Chinese Bikes-The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly…..

[Arsey]

 

[Wapping]

In short, buy a new Chinese bike, which should be OK, or a decent second hand - maybe similarly priced - (ie. depreciated) broadly similar bike from an established maker, which should be OK.

If nothing else, it’s good to have the choice, not least as there is no definitive right or wrong, much beyond personal biases in both directions.

 

[TYKEBBS]

Good post

I have owned a 'Chinese ' bike (Voge ds 525x) IMHO it was / is a very good bike, however due to personal reasons I didn't keep the bike for long enough to make a reasonable assessment

Since then many more 'Chinese ' products have appeared in the market place

Would I buy another 'Chinese ' bike ......well yes I probably would,...... which one ...who knows, the choice is vast

 

[Wapping]

… who knows, the choice is vast

Which, if the global market cannot support so many manufacturers, will (I assume) lead to some, possibly significant, rationalisation. It’s when a company fails or is swallowed up within another that the problems sometimes start to manifest themselves.

 

[Arsey]

Good post

I have owned a 'Chinese ' bike (Voge ds 525x) IMHO it was / is a very good bike, however due to personal reasons I didn't keep the bike for long enough to make a reasonable assessment

Since then many more 'Chinese ' products have appeared in the market place

Would I buy another 'Chinese ' bike ......well yes I probably would,...... which one ...who knows, the choice is vast

Ditto.
Had a Chinese bike. It was very good.
Only sold due medical reasons .
Doom mongers on here said the resale would be crap. It wasn’t !
Would I buy another ? Yup, deposit paid

 

[Capt Sisko]

Okay, as a new bike you get a lot of bang for your bucks, but the article didn't touch the long term view. What's the spares situation going to be like in 5 years time, is the finish going to last a winter or two and given some of the models are relatively cheap new, given just a modest 'off' are the insurance company going to write off an otherwise repairable bike because of a bit of cosmetic damage, spare just aren't available or the relatively low value of the bike just doesn't justify repair?

There's more to the overall package the just the PCP monthly payment.

 

[wessie]

Which, if the global market cannot support so many manufacturers, will (I assume) lead to some, possibly significant, rationalisation. It’s when a company fails or is swallowed up within another that the problems sometimes start to manifest themselves.

with so many new brands there is bound to be consolidation. In Europe, it used to take decades but everything is so compressed nowadays with timescales in technology. You just have to hope the hardware and software is pretty generic and open source once the OEM supply chain evaporates, so that aftermarket entrepreneurs can step in to provide fixes.

 

[wessie]

Ditto.
Had a Chinese bike. It was very good.
Only sold due medical reasons .
Doom mongers on here said the resale would be crap. It wasn’t !

you have a big advantage in that the tax paid in the UK is a big chunk of depreciation on any bike, regardless of brand

Would I buy another ? Yup, deposit paid

they are very good buys in your very niche circumstances

generalising your particular situation into judgemental pronouncements on the choices made by others is a little disingenuous, if not blatant trolling. And yes,

 

[grantmac]

Would I buy another ? Yup, deposit paid

So what have you bought?

 

[Clifton]

A couple of years ago no, but I would consider a Chinese or Indian bike now. 5 years ago it was a profitable decision for the European manufacturers that contracted Chinese companies to build some of their engines and bikes but it's about to haunt them. Why pay European price for a Chinese motorcycle that you can buy for much less direct from the company that makes them?

 

[OnHellas]

A couple of years ago no, but I would consider a Chinese or Indian bike now. 5 years ago it was a profitable decision for the European manufacturers that contracted Chinese companies to build some of their engines and bikes but it's about to haunt them. Why pay European price for a Chinese motorcycle that you can buy for much less direct from the company that makes them?

That sums up where it’s at I reckon.
I’m sure that the market will find its level, people will vote with there wallets (or monthly dirext debit payments), and manufacture names will come and go.

The Chinese stuff looks more and more appealing. After all, how much can you loose on a £7000 bike?

