|
|
Post by ljubomir on May 24, 2012 3:19:55 GMT -5
You can find if you have luck. Older yamaha's or honda's 100cc who are older than 5 or 6 you can make a good deal. A friend of me bough a older yamaha jog 50cc for 400$.
|
|
|
|
Post by ljubomir on May 24, 2012 6:29:24 GMT -5
|
|
|
|
Post by oldbikerider on May 24, 2012 8:14:32 GMT -5
That is your opinion and experience, I can say That I have had great service from the chinese scooter and it is my daily driver.
As for kawasaki being a great brand, I think not. I am working on a Kawasaki VN 1500a which was the top of kawasaki's line when it was new. It has a poorly designed engine where the cam and water pump chains are designed to fail at 30,000 miles. Kawasaki knew about this flaw from day one. It has been in the 1500 engine for the entire production of the 1500 engine. The bike is so cheaply made and is a poor copy of a Harley. From what I am reading the VN 900 also has this same design flaw.
As for buying an older Honda, my local honda dealer tells me they have trouble getting parts for their bikes that are older than 10 years old. They also charge 100USD an hour to do repair work but they try not to work on older bikes because of poor parts availability.
Having owned a Chinese Baja scooter since 2008, my experience has been great. It was run in as the manual suggested, and has had the maintenance done correctly at the milage the manual said to. The only two issues were the speedometer cable at 1300 miles and the belt at 2500 miles. I am now at 5500 miles.
A properly set up, correctly broken in and maintained Chinese scooter is a great alternative if you are willing to do the maintenance yourself. Buying a poorly maintained and abused used scooter/ motorcycle of ANY brand can be a nightmare of never ending frustration and expense.
|
|
|
|
Post by ljubomir on May 24, 2012 9:32:32 GMT -5
Great, now i read that chinese scooters are bether than the japanese, i cant belive what i read. I am afraid that i will hear next? tThat chinese scooters are bether than Harley Davidson?? You can find parts for the scooters i posted links. They are not poorly maintenced. My scooter is 20 years old and in case of something i can find parts. You say that the mechanics are charging 100$ for an hour...so for a 400$ brand new chinese scooter if they work 4 hours bether buy a new one. I am a mechanic too, for trucks and bus engines, a scooter engine is not a problem for me, so i keep it in top form all the time.
I am not provocating here, but i well know what is a good engine and what is not
|
|
|
|
Post by kyle401 on May 24, 2012 10:21:41 GMT -5
The problem with china scoots is not the quality (but the are not the best quality). it is that people pay like 600 dollars for there scoot and think that they can drive it like a car, for example go 3000 miles before changing the oil. so yea tell him to get the scoot.
|
|
|
|
Post by ljubomir on Jun 7, 2012 20:37:59 GMT -5
If a chinese scooter dies, it soul goes direct in hell!!!!!
Today a chinese scooter from my friend engine seized, everything was ok, the crap was 6 months old. I cant belive it!!!!!!!
Bether give the same money for a second hand scooter from a good brand even if it is 10 years old than flush money in the toilette for a new chinese. dont buy them
|
|
|
|
Post by Pony66 on Jun 7, 2012 22:21:21 GMT -5
If a chinese scooter dies, it soul goes direct in hell!!!!! Today a chinese scooter from my friend engine seized, everything was ok, the crap was 6 months old. I cant belive it!!!!!!! Bether give the same money for a second hand scooter from a good brand even if it is 10 years old than flush money in the toilette for a new chinese. dont buy them You forgot to mention slapping on that air filter from AutoZone and never changing the oil. I remember when I was 14 and it was the football's fault that I couldnt kick a fieldgoal. ;D |
|
|
|
Post by hardlydavidson on Jun 8, 2012 0:10:33 GMT -5
As a relatively new papa to a Frankensteined Chinese scooter, I must say...my $400 has gone pretty far. I've owned her for nearly a year with 3900 miles on the clock when I got her. I've done a valve adjustment and played with the carb (a unit for a 125-150 that I can only assume was meant to make more power) and she starts for me every morning and gets me to and from work in Las Vegas heat. I did the hoca CVT kit w/a 1500 rpm spring, a new CDI and a new battery (after the original from 2007 took a dive) and a new belt. Learned to wrench on scoots in the process, and can replace a variator in 10 minutes flat!! I'm a golf cart mechanic so it's pretty much the same thing only smaller. Now I'm waiting on a new choke and valve set to arrive then, I'm replacing the Holley Dominator sized carb with the stock unit (upgraded jets of course), and doing some body mods and exhaust work before I do the 100cc BBK, racing fan, AC conversion, and final gear set upgrade. And BTW, her name is Laohu, Mandarin for "tiger"....Znen frame, Handsome Boy front body plastics, B-08 rear plastics, 12" rims, and TONS of personality!!
