How Bad are Chinese Motorcycles Really? 7 Biggest Breakdowns (3 months, 9 630 Miles Through Africa)
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 12 พ.ค. 2021
- We all know Chinese motorcycles are not the same quality as Japanese or German bikes. But how bad are they really? We tried to find out by riding two Chinese 200cc delivery bikes from Cape Town to Cairo. It took us 90 days and 9 630 miles to get there. Here are our 7 biggest breakdowns on the trip. #ChineseBikes #AdventureBike #DualSport
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After watching this video I think I have a new appreciation for inexpensive Chinese motorcycles, it is easy for us here in the UK and other countries in the west to simply dismiss these bikes as cheap junk because we have better bikes available from reputable western and Japanese brands, but the truth is these Chinese bikes do work most of the time and if something breaks it’s cheap and easy to fix and without these Chinese bikes personal transportation would likely be unavailable to many poor people in the developing world especially in Africa that’s why I’m glad these bikes exist.
You hit the nail on the head. I realise now how different the different parts of the world are. I can imagine that it is worthless in the US and UK where parts are not available.. but in 3rd-world countries where they are everywhere (and cheap), it really made personal transportation more accessible. If we could afford to buy two Honda's back then, we would have... but it would have made the trip impossible to afford.
Couldn't have said that better.
Makes no sense. That’s like saying Russian military equipment is good enough. When you could
Have Western weapons. I wouldn’t buy Chinese motorcycles. Even though there copies of Japanese bikes. Which, by the way is illegal! China copies everyone’s stuff. It’s like they have no idea how to develop their own products…
I have a Chinese Superbyke Rmr 125 and using it almost every day. It leaves outside in the rain with small cover on, so the rain doesn't get saturated into the seat, petrol tank cap and the gauges. Living in South London, no one ever attempted to still mine with 57000 km in it. It is a little bit of a shabby state but starts easier than most of fuel injected big bike I work on. Ducatis, KTMs Moto Guzzis are my main line of work as a bike mechanic.
I did have a couple brake down, I have changed 3 carburetors, one starter clutch, 2 petrol tank they have rusted inside.
Now, I keep the tank full as much I can, use the bike often 6-7 miles each way to work.
I have a Honda VFR800 and a Suzuki DRZ 440 bigbore, but the Chinese bike running around locally bits them hand down!
Thanks for your video!
I like it, going to subscribe now.
Wow, that is amazing! 57000km! I can imagine in the city the small bike is so much easier. Part may be lower quality but they are so cheap. Thanks for the comment!
Many tour "adventurers" think they need a big cycle to overcome obstacles. In most of the world, you will rarely get over 40 mph. Dirt roads, rocky roads, potholed roads, crazy traffic and animals all conspire to keep you just put-putting along. A small, light cycle with 15 hp will get you out of more trouble than a 500kg cycle with 80 hp. You will never apply all that power.
Thanks for the story! Riding at night is just foolish. Huge risk for little gain.
100% We quickly found that even 80kph is more than fast enough in most countries. Only in SA and Nam do people go fast everywhere. And I TOTALLY agree on driving at night! Not worth the risk and we should have just camped before dark. But it was not as easy as it sounds
I'm from Africa and I have used my Chinese bike for ten years now. I carry about 200 litters of milk dairy and it still looks a few months old. It rarely even needs maintenance if you don't misuse it. It does over sixty kilometers per day. The brand name is Dayun Romeo 150cc. Trust me I think its among the best Chinese bikes.
Yes!! The ones we rode had Motomia stickers on them, but they were also Dayun. I was told by the importer that they are the best in China. Thanks for watching!
I'm from Mexico and there are many Chinese bikes mostly 125cc-250cc here. They look great when brand new but they just don't last. Everything on them is very cheap and breakable. I think that the metals used are of inferior quality, the engines wear badly after about 5 years. Any used Chinese bike has very poor resale value--with good reason.
@@billyzee261 Yes, resale value is non-existent and the bikes definitely don't last as long as Japanese bikes. They won't become classics, that is for sure. But as an entry-level bike to get the job done (with regular maintenance from the owner), it does make biking accessible to more riders.
@@GreaseAndGravel I purchased a used 2008 Honda GL 125 in 2010. It is used daily. Everything is stronger and larger on it than on any 125-200cc Chinese bike, e.g.: forks, coils, frame, hubs, etc. This bike has been in use daily since I purchased it. I've had to replace the hubs, shocks, brakes (of course) but the motor is untouched (except for a few valve adjustments. One other point is that my 125cc is noticeably faster than any Chinese 150cc. If you want a good cheap bike, save a little more for a Japanese bike. Hondas are known here for reliability matched secondly to the Yamahas that have a slightly more complex vacume carburetor (unlike the Honda). Perhaps the Yamaha is more environmentally friendly, but when you are talking about 45 kilometers per liter and zero smoke all these years later, that is probably not an issue with the Honda either. The Yamaha small economy bikes are very good and they do look better than the Honda no doubt. The Honda GL is a reliable workhorse. No mechanics and incredibly faithful, but not handsome for sure. It's a reliable and healthy work horse, period. By the way, I have a Honda CBR 600 for enjoyment along with a Kawasaki Vulcan 750.
You are not for hard use. The bike is for transportation.
Chinese bikes are all over central america and they have the crap rode out of them with little maintenance. They hold up surprisingly well. I myself own an SSR-XF250 and so far the only problem I had was a broken speedometer cable. The engine seems very good so far!
The biggest problem with the Chinese bikes I've bought is they keep getting stolen! I've bought three dual sport bikes (a 200cc and two 250s) and I only have one of the 250s left. I've never had any mechanical issues with any of them.
That sucks, Mark! I am sorry to hear that.
I have a Hawk 150cc dirt bike. It's not built as well and the Japanese bikes, but it's also about 1/4 to 1/5 the cost. The bottom line is, it's a trail/woods bike, not a race bike. If you treat it decent it will take care of you. Yes, you may also be more likely to get one with problems, but most problems are small things if you do proper maintenance before running it and while you own it.
