Consensus on the Brit/Chinese AJS bikes?

[Teflon-Mike]

OK. First up, that AJS is NOT, repeat NOT the 'usual' generic rebadged, sold through loop-hole Chinky bike.

They are sold, built up, ready to ride and registered as a road bike, NOT a kit of parts and some dodgy paperwork.

NEXT, it is NOT a Clone or Copy or assembled from copy parts. There IS some AJS engineering in that thing.

'Regal' are the holding company that own the AJS and BSA marketing rights, and they have been making bikes since the original British manufacturers were wound up in the 1970's; They are a design house, then sub-contract out assembly. They are NOT a lot different to Aprillia in that respect..... And they have been making bikes built around proprietry engines like the BSA Tracker, essentially a Yamaha DT175, or the Yamaha SR500 based 'Gold-Star', for many years.

Now; THAT particular bike, uses an engine, 'based' on the old Honda 'Benley' twin.... BUT.... brought up to date with water cooling, and I'm not sure if it has fuel injection.

Its a particularly low rent re-engineering excersize using as much original benley tooling as possible; so it has its own head, barels and a primary drive cover adapted to accomodate a water impellor driven off the oil pump pinion.

I have looked carefully at these things; becouse Snowie had the previouse Regal-AJS 'Raptor' DD125 Raptor, with teh air-cooled engine that WAS pretty much a bolt for bolt Honda CM125 Rebel clone made by Lifan.... this is NOT. And I pondered the potential of that water-cooling conversion.... for a 'silly-super-dream'.... but anyway, thats another matter!

As other post TRYING to give the Chinks a Chance.....

As said; its NOT a sold through loop-hole piece of junk, 'kit-bike' it is a propper brand name motorcycle; coming from a company that has been subbing out built to thier design for fifty years; and chunks of that bike ARE thier own design, not outdated generic sub-assemblies.

If it wore an Aprillia Badge, it probably wouldn't even be being questioned....

However; unlike Aprilia that has a reasonable after market support network.... Regal does not!

And from experience with Snowie's Cruiser... while they have TRIED to do more than your typical Chinky-Bike supplier... no.. I think even KTM has managed to give thier re-badged Chinks better back-up!

AND, unlike the generic copies, where you CAN make educated guesses about what bits will fit and buy of e-bay.... these you cant!

AJS have tried to avoid the lower spec parts of the generic brand bikes, so when you go to try get a chain or something.... its actually NOT the same guage as a Honda Shaddow or Skyjet's Rebel clone! AND they have thier own engine 'bits' in there so if you DO need a rebore or a new valve... generic Lifan Benley barels wont fit!

HOWEVER! Experience with Snowie's bike was that SURPRISINGLY it was rather well built. It was dog slow, but then the Genuine Honda Rebel wasn't exactly spritely! And this wasd heavier and lower powered. BUT still managed to top out at about 55, nudging a bit over, compared to the 60 of the real Rebel.

And it was remarkeably reliable; Snowie bought hers at three years old for a pittance; £400.... take note the depreciation is horendouse. This was a good little bike, fist MOT 'breezed' and it fetched less than 1/3 of its original OTR price 2nd hand.

But for two years, it started on the button; even after month or more long lay-up. It chuffed along... slowly, but drinking miniscule amounts of fuel.

Only 'Problem' she had was trying to find a replacement chain & sprockets.. no one listed spares in the catalogues; and AJS's web-site was a waste of time, listing only new bikes, and after market accessories.

But a little nouse and two trips to independent spares outlet, sorted that.

Demanded a carburetor clean and a new set of spark plugs, and the tappets adjusted to boost the performance by 5mph, when it was getting a bit wheezy, which brought iot back up to that 'almost' 60mph capability'.

For a 'Chinky'.. I have to admit, I was 'almost' impressed. And I DID actually like the little thing, and it was certainly cheap commuting for Snowie for almost two years.

WOULD I BUY ONE..... well, as a cheap hack at three years old, with that big hit of depreciation taken, then YES I think I would... £5-600? Run it for a couple of years could afford to chuck it away.

Spares availability may be worry some; but apart from the AJS derivative engine, most stuff could be sourced, with a little hunting, and need not cause major headaches, and if the engine went 'bump' well at that money you chuck the bike away.