|
|
|
|
Post by ljubomir on Jun 9, 2012 9:46:59 GMT -5
If a chinese scooter dies, it soul goes direct in hell!!!!! Today a chinese scooter from my friend engine seized, everything was ok, the crap was 6 months old. I cant belive it!!!!!!! Bether give the same money for a second hand scooter from a good brand even if it is 10 years old than flush money in the toilette for a new chinese. dont buy them You forgot to mention slapping on that air filter from AutoZone and never changing the oil. I remember when I was 14 and it was the football's fault that I couldnt kick a fieldgoal. ;D oh yeah??? the oil was in that crap, and it didnt made 1000 miles. What are you talking about air filter?  it was ok. it just died |
|
|
|
Post by Bintelli - Justin on Jun 9, 2012 11:58:14 GMT -5
You forgot to mention slapping on that air filter from AutoZone and never changing the oil. I remember when I was 14 and it was the football's fault that I couldnt kick a fieldgoal. ;D oh yeah??? the oil was in that crap, and it didnt made 1000 miles. What are you talking about air filter? it was ok. it just died May I ask what factory made it? |
|
|
|
Post by ljubomir on Jun 10, 2012 2:42:10 GMT -5
Factory YIYING
|
|
|
|
Post by larry001964 on Jun 10, 2012 2:57:15 GMT -5
Just as any machine has limits so do Chinese scooters,
Rubber components I don't think of very good quality, quality control is lacking as you can often find valves that need adjusting on a brand new scooter. But with the proper PDI done, driven within their limits, and in the hands of someone willing to give them a little TLC, they are about as good as anything else..
|
|
|
|
Post by G-Bo on Jun 10, 2012 6:58:19 GMT -5
I have a 2009 Jonway YY250T aka Mishi Ranger 250cc that I bought from Mishi(now closed). It's now at almost 8,000 miles. The first year came with a warranty that was well honored.
In the three years I've had it, here are my mechanical milestones:
Clutch replaced after 6 months of daily commuting (Warrantied)
Valves Adjusted
Hoses Replaced
Headlights upgraded from 25W to 45W
Charging System wiring corrected(wouldn't keep a charge)
Yesterday, the back brake caliper bolts came out, so I'm taking it to the new shop (Nitro PowerSports) to have it reattached and some other little things looks at.
For a scooter I paid $1,700 for and didn't expect to have (according to all the horror stories) for more than a year, I've been impressed with seeing almost 8,000 miles on it three years later.
Sure, the fit and finish aren't Suzuki Burgman or Yamaha Majesty quality, but for $1,700 it has filled in nicely for a 700 mile round trip from Dallas to Houston or when my Burgman was in the shop and I needed to get to work.
i know experiences vary, but this is truly a limited budget working person's scooter.
|
|
|
|
Post by ljubomir on Jun 10, 2012 8:51:10 GMT -5
Just as any machine has limits so do Chinese scooters, Rubber components I don't think of very good quality, quality control is lacking as you can often find valves that need adjusting on a brand new scooter. But with the proper PDI done, driven within their limits, and in the hands of someone willing to give them a little TLC, they are about as good as anything else.. Why a PDI on a brand new scooter??? Why you dont need to make a PDI on Honda, Yamaha, Suzuki and other good brands? |
|
|
|
Post by spandi on Jun 10, 2012 9:11:43 GMT -5
Just as any machine has limits so do Chinese scooters, Rubber components I don't think of very good quality, quality control is lacking as you can often find valves that need adjusting on a brand new scooter. But with the proper PDI done, driven within their limits, and in the hands of someone willing to give them a little TLC, they are about as good as anything else.. Why a PDI on a brand new scooter??? Why you dont need to make a PDI on Honda, Yamaha, Suzuki and other good brands? It's not just the "good brands" (and btw the Chinese have those too.) It's just that with a Japanese scoot the dealer performs the pdi. (and charges accordingly as well.) |
|
|
|
Post by mainepeace on Jun 10, 2012 10:03:44 GMT -5
They also have a greater part rejection ratio in the factory, meaning that there are fewer out of spec parts making it into customer's scooters.
