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#31 | |
Join Date: May 2006
Location: Yuma, Arizona
Posts: 9,049
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Quote:
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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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#32 |
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: Idaho
Posts: 25,054
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If I were adventure riding in China, I would definitely choose the new, Zongshen RX3 as my vehicle.
![]() ![]() http://www.danielmontejo.com/Picture...themachine.htm The riders in the following ride report also chose the Zongshen 200GY-2, and it faithfully transported them across China and Mongolia. ![]() http://www.advrider.com/forums/showthread.php?t=371656 The new, Zongshen ZS250GY-3 is more powerful, and even better equipped to support adventure riding. It has much greater range with its 16-liter fuel tank. The RX3 also has three large, integrated pieces of luggage to carry the equipment necessary to support an adventure ride. ![]() ![]() However, Zongshen America appears to be closing shop, and I don't think Zongshen International wants to spend the time and money necessary to comply with the EPA and DOT requirements of the United States. ![]()
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Spud "Never argue with an idiot. He will drag you down to his level, and beat you with experience." ![]() 2015 Zongshen ZS250GY-3 (RX3) 2006 Zongshen ZS200GY-2 (Sierra 200) 2005 Honda XR650L 2004 Honda CRF250X 1998 Kawasaki KDX220 Mods made to my Zongshen ZS200GY-2: http://www.chinariders.net/showthread.php?t=6894 Last edited by SpudRider; 03-08-2014 at 01:25 PM. |
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#33 |
Join Date: May 2007
Location: Altamont, Kansas
Posts: 15,103
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I could almost see buying one at $3400. The weight may be an issue, but there is likely places to to cut some out.
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You meet the nicest people on a Honda Clone. |
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#34 |
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: Idaho
Posts: 25,054
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Zongshen builds good engines and good motorcycles.
![]() ![]() ![]() I'm confident the ZS250GY-3 will also prove to be reliable. The new RX3 has everything you could want in an adventure motorcycle as stock equipment, except for handguards. At a price of $3,400, I think it represents an excellent value. The RX3 is not a dirt bike, so I would be willing to deal with the additional weight. ![]() ![]() My main concern regarding this motorcycle is the lack of a good service manual written in English, and the lack of spare parts. However, if this bike sells as well as I anticipate, I think the parts will become readily available on Taobao. ![]() ![]()
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Spud "Never argue with an idiot. He will drag you down to his level, and beat you with experience." ![]() 2015 Zongshen ZS250GY-3 (RX3) 2006 Zongshen ZS200GY-2 (Sierra 200) 2005 Honda XR650L 2004 Honda CRF250X 1998 Kawasaki KDX220 Mods made to my Zongshen ZS200GY-2: http://www.chinariders.net/showthread.php?t=6894 Last edited by SpudRider; 09-11-2014 at 03:05 AM. |
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#35 | |
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: Idaho
Posts: 25,054
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Quote:
![]() Fuel Injected Engine Water Cooled Engine 6-Speed Transmission Crash Bars Windshield Digital Dashboard LED Turn Signals and Brake Light 16-Liter Fuel Tank Integrated luggage Stainless Steel Muffler USD Forks 1-inch Fat Handlebars The RX3 also appears to have fans on both radiators, and even the switchgear looks pretty nice! The only additional equipment I would add to the RX3 is a nice set of Tusk handguards for about $65. ![]() ![]()
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Spud "Never argue with an idiot. He will drag you down to his level, and beat you with experience." ![]() 2015 Zongshen ZS250GY-3 (RX3) 2006 Zongshen ZS200GY-2 (Sierra 200) 2005 Honda XR650L 2004 Honda CRF250X 1998 Kawasaki KDX220 Mods made to my Zongshen ZS200GY-2: http://www.chinariders.net/showthread.php?t=6894 Last edited by SpudRider; 09-15-2015 at 08:20 PM. |
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#36 |
Join Date: May 2006
Location: Yuma, Arizona
Posts: 9,049
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Chinamotoworld had an interview months back with one of the main people at Zongshen (it might have been the founder, Zuo Zongshen himself), and he seemed willing to put his money where his mouth was in saying that the entire Chinese industry needed to concentrate on quality, and that Zongshen was going to do so (this interview was right before the international rollout of the RX3).
