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Post by swampsniper on Nov 13, 2007 1:23:12 GMT -5
With many name brands you won't know who made it until you buy it. There is no long term relationship between the importer and the manufacturer. Parts are usually no problem, but all parts aren't equal quality, even if they fit. There are many ways to cut production costs and some manufacturers use every trick in the book. Some decent scooters will get built this way, accidently, but you shouldn't count on getting one. If a salesman won't tell you, up front, who makes the scooter you'll be getting, he likely doesn't know, either. ;D
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Post by medman1952 on Nov 13, 2007 1:28:45 GMT -5
Hi I have owned a 150 2005 sunl adventure. So far got over 5600 miles on it . Only had to change the belt. Replace the mirrors and headlamps. Hey it was cheap and it as save me a lot of $$$$. So all you sunl haters out there go buy something else. Kelvin Now this is a post that I think says it all. If you don't like it , buy something else. Let your money speak for yourself. |
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Post by "Big Guy" on Nov 24, 2007 13:31:18 GMT -5
I think the point that no one is discussing here is that there are over 900 factories in China producing these scoots for export, and the NAME of the scoot really doesn't matter or give the particular brand any credit.
What you have to buy is MANUFACTURER, and NOT name brand. Okay, okay, I know, I say, "I love my Roketa" all the time, but what I really mean is I love my Jonway!
The reason I bought my first scoot was out of curiosity. One of my businesses brokers containers and drays these things to the US warehouses, and on one of my business trips to China, curiosity got the best of me and I decided to do some investigation on the manufacturers before buying one.
The KEY difference was QUALITY CONTROL! Some of these so-called manufacturers are simply plastic assemblers, and don't care where they get their scoots from, as long as they are CHEAP. Many of these "factories" have 10 or less employees who do everything.
I found Jonway to be just the opposite. They are the actual manufacturer of many of the parts, including the engine (I know, all the experts will blast me on this one, but it's true) and have a fantastic quality control department, not to mention a HUGE production plant.
Most folks don't realize that many other scooters are being outsourced to China, Like Honda and Yamaha... What?? Yup, it's true. The difference is, companies like Honda have quality control people at the factory and better QC = Better product.
Now you may not necessarily find a dealer where you can say, "Does the manufacturer's tag say Jonway", but I have, and the last 2 Roketa's I bought from them made at the Jonway factory and simply BRANDED at the secondary Roketa factory have been absolutely (almost) problem free.
The bottom line is, if I can't name my manufacturer when ordering a scooter, I'll find a dealer that can. It might take some doing, but they WILL check the import paperwork, or contact the factory they deal with and find out the manufacturer's name if they want to make the sale!
Just my two cents here... this debate over BRANDING can be really drawn out, when it's not an issue at all.
Ever wonder why some people have great luck with a sunL, Roketa, etc., and others completely hate them... now you know why!
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Post by guyruss on Nov 24, 2007 17:33:29 GMT -5
Absolutely  Russ |
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Post by murdoc on Dec 9, 2007 18:06:37 GMT -5
So I take it I should forget sunl?
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Post by "Big Guy" on Dec 9, 2007 21:54:09 GMT -5
No, I don't think you should rule out the SunL, Lifan, Roketa, etc.
If you buy Chinese, you just have to do a complete pre-trip inspection with the body panels off, that's all.
You'll save a bunch of $$$ buying Chinese, however be prepared to do some work, such as: Changing the oil coolant (if is has any) and gear oil, replacing almost all of the hoses, including vacuum, changing the fuel filter, changing or checking all the metal fasteners, nuts, bolts, etc., changing ALL of the factory electrical quick connects (they aren't worth a damn), checking for loose wires, changing the fuse block, etc. I know I'm probably leaving stuff out.
Oh yeah, real important, bypassing the ever problematic supposed ABS on the front wheel. They have been known to lock up and throw people from their scoots...
You should expect to spend about 4-5 hours and around $50 doing this, but if you do, really any scooter will give you good service. After that PM is the key, oil, lube, etc.