A PROPER PDI on a Chinese made scooter will make a world of difference. And a proper road test before being picked up by the customer.
Greg
|
|
|
|
Post by Bintelli - Justin on Jun 10, 2012 10:04:26 GMT -5
Just as any machine has limits so do Chinese scooters, Rubber components I don't think of very good quality, quality control is lacking as you can often find valves that need adjusting on a brand new scooter. But with the proper PDI done, driven within their limits, and in the hands of someone willing to give them a little TLC, they are about as good as anything else.. Why a PDI on a brand new scooter??? Why you dont need to make a PDI on Honda, Yamaha, Suzuki and other good brands? It's just like with any product, not only scooters. You can't pay for a $600 scooter that you buy online and expect it to be as good as a $3000 scooter you buy from a dealership. You wouldn't expect a Kia to be as good as a Lexus so why in the world of scooters do you make the comparison? Every country has well made products and poorly made products. |
|
|
|
Post by spandi on Jun 10, 2012 10:46:11 GMT -5
Why a PDI on a brand new scooter??? Why you dont need to make a PDI on Honda, Yamaha, Suzuki and other good brands? It's just like with any product, not only scooters. You can't pay for a $600 scooter that you buy online and expect it to be as good as a $3000 scooter you buy from a dealership. You wouldn't expect a Kia to be as good as a Lexus so why in the world of scooters do you make the comparison? Every country has well made products and poorly made products. Yeah, but just remember what happened with Hyundai. They started at the bottom and now rank higher in reliability than Toyota. |
|
|
|
Post by Pony66 on Jun 10, 2012 11:34:57 GMT -5
Why a PDI on a brand new scooter??? Why you dont need to make a PDI on Honda, Yamaha, Suzuki and other good brands? You asked a Good question. Because people try to save money eliminating the dealer and buying from a wholesaler. Many dont realize that means "some assembly required" The manufacturers you mention do not let you short cut their dealers. Go to a Chevy dealership the day "brand new cars" arrive. They are a lot different than the cars on the lot. |
|
|
|
Post by ld9791 on Jun 10, 2012 16:53:11 GMT -5
Its been said before but asked again, why a PDI. Answer is simple, on every vehicle a PDI is done. On most scooters you do it yourself. Hence the price difference from scooter dealer to scooter dealer.
As for parts availability, the advertisers here have always been helpful.
And nobody said their better then anything. They are as good.
You get what you pay for. I wouldn't buy a kia and expect it to outlast a ford, or go faster then a Ferrari.
But at the same time the reputation that Chinese scooters have is inaccurate.
Do they require some work, yes. mostly simple work and easy to do it yourself.
are their better brands, yes. But for a fraction of what others cost what do you expect. With regular maintenance you can get several thousand miles easily.
|
|
|
|
Post by medman1952 on Jun 10, 2012 18:08:01 GMT -5
ljubomir,
Thanks for educating us. Just curious why you join a forum that has members who predominately own and enjoy Chinese scooters?