A few Chinese joint ventures (not necessarily Zongshen except for some Piaggios) produce several mainstream bikes, such as a few of the engines for BMW and I believe KTM, if not the majority of the bike. I think a $3400 price in the US would be easily justified as pretty much the maximum for this bike once it has been proven as reliable. This could even be the strategy from Zongshen if they are planning a reintroduction to North America? Or a re-label from a joint venture? We will see--or it will be the best Chinese bike in the world that never comes this way? I do think that Chinese bikes in general better do something soon if they ever want legitimacy in North America. It took years for Korea to produce reliable cars (part of the 'years' was convincing people to accept their cars once they already were reliable), and Chinese bikes have already left a lot of people with bad taste in their mouth (including people who have never even rode one, but were simply pundits of the proverbial "friend of a friend who had one and it broke down just from looking at it...") from the time period starting around 2005 or 2006 when these bikes were getting more popular. Fancy accessories cost $, however, and this bike is testament to that. Spud, those rides from the past on the old Zongshens, were done easily by ex-pats in China when the price of the GY-2 was about $1k USD in China. These new ones have come a long way from that, including being over 3 x's the price in China!
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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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#37 |
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: Idaho
Posts: 25,054
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Culcune,
I think you summarized the situation very well when you stated the Chinese are not currently interested in establishing a network of supporting dealers in the United States. ![]() ![]()
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Spud "Never argue with an idiot. He will drag you down to his level, and beat you with experience." ![]() 2015 Zongshen ZS250GY-3 (RX3) 2006 Zongshen ZS200GY-2 (Sierra 200) 2005 Honda XR650L 2004 Honda CRF250X 1998 Kawasaki KDX220 Mods made to my Zongshen ZS200GY-2: http://www.chinariders.net/showthread.php?t=6894 |
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#38 | |
Join Date: Mar 2009
Location: Sardis, BC, Canada
Posts: 25,977
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Quote:
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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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#39 | |
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: Idaho
Posts: 25,054
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Quote:
![]() A Chinese bike deserves Chinese handguards. ![]()
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Spud "Never argue with an idiot. He will drag you down to his level, and beat you with experience." ![]() 2015 Zongshen ZS250GY-3 (RX3) 2006 Zongshen ZS200GY-2 (Sierra 200) 2005 Honda XR650L 2004 Honda CRF250X 1998 Kawasaki KDX220 Mods made to my Zongshen ZS200GY-2: http://www.chinariders.net/showthread.php?t=6894 |
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#40 |
Join Date: Mar 2009
Location: Sardis, BC, Canada
Posts: 25,977
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I suspect they are the very Acerbis handguards we'd buy at a local motorcycle shop. While most of the Acerbis stuff is made in Italy, I'm sure that some of it comes from China. I just bought two more pairs of those handguards.
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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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#41 |
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: Idaho
Posts: 25,054
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I am almost certain the ZS250GY-3 will not be coming soon to the shores of North America. In fact, the RX3 might never arrive here. If the bike ever does arrive in North America, I'm sure it will sell for much more than $3,400 USD.
