Chinese Motorcycles in Cameroon - Page 2

lilgman · 11-26-2021, 10:52 AM

I'd love to know if the engine on this bike is a copy of something anyone is familiar with. I was hoping Franque or Calcune might know it.

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Name: IMG_20211119_105640_553.resized.jpg
Views: 183
Size: 109.2 KB

franque · 11-26-2021, 12:12 PM

It looks kinda like a Yamaha YBR125 or a Suzuki GN125 (though I'm pretty sure it's not the Zook because it doesn't have a removable oil filter, and the YBR has an electric starter on the front of the engine). I've tried to figure out what it is before, and all that I can come up with is that it might be a clean sheet design. TVS certainly is big enough that they don't *need* to copy anyone. I think that the Chinese only copied things as a matter of convenience.

Edit... I just looked at some more TVSs, and it looks like it might be the YBR.

lilgman · 11-29-2021, 01:53 PM

Thanks, Franque. I also looked at pictures of the YBR125 and GN125. I see similarities to the YBR, but the head is completely different. I also read on Wikipedia that TVS manufactured bikes for Suzuki for a while, but had to make changes to the design when they parted company. The engines I see on the TVS website don't look like the one in the picture which I saw in Cameroon.

Thanks again for the info!

11-26-2021, 10:52 AM	#16
lilgman Join Date: Jan 2020 Location: Lesotho Posts: 105	I'd love to know if the engine on this bike is a copy of something anyone is familiar with. I was hoping Franque or Calcune might know it.
	1

11-26-2021, 12:12 PM	#17
franque Join Date: Nov 2017 Location: Marseille, France -> Conakry, Guinea Posts: 1,481	It looks kinda like a Yamaha YBR125 or a Suzuki GN125 (though I'm pretty sure it's not the Zook because it doesn't have a removable oil filter, and the YBR has an electric starter on the front of the engine). I've tried to figure out what it is before, and all that I can come up with is that it might be a clean sheet design. TVS certainly is big enough that they don't need to copy anyone. I think that the Chinese only copied things as a matter of convenience. Edit... I just looked at some more TVSs, and it looks like it might be the YBR.
	2

11-29-2021, 01:53 PM	#18
lilgman Join Date: Jan 2020 Location: Lesotho Posts: 105	Thanks, Franque. I also looked at pictures of the YBR125 and GN125. I see similarities to the YBR, but the head is completely different. I also read on Wikipedia that TVS manufactured bikes for Suzuki for a while, but had to make changes to the design when they parted company. The engines I see on the TVS website don't look like the one in the picture which I saw in Cameroon. Thanks again for the info!
	0