|
|
|
|
Post by larry001964 on Jun 10, 2012 20:37:48 GMT -5
Just as any machine has limits so do Chinese scooters, Rubber components I don't think of very good quality, quality control is lacking as you can often find valves that need adjusting on a brand new scooter. But with the proper PDI done, driven within their limits, and in the hands of someone willing to give them a little TLC, they are about as good as anything else.. Why a PDI on a brand new scooter??? Why you dont need to make a PDI on Honda, Yamaha, Suzuki and other good brands? If your really the mechanic you say you are then you should know the oil used in shipping these machines is not to be run on. It's for shipping not driving... Next again if you were truly a master of Chinese scooter art, you would also know that vehicles must be prepped for driving regardless of what factory made them. All ford, GM, Yamaha, Honda dealers do a PDI on the vehicles before sale to the customer.. You apparently came here with some axe to grind so be it... My scooter failed but I'm an honest enough mechanic to admit that I was pushing my scooter well beyond it's limits. None the less it didn't die. I rebuilt it to do the job i wanted. There's nothing wrong with a Chinese scooter if you understand what it is your buying, Your trading high cost, dealer support to do it yourself. and save money on the cost. 1. You are the warranty 2. All PDI and preventive maintenance is your responsibility.. ( The PDI manual on my scooter said to change the oil that it was shipped with before driving it. ) If you don't and it fails you have nobody to blame but yourself not the machine. 3. You are to do your homework know the type of driving you will be doing and match the scooter to the job.. Don't expect a 50cc to do 45 for 200 miles at a shot.. They were never designed for that, they are run around town short hop vehicles... If you understand what it is your buying, take care of them properly they are about as good as any machine.. |
|
|
|
Post by ljubomir on Jun 11, 2012 10:18:11 GMT -5
ljubomir, Thanks for educating us. Just curious why you join a forum that has members who predominately own and enjoy Chinese scooters? Ok, people. To be clear. Thist post has a question : are chinese scooters as bad as people say. I am talking on this question and tell my meaning. I didnt join this forum to educate you or making you fools (dont understand me wrong) I never had a chinese scooter because i know a lot of people who had problems with them. Ok, if someone enjois his chinese scooter, thats ok and i hope he will have fun, but he must know and be prepared for any disaster. They just are not tested. In my country 600$ is a lot of money, for someone a monthly income. My scooter is a kinetc Honda 100 cc from 1995. I never had problems, and its fast like a rocket. There is no chinese scooter that will run 17 years. I am a mechanic, but not for scooters, i am a mechanic for truck and bus engines. Most of the engines are Mercedes Benz and MAN. I am disassembling them, installing new parts, completly refit if needed, everything new, and for my work i give waranty 3 years. I know what is a good engine and what is not. A scooter engine is a toy for me. The chinese scooter from my friend, that seized had new oil because he know that the oil what was in it can be anything but not good oil, so he changed it. Before he bough his scooter i didnt recomend him buy it, and now the soul of his scooter went out through the exhaust. Dear moderator, i am not a contraverse member, I am telling here what i mean, thats why is the question for. I an not making provocations here or telling that someone is a fool, and i am not acting here the smart guy. If you like a good motorcycle for less money try TOMOS. Thats a Yugoslavian brand now produced in USA. |
|
|
|
Post by headonz on Jun 12, 2012 18:09:52 GMT -5
Maybe this has been said before,but everything bad people say about Chinese scooters people were saying about Japanese motorbikes back in the 1960s and 1970s.But look at them now.I had a Suzuki 350cc that could pass the bikies on their Triumphs and Nortans and BSAs and they used to chase me.When I got a Suzuki 750cc water cooled 2 stroke they laughed so I used to drag race them off at the lights and leave them all behind on the open road.I got death threats !!  Maybe the quality control isnt the best occasionally, but there are many scooters for sale here in New Zealand that have now done 10000 to 15000 klm that still go very well and for the money,about 1/3rd to 1/2 the price of other brands they are great value for the money. China makes the finest reproduction musical instruments and the most complex computer componentry ,I own both.GY6 engine is not that complex. Its just a mater of time before everyone will be riding Chinese |
|
|
|
Post by justpassinthru on Jun 12, 2012 18:22:34 GMT -5
OKAY. MY EXPERIENCE - FOR WHAT IT'S WORTH; TAKE IT OR LEAVE IT.
I came here like I came to Chinese scooters - with an open mind. I'd seen the VOGs out and about for some years; read some of the complaints. Many of them sounded like simple electrical issues buried deep.
I came across my updated Son-Of-VOG...an XY300t-4. Marked down; new at a used center that was trying to become a new-bike dealer.
I bought.
I liked.
