Hi all,
 

I've just started a new job and am already sick of the commute through sitting traffic and am considering a 2nd hand moped. I don't want to (and can't) spend much but I don't want to buy something that's likely to pack up straight away.

 

Can anyone tell me if these chinese clones such as Lifan, Lexmoto, Direct Bikes, are any good? What I want is ideally a 125 twist and go as I cba with the gears. I wouldn't say no to a C90 style semi-auto box though, as they're great.

 

I remember reading in the past about chinese bikes being of very poor quality, poorly made and wouldn't last long. Can anyone cast any light on this? Are they still just as bad?

 

Thanks for any advice!

Some are better than others but as a whole the jap stuff theyre copied off is better stuff.

Are you not tempted for a second hand Honda? Those 125's run forever

What about a Peugeot Twist and Go, they are normally a bit cheaper then the Japanese products and better quality than the Chinese stuff. 

thanks, good idea! might try one, although I've just checked the cost of insurance and at £800 for third party only in Levenshulme I think it'll be a no for now. At least I'll be warm and not in risk of being crushed / having my legs broken in my trust Octy.

 

I've had a car licence for four years, I guess there's just too many robbers round here - in fact I saw two lads on a stolen bike last night so I guess I can see where they're coming from 

Not too far from me then. I'm in Buxton. 

 

Don't be fooled by thinking Third Party Only is always the cheapest cover though. Sometimes Fire & Theft or even Fully Comp comes out cheaper, so try them all. 

 

Yeah i used to see it all the time in Stockport. Idiots. 2 up on a crosser with no helmets on racing up the middle of the main road was a common enough site too! 

Yeah, I looked for fully comp first but it was much more :/ maybe I'll get one when I earn some tasty commission muhaha

A friend of mine had a Honda 125 copy, and it was corroded to useless in 3 years from new due to the lack of quality in the metals used.

I was looking at lexmoto's, but when the dealer kept making excuses not to let me see an unbuilt one, or watch the PDI on the one I was going to order, too many alarm bells were ringing.

I've got a lifan Honda dax clone, its 4 years old done about 10.000 miles .Build quality doesn't exist , genuine parts are stupidly expensive but there are plenty of aftermarket / up grade  parts available for it.

Avoid Chinese bikes. Build quality is dire and parts can be unobtainable. Go for a Japanese or korean 125 instead.

Only had experience of one Chinese bike, my mate got a 'Play Off Road' 125 years ago, rode ok but after less than 1000 miles the swing arm bolt snapped and nearly throw him off.  

 

It's worth saying though, some are better than others. 

Only had experience of one Chinese bike, my mate got a 'Play Off Road' 125 years ago, rode ok but after less than 1000 miles the swing arm bolt snapped and nearly throw him off.

 

It's worth saying though, some are better than others. 

 

Feck me... thats a while back... Things might of come on abit since then mind... 

My lad's got a 7 year old Yamaha YBR125, it cost about £750. It's got about 8,000 miles on it and it works like new. Insurance cost him £180 in year one, and £140 a year in years 2 and 3 (now 19, TPF&T, Gloucestershire)

 

I use it quite a bit as it just works

My lad's got a 7 year old Yamaha YBR125, it cost about £750. It's got about 8,000 miles on it and it works like new. Insurance cost him £180 in year one, and £140 a year in years 2 and 3 (now 19, TPF&T, Gloucestershire)

 

I use it quite a bit as it just works

 

Similar experience here with the CG125 a good while back. It was a 2005 model i had at the time. Bought it with 500miles on and wrote it off thanks to a drink driver many thousands of miles later. 

 

It did just work, faultlessly. Looked new when i bought it and looked new when i crashed it. To the extent that i paid £1150 for it and the insurance gave me £1300 for it as the assessor couldn't believe how clean it was. 

 

Quite some luck... i know.. 

The Chinese bikes as others have said are poorly built with cheap materials even though they are based on old Japanese designs. Fork pitted with rust within a year is unheard of any Japanese or European bike but have seen Chinese bikes looking like they've been through years of winters and be no age at all. 

Get yourself an old Honda 125, it ill give you no problems if you keep it maintained and when you come to sell it you won't have lost much either.

The Chinese bikes as others have said are poorly built with cheap materials even though they are based on old Japanese designs. Fork pitted with rust within a year is unheard of any Japanese or European bike but have seen Chinese bikes looking like they've been through years of winters and be no age at all. 

Get yourself an old Honda 125, it ill give you no problems if you keep it maintained and when you come to sell it you won't have lost much either.

aha thats it isnt it. I've seen 125's looking absolutely fooked. Rotten as it gets n you'd think its had a properly hard life. 

 

Then you look at the plate n see its only a 2015 model. 

 

You're then surprised it could of only possibly done one winter... 

IMHO, 125s scared the shoite out of me.

 

250 minimum, still do silly mpg but just enough poke to manage motorway speeds or get you out of trouble.

 

Bit more money but you could probably run something like this for a few years and not lose much money at all.

 

http://www.motorcyclenews.com/bikes-for-sale/honda/cbf250/7676285/

IMHO, 125s scared the shoite out of me.

 

250 minimum, still do silly mpg but just enough poke to manage motorway speeds or get you out of trouble.

 

Bit more money but you could probably run something like this for a few years and not lose much money at all.

 

http://www.motorcyclenews.com/bikes-for-sale/honda/cbf250/7676285/

 

a 125 can be ridden on a CBT though and a 250 requires a full licence. 

a new Chinese bike is probably as good as 10 year old jap bike that's had a dozen or so ham fisted learner riders / home grown mechanics. they're ok if you keep on top of them mechanically 

My local bike mot guy had to tell a customer then his bike (stopped running all of a sudden) that the crank shaft was bent! and it was not the first time he had to say that.