I have had a Chinese 125cc for 14 years untill it was stolen 09/10/2021. No problem's.
Greater Manchester UK.
Oh no! I am sorry to hear that. Wow, it lasted well then. Are you getting another bike?
@@GreaseAndGravel Hopefully money permitting. Young lads take them for riding in the fields then set fire to them in these parts.
@@g4joe Wow, that is insane! I thought it is wild here in SA.
Did you overload it with gear and ride it through sand and mud?
Congratulations Sir, you have found an awesome wife! It takes a lot of courage to travel that continent like that AND on bikes you weren’t completely sure of at the start.
Kudos to you both!
I bought a Hawk 250 about a year ago and have been tinkering with it ever since. Upgrading it, improving parts etc.
Haven’t had a bad problem so far.
One of the main reasons I chose it over a KLX (which is all my local shop could get in stock) was because the Chinese bike was simple to work on.
All the new dual sports were fuel injected, which to me means a problem would require a mechanic or investment in a computer to scan codes.
The only dual that shop had that was carbed was a Suzuki 650 that was like $9k out the door.
This was less than $2k and I got to familiarize myself with it during assembly.
Thank you Bill, I am indeed blessed to have such an awesome wife :) I agree 100% with you. I much prefer a carb to EFI for the same reason. And the more you work on your bike yourself, the less you stress when you're far from help. Plus, in most third world countries you don't need to go faster than 50mph. I like the idea of assembling your own bike. That must have been fun. I appreciate the comment. Cheers.
I don't know about their motorcycles, but I have a Chinese electric bicycle and it's really good quality, I love it.
I think the quality is getting better in a lot of factories.
There ebike wheel kits and batteries are fantastic value also .
@@GreaseAndGravel Back in the 1950s, early 60s, Japan, still recovering from WWII, was making cheap low- end products that people made fun of : bolo bouncers ; yo- yos ; hoola hoops, cheap radios and such. Japan gradually moved up the quality ladder, making among the best products in the world. Japan is known as a global leader in cars, , motorcycles, electronics, cameras, many things. Now China has been moving up, their stuff is getting better and more sophisticated.
As long as your checking bolts, valves, changing oil, cleaning ail filter... these chinese bikes will run and run and run
That true. I still can't believe I sold mine for next to nothing after bonding with it for 90 days.
@@GreaseAndGravel I was about to pull the trigger on a GPX moto but I got the KLX300 instead simply because of resale. I had the lifan xpect200 as my first real bike and it lost value when I sold it
You can't go wrong with the Kawasaki, good choice! And yes, these Chinese bikes are worth nothing in the second-hand market. I basically gave away both our bikes (something I dearly regret now 😅)
@@dustincookson5479 thinking about a GPX currently.
Pretty impressive the jump Chinese bikes have made in quality.
@@GreaseAndGravel But pricewise here in the U.S.A. you can generally buy almost 3 brand new Chinese bikes for the price of one equivalent Japanese machine new.
I think the Chinese bikes can be a good base IF you take the time to sort out the shoddy assembly which means basically disassemble and lube the areas which should be lubed that come with no lube such as the swing arm pivot bolt, axles and the steering stem bearings where there should be lube and use plenty of blue loctite!
Also change to a quality fork oil and engine lube again before ever riding the bike.
And last but not least polish and wax everything to protect from rust and really buy better quality tires and tubes as well.
Also throw the factory chain in the trash and buy a good aftermarket drive chain while the bike is brand new so your sprockets will wear in with the quality chain.
A few hundred dollars spent up front will save you a lot of headaches later and generally will make the Chinese bikes into a pretty reliable machine for the money spent.
Not going to be Honda quality but not going to be at a Honda price point either.
Also the Chinese electrical parts are so cheap you can afford to keep spares laying at home on the shelf, go price a new oem Honda CDI which some of those alone are over $500 U.S. dollars these days!
I had a Chonquing Shineray GY200 bike, I bought it on a pallet in 2006 for £555, I built it up and registered it for road use in the UK, I sold it in 2023 for £600! The only parts I replaced were the battery (twice) a perished fuel pipe and a seized brake lever/reservoir, I kept it garaged and didn't ride it in the rain it was totally rust free.
It didn't have a quality finish to it but it looked pretty nice.
i have a 2008 haotian arrow (little 125) and this video is just a testament to looking after your stuff. regular maintaining goes a hell of a long way to longevity. great video, would have loved to have done it myself.
Thanks for watching! I agree, maintenance makes all the difference on any machine
Bad gas, flat tires, spraying wd on the brake calipers. Sprocket wear after all that heaving riding. Sounds like the electrics were the only abnormal bike issues.
Exactly! And even the electrics was just bulbs blowing from shaking most probably. Not bad bikes at all.
The Chinese bike was a smart move considering the availability of parts. The breakdown you experienced can happen on an expensive bike. Good review. Thanks.
Thanks Marty. Yes, that wasn't the main reason we chose them.. but ended up being the best reason to choose them :)
Very interesting, and I especially agree with your summing up in the final minute regarding cheaper repairs and less problems from police who otherwise might think you're rich. I rode a Chinese "enduro" around South America, bought it new in 2011, finished in 2020, totalled over 86,000 kms. I did have some major breakdowns, but they were solved quite cheaply until I fitted a Japanese engine as a replacement about halfway through the trip. It never broke down, but it caused other problems, because it had more torque and started breaking things like the flimsy chain and sprocket. I think as time progresses, Chinese bikes will rapidly improve, just like Japanese bikes, and later cars, did, after they were first came to prominence back in the 1960s.
Wow, that is amazing! I forgot to mention in my video that we fitted Japanese chains before we left. You are right, we heard from a lot of other riders that the police are corrupt and fined them for no reason etc... we NEVER had that happen. They were all super friendly and didn't even ask for papers at road blocks. Sometimes they made us tea.
