07-08-2014, 12:20 AM | #46 |
Join Date: Mar 2014
Posts: 165
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Thats much better than mine. I think thats a couple inches lower than mine with seat shaved down to almost nothing. Lol
Thanks Culcune, i was gonna offer you a trade but the 1400 miles between us makes ot hard. |
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07-08-2014, 07:46 PM | #47 |
Join Date: May 2006
Location: Yuma, Arizona
Posts: 9,055
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There are plenty of frontage roads along I-10; we can meet at the 700 miles mark or so near the Texas/NM border--El Paso?
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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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07-10-2014, 01:08 AM | #48 |
Join Date: Mar 2014
Posts: 165
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Los cruces would be better. I wanna ride through the lincoln national forest anyways.
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07-15-2014, 08:50 AM | #49 |
Join Date: Jun 2014
Posts: 55
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so..the quest continues
I ended up having to cancel my order for the bike from Excalibur. $1800 wasn't this much money a few years ago. I am probably going to have to look local - used but, have noticed that the market for these types of bikes is all but non existent here.
so, the original question remains. Which comparably tagged/cc/outfitted china bike is the better / wiser buy for someone that intends to use the bike pretty much daily on/off road with offroad stuff more infrequent. It's like pulling fruit from a tree.. You have to get the fruit off the tree and have a bite before you know if its sour or not. |
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12-27-2014, 03:33 PM | #50 |
Join Date: Jun 2014
Posts: 55
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Getting CLOSE!
Finally. After all the rollercoaster emotions of "getting a bike" to "canceled the order", I am now back to getting a bike! Still wondering brand "X" or "Y"?
I was ready with a deposit down @ Xcalibur to go with the TMEC 200 enduro and now I have been reading posts on the Bashan GYs that have emerged favorably. I thought about the SSR with the XF clone engine, but there we are talking $3k I'm not quite sure what the allure is for me to want for a China bike.. Probably the fun/challenge of making something work better than originally intended or designed to. Whatever the reason, I am back in this |
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12-27-2014, 06:09 PM | #51 |
Join Date: Jul 2009
Location: Charles Town W.V.
Posts: 849
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(Probably the fun/challenge of making something work better than originally intended or designed ) This Is the part that I enjoy so much . The look on peoples face ,when you say It's not Honda or Yamaha It's Chinese . Worth the effort
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12-27-2014, 09:01 PM | #52 |
Join Date: Jul 2010
Posts: 206
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I like the Bashon 200 and the TMEC also. The Bashon has to be the bargain in the 200 (and they make a 250cc also). One thing I like about the TMEC is a quite organized and pretty well thought out online parts catalog. As far as I know Bashon doesn't have one. And, I've heard good things about Wade Liu of Excaliber who sells the TMEC. Third, I had the chance to at least see a TMEC in Puyallup, Washington about 3 1/2 years ago in person, and they looked pretty nice.
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Jon, in Keaau, Hawaii |
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12-27-2014, 10:50 PM | #53 |
Join Date: May 2006
Location: Yuma, Arizona
Posts: 9,055
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I would still consider the TMEC just because of parts and such. The advantage of the Bashans is the price and the larger engine, however. I am biased toward TMEC because I want to ensure they stay in the US for a while, but being a cheap guy, the Bashans look good from the price point?! Maybe you can wheel and deal with Wade?
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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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12-28-2014, 12:23 AM | #54 | ||
Join Date: Jun 2014
Posts: 55
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Quote:
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Wade is indeed a top notch guy. I am steering toward the TMEC knobby 200. My only concern is roadability. I live in Wisconsin and there are a plethora of rustic dirt and tar/stone roads smattered with late 19th century Amish farms, rolling hills and loads of old logging roads to explore.. I live in a somewhat urban area and would need to commute to these adventure areas on rural highways with 50-55mph speed limits for 30 plus miles. I want to be okay with winding this little 200cc up for more than a few miles. I would hate the thought of having to trailer my bike there. That would kill some of the adventure. |
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12-28-2014, 11:46 AM | #55 |
Join Date: May 2006
Location: Yuma, Arizona
Posts: 9,055
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My bike is (was) ridden daily 16 miles each way to work and back, with about half at 50+ (probably 60+ due to traffic riding my a$%) and no problems. Their engine is a proprietary engine manufactured by Zongshen, the 167FML. Proprietary in the fact that it passed EPA for a street bike/enduro specifically in the TMEC. I had over 10k miles in my old bike (and it is back running with a new owner) and 3k miles on the new one before the accident sidelined it (although the car which was loaned to me indefinitely was borrowed back for a road trip to San Diego over the long weekend and blew a head gasket so I might have to dust off the TMEC tomorrow and beyond...) with bolts and things being the only thing. I do believe my not catching missing bolts on the old bike is what led to it having engine mount issue/failure (since fixed by a knowledgeable owner hence why it is back on the road).
That is my TMEC from experience. Bashans will have to have more reports from owners. I think the only issue they had were the original 2 members having issues with their 250 (229cc) gas tanks leaking on them when full.
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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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12-28-2014, 01:58 PM | #56 | |
Join Date: Jun 2014
Posts: 55
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Quote:
I am going to take a couple more weeks to make a final decision and it will depend on availability (obviously) - as I want the knobby tire variant and I would like to do all the assembly and PDI stuff myself. Wade was not too keen on selling me a crated bike citing the need to know it worked when it left the warehouse. I had also considered the SSR XF250 for its across the board good reviews.. but for 3k?? I could get a used Yamaha 250 for that money. I am set on getting a China bike. I love to root for the underdog, give the dog a flea bath enter it in a contest and have it come out smelling better than it did going in. |
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12-31-2014, 12:00 PM | #57 |
Join Date: Mar 2009
Location: Sardis, BC, Canada
Posts: 25,977
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For the most part, the bikes are on level ground. I would choose the counter-balanced engine, and even be willing to pay more for it.
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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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12-31-2014, 10:19 PM | #58 |
Join Date: Jun 2014
Posts: 55
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Good point. I just wish I had a good feel for parts availability for the Bashans. I am pretty much ready to order now.
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01-29-2015, 02:21 PM | #59 | |
Join Date: Jun 2014
Location: NW Arkansas
Posts: 454
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Still Shopping??
Still shopping? $1130 for a new bike sounds hard to pass up!! Is the TMEC in the same price range? If you are still considering the SSR XF 250 I got mine for $2400($2700 OTD) with very little haggling. $2,700 could have gotten me another used Honda, but this is the most trouble free bike I've ever owned and I can use Suzuki parts.
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2013 SSR XF-250 |
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01-29-2015, 07:07 PM | #60 |
Join Date: Mar 2009
Location: Sardis, BC, Canada
Posts: 25,977
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$2400 for an XF is a fair price, but it's hard to argue with paying $1130 for a Honda clone. At that price, you could buy another one for parts.
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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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