Other Bikes » Chinese motorcycle industry discussion

This is an interesting illustrated article regarding the future of Chinese motorcycles, with a lot of historical discussion throughout most of the video:

Nothing new here, most non-perishable consumer products have chased lower cost manufacturing bases since the Industrial Revolution. China too becomes more expensive as wage costs rise together with living standards.

If you want to talk about the ultimate of "re-branding", just ask how your local supermarket can sell a package of lab-created chemicals and call it "food".

Zitat von wessie im Beitrag #5

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Zitat von Boxerboy im Beitrag #4

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Nothing new here, most non-perishable consumer products have chased lower cost manufacturing bases since the Industrial Revolution. China too becomes more expensive as wage costs rise together with living standards.

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Indeed, we are seeing more consumer goods like BMW clothing and my Vodafone broadband router being made in Vietnam. Part of that will be for a lower cost but there is also a political element as large retailers want to reduce their dependency on China. I have also noticed that a number of supermarket branded toiletries are now made in India rather than the more recent members of the EU or Turkey. Again that will be cost related but also political due to the increased bureaucracy and tariffs when importing stuff post Brexit from the EU or states like Turkey with EU trade agreements.

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There was a recent news report that one of the "Dollar" stores in the U.S. is closing over 1000 of its stores due to being squeezed by rising (Chinese?) prices that have now soared way pass a dollar (more so for one operation that called itself a 99-cent store). I guess that is what happens when you call yourself a dollar store. Everyone rushes toward to buy Chinese crap for a dollar or less. Then the prices go way up due to COVID issues (such as Chinese factories having their workers locked up) and supply and transportation costs having gone sky-high. Their customers expected everything in the stores to sell for a dollar or less. When that was no longer possible, customers disappeared, sales dropped and many stores located in the wrong economic areas became unprofitable and had to close.

Regarding Chinese motorcycles: I had to agree with the video's conclusion that the obvious issue with Chinese motorcycles is that they are mostly copies of Japanese and European models from a few years (or more) ago and are just not viewed as very exciting to "first-world" customers that buy motorcycles for fun and excitement, rather than just transportation, where the Chinese brands are at their best and seem to sell very well in most "third-world" countries.

Only a decade ago Korean cars looked like hybrid copies of BMW and Mercedes, mixed up into very poor overall aesthetics, now however they have found their own designs and match most brands for looks.

Zitat von Boxerboy im Beitrag #9

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Only a decade ago Korean cars looked like hybrid copies of BMW and Mercedes, mixed up into very poor overall aesthetics, now however they have found their own designs and match most brands for looks.

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Looking for a second bike alongside the RS and chose the Royal Enfield Himalayan, built in India does make it a good cost option now against many. I could have selected the Indian Triumph, Indian KTM maybe Chinese bmw/triumph/etc Then again these cheap market bikes are often fitted with quality, previous release items - BYBRE brakes, imported alloy wheels, maybe one generation earlier tyres but that is the cost over quality or value balance. China is just moving from world sub contractor to a main bike supplier and probably following the 1970's japanese business model. Although I doubt they will be as bad a those early days (don't ask how I know) of Yamaha products piled up in sheds under the railways arches in London?
It's just business and as any country grows from cheap labour costs and currency exchange advantages this current china advantage will eventually move again
If you thought Boeing were a "little unsafe with some of their newest aeroplanes" being flown just remember "every item fitted has been supplied by the company quoting the lowest price meeting the minmum standard, allegedly" according to some comedians. It's just what the number crunchers do - cost, effect,penalties - the bottom line.
You might even find some of the painting and plating operations in China could give customers more protection than some of the eco water base coating we now endure in europe?
Many companies either hide or fail to confirm if they think a quality item they sell could get a negative if they confirm 3rd world slave labour for their nickel/batteries etc and china is probably high on some peoples list for mistreatment so "produced in a modern facilty" masks many companies associations.

When the Japanese bikes appeared in the US, they offered incredible value and reliability. I'm not sure what the Chinese products offer, but the Indian products seem to offer an Indian version of reliability...... under-stressed design and relatively simple maintenance. