China scoot bashing podcast

[texas]

I have been looking for all things scooter and came accross a podcast called just-gotta-scoot, available through i-tunes. I love the scooter talk but I was shocked by the bashing of the china imports. not just some but all the china producers. He sounds like Rush bashing the democrats it's laughable. I mean they think there is no place for these scooters on the road,that they are a danger to society. Now I know that they require more attention and someone who knows which end of a screw driver to use but come on!

[Rebel]

They have been doing this for the last 7 years that I know of. It began when there was a lot more to complain about in regards to quality and parts availability, has become part of the genetic make up of some scooter people to hate anything Chinese.

I experienced it locally when I went to a local motorcycle shop just to see if I could order something through them. They looked at me as if I was the devil himself, informed me that they would have nothing to do with anything Chinese. This was not even a Japanese Motorcycle dealer, it was an independant shop.

[texas]

These people need to get thier head out of the sand. they are like rats on a sinking ship and thier ship is sailing into cheaper to produce waters. The smart major brands look like they are looking for better profits by using chinese parts and even chinese labor as some brands produce some of thier models there,such as Kymco. Its Japan all over again and we all know that now Japan models are vintage. Who will not spend thier money where it gets the best return. You can't stop progress. If your happy with your china scooter post it here. Then new people can see you don't have to fear them if you are informed on what you are getting.

[Rebel]

Don't Mess with Texas

[jmkjr72]

well just gota scoot has ins at genuine and scooterville (big mn scooter dealer)

i was helping set up some kymcos last year
and you could tell what ones were the newer china ones and what ones where the older ones

unlike the japanes the chineese will take longer to realize that they have to send a quailty product to the us
we see it all the time with products comeing out of china too much lead in kids stuff traces of banned chemicals

i have nothing agains the scoots as long as you can do a bit of wrenching and do a proper pdi
around here a good chunk of the bad name comes from sellers who cant service them or wont service them

[Rebel]

I guess what is the most irritating about the anti Chinese scooter people is that they are so militant about it. I think almost any Chinese scooter rider will admit that their scooter is not as high quality as a European or Japanese or India made scooter. But for the most part, they are toys. So what's the big problem? I think they are mostly afraid that the cheap ones will become just good enough that the established ones will have some real competition.

I say, just ride what you want and can afford to buy. Ride a Vespa if you have the money to buy one, a Roketa if you don't.

[texas]

Well I agree with that, to me a big part of the fun is working on and learning about the scooter. I think the trend will be more Chinese parts and scooters though. And even the anti Chinese people have no problem taking thier money by accepting advertisements on thier web sites. I think thier bashing is way to help them sale thier higher priced product. But you know there's nothing that can't be fixed and these scooter parts are not that expensive. And like the Rebel says they are toys. They are ment to be played with,thats why its a hobby.

[oldchopperguy]

Hey, Texas,

Just to bring a little ray of hope... My nearby Honda dealer GAVE me a box of clean used carb jets to try in my Chinese scoot. The mechanic had to give "Lil' Bubba" a full going over, as he had not seen a China scoot up close. He had nothing but compliments on it. Couldn't believe what $700 would buy!

Not only did I not get any negative treatment, I was welcomed for any parts purchases I want, and coaxed into test-driving a Honda 650 scooter, then a 6-cylinder Gold Wing cruiser...

Stupid this dealer ain't!

Chinese scoots seem to be very welcome there, and all riders are treated to red-carpet status. Of course, they are also encouraged to try out the best Honda scoots and cycles, and I'll bet many of them come back later when they want to upgrade, just because they got treated so nicely.

There is also a scooter dealership nearby, specializing in nice Taiwan and Korean scoots. They also welcome parts business from Chinese scoot jockeys, and do their best to encourage their store for your "upgrade".

This was three years ago, but, I'll bet they haven't changed. Speaking "Texan-to-Texan", there really ARE some places around that are not run by jerks.

Amazing!

Ride safe!

Leo in Texas

[allenrobinson2269]

I ride a Chinese Low Boy GY6 styled like an old Indian. I will admit I had a couple of things I had to remedy. Not really fix, but remedy. The first was a loose fuse which was fixed by the dealer. The other was a loose wire on the relay to the spark plug. I will tell you that I think the bikes get put together really quickly without much inspection at the plant. I recomend that you tighten every bolt you can reach and check them as you can. Especially the nuts that hold on the exhaust. Tape up electrical connections and lightly crimp connectors with a set of plyers. If you tighten up everything the bike will work well and for the money is great transport. Also, some JB weld expxy is great to have around for plastic repair. I have over 1000 miles on mine so far and it is running really well. Also boosting the octane seems to help. I use Lucas octane boost. Feel free to email me with repair questions.

[Rebel]

Allen,

Welcome.

It would be great to see some photos of you bike, I don't think I've seen a Indian styled gy6.

[Deleted]

YES allenrobinson2269

you have wet everybody's curiosity, what this thing look like buddy!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!11

[oldchopperguy]

Sept 10, 2011 14:10:21 GMT -5 @terranuvo said:

YES allenrobinson2269

you have wet everybody's curiosity, what this thing look like buddy!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!11

ME TOO!

I'm an old-school sucker for anything resembling an Indian!

Ride safe!

Leo in Texas

[kz1000st]

Well I hate to disagree Doug, but my Chinese 150 is hardly a toy. I'm aghast at the price of gas and I've been riding my "Toy" to get even. This season I put 2500 miles on it as a grocery getter and commuter. Yes, it has an oil leak but I've found cheap 20W-50 at Family Dollar and this winter I'll try and seal the head gasket better. People like Dave Harrington are stuck in the past and their own Elitism. It wasn't until the Honda Gold Wing that the "Rice Burner" comments started to fade and now have been replaced with "Chinese Junk". My scooter is no Vespa and thank heavens for that. I can get parts for it practically overnight. Darn few Aprilia, Piaggio or Vespa owners can say that. 5,900 miles and still running strong.

[Rebel]

I certainly didn't intend to offend about the toy comment, I feel my Honda 450 is also a toy. I enjoy toys!

In fact,I'm exploring a possible job change that would make it possible for me to ride my toys to work. I currently buy about $400.00 in gas a month to drive the truck to work, that hurts a bit. I just do not feel like riding 35 miles one way on busy traffic roads is a good idea for me, especially one the 150. The new job would be about half the distance and over a less traveled part of the road.

[kz1000st]

I just get a little nutty about this whole thing Doug. Even with people racking up big miles on Chinese scooters you still see shots in Modern Vespa about Chinese scooters. When did society get so lazy that total reliability is expected? OK, so we have to work on them periodically. Even the high priced spread break down periodically. Mine has never left me stranded, even carrying me home 8 miles with two broken valve springs.
The thing about bikes and scooters being toys is true a little. Obviously most of us use the car when it rains, or snows, but I use my scooter as a tool. It has saved me over $500 in gas this season. What lights my fuse about Chinese scooters is that no one blames the importers who sourced cheap components and caused the problems you read so much about. My GS Motorworks scooter has been relatively solid as have most of the ones they sold. Plus no one looks at the Chinese models sold by other manufacturers and gives them credit. Kymco Super 8, Piaggio Fly 150 and SYM Fiddle II, for example. All solid performers and indistinguishable from their corporate brothers.
I only wonder what these bashers will say in 10 years when they're riding "Chinese Junk" too.