I just saw on Facebook that is was an 8 year trip! Wow, that must have been an awesome experience. I can't even imagine being on the road that long. Saw the video too. So cool that you stayed on the same bike for that whole period.
@@GreaseAndGravel Ive only been to South Africa once, in the late 1980s, in a rented car, but I get the feeling from watching videos that its a much more challenging place to ride a motorbike than South America. Like you said, some guy got shot in the face just two weeks before you were there! Plus, I wasn't riding my bike every day for 8 years. If I got to a place I liked, I would stay for a few weeks, or even months. Also got shanghaied a few times by the local señoritas, that's one reason why I ended up staying 9 months in Buenos Aires. When I started the trip I only planned to do a south-north traversal allowing myself 10 months. A huge underestimation!
@@GringoLoco Wow, what an experience! Shanghaied by the local señoritas 🤣
South Africa is very developed, but not as much fun to travel on a bike due to crime etc. But the rest of Africa must be very similar to S.America. Friendly people and mostly safe (apart from road accidents). The guy that got shot was an area close to Somalia where we had to ride as well just as Kenya declared war on Al Shabab. So it is not representative of the continent.
We'd love to do S.America one day. I am going to watch your videos one by one. Would love to see that book one day.
I’m amazed that you survived this trip. 😂 sounds to me like the bikes are fine.
The bikes really surprised us! :)
To be honest now having watched till the end this is the best add any Chinese bike will ever get don't forget when
Borman the biker and his mate the actor did what they did they had a full blown service team with them and by god did they need them been told most of the repairs were edited out ?? So this says it all for less than 2K you can go anywhere or for 17K and a full team you can also go anywhere !!
Thanks for watching until the end. Yes, that is exactly what we hoped to prove with this trip... that is is more accessible than you think. We met Charlie Boorman on this trip and he was amazing. But very different trips indeed.
You wouldn't believe probably I rode my Thai made Kawasaki Klx 150 35.000km without a puncture through 25 countries. And like you say these 'chinese' or small engines can be fixed anywhere if something goes wrong.
Totally! Wow, that must have been an amazing trip!!!
6.900 miles and your wife went
You, you're a blessed man. Sounds like repairs were very
Inexpensive, and people were
Very cool.I just put a Chinese 250 quad engine in my 1997
Honda CR80R, had to order an
Ignition for it but it runs great,
I know this is off subject, but from my experience Chinese
Bikes, and quads mostly in the
Dirt the bike themselves aren't that strong, but the engines are
Fairly strong, thay are a copy of
The Honda cg 125 just different
Sizes very good push rod engines!!!!!!!!
BUT OF COURSE U KNOW THAT
XR'S RULE!!!!!
THANK'S from NOR-CAL!!!!!!
Strong, b
Hey Chris, I through I've already replied to this comment.. oops! :) Yeah, I am a very fortunately man. And yes, people in Africa are awesome. Those CG125 copies are great engines... and in the third world, most parts can cheaply be replaced on the rest of the bike. Ps. I love your XR's RULE comment at the end each time!! LOL... part of the reason I am keeping mine ;)
I have a 2023 chinese icebear leo. Clone of the honda z50j gurilla. Roughly 700 miles in the past year and a half with no issues. This past month i did a ton of upgrades on it like bigger 150cc engine, rebuilt the front forks for more preload and longer rebound, extended swing arm, k75 tires, homemade high flow exhaust, ect. Rides even better now. That mini bike is the most fun thing ive ridden on a road.
125ccm to 250ccm single piston is a sweet spot region most western riders miss out on as they are used to more HP and ccm. For slow long distance travel, these smaller bikes have a far better fuel mileage at similar load capacity.
Same goes for Chinese bikes - the are dated knockoffs but the bits are well know and easy to source - the base is either a Honda CB or Suzuki GN style engine usually. Where they are common, every local mechanic will be plenty familiar.
You said it best! We got 80mph fully loaded and wide open throttle ALL day long. These were GN250 knock-offs and super simple
Thanks for the video. Good to know how popular the bikes are across Africa. Do you have a video of your adventures?
Hi Martin. Unfortunately, not. I didn't film back then and only had a GoPro2. Would not have been able to store all the data. If I did it today, it would have made for great vids.
I'm going through a Chinese motorcycle phase, so I'm binging all the videos of them that I can. So far I'm fairly impressed by what I've seen, your video not least of all.
It sounds like a lot of the problems you had were more or less just symptoms of riding through Africa - 3 of your breakdowns were just flat tyres, and the others probably could have happened to any other bike that was put through that much abuse as well (the mud, the missing tensioner bolt, the WD-40 in the brakes, the dirty fuel in the carb, etc). It sounds like the biggest issue were the bikes not being weatherproofed enough.
Chinese bikes can't hold a candle to Japanese bikes, certainly not yet - Honda's motorcycles are legendary for their reliability and their engines will clock in hundreds of thousands of kilometers - but it sounds like Chinese bikes have come a long way as well.
Thanks for the video, I found it very enjoyable and informative.
Thanks for the comment! Yes, the Chinese bikes are not at the level of Japanese bikes, but there are some that are definitely better than others. There are more than 4000 manufacturers in China with different levels of QC. I was really amazed at our little Dayuns
Worst things I have noticed on chinese motorcycles is low grade components like rims and suspension parts etc....a guy I rode with who was not even a fast rider at all....slow as heck honestly JUST from riding the identical southerncalifornia rocly roads we all do his rims were bent to HELL! Made of cheese soft metal.....just ridiculously inexcusable! THAT alone for me would be a complete and TOTAL deal killer even if I expected very little performance wise....THAT would really make me hate the brand
@@dougiequick1
You buy the components that will stand up to the use you make of it.
Ask any Jeep owner...
they have to be heavily modified to go off road with consistent performance and safety...
so you buy steel wheels that flex (and in a bike's case) with spokes that can be tightened and replaced...
Living in the Philippines for almost 4 years now.
Have a Kawasaki Ninja 650 that I bought shortly after I arrived.
