Group Buy - LIFAN lf200gy-5 2007

[MOTOXtreme]

Lastly, as mrhyak indicated, the reason the bikes from Hooper Imports are different than American Lifan bikes (or any other Lifan you can find for that matter) is because Hooper orders the bikes built to his specifications. American Lifan orders the bikes to their own specifications. Think of the bikes as cars with "options". One Honda dealer may order a Civic with silver paint and an automatic tranny. The other dealer accross town may order the same Civic with blue paint and a manual tranny. But both cars come from the same manufacturer, Honda. Both cars are a Honda.

Ok, Partially true but one Honda dealer can not dictate the thickness of the frames, weather to include the disk rear brake (American Lifan went back to drum due to occasional problems with the disk and wanted to improve the quality of the bike, not retain a problem area), weather or not to include the NEW counterbalanced engine, among many other things most people on here overlook.

There IS an American Lifan, Lifan IS the parent company, but the bikes ARE different. Are they all junk? I’m not saying that, but differences in quality are there and obtaining parts is almost non-existent.

To address the “grey market” issue further, several of you mentioned getting a bike from another “importer” and having an American Lifan sticker. This is only leading to the confusion for most of you and I do see why; but I’m not going to try to explain this. You all have good points, however that sticker means nothing. FACT: The VIN number tells the entire story. I’m not promoting my business or downing anyone else’s here, but the bikes are NOT the same.

Again, I’m not saying if you ride anything other than an American Lifan your riding junk. We are all here because we enjoy riding on 2 wheels (4 for you ATV’ers on here), I just don’t want anyone having false information and finding themselves in a bad situation.

Parts are 100% available for American Lifan bikes and you can rest assured, unless you’re in CA. you can title and register your bike.

Another point: One member on here bought their bike from a “non-authorized” dealer and lots of trouble getting the bike tagged and others have not at all. If you buy from a legit dealer they will be a DMV dealer as well. I have had 0 issues with this due to the fact we are also an authorized motorcycle dealer here in the state of Virginia.

Did I make this clear as mud?

[MOTOXtreme]

PS: Indianfeather's bike IS an American Lifan. I would not want someone on here talking badly of MOTO XTREME so I will refrain from saying anything about the dealer, just read and do your homework. The adverage person will stick it to you and won't even give you a kiss

[mrhyak]

Grey Market usually means the bikes were not imported properly and may not be EPA approved.

MOTOXtreme, sure you made your point but you were comparing your bikes to the China mystery bikes. I was more comparing AL to Hooper Imports and I would guess there really is not much difference beyond the spec's the Importer persoanlly requested to be different, or are you lumping HI bikes into the "grey" catagory?

(sorry I use Hooper as the only other example, but I don't know of any other Lifan importers)

[katoranger]

Originally Posted by mrhyak

Grey Market usually means the bikes were not imported properly and may not be EPA approved.

I have run into a couple of Mercedes that were euro models in the US. They are called grey market. Still a Mercedes, just doens't necessarily meet US standards.

These are 70s-80s models.

Allen

[MOTOXtreme]

I'll be honest here. I don't know or clame to know all there is to know about these other dealers (importers) and I try 100% not to speak badly of them unless there is good reason.

I was not speaking of Hoopers bikes in the previous post. I know that I am not an importer, I'm a dealer and I have put many miles on a 200 Gy-5 (among others) so I speak from experance, not from a "spec sheet".

[Penguini66]

Originally Posted by MOTOXtreme

Did I make this clear as mud?

Almost. Kind of a gray swirly colored mud. :wink:

But I do see the term "gray market" used improperly here and there. To go back to the original definition:

The grey market refers to the flow of new goods through distribution channels other than those authorized or intended by the manufacturer or producer.

