Chinese... crap bikes good food?

[chesterfield8...]

hi, im new and looking at getting a 125... iv checked bike trader, ebay, gumtree and iv seen some i like (jap cruisers mainly) and they dont cost the earth... but adds for Chinese 125's keep cropping up, they usually look good and cost the same brand new as a secondhand jap bike... iv assumed thats because the Chinese bikes are just cheap copies and fall to bits quickly?
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ride it till the wheels come off

[kerr]

to keep it short and sweet, generally yes there shit.
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aprilia 125 Af1 Futura >> Suzuki gsxr 600 srad >> J1 zx6r >> cbr 600rr >> Speed Triple

[Dazbo666]

[Rogerborg]

I wouldn't recommend one, but the ones that I wouldn't warn you away from either are the Dihao bikes, sold in the UK as the Lexmoto Arrow and Vixen, Haotian HT125-8 and Huoniao HN125-8 and HN125-4F.

However, don't buy new if you avoid it, as you'll immediately lose hundreds in depreciation. A used Japanese 125 will hold its value much better.

If you do see one that you're specifically interested in, let us know and we can scream "NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOooooooo!" or "Meh" as circumstances dictate.
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Biking is 1/20th as dangerous as horse riding.
GONE: HN125-8, LF-250B, GPz 305, GPZ 500S, Burgman 400 // RIDING: F650GS (800 twin), Royal Enfield Bullet Electra 500 AVL, Ninja 250R because racebike

[chesterfield8...]

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201132410057640/sort/priceasc/usedbikes/cc-to/125cc/cc-from/125cc/body-type/custom_cruiser/page/1/postcode/s417dx/radius/40?logcode=p

this one i assumed to be crap... and considering the other bike, over priced.

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201135413248345/sort/priceasc/usedbikes/cc-to/125cc/cc-from/125cc/body-type/custom_cruiser/page/1/postcode/s417dx/radius/40?logcode=p

for an extra 400, great looking and jap reliability....

these are the two im most interested in but the Chinese bike is pretty representative of look and cost.
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ride it till the wheels come off

[Quornholio]

Jialing JH125L. Copy of a 70's XL125, drum brake front and rear, but all consumables available from Wemoto, cheap as chips. Most reliable bike I've had, that includes my Bandit 600.

The only trouble I had was a failed flasher relay (available from Wemoto for buttons, because water can get in. Easily solved with a bit of thought), and had to paint the exhaust with hammerite because the front pipe rusted. No problem though, about 15 minutes every 6 weeks or so.

[Rogerborg]

Jinluns can be OK. Many (not all) of their owners like them, parts are easily available and insurance shouldn't be a problem. The parallel twin engine (cloned from the CM125 engine, IIRC) is surprisingly refined if you get a good 'un. If you're determined to get a cruiser, then that's probably the least bad Chinese-branded choice.

The chrome needs a lot of looking after though, and they are heavy and slow. That one looks great, but slap some L plates on it and all the pose factor will take a hammering.

The Intruder will be a better bike, but I think that price is hilariously optimistic for a 9 year example being sold in October. You can get a 1 year old CBF for that money!

The usual advice applies: YBR, CG, CBF or similar commuter, pass your test, get access to a much wider range of bikes.
____________________
Biking is 1/20th as dangerous as horse riding.
GONE: HN125-8, LF-250B, GPz 305, GPZ 500S, Burgman 400 // RIDING: F650GS (800 twin), Royal Enfield Bullet Electra 500 AVL, Ninja 250R because racebike

[Andy_Pagin]

Chinese bikes - water soluble, bolts snap, levers snap, wiring melts.

Apparently cruisers don't make great learners (according to other posters here), YBR 125 is generally considered the best all round learner bike.
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They're coming to take me away, ho-ho, hee-hee, ha-haaa, hey-hey,
the men in white coats are coming to take me away.
Yamaha Vity -> YBR125 -> FZS600 Fazer -> FZ1-S Fazer

[Quornholio]

I did my test on the Jialing (Before the mod 1/mod 2), and it managed fine. I don't know about now though. It wasn't the quickest bike in the world.