BRAND NEW... well, pretty much as 2nd hand. again, if anything like Snowie's Cruiser, suggestion is ought not need much attension, and where it may, with a little nouse and know how, parts can be found. And engine ought not be an issue for a long while.

The depreciation though would be a niggle; so brand new it would have to be a long term keeper, not a two year learner & test tool.

So really a matter of price..... £2000? That is, probably just a bit TOO much for it to be worth the 'hassle'. of living with something out of the main-stream, for me.....

Another £500 and you could have a YBR. Two years in that would still be worth maybe £1500, so cost a grand in depreciation, same time on the AJS, would probably see it's value fall to around £6-700 tops. So cost an extra £300ish, for the initial £500 saving. And probably be harder to sell on.

But it Is a more stylish bike than the YBR, and possibly a tad more pokey.

Specs claim its Euro 3 emmissions complient and can do 75mpg, suggesting its in a slightly higher state of tune than the air-cooled YBR, and might be punting out 12/13bhp ish.

We are always grumbling about chinky quality... and here we have a British Company trying to do something about it.....

I would LIKE to give them the benefit of the doubt, and see them make a go of it.

There's swings and roundabouts in there; but the main 'niggles' are that it is out of the mainstream, and lacks mainstream dealer suppport... AT THE MOMENT.

Unless people buy these things, then they wont expand the brand and be able to offer the dealer support....

And; £2K.... Yes the YBR is the 'safe' option; it would make a real steal second hand buy; BUT, practically... Brand New, it's £500 cheaper than a lesser spec, lesser style rival.... and over two years, the big depreciation difference is 'Only' a couple of hundred quid... a pittance compared to what you are likely to spend on fuel... while the reliability COULD be as good as the ALSO Chinese built under licence Yamaha... certainly was on Snowie's...

And its a BRITISH company trying to forge ahead, and not simply using redundant Jap designs, BUT evolving thier own NEW designs...

In seven years they have gone from using the 'redundant' licence built Honda engine, to thier own evolution design based on it... IF we support them, they will have the cause to go further, and in another seven years, have the Chinks building completely NEW bristish designed engines, and cycle parts, and motorcycles with a 'whole' independent identity....

Its a step out of the mainstream; YES its a Chinky, bit not a completely crap one... price wise its NOT out of the ball-park, risk wise its not out of teh ball-park...

No its not the least risky bike to buy... but we dont ride bikes if we are risk averse....

I would LIKE to say, YES... if you like it; know what you are getting, It may NOT be all THAT bad, and COULD be quite 'good'.

Snowies Regal-AJS Raptor certainly was pretty 'OK', and I DID actually 'like' it. And I think given a chance this could too.
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My Webby'Tef's-tQ, loads of stuff about my bikes, my Land-Rovers, and the stuff I do with them!
Current Bikes:'Honda VF1000F' ;'CB750F2N' ;'CB125TD ( 6 3 of em!)'; 'Montesa Cota 248'. Learner FAQ's:= 'U want to Ride a Motorbike! Where Do U start?'

[Babba]

[Rogerborg]

Do please bear in mind that what Tef just spewed about most Chinese bikes being sold as dodgy kits is 20th century apocrypha. I can't think of any current supplier who's selling 125+ bikes as anything other than Euro 3 compliant vehicles with all the proper paperwork.

However, if you want to read an historical novella about how things used to be in the olden days, he's definitely the chap to go to.
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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

[Teflon-Mike]

Found some specs, providing the actual power of the thing 8.5Kw... just a tad off what the old air-cooled engine it was based on made in de-tuned Learner-Legal form This is 'progress' I guess!

https://www.ajsmotorcycles.co.uk/new_AJS/docs/main.htm

Mind; it's as much or more than a YBR/CBF, and ahead of the usual Chinky CG copy motor mill-grist.

[biker7]

I had a 2008 AJS Eos 125 (pre owned) Rode ok and looked the business. When I part exed it the dealer gave me a good price but had missed the cracked frame on inspection! I had no idea it was cracked and realise how lucky they did not either until it was theirs. So, unlike many of the above comments which are based on opinion - this is based on fact: AJS bikes may well be made from poor quality steel.....STAY CLEAR!!
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Swansea area
Fat Bob (2019)

[bLiXeY]

[Teflon-Mike]

[bLiXeY]

Again, know nothing about it, other than I'd probably feel very good riding it

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/ajs-14-csr-250-trials-bike-/330696239926?pt=UK_Motorcycles&hash=item4cff082b36

[Teflon-Mike]

[stevew]

Just been reading through this thread 'cos I'm interested. Reason is I have a 2006 AJS Regal Raptor 250 and have been using it for the last two years. Total mileage is still low at 11600 km but it has performed well without any real problems. I have come back to motorcycling at the age of 63 having had a 20 year break. The AJS is a bit like a 20 year old bike, it's not a modern bike by any way! It IS well made and the basic engineering looks sound to me but there are things that could be improved like the quality of the fixings/bolts and the chrome is not up to the best. Bit of a "brick sh1t house" but it does get to 70 mph as the spec says. Mind you all you need is a little hill and you are down to 60 in 4th gear (5 speed box).
Must say I didn't ever imagine myself riding a cruiser style bike but the price was right. Don't regret getting this style of bike but it's a different animal when it comes to slow handling. All that fork rake makes heavy going of U turns and the like!
I did notice mention of spares problems but that's not my experience. Got chain, sprockets, rack and luggage plus some smaller bits that I needed with no trouble at all from AJS here in the UK
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Maxsym 400i 2013, Sterling 125 2017, Honda Wave110i 2014,
Orpington
The opposite of bravery is not cowardice, but conformity. Robert Anthony

[ruck bodgers]

i wont say anything bad at all about a.j.s because i am english .
but anything that involves china i steer well away from anything at all .clothes ,plastics , bikes ,general produce ,exports of china .
And i wish everyone else would to

[Baisemontchou]

[stevew]

[Cuchulain]

This looks like a pretty good commuter for the money.

https://www.motorcyclenews.com/MCN/bikes-for-sale/searchresults/detail/AJS/REGAL-RAPTOR-DD350E/SPT-350/2012/_/R-NXGN-2228620
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CBT 15/6/2011 Theory Test Passed 6/2/2012 Module 1 Passed 11/6/2012
Module 2 Passed!!! 19/6/2012

[Rogerborg]

[DrDonnyBrago]

[stevew]

[tbourner]

I had an L400 Delica as well, was an awesome thing, went easily past 'modern' 4X4s that were stuck in the snow half way up a hill - although that may be 'modern' driver error more than anything

20mpg was the only reason I sold it.
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Trev, now a biker?
Looking for first big bike.

[joker7]

Hi,
You guy's seem to know about the AJS EOS, I have a frame ,it's a 125 MK1. I'm told a Honda 250 should just bolt in, but know one seems to know which engine variant. Have you guys any info that would be of help?

Cheers

[LustyLew]

https://jhkelly.files.wordpress.com/2010/03/elijah-on-his-knees-invoking-the-lord-to-resurrect-the-son-of-the-shunamite-widowcropped.jpg

Well, it is Halloween and all that...
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Like a Yorkie - I'm not for the girls

[The Shaggy D.A.]

Honda 250cc? I'm sure the RC166 will fit.

https://motoaus.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/08/features_six-cylinder_six-cylinder-engine-honda-rc166.jpg
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Chances are quite high you are not in my Monkeysphere, and I don't care about you. Don't take it personally.
Currently : Royal Enfield 350 Meteor
Previously : CB100N > CB250RS > XJ900F > GT550 > GPZ750R/1000RX > AJS M16 > R100RT > Bullet 500 > CB500 > LS650P > Bullet Electra X & YBR125 > Bullet 350 "Superstar" & YBR125 Custom > Royal Enfield Classic 500 Despatch Limited Edition (28 of 200) & CB Two-Fifty Nighthawk > ER5

[wr6133]

The same lump as in a Rebel.

[Kihot]

Has anyone recently bought AJS motorcycles? What is your model, equipment? How do you drive? I am attracted to everything up to the history of the logo https://motorcycle-logos.com/ajs-logo/, but I have not tried to ride such a one.

[Sister Sledge]

Definitely a Freaky Friday. Randoms appear attracted to this old thread..
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CCM 404 DS

[Polarbear]