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11-08-2017, 07:30 AM | #1 |
Join Date: Oct 2017
Posts: 6
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The Least Risky Scenario
I'm thinking about getting a 4-stroke off road motorcycle, and I don't want to spend thousands of dollars. Without getting into the weeds, it looks like there are two basic choices:
1. New Chinese bike 2. 10+ year old Japanese bike I get that the Japanese brands have higher R&D budgets, with more thorough QA, but entropy, coupled with young males thrashing the crap out of things, I wonder if the amount of maintenance on a 10+ year old Japanese bike is going to end up being roughly the same amount of maintenance that a brand new Chinese bike would require. Or maybe more...or less...I'm not sure. What do you think? |
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11-08-2017, 10:35 AM | #2 |
Join Date: Oct 2016
Location: Ottawa, ON, Canada
Posts: 58
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I have bought 3 10+ Japanese bikes myself this summer and know a friend who also bought 2 10+ Japanese bikes. Of the 5, 1 came from a kid whose father maintained it but had no clue. Air filter had not been cleaned in forever, wheel bearings needed changing, handlebars were bent, etc. Got it for a great price and don't regret the work it needed. I knew it when I bought it.
The 2 Gio's I rode required "almost" no maintenance, but I became frustrated with trying to find parts when something did break or I wanted to change it. If you love searching the internets looking for parts, and waiting a couple weeks for them to arrive then you will have no regrets with the Chinese bikes. If you are like myself, and want to maximize ride time and minimize time in the garage the Japanese are the way to go. I am able to order parts, in 10 minutes or less, to my door in a day or two and have 100% confidence they will fit. |
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11-08-2017, 03:49 PM | #3 |
Join Date: Jan 2012
Location: ChCh , NZ
Posts: 2,265
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A chinese bike will last if it's not thrashed to with in a inch of it's life all the time..
My TTR250 is now 8 years old... motor has never been apart or any part replaced other than normal wear & tear components... If you do replace a part on a 10 year old japper it is then good for another 10 years in most cases.. .
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09 XT660R ... 06 TTR250 ... 80 Montesa H6 125 Enduro... 77 Montesa Cota 348 MRR "Malcom Rathnell Replica"... Current resto projects.. 81 Honda CT110... 80 Kawasaki KL250A1... 11 Husaburg TE125 enduro... "sold" along with another 31... Lifan 125 Pitbike.. "stolen" ... KIWI BIKER FORUM...... http://www.kiwibiker.co.nz/forums/content.php All the best offroad rides in NZ... http://www.remotemoto.com/ E-mail... xtpete1@gmail.com |
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11-08-2017, 04:52 PM | #4 |
Join Date: Nov 2016
Posts: 36
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1986 Yamaha tt225 just normal wear and tear with thousands of miles on it and the motor has never been apart.
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11-09-2017, 10:09 AM | #5 |
Join Date: Feb 2016
Location: George West, Texas
Posts: 4,097
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If this is such a big deal and you are looking for a 250 you could go the csc route without fear.
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***************************************** 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~
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11-09-2017, 12:16 PM | #6 |
Join Date: Mar 2009
Location: Sardis, BC, Canada
Posts: 25,977
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The bottom line is that a China bike requires a sense of humour. If you're not into taking total responsibility for the maintenance of your bike, Japanese is a better bet. I'm a sucker for punishment, so I have several China rides.
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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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11-09-2017, 06:47 PM | #7 |
Join Date: Feb 2016
Location: George West, Texas
Posts: 4,097
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__________________
***************************************** 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~
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11-10-2017, 08:22 AM | #8 |
Join Date: Oct 2017
Posts: 6
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Interesting advice; thanks for the input. I'm thinking a 10-yr old Japanese bike is the way to go. While I have the ability to wrench, I don't want wrenching to become the hobby, either the actual wrenching or the pre-wrenching research.
I'm looking at the Yamaha TTR125. Yeah, I know...go bigger, but I want small, light, nimble, and relatively slow. |
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11-10-2017, 11:17 AM | #9 |
Join Date: Mar 2009
Location: Sardis, BC, Canada
Posts: 25,977
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I think you're making a good choice.
I'm one of those odd people who enjoys wrenching as much as riding. Maybe more. China bikes aren't for everyone.
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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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11-10-2017, 03:38 PM | #10 |
Join Date: May 2006
Location: Yuma, Arizona
Posts: 9,055
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If you are considering smaller bikes, you might still want to consider a Chinese pit bike. I think the way they are designed and used, pit bikes seem to hold up quite well. They are much lower cost than full-size Chinese dirt bikes, such as the Apollo 150. I think the Chinese pit bikes will make a near-perfect 'learning' bike. Start with Taotao's DB17 and go from there. http://taotao.us/index.cfm/dirt-bikes/ Apollo and a Coolster put out some low-cost, decent quality pit bikes in the 125cc range. The distributor for the Hawk 250 enduro carry Apollo and Xmoto bikes as well. http://www.therps.net/# That being said, if you can get a reliable used TTR125 for the same cost as one of the Chinese bikes, go for it.
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"They say that life's a carousel, spinning fast you got to ride it well..." TGB Delivery Scooter 150 TMEC 200 Enduro--carcass is sadly rotting in the backyard |
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11-11-2017, 06:12 AM | #11 |
Join Date: Oct 2017
Posts: 6
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I had initially been researching Chinese bikes. I even put together a spreadsheet comparing the specs of various models (I think I'm up to ~28 models so far). Only recently have I been questioning whether a Japanese bike is feasible.
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11-10-2017, 03:52 PM | #12 |
Join Date: Jan 2012
Location: ChCh , NZ
Posts: 2,265
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I'm a Yamaha fan though & though but it
pains me to say if you are after a small jap dirt bike look at a used Honda CRF150F.... if yer after more power down the track for around $200 you can get a 175 kit with cam...175 kit is a stright bore job no resleeving... gives another 3.5hp but when it only has 12hp to start with 3.5hp is another 28%...A noticable diffrents... .
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09 XT660R ... 06 TTR250 ... 80 Montesa H6 125 Enduro... 77 Montesa Cota 348 MRR "Malcom Rathnell Replica"... Current resto projects.. 81 Honda CT110... 80 Kawasaki KL250A1... 11 Husaburg TE125 enduro... "sold" along with another 31... Lifan 125 Pitbike.. "stolen" ... KIWI BIKER FORUM...... http://www.kiwibiker.co.nz/forums/content.php All the best offroad rides in NZ... http://www.remotemoto.com/ E-mail... xtpete1@gmail.com |
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11-11-2017, 06:14 AM | #13 |
Join Date: Oct 2017
Posts: 6
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I'll take a look, but power is really not a priority for me. Thanks for the suggestion.
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11-14-2017, 02:58 AM | #14 |
Join Date: Apr 2016
Location: Australia
Posts: 89
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go jap mate, better support & parts
China bike ok if you can rebuild yourself, but if your not into it , it end up costing more than a older jap bike. ttr230/crf230 cant go wrong |
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