Let me give an example of true gray market: Cannon imports a camera into the US with an MSRP of $1,000. Cannon also sells that same exact camera to the European market. But for some reason or another, they set the MSRP in Europe at $750 (maybe Europeans hate Cannon...I have no idea). Regional pricing happens with merchandise like that all the time. Now to get into gray market. Some importer in the US sees that the Cannons are $250 cheaper in Europe so he contacts his European "connection" and brings a few hundred over to the US and sells them on eBay. Happens all the time. Is there anything truly illegal about it? No. What's the problem then? Well, Cannon USA only has a budget to warranty a certain number of cameras (or percentage of cameras that they think will break). So when your gray market camera breaks, you call CannonUSA and give them your serial number they're going to tell you that your camera is not covered by their warranty program.

(can you guys tell I like analogy?)

Now if an importer/dealer/eBayer contacts Lifan and imports bikes to sell in the USA, they are not by definition gray market. That is why HI bikes are not gray market. If they're going through an unauthorized exporter in China then that may be another story. But I have a feeling that these days, Lifan (and China in general) doesn't give too much of a crap where their bikes end up as long as they get money in exchange for them. So in other words, there are no unauthorized exporters/importers and therefore no gray market Lifans.

Originally Posted by MOTOXtreme

Ok, Partially true but one Honda dealer can not dictate the thickness of the frames, weather to include the disk rear brake (American Lifan went back to drum due to occasional problems with the disk and wanted to improve the quality of the bike, not retain a problem area), weather or not to include the NEW counterbalanced engine, among many other things most people on here overlook.

I beg to differ. They make so damn many of these things, and they make so many different "flavors", they have nearly an endless "parts bin" to pull from. Want a less expensive bike to put on ebay? Ok, we'll use the frames we get from our low bidder supplier. This order is for American Lifan. Use the good frames. Oh, and leave off the rear discs and put on those drums sitting over in that pile over there.

The way you have to think of it IS like a car. Except think of it like this:
Lifan = Honda = Make
200GY = Civic = Model
-5 = DX/LX/SI = Major option package
Rear disc brake = 6 disc changer = option$
tachometer = sunroof = option$
balanced engine = 18"rims yo = option$
thicker frame = side impact airbags = option$
etc...

(I've never bought a Honda so don't berate me if those specific options/packages don't exist)

Originally Posted by MOTOXtreme

There IS an American Lifan, Lifan IS the parent company, but the bikes ARE different. Are they all junk? I’m not saying that, but differences in quality are there and obtaining parts is almost non-existent.

I don't think anybody has ever said that the bikes weren't different. Lifan is a HUGE manufacturer. I'd venture a bet that they make more products in a year than any Japanese, European or domestic motorcycle/ATV manufacturer. Their bikes come from many factories. They probably have hundreds of suppliers making different parts. They supply their own country as well as export to the world. Of course there are going to make various "versions" of a 200GY-5. Its not like all Lifan 200GY's come from the same production line and the same set of drawings.

What's all that boil down to? Well, American Lifan has requested what they feel is a quality product from Lifan China. Quality enough that they're willing to support a warranty program. And at a pretty reasonable price. Good for them and it is definitely a step in the right direction.

[jenny]

very nice post Penguini66 you have hit it directly on the head.

[culcune]

I think the term "grey" has been bandied about alot, and as Penguini pointed out, probably not in the correct usage at all times. It is similar to about a year to a year and a half ago where the GY bikes were referred to as "clones" insinuating that they were made from old Honda molds. Then, it was pointed out that Honda never (in the 80's which was the era that these were supposed to have been "cloned" from) did make a 200cc engine that had electric start. These bikes are similar to old Hondas, but are not identical. Lately, I have not seen the term "clone" used, and I have a feeling that the term "grey" will go away, too, unless American Lifan gets an exclusive territory agreement.

[IronFist]

Originally Posted by Penguini66

The way you have to think of it IS like a car. Except think of it like this:
Lifan = Honda = Make
200GY = Civic = Model
-5 = DX/LX/SI = Major option package
Rear disc brake = 6 disc changer = option$
tachometer = sunroof = option$
balanced engine = 18"rims yo = option$
thicker frame = side impact airbags = option$
etc...

Then I got an..........Edsil . I'd LOVE a lifan, grey, clone, american...anything!