The Bikeshite Thread

[scdan4]

New bike* day 

There's a bit of a scooter price war on  apparently 

1/3 off RRP. A brand new, on the road, registered , taxed, fuelled Japanese 125 scoot for a quid under 2 grand. 

Cheaper than cycling, probably cheaper than walking 😆

Really a very cold and snowy day to be collecting something with new tyres covered in shop shine, but made it home with a grin on my face.

 

[bangernomics]

Pretty much everything is cheap over there. 500ml genuine coke,30p. A 2 litre bottle of the same 65p. A Big Mac meal £3.20. Me and my wife had an all you can eat buffet with indoor bbq and hot  pot, so three types of meal, the food choice was amazing and beer was included….£10 each!!!
When we retire there I am definitely getting one of those scooters

My Auntie sold their apartment overlooking the harbour was about £1.4M, are there attainable properties still? Would you put any of your own money into China?

[andyberg]

2 hours ago, bangernomics said:

My Auntie sold their apartment overlooking the harbour was about £1.4M, are there attainable properties still? Would you put any of your own money into China?

Our retirement apartment overlooks a lake. It’s a standard 2 bed with a balcony, no smaller than something in the uk. Cost would have been about £20000. We were lucky in that my wife’s family used to be farmers in the area and the government took the land for development and part of the ‘deal’ was that family members were given an apartment each. Yes I would put my own money in China. If we can get there before retirement then we will. 

[Stinkwheel]

On 17/11/2024 at 13:29, andyberg said:

I just got back from China, now in Hong Kong for a few more days, just thought I had to mention this. Electric scooters/bikes are everywhere! I mean hundreds of the buggers, and they don’t hang about either. Went to a massive shopping centre and this was the parking outside. I found a smoll shop selling the things, bear in mind it’s about 10 yuan to a pound. 

Am i reading that right then, the cheapest electric scooter on that list is about 420 GBP NEW ???  Amazing value compared to what we pay for anything transport shaped

[andyberg]

24 minutes ago, Stinkwheel said:

Am i reading that right then, the cheapest electric scooter on that list is about 420 GBP NEW ???  Amazing value compared to what we pay for anything transport shaped

Yup that is correct, give or take a few pounds. Or almost a tenth of what we pay here!

[andyberg]

To put it in a bit of context, a shop worker earns about £500-600 a month. But that’s still less than a months wages for brand new transport. That’s just not possible here. 

[Stinkwheel]

1 minute ago, andyberg said:

To put it in a bit of context, a shop worker earns about £500-600 a month. But that’s still less than a months wages for brand new transport. That’s just not possible here. 

Its sad isnt it, anyone working full time 'should' be abe to access affordable transport and housing wherever they live. But you know, rampant unchecked capitalism etc etc

[castros_bro]

11 minutes ago, andyberg said:

To put it in a bit of context, a shop worker earns about £500-600 a month. But that’s still less than a months wages for brand new transport. That’s just not possible here. 

I know it may be a scam     but on Alibaba.com there's similar looking electric scooters for £250 shipped to UK - though they are in batches of 10.

https://www.alibaba.com/pla/China+Manufacturer+Electric+Bicycle+1000w+60v+Battery+Electric+Bike++Electric+Motorbike+for+Adults_1600613598666.html?mark=google_shopping&biz=pla&searchText=China Manufacturer Electric Bicycle 1000w 60v Battery Electric Bike Electric Motorbike for Adults&product_id=1600613598666&pcy=US&material=H4fca3ac1591a4f2da87d793bb965cc4bz.png&src=sem_bing&field=UG&from=sem_bing&cmpgn=485919378&adgrp=1238051164330732&tgt=pla-2329177945276618&KwdID=2329177945276618&mtchtyp=e&bdmtchtyp =be&ntwrk=s&device=c&creative=77378331547466&p1=default&p2=default&p3=default&Query=chinese electric bikes

[Stinkwheel]

10 scoots for about £2500, who's up for a bulk buy and an Autoshite race series 😁

[andyberg]

Just shows the mark up we have to put up with in this country

[UltraWomble]

5 hours ago, Stinkwheel said:

10 scoots for about £2500, who's up for a bulk buy and an Autoshite race series 😁

I'd be game.

