Chinese built YBRs

[ToddUnctuous]

Are they really as crap as some people say?

Why would a company like Yamaha stake it's reputation on shoddy builds? Surely the quality control in these Chinese plants would be carried out by Japs who are under strict orders to keep things tickedy-boo.

I'm interested to gather some opinions on this from people in the know.

Ta in advance.

[Polarbear]

No they aren't. They are built with Japanese quality control and have the Yamaha network behind them.

The almost identical machines that come out of that factory with a Chinese badge don't.
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Triumph Trophy Launch Edition

[davebike]

From what I seen
Quite well built certainly much better than the Chinese makes I seen
Yamaha quality control Yamaha back up

Don't know about Yamaha but Honda have been building bike in 30+ countries world wide since the 1980's all appear to be very similar reliability wise

in my view the Main issue with Chinese makes is often the Importers no back up no data no easy source of parts
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Dave
NC750Xdct + others at work !
[email protected]

[Rogerborg]

[Evil Hans]

[Polarbear]

[WD Forte]

Just cos somethings built in China doesn't mean its got the bad aids
Many companies use the cheap labour of china for production
its the quality and standards used that matters.
Who remembers jap crap?
Of course there have been some cheap shit shockers but I reckon those were built to a price rather than a standard
and as western companies inject better standards, the quality will rise.
Your phones tablets and PC and many other devices were probably made in China.

You may still want avoid the self assembly Happy Kitty 50 for £499 OTR type bikes though
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bikers smell of wee

[Rogerborg]

[Evil Hans]

I *think* it's a different caliper - the pads seem about twice the size - but don't hold me to it.
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Triumph Sprint ST 1050. And it's Red.

[Val]

The way I see it Chinese factories can produce quality items.

Pretty sure they have ISO certified motorcycle factories there.

Why I pefer Yamaha 125s over Chinese brand 125s. Three reasons:

1. Because Yamaha has bigger market share in the UK hence it is better known, because it is better known it is scrutinsed and tested more.

For example Huoniao which is one of quality Chinese brands has sold only 853:

https://www.howmanyleft.co.uk/vehicle/huoniao_hn_125-8

Compared to more than 14 000 YBRs:

https://www.howmanyleft.co.uk/family/yamaha_ybr_125

AJS JS 125 has sold 600 only:

https://www.howmanyleft.co.uk/family/ajs_js_125

If you produce more the same thing longer time you do it better.

2. Sale preparation and service. The Chinese ones look to me as Russian roulette. You may be lucky or not. Not all guys buying can do that themself. You buy Yamaha and you do not need too be a mechanic they will do for you bike preparation and pre-sale service. You buy Chinese which may be brilliant bike, BUT the seller will hand it to you and the bike may fail because of say lack of enough oil or something simple as chain or brakes adjustment.

3. YBR is more expensive - the price reflects quality of work in it including more expensive materials.

Theoretically you may have cheaper product with better quality. In practice 125 market is so fierce and most manufacturer has already cut materials used to bare minimum. You go under this minimum only if you put lower quality cheaper materials. Like levers made of cheese for example

I would love to see reliability statistics that can prove my assumptions. Unfortunately there is no one available yet.

We need to rely on common sense

If it seems too good to be true, it probably is...
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Adrian Monk: Unless I'm wrong, which, you know, I'm not...
Yamaha Fazer FZS 600, MT09, XSR 900

[Rogerborg]

[wodge]

Is the difference between real YBR's and "fake" YBR longevity and reliability also due to the target market????

A Yamaha YBR is more likely to go to someone who looks after it, protects it with a cover and ACF50, changes the oil and takes it to be serviced at the dealer because it cost them a lot.

A rebranded bike (AJS etc) may go to someone who wants cheap transport and treats it as a disposable tool that is more convenient than the bus or an impoverished student or a clueless teen. Oil changes on an yearly basis and minimal maintenance will leave any vehicle knackered after a few years.

How many Million (or Billion) motorcycles have the Chinese built now, they must have some idea what works and sells?
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nolidge iz pouwur.
Yamaha RXS100 RS100

[Pigeon]

From the yamaha ybr spares I bought for the AJS, I reckon the frame and engine casings are exactly the same, off the same production line. In fact, if I remember, the frame numbers are stamped the same, they are just sequentially different.
You could buy the ybr 4 clutch plate kit to fit the AJS.

The YBR150 big bore kit was a straight swap for the AJS. I wish I'd given it a go for the sake of £50.

The wiring loom, most of the switchgear, the brakes, the wheels, the carb. All different.

That was one thing that did annoy me at the time, AJS did not do a brake caliper servicing kit. Very annoying.

I can't remember exactly, but I think I did 17k miles (a lot at 10k rpm) and dropped the bike at 15-20mph once.
I think the only thing that went wrong in 3 years was the flasher relay.....but on reflection, it may have been a bulb about to go because I think I did have to replace an indicator bulb a little while later.
Anyway, whatever, I spent many weekends doing 250 miles in a day on it and it never broke down.
As far as I know (I sometimes pass his house), the lad who bought it is still using it.

[Alpineandy]

[lihp]

[Rogerborg]

[Alpineandy]

[pdg]

[Alpineandy]

[quote="pdg"]