Zongshen 650

2strokecycle · 07-28-2017, 02:36 PM

I do not post often but I found this article and thought it may be of interest.

http://www.motorcyclenews.com/news/2...rcycle-engine/

This engine would have the potential to make a very nice mid sized bike.

jbfla · 07-28-2017, 04:14 PM

If Zong spent "millions", they should have gotten an engine from Honda or Yamaha.....or
design their own engine.....

jb

Sullybiker · 07-28-2017, 05:45 PM

This is actually very interesting news, and is a similar deal to the one that brought us the 250 in the RX3.

Zongshen iterate quickly and I would not be surprised if they bin the 450 and go straight to this.

Imagine a Versys 650 competitor at aggressive pricing, and no dealers premium to pay.

2strokecycle · 07-28-2017, 06:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jbfla

If Zong spent "millions", they should have gotten an engine from Honda or Yamaha.....or
design their own engine.....

jb

The key is it was developed by Ricardo not Norton, it is common for all the big car and bike manufacturers to contract out the works development and it will bring the engine to market quicker and better technology.

sshevie · 07-28-2017, 10:49 PM

So am I the only one that would be more worried about a British engine in our CBs than a Chinese one?

1cylinderwonder · 07-28-2017, 10:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sshevie

So am I the only one that would be more worried about a British engine in our CBs than a Chinese one?

No, I owned an early model BSA Shooting Star, learn a lot about the mechanicals, whether I wanted to or not!

BlackBike · 07-28-2017, 11:30 PM

Nice hunting 2 strokecycle

pyoungbl · 07-29-2017, 10:14 AM

The Norton announcement is there on the Norton web page...so it's legit. To my untrained eye there is a great deal of similarity between the 650 and our 250 lump...cylinders canted fwd, water pump in the same position, etc. That exposed oil filter might bother some but I like the accessibility and the fact that it's probably available at my local auto parts store. The deep sump might be an issue, too early to tell.

Jumping from 250 to 650, without a 450 in between, sounds like too much for a company whose bread and butter is small engines. Thus, I'd expect them to test the waters with the 450 for the world market and later bring out the 650 for Europe and North America.

Peter Y.

2LZ · 07-29-2017, 10:37 AM

I think they'll do both the 450 and 650. Zong is massive and has tons of cash, engineering and available workers.

I like this idea. They're one of the few Chinese companies that just aren't pumping out CG Hondoids by the millions. I like the idea that they seem to be taking the 2 wheeled world very seriously on the global stage.

ElectricCircus · 07-30-2017, 06:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sullybiker

...Imagine a Versys 650 competitor at aggressive pricing, and no dealers premium to pay.

That´s a very interesting point!
On my region dealers doesn´t adds anything else than extra cost to the vehicles and patethical after sales mandatory services.

sshevie · 07-30-2017, 07:27 PM

Yes it is a jump from 400 to a 650 but I have to believe that in the overall scheme of things it would make more sence. The 600 cc engines IMHO seem to hit that Goldilocks spot for power and fuel economy.

pyoungbl · 07-30-2017, 08:26 PM

It is easy to think in terms of our local (national) demands. I'm trying to think in terms of the international market. With that in mind I'd question how many 650 bikes Zong could sell in, say, China, Colombia or Argentina. Those markets are huge but will they support a 650 twin? The folks at Zongshen are smart so I'm sure whatever they decide it will have a high probability of success. It's very interesting that they have dropped big bucks into a 20 year agreement.

BlackBike · 07-31-2017, 04:42 PM

http://californiascooterco.com/blog/?p=26237

Sullybiker · 07-31-2017, 08:53 PM

I think @2LZ is correct, I doubt it will actually change much of Zongshen's plans, and it's likely entirely focused on the European and North American market (which has a couple of 650 competitors, like Benelli).

I'd love to see a 450, but I know it's not an easy size to get right.

As an interesting aside, I learnt that the GS 650 thumper is assembled in China. Still cast in Europe, but assembly is handled by a subcontractor in china. Interesting, right? A very well-regarded BMW donk.

Interesting times.

1cylinderwonder · 07-31-2017, 09:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sullybiker

As an interesting aside, I learnt that the GS 650 thumper is assembled in China. Still cast in Europe, but assembly is handled by a subcontractor in china. Interesting, right? A very well-regarded BMW donk.

Interesting times.

I thought that I read recently that the BMW G650GS would no longer be made for American importing in 2018?

