Affordable Starter Bikes?

sgrimmxdad
Edited Date/Time 6/13/2017 3:43pm
I started a company and hired a mechanic to help with all our bikes, sent him to suspension school and are selling a a few bikes. We hunt CL for bikes. We find a few here and there but we have customers coming in all the time looking bikes for kids.

My store is in a economically challenged area, people can't afford 4+k for a new 85 and we just cant find enough deals on used bikes to keep them in stock. We have request for 50's on up. People keep asking about those cheap bikes on ebay and the net...

My question is, are any of those cheap China made bikes worth a crap? I don't mean for MX racing, but for new kids or beginners just to see if they like riding? We have a Phrinna 190 and other than being hard to start it is decent IMO for the money, although it doesn't have much time on it so I don't know how long it will last...

I don't want to sale anyone a piece of crap that will be blown up in a month. Just looking more affordable options!


|
Acidreamer
Profile picture for user Acidreamer
Posts
1793
Joined
8/25/2015
Location
Mansfield, OH US
Acidreamer 6/12/2017 2:48am
6/12/2017 2:48am
No to the china bikes. And small bikes for $1000 pop up in my areas craigslist or facebook sales groups all the time. You get what you pay for and this hobby is not cheap
Sandwarrior752 6/12/2017 3:05am
6/12/2017 3:05am
I don't know if these bikes are out in USA but LEM has some kids bikes that might be closer to what you're looking for. Back in the day they also had 50cc mx bikes that where perfect to start riding. (both money & power wise, they don't compete with the KTM 50s)

http://www.lem-motor.com/en/
nascarnate326 6/12/2017 3:11am
6/12/2017 3:11am
Stick to Japanese bikes.

SSR is the best of the cheap bikes but I wouldn't touch one. I like resale value.
Andy_Greenney 6/12/2017 5:35am
6/12/2017 5:35am
Avoid the cheap Chinese stuff, it really isn't worth the trouble. Unreliability and bits breaking with easily put off someone new to the sport.

The Shop

See All »
BobbyLight
Profile picture for user BobbyLight
Posts
296
Joined
10/25/2016
Location
Lamp, NC US
BobbyLight 6/12/2017 6:26am
6/12/2017 6:26am Edited Date/Time 6/12/2017 6:37am
I will say that at one point my stepdad was thinking about ordering a whole shipping container of those chinese bikes over here. You can get them ridiculously cheap that way. As long as you kept some of them aside to cannibalize for parts (im not sure what the parts availability is) then Im sure for $300-$400 bucks it could give a kid/family a chance to try a couple races and see if it is for them or not. I would just be sure to explain that if they wanted to really get into it they should get a real bike. Its a big decision for a family regardless of their financial situation to drop thousands on a bike especially if they don't even know if the kid will want to stick with it. Even if it only lasted a couple months I'd say they got their moneys worth and may get a kid racing whose parents would have otherwise not considered it. Or could save a parent a good chunk of change when the kid isn't into it after the first couple races. At the very least the 50s cant be that bad, its not like kids that age really "jump" those anyway so the suspension isn't all that important.

Its kind of like mountain bikes. If you really want to mountain bike, then you need a a "real" mountain bike but bikes are ridiculously expensive, and if you are buying new you will be approaching $1000 before you get to anything that is worth a damn and will last. So most people don't typically go buy a $1000+ bike before they try it on a ~$300 diamondback or something for dicks or rei. Sure those bikes wont last and aren't really meant for actual mountain biking, but it allows the individual to figure out if they want to get into it and get a nicer bike or not. I'd say order a container of them straight from china and get some kids riding.
philG
Profile picture for user philG
Posts
10936
Joined
5/12/2012
Location
GB
philG 6/12/2017 6:34am
6/12/2017 6:34am
I disagree... a $300 taster as to whether a kid will like it or not , that's golden.

At a track on Saturday., there were 2 kids, came together , with parents, one had a Chinese pit bike, the other had KTM85 , maybe 2012 ish, the pit bike was cosmetically rough , the KTM was showroom good... the kid in the pit bike had 2nd hand gear, and he ripped round like he had been doing it ages, still no sussed out lines , but he had the bike going where he wanted, and was having fun.

