Lifan 250 Super Moto.

[katoranger]

250 liquid cooled.

http://www.lifan.com/en/product_list...id=8850&id=862

I thought I would see what was new on the lifan website.


Allen

[culcune]

I'll believe it when I see it here in the US (disclaimer--I believe it will be available in other countries, so as to not sound America-centrist, but I doubt it will be offered here --I really want to see it, as well as the 350 and bigger, but I don't think any of the Chinese companies will bring bigger engine bikes to the US in the near future).

[knothead]

Yeah, I'm still waiting to see the LF-400 land on US shores.

Is it just me or are the power ratings DOWN on these bikes? IIRC, my GY5 was rated at 12kw, the new one is only 10kw while the 250 is 14kw. Not to mention the 250 is a bit heavier, so there goes that little gain in power.
Oh, well. The Chinese need to figure out that we like large displacement bikes with some grunt to them. Any more, a 500cc bike is considered a beginner's bike.

On the upshot, the new styling looks good. I like the headlight cowling and the fact that they finally have full frames now.

[SamM]

Honestly, if this bike had a bigger engine, I would be very interested in it. Of course, the price would have to be right. Under $1500 shipped.

Lifan LF200GY-5A

[czowner]

A question, is it a full 250 or is it the more normal 223cc? While looking for parts or a motor for mine I see that there are now about half a dozen dealers selling the Whiteknuckle WK300 (aka Yamoto MC 300). Prices are all around the $3800 mark, not a bad price here in the UK. It's nearest compeditor is the Hyosung GT 250 at $5500. As all the dealers are down the country I still havn't had a good look at one.

Jonathan.

[SamM]

Wow, $5500 for a Hyosung GT250! I can buy a brand new 2008 Kawasaki KLR650 for $4900 OTD. For me, it just doesn't make sense to go with something like that. The KLR650 is a much better value than even the Yamoto MC300 for $3800. Parts availability is the killer for these machines. I'd love to see better dealer support. Admittedly, I am down on dealers right now!

[knothead]

Yeah, WOW! $5500?? I looked at a leftover 2006 GT250 for $2900, the 2007's were only $3200.

...I just noticed in the pic of the new Lifan, no inverted forks and it has a rear disk as well.

[czowner]

Originally Posted by SamM

Wow, $5500 for a Hyosung GT250! I can buy a brand new 2008 Kawasaki KLR650 for $4900 OTD. For me, it just doesn't make sense to go with something like that. The KLR650 is a much better value than even the Yamoto MC300 for $3800. Parts availability is the killer for these machines. I'd love to see better dealer support. Admittedly, I am down on dealers right now!

Here in the UK $4900 will get you a Japanese 125, a KLR 650 is around $9000. To give some perspective for the Chinese bikes, we pay in £'s what you pay in $'s. I've bought things fron the States, paid import duty and tax, as well as the higher shipping and I've still saved on the UK price.

Jonathan.

[IronFist]

Much like canada If a used bike is 1500$ here it's 500$ down in the states. New bikes are even worse. Suzuki SM400 is about 7500$+ Taxes shipping freight, and set up. You can add 1500$ to any new vehicle here, cars too, that means you end up paying 9 grand for a bike. Honda cbr125 R is more than 5000$ for a 125cc. You usually end up buying used for about 3-4 grand and get $1000 dollars worth of work done on it to get it road worthy, and call yourself lucky. People are getting out of motorcycling here in droves. Babyboomers are all getting too old for riding. In Ontario, motorcycle stores are all closing. From now on they will sell new bikes, like Honda's at their car dealerships(Harley the only exception). The lack of new riders is driving up the new bike prices as well. On the other side, used bikes are starting to flood the market. The old guys are dumping their bikes for quads or fishing boats to play with up at their cottages.

That is a nice bike but for the price I can get a vintage Honda, fix it, and pay $1000 for a year of insurance. I'm with Sam, My chinabike was $1599 new shipped to my door with helmet. The price tag is what got me into riding.

