Specifically this one:
I think these little things are really cool and would likely go over well with the Ruckus/Grom crowd. I am concerned about how to make them legal here. I hope that the engine has been imported and therefore on the books already. Anyone have any thoughts? Thanks gang!
Go to ChinaRiders.net and ask there, some members there are in the import/distribution side of the business.
The day is coming when bikes will be fully competitive with Japanese bikes. I'd like to get in on the ground floor of that too.
BTW, the bike in the pics looks an awful lot like a Honda ape 100.
I have seen Chinese motorscooters on the road.. not sure how well they hold up though
This is currently being done on the Chinese Scooters most of which require title/tags. It might be easist to approach one of those folks and talk about the process.
I really like the look of that bike. I agree it would be a great alternative to the Grom/Z125 option, but probably only if it's cheaper. Just curious, what you think the price would be? If you end up figuring out how to import them legally, I might be interested.
-Rob
A whole container just for enough parts bikes to keep one running?
In reply to rob_lewis:
I "think" I could get them in, titled, and ready for sale for about $2200 or so. That includes me making a few bucks along the way.
This LINK makes me think that I could title everything through VT and then sell them with a VT bill of sale and inspection. Should work pretty much everywhere but CA (guessing but I imagine this is true).
http://www.nhtsa.gov/cars/rules/import/ go do some reading.
These are pretty sweet too.
As a rider of a bike with a Chinese engine in it (Lifan 200cc) I can say the motors are reasonably reliable. Mine has a good 15,000 miles (done 6 mile trips at a time, so not real easy miles) on it (far more then most 200cc will ever do) and still runs good. I think I am getting a bit of gear noise at this point, but I do have a spare motor (the benefits of them being cheap) so I am not too worried.
Spare parts are an issue. Fortunately, at least mine, is a full copy with some mods of a Honda motor. Some common parts (e.g. Ignition) are easy enough to get, but only recently have gasket sets become available.
For parts for the frame, there are probably likely not a lot of specific parts for the bike. E.g. I suspect the brakes are the same as another common bike. Some of the specific stuff though (e.g. instrument cluster stuff) will likely be unavailable. Realistically, if you want to fix something, and are not concerned with originality, I am sur it can be figured out.
Parts for anything Chinese in this realm are an absolute bear. I cannot state that enough.
Javelin wrote: Parts for anything Chinese in this realm are an absolute *bear*. I cannot state that enough.
Without a doubt you are going to end up under some kind of warranty obligation. Stuff breaks and buyers want it fixed. Think that bit though carefully before you pull the trigger.
You sure those don't come from Thailand? 
I like the little remote-reservoir shocks, don't suspect they do much but they look cool.
SEADave wrote: I like the little remote-reservoir shocks, don't suspect they do much but they look cool.
I was thinking the same thing, are those faux reservoirs or the real deal? A lot of cheap Japanese bikes have similar-looking shocks without the remote reservoir.
I tried to help my neighbor get his geely 50 scooter running. It was a total piece of junk, hopefully chinese motos are better made.
singleslammer wrote: These are pretty sweet too.
Very nice. Trying to think of what the US has in that vein - really small bikes that look more like an older European model - and all I can think of is the TU250.
At $1500, I'd rock the exact bike in the OP, color and everything, as a city commuter. Not sure I'd take a chance on a no-name import once you get above $2k.
They've been selling the SYM Wolf 150 in the US for a while now, it's basically an update of the old Honda 125. Motorcycle Classics magazine tested it several years back and gave it a generally good review.
MadScientistMatt wrote:singleslammer wrote: These are pretty sweet too.Very nice. Trying to think of what the US has in that vein - really small bikes that look more like an older European model - and all I can think of is the TU250.
Yea, I'd rock the hell out of that. Rode a TU250 for my MSF class a few years back and liked it. TU250 and those Cleveland Cycle Works things (which I think are just prettied up China bikes as well) are about all I can come up with as well.
singleslammer wrote:
TANKS! SELL ME YOUR TANKS!
A while ago My browser had adds for a Chinese scooter/bike company on here. I wish I could remember the name.
In reply to SEADave:
I realized that these were Thai after posting. I am really ok with that.
In reply to MadScientistMatt:
Those are certainly cool looking but I am not convinced that their quality isn't any better than most of the Asian imports (not Japan).
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