Chinese 125's

[Rikki]

Greetings foccers

A workmate is looking into getting one of these for a 20 mile a day commute. Anyone know anyone who has any experience of ownership? Any particular models that have racked up 10k+ miles and still going strong? He's never had a bike before & I'm doing my bit to promote motorcycling. Hopefully riding a horrible dog of a thing won't put him off but motivate him to take his test and move onto bigger and better things!

[darrsi]

Friend of a friend bought a brand new Chinese jobby, then promptly crashed it after 16 miles.
I tried to get him parts but it was a proper nightmare.
Personally I would buy something well known to be reliable that has an abundance of spare parts available, don't waste money on that crap, he'll regret it.

[Yamazer-92]

I had a 4 stroke 50cc Chinese Supermoto, I liked it but would I recommend one..... probably not. It was reliable for the most part, but in the first 50 miles went wrong quite a few times, mostly electrical woes involving the ignition. I bodged something from one of my dads old jap bikes and some waterproofing spray and it ran great after that in all weathers. But, bits started to fall off such as gear lever, rear rack, an indicator... All bolts were made of cheese, suspension was poor, it was heavy and had about 3 horsepower. The finish was appauling, I cleaned it often with WD 40 on most metal surfaces and washed it and it rusted before your eyes. The whole exhaust went, air filter housing, the engine started to corrode and discolour... It only broke down once though after those 50 miles (throttle cable snapped) and was my first bike so I loved it! Looked okay, stupidly bulky for the engine it had but it served its purpose. My parents kindly bought it for me brand new for £1100 and I sold it for £750 and gave that back to them. I did about 8500 miles I think.


The chain was worn, the nylon rear tyre was worn, the stanchions were rusting, the rear shock bearings were creaking, the front brake disc was warped and corroded.... But it ran like a trooper, especially compared to my mates 2 stroke Chinese 50cc which was absolutely pathetically slow and blew rust coloured gunk out the exhaust all the time. He de-restricted it and replaced the exhaust which had about 1/2 a litre of water in it and it blew up 2 days later. Was quite nippy for those 2 days though.


TLR - I would avoid personally, but if you have to look at the pulse adrenaline they seem to be alright for some people. I would just get a Jap built 125 though as they are far more reliable and easier to work on. Honda CG 125, Yamaha SR 125 or YBR 125, Suzuki GS 125 theres some examples. Korean bikes are slightly better than Chinese, Hyosung seem to be half decent. All of the above can be picked up second hand for the same as or less than a brand new Chinese 125. Never buy a 2nd hand Chinese bike....

[Andy FZS]

I'm interested in your comments as our youngest son is 17 this year and looking at getting a 125. I don't really want to spend a lot as a 125 is typically a stop gap. Eldest son had a trusty old cb125 twin which took some abuse. Youngest will obviously want a new yzf125 or something I just need to know what to guide him towards. Ok high jack over as you were. ..

[Deefer666]

It really depends on what brand it is, but most Chinese 125s are junk after 3-4 years.... They are cheap and they are cheap for a reason, most are poorly made shit but there are some good ones (only a few!)

On most bearings will fail quite quickly, various pivot points will oval out, plastics will crack the moment you look at them the wrong way, & anything chrome plated will peel like tinfoil and tarnish in no time.

[stevie-g1968]

my mates lad bought a Chinese trail type 125 new... what a piece of site it was.. all parts made of cheese, didn't go.. didn't handle and rotted away after one winter... think I was the worst bike I had ever ridden, and ive ridden some right shitters.

buy a used cg125.. bomb proof and go on for ever.

[darrsi]

I had a 4 stroke 50cc Chinese Supermoto, I liked it but would I recommend one..... probably not. It was reliable for the most part, but in the first 50 miles went wrong quite a few times, mostly electrical woes involving the ignition. I bodged something from one of my dads old jap bikes and some waterproofing spray and it ran great after that in all weathers. But, bits started to fall off such as gear lever, rear rack, an indicator... All bolts were made of cheese, suspension was poor, it was heavy and had about 3 horsepower. The finish was appauling, I cleaned it often with WD 40 on most metal surfaces and washed it and it rusted before your eyes. The whole exhaust went, air filter housing, the engine started to corrode and discolour... It only broke down once though after those 50 miles (throttle cable snapped) and was my first bike so I loved it! Looked okay, stupidly bulky for the engine it had but it served its purpose. My parents kindly bought it for me brand new for £1100 and I sold it for £750 and gave that back to them. I did about 8500 miles I think.


