04-21-2018, 08:39 PM | #16 | |
Join Date: Apr 2018
Location: Colorado
Posts: 29
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04-22-2018, 08:00 AM | #17 | |
Join Date: Mar 2018
Location: New England
Posts: 43
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I did try a TL200 for the more knarly single track stuff but unless I stood on the pegs all day my ancient hips could not tolerate being so scrunched up for more than a few minutes. I also had a Honda NX250 for a few years and really liked many aspects of it , but it was not a highway bike and quickly became tiring at highway speeds. It would go, virtually vibration free, all day at these revs but I couldn't. My foot kept reaching for another gear to calm the revs down a little. In the end it became too valuable (it was pristine) to drop and so was not ridden very much. The search goes on. |
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04-22-2018, 02:48 PM | #18 |
Join Date: Apr 2018
Location: Colorado
Posts: 29
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As soon as they announce the 400 Versys then the entire market may finally take notice that this is the sweet spot. If the RX4 can beat Kawasaki to the punch that could make some serious waves and help these bikes gain more traction.
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04-22-2018, 07:47 PM | #20 |
Join Date: Feb 2016
Location: Portsmouth, Virginia, USA
Posts: 632
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Malcolm, I noticed that the RX4 has a radial brake caliper and an improved radiator fill. The cooling looked reasonable and more accessible than the RX3. As for the exhaust, having it low keeps it from burning your clothing (that has already happened to me) but does expose it to rock damage. I'm OK with that routing. Since the RX4 is still 'under development' it's too early to cast judgement. I'm very interested in this product and when CSC brings it to the US I think it will be a real hit.
Peter Y. |
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04-25-2018, 04:34 PM | #21 | |
Join Date: Mar 2018
Location: New England
Posts: 43
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Not my problem thankfully, but like Peter Y. I am very interested to see when, and at what price the RX4 emerges. Not holding my breath however. |
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04-25-2018, 06:59 PM | #22 |
Join Date: Apr 2018
Location: Colorado
Posts: 29
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Zongshen has to earn the reputation that the Japanese bikes did when they first entered the world market place. They were known for cheap stuff, but the quality wasn't there. Enough people saw value in affordable stuff that Japan sent to other markets and the quality improved. Thus their reputation improved with the quality of the product and eventually they could command better pricing for themselves.
Zongshen hasn't done that yet in the US market so they have to keep the price very attractive and continue to refine the product. The pricing on the RX3 has already jumped so much from the introduction price that it is getting to be a harder sell for the new bike. Any more price increases and I think other established competitors will take those sales. So I agree I think CSC and Zongshen may be between a rock and a hard place here because these manufacturers aren't building in Japan, but in cost effective markets that can put pressure on pricing. The Versys X is a good example of pricing being held down by manufacture in Thailand. So this is going to be hard for Zongshen to have a huge cost advantage to get that traction needed. It think it is clear that the race is on, timing and pricing may be the deciding factor if the Zongshen/CSC can gain ground on the established players. It is looking pretty tough. If the RX4 and RX3S were shipping this year it would be a huge momentum builder for them. But they slip into next year and it looks like they are facing a pretty strong head wind. I am hoping they can pull it off because we need more bikes and more choices. I love what the RX3 brings to the table for design and features but they really need that RX3S and RX4 to continue the momentum. |
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04-25-2018, 08:38 PM | #23 |
Join Date: Feb 2016
Location: Portsmouth, Virginia, USA
Posts: 632
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The 2018 Versys 300X is a pretty interesting competitor to the RX3. MSRP (not including the shipping, setup, dealer prep, and other BS) is $5399 for non ABS, $5699 for ABS. Add in $429.95 for hard bags, $99.95 for top case, $214.95 for crash bars and you now have what the RX3 comes with. That's a total of about $6444. CSC is $4195 for the same thing. Don't forget that the Kawi dealer is going to add in his fluff so it's really much more than $1200 difference OTD.
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04-25-2018, 09:49 PM | #24 | |
Join Date: May 2007
Location: Warshington
Posts: 928
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Live Zong, and Prosper |
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04-26-2018, 09:01 AM | #25 |
Join Date: Jun 2011
Posts: 1,335
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I have a hard time comparing the two, RX3 and 300X. The Kawi is a twin and the CSC is a single.
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04-26-2018, 11:31 AM | #26 |
Join Date: Oct 2016
Posts: 347
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RX3 25HP 385Lbs 250cc 84mph
RX3S 27HP 407Lbs 380cc 87mph RX4 32HP 450Lbs 450cc 97mph I really don't see why anyone would be drooling over an RX3S. The RX4 exhaust is in the perfect position to protect the rear brake so I don't know why anyone is complaining about it lol. Last edited by Biker_Andy; 04-26-2018 at 02:03 PM. |
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04-26-2018, 12:07 PM | #28 |
Join Date: Oct 2016
Posts: 347
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Perhaps, but if that was the case wouldn't the RX3S also have a much higher top speed? I know the HP of the RX3S is pathetic for the engine size but it is also one of the first dual cylinder engines produced from China so it may just need a lot of refinement. If the numbers are correct then I totally understand why CSC has no interest of bringing it to North America.
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04-26-2018, 01:04 PM | #30 |
Join Date: Oct 2016
Posts: 347
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I don't think it's as far in the future as you think, both bikes prices have already been released. Plus the British expat who's not affiliated with Zongshen tested top speed then quoted specs. If the specs were wrong I think he would have pointed it out. I expect to see these bikes listed on Zongshens website in a few weeks. The RX3 was available in China for about two years before it ever seen American shores.
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