I liked a LOT. Performance on that Linhai-Yamaha was OUTSTANDING. Fuel mileage likewise. And...it was easy on the eyes; and more comfy than a Burgman 400.
Until this day.
With 2725 miles on the odometer...with four oil changes...using SynOil...a rod started knocking.
No mistaking it. Happened going to work. Stopped at my wrench's shop on the way (gently) home.
It's a connecting rod knocking in there. Wants out; if I ride it much more it'll GET out.
He wants a thousand dollars. The dealer says it's under warranty...AFTER IT FAILS; and IF THERE IS NO ABUSE (like riding it with a knocking rod)
Dealer I bought it from is 200 miles away...I moved after the sale, this spring.
Just taking it down to the dealer, is a loss of $600 in wages; plus the cost of driving there and then driving back to pick it up later.
There's no getting out of this one. I've never torn down an engine completely....I'd do it now if I had a shop. I don't; and might not for awhile. The move...the new job.
So...it looks like I'm out this money. I expected a Chinese scoot to be disposable; but dammit, I expected it would outlive its first set of TIRES.
No...if this doesn't scare you, buy a ChinaScoot with pride. But if you actually want to ride it somewhere, for some months or years...buy Euro or Japanese.
|
|
|
|
Post by ljubomir on Jul 11, 2012 15:34:35 GMT -5
they are not just bad quality, they are unsafe. I really canot understand why is everything going wrong with them. Here a video of the legendary GY6 engine.
|
|
|
|
Post by viral on Jul 11, 2012 15:58:11 GMT -5
Seems to me, ljubomir, many of your friends that had these Chinese scoots ran them hard and didn't properly care for them, as many young kids do. Of course they failed. You never once mentioned an instance when you knew the bike had been properly cared for yet still blew up.
I bet that Honda of yours you rave so much about would have failed within 1000 miles too if you didn't change the oil frequently, adjust the valves, and properly tune the air/fuel mixture. Then again, Honda did most of that for you so you never even thought about it.
Many of us here own Chinese scooters and are quite happy with their performance and reliability when properly cared for. Your experience is anecdotal, biased based on a small number of cases you have seen or heard about. You are wasting your time on this forum, you aren't convincing anyone of anything.
|
|
|
|
Post by pearlygates on Jul 11, 2012 18:23:07 GMT -5
Are you kidding I wouldn't go NEER one! ALL the parts are CHEEP! They BRAKE DOWN all the time! (you wont evein get out of your ohne driveway!) McDonald's wont evein let you in the drive threw b/c yoor leaking Koolent and oil. if you call Goodwill to get rid of it they won't evein TAKE IT! So take my advise and buy a hunda or Vespah (cause u can never spend two much money) Thats why I drive a Znen Titan 250, A GREAT scoot made in ...... OH WAIT!.... NEVER MIND!!!!! Brilliant! hahaha |
|
|
|
Post by scootdawgydogg on Jul 11, 2012 21:46:00 GMT -5
Guys, in all fairness, everyone here knows that chinese scoots are'nt exactly known for reliability or good dealer support, lol... those who have bought reliable china-scoots are the exceptions, not the rule. A chinese scoot is a dice roll, and if your not a mechanic then your screwed (unless, of course, you have actually managed to find a honest, reliable b&m dealer--- and have cash to spend).
|
|
|
|
Post by spandi on Jul 12, 2012 0:04:11 GMT -5
Are you kidding I wouldn't go NEER one! ALL the parts are CHEEP! They BRAKE DOWN all the time! (you wont evein get out of your ohne driveway!) McDonald's wont evein let you in the drive threw b/c yoor leaking Koolent and oil. if you call Goodwill to get rid of it they won't evein TAKE IT! So take my advise and buy a hunda or Vespah (cause u can never spend two much money) Thats why I drive a Znen Titan 250, A GREAT scoot made in ...... OH WAIT!.... NEVER MIND!!!!! Brilliant! hahaha Thanks! BTW, have you ever seen a movie called (If I remember correctly) "The Wrong arm of the Law" a British comedy with Peter Sellers as Gang leader/Fake French fashion designer "Pearly Gates", LOL! |
|
it was ok. it just died
