First Time Buyer Chinese 125cc Cruiser help

[WiseB34R]

Hi guys,
My name is Andrew, from Glasgow.
I am about to join the two-wheeled llifestyle, so need a bit of help choosing right bike.
Now before shitstorm starts about buying Chinese bike - I have weighed pros and cons of buying Chinese, I have my reasons, so please refrain from advising me preowned Japanese, thank you.
Models I'm considering are:
1) Lexmoto Ranger 125 2014
2) Sinnis Cruisestar 125 2014
3) WK 125 Cruiser 2014
4) Keeway Superlight Ltd 125 2014

i will be buying brand new. I have local dealer of these and service and parts are no problem. However must say that I am more between Lexmoto and Sinnis as they are considerably cheaper - £1500 instead of £2000 for WK and Keeway. So if you have experience with Chinese - please advise.
Thank you in advance.

[wr6133]

I had a pair of Jinluns (125 and 250). Looked after they were good, however you can't get them anymore and I'll bet the used ones that come up are abused.

If I was to buy one brand new I'd go with a Pioneer Nevada from here https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Pioneer-Nevada-125cc-Cruiser-XF125L-4B-Learner-Legal-Brand-New-/171697316234?pt=UK_Motorcycles&hash=item27f9f5218a
Reasons being, it has been around for ages without garnering masses of bad press (It was also sold once by lexmoto as the Torro). It has an active owners club with a very good knowledgebase. Spare parts are 2 a penny and cheap. Including delivery and registration (using their registration service for less hassle) you are looking at just over £1200 so it's cheaper than any of the others too.

I should add though just buy a lexmoto vixen for very cheap, the 125 cruiser is a waste of money.

[Ste]

[RhynoCZ]

Lifestyle?
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'87 Honda XBR 500, '96 Kawasaki ZX7R P1, '90 Honda CB-1, '88 Kawasaki GPz550, MZ 150 ETZ
'95 Mercedes-Benz w202 C200 CGI, '98 Mercedes-Benz w210 E200 Kompressor

[Baffler186]

Only general advice: Spray regularly with ACF50, check regularly for loose parts/fixings. Check small print of warranty etc, you may well need it, and be prepared for a struggle if parts need replacing.

other than that, look after it and don't leave it outside. I'd also go for the Lexmoto Vixen if you HAVE to buy new Chinese. Many on Bike Trader for £999, though deals in your area might not be as competitive. 50% extra money just for a cruiser style bike is a lot. when the Vixen will likely be as comfortable, a bit lighter and a bit more nimble.
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Current: 2009 SV650 S, 1990 Kawasaki GT550
Previous: 2009 CBF125, 1998 GSF600, 2004 FZ6 Fazer, 1978 CB400a Hondamatic

[Rogerborg]

Hi Andrew.

3rd vote for Lexmoto Vixen. It doesn't have the full assless chaps look and riding position, but the latter at least is a benefit. It's very easy to ride, simple to maintain, with an active owner community. The fact that it's also pretty much the cheapest bike that you can buy (£975 OTR) means that you've got less to lose.

I guess you'll be going to https://www.portman-motors.com ? Nothing specifically bad to say about them, just don't expect anything in the way of discounts or test rides. It's keys in return for money, take it or leave it.

Warranty is a mealy mouthed "1 year parts only", so regardless of the ultimate enforceability of that, I'd set your expectations of aftersales care accordingly. I doubt they expect or solicit much repeat business.
____________________
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

[wr6133]

[Rogerborg]

[wr6133]

[KnuckleShot]

Here is a site that is useful for buying parts for chinese bikes if something does go wrong - https://www.chinesemotorcyclepartsonline.co.uk/
I have a Vixen and to be honest they're not too bad when looked after.

[1198]

Ms 1198 and I have Huoniao 125s. They're slow but cheap, admittedly not particularly well built. However, I'd recommend a newish 2nd hand one. I paid £350 for one, the other was £100, neither over 2 1/2 years old. They run well enough, and as long as you don't expect Honda build quality I'd recommend one.
I'd compare them to a disposable razor as compared to a 4 blade Mach 4.
If you're in the North Shropshire area feel free to get in touch and have a look.

