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09-17-2012, 12:54 AM | #1 |
Join Date: Sep 2012
Posts: 8
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I'm in Bolivia ready to buy a bike! Chinese bike or Honda?
Helloo all
My friend and I landed in Bolivia today and are excited to start our 2.5 month tour through Bolivia, Peru, Ecuador and Columbia (a lot of riding). We have our gear, GPS routes, maps all ready to go...only thing left is the bike purchase and we need your advice! The biggest help here would be from fellow riders who have purchased brand new Chinese bikes in South America. How did it go for you? Here are our options: Option 1: A brand new 250cc Chinese bike, costs $1,500 (US). We are going to be riding a lot, and all of the dealers themselves have mentioned that they require a good amount of maintenance (bad news). Most saying that we would need to give the bike a rest every 4 hours and let it cool off for 30 minutes because the engine gets super hot (is this normal?). Another dealer mentioned we will probably end up replacing a piston $100 (US) on our bikes before the end of our Bolivia route(?). Overall, I´m not getting good energy from the Chinese knock offs Option 2: Purchase a used Honda 125cc CGL (or similar, have any suggestions?) for around $2,500 (that is if we can find any available for both my friend and I). It will probably be very old with a lot of miles, and again, we risk mechanical problems if the replacement parts are crap or if the bike was not maintained well. Here is what it boils down to...we are budgeting up to $2,500 for a bike, and we have 2.5 months to spend in South America. We´re looking to get more riding in and less time spent on the side of the road broken down, sitting in shops, and twiddling our thumbs. If we can get by with purchasing a Chinese bike for $1,500 and only deal with a couple of repairs, that would be phenomenal. If it will require religious maintenance and prayers every day, should we look elsewhere? Again, any trip reports or insight from fellow advriders who have purchased a brand new Chinese bike would be extremely helpful. Thank you guys so much! -Kevin |
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09-17-2012, 01:40 AM | #2 |
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: Idaho
Posts: 25,054
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Welcome; we are glad you joined us, Kevin.
I certainly do recommend you purchase a Chinese motorcycle. Forum member Old Gringo lives in Peru, and has helped several visitors purchase Chinese motorcycles. The rumors you heard from the dealers are ridiculous. :roll: An air cooled, single cylinder, Chinese engine is very reliable, and doesn't require much maintenance. Here are links to several ride reports from owners of Chinese motorcycles. http://www.advrider.com/forums/showthread.php?t=371656 http://www.danielmontejo.com/Picture...themachine.htm I suggest you post photographs and descriptions of several motorcycles you are considering. We will be glad to help you decide which Chinese motorcycle might be best for your trip. Spud
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Spud "Never argue with an idiot. He will drag you down to his level, and beat you with experience." Mark Twain 2015 Zongshen ZS250GY-3 (RX3) 2006 Zongshen ZS200GY-2 (Sierra 200) 2005 Honda XR650L 2004 Honda CRF250X 1998 Kawasaki KDX220 Mods made to my Zongshen ZS200GY-2: http://www.chinariders.net/showthread.php?t=6894 |
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09-17-2012, 08:09 AM | #3 |
Join Date: Mar 2008
Posts: 2,436
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Stay AWAY from those pushrod 250 for long trip , they're on "steroid" (bore/ stroke) !!!
The original design (bore/ stroke) ARE much safer & easier to get parts in long trip. Honda CGL125 is made by Wuyang-Honda in China. Brazil made CG are much stronger BUT $$$ talks. NEW chinese pushrod 125 also quite capable for these kind (<55mph ) of tour. One of those trip on chinese 125 http://www.motorfans.com.cn/bbs/view...uthorid=163526 |
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09-17-2012, 07:15 PM | #4 |
Join Date: May 2007
Location: Altamont, Kansas
Posts: 15,103
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I vote for a 200cc Chinabike. Known reliable engines. Will need alittle prep before hitting the road.
Check bolts, cables, wiring. Fuel lines. Make sure jetting is correct. The old honda is probably just as likely to break down as a new Chinabike.
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You meet the nicest people on a Honda Clone. |
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09-17-2012, 09:24 PM | #5 |
Join Date: Sep 2012
Posts: 8
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Thanks for the feedback guys! We went to the market again and took photos of our 5 options. If you have any experience with a similar bike, or recognize any parts on these bikes that are clearly going to be trouble, we would like to hear from you!