[martc]

6 hours ago, andyberg said:

Just shows the mark up we have to put up with in this country

And shipping them halfway around the world...

[Stinkwheel]

5 minutes ago, martc said:

And shipping them halfway around the world...

Shipping isnt as much as you might think when doing bulk and dealing with the chinese factorys direct ( I know from using them in a different industry)

[UltraWomble]

Wholesale High Speed Electric Bike Motorcycle 1000w 60v Off-road Motorcycle Scooter Electric Moped With Pedal - Buy Electric Moped,Electric Motorcycle Scooter,Electric Bike Motorcycle Product on Alibaba.com

I have absolutely no idea what (if any) regulations a Chinese bike has to have to be  suitable for registering in the UK - it would be daft importing something that subsequently you couldn't register then have to muck about ringing to use on the road. I ticked the TUV box thinking if its good enough for the sausage munchers its probably good enough for the DVLA.

This one starts at $210 / each for 2 or more - then there is shipping, then import taxes, then DVLA registration.

I still think it would be sub £600 a machine on the road if the TUV specs/certificates are OK for the Doovlay.

Need to find one in Beige though with "personalisation" to organise an Autoshite Scooter Series....

[UltraWomble]

Can I just add - FUCKING BALTIC this morning on the ride to work.

I really need to invest in some heated gloves as everything else was acceptably warm/well wrapped up - but my finger tips were blue when I got to work (and the bloody security staff insisted on frisking me too, trying to empty my pockets with numb fingers was not fun).

[Stinkwheel]

14 minutes ago, UltraWomble said:

Can I just add - FUCKING BALTIC this morning on the ride to work.

I really need to invest in some heated gloves as everything else was acceptably warm/well wrapped up - but my finger tips were blue when I got to work (and the bloody security staff insisted on frisking me too, trying to empty my pockets with numb fingers was not fun).

I got a heated gilet/body warmer/under jacket thing that runs off a powerbank, really good bit of kit. I’m sure with heated gloves as well it would be toasty

[andyberg]

12 hours ago, Stinkwheel said:

I got a heated gilet/body warmer/under jacket thing that runs off a powerbank, really good bit of kit. I’m sure with heated gloves as well it would be toasty

My son uses (Chinese) heated gloves and gillet (body warmer!!??) and says as long as he puts the gloves on after they have warmed up his hands stay nice and warm. 

[martc]

17 hours ago, UltraWomble said:

Can I just add - FUCKING BALTIC this morning on the ride to work.

I really need to invest in some heated gloves as everything else was acceptably warm/well wrapped up - but my finger tips were blue when I got to work (and the bloody security staff insisted on frisking me too, trying to empty my pockets with numb fingers was not fun).

I've got a pair of 'Racing*' heated gloves, they are an absolute game changer. Would heartily recommend.

(*Racing as in the French glove manufacturer, not gloves used by racers)

[martc]

Looks like Jesus is in town. He would have enjoyed the smooth ride, the handling on corners and the up-to-date technology.

Oh, and look, some 'motorbikes'.

 

 

[twosmoke300]

I’ve been talked into doing my first race since before lockdown ! Of course it’s gonna be a shitfest 

Manor farm , part of the Dorset winter warmer series . Last one of those I did was at Rogershill and about half the field quit . I kept going for a finish but fuck me it was a slog .

New bike is fucking awesome , there was a local enduro practice day two weekends ago . A few of my mates have bought 450’s and I was getting some ribbing about having a girly 250 etc . Which all promptly stopped after the first session where I was running rings around them 😂 . There was a bit of new purchase regret going on . One guy was being sick and everything 😂😂😂

Also doing the Ten Tors road trial this weekend on my trusty KE which is being treated to new shocks , re bushing the brake lever and new chain and sprocket kit . Mainly using the KE cos I can’t be arsed swapping the CRF to trials tyres 

Oh and the mug was my sole purchase at the NEC classic car n bike show 😂 don’t even have a Maico but i like the mug .

