New Grom Knockoff's Are Now in the US

[culcune]

Any more videos/review updates? I notice that SSR is showing the 'Razkull' as being available vs. under 'coming soon' (where it still is and has been for several months).

http://www.ssrmotorsports.com/store/...reet-index.php

[_MaXiPaD_]

Originally Posted by culcune

Any more videos/review updates? I notice that SSR is showing the 'Razkull' as being available vs. under 'coming soon' (where it still is and has been for several months).

http://www.ssrmotorsports.com/store/...reet-index.php

Here are the updates so far:

- The bike still seems to have some kind of charging issue.

I can go 4-5 days riding the Vader before the battery has a hard time providing enough juice to start the bike. My temporarily solution is to hook the Vader up to a battery tender overnight every 2-3 days or so. Not a big deal when you have a quick disconnect connected to the battery. And if worse comes to worse, the bike is super light that it'd be easy to push start it if need be.


- The plastics are very brittle.

If you watched my quickie video, you'll notice that the plastic from the tail section broke very easily from a very minor fall (my sister actually caught the bike). Then a week later, the front wheel hugger mounting points cracked on me and the fairing on the left side of the gas tank was holding on by one screw (due to cracking issues). These plastics are definitely not ABS.


- Experienced bogging issues a few times on the highway.

There was a few times where the Vader would cut out on me at about 42-44 mph and would not recover unless I dropped a gear and slowly rev the bike back up. This is probably due to the carburetor needing a larger jet.


- Otherwise, the bike is mechanically (& cosmetically ) breaking in nicely. Power feels a bit stronger, shifting is feeling smoother and the bike feels reliable.



I am thoroughly enjoying this little bike. It's just a bummer those plastics were cheaply made (which I should've expected anyways). But the cheap plastics doesn't bother me all that much. I actually prefer the bike without the plastics because it gives me less to worry about and now I have easier access to the motor and it's components whenever I need to get to them.



The Razkull looks pretty sweet! I'm a big fan of SSR. I can't wait to see one of those!

[culcune]

After all you wrote about your issues--keep in mind, it is a Chinese bike after all, LOL Like the Geico commercials--'That's what they do...'

I threw in the SSR bike to show that several Chinese bikes are here or coming. Mysteriously, even after watching the youtube video of one being sold, Sunright told me on the phone that their TMEC 125 won't be available until September :( But it is in the works.

Kawasaki and Honda will be the 'real deal' in this segment, but why spend over $3k when you can have a real thrash bike? I imagine there will be some unknown bikes to arrive--heck your bike kind of 'appeared' as I had been watching the TMEC and SSR bikes. I wonder if this market segment stays robust, will CSC import the Zongshen version?

[BlackBike]

Originally Posted by culcune

After all you wrote about your issues--keep in mind, it is a Chinese bike after all, LOL Like the Geico commercials--'That's what they do...'

I threw in the SSR bike to show that several Chinese bikes are here or coming. Mysteriously, even after watching the youtube video of one being sold, Sunright told me on the phone that their TMEC 125 won't be available until September :( But it is in the works.

Kawasaki and Honda will be the 'real deal' in this segment, but why spend over $3k when you can have a real thrash bike? I imagine there will be some unknown bikes to arrive--heck your bike kind of 'appeared' as I had been watching the TMEC and SSR bikes. I wonder if this market segment stays robust, will CSC import the Zongshen version?

show us the zong version.

[culcune]

Originally Posted by BlackBike

show us the zong version.

It looks near identical to the TMEC version sold via Sunright but the TMEC version is a semi-auto, no clutch lever bike...
http://www.sunright.net/linhai-scooters/denali-125%20FX

Here is the Zongshen version:
http://en.zongshenmotor.com/?q=node/895

Also, if you look around the CSC blogs, Joe rode one while he was recently in China and has photos of it, too.

The TMEC bike is probably bought as a knock-down kit from Zongshen, but they probably use a semi-auto Zongshen engine rather than a clutch version. TMEC uses the Zongshen 163 FML in their full-size 200 enduro. TMEC are a good company, at least from the perspective of their full-size enduro.

However, the Zongshen version allows you to 'be cool, be funny' so is probably the better of the two bikes ...

[culcune]

"Be cool, be funny"

Yes, Mr. Zongshen, I will!

[culcune]

Not as cool or funny, but far more likely to be available in the US in the next couple months...The TMEC125GY-5