[knothead]

One thing though. Have you compared the dollar to the pound lately? It's getting close to two dollars to one pound.

[culcune]

Originally Posted by knothead

One thing though. Have you compared the dollar to the pound lately? It's getting close to two dollars to one pound.

That is what CZ is saying--a KLR 650 is about 4500 British Pounds (can't find the "Quid" symbol on my keyboard ) or around $9K dollars US.

What is also interesting is the price of bikes in Canada. The Canadian $ used to be about $0.75, so N2R's $1500 CDN would be around $1200 US (not sure the exact exchange, but making a point), and now would probably cost $1600 US. The Canadian $ is now around equal to the US $, or maybe a little bit more, so their goods cost ever so much more. (Keep in mind that we pay around $1350, shipped or so for a 200cc Lifan, and his is a 150cc.) For some reason, it seems the Canadian government is actually discouraging motorcycling at the same time its dollar reached an all-time high against the US $.

Hopefully, for our Canadian neighbors' sakes, someone will figure out the loophole of buying low in the US and importing into Canada...

[IronFist]

Bingo Calcune!
200% to 300% profit, my kinda money/ 8O
Too bad our insurance is $800 to $1200 a year.
Alot of china bikes and atv's sold here, but nothing for street, it's all dirt.

[knothead]

Originally Posted by culcune

That is what CZ is saying--a KLR 650 is about 4500 British Pounds (can't find the "Quid" symbol on my keyboard ) or around $9K dollars US.

Huh, my bad. I looked up from my mycology books just long enough to make an ass of myself!
Looks like they are getting buggered pretty hard.

Carry on.

[SamM]

I just bought a new clutch side engine cover for my Yamaha TT-R250. The TT-R250 is a popular bike overseas. The ebay seller was from Britian and I understood I was going to pay double the US rate. The minimum and winning bid was 30 pounds, 10 pounds for the shipping and then 10 for handling. I never noticed the handling fee for overseas buyers. My bad! A week later the guy tells me that I need to pay 12 pounds more for shipping. The part finally cost me $130 including the shipping to the US. It would have cost me more if I purchased it from the local Yamaha dealer, so I saved a little but not much. Moral of the story. No more British ebay auctions for me. I was figuring on less than $100 when I bid the minimum bid of 30 pounds. I think the guy has ripped me but I value my 100% positive feedback. I did score a set of blue anodized Excel wheels for $82 the other day. These normally cost $300 a set, so I did good on them. It's feast or famine on ebay most of the time.

new2riding,
You would think that if people were getting out of riding, the prices of used bikes would come down. More bikes equal lower prices. Simple economics, supply and demand. It should become a buyers market as the sellers are competing for limited buyers. I understand what you are saying, the higher costs of motorcycles in general are keeping people away all together and making bikes too expensive to purchase. It seems odd! This morning, I looked at a used 2005 Kawasaki KLR650 with 5500 miles on. The bike was a trade in at a local dealership. The dealer is asking $3000 for the bike but I could get a nicer bike from an individual for less. The dealer markup is easily $800 to $900 on it. This KLR was barely used but seriously abused. The previous owner left it sitting outside in the weather for at least two years and it shows. For just $1900 more I can get a new 2008 model. My 950 needs to sell before I spring for another bike. Riding motorcycles besides being great fun is just simply economics for me. I need to spend less on fuel as I commute 50 miles to and from work 5 days one week and 2 the next. Smaller economical bikes just make more sense too! Yesterday, it was 65 degrees but I wasn't able to ride because I needed to pickup bike parts this morning.

SamM

[fatboy250]

Originally Posted by SamM

Riding motorcycles besides being great fun is just simply economics for me. I need to spend less on fuel as I commute 50 miles to and from work 4 days one week and 2 the next. Smaller economical bikes just make more sense too! Yesterday, it was 65 degrees but I wasn't able to ride because I needed to pickup bike parts this morning.

SamM

Ditto. Commuting is the main reason for all of mine. However, they have also given Dad and I something to do together on the weekends. Definitely a win win with China bikes for me.

Jason