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Post by lok222 on Dec 10, 2007 14:44:06 GMT -5
I just bought one from there last week.. so far we love it! I do like that we have a "dealer" near also Color me shocked last week when I spotted a big ol' showroom for everyone's favorite, SunL, on IH-35E in Farmer's Branch (just north of Dallas, TX). Lots of items on the floor from small ATVs and mini-bikes with sidehacker sidecars to 250cc scoots to full-size ATVs and dune buggies. Gotta love the signs everywhere that scream "DO NOT SIT ON THE VEHICLES!!" and inform you of the 30 day very, very, very limited warranty on their products. No sales help on the floor despite many people wandering around with the gall to actually want to sit on a damn scoot before plunking down $1,000 plus TT&L for one. Least now you have a place to chuck rocks through the plate glass windows when your SunL ride dies. |
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Post by vodavi6346 on Dec 10, 2007 20:41:36 GMT -5
some people call me the space cowboy because I ride a chinese scooter ........! lol Yep SUNL just fired all there parts people and just started over , its alittle tough right now but its all working out they don't want to lose bussiness !
Sunl Good : They ship bikes out QUICK ! They always answer there phones and tell you the truth for the good or the bad,great website,very competitve pricing,large selection,on the higher end bike they have polished aluminum emblems
Sunl Bad: This is one of the things I HATE there specs on there website are really sorry!,Shipping damage is common,They don't have cool Team crew shirts like verucci! haha
but you guys have to understand something I'm not here to beat a horse to death, We service all types of scooters chinese,italian,european,etc and yea and no on some things, I've clocked 30miles this week on a piaggio 150 and it really dos'nt seem much better than any other chinese bike in drive ability .The good thing I found on the piaggio was it had a actual OIL filter instead of a cheap screen like the chinese bikes, also the case had a heatsink design on it to disapait heat which is a really good idea. If these chinese factorys would take note of the simple stuff things would be SOO much better! Also I will say this Hyosung makes the most COMFY SEAT I don't know what kinda foam it is but there seats are really comfortable !
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Post by mg on Mar 7, 2008 8:39:18 GMT -5
A few weeks ago I ordered a cdi from sunl's parts website motosportsparts.com. I didn't know then that they were affilliated with sunl. A few days later I recieved a phone call from a lady at sunl saying the part was out of stock,and would give me a refund or I could wait. I waited. 8 days later the part arrived by ups. Maybe they're getting their parts situation together and are concerned about doing business in the long term.
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Post by raymond1024 on Mar 7, 2008 12:08:05 GMT -5
That could be the case but their quality on the scooters are still subpar. I did a lot of research before i got my scooter and from all the post that ive seen about SunL i would think twice before i get something from them. Just my thought.
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Post by daveofhutto on Jun 17, 2009 17:43:31 GMT -5
I have acquired a SUNL 150. Other than the battery being crap it seems to be a decent machine. Small defects like vacuum hose routing, loose valve core in the front wheel. None of the issues I have found mentioned here and other sites. Seems they are working on quality control. I found a parts supplier in California www.atvpartsusa.com that had the parts for my 250 Roketa (Jonway) good service, good price. You have to be able or willing to turn wrenches. If you go with the Korean, Taiwanese or Japanese brands expect to pay for the B&M it is over head, it has to be supported through higher prices. When you do buy those brands look for country of origin, it may very well be China. So are you paying for presumed quality and corporate earnings? Remember these are "clone" machines, it won't take much to for the importers that want to stay in business to improve their quality. We are seeing it evolve, for the better. Seems that little has been said of the problems with the name brand scooters. They do have problems, but unlike China scoots they have the dealer network at which to vent. Bought online, fixed online:lol: |
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Post by scooternut on Jun 18, 2009 18:50:11 GMT -5
I bought a leftover 2007 and had it delivered April 2008. Just sold my 150 Sunl to someone the other day for $375 I paid $1100 had 3,800 miles.
Was it fun? Sure it was and it turned me into a scooter mechanic. Every week it was a different issue. I changed just about every part on that thing, no joke. In fact I gave it the name “Paper Mache” because of the flimsy quality.
Presently, I’m scooterless and dreaming of my next dream fly…
For me Sunl means lemon for some people they believe they can make lemonade…it’s only a matter of time before this brand will implode as it should.
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Post by earlwb on Jun 22, 2009 20:42:14 GMT -5
FYI: If anyone doesn't know it already...
The SUNL store in Farmer's Branch went out of business a while back. A custom V-Twin store took its place (Dream Machines).
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