Roads here are paved mostly but not too many places to ride at any real speed.
Ride my Chinese Rusi 250 classic (which is considered big here) most of the time.
Is comfortable, reliable and actually nice looking
Anything larger is a waste here, and it cost me $1,700 new...
Not a fan of China at all, but love the Rusi...
Thanks for the comment. I can totally understand that. We experienced the same. My KLR650 wouldn't have made the trip easier. I share your sentiments about China and their bikes too.
- loose screws due to taking street bike off road
- bad fuel it happens no biggy
- mud and off road
- punctures happen even on road
- u had tubed tires within aluminum wheels not best combination (correct me if wrong)
- as for the sprockets consider the weight across muddy, rocky 9600 miles
good job with changing oil every 2000km that saved u there in my opinion (chinese motors have some cheap aluminum alloy that wears way faster than other brands)
thanks for sharing your great videos
best regards
Thanks for the comment.
You are 100% right, none of the 'breakdowns' we experienced really counts. I was super impressed with the little bike. Those oil changed, along with adjusting and lubing the chain every day, really helped. Spoke wheels would have been better, you are correct.
At the start of the trip I was convinced something will break catastrophically... and they just kept going.
Cheers
I’m totally impressed! I hear such bad things, but that’s a heck of an adventure it endured! ❤️
@@ScooterNewbie Thanks :) There are countries you'd want to avoid, but the route we took we had no trouble at all :)
@@GreaseAndGravel idk the lighting is the one brand specific thing....that ought not have happend....bad grounds? {ppr voltage regulation? Hard to believe all the bulbs were bad quality
@@dougiequick1
Depending on the quality of the bulbs...very believable!
The only way to test is to have several bulbs from different manufacturers....
rather than one "job loi" from one manufacturer.
What an adventure, well done!
Thanks, Gareth! :)
I remember this way back in 2010...your trip was the main reason I bought the Moto mia 200cc. It was a great bike during my student years and never had any big problems. 11 years later I am working in Bejing and I own a JS 700, XiangShuai Cruizer motorcycle. Also no problems and I still love my Chinese bike. If you look after the bike the bike will look after you. Thank you for this video, finally found your channel. Subbed
Chinese bikes are a curse.
Great review. Thank you 🎉
Thank you for watching
Excellent video! Thank you.
Thank you for watching!🙏🏼
Good story, you have big balls to do this trip, well done
Thank you Gregory🙏🏼
What a great adventure and a great video.
Thanks, Shane! Appreciate it
Man, you got some serious balls! Trip across Africa, with your wife, AND on a chinese POS machine?
Mad respect! 🍺
Thanks, Marko😅 It sounds more hardcore than it is. The people are friendly and stuff works in most countries. Thinking back, the biggest risk is an accident on the road. Cheers 🍺
I bought a Chinese 250cc bike in Peru some years back - a Honda clone sold under different badges there, so parts and mechanics easy to find. The worst thing I found was the paintwork - I lived near the coast so had to have it repainted every couple of years or so. I had to replace the chain and rear sprocket, and put Brazilian Honda parts, which gave no more problems. I ended up doing over 20k kms, including a couple of trips up and even over the Andes, and thoroughly recommend them. My biggest problem was I left my bike with a friend while I was out of the country and his son took it (denied it, of course, but it was clear from the mileage and damaged parts that it had been abused) and raced it, cooking the engine! I had it rebuilt, and still toured on it, but it was never quite right afterwards - I found later the mechanic I used had not replaced the broken counterbalance! Since new it cost me around £1000, being a common Chinese bike no-one would steal it, and the Police were always amazed to find a Gringo touring solo in a bike - I would certainly do it again!
Wonderful adventure story!
Thank you sir🙏🏼
Respect ,to you ,your lady, and the bikes.
Thank you! I appreciate it
Bro once try indian made adventure bikes like royalenfield himalya,are hero pulse,or bajaja, or jawa
The Hero Pulse looks like a great bike... I am going to try and get hold of one to test
Wow great story and glad you made it
Thanks Ronald🙏🏼
That's a really decent severe test and shows how robust these Chinese copies can be..
Thanks for the positive comment, Bill. I appreciate it.
You 2 r incredible made bikes trip through Africa. My last bucket list haha. Now u learn what to pack for spare parts and great African people who helped . Great adventure
You can say 'great African people' again! We just loved it. It was a humbling experience and I'd do it on a cheap bike again before I go in a fancy 4x4 or on an expensive bike.
Cool man I love your story. I take my hat off for you.
I am also following itchy boots.
Greetings from Namibia country and city Windhoek 🇳🇦Dirk
Thank you Dirk, I appreciate it. We LOVE Namibia! Yes, it is sad what happened to Noraly, but she took it like a champ.
Amazing trip, it's really good to hear the mistakes you made...
Thanks for waching, Ralf!
My understanding is helmets are a bit of a luxury item in poorer nations, so it's not irresponsibility if anyone was wondering.
I used to have a GN250 when I was younger and it was absolutely bulletproof. I never had issues with it despite being a 18 year old who thought he was riding a GP bike. Disappointing that China haven't quite built it as well.
They got close in some aspects, but the finish and quality on some parts aren't the same. Great bikes though
@GreaseAndGravel definitely not bad for the price. I wonder how it compares to the Suzuki TU250X.
In 2007 my farther bought a Chinese super cub to my mother. After few months when she driving her motorcycle it's handle separated from the bike and she fall down to a farm field. Luckily nothings happen for her life. The reason is the bolts and nuts that used to fit the frame and the handle are broken. Stay away from Chinese products.
I remember some Boeing engineers forgetting to add the bolts to a airplane plug door . Stay away from american planes ?
Don't blame the machine.
Yamaha Xmax 250 new model; one of buyer having issues absorber snapped and broken into 2 for no reason. My Chinese Zongshen RT3 250 never had such prob. Stay away from japanese brand also????
