QLink Commuters

[osharilee]

I have joined this forum, hoping to find some people that have owned or do own a QLink Commuter. The search for these people has been exhausting to say the least.

I am currently looking at buying one, but have recently been burned by a bad purchase, so I am really trying to investigate before I spend the $$ on another scooter.

So, if any of you have personal experience with this scooter, I would really appreciate your input.

[Aaron]

Welcome to the forum! There is not a great deal known about the Qlink Commuter at this time. The Helix design is a proven one a Qlink is a good company. Jim the owner of Bandit Motorsports in OR has recently started selling them. Jim is a retired automotive engineer and has a unique insight into the build quality of machines. He is a valued member here who has proven to be honest and helpful. I happen to know he just sold his first Commuter and would be more than happy to give you his unbiased opinion of it. [e-mail] is his E-mail. As I said his name is Jim and his opinion can be trusted. True he is a dealer and does sell them but he is not married to any brand and will tell it like it is.

Good luck, let us know what you decide.

[airnerd]

I hope to here more about this scoot.

The yellow is just so shiny!

[Cookees]

I have the '06 Fashion Vip from Baron, the same bike as the Qlink Commuter and the Bandit. I have really enjoyed it these past two years. Super comfortable, great gas mileage, and a supreme bang for the buck. I wouldn't hesitate to buy one again.

[Bear]

cookees said:

I have the '06 Fashion Vip from Baron, the same bike as the Qlink Commuter and the Bandit. I have really enjoyed it these past two years. Super comfortable, great gas mileage, and a supreme bang for the buck. I wouldn't hesitate to buy one again.

Thats great to hear. I too am VERY interested in the Qlink and it's siblings. I just bought a Pegasus (Qlink) for my wife, now it's my turn :-)

So cookees, can you tell us any more about your experiences??

Do you have a dealer near you for service, or did you do it all yourself?? What have you had to do to it?? How many miles have you put on it?? How about the belt or the tires, have your replaced them?? Did you replace all the fluids when you got it?? Specifically did you replace the coolant and or the brake fluid. I hear many folks don't trust the cheap coolant they put in these bikes in China so they replace them first thing.

Did you have to replace any of the hoses?? Again, there are those who swear that you should do that. And finally, have you ever had a chance to drive a Helix? I know they look alike, but I was curious how close they really are. The only substantive difference I know of is the engine. The Qlink and it's kin have a CFMoto engine, which should be different (parts wise) from the Honda engine.

Sorry for all of the questions. I do hope that you and others can chime in though.

Muchos Gratias.

Bear

[Cookees]

Well Bear...where to start.
I bought my Fashion Vip from Baron/Bargin Jims last year. I had it shipped to my local scooter dealer, Hy-Pro scooters here in Pittsburgh. Mike from Hy-Pro, who posts here regularly, prepped my scooter. They followed their regular prep procedures and changed out the coolant as well as all fluids.
I now have some 3800 miles on it. I put on a full Helix windshield from Cee Bailey, and would reccomend that option to all. It really makes a difference.
I have done all my own regular service work. I have added "wetter-water" to the coolant, and use Castrol 4 stroke MC oil .
I have had one problem, the shaft on the rear wheel, inside the cvt cover somehow snapped. No one can deterimine it's exact cause of faliure and it has been chalked up to " manufacturing defect". I hauled the scoot over to Hy-Pro and contacted Ivan at Baron/CF-Moto USA. They didn't hesitate or quibble and had the parts to Hy-Pro within a week.
From what I can tell, the Qlink Commuter and the Fashion are identical scoots manufactured by CF Moto. The difference in name owing to seperate distributor agreements. I also understand that any new models or bikes comming from CF Moto will only be available through CF Moto USA.
In my humble opinion, I wholeheartedly reccomend either of these bikes. I would support a local dealer, but if that isn't an option, I'd go with Bargin Jims or Bandit.

[Bear]

Thanks cookees,

I hope the OP doesn't mind that I have kind of taken his thread, but I think at least it's right on topic.

I am so tempted by the Helix and it's clones. I suppose theres nothing to do but go drive em both. I'm still not quite sure whether I want to go with the new Qlink/Bandit/Baron/Fashion whatever it's called clone or a used Helix. But I think the next step is to test drive a New Helix at the dealer (If I can find one) and then head over to my local Qlink dealer who sold my wife her Pegasus and drive the shiny red Commuter he has in stock and on sale.

Why oh Why did Qlink put that lousy radio in the Commuter?? Cookees does your bike have one too? On the Qlink it's mounted in the back trunk and has speakers mounted in the front glove box. Then there is a volume knob on the dash and one on the handle bars (I think). But if you want to change channels or the tape, you got to open the back. But really I'd just assume it not be there, using up my space ;-)

[Cookees]

Bear,
Yeah, I have to admit...the stereo is kind of cheesy ;D
Mine came with a casset player. I removed it to add more access to the trunk.
I have also removed the top case. I found that with it removed I can back the scoot into my garage between my wifes car and our ski-boat. Because of the vee in the hull of the boat...she just sniggles right in.
Since prepping my bike, Hy-Pro has become a Qlink dealer. Unfortunately Pitsburgh hasn't proved to be Helix-friendly. Mike at Hy-Pro laughingly refers to my scoot as the "duck".( Pittsburgh has an amphibious tour boat company, Just Ducky Tours, that uses WWII amphibious vehicles.)( We also have a gay bar named the Pegasus...but that's a whole 'nother story )

Hy-Pro doesn't stock the Commuter, but I think they might have sold one or two.
Like I said... I don't think you can go wrong with any of the clones ( Commuter, Fashion , or LX-250 from Bandit)
Bandit seems to have the edge on pricing for shipping by a couple of hundred dollars.
You should be able to find a used Helix in good condition for arround two grand or so.

Good luck.

[Bear]

Hey cookies,

I almost missed this comment you made:

" I also understand that any new models or bikes coming from CF Moto will only be available through CF Moto USA."

Can you clarify that?? Does that mean new models as in models not yet existing?? I suppose it does now that I read it. Or does it mean that those models currently made by cfmoto and rebadged will cease to be rebadged??

Thanks,

Bear

[Dennis D]

No... just NEW models. IF that contract holds water!! And that's a big if! Sticking to the terms of contracts they make with inporters/distributors has not been one of the strong points of any of the chinese factories. That's why there are so many "gray market" bikes badged as "brand xxx", normally imported by and associated with a particular distributor offering warranty and support, being sold to anyone who can cough up enough $$$ to buy a container full of them. Usually the gray market bikes have no meaningful warranty and even less support, and that just drags the name recognition of "brand xxx" through the mud, through no fault of the distributor trying to build the brand.

[Cookees]

Yes, as I understand it, CF Moto has just two distibutors here in the US. Qlink and CF Moto US.
Any new models that CF Moto makes and or decides to import to the US will only be available through CF Moto US. That is to say, any Qlink models now in production will stay Qlink. However, if CF Moto were to, say, add a 500cc motor to the V3 or V5 ( Sapporo or Legacy) and call it the V4 and V6...those models would only be available through CF Moto-US.
Of course, Dennis makes a good point. Some of the Chinese manufacturers don't have a sterling track record of keeping their contractual and or proprietary/copyright dealings legit.
( Instead of the Ten Comandments... think more like the Ten Suggestions)
So I guess time will tell.

[zuitscoot]

Does anyone know if the Helix clone that Wildfire Motors is offering is also produced by CF?

[zuitscoot]

Wildfire also sells the "helix" model in a 150cc version. It seems to me that there might be too much bike for a 150.

I would love to hear from anyone who has dealt with Wildfire Motors or any of their products.

[Cookees]

Zuitsuit,
Wildfire is about 35 miles from me here in Pittsburgh. I've been out there a couple of times. Additionally, Hy_pro Scooters in Pittsburgh is one of their biggest, if not oldest,dealers.
As I understand it, the Helix clone they have utilizes a CF Moto engine.I'm not sure the rest of the scoot is assembled by CF Moto or just the engine was sourced.
I do know that Wildfire ran afoul of Honda over their small generator clone and that Honda hit them with a cease and desist order... Simultanious with the deletion of the Helix clone from their website.
Wildfire has changed the appearance of their generator, however the Helic clone remains off their website but still available.
Mike Land at Hy-Pro Scooters would be in more of a position to tell you about their reliability. From my limited experiance with them at Hy-Pro I would say that if prepped properly by someone who knows what they are doing, the Wildfire scooter is an acceptable choice relative to their price point.

[oldscooterguy]

Wildfire is awful. Their QC went straight south this spring. I also had a conversation with the owner, I'll never deal with them again.