![]() I bought my used XR650L with 7,800 miles on the odometer for $2,000. In stock form, my Honda XR650L has a curb weight of 346 pounds, which is much lighter than the ZS250GY-3. The XR650L has a much better suspension, more power, and better build quality than any Chinese bike. In addition, Honda also has an international dealer support network for parts and repair. If I had the choice today between buying my used, Honda XR650L for $2,000, or a new, Zongshen RX3 for $3,400, I would certainly buy the Honda XR650L. ![]() However, in many parts of the world, consumers don't have access to the huge market in slightly used, Japanese motorcycles as we do in the United States. How much would it cost to farkle a new, XR650L or DR650SE with the same equipment which is stock on the ZS250GY-3? After spending the time and money to add luggage, crash guards, et cetera, how much would the 650cc motorcycle weigh? ![]() Based upon my experience with my own Zongshen ZS200GY-2, I am confident this Zongshen ZS250GY-3 is not manufactured to the same high quality as a Japanese or European motorcycle. However, I bet the RX3 engine is reliable, and the RX3 is a durable, strong little adventure bike. For a price of approximately $3,400 USD in China, I think this bike represents an excellent value in many places outside North America. If I were personally going to travel to China, and buy a domestic Chinese motorcycle for an adventure ride in Asia, I would definitely buy the Zongshen ZS250GY-3 (RX3). ![]()
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Spud "Never argue with an idiot. He will drag you down to his level, and beat you with experience." ![]() 2015 Zongshen ZS250GY-3 (RX3) 2006 Zongshen ZS200GY-2 (Sierra 200) 2005 Honda XR650L 2004 Honda CRF250X 1998 Kawasaki KDX220 Mods made to my Zongshen ZS200GY-2: http://www.chinariders.net/showthread.php?t=6894 |
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#42 | |
Join Date: Oct 2010
Location: Cebu, Philippines
Posts: 22
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Following your Link to TaoBao.com, looks like the price of the basic 'Standard' ZS250GY-3 RX3 (without Luggage) is Price ¥ 19800.00 Upgraded version (with three boxes) 20,800 yuan ** version 23,500 Yuan (so what version is this ** one - Police?) Zongshen NC motocross ZS250GY-3 RX3 super wild car NC250 water-cooled six-speed front and rear disc brakes Price ¥ 19800.00 19800 Chinese Yuan equals 3232.13 US Dollar You posted that the ZS250GY-3 RX3, do you have a URL giving details of this please. (I have been out of Cebu, Philippines, working in China since August 2012 for 8 months a year, so not aware of it being available from Motostar (who OEM imports Zongshen). To give some idea of why the the price of the ZS250GY-3 RX3 is relatively high for Chinese Motorcyle, you only have to look at the price of the Water-cooled engine:- 博技摩配 宗申摩托车RX3原厂配件ZS250GY-3 NC水冷250发动机总成 Bo technical Motorcycle Zongshen Motorcycle RX3 Genuine Parts ZS250GY-3 NC 250 water-cooled engine assembly ![]() ![]() NC250 engine assembly: $962.61/piece NC250 carburetor: $162.61/piece Total: $ 1125.22 |
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#43 | |
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: Idaho
Posts: 25,054
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Quote:
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Spud "Never argue with an idiot. He will drag you down to his level, and beat you with experience." ![]() 2015 Zongshen ZS250GY-3 (RX3) 2006 Zongshen ZS200GY-2 (Sierra 200) 2005 Honda XR650L 2004 Honda CRF250X 1998 Kawasaki KDX220 Mods made to my Zongshen ZS200GY-2: http://www.chinariders.net/showthread.php?t=6894 |
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#44 |
Join Date: Jun 2009
Location: Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
Posts: 648
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Quote:
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1971 Garelli Gulp 50cc with open ports and 16 mm Bing Carbie + 1980 Honda XL 223 ZS ![]() |
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#45 |
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: Idaho
Posts: 25,054
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Indeed, it was my impression that Zongshen Australia closed shop several years ago. However, if one wished to tangle with the authorities regarding licensing, he could purchase a Zongshen RX3 from either the Alibaba or the Taobao websites.
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Spud "Never argue with an idiot. He will drag you down to his level, and beat you with experience." ![]() 2015 Zongshen ZS250GY-3 (RX3) 2006 Zongshen ZS200GY-2 (Sierra 200) 2005 Honda XR650L 2004 Honda CRF250X 1998 Kawasaki KDX220 Mods made to my Zongshen ZS200GY-2: http://www.chinariders.net/showthread.php?t=6894 |
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