159 kg vs 182 kg
19 liter fuel vs 15 liter
35 hp vs 24 hp
equipment that are X-tra on other bikes are standard

I'm like a broken record here with this bit of advice.

Just buy a used Japanese or European bike. A ten year old Jap bike will still be better than a One year old Chinese bike if it has been even remotely looked after.

A twenty year old Jap bike will be still better than a two year old Chinese bike..

If you offered me a twenty year old Jap bike or a six month old Zontes, I would take the Jap bike all day long. I would actually pay more for it.

You can buy a plethora of EXCELLENT time-tested, well loved, over-polished quality and engineered bikes for about £2000-£3000. These bikes would have cost near £10,000 not so long ago.

Just because something is new does not make it any good. And just because something is old, it does not make it worn out or superseded.

The difference in quality is literally black and white. There is no comparison.

__________________
Did some trips.
Rode some bikes.
Fix them for a living.
Can't say anymore.

FWIW - and to echo Ted - I recently bought a 2002 Suzuki DRZ400E, a DIRT BIKE, which had been well used off-road, has over 22,000 km on it's SECOND speedometer (new just in the last few years), no idea what the first one had on it, paid good money for it - but it's now been thrashed by me, with really zip for maintenance, just some personal tweaks - and it's fine. Never missed a beat, starts instantly, everything works perfectly, and I think it was a BARGAIN. Would a Chinese bike I could have bought new for not a lot more money be better? I don't think so!

__________________
Grant Johnson
Seek, and ye shall find.
------------------------
Inspiring, Informing and Connecting travellers since 1997!
www.HorizonsUnlimited.com

I have literally just bought a second hand 2002 DRZ400S. Out of nostalgia from the one I rode to Capetown ten years ago. Great minds think alike

It has been well thrashed. Ridden to every corner of our continent. Dragged through bogs and rivers and maintained to a very tight budget. It's twenty years old now and it still starts on the button and everything works. Okay, it needs a bit of TLC but nothing serious.

In comparison, at the motorcycle dealership I contract at the moment, I have two Zontes in for work. They are both less than a year old.

On one, I am replacing the entire wiring loom, every sensor, throttle bodies and fuel tank. The distributer doesn't even query a single claim as they know how bad they are.

The other one I had to replace the Stator and Reg/rect. Burned out in 800 miles.

The Zontes components feel like they came out of a Kinder Egg. They are so flimsy and pathetic. I am in disbelief how this stuff passes any kind of safety regulations.

For example, I turned off the fuel tap so I could remove the tank and the pipe union SNAPPED off in my hand. LITERALLY SNAPPED. I am not heavy handed. I am used to working on fragile components. (New BMWS's)

For example. I Stator on a Zontes costs £18. On a Jap bike it would cost £200-£300. But I stator on a Jap bike should last FOREVER. It's a false economy.

__________________
Did some trips.
Rode some bikes.
Fix them for a living.
Can't say anymore.

There is pretty much no test or requirement for robustness and none for longevity. It passes the test on the day, its in. All test vehicles are specifically prepared, conformity of production is done by part number audit.

The European system is also competitive. TUV Wolfsburg have one customer. If they'd shouted about emissions they'd have gone bust. Personally I always liked the Spanish test authorities, buy them breakfast, kick the tyres, bit of testing, lunch, fill out the certificates.

I wonder how many of these Chinese bikes get past the US Federal or Canadian Authorities? You can lie on their self certification but get caught and you are gone. They know how to spot the usual lies.

Andy

That sounds like how I do MOT's

Although no ones bought me breakfast yet. I need to change that.

__________________
Did some trips.
Rode some bikes.
Fix them for a living.
Can't say anymore.

Touring Ted to another thread URGENTLY!

https://www.horizonsunlimited.com/hu...houghts-101394