07-28-2017, 02:36 PM	#1
2strokecycle Join Date: Mar 2016 Posts: 17	Zongshen 650 I do not post often but I found this article and thought it may be of interest. http://www.motorcyclenews.com/news/2...rcycle-engine/ This engine would have the potential to make a very nice mid sized bike.
	1

07-28-2017, 04:14 PM	#2
jbfla Join Date: Oct 2015 Location: FL, GA, NC Posts: 771	If Zong spent "millions", they should have gotten an engine from Honda or Yamaha.....or design their own engine..... jb __________________ 2016 Honda CB500F......2017 Triumph Street Twin 2014 XT 250........
	0

07-28-2017, 11:30 PM	#7
BlackBike Join Date: Feb 2016 Location: George West, Texas Posts: 4,097	Nice hunting 2 strokecycle __________________ ***************************************** 2015 Bashan"Blaze" BS250GY-31 (DB-07K-250) GONE 2017 Suzuki V Strom 650 XT "We are all born ignorant, but one must work hard to remain stupid." ~Benjamin Franklin~
	1

07-29-2017, 10:37 AM	#9
2LZ Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Volcano, Ca Posts: 7,078	I think they'll do both the 450 and 650. Zong is massive and has tons of cash, engineering and available workers. I like this idea. They're one of the few Chinese companies that just aren't pumping out CG Hondoids by the millions. I like the idea that they seem to be taking the 2 wheeled world very seriously on the global stage. __________________ "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
	2

07-31-2017, 04:42 PM	#13
BlackBike Join Date: Feb 2016 Location: George West, Texas Posts: 4,097	http://californiascooterco.com/blog/?p=26237 __________________ ***************************************** 2015 Bashan"Blaze" BS250GY-31 (DB-07K-250) GONE 2017 Suzuki V Strom 650 XT "We are all born ignorant, but one must work hard to remain stupid." ~Benjamin Franklin~
	0

07-28-2017, 05:45 PM	#3
Sullybiker Join Date: Dec 2016 Location: Western PA Posts: 363	This is actually very interesting news, and is a similar deal to the one that brought us the 250 in the RX3. Zongshen iterate quickly and I would not be surprised if they bin the 450 and go straight to this. Imagine a Versys 650 competitor at aggressive pricing, and no dealers premium to pay.
	0

07-28-2017, 10:49 PM	#5
sshevie Join Date: Sep 2016 Location: Michigan Posts: 118	So am I the only one that would be more worried about a British engine in our CBs than a Chinese one?
	4

07-29-2017, 10:14 AM	#8
pyoungbl Join Date: Feb 2016 Location: Portsmouth, Virginia, USA Posts: 632	The Norton announcement is there on the Norton web page...so it's legit. To my untrained eye there is a great deal of similarity between the 650 and our 250 lump...cylinders canted fwd, water pump in the same position, etc. That exposed oil filter might bother some but I like the accessibility and the fact that it's probably available at my local auto parts store. The deep sump might be an issue, too early to tell. Jumping from 250 to 650, without a 450 in between, sounds like too much for a company whose bread and butter is small engines. Thus, I'd expect them to test the waters with the 450 for the world market and later bring out the 650 for Europe and North America. Peter Y.
	0

07-30-2017, 07:27 PM	#11
sshevie Join Date: Sep 2016 Location: Michigan Posts: 118	Yes it is a jump from 400 to a 650 but I have to believe that in the overall scheme of things it would make more sence. The 600 cc engines IMHO seem to hit that Goldilocks spot for power and fuel economy.
	0

07-30-2017, 08:26 PM	#12
pyoungbl Join Date: Feb 2016 Location: Portsmouth, Virginia, USA Posts: 632	It is easy to think in terms of our local (national) demands. I'm trying to think in terms of the international market. With that in mind I'd question how many 650 bikes Zong could sell in, say, China, Colombia or Argentina. Those markets are huge but will they support a 650 twin? The folks at Zongshen are smart so I'm sure whatever they decide it will have a high probability of success. It's very interesting that they have dropped big bucks into a 20 year agreement.
	3

07-31-2017, 08:53 PM	#14
Sullybiker Join Date: Dec 2016 Location: Western PA Posts: 363	I think @2LZ is correct, I doubt it will actually change much of Zongshen's plans, and it's likely entirely focused on the European and North American market (which has a couple of 650 competitors, like Benelli). I'd love to see a 450, but I know it's not an easy size to get right. As an interesting aside, I learnt that the GS 650 thumper is assembled in China. Still cast in Europe, but assembly is handled by a subcontractor in china. Interesting, right? A very well-regarded BMW donk. Interesting times.
	0