big Four bikes throughout my 30+ biker years and still have a Valkyrie for the long runs, but the GY-5 does a great job for short hops and intermitant trail rides.
Ride safe, my friend!
Tom

Re: Hello from NE Ohio
 

Welcome, where in NE Ohio? I am in Cuyahoga Falls....

Hi Blimpman! Know the blimp well...I am in Randolph twp. I am bikeless at the moment but not for long. I am going to buy when I am able to make sense of all these Chinese imports.

Can anyone tell me if Roketa is any good?

Thanks
 

Thanks for the welcome. It sounds like I am in the right place.

Welcome Dave. I used to live in Randolph (New Milford Rd.) for seven years. I moved to Cuy. Falls three years ago so my kids could have more friends. I miss my two acres in Randolph. I bought a clone off ebay last Dec.. There is definately alot more info available online now. The best of luck with your future purchase. :)

Blimpman
 

Small world...I live on Bassett. We have 10 acres and a bunch of kids.
Do you know anything about the Chinese quad scene?

IMEASY: where do you ride trail bikes these days?

Roketa
 

I heve a 2 Roketa DB-06's and I really like them. They are surprisingly well made and have a very smooth running Zongshen 167 FML engine.

Thats cool. Sorry but I don't know anymore than what I have read on the net about the quads. I used to have a Polaris 400 when I lived out that way. Had to sell it for financial reasons. It was a blast for the year + I owned it.

Pretty much the only place I ride at the moment is in the back of Water Works (local pool). Not the greatest place but it is close and free. I plan on ventureing out a little once the funds are available. A short vid I made a while back...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ny7PDDQGx4I

*edit*
I meant to include that Blimpman has told me about a place in Aurora that he's ridden. He's posted a few pics here of the site and from those it looks like it would be a lot of fun. I hope to connect with him one day to try it out. :)

Hey Imeazy,
How did you take that video?
A helmet cam?

Blimpman
The video looks like fun...the place in Aurora, is it off Rt306 north of town? I rode there a few times when I still had motocross bikes with a friend of a friend.

I am off for a week vacation in South Carolina with the wife and both of our bikes. I'll have a few pictures I am sure. The places in Aurora are cool because there are small hills and trails, medium and large hills too. Bite off what you can chew. Any 200cc bike with dirt tires can go up any of the hills... It's the rider that maybe can't... :P :lol: :lol: Pretty fun to play around there. Just perfect for small bikes.

ImEasy, catch ya when I get back.

For effect here is one of the larger hills. http://i39.photobucket.com/albums/e1...n/DSC02246.jpg

and this one...

http://i39.photobucket.com/albums/e1...n/DSC02256.jpg

But most of it is fun like this...

http://i39.photobucket.com/albums/e1...n/DSC02252.jpg

A camera like this one...
http://img145.imageshack.us/img145/9...ydscp32wa0.jpg

Mounted to this...
http://www.thumpertalk.com/forum/gar...wmod&mid=29195

blimpman - look forward to it. You have a good trip!

DaddyDave - Any good places out by you? I lived across from a crop field out there. One day I met a couple younger guys that said they had a track they built. I only had a street bike at the time. I used to see them riding in the field from time to time. Mostly in the fall after the crop was harvested.