The kid on the 85 was scared to death, never got it near the powerband,

One of those guys spent £300, the other maybe £2000...

If you keep the parts, and fix them cheap , sell them right and buy them back, you generate your own stuff, kids will move off the junk , and go to better kit , which you will also have. The Chinese bikes are ok for kids , its when adult rag them and expect them not to break,,,,
mxtech1
Profile picture for user mxtech1
Posts
1968
Joined
7/21/2011
Location
Galesburg, IL US
mxtech1 6/12/2017 7:23am
6/12/2017 7:23am
Those China bikes and ATVs are such POS machines that they will be a gold mine for you! Seriously, they break all the time and seem to require constant repair. Perfect business model for your repair shop IF you are sure you have a steady supply to replacement parts.
Sidecar
Profile picture for user Sidecar
Posts
1727
Joined
1/29/2015
Location
GB
Sidecar 6/12/2017 8:21am
6/12/2017 8:21am
I still have my 2004 x-sport 110, it's had a hard life, been raced, ridden on full size Mx tracks, done several 3hour pit bike enduros, been under water once, had 2x oil changes, it's on its 2nd back wheel... it's not been started in 12 months due to various reasons but with fresh fuel I would be pretty cross if it took more than 5 kicks.... Not all Chinese bikes are junk, it's the copy of a copy of a copy type that you need to worry about.
motosurf
Profile picture for user motosurf
Posts
300
Joined
11/25/2016
Location
Lake Elsinore, CA US
motosurf 6/12/2017 8:25am
6/12/2017 8:25am
For the safety of your customers don't sell China bikes. You want people to take you serious as a seller? Don't sell china bikes. Pretty simple, DONT SELL CHINA BIKES.
TrailDigger 6/12/2017 8:37am
6/12/2017 8:37am
I'll go against the grain and say that the cheap Chinese pitbike and 110s are okay, for a beginner and someone looking to get a taste.

Sure, they are junk to anyone who can afford a brand name bike, but in my area, 85s are atleast 1k for a clapped out bike. At least with the chinese bike, you will get something new and good enough quality to decide if you want something bigger.

I would only be worried about the frame tbh. The engines are almost always Honda clones. Chinese steel is usually hit or miss, and so are the welds so I would thoroughly inspect each bike and give a diaclaimer that it could break at anytime, as with any bike.

A local school for troubled kids uses CRF125 clones as some kind of hobby and they rip them all day long around a grass track.
motosurf
Profile picture for user motosurf
Posts
300
Joined
11/25/2016
Location
Lake Elsinore, CA US
motosurf 6/12/2017 8:46am
6/12/2017 8:46am
TrailDigger wrote:
I'll go against the grain and say that the cheap Chinese pitbike and 110s are okay, for a beginner and someone looking to get a taste...
I'll go against the grain and say that the cheap Chinese pitbike and 110s are okay, for a beginner and someone looking to get a taste.

Sure, they are junk to anyone who can afford a brand name bike, but in my area, 85s are atleast 1k for a clapped out bike. At least with the chinese bike, you will get something new and good enough quality to decide if you want something bigger.

I would only be worried about the frame tbh. The engines are almost always Honda clones. Chinese steel is usually hit or miss, and so are the welds so I would thoroughly inspect each bike and give a diaclaimer that it could break at anytime, as with any bike.

A local school for troubled kids uses CRF125 clones as some kind of hobby and they rip them all day long around a grass track.
It's not hard to go on Craigslist and find a klx110 pretty cheap or an xr100 for that matter(less than grand). These Chinese bikes would turn anyone away that's just getting into the sport. Unreliable and just plain pieces of shit. just cause it's a clone doesn't make it good. It's like buying a grinder from harbor freight, it just flat sucks. DO NOT BUY CHINESE BIKES.
Johnny Depp
Profile picture for user Johnny Depp
Posts
6435
Joined
10/16/2014
Location
Buda, TX US
Johnny Depp 6/12/2017 9:16am
6/12/2017 9:16am
Become a dealer for these things from Portugal, AJP:

http://motoajp.com/

2017 PR3 Enduro 240 – MSRP $4799*

lapper
Profile picture for user lapper
Posts
134
Joined
4/1/2008
Location
Huntingtown, MD US
lapper 6/13/2017 1:31pm
6/13/2017 1:31pm
I'm old enough to remember almost identical comments in the late 60's about those cheap Japanese bikes. Sure wish I could have talked my Dad into opening a Honda dealership back then.
1stSSPZ
Profile picture for user 1stSSPZ
Posts
257
Joined
3/17/2014
Location
Lubbock, TX US
1stSSPZ 6/13/2017 1:36pm
6/13/2017 1:36pm
lapper wrote:
I'm old enough to remember almost identical comments in the late 60's about those cheap Japanese bikes. Sure wish I could have talked my Dad into...
I'm old enough to remember almost identical comments in the late 60's about those cheap Japanese bikes. Sure wish I could have talked my Dad into opening a Honda dealership back then.
No shit there!
jonboy688
Profile picture for user jonboy688
Posts
438
Joined
9/3/2015
Location
China Grove, NC US
jonboy688 6/13/2017 2:04pm
6/13/2017 2:04pm
sgrimmxdad wrote:
I started a company and hired a mechanic to help with all our bikes, sent him to suspension school and are selling a a few bikes...
I started a company and hired a mechanic to help with all our bikes, sent him to suspension school and are selling a a few bikes. We hunt CL for bikes. We find a few here and there but we have customers coming in all the time looking bikes for kids.

My store is in a economically challenged area, people can't afford 4+k for a new 85 and we just cant find enough deals on used bikes to keep them in stock. We have request for 50's on up. People keep asking about those cheap bikes on ebay and the net...

My question is, are any of those cheap China made bikes worth a crap? I don't mean for MX racing, but for new kids or beginners just to see if they like riding? We have a Phrinna 190 and other than being hard to start it is decent IMO for the money, although it doesn't have much time on it so I don't know how long it will last...

I don't want to sale anyone a piece of crap that will be blown up in a month. Just looking more affordable options!


i feel you on trying to find good deals on cl, i am on it all the time trying to find a deal, so far i have only scored 3 bikes that had enough meat left on the bone(after repair) to make a small profit.. make a ad on cl wanting to buy bikes and you will get some crap and every once and while a decent deal
JM485
Profile picture for user JM485
Posts
5800
Joined
10/1/2013
Location
Davis, CA US
JM485 6/13/2017 2:08pm
6/13/2017 2:08pm
motosurf wrote:
It's not hard to go on Craigslist and find a klx110 pretty cheap or an xr100 for that matter(less than grand). These Chinese bikes would turn...
It's not hard to go on Craigslist and find a klx110 pretty cheap or an xr100 for that matter(less than grand). These Chinese bikes would turn anyone away that's just getting into the sport. Unreliable and just plain pieces of shit. just cause it's a clone doesn't make it good. It's like buying a grinder from harbor freight, it just flat sucks. DO NOT BUY CHINESE BIKES.
New crf125s are made in China. . .
Dirty Points 6/13/2017 2:08pm
6/13/2017 2:08pm Edited Date/Time 6/13/2017 2:16pm
Johnny Depp wrote:
Become a dealer for these things from Portugal, AJP: http://motoajp.com/ 2017 PR3 Enduro 240 – MSRP $4799* [img]http://motoajp.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/2017-PR3.jpg[/img]
Become a dealer for these things from Portugal, AJP:

http://motoajp.com/

2017 PR3 Enduro 240 – MSRP $4799*

Nah. Just source all that crap from the same place they do. Literally, it's like four places. And it's way under that price, with plenty of room for your margin.

But don't, really.

Just do used YZs, parts, kits, and eye-candy, for all of us.
Rockinar
Profile picture for user Rockinar
Posts
1063
Joined
9/16/2016
Location
Katy, TX US
Rockinar 6/13/2017 2:16pm
6/13/2017 2:16pm
Fully inform them on the cheap China bikes and let them make a decision. Some people will shop on price no matter what you tell them.


I'm a hobby welder and there's plenty of good brands with great support that will last decades. But everyone wants the cheap China welders and garbage from Harbor Freight because they are half price of a good welder.

