Whatever happened to Chinese crate bikes?

[symonh2000]

I am sure that many people here won't be too sad to see the back of them, but whtever happened to the £400-600 Crate bikes which you could buy from China and then assemble and register yourself?

My brother had a couple of them, he bought them put them together properly over the space of a few days, replaced the oil etc and then ran them for a few years before selling as spares or repairs and buying another. Some of them lasted a couple of years, one lasted 5 years and was still going when he sold it to fund a car.

It was good cheap transport for him whilst he was out of work.

As far as I can see they are no longer available, unless I am wrong on that score?

The cheapest Chinese bikes now seem to be £1000+ which IMO isn't cheap enough to take a punt on one.
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Four strokes is two strokes too many.

[Jmoan]

Emissions and ABS requirements would put up costs of the bikes or rule out the cheaper models for dealers.

If you want to buy 20 bikes at a time there's still the china wholesales.

[c_dug]

I built one for a friend way back in 2007/8, a POR Apache. Even back then I think his was more like £700 delivered.

BOE inflation calculator says that £700 in 2007 is basically a grand in 2021 money: https://www.bankofengland.co.uk/monetary-policy/inflation/inflation-calculator

That's not even accounting for the current massive inflation spike we're currently in.
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I am a bellend, I am a man of constant sorrow, I am a gummy bear, I am a rock.

[symonh2000]

Thanks guys. I seem to remember my dad buying a new Branson Cuba 50 for about £450 back in 2013. that still only works out at about £550 in today's money.

I wasn't thinking of buying one, just curious about why they are not seen now.

I don't think the quality has improved to justify the £1400 or so that similar models cost now.
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Four strokes is two strokes too many.