If the bike was CKD ex China (for packaging and freight savings) and assembled "in country" by a gorilla without a torque wrench...maybe the bolts were overtightened and stressed?
Exactly the same in Asia & Mongolia Chinese bikes and parts everywhere. Good report and video thanks 🤗
In Mongolia its cheaper other than that its garbage
Bravo, well done!
Thank you!
go easy on the bikes bro :) that first sentence was harsh haha
Lol, yes! Those bikes were awesome. People totally have the wrong impression. Back home, many guys on forums said we won't make it out of the country.
Hi, So actually nothing bad really went wrong with the Bikes. Next Trip, carry extra Tubes and a little bottle of Blue Locktite. It will keep the Bolts from coming loose, but you can still break them loose with a Wrench. Also, get some Fuel Filters. Over all I would have to say the Bikes did good. I almost forgot, get a small 12V Air Compressor, Spare Sprockets and Chain. Always have some Tools to be able to do minor repairs with. Thanks for the Video, Subscribed.👍👍
Thanks Joey! Yes, I would have done a few things differently with the experience I have now... Hopefully we'll get another chance someday. Cheers, Francois
They keep improving
Yep
Hey Man, very impressive. Question: did you need a carnet the passage for the bikes or nothing at all at border crossings because if the SA registration?
Hey! Yes, we used the Carnet. Made life SO much easier. It was possible without it, but then you need to buy temp import permits and try to get your refund when you leave. Carnets were just so easy. It also helped to have super cheap bikes, as the deposit on the Carnet was 200% (for Egypt). I've heard that you can't use the Carnet in Ethiopia since last year. very annoying! Are you planning a trip?
@@GreaseAndGravel Hey, thanks for the reply. I've been planning for a long time but work and life keeps getting in the way. I will definitely do it. One day.... In the mean time I shall watch your videos to keep the inspiration going.
@@jacekwojt1 Thanks for watching! You have to do it! The most difficult part is picking a time and committing. The trip itself is the easy part. But yes, adulting has a way of getting in the way.
@@jacekwojt1you should also check out Itchy Boots. Noraly has Travel through almost every Country on the Planet on her little Honda CRF 300. Incredible Filming of all her Travels, and she does it all by herself.
Don’t buy a bike to make money on . Buy to ride and enjoy. 😊
Totally!
Hi I'm looking to get into biking,I can't afford the big brands and names ,so I've been looking at the motomia spritzer and bigboy velocity 200 are these any good? I would really appreciate your opinion and advice
And do u have any suggestions
?
Are you looking to buy new or second-hand? If new, Motomia does not exist anymore. Unfortunately, I don't have 1st-hand experience with BigBoy. At around R20k the only competitors are 2nd-hand Honda XR125, Honda CB125F, or Yamaha YBR125s. The Chinese brands are definitely not as well built as the Japanese bikes, but parts are much cheaper. Sorry I can't be of more help.
If I had to spend R20k on a small bike and had to decide between a Honda/Yamaha 125 and a Chinese 200... mmm... it is a tricky one.
If you have ZERO experience with bikes, a new bike is probably safer.. since you get a warranty and you can take it back if something goes wrong.
On a second-hand Japanese bike, the quality is better and you won't lose any value if you want to upgrade a year or two later.... but then you need to make sure you get one in good condition.
Good luck with your choice!
Ps. Have you ridden before?
Thanks for the info,yes I have a ridden a friends scooter that's Abt it,can the bikes u mentioned keep up with highway speeds and such ?
@@mintybrothers1653you need a bigger Bike for Highway Speeds. Something around 300cc will get you there, but make sure before you Buy one that they will. Some 300cc Bikes won’t. If you go for a 350cc you will probably be ok. I think though that some of the Chinese 250cc Bikes are supposed to be able to do Highway Speeds. Look up the Specs of whatever you’re interested in, they should show the estimated Top Speed.
That's a tough ride for an engine, transmission and suspension of that design specification, never intended for that sort of duty. Well done to bikes and riders
That’s what the whole adventure was about, to see if it’s possible. I wasa little surprised that they (and us) made it 😅 thanks for the comment
Sounds like Chinese bikes can be dragged through hell and beyond. You took a 250cc city bike across the length of Africa, through deserts and bush through mud and over rocks that destroyed a BMW's forks, you changed a few parts that ware on any bike, and you had a few punctures, you took it home and then used it as a commuter bike for years. You have made the best argument for Chinese bikes I've ever heard, let alone the balls it took for you and your wife to make the journey in the first place. Well done to the both of you and Chinese bikes.
Thank you, I appreciate the comment. It really was an amazing adventure.
I have twelve year experience of chinese scooters, by driving all around of year in Finland. When you are lucky, you have mostly reliable vehicle, but they are often too "worry generators" for recomenting. Exemple: If one asking help for Honda, 1000 ask help for chinese bike, and they are too cheap to prof. repair shop. I became top expert of them here.
I totally get that. I would always recommend a Japanese bike (and car) before anything else. We just got lucky I guess. And that was part of the challenge... to see if we'd make it.
Fantastic.
That seems to the be the exact same reliability of Japanese bikes from the 1980's. Clearly the 1970's Japanese bikes were worse. With plenty of real failures.
Yeah, I expected worse from these Chinese bikes
question, did you break in the motor? (in spanish we say "asentamiento") which these motorbikes tend to need up to 5000 km
We changed the oil after only 20km (very dirty from the manufacturing process)... and again at 250km. Then we hit the open road and gunned it most of the way to Egypt (15000km). I changed the oil every 2000km. No issues.
I’m a 65 year old motorcycle mechanic and wouldn’t have one if you gave it me, saw one that was 12 months old that needed more work than the bike cost in the first place, several cylinder heads replaced under warranty… just NO!
As far as I understood back then is that the quality varies so much from factory to factory. The ones we bought were not that bad, but there were others on the market here that was junk.
Hello. This is valuable information, thank you. Which shipping company did you use from Cairo to back to South Africa and how much did it more or less cost?