Pit Row

See All »
Dirty Points 6/13/2017 2:22pm
6/13/2017 2:22pm Edited Date/Time 6/13/2017 2:28pm
Is NC that different than the Norcal market I've seen? Because here an 85 with every-friggin-dad-accessory-and-sometimes-jrs-practice-bike goes for 2K.
Neverclear
Profile picture for user Neverclear
Posts
314
Joined
12/30/2006
Location
NJ US
Neverclear 6/13/2017 2:33pm
6/13/2017 2:33pm
My daughter and her husband were looking at the Chinese bikes for my grandson's first. Thankfully they listened to reason, and found him a 2012 almost unused CRF50 for around a grand. Yes, it's more than they wanted to pay, but after he and his little brother are done with it in a few years, they'll resell it for maybe $700.

The reliability alone for the next 4 years is worth the $300 difference.

Good luck. Craigslist is quite a minefield.
jorgechavez 6/13/2017 3:02pm
6/13/2017 3:02pm
I had a little Chinese 50 and boy did we beat the shit out of that thing! Took it off jumps to flat because there wasn't enough power to even clear anything haha, and would never let off the throttle it was basically a switch. Surprisingly enough the motor was solid and it'd probably still run today but everything else was horrible. The plastics were cracked and snapped everywhere, forks were all bent and the frame had to be rewelded about 4 or 5 times.
Dirty Points 6/13/2017 3:37pm
6/13/2017 3:37pm Edited Date/Time 6/13/2017 6:49pm
jorgechavez wrote:
I had a little Chinese 50 and boy did we beat the shit out of that thing! Took it off jumps to flat because there wasn't...
I had a little Chinese 50 and boy did we beat the shit out of that thing! Took it off jumps to flat because there wasn't enough power to even clear anything haha, and would never let off the throttle it was basically a switch. Surprisingly enough the motor was solid and it'd probably still run today but everything else was horrible. The plastics were cracked and snapped everywhere, forks were all bent and the frame had to be rewelded about 4 or 5 times.
The Chinese manufacturers have the market on a number of smaller motors. Let's quantify this properly: there are a quarter BILLION being used for daily transportation -- far, far in excess of the entire global dirtbike market.

But properly building the REST of a dirtbike? And worth a damn? They have, at best, moderate interest.

TeamGreen
Profile picture for user TeamGreen
Posts
36918
Joined
11/25/2008
Location
Thru-out, CA US
TeamGreen 6/13/2017 4:00pm
6/13/2017 4:00pm
CRF250L: $5149
KLX140: $3099
TTR125LE: $3290
loftyair
Profile picture for user loftyair
Posts
2900
Joined
7/3/2009
Location
riverside, CA US
loftyair 6/13/2017 5:32pm
6/13/2017 5:32pm
I got myself 2 ssr125. I knew what they were, Chinese piles. But, I got 2 new bikes for super cheap. They were 4-speed. Used to ride them at a mini track at a very well known and popular place. Anyway, my son and I dominated, and I mean kicked butt with those things. We would smoke anyone, even the guys with klx140. They did fall apart comparatively, but being so cheap, it was absolutely worth it. Sold them for a couple hundred dollar loss a year later. I would definitely do it again. I think they would work fine for the super beginner to get a sense of things. In the end, just recycle the parts.
sgrimmxdad 6/14/2017 2:17am
6/14/2017 2:17am
jonboy688 wrote:
i feel you on trying to find good deals on cl, i am on it all the time trying to find a deal, so far i...
i feel you on trying to find good deals on cl, i am on it all the time trying to find a deal, so far i have only scored 3 bikes that had enough meat left on the bone(after repair) to make a small profit.. make a ad on cl wanting to buy bikes and you will get some crap and every once and while a decent deal
Exactly, its like trying to eat in a bone yard!
sgrimmxdad 6/14/2017 2:22am
6/14/2017 2:22am
I have contacted SSR. Looking into that. I am doing as much research as possible. Cheap is king in the area I will be selling. You can drive an hour in any direction and get back to "normal" economic development, however this particular area is struggling.

Post a reply to: Affordable Starter Bikes?