The chain was worn, the nylon rear tyre was worn, the stanchions were rusting, the rear shock bearings were creaking, the front brake disc was warped and corroded.... But it ran like a trooper, especially compared to my mates 2 stroke Chinese 50cc which was absolutely pathetically slow and blew rust coloured gunk out the exhaust all the time. He de-restricted it and replaced the exhaust which had about 1/2 a litre of water in it and it blew up 2 days later. Was quite nippy for those 2 days though.


TLR - I would avoid personally, but if you have to look at the pulse adrenaline they seem to be alright for some people. I would just get a Jap built 125 though as they are far more reliable and easier to work on. Honda CG 125, Yamaha SR 125 or YBR 125, Suzuki GS 125 theres some examples. Korean bikes are slightly better than Chinese, Hyosung seem to be half decent. All of the above can be picked up second hand for the same as or less than a brand new Chinese 125. Never buy a 2nd hand Chinese bike....

Apart from all that.......they're great.  :rollin :rollin :rollin

[Punkstig]

I think just these few posts say it all, they look decent but end up not being worth it- my mechanics will only change tyres on them and refuse to do anything else as they've had so many problems in the past!

[Rikki]

I'm fully aware that products from China tend to be made from biscuits, and a few years ago I wouldn't have given it a second thought but I've heard rumours that they have been getting better in recent years. I'm assuming a lot of people's experience dates back quite a bit so really looking for heads up on particular models that have been bought in the last couple of years.

A lot of the bikes seem to be replicas of Japanese ones where the patents have been bought (or stolen) from the Jap manufacturers. The only difference being that they are built in a Chinese factory where quality control is somewhat lax.

Some of them even come with a 2 (or even 3) year warranty, so the dealers must have some sort of confidence in them. Question is how likely is it that dealers will honour this when it goes wrong?

My workmate doesn't have enough capital to buy anything outright (including 2nd hand) so it needs to go on finance. The total running costs (including repayments) must be equal to or cheaper than his bus fares, and it has to last at least to the end of the finance term & hopefully longer. This means that a Jap 125 is probably not going to figure in this equation.

Deefer, can you name any of the good ones that you've come across?

[dazza]

I recently bought a Chinese 125, an 85 and a 60 two weeks ago.

I don't know what everyone's banging on about.......It was delicious.

[Rikki]

I recently bought a Chinese 125, an 85 and a 60 two weeks ago.

I don't know what everyone's banging on about.......It was delicious.

Was it the egg fry rye with king kong balls?

[Kosmic Kartman]

Not Chinese but I have a Korean bike. Hyosung XRX 125 SM. Had it for about six years now and never missed a beat. Started every time I needed it... except once after I hadn't used it for a couple of months. I drained the carb, stuck the choke on and started.

It's had one battery and a speedo sensor.

[mtread]

I've heard good things about Hyosung too. No comparison between Chinese and Korean - the country that produces Samsung, LG, HJC etc

[Kosmic Kartman]

I've heard good things about Hyosung too. No comparison between Chinese and Korean - the country that produces Samsung, LG, HJC etc

And Makes nearly 50% of Suzuki engines... Probably the ones that break down  :lol

Might be selling soon Rikki as it's now become surplus to requirements. Drop me a PM if you think your mate might be interested.



I bought it to commute on when I worked in London but now I live the life of Riley in Suffolk and have another to bikes so this doesn't get out much.

[Yamazer-92]

If your mate absolutely must have a Chinese bike on finance, I think the Sym XS 125's are allegedly not too bad.

[darrsi]

Could always consider a scooter as well.

[Slaninar]

Keeway speed is a very good motorcycle. Several mates have had them for over 5 year snow, no prolems. Poor quality chain and tyres, but those get replaced.


Some Quinqi models are also decent.

[BBROWN1664]

I imported a load of Chinese bikes and sold them off to mugs very quickly. Cheap transport if you really must have one but as other have said they rust like there is no tomorrow (rusty out of the crate) and parts are a nightmare to get hold of. Add to that the fact that they are cheap underpowered copies of jap engines and the bikes struggle to get to 60 (125's) most of the time.

I also had a Chinese moped that we got very cheap for my eldest. Same issues with that so the youngest will be getting Japanese next year if he wants a moped.

[fivetide]

Chap I know had one last year for commuting, thinking it would be cheap, knowing the pitfalls and all that... didn't expect the frame to snap when he went over a pothole though.

Proper junk.

[lew600fazer]

It has been said Hyosung look decent qualitty.