Hi Marco, we shipped with MSC. My neighbour at the time had a contact there. We met some travelers along the way (Voetspore TV Series) and they kindly offered for us to stuff our bikes into their two containers that they shipped their three VW Amaroks in. So we ended only paying for some paperwork. Another good reason for taking a small bike. Sorry I can't be of more help. Are you planning a trip?
@@GreaseAndGravel Thank you Francois. MSC seems like the way to go. I am planning a trip to Cairo, also with a 200cc motorcycle. If the shipping is too much, then I will leave the bike there. The other option is to ship the motorcycle other there and ride it down to South Africa. I will get in contact with MSC, thank you for that info.
@@marcodurandt727 Wow, sounds awesome. Making me envious! If I had to do it again, I'd also ship it up and ride back. Do the 'harder' countries while you are still fresh. Our plan was to leave the bikes in Egypt, but because you get plates in Egypt and register the bike, it is not that simple. And you lose your Carnet deposit. Good luck with the planning and please post a link where we can follow the journey.
Great Story!!! Do you recall the brand of these motorcycles? Thanks
Thanks! It was Dayun from China. In SA they rebranded it as Motomia. Great bikes!
@@GreaseAndGravel Thanks, I'm in the US and they don't stock either one. 😞
@@tbgtbg6311 Yeah, I have only seen these in Africa
great account thank you
Thanks, I appreciate it.
As a person in my mid-sixties with over 600K motorcycles miles, I'd just like to say, "Cool Tee Shirt"!
🙌🏼😂 i miss my Beetle
Hello, I'm thinking to buy a Cg125 kavaki or a Suzuki ax100 copy as a first bike. I ll look for dayun. These bikes look very strong as they are Simple. I'm looking on Alibaba, would you buy the same model or another? Thanks and👍
Hi! I think a CG125 copy is a good idea. I'd go for a 4-stroke instead of a two-stroke. Just easier to maintain in my opinion. I can't say about Alibaba, as we bought ours through a company that imported them. One thing I remember is that they said there are more than 400 manufacturers of bikes in China that look similar... and the quality is not all the same. That said, if it is cheap, at least you don't have much to lose. A new Honda or Yamaha will cost 4 times as much. Good luck and let me know what you decide!
Thank you very much bro for your advice! There are not many channels that explain with real endurance tests about chinese bikes so thanks again. Good rides man! 🏍️
@@Wilderness_Tv Thanks for the feedback. I appreciate it. I wish I had the same amount of time to do proper tests like that these days. Ride safe!
I think Chinese bikes have their place and that is as an affordable option to introduce new riders to the joy of two wheels.
You tested them to the limits that would challenge even the highest quality bikes.
I am sure you had the adventure of a lifetime.
Thanks for the comment and sorry for the late reply. I agree, our decision was mostly based on cost, and we wanted a good challenge :)
I guess, loctite is a good thing to bring along as well as replace stuff like sprockets, chains, important nuts and bolts and perhaps get a brand name carb when you've just purchased the bike. And the same what we say here in Asia, ride what people ride locally and you'll have enough spare parts, know-how and skills along the way to help out if/when needed. Here it's small displacement Hondas and Yamahas. Chinese bikes are not popular here.
I agree, ride what the locals ride! We found parts everywhere. Oh yes, loctite on all the bolts to start with is not a bad idea!
Bad fuel is not a break down, putting lube on brake pads is not a break down, your fixes are causing more problems than they are solving. Sounds like the bikes are pretty good!
Yeah, the amazing thing is not that the bikes made it all the way to Egypt, but that the riders did... noobs! :)
Thank you
Thanks for watching
Tires chains & sprockets sounds like normal breakdowns you could have on any bike. At least it didnt have and magor problems like subframe breaking or anything. It appears most of these issues are easily upgradable with quality after market parts at least.
100% our experience. I was worried about the big stuff (frame, engine, transmission), but they were great. Normal wear and tear items over 15000km wasn't too bad
Whether we like it or not, the quality of the Chinese bike has gotten better by leaps and bounds. They are using higher quality materials to build the bikes. I already know from working on them for other people and comparing those to the China bike that I owned back in 2012, the manufacturers are using better rubber and metals and that has reflected in the higher prices for the bikes. They are still nowhere near perfect but they are getting better as the years go by!!
I am impressed with the Chinese bike. I am sure if it was a Japanese Motorcycle, you will be having less breakdown or not at all !
I agree, but I wonder about parts availability compared to Chinese bikes.
Since these Chinese bikes are often clones of older Japanese bikes should I just get the Japanese bike instead? I know Japanese bikes cost more upfront but they also sell for more and deprecate less if at all and i get the better build quality. Also great video and story!
If you're worried about reliability and resale value then get a Japanese bike.
I would like to see some normal on the road riding with one of these things. I have a 2002 BMW R1150RT that I'm just getting broken in. I just retired a 2005 Suzuki C-50T that I retired after I put 100,000 miles on, and it just started getting to not want to idle. I rode it every day and the only issues I had between 2007 and the beginning of the pendemic was timing chains stretched bofore 25,000 miles, tires only lasted 9 months, two batteries, a head light bulb, two turn signal bulbs. Airfilter every year, and oil changes every 5,000 miles. Three rear sets of brake shoes, three front pads, front eheel bearings, and relay. All that in 100,000 miles. Never parked inside. Just in the the yard. All weather conditions. It was a tough bike.
I would like to find out if one of these would be good for my niece to learn on and get her license and commute through the city on.
Wow, that Suzuki sounds amazing. The Japanese just know how to make stuff last. I commuted on my 200c Chinese bike for two years after our Cape to Cairo trip and it was fine. 50mph cruising speed. 20miles to work and 20miles back every day. No issues. Okay to keep up with traffic in town. In the end, some bearing started to go inside my gearbox (the kick starter started moving when I accelerated). The part was $3, but I was too inexperienced to do it myself so I sold the bike. I regret it now. Was so easy to work on.
@@GreaseAndGravel thats awsome.the suzuki C-50T first came out here in the 2005, and was a fuel injected version of the Volusia. It was 823cc. In 2005. It was unbelievably roomy, and very agile yet economical though slow with a top speed of 110 mph when it was low mileage but before it was parked onna good day I couldn't get it over 90mph. The fuel injectors are no longer available here but if you find new old stock they are $165 each. Then there are three little electrical boxes on the throttle body that are $120 or more each. Mine started running rich and would not 8dle, and there are no way to test those little boxes. Timing chains had issues with thembstretching way to early in life and I replaced mine at 5,0000 miles
.. probably should have done it much earlier like at 20,000. Lol. I added some lowers to the bottom of the windshield and that took a lot of the wind the blew your helmet up and gave you neck fatigue and soreness. I added a 2in block to the handle bar risers, a c4ash bar engine guard and some hiway foot pegs to the outside of it, a LED head light bulb, and a drivers back rest and a throttle lock. It felt like riding a lazyboy recliner you would see in a fancy mansion down the hiway. I am a solide 6 ft 2 in. And weighed 330 lbs at one point and it rode incredibly comfortable and smooth and I put it through a lot with the dirt roads and some times had to take it up steep hills through the grass yards to het out of the parjlking lot at a few bars I visited. I gave up drinking but we still had cook outs and rides for charity and such. I dtill have the bike in my back yard and it is still repairable, so i may end up getting a professional to help find the issue and start riding it again.
The only strange issue I really ever had is when I tried to use full synthetic motor oil, it seemed to vanished into thin air. I used the cheapest valvoline made for atvs, and used maybe 1/4 of a quart in 5,000, if I rode it gard at higher speeds right up till the day I parked it. The reason I really parked was the starter had a bad spot where it would not work some times.. about once every 3 years it would hit that spot, but rocking it in gear seemed to fix it and it would not idle. I have a new throttle and new clutch kit for it. And I would like to get another 25,000 miles on it, before considering going in to the engine, doung anything to it. .. lol. I might find myself talking me out of selling it. Lol.
It's so cool to have owned the same bike for that long and getting to know it so well... Very interesting about the synthetic oil. I use mineral in my GS too... even though there are mixed advice on the topic@@hearsejr
@@GreaseAndGravel kewl. I want to find out as much as I can about the Chinese 200cc bike. It reminds me of the bikes from 1970s and I had more fun in those days on those bikes then anyone should have. Lol. If you get a chance, take a Suzuki C-50T out for a test ride. It's so hard to belive its not a real big bike not heavy or super powerful, but it's unbelievable how roomy and comfortable and smooth riding it is. Lol.
I got to watch your video again... I want to see if I missed something.. hahaha.
@@GreaseAndGravel looks as if his engine was totally worn out, large gaps in the rings. Then fill in this very thin synth oil and it goes out like water steam while it is still cold. Better is to use such oils since the engine is new. I used that in a 1.6l 16V Opel engine, because I knew I would drive like a motorbike on the the road, always pedal down. (In the previous car I drove only cheap oil, and one day on a motorway I got nearly Piston seizure while pedal down, the engine stopped turning, I rolled along without engine and put in gear four to break it loose again, phew... That was a lesson) I changed original oil after just 100 km, incl filter, with mineral oil, just to flush out all debris from manufacturing. Then drove another 1000 km on mineral oil as per manual, medium power and light running the engine in.
From then on Castrol RS 5-40. That was an expensive stuff, about 5 times of cheap oil back then. But it was worth it. I increased the oil change interval to all 20000 km, I am sure it could have been even longer, because the oil wasn't looking bad then, much longer than the normal recommended oil changes. 160000 km later the engine had not one single seal even moist outside, when looking into the filler cap above the camshaft most engines much younger have lines on them from wear, my engine nothing at all, like new. The engine run after this long time actually better than just after the first 10000 km, it took just a while to run in fully with synth oil. There was also never any sludge under the filler cap, and no dirt on the spark plugs. And the cat still fine to the surprise of the TÜV people, they confirmed, must be because of the good oil. From the point of wear this engine could have last many times more what it did: The car got scrapped due to rust, 16 years old. The area I drove was harsh, from minus 20 in winter to plus 30 Celsius in summer, pedal down (a set of brakes and disks every year). Same oil. Kicks easy due to thin in winter, and is thick when it gets hot. Another point: This oils sticks to the metal. Even when not using the engine for long, that oil is still sticking everywhere, while normal mineral oil is long drained down and the surfaces can even corrode from air moisture. Unfortunately, that Castrol RS oil is likely not in the shelves in Africa ... and not really suitable for this local ultra high mileage old worn out tokunba engines there. But someone there buying a new engine, with synthetic oil they would last 3 times longer in the heat... But never top up then with mineral oil, that degrades the synth oil to a cheap oil.
My dad own a rusi 110. It lasted for 10 years lol. Unfortunately the engine already gave up
From my experience with small cc chinese bikes, they're actually pretty reliable, as long as you don't abuse the hell out of it. Only issue is sourcing their spare parts depending on where you live
Yes, I agree! We changed the oil every 2000km (and initially after 20km). Adjusted the chain every 500km. It did a great job even on dirt roads. Luckily parts are freely available in Africa :)
IN china we call this kind easy fixable advangtage as：滥大街！（IT mease:a thing is just so common that you can see it everywhere! ）😀
What you describe is that the bikes did really good for the circumstances. However, I would not give Chinese too much Kudos. Those are copies of Japanese engines, mostly the Honda World engine that is really reliable, simple and easy to maintain. I had one. I bought it when I started to ride motorcycles to see if there's something I really wanted/was able to do. I upgraded really fast from there. Not good for the US, does not have enough speed. It had 900 miles when I sold it. The first thing I did on it I changed the chain and the front sprocket with Japanese parts. Yes, the availability of cheap parts is an issue some parts of the world so you're better off riding on this type of bike if you want to keep moving.