[Rogerborg]

[1198]

Just re-read the original post and noticed this bit

[BCCruiser]

[Rogerborg]

I went new because I wanted a bike that nobody else had fiddled with yet, and I went as cheap as possible to minimise the inevitable depreciation. That worked out for me, it could work out for OP even if he only keeps it until he hits 19.

He's gone a bit quiet, mind.

Andrew, the reasons I'd suggest not getting any of the cruisers that you listed are:

Weight. You're going to be getting something like 10 to 12 (optimistic) horses out of them, and losing a few on the way to the rear wheel. Every kg is going to count when going uphill.

Wheelbase and peg/exhaust height. Cruisers are trickier to manoeuvre. I nearly went into a hedge the first time I took my Lifan 250 round a roundabout.

Cost. The Ranger is £550 more than the Vixen. That's your insurance and gear right there. £2000 for the Keeway is getting into Japanese money.

Known quantities. There are loads of Vixens around, and they have only two common issues: a connector block for the sidestand switch placed right under the engine (grease or re-site it), and slightly suspect metal on the RHS exhaust hanger where the rear brake lever sits. I doubt that you'll find that information for any of the bikes on your list.

If you're determined to get one of them, then I'd wave a finger in the air and say "Lexmoto", just because it's a Lexmoto and therefore will have good parts supply. But then I'd wonder why you don't just get the Arizona instead.

Oh, something I've just noticed is that Portman's OTR charges are all over the place, from £72 to £125. You'll want to ask why there's a difference.
____________________
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

[BCCruiser]

I suppose that it would also depend on how long he plans to keep it and if he's planning on staying on a 125.

I've got an '03 Suzuki Marauder which was bought second hand off eBay. It was in very good condition and does the job perfectly. I'm now hankering for something bigger and faster but it has been good experience.

The bike cost £800 but also had a screen, panniers and roll on it. Being a 125 cruiser and not particularly fast to begin with I got rid of the screen and other accessories and flogged them to a mate who has a bigger cruiser, 535 Virago, which means it ended up costing me about £750. Half the price of £1500. Yes the bike isn't brand new but it looks great and more importantly is mechanically sound.

Looking to do my DAS sometime this year and then no doubt sell the Marauder for a nice chunk of cash towards a bigger bike.

Theory test is booked for 3 weeks time and after that I'll start saving for the DAS.

[kerr]

Just don't go to victor devine whatever you buy
Out of curiosity how long do you intend on keeping the bike? if your keeping it for a while a chinese bike would be as good as any pretty much, if your only using it for a short time to learn on or before you move on to a big bike bear in mind you can buy a second hand jap 125, use it, learn on it and sell it again in a year for pretty much the same money you paid for it, 125's always sell, a used chinese bike however will be worth next to nothing.
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aprilia 125 Af1 Futura >> Suzuki gsxr 600 srad >> J1 zx6r >> cbr 600rr >> Speed Triple

[savage1987]

Sorry if i am in the wrong place but i bought a second hand Lexmoto Ranger from a guy who didn't quite look after it. panels were chopped to look like a bobber.. anyway, i bought new parts for it ie: tail light, mudguard and under mudguard/number plate holder. now evrything seemed fine till i went to mount the tail light.. there is nowhere to mount it at all. i rang up chinesemotorcyclepartsonline and they couldn't find a part for it :s. does anyone else know where i can get this part?.. Thanks

[sorter]

Best thing to do would be to manufacture something that resembles the original part - considering how many variations you've got of these Chinese bikes, finding the right part might prove to be problematic, if you can get hold of the shape / sizes of original part, manufacturing it shouldn't be a problem. All small parts for them tend to cost £25, larger £50 and so on, I've had a Huoniao which was the same as Haotian and others and it seemed like it then...

[Kal]

I'd suggest searching on eBay for someone breaking that model
____________________
Kal...
I Like To Hoon It Hoon It I Like To Hoon It Hoon It I Like To Hoon It Hoon It Ya Like To (HOON IT!).
1984 GB250 Clubman,1983 CB250N Superdream, 1999 GPZ500S

[sorter]

Have a look directly on manufacturer's website - not sure if this is the exact same model, but I'd start here:

https://www.lexmoto.co.uk/partsbybike_ZS125-50.php

Failing that look for someone breaking one for spares and ask specifically for that part, most likely they wouldn't list it as a separate thing.