Option 1 - http://imgur.com/a/LDUUU - Pegasus 250cc (Korean made) OPtion 2 - http://imgur.com/a/2cfdT - Mizumo 250cc (Chinese made) Option 3 - http://imgur.com/a/Dp5EV - Montero 250cc (Brazilian made) Option 4 - http://imgur.com/a/DDf4Q - Fenix 250cc (Korean made) Option 4 (same model, different photos) - http://imgur.com/a/oxqRA - Fenix 250cc #2 (Korean made) Option 5 - http://imgur.com/a/ESYZM - Supermotos ¨Brozz¨ 250cc (Chinese made) We are looking to pick the best of these 5 options. They all cost just about the same so we are not sensitive price ($1,500 - $1,700) Some of the key differences are balanced motors vs unbalanced. Is this something we should be concerned about? Also, the Fenix has a radiator, and none of the other bikes have radiators. We are thinking this may help prevent overheating and take us longer distance in comparison to something like the Montero which does not have a radiator. Does no radiator mean we will have to stop every 4-5 hours to let the bike cool down? **side note** the dealer also mentioned that the Montero has better chassis and manufacturing (aluminum) than the other bikes given it´s made in Brazil. We would really appreciate your input on these options. Thank you all for being so helpful! FYI, we´re documenting our entire journey, you will be sure to see the final video and photos in a few months! |
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09-17-2012, 09:52 PM | #6 | |
Join Date: Mar 2008
Posts: 2,436
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Quote:
http://www.sukidacycle.com/ProductShow.asp?ID=241 From official picture it's OHC (MD33 http://blog.inmycab.com/xr200rmatome/761/ clone) machine unlike other that uses "steroid" pushrod machine |
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09-18-2012, 12:26 AM | #7 | ||
Join Date: Sep 2012
Posts: 8
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Quote:
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09-18-2012, 01:02 AM | #8 |
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: Idaho
Posts: 25,054
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I don't think you need a 250cc engine to make your trip. Do those bikes truly have 250cc engines? Sometimes the Chinese label bikes with 223cc engines as 250cc motorcycles. :roll:
I agree with Katoranger. I would place my trust in an air cooled, Chinese motorcycle with a 200cc engine. I am unfamiliar with all the motorcycles you mentioned in your post. Spud
__________________
Spud "Never argue with an idiot. He will drag you down to his level, and beat you with experience." Mark Twain 2015 Zongshen ZS250GY-3 (RX3) 2006 Zongshen ZS200GY-2 (Sierra 200) 2005 Honda XR650L 2004 Honda CRF250X 1998 Kawasaki KDX220 Mods made to my Zongshen ZS200GY-2: http://www.chinariders.net/showthread.php?t=6894 |
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09-18-2012, 10:52 AM | #10 |
Join Date: Mar 2009
Location: Sardis, BC, Canada
Posts: 25,977
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The honourable Mr. Humanbeing doesn't care for the "steroid pushrod" engines, but I love 'em. I've had excellent luck with all of mine, as have my friends. Mine is a 200cc pushrod in an atv, and I've punished it with no consequence (yet).
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Weldangrind "I figure I'm well-prepared for coping with a bike that comes from the factory with unresolved issues and that rewards the self-reliant owner." - Buccaneer |
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09-18-2012, 05:06 PM | #11 | |
Join Date: Mar 2008
Posts: 2,436
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09-18-2012, 06:58 PM | #12 |
Join Date: Sep 2012
Posts: 8
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Alright folks, we did some more walking around today at the shops and spoke with some repair shops and pizza delivery men and everyone seems to have a different opinion. However, I think we´re set on the Montero 250cc after some feedback from a trusted moto rental shop. What are your first impressions of the Montero?
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09-18-2012, 07:22 PM | #13 |
Join Date: Mar 2009
Location: Southeastern Washington desert
Posts: 14,761
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To me that looks like a perfectly good generic Honda clone 8) . In some ways looks nicer than most, and has Kenda tires, a plus. It lacks a tach which is no biggie. Indeed even the speedometer is a Honda XL clone. :P
BTW I agree with Weld. For all the little problems Chinabikes have. Nuts, bolts, vibration, electrical etc, the motors tend to be solid performers. 8) The little problems you can/diagnose/treat/prevent pretty easily. There is a thread here on D/S bike preparation and setup. :P
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Happy to serve. |
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09-18-2012, 09:00 PM | #14 | |
Join Date: Sep 2012
Posts: 8
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Thanks for the advice! Looking forward to buying it tomorrow.
Been reading through some of the prevention and preparation tips, and came across a site of someone doing a similar route to us who had trouble with all three of his bikes (Kawasaki 650KLRs) at the same time: Quote:
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09-18-2012, 09:28 PM | #15 | |
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: Idaho
Posts: 25,054
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Quote:
Spud :roll:
__________________
Spud "Never argue with an idiot. He will drag you down to his level, and beat you with experience." Mark Twain 2015 Zongshen ZS250GY-3 (RX3) 2006 Zongshen ZS200GY-2 (Sierra 200) 2005 Honda XR650L 2004 Honda CRF250X 1998 Kawasaki KDX220 Mods made to my Zongshen ZS200GY-2: http://www.chinariders.net/showthread.php?t=6894 |
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