Cheap..aka..Chinese import motorbikes

[charlieboy]

With the ever increasing costs just to eat and live... and 2nd hand 'decent' 125cc bikes holding very good value.. it has caused me get some searching done to find a more 'affordable' way to get on a bike!

I had come accross a website/sales learnerlegal.com that sell chinese imported bikes!

Having looked on net it appears mixed reviews on them so was wondering if WB users had any experience of import bikes!?

Im not afraid get stuck in tweeking this or that, and i know a few peeps that could help with servicing etc...

Are these bikes really a 'cheaper' way into biking?

[blueracer]

Stay away from SKYTEAM i had a 125 what a bag of shit not a good word to say about the bike 

[Smasher]

I had a Skyjet 125 delivered for £900 a couple of years ago opened the crate and thought nice Then realised how poorly put together they are.
DO NOT BY CHINESE IMPORTS!!!!!!! There should be a  on them
held together buy cheap nuts and bolts with no washers on and i dont think they know what a lock tight nut is.
Took it out on the first day and the gear selector rod fell off
Took it out again a few days later and the speedo cable snapped inside.
To be honest buy a second hand CBF 125 of something similar as these are dangerous.

[Chance]

My father bought a Sanya:

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Had it's first MOT this year as an 08 plate and passed fine, all he ever changed was the bulbs in the speedo and front tyre.  He's a big guy and it would do 60 no problem. This of course could be a purely lucky buy.  Only issues I could really say he's had with it is rust on the chrome(you'll need to keep right ontop of cleaning etc) and insurance. Insurance was the biggest pain in the ass as most insurers don't insure it. He got one in the end fully comp for around 150quid with myself as an extra driver.  It doesn't feel as well built or as solid as my suzuki but it does the job for local commuting just fine.
Again though he could just be one of the lucky ones 

[yoyo]

The Mrs bought a Lexmoto 125 xs, looked the dogs bollocks but it was just a dog. I ran it in properly and first spin out the bar end weight fell off, it did 300kms and was sold. She loved the look of it but it never saw rain yet started to rust in the garage. Spend £900 on a YBR 125 or CBF 125 if you can find one. Far better bet 

I know of someone that bought a Sanya and it's been fine but I'm not convinced, Lisa has a CBF now, paid £1200 with 5k on the clock and she's really happy with it.

[Smasher]

 

The Mrs bought a Lexmoto 125 xs, looked the dogs bollocks but it was just a dog. I ran it in properly and first spin out the bar end weight fell off, it did 300kms and was sold. She loved the look of it but it never saw rain yet started to rust in the garage. Spend £900 on a YBR 125 or CBF 125 if you can find one. Far better bet 

I know of someone that bought a Sanya and it's been fine but I'm not convinced, Lisa has a CBF now, paid £1200 with 5k on the clock and she's really happy with it.

CBF 125 VERY GOOD 125

[charlieboy]

Many thanks for the replies all....

Was as expected really - not very often the 'cheaper' alternative is as good as the 'original' but as both me and my g/f are uber keen to get on the rode we lived in hope!

Think our best bet then will be club our funds together and buy 1no 'decent' bike i.e. honda, yam, aprilia... and fight over who gets to ride it 

Just hope this happens before the summer ends!

[blueracer]

Just make sure you take someone with you who knows about bikes when you buy one 

[Paul]

With the ever increasing costs just to eat and live... and 2nd hand 'decent' 125cc bikes holding very good value.. it has caused me get some searching done to find a more 'affordable' way to get on a bike!

I had come accross a website/sales learnerlegal.com that sell chinese imported bikes!

Having looked on net it appears mixed reviews on them so was wondering if WB users had any experience of import bikes!?

Im not afraid get stuck in tweeking this or that, and i know a few peeps that could help with servicing etc...

Are these bikes really a 'cheaper' way into biking?

Stay away from the imports.  My son had two of them and they are just crap.  They are very appealing, least of all in terms of the price and how they look but I assure you its false economy.

[Bloke]

Even a 600 quid cg125 beater will beat any of the chinese imports I've seen for quality, the things rust if you even mention water around them, parts fall off and electrics that melt when used.

Sent from my Dell Streak using Tapatalk

[charlieboy]

Again many thanks for the advice 

Will just keep on saving and dreaming... and being envious everytime a biker passes me..

Ive a few mechanically minded people that i could call on, or failing that see if anyone free on here with offer of a cuppa and burger 

I shall keep reading the ride reports, tips, advice and general banter on here til i start riding!

[Monkey Boy]

Took it out on the first day and the gear selector rod fell off

Mind you exactly the same thing happened to  my mate when he bought a brand new Triumph Tiger from Fowlers in Bristol ! probably down to the dealer not doing their pre-sales checks properly.

But I do agree with everyone else - any 2nd hand Jap 125 is a much better purchase.

[sdwboss]

Make sure if it's a CBF it's not got a dodgy fuel pump!! 
A colleague of mine just bought an '05 plate chinese bike, looks ok, sounds much loader than my CBF125, bu despite all his hooh-har, it definitely looks and feels cheap and nasty. The clutch cable snapped on it within 200 miles of him riding it, and the tappets needed adjusting. That said, he did only pay less than 200 for it... Much less than the depreciation on my CBf in 8 months, so pay your money and take your choice I suppose