 

[TYKEBBS]

Chinese manufacturers have been manufacturing components for European manufacturers for a few years now, this was inevitable and will IMHO continue

It does seem to me that Chinese products are forcing some European manufacturers to respond by improving their products specification whilst reducing prices

What is financially saved at the front end purchase will obviously reflect on a cheaper residual down the line

The Voge that I owned in 2024 was a fantastic bike, it was my intention to keep it for some time, however for personal (health) reasons I had to exchange it for a different (lower) bike (RE Classic)

 

[Arsey]

So what have you bought?

Put deposit down on CF Moto 550 MT-X

A couple of years ago no, but I would consider a Chinese or Indian bike now. 5 years ago it was a profitable decision for the European manufacturers that contracted Chinese companies to build some of their engines and bikes but it's about to haunt them. Why pay European price for a Chinese motorcycle that you can buy for much less direct from the company that makes them?

Exactly .
Or indeed why pay BMW prices for an Indian bike !
TVS make the F450GS then BMW stick a blue and white roundel on the tank and add 30% to the price

 

[Wapping]

A couple of years ago no, but I would consider a Chinese or Indian bike now. 5 years ago it was a profitable decision for the European manufacturers that contracted Chinese companies to build some of their engines and bikes but it's about to haunt them. Why pay European price for a Chinese motorcycle that you can buy for much less direct from the company that makes them?

Your president explained very clearly why you shouldn’t. Since then he’s has gone out of his way to make sure it’s more costly for you to do so. A restriction and freedom of choice; it’s all very ‘UnAmerican’.

 

[Capt Sisko]

What no one has mentioned yet are some of the hidden arguments for not buying Chinese. To name just a few:-
They're an authoritarian Communist dictatorship.
Forced labour and Ethnic Cleansing.
Civil Liberties
Standards and Regulations, or lack thereof
AND this is all before we get the the fact China is supporting Russia in its war against Ukraine and our security services report numerous cyber attacks that have originated from with China.

If you want to buy the usual consumer goods it's impossible to not buy ones made in China, but I for one prefer not to support them where I can.

 

[Arsey]

What no one has mentioned yet are some of the hidden arguments for not buying Chinese. To name just a few:-
They're an authoritarian Communist dictatorship.
Forced labour and Ethnic Cleansing.
Civil Liberties
Standards and Regulations, or lack thereof
AND this is all before we get the the fact China is supporting Russia in its war against Ukraine and our security services report numerous cyber attacks that have originated from with China.

If you want to buy the usual consumer goods it's impossible to not buy ones made in China, but I for one prefer not to support them where I can.

My grandfather and great uncle were held captive by the Japanese in WW2.
Did it stop me buying Suzukis/Hondas/Kawasakis/Yamaha ? No…..
The Germans occupied my island and were utter bastards . Did it stop me buying BMWs ? No.

 

[Wapping]

but I for one prefer not to support them where I can

There is always the moralistic argument. It’s one that can embrace anything from game hunting, through not buying from Amazon, to not visiting Portugal. In a way there’s something perhaps admirable in it, I guess: Somebody standing up for what they believe to be right, an attitude that normally receives a big thumbs up on this forum. But that thumbs up, very much depends on the subject being advocated. Stray too far off the ‘approved’ track and it’s a big thumbs down.

My grandfather and great uncle were held captive by the Japanese in WW2.
Did it stop me buying Suzukis/Hondas/Kawasakis/Yamaha ? No…..
The Germans occupied my island and were utter bastards . Did it stop me buying BMWs ? No.

Indeed, but those events (unquestionably terrible as they were) were in the past. Nobody pretends that the Germans or the Japanese are about to repeat them today or any time soon. The human rights record of China today is, without a doubt, appalling. If bods chose not to to actively support the regime (and it’s all driven by and from the top) by not buying a Chinese motorcycle, that is their choice. Those locked up in a Chinese labour camp or persecuted due to their ethnicity or religious beliefs do not have that luxury.

 

[grantmac]

Seems we are heading off piste with this one…..but hey ho…
The original posting I found to be very informative. As a consumer very much on the fence here I am not sure if I’d buy a Chinese bike but good to read the report…

Having said that being in Vietnam and seeing a shit load of locally made cars under the branding of VinFast - both scooters and a reasonable car range… and having ridden in numerous as taxis, I’m pretty impressed. Will most likely drop by a showroom to take a closer look. Not available in UK yet but it’s only a matter of time….