how come?

Discoveror · 11-25-2022, 01:24 PM

... the China distributors don't seem to import bikes with more than 250cc?

I'm wondering if the reason is something like:

import taxes (e.g. on more than 250cc)
emissions testing/regulations

It certainly can't be lack of US demand for more than 250cc!

I read that Suzuki won't upgrade their bikes to fuel injection because they're 'grandfathered' into an exception for their pre-existing bikes? ... which are, now, as old as the dirt on which they ride!

Suzuki won't bother ...

I see that Lifan, for example, makes bikes with more than 250cc; but, they're not sent over to the US ... ??? ... some even with a bit higher compression (to use those 4-valve cross-flow heads).

I'm thinking that a water-cooled KPX300-350 (with a bit higher compression) would be pretty S W E E T !

**JerryHawk250** · 11-25-2022, 03:02 PM

Lifan will be importing the KPT400. CSC already have three 250cc + bikes. I saw Lifan also has a 600cc v twin cruiser that they may import.

Thumper · 11-25-2022, 03:22 PM

Actually, you CAN buy a 450cc chinese dirt bike domestically. You may have seen some. These are some of the best:
You CAN buy the EGL 450 T, and SSR has one too:
http://www.ssrmotorsports.com/store/dirtbike/sr450s.php

There are 300cc two stroke offerings as well. GPX has one, at least:
https://gpxmoto.com/product/tse-300r-non-linkage/
They also have 450 4 stroke bikes for sale IN THE USA on that website.

Zuumav has been making enduro and MX bikes for a while. They have been selling in other markets, and just began importing to the USA in Spring 2022.

Here is their water cooled NC300

And a 450

Close up video of the 450. Top notch components and engineering. Amazing, but alas, made of that material that we seekk... "unobtanium"

That is a serious off road toy

I would love to see thee shipping to North America !

The air-cooled GPX 250s, which actually have 250cc engines cost $1500 more than the Zuumavs, and $500 more than the KPX. KPX is already the highest priced 250 aside from the GPX and EGL entries.

There are no really "cheap" liquid cooled 250s available in North America.

Zuumav might start tossing some 450s here, maybe?

XLsior · 11-25-2022, 04:12 PM

I think the main issue is that the consumer has a price cap preference...

at some threshold the competition from other bike manufactures is too close for the average consumer to choose a bike from China...

has displacement goes up so do the prices...

I know the GPX450 here in Australia is very close to the same price as Suzuki DRZ400.

Discoveror · 11-25-2022, 04:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by XLsior

I think the main issue is that the consumer has a price cap preference...

at some threshold the competition from other bike manufactures is too close for the average consumer to choose a bike from China...

has displacement goes up so do the prices...

I know the GPX450 here in Australia is very close to the same price as Suzuki DRZ400.

` sounds plausible i.e. ` makes sense. GOOD answer, Thanks.

Bob Kelly · 11-25-2022, 05:21 PM

I noticed no one mentioned the CSC RX4 it's a 450cc single and is a Chinese bike...
$5600.00 to my door a fantastic bike but more of a street bike than a light weight dirt bike
and to me that is it's biggest problem it weighs 450lbs DRY and alot heavier with it full !
it's 6 gal gas tank is high making it extremally top heavy.....
I dropped it 3 times before I got mad and lowered the darn thing for my 30" inseam
and I haven't dropped it sense .... this bike has the grunt to do what ever you want but it is very heavy.... it's more cruiser than it is a adventure bike I think....
had I the chance to do it over I would have just gotten the underpowered CSC TT250
(I have one, but it's my Kids!)
....

Bill Hilly · 11-25-2022, 05:26 PM

Well, You see in China, and many 2nd, and 3rd world countries the 250 motorcycle is like the family wagon, only room for 5, or 6 people on a small bike, but the 400 cc bikes , Well they are like mass transit, often transporting 20-30 people from village to village...

Bob Kelly · 11-25-2022, 07:23 PM

that's quite true ! I've seen videos of a guy on a 650cc pulling a big trailer stuffed with people going to town..... I think it was India....
....
the thought of bringing my whole family to town on a bike gives me cold chills !
you can bet the driver is really REALLY careful ! LOL...but the problem is Sh#t still happens.... 35mph into a ditch with stair step children on the bike you know is a real bad idea.... but it's either that or walk. And myself, I'd pile onto the bike too !
.....walking 5 miles one way get's old real fast !
as a kid I used to walk to the bus stop 1.9 miles away every day.... till I got my honda 50cc.... and I learned to Love that bike ALOT !!! not having to walk that mile was a god send !
....
Bob.......

Discoveror · 11-25-2022, 08:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bob Kelly

it's biggest problem it weighs 450lbs DRY and alot heavier with it full !
....

That why <400 pounds strikes me as the 'unicorn'. How many times do you REALLY want to pick up a 1/4 ton bike, when you're tired out, dusty and thirsty?

From the bike weights I've seen, as cc's increase, 300 - 350 cc and 350 - 380 pounds seems like as good as it's gonna get? Why 300 - 350 cc? ... because they generate just enough torque for the highway without spinning the motor so fast from low gearing that you're all the while wondering how it doesn't throw a connecting rod in your lap.

Now, who's gonna sell it to us?

XLsior · 11-25-2022, 08:27 PM

Most of SE Asia runs on under 200cc Scooters based on the honda cub engine.

250cc is a big bike by thier domestic standards.

South America gets the majority of 200+ cc bikes.

India has it's own domestic market with the likes of Royal Enfield.

Middle East Has a decent share of the 250ish market.

Russia seems to have the 400+cc dirt bikes which trickle down into the West.

