02-23-2024, 11:37 AM | #1 |
Join Date: Nov 2022
Location: Wyoming
Posts: 90
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Chinese bike price sensitivity? $2,000 $4,000 $6,000 ?
During some research into alternatives I wondered how popular apparently attractive alternatives were. I found relatively little activity/discussion (owners?), regarding:
I found the GPX FSE 300R to be a particularly interesting case because ... while it's price is nearly as much as a Kawasaki KLX300 ($6,200+), it's suspension adjustability makes it closer (in my mind) to KTM/Gas-Gas/Husqvarna/etc. $13,000 offerings. your thoughts? |
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02-23-2024, 01:09 PM | #2 |
Join Date: Jan 2016
Location: Mooresville NC
Posts: 2,116
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you won't find much discussion around here about bikes over about 3k. part of the lure of chinese bikes (in my opinion) is the attractive pricing. Once their prices go up, there's a lot better options to spend your money on.
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Dave Bikes I've owned: Suzuki GS450T, Yamaha XS500, Honda V45 Sabre, Kawasaki Vulcan 1500 Classic (2), Suzuki VX800, Kawasaki Ninja 650, Triumph TT600, Honda Superhawk, Kawasaki Concours 1000 (3, including a sidecar rig), Buell XB9R, Kawasaki Nomad 1500, Concours 14, Honda Goldwing (2), Housen Hawk, Suzuki Intruder 1400, Kawasaki KLR650, Victory V92TC. |
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02-23-2024, 04:19 PM | #3 |
Join Date: Feb 2021
Location: Kansas City
Posts: 2,733
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The GPX 300R has a 4 valve, liquid jacketed engine, and EFI. The TM38 is now available with EFI, but that is a 2 valve engine. GPX seems to focus a little more on higher end components. These two bikes represent two nice tiers for the Chinese dirt bike market.
I will have to do a lot to my Templar to bring it closer to performance level of the TM38! These two are both NICE entries. Price sensitivity? Well, the differences are real and the pricing reflects it, so people can choose where they want to be. I agree that the GPX is comparable to much more expensive bikes like KTM, Honda, Yamaha. I own a KTM, and the suspension/frame/components are impressively lightweight, tight, stiff and work well. My Templar is loosey goosey by comparison, but an amazing value at ~$2000. I'd be curious to ride the GPX to see just how close it comes.
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03-05-2024, 09:33 PM | #4 | |
Join Date: Jul 2022
Posts: 105
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Quote:
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03-05-2024, 10:54 PM | #5 | |
Join Date: Nov 2022
Location: Wyoming
Posts: 90
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support
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How do WE know one from the other? Forums ... like this ... are all we've got - with low-volume vehicles (of any type, really). I couldn't find anything - no discussion, forum etc. Yes, these days one could find 'anything' on the Internet - somewhere; but, it's more than just parts; it's all the ancillary knowledge/experiences, too. So, I asked myself, "Do you want to ride it? ... or make a hobby/life caring for it, nursing it ... and hoping for it?" The answer is: YOUR choice! |
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03-09-2024, 07:09 PM | #6 |
Join Date: Dec 2020
Location: Dayton Pa.
Posts: 953
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Come on ,ride it!
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03-09-2024, 08:25 PM | #7 |
Join Date: Feb 2021
Location: Kansas City
Posts: 2,733
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The elephant in the room is price point. You want specs, OH, and they ARE out there!!!! These options offer amazing price/performance. But you can't expect...
Service? Well, CSC might have brick and mortar showroom depending on where you are, and people are finding surprising sources for low end bikes. GPX is responsive if you are near the shop, and Lifan works through shipping and advice. From my experience, so does PSM. But nearly all of these options leave most of us on our own for wrenching. So what do you want? Service guarantee is not there. We accept these conditions for the exceptional low prices we pay. For the knowledgeable wrencher, this is nothing short of GOLD. For the novice, it is a crap shoot, and long term mistake. This is the unfortunate reality, or fortunate if you have tools and experience
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03-10-2024, 10:19 AM | #9 |
Join Date: Feb 2021
Location: Kansas City
Posts: 2,733
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That's what this site is for.
I'm just saying that the low prices are great, but there's no dealer network, and mechanics can't guarantee their work because they are not backed up by a parts warrantee from the manufacturer. There isn't a manual, and it's hard to find part numbers or replacement parts!! Buyers just have to take on the responsibility and live with it. I've learned a whole lot in the process
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03-10-2024, 10:48 AM | #10 | |
Join Date: Nov 2022
Location: Wyoming
Posts: 90
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forums value
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I've been wrenching on (usually high performance) cars for >50 years; but, do I want to spend my (little left riding) time chasing all over the Internet, looking for 'equivalent' parts, diagnoses and torque specifications ... for a machine that could ruin (or take) my life in an instant? ... or leave me stranded somewhere without chances of finding/acquiring needed parts for weeks? In addition to 'how to' information, forums alert us to potential (future) problems, we didn't even realize were a threat, so we can take care of them before they become problems. Absent such information & guidance, we're left to rely upon previous experience - not always specifically existent (I certainly don't 'know it all') to, effectively, reinvent every upcoming wheel. Do I want to spend my limited riding time left doing that? ... not if I can identify alternatives! |
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04-03-2024, 06:57 PM | #11 |
Join Date: Mar 2024
Location: North MS
Posts: 26
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For me $3,000 US would be the cut off for anything Chinese. Any higher than that and you're into the Japanese market where parts availability, performance and quality is guaranteed. Even on the $6200 bike the reviewer said it wasn't nearly as aggressive (fun) as the competition.
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04-03-2024, 07:08 PM | #12 |
Join Date: Apr 2017
Location: Omaha, NE
Posts: 8,110
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The appeal of the chinese bikes was always about getting nearly the same performance for less than an equivalent bike, or in the case of bikes like the Hawk, just cheap overall transportation where there really wasn't anything on the market like it (until now).
Once you start pricing a bike similar to the market of anything remotely competitive from Japan or elsewhere, it becomes a very different market. Example: CSC came out with their 400cc road bike that were priced around $5-6k. They were a total flop and are no longer offered because they flopped. There are a ton of Japanese bikes with similar or better performance for the same price point. Z400, MT03, etc. The only way they sold was when they were put on sale and were basically a grand less than their orginal asking price.
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04-03-2024, 09:26 PM | #13 |
Join Date: Oct 2020
Location: Central VA
Posts: 1,301
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I ventured out to the deep end of the pool and bought a new RX4 a couple of years ago. It was heavy for what it was and underpowered. I owned it for a couple of months and sold it at a loss (not a big loss thankfully). I came back around and subsequently bought a Titan DLX and then a Templar X which were awesome for what they were and shined brightly at their price points. When priced low, we can forgive the lack of dealer network or support that relies on the customer to fix their own issues. When prices climb close to the stars: Big 4, Euro Bikes, etc with their massive dealer networks, online support, etc, its a whole other game and the competition is fierce.
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2024 Templar 250 2021 Beta 500 RRS 2018 VStrom 1000 XT Former China Bikes: Tao DBX1, Brozz 250, CSC RX4, Titan DLX, Templar X, Storm DLX 150 |
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04-06-2024, 11:24 AM | #15 |
Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: Volcano, Ca
Posts: 7,112
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I've liked all my China bikes. No real issues. I also like wrenching and making sure everything is good, but that's half the fun to me.
I still have Q, great bike. Would I spend big bucks on a brand new one? Probably not. The flip side is I've had friends buy brand new, super expensive bikes and they've had their fair share of "out of box" issues and lots of dealer trips. One of my buddy's bought a brand new, KTM Super Adventure 1290 and it's spent over a half a year in the shop. Spending big bucks and having dealer support sometimes means nothing.
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"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 |
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