Disposable bike.

[recman]

So I'm just locking my bike up at work today and a bloke rolls up on one of these.
https://i252.photobucket.com/albums/hh10/torty_2008/KGrHqFHJB8FCEbR52ziBQo2dB7dw60_57_zpsroyg7giw.jpg

Usually he's either on his Pan or his old C90. Naturally, I ask him what was he thinking.
He said he couldn't resist it. Saw it on ebay for £500, 64 plate with about 4 miles on the clock! The journey into work had more than doubled the mileage. I could even smell the exhaust paint.
Apparently, someone had bought it new, ridden it and come off. Bent bars (ebay £20) and some small scratches on the brake lever.

It's not in any way, shape or form my cup of tea but I had to respect the bloke, he looks after his bikes, as he will this one but if it works out to be a shitter, he'll just bin it.

[Tungtvann]

Let's see what his miles/£ turns out to be before it dies! Or most likely, £/mile.

One of the guys I work with bought a brand new POS Chinese 125, it's now stood in the car park, completely unmoved for a couple of months now because it kept breaking down. Doubt he got more than 500 miles out of it.

[Pigeon]

That particular model is fairly bullet proof....ish.

Rust can take hold if not cleaned and the side stand cutout swtich doesn't much like getting wet, so many owners just remove/bypass it.

Can't be too shabby, Mr Borg had one for a good while, in the desolate north. Both survived to tell the tale.

[recman]

[NJD]

I own an arrow as opposed to the very similar vixen however would advise the new owner to replace the spark plug and cap for NGK as well as (if it has a sidestand) disabling / bypassing (as mentioned above), they're positioned on the outside (open to the elements) of the sidestand and therefore plays havoc when riding along roads that are anything but bone dry.

Might be worth having all work done to the bike services etc by the owner as opposed to a garage as the service schedule (if it's anything like the vixen/arrow) is close together until about 4000km.

Cheap to insure, cheap to repair, parts always available, can be ridden through winter (with preventive maintenance and good cleaning schedule), I'd personally recommend these bikes to run around endlessly in the rain and winter months while the pride and joy sits in the garage stored away, I rode mine throughout winter and it came out the other side without any issues (well, apart from the owner forgetting to use the ACF-50 on the clutch) .

As long as it's not speed your after then these bikes do everything anyone could ever ask

[Rogerborg]

Ah, bless, the 'Firebird'. Yup, strong owner community and great parts support (Lexmoto Vixen).

https://www.huoniao-owners.co.uk/forum/
https://www.chinesemotorcyclepartsonline.co.uk/bikes_HT125-8%28Lexmoto%29.php

Materials quality can be a bit hit and miss as with any cheap bike made East of Suez, but I'd bet on that over a CBF or Duke 125. ACF-50 early and often, of course.

Things to watch out for are the RHS brake hangar cracking where the rear brake pedal goes through it, and the sidestand switch. Follow the cabling - there is (or used to be) a connector block right underneath the bike, in a prime position to corrode. Wrap, grease or just remove the switch if not potato.

Go up 1 or 2 teeth on the front sprocket when the chain has stretched enough to take it, enjoy.
____________________
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

[1198]

I have one, my other half has one. I paid £100 for my 11 plate, hers £350 on a 61. They're cheap, reasonably reliable bikes, just not particularly 'cool' which bothers me not one jot.
They need a tad more maintenance than a Japanese 125, but that's simple enough to do at home. I'm not sure why but some insurers regard them with suspicion too, mine cost more to add on to my policy than the Monster, yet a few insurers are cheap enough (specialists in Chinese imports).
When you take in the cost of tyres, fuel, servicing and wear and tear on your chums Pan I suspect that if he keeps his Huoniao for a year or two he will easily have made his £500 back.
There's also a strange pleasure about tootling everywhere slowly...

[1198]

[Rogerborg]

[Northern Monkey]

How many miles did you do on yours rb?
____________________
Fisty: after polishing the tank with the glistenng beads of sweat from my full hot scrotum, I filled the headrace bearings with 10cc of my manmilk

[Rogerborg]

It wasn't quite up to 10,000 km so about about 6,000 miles.

Not a huge amount by any means, but ridden in all weathers for 3 years. Garaged, ACF-50, and well maintained.

Bar a blown indicator bulb (OH NOES CHINKY CRAP!!!!¬!) nothing went wrong that I didn't inflict on it myself. The tyres were barely worn. 1st MOT was no advisories with no preparation, swapped it away the same week.

I would probably have another just for giggles as it was such a jolly thing to ride within the limitations of a 10hp pushrod 125. I get similar grins from the Enfield, but with the torque and sound that I always wished the HN had had.
____________________
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

[stevo as b4]

TBH anyone who scores a practically new 125 for £500 is a real hero IMO. I bet if just used to ride to work and it's looked after unlike most 125's it'll make 20'000mile at least and last a few seasons.

If it did the above, then the owner should be laughing his cock off anyway with his cheat to the system of buying and losing money on bikes.

[deeds]

[Brendan110_0]

I had the Haotian Vixen for 4 years (bought for £500), side stand switch was a problem so took it off and re-routed under seat. Problem free for the 4 years then sold for £480! Rust needs taking care of though, really put me off getting a motorbike with chrome lol
____________________
sreeB fo gniK

[Rogerborg]

ACF-50 worked a treat for me. The only thing that had any patina after 3 years was the rear brake rod.

I've seen a couple with fooked forks so I'd suggest fitting fork gaiters, but I'd do that on any bike now. Can't understand why they're not standard, other than fashion victimhood.
____________________
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

[Tbag]

remember that usually wrong had one of these, anyone remember how fucked up and gay he made it? lol

[Rogerborg]

[talkToTheHat]

The blue sun highvis suits this thread...
____________________
Bandit. does. everything.

[Rogerborg]