11-25-2022, 01:24 PM	#1
Discoveror Join Date: Nov 2022 Location: Wyoming Posts: 87	how come? ... the China distributors don't seem to import bikes with more than 250cc? I'm wondering if the reason is something like: import taxes (e.g. on more than 250cc) emissions testing/regulations It certainly can't be lack of US demand for more than 250cc! I read that Suzuki won't upgrade their bikes to fuel injection because they're 'grandfathered' into an exception for their pre-existing bikes? ... which are, now, as old as the dirt on which they ride! Suzuki won't bother ... I see that Lifan, for example, makes bikes with more than 250cc; but, they're not sent over to the US ... ??? ... some even with a bit higher compression (to use those 4-valve cross-flow heads). I'm thinking that a water-cooled KPX300-350 (with a bit higher compression) would be pretty S W E E T !
	1

11-25-2022, 03:02 PM	#2
JerryHawk250 Moderator Join Date: Oct 2016 Location: Houma, La. Posts: 11,545	Lifan will be importing the KPT400. CSC already have three 250cc + bikes. I saw Lifan also has a 600cc v twin cruiser that they may import. __________________ 2023 Lifan Lycan 250 Chopper 2023 Venom Evader 2022 Lifan KPX250 2020 Kawasaki Vulcan S 2004 Honda ST 1300 2016 Black Hawk 250 (sold) Keihin PE30 carb,125 main,38 slow.Pod filter,ported & decked head 10:1 CR,Direct Ignition Coil,15/40Sprockets,NGK DPR8EIX-9,De-Cat,Dual Oil Cooler,Digital Cluster 2016 Cazador180 XL 2014 Coolster150 JerryHawk250.com My YouTube Channel
	0

11-25-2022, 03:22 PM	#3
Thumper Join Date: Feb 2021 Location: Kansas City Posts: 2,222	Actually, you CAN buy a 450cc chinese dirt bike domestically. You may have seen some. These are some of the best: You CAN buy the EGL 450 T, and SSR has one too: http://www.ssrmotorsports.com/store/dirtbike/sr450s.php There are 300cc two stroke offerings as well. GPX has one, at least: https://gpxmoto.com/product/tse-300r-non-linkage/ They also have 450 4 stroke bikes for sale IN THE USA on that website. Zuumav has been making enduro and MX bikes for a while. They have been selling in other markets, and just began importing to the USA in Spring 2022. Here is their water cooled NC300 And a 450 Close up video of the 450. Top notch components and engineering. Amazing, but alas, made of that material that we seekk... "unobtanium" That is a serious off road toy I would love to see thee shipping to North America ! The air-cooled GPX 250s, which actually have 250cc engines cost $1500 more than the Zuumavs, and $500 more than the KPX. KPX is already the highest priced 250 aside from the GPX and EGL entries. There are no really "cheap" liquid cooled 250s available in North America. Zuumav might start tossing some 450s here, maybe? Last edited by Thumper; 11-25-2022 at 04:52 PM.
	1

11-25-2022, 05:21 PM	#6
Bob Kelly Join Date: Jan 2022 Location: Weed, California. Posts: 271	I noticed no one mentioned the CSC RX4 it's a 450cc single and is a Chinese bike... $5600.00 to my door a fantastic bike but more of a street bike than a light weight dirt bike and to me that is it's biggest problem it weighs 450lbs DRY and alot heavier with it full ! it's 6 gal gas tank is high making it extremally top heavy..... I dropped it 3 times before I got mad and lowered the darn thing for my 30" inseam and I haven't dropped it sense .... this bike has the grunt to do what ever you want but it is very heavy.... it's more cruiser than it is a adventure bike I think.... had I the chance to do it over I would have just gotten the underpowered CSC TT250 (I have one, but it's my Kids!) .... __________________ It's too late when you've gone too far !
	1

11-25-2022, 07:23 PM	#8
Bob Kelly Join Date: Jan 2022 Location: Weed, California. Posts: 271	that's quite true ! I've seen videos of a guy on a 650cc pulling a big trailer stuffed with people going to town..... I think it was India.... .... the thought of bringing my whole family to town on a bike gives me cold chills ! you can bet the driver is really REALLY careful ! LOL...but the problem is Sh#t still happens.... 35mph into a ditch with stair step children on the bike you know is a real bad idea.... but it's either that or walk. And myself, I'd pile onto the bike too ! .....walking 5 miles one way get's old real fast ! as a kid I used to walk to the bus stop 1.9 miles away every day.... till I got my honda 50cc.... and I learned to Love that bike ALOT !!! not having to walk that mile was a god send ! .... Bob....... __________________ It's too late when you've gone too far !
	0

11-25-2022, 04:12 PM	#4
XLsior Join Date: Aug 2020 Location: Australia Posts: 1,273	I think the main issue is that the consumer has a price cap preference... at some threshold the competition from other bike manufactures is too close for the average consumer to choose a bike from China... has displacement goes up so do the prices... I know the GPX450 here in Australia is very close to the same price as Suzuki DRZ400.
	0

11-25-2022, 05:26 PM	#7
Bill Hilly Join Date: Feb 2021 Posts: 927	Well, You see in China, and many 2nd, and 3rd world countries the 250 motorcycle is like the family wagon, only room for 5, or 6 people on a small bike, but the 400 cc bikes , Well they are like mass transit, often transporting 20-30 people from village to village...
	0

11-25-2022, 08:27 PM	#10
XLsior Join Date: Aug 2020 Location: Australia Posts: 1,273	Most of SE Asia runs on under 200cc Scooters based on the honda cub engine. 250cc is a big bike by thier domestic standards. South America gets the majority of 200+ cc bikes. India has it's own domestic market with the likes of Royal Enfield. Middle East Has a decent share of the 250ish market. Russia seems to have the 400+cc dirt bikes which trickle down into the West.
	1