Lifan USA

culcune · 10-05-2016, 12:58 AM

A friend of mine went to visit a friend of his at the Lifan USA headquarters in the So. Cal. area. He told me they are bringing several new bikes to the US, but will be dropping the Pony 100 which I thought had much promise, especially since it appears the CT70 clones are not coming to the US anytime soon.

They are planning to bring their own version in the Grom sector, the KP150 Mini. My friend mentioned they want an MSRP of $2k for it, which I thought was too high, until I balanced my opinion with the fact the bike is a 150cc vs. the 125's in the Grom, the Kawasaki, and the various clones, such as Maxipad's Vader. Also, more interesting, is the fact that the 150 is NOT a horizontal engine but a vertical 150, meaning the bike is similar in spirit to the CSC mini bikes they used to manufacture that were replicas of the old Mustang motorcycles from the 60's (before they became Zongshen's distributor).

http://americanlifan.com/kpmini-track-day/

I guess they are banking on their KP200 and their KPR200 which are kind of bland looking but interesting in that they will have fuel-injection vs. carb

http://americanlifan.com/kp200/
http://americanlifan.com/kpr-200/

I think they are planning to keep their long stand-in air cooled cruiser
http://americanlifan.com/royal-250/

Apparently they are NOT planning to pursue this long-awaited bike, for the US market, which is a shame, I feel.
http://americanlifan.com/fm-250v/

I think some of the other bikes will be scooters.

There are some interesting reads on the site, including a blog on a long ride through Asia on the KPMini 150 as well as some articles and videos on the KP/KPR bikes, but in 150 form.

http://americanlifan.com/

2LZ · 10-05-2016, 11:42 AM

Great stuff, culcune, thanks!

I'm at a loss as to why they don't list a GY (dual sport) bike....unless I missed it. They sold a ton of them back when the Lifan GY5 was top-o-duh-heap in the GY China Bike class.

That fm250 looks awesome..............

tortoise · 10-05-2016, 01:49 PM

In a scooter context . . just doesn't seem like Lifan USA has "their head in the game". Website function also leaves a LOT to be desired . . as compared to SSR (Znen), Bintelli (Adly/Jiajue), or Lance (Sym).

culcune · 10-05-2016, 02:16 PM

They definitely need to improve their website experience, Tortoise! It is painful to search through it. On the bikes which aren't 'coming soon' it looks like they left out the specs, but you have to click on the tiny '+' and the specs show up.

2LZ--I remember seeing the FM250 a few years ago in photos on mychinamoto when it was introduced in China at their big motorcycle show. My friend told me they are NOT planning to bring it, which is a disappointment, but my guess it wouldn't have made sense financially. We as China bike fans like the idea of low-cost bikes, and my guess with liquid-cooling and fuel injection, it would put that bike in the same price point as the small name-brand sport bikes like the CBR300, Ninja 300, etc., or at least the CB300 (which is a more direct competitor due to the naked design, anyway). I know I would be picking up a CB300 if I had the choice and at the same cost.

I forgot to ask my friend if they will resurrect an enduro here. Duh! That bike was dominating the dual-sport thread for a few years. I even think they could slip one in as an off-road bike, like the Hawk/Magician, which would relegate it to off-road or a loophole for several states, but it would be a nice compromise. However, their last enduro bike was EPA/DOT certified, which did make it a unique bike to us in the US.

Enough of me talking; we will find out exactly (or close to) what they have planned on October 14-17 or whenever the Miami motorcycle show is--it is prominently listed on their 'home' on their site, so I hope one of us goes and takes photos, or they post photos on their site! If their mini can cruise at 60, I might consider it, although one of the forms of their KP200 they show among the rotating photos shows it with a rear rack, and a kind of 'adventure' bike crash bar. I kind of like the delicate look of the bike, and I do like the standard style...

culcune · 10-05-2016, 08:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 2LZ

I'm at a loss as to why they don't list a GY (dual sport) bike....unless I missed it. They sold a ton of them back when the Lifan GY5 was top-o-duh-heap in the GY China Bike class.

Okay, called Alan today and he confirmed he saw this enduro at their HQ as I forgot to ask...

http://www.lifanmexico.com/deals_xp200.html

culcune · 10-13-2016, 09:56 PM

Some tease shots before the Florida show...

culcune · 10-13-2016, 09:58 PM

More shots...

culcune · 10-13-2016, 10:02 PM

Even more...

Weldangrind · 10-16-2016, 12:46 PM

I have a Roketa that's way off the mark. I'd also trust Lifan to stamp properly, along with Zong.

culcune · 10-21-2016, 10:47 PM

Photos of the bikes at the show. Of course, no direct photo of the enduro, but from the partial look of it in the photo and a poster in the background of another photo, it appears that it will be the Lifan LF200GY-4
http://www.lifan.com/English/Mall/Mo...2-63fa57494425

culcune · 10-21-2016, 10:49 PM

More

culcune · 10-21-2016, 10:51 PM

Last 2

BlackBike · 10-22-2016, 02:02 AM

Ehhh, street stuff. 200gy looks nice (same old gripe, I won't mention). Kind of looks like the brozz wouldn't ya say bro.

Thanks for posting culc

Mudflap · 11-05-2016, 11:41 AM

Pretty uninspiring lineup. Electric scooters, with peddles? 150cc Gromish bike. 200cc sport bikes. Virago 250 clone. 200cc dual sport with small wheels. I don't see big sales in the near future.

culcune · 11-05-2016, 03:22 PM

It's just a start, but I agree with you. I do think the Grom-like-vehicle class is growing, but with the Vader, the SSR Razkull, the TMEC Denali 125fx, the Icebear Fuerza, and the Boom! electric mini, (maybe the same manufacturer as the Vader??), not to mention the Grom, itself, this class will be pretty competitive which will mean one good thing for consumers: price wars! The Lifan bike does have an advantage over all of the above in that they are utilizing a vertical 150cc engine vs. the Grom's, and the clones', 125cc horizontal engines.

I do believe that with all the news regarding the racing of the KPR bikes in China (I believe the 150cc version which we will not get since we are getting the 200cc),
http://www.lifan.cn/English/News/201.../11215956.html
and the KP Mini 150 breaking a lap time record, again in China, Lifan could differentiate themselves with some sort of racing series here.
http://www.lifan.cn/English/News/201.../03316007.html

Would it be worth it? Perhaps if they marketed it correctly. Or at least try the mini. Even some sort of riding experience during motorcycle race weekends; i.e. Long Beach Grand Prix in Long Beach where they would get lots of exposure using a large parking lot among the festivities. Something like this?
http://americanlifan.com/kpmini-track-day/

For some reason, they are banking on their 200cc bikes with EFI and liquid cooling as their flagships.

My guess is the economy of scale--their very promising flagship
http://www.lifan.cn/English/Mall/Mot...6-8fe213ebc47a
would have to priced too close to 'name brand' competitor's entry level bikes like the TU250 or the CB300. But I do question banking on 200cc bikes, even if they have a claimed 17 hp, in the US market?!

10-05-2016, 12:58 AM	#1
culcune Join Date: May 2006 Location: Yuma, Arizona Posts: 9,056	Lifan USA A friend of mine went to visit a friend of his at the Lifan USA headquarters in the So. Cal. area. He told me they are bringing several new bikes to the US, but will be dropping the Pony 100 which I thought had much promise, especially since it appears the CT70 clones are not coming to the US anytime soon. They are planning to bring their own version in the Grom sector, the KP150 Mini. My friend mentioned they want an MSRP of $2k for it, which I thought was too high, until I balanced my opinion with the fact the bike is a 150cc vs. the 125's in the Grom, the Kawasaki, and the various clones, such as Maxipad's Vader. Also, more interesting, is the fact that the 150 is NOT a horizontal engine but a vertical 150, meaning the bike is similar in spirit to the CSC mini bikes they used to manufacture that were replicas of the old Mustang motorcycles from the 60's (before they became Zongshen's distributor). http://americanlifan.com/kpmini-track-day/ I guess they are banking on their KP200 and their KPR200 which are kind of bland looking but interesting in that they will have fuel-injection vs. carb http://americanlifan.com/kp200/ http://americanlifan.com/kpr-200/ I think they are planning to keep their long stand-in air cooled cruiser http://americanlifan.com/royal-250/ Apparently they are NOT planning to pursue this long-awaited bike, for the US market, which is a shame, I feel. http://americanlifan.com/fm-250v/ I think some of the other bikes will be scooters. There are some interesting reads on the site, including a blog on a long ride through Asia on the KPMini 150 as well as some articles and videos on the KP/KPR bikes, but in 150 form. http://americanlifan.com/ __________________ "They say that life's a carousel, spinning fast you got to ride it well..." TGB Delivery Scooter 150 TMEC 200 Enduro--carcass is sadly rotting in the backyard
	0

10-05-2016, 11:42 AM	#2
2LZ Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Volcano, Ca Posts: 7,112	Great stuff, culcune, thanks! I'm at a loss as to why they don't list a GY (dual sport) bike....unless I missed it. They sold a ton of them back when the Lifan GY5 was top-o-duh-heap in the GY China Bike class. That fm250 looks awesome.............. __________________ "Light a fire for a man, and you heat him for a day. Light a man on fire, and you heat him for the rest of his life." 2007 Suzuki DRZ400S (SM convert) 2009 Q Link XP 200 1967 BSA B25 250cc Starfire 2022 Royal Enfield Interceptor 650 2023 Royal Enfield Scram 411 1948 Royal Enfield Model G 350
	1

10-05-2016, 02:16 PM	#4
culcune Join Date: May 2006 Location: Yuma, Arizona Posts: 9,056	They definitely need to improve their website experience, Tortoise! It is painful to search through it. On the bikes which aren't 'coming soon' it looks like they left out the specs, but you have to click on the tiny '+' and the specs show up. 2LZ--I remember seeing the FM250 a few years ago in photos on mychinamoto when it was introduced in China at their big motorcycle show. My friend told me they are NOT planning to bring it, which is a disappointment, but my guess it wouldn't have made sense financially. We as China bike fans like the idea of low-cost bikes, and my guess with liquid-cooling and fuel injection, it would put that bike in the same price point as the small name-brand sport bikes like the CBR300, Ninja 300, etc., or at least the CB300 (which is a more direct competitor due to the naked design, anyway). I know I would be picking up a CB300 if I had the choice and at the same cost. I forgot to ask my friend if they will resurrect an enduro here. Duh! That bike was dominating the dual-sport thread for a few years. I even think they could slip one in as an off-road bike, like the Hawk/Magician, which would relegate it to off-road or a loophole for several states, but it would be a nice compromise. However, their last enduro bike was EPA/DOT certified, which did make it a unique bike to us in the US. Enough of me talking; we will find out exactly (or close to) what they have planned on October 14-17 or whenever the Miami motorcycle show is--it is prominently listed on their 'home' on their site, so I hope one of us goes and takes photos, or they post photos on their site! If their mini can cruise at 60, I might consider it, although one of the forms of their KP200 they show among the rotating photos shows it with a rear rack, and a kind of 'adventure' bike crash bar. I kind of like the delicate look of the bike, and I do like the standard style... __________________ "They say that life's a carousel, spinning fast you got to ride it well..." TGB Delivery Scooter 150 TMEC 200 Enduro--carcass is sadly rotting in the backyard
	0

10-16-2016, 12:46 PM	#9
Weldangrind Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Sardis, BC, Canada Posts: 25,977	I have a Roketa that's way off the mark. I'd also trust Lifan to stamp properly, along with Zong. __________________ Weldangrind "I figure I'm well-prepared for coping with a bike that comes from the factory with unresolved issues and that rewards the self-reliant owner." - Buccaneer
	0

10-22-2016, 02:02 AM	#13
BlackBike Join Date: Feb 2016 Location: George West, Texas Posts: 4,097	Ehhh, street stuff. 200gy looks nice (same old gripe, I won't mention). Kind of looks like the brozz wouldn't ya say bro. Thanks for posting culc __________________ ***************************************** 2015 Bashan"Blaze" BS250GY-31 (DB-07K-250) GONE 2017 Suzuki V Strom 650 XT "We are all born ignorant, but one must work hard to remain stupid." ~Benjamin Franklin~
	1

10-05-2016, 01:49 PM	#3
tortoise Join Date: Jan 2008 Posts: 221	In a scooter context . . just doesn't seem like Lifan USA has "their head in the game". Website function also leaves a LOT to be desired . . as compared to SSR (Znen), Bintelli (Adly/Jiajue), or Lance (Sym).
	1

11-05-2016, 11:41 AM	#14
Mudflap Join Date: Sep 2014 Posts: 1,930	Pretty uninspiring lineup. Electric scooters, with peddles? 150cc Gromish bike. 200cc sport bikes. Virago 250 clone. 200cc dual sport with small wheels. I don't see big sales in the near future.
	0

11-05-2016, 03:22 PM	#15
culcune Join Date: May 2006 Location: Yuma, Arizona Posts: 9,056	It's just a start, but I agree with you. I do think the Grom-like-vehicle class is growing, but with the Vader, the SSR Razkull, the TMEC Denali 125fx, the Icebear Fuerza, and the Boom! electric mini, (maybe the same manufacturer as the Vader??), not to mention the Grom, itself, this class will be pretty competitive which will mean one good thing for consumers: price wars! The Lifan bike does have an advantage over all of the above in that they are utilizing a vertical 150cc engine vs. the Grom's, and the clones', 125cc horizontal engines. I do believe that with all the news regarding the racing of the KPR bikes in China (I believe the 150cc version which we will not get since we are getting the 200cc), http://www.lifan.cn/English/News/201.../11215956.html and the KP Mini 150 breaking a lap time record, again in China, Lifan could differentiate themselves with some sort of racing series here. http://www.lifan.cn/English/News/201.../03316007.html Would it be worth it? Perhaps if they marketed it correctly. Or at least try the mini. Even some sort of riding experience during motorcycle race weekends; i.e. Long Beach Grand Prix in Long Beach where they would get lots of exposure using a large parking lot among the festivities. Something like this? http://americanlifan.com/kpmini-track-day/ For some reason, they are banking on their 200cc bikes with EFI and liquid cooling as their flagships. My guess is the economy of scale--their very promising flagship http://www.lifan.cn/English/Mall/Mot...6-8fe213ebc47a would have to priced too close to 'name brand' competitor's entry level bikes like the TU250 or the CB300. But I do question banking on 200cc bikes, even if they have a claimed 17 hp, in the US market?! __________________ "They say that life's a carousel, spinning fast you got to ride it well..." TGB Delivery Scooter 150 TMEC 200 Enduro--carcass is sadly rotting in the backyard
	0