01-24-2008, 12:42 AM | #1 |
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: Charleston, West Virginia
Posts: 20
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Of these two bike...
Hi-Bird 250cc or Lifan gy-5 200cc.
I want to spend some tax money and I cannot make up my mind. |
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01-24-2008, 04:47 AM | #2 |
Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: 11481 State Route 44 Mantua, Ohio 44255
Posts: 1,112
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Hi gloomhound
Go with an American Lifan LF200GY-5, the parts support and warranty are much better. Just be careful if you are buying a Lifan from e~Bay or from some on~line sellers.
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Thanks, Bruce @ Endless Journey Cycles "Phone Calls Only" ~330-274-0098~ Hours: Tue.-Fri. 10:00-6:00 Sat. 10:00-4:00 EST. Dealer for: Lifan, Crossrunner ATVs. http://www.endlessjourneycycles.net |
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01-24-2008, 04:53 AM | #3 |
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: Charleston, West Virginia
Posts: 20
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I was hoping to deal with http://www.motoxtreme.net if I can get his price down a little. Good guy to deal with?
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01-24-2008, 05:39 AM | #4 | |
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: Hyak, WA
Posts: 448
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Quote:
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1985 Kawasaki Tecate-3 1997 Ural Sportsman 2WD 1980 Yamaha XS1100 2005 TANK Trail 200 2009 Lifan LY110GY-3 (2) |
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01-24-2008, 08:24 AM | #5 | |
Join Date: May 2007
Location: Altamont, Kansas
Posts: 15,103
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Quote:
Allen
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You meet the nicest people on a Honda Clone. |
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01-24-2008, 09:27 AM | #6 | ||
Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: 11481 State Route 44 Mantua, Ohio 44255
Posts: 1,112
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Quote:
FYI: A. Lifan Dealers can not buy parts from A. Lifan for other makes & models. We have to submit a VIN number for the bike in order to purchase parts. And No, not all parts from Lifan bikes fit other bikes, I know I have looked into it and I know for a Fact that they don't. Tell me something... If you know so much about these bikes why don't you Join The Ranks and start a dealership. It seems to me that all you like doing is ragging on other people on this Forum, and I for one am getting sick & tired of seeing it.
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Thanks, Bruce @ Endless Journey Cycles "Phone Calls Only" ~330-274-0098~ Hours: Tue.-Fri. 10:00-6:00 Sat. 10:00-4:00 EST. Dealer for: Lifan, Crossrunner ATVs. http://www.endlessjourneycycles.net |
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01-24-2008, 09:49 AM | #7 | |||
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: Hyak, WA
Posts: 448
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Quote:
Your an AF dealer and your answering questions with answers such as "Go with Americn Lifan because you can't trust any other China bike" (not an exact quote, but pretty much what you are saying). You can give suggestions here w/o trashing others bikes or dealers. These forums are called Chinariders, not AMERICAN LIFAN riders. You should support ALL China Riders not just your own brand your trying to peddle.
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1985 Kawasaki Tecate-3 1997 Ural Sportsman 2WD 1980 Yamaha XS1100 2005 TANK Trail 200 2009 Lifan LY110GY-3 (2) |
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01-24-2008, 12:35 PM | #8 |
Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: 11481 State Route 44 Mantua, Ohio 44255
Posts: 1,112
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Hi mrhyak
Ok, I'm Sorry... I took that the wrong way, and had to re-read it. There was not a question mark after the second sentence and that is what I took the wrong way. {Yes I make mistakes, I'm A.D.H.D. & I'm Human.} FYI: So you know, I'm not ragging on you. I deal in quite a few Chinese Brands, but the guys that sell stuff that Will Not support their products are no good and you know this. I know it's not an American Lifan Forum, I answer as the question is asked. If the guy would have asked about United Motors vs. HiBird, I would have said the same thing and told him about UM. I post facts, no bs, I have studied these Chinese bikes since Trac & Panda brought them into this country over 20 years ago. There are good & bad distributors, as we all that are on this forum know and the newbies that come on learn, in time. I have dealt with distributors that Do Not support their product. I do support the ones that do 100%, even if I don't deal with them. If anyone wants to know all they need to do is ask. I hope this helps and makes sense.
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Thanks, Bruce @ Endless Journey Cycles "Phone Calls Only" ~330-274-0098~ Hours: Tue.-Fri. 10:00-6:00 Sat. 10:00-4:00 EST. Dealer for: Lifan, Crossrunner ATVs. http://www.endlessjourneycycles.net |
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01-24-2008, 01:36 PM | #9 | |
Join Date: May 2006
Location: Yuma, Arizona
Posts: 9,055
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Re: Of these two bike...
Quote:
To tell you the truth, if you are REALLY confident with your motorcycle mechanical abilities, I would want you to buy the Hi-Bird for selfish reasons; there are not too many 250 Chinese enduros out there, and I would like to hear of someone's experiences with one. Otherwise, go with the more proven bike and buy the LIfan
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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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01-24-2008, 01:59 PM | #10 | |
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: Hyak, WA
Posts: 448
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Quote:
Jack
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1985 Kawasaki Tecate-3 1997 Ural Sportsman 2WD 1980 Yamaha XS1100 2005 TANK Trail 200 2009 Lifan LY110GY-3 (2) |
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01-24-2008, 04:41 PM | #11 |
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: Ocala, FL
Posts: 49
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Hi gloomhound,
If possible you should ride both bikes before buying either one. Although the LiFan may be a good bike I found the 200cc engine to be lacking in power. (I'm afraid that statement will enrage the true believers but it's just my opinion). The smaller engine must be flogged to keep up with traffic running at 70mph and it didn't do especially well even in city traffic. Perhaps it was geared a bit high but lowering the gearing to improve acceleration would only make hiway travel more taxing for the engine. I bought the Hi-Bird 250 from Vbikesusa and so far I am pleased. The difference in performance is significant. It has ample acceleration and can easily maintain 65-70 mph. Whichever bike you choose parts and service are crucial considerations unless you are mechanically inclined and resourceful. No matter how good the product it will in time require something to keep it going. zundapp2 |
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01-24-2008, 04:46 PM | #12 |
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: Charleston, West Virginia
Posts: 20
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As to my mechanical abilities, fair to middling. But I do know a bit about the old Honda XR's and that Hi-Bird does look like an XR clone.
I want to buy via the internet and have it delivered. I agree it would be great to have a detailed review with extensive photos of the bike from crate thru setup and ride. And I would be more than willing to do that and have my wife a professional photographer take the pic, if someone wants to send me a free bike to review. |
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01-24-2008, 05:49 PM | #13 |
Join Date: May 2006
Location: Yuma, Arizona
Posts: 9,055
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Zundapp, you need to keep us informed as time goes on. BTW, how many tooth sprockets do you have? (front and rear)
Your comment about the 200's power was right on--these 200's really don't have as much power as we would like them to have. It took Hi-Bird to introduce the 250 to the US in larger numbers, and to keep them coming unlike the past ones where it seemed like one container load and no more. There were a few (now unheard of) bikes a few years back, but not any more Gloomhound, I would steer you to a Lifan, simply based on warranty issues.
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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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01-24-2008, 07:56 PM | #14 |
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: Independence,Missouri
Posts: 1,049
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gloomhound
I have delt with Tim at vbike on several occasions and purchased 7 bikes total off of him.I can tell you he is a very good dealer.I made an atempt to sell some atv's and dual sports locally but had too much compotition.So I kept 2 and sold the rest.I wish I would have kept the hibird 250 duelsport as well it had awsome power for a 250 as well as a beefy look to it.I plan on purchasing another this spring for myself.I am 6' 250 lbs and it is plenty stout to hull my but. Service after the sale is a concern for all that purchases chinese bike and Tim has prooven to be top notch. I don't mean to sound like a sales rep for him but in the world of Chinese bikes word of mouth and proven experience with a dealer can save a lot of troubles for another. |
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01-24-2008, 08:20 PM | #15 |
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: Ocala, FL
Posts: 49
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Gloomhound:
Culcune's recommendation of the LiFan for warranty reasons has considerable merit. To that I would add the LiFan's parts availability. The Hi-Bird has (I think) a 90 day warranty which is probably less than the LiFan. LiFan (at least one dealer) has parts advertised; there is no dealer (that I have found) with Hi Bird parts. On a more positive note the price of the Hi Bird was in my estimation reasonable ($1200 delivered to my garage); the service, including registration documents, was first-class; and the bike was received without damage. Hi Bird should hire you to prepare both a set-up instruction sheet and an owner's manual. The Hi Bird 250 comes with a manual for the 200GY and the reference photos for the set-up are nearly worthless. A parts list would also be most welcome. Culcune, Will keep everyone informed as to the performance, reliability, etc. of the Hi Bird. I can report the engine is smoother than I had anticipated. That's not to imply it might not lose parts due to vibration but the shaking is nothing like a old Triumph twin or a Suzuki TS 400. (I won't mention Sportsters because I am ashamed of ever having owned one). The rear sprocket is 46T and I haven't yet counted the front sprocket. (There are no meanigful specs provided for the bike. In fact there was absolutely nothing to even indicate the crankcase oil capacity. Fortunately I drained the original oil into a clean container and was able to measure the volume). And now a question. The carb is a PZ 30. Any idea where one might find replacement jets? zundapp2 |
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