Italika 250z

Magician16 · 10-24-2021, 02:13 PM

Anybody ever heard of this bike. It's made in Mexico. Looks a lot like a China bike.

culcune · 10-24-2021, 04:29 PM

I see a few Italika bikes down this way, including near daily on my commute which takes me from Yuma proper south to near the border. A few employees of some industrial businesses I pass, commute to the businesses on what I am guessing are Chinese motorcycles; actually, one is a 150cc Italika dual-sport. The rider who I have seen several times actually pulled up next to me in the left-hand lane at a red light, so I saw 'Italika' and '150cc'. I understand that Italika are distributed via a large Mexican department store chain, and offer financing and all that, so they became very popular in the mid-2000s for many Mexican residents. I used to see quite a lot more back then here in Yuma. With the lines to cross the border being massive and hours-long during the agricultural season, Mexican commuters use motorcycles as 'loopholes' to get back and forth across the border crossings both north and south (sometime quite a while ago, we assured Mexico we would do what we could to stop firearms, so the lines are quite long via car going into Mexico in the afternoons during the agricultural season commutes).

There are other Chinese brands nowadays in Mexico, but Italika is still going strong, and they offer proper dealer and repair networks. We have had several people from Mexico join us who own Italikas.

Magician16 · 10-24-2021, 07:41 PM

I figured you had seen them, Culcune. This one is for sale down south of Tucson in San Luiz.

TominMO · 10-24-2021, 08:20 PM

The luggage rack cover and rear drum make me think it's a Lifan. Also, note the non-upside down fork but with plastic protectors on it.

culcune · 10-25-2021, 09:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Magician16

I figured you had seen them, Culcune. This one is for sale down south of Tucson in San Luiz.

San Luis, Rio Colorado is the Mexican side of the border opposite side of San Luis, Arizona. Is there another San Luis?

Quote:

Originally Posted by TominMO

The luggage rack cover and rear drum make me think it's a Lifan. Also, note the non-upside down fork but with plastic protectors on it.

There is a company called Rato Motors which is/was the OEM for several lines of products, and I know they used to OEM for several of Italika's bikes back in the later 2000s.

http://en.ratogh.com/index.php?c=article&a=type&tid=130

Magician16 · 10-25-2021, 10:33 PM

San Luis, AZ.

10-24-2021, 02:13 PM	#1
Magician16 Join Date: Aug 2019 Posts: 472	Italika 250z Anybody ever heard of this bike. It's made in Mexico. Looks a lot like a China bike. __________________ 2018 Bashan Storm(sold) 2016 Magician 250
	1

10-24-2021, 04:29 PM	#2
culcune Join Date: May 2006 Location: Yuma, Arizona Posts: 9,056	I see a few Italika bikes down this way, including near daily on my commute which takes me from Yuma proper south to near the border. A few employees of some industrial businesses I pass, commute to the businesses on what I am guessing are Chinese motorcycles; actually, one is a 150cc Italika dual-sport. The rider who I have seen several times actually pulled up next to me in the left-hand lane at a red light, so I saw 'Italika' and '150cc'. I understand that Italika are distributed via a large Mexican department store chain, and offer financing and all that, so they became very popular in the mid-2000s for many Mexican residents. I used to see quite a lot more back then here in Yuma. With the lines to cross the border being massive and hours-long during the agricultural season, Mexican commuters use motorcycles as 'loopholes' to get back and forth across the border crossings both north and south (sometime quite a while ago, we assured Mexico we would do what we could to stop firearms, so the lines are quite long via car going into Mexico in the afternoons during the agricultural season commutes). There are other Chinese brands nowadays in Mexico, but Italika is still going strong, and they offer proper dealer and repair networks. We have had several people from Mexico join us who own Italikas. __________________ "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
	2

10-24-2021, 07:41 PM	#3
Magician16 Join Date: Aug 2019 Posts: 472	I figured you had seen them, Culcune. This one is for sale down south of Tucson in San Luiz. __________________ 2018 Bashan Storm(sold) 2016 Magician 250
	1

10-24-2021, 08:20 PM	#4
TominMO Join Date: Sep 2021 Location: De Soto, MO Posts: 1,979	The luggage rack cover and rear drum make me think it's a Lifan. Also, note the non-upside down fork but with plastic protectors on it. __________________ 2021 Lifan Xpect--sold 2022 Lifan KPX 1972 Honda CT90--The Carrot 1969 Honda CT90--The Tomahto Cheesy is the WDK (workplace drama king). Now retired. Nope, back in the saddle. Nope, finally retired. Climate: The Movie https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A24fWmNA6lM How our government really works https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QjadCd0VRBw Question all authority.....think for yourself
	1

10-25-2021, 10:33 PM	#6
Magician16 Join Date: Aug 2019 Posts: 472	San Luis, AZ. __________________ 2018 Bashan Storm(sold) 2016 Magician 250
	0