The Chinese Are Coming, The Chinese Are Coming!  By  w650 (Read 4,810 times)

The low-end bike population IS dwindling... Bikes like the old Honda Rebel 250cc twin are few and far between. Even the 250cc scooter world is drying up. I've ridden most every big bike over the last half-century, and still consider my old 1968 Honda 305cc Super Hawk and Suzuki 250cc X6 Hustler among the most fun, most reliable and downright good rides I ever owned.

That new Honda 300cc Rebel is sweet. I'd prefer the 500cc version though, just because I like a twin. As w650 said, most riders don't keep a 250 forever. The 250 is often an entry-level gateway to the big bikes. However, today I think a lot of riders WOULD hang onto a good small bike with little interest in up-sizing... Just enjoy what they have for what it is.

Tastes and markets change, and not everyone buying a scooter or small motorcycle is looking to get into the big stuff. Some just want a good, affordable and reliable ride that gives great mileage and is affordable to insure... and maybe not so intimidating.

I learned to ride when I was twelve (not a lot of emphasis on having a driver's license back then) on a grade-school pal's rusty 1950 Harley "74" Duo-Glide with kick-start, manual choke and spark-advance and foot-clutch and hand-shift... The combination of 1200cc, kick-start and 900 pounds was more than a little "intimidating" for this chubby 12-year-old. I was a tad wobbly for the first few miles, but once I got it up to 70mph, I was hooked on bikes... Dang, I STILL dislike those old Hogs with foot-clutches... LOL!

All that said, there really should be some market for a no-frills 250-300cc basic ride for around $3K. Maybe not. I doubt if we'll see one any time soon... So... three cheers for the budget-priced USED stuff!

Just my two-cents...

Leo (still happy with my geriatric old 250) in Texas

PS: If you want to see some cool mods and parts on 250's (and bigger) google bluecollarbobbers.com

The old batteries are not a problem as the electric utilities and communications companies are snapping them up when they drop to below 60% capacity to use as backup power sources. Some have warehouses with racks full of the 400 volt batteries which can still hold 15 to 25 kWh. In some parts of Europe they are setting up carports/carparks with solar chargers and are using the rental fleets of electric cars to suppliment the power grid when its dark out. Single speed transmissions, no oil changes, regenerative braking provides most of the stopping power so there is very little brake dust being generated and unlike Tesla with their liquid cooled, off gassing, highly flammible batteries others are going air cooled sealed units that do not pose as high a health hazard. The Nissan batteries are made in Tennesee which has gone a long way in eliminating the issues from the problematic ones being made overseas.

Europe had to make some drastic changes this past decade as they had ignored air quality issues for too long. India and Asian Countries are facing even worse issues as they now need oxygen vending machines and filter masks in too many of their major cities so folks can somewhat cope with the poor air quality.

It is going to get interesting to see how it goes.

My electric car is trending at about 80 kWh a month for fuel which comes to about $10 for the electricity at out current utility rates however my employer is paying for that. With my diesel I was filling up twice a month at $30 a fillup and generating $10 of electricity creates far less polution than burning the $60 of diesel did so even though there is some pollution from generating the electricity it still has a smaller carbon footprint than an internal combustion engine powered vehicle. Performance is not comparable as the tourque of the electric just about blows everything else away running within the posted limits you can drive at on a city street.

Cool magazine Tom. I just wonder when somebody will start importing some of those 150 bike models. It would be the shot in the arm to bring Chinese bikes and scooters into the mainstream. The SYM Wolf is a cool machine but a cheaper online version would be fun to play with.

www.chinese-motorcycle.com/issue3/

On page 3 thee starts a story about Fuego motorcycles, a company waiting for their Euro 4 certificate in preparation to invading Europe. The CEO offers some insight as to why at least one company failed due to putting profit over quality and development. Someone in China is looking to the future.

For others curious . . EPA Certification Test Data.

Also interesting to review EPA Enforcement Case Resolutions (change the year in the URL).

www.epa.gov/enforcement/2015-clean-air-act-vehicle-and-engine-enforcement-case-resolutions

They do reflect WHY carb fuel bowls have "tamper resistant" fasteners, "sealed" low-speed mixture screws, and no adjustment grooves on the needle . . in addition to gas tank vapor emission systems.

Shhh!  Now "they" are going to come get you...