I 100% agree with you, these really are great thanks to the Japanese who designed them. The Chinese just made them cheap. I can imagine in the US parts are a problem, but here in Africa where the Chinese are taking over everything, parts are freely available. A whole lot of surrounding issues which is not motorcycle related, I know... but as a motorcycle, I was very impressed with these specific ones. If we had cheap bikes like this when I was in school, I would have been over the moon
Rarely understood is that most major projects in China are and were supervised by well paid foreign experts, just like Bob Hall and the engineers that led the teams in teaching zero defect at Mazda in Japan.
So the asian machines are being made to good standards currently, and the replacement parts are cheap.
Still have my jianshe js 125 6b
I just Googled it and we had similar looking bikes here, just branded differently.
I ride a Honda NC750XD road and gravel only bike and I am thinking about the Big Boy TSR250 as my next bike, but I am keeping the honda.
Would be very keen to hear what you think. If I had to do this trip again now, I think the TSR would be top of my list. A new Honda XR190 is almost R80k now!
Whis name or company Ist this Chines bike?🌙
Dirty fuel is not a motorcycle mechanical fault, it is a petrol company or petrol station fault. Fuel supplied must be free of faults and fuel filters kept clean. A mechanic damaging a carburettor when repairing, most likely on the side of the road with limited tools, no spares and no repair manual, is not a manufacturer made fault. All faults, including the globe failures could be related to riding on badly made and un maintained unsealed roads. Brakes jammed with mud, puncture, bad roads. Maybe grit would cause excessive wear on the chain and sprocket. Nonetheless, it is interesting the problems you are experiencing.
Yeah, the problems weren't the bikes' fault and also weren't serious. I was very surprised. The dirty fuel came from old cooking oil cans in the middle of nowhere. Commonplace in Africa :)
Hero.
This is exactly why Chinese bikes are great!
Yeah, I'd buy one again!
nice adventure. Could you add the type of bike in your text, pls. as this is not mentioned.
Hi Jacques, thanks! It is a Dayun from China. In SA they were branded as Motomia. But the company doesn't import them anymore. Cost R10 000 new in 2011.
you should have brought a honda 125 5 gear transmission from pakistan and forgot about any issues at all
It seems that the bikes themselves are reliable, it was the environment that you rode in that seems to have been what was the factors, bad gas, muddy roads, stone punctures, ditr and grit. Any bike in those conditions are subject to those same things.
Chinese motorcycles aren't a bad option at all if you are mechanically oriented, bascically they all use the same Honda CG knock off engine, you can find parts for those almost in every country around the world or even better you can get a new complete engine and swap it if the old one gets destroyed, i own a honda but had at least 3 chinese ones before nor mayor problems, loctite is your friend appy it to every bolt
Totally! The fact that you can get parts for cheap anywhere is a major advantage and make travel much less stressful.
The engines are bulletproof butnyou have to be checking the bolts constantly.
All vehicles have flats they do not count as a breakdown!!! And most of the others were related to the driver not knowing what he's doing!!! I have put over a hundred thousand kilometers on it with no breakdowns except for the normal wear and tear replacements parts !
Totally... if these riders (us) were more experienced, the bikes would have done even better. But they did great despite our carelessness.
Any opinion on Indian made bikes like for instance, Hero & Royal Enfield?
They're not quite as cheap as the Chinese bikes tho...
I don't have any experience with the Indian brands, but I suspect they'll be just fine too. Lots of them all over Africa...but more the Japanese copies instead of the Royal Enfield
@@GreaseAndGravel thank you for your reply.
I discovered your channel about a month ago & it's been a great source of information, inspiration & entertainment.
It's good to see such a good local channel.
Keep up the good work
Btw, I'm a 1st time KLR owner of a pretty nice 2005 model...
Hope to meet you out on a ride somewhere, sometime 👊🏼
@@GreaseAndGravel Indian motorcycles do not copy any Japanese motorcycles. Indian brands have their own R&D. However, you can find many similarities between Indian and Japanese motorcycles in terms of their design and engine configuration. Because years ago most of the Indian brands were working as a single company along with the Japanese brands. Like Hero with Honda, Bajaj with Kawasaki, TVS with Suzuki... it's just that both groups use the same design, engine, and motorcycles that they made when they were together.
I have a honda 750 nighthawk. Now that is a dependable bike.
They are still more reliable than BMW motorcycles.
yes, I'd trust these Chinese bikes way more than a BMW through Africa
just came back from China this morning. most Chinese use their bikes as their daily transportation and even to carry goods in a commercial setting. these bikes are exposed to hard conditions and seem reliable with high mileage on the meter. It's laughable to hear Harley riders speaking negatively about those work horses.
The rider plays a bigger role in the longevity of the bike. I would not want to ride a Harley from Cape Town to Cairo. Wait, I would.. but I’d worry far more than on a Chinese bike
I fiks my honda xr with parts from aliexpress and it always works fine,started because original nowhere to find eny more
Exactly! I also couldn't find OEM parts for my XR650L locally, despite them still being sold new in the US.
Liked this story
Thank you
Carry in line fuel filter's and replace them often always,... their cheap.
Yep, I don't start a bike without one these days
I have a friend (USA) who bought one. It lasted 4 months. Now he can't get the part to fix it. I'll stick with the Japanese bikes.
That sucks. The bikes we used went bankrupt here in SA which is a pity. I would have bought one again.
@@GreaseAndGravel Thanks for the reply. I admire the adventurous spirit. Stay safe and strong.
@@corujariousa Thank you! Same to you!
很好
When you buy a Chinese Cabbage bike (farmer bike 125 to 250cc) you should do all bolts re tighten with medium loctite, replace the chain with a good one, check all cables for contacts and stress. That done, they are lasting with regular maintenance. The higher value bikes, like CFMoto, Kove, Benda, Benelli etc. have a good quality nowadays. We ride them a lot now in China.
totally! we replaced the chain with a Japanese chain and carried bulbs etc. The locktite on the bolts is a good idea (did that to my Gen1 KLR).