On a bike fit diet now too , 10lbs off this month and mainly just being sensible and knocking back less beers. 

[martc]

Maicos were mad, have you ever tried starting one? The kick back, if you get it wrong, was/still is phenomenal.

 

[andy18s]

41 minutes ago, martc said:

Maicos were mad, have you ever tried starting one? The kick back, if you get it wrong, was/still is phenomenal.

 

490 ftw ...

[Stinkwheel]

Maico and a bint

Another Maico, another bint

[twosmoke300]

Yeh my brother had an 83 250 . Fucking animal but he seized it so we sold it 😂

[tom13]

23 hours ago, twosmoke300 said:

I’ve been talked into doing my first race since before lockdown ! Of course it’s gonna be a shitfest 

Manor farm , part of the Dorset winter warmer series . Last one of those I did was at Rogershill and about half the field quit . I kept going for a finish but fuck me it was a slog .

New bike is fucking awesome , there was a local enduro practice day two weekends ago . A few of my mates have bought 450’s and I was getting some ribbing about having a girly 250 etc . Which all promptly stopped after the first session where I was running rings around them 😂 . There was a bit of new purchase regret going on . One guy was being sick and everything 😂😂😂

Also doing the Ten Tors road trial this weekend on my trusty KE which is being treated to new shocks , re bushing the brake lever and new chain and sprocket kit . Mainly using the KE cos I can’t be arsed swapping the CRF to trials tyres 

Oh and the mug was my sole purchase at the NEC classic car n bike show 😂 don’t even have a Maico but i like the mug .

On a bike fit diet now too , 10lbs off this month and mainly just being sensible and knocking back less beers. 

Apart from the road trials, in Cornwall do you have to use trails tyres on most of the enduros and Hare and Hounds?

[twosmoke300]

2 hours ago, tom13 said:

Apart from the road trials, in Cornwall do you have to use trails tyres on most of the enduros and Hare and Hounds?

No enduro down here any more really but you used to have it on some . 

[tom13]

25 minutes ago, twosmoke300 said:

No enduro down here any more really but you used to have it on some . 

That would have been shite in the mud. I remember goign to St Balzey mx years ago and seeing all the enduro bikes with trials tyres.

[twosmoke300]

1 hour ago, tom13 said:

That would have been shite in the mud. I remember goign to St Balzey mx years ago and seeing all the enduro bikes with trials tyres.

A Michelin x11 is a hell of a trials tyre tbf . Not that bad in mud but wet grass is a bit hairy .

But rocks and roots are fantastic . Swings n roundabouts. 
Riding on trials tyres was an attempt to convince land owners that may be on the fence regarding allowing events . Apparently trials tyres cause less damage but I personally think that’s bullshit . 

[tom13]

46 minutes ago, twosmoke300 said:

A Michelin x11 is a hell of a trials tyre tbf . Not that bad in mud but wet grass is a bit hairy .

But rocks and roots are fantastic . Swings n roundabouts. 
Riding on trials tyres was an attempt to convince land owners that may be on the fence regarding allowing events . Apparently trials tyres cause less damage but I personally think that’s bullshit . 

I use IRC TR11 and they are good for trials but compared to a proper MX or Enduro tyre, as you know, in mud they are rubbish comparatively. I had heard about it preserving the land but like you say I can't imagine it make a huge amount of difference.

Might do lands end trial next year and was thinking about running an old trials tyres but they say about them chunking with bigger miles. Have you experienced this?

[twosmoke300]

4 minutes ago, tom13 said:

I use IRC TR11 and they are good for trials but compared to a proper MX or Enduro tyre, as you know, in mud they are rubbish comparatively. I had heard about it preserving the land but like you say I can't imagine it make a huge amount of difference.

Might do lands end trial next year and was thinking about running an old trials tyres but they say about them chunking with bigger miles. Have you experienced this?

I wouldn’t use a soft trials tyre like an X11 for that event but a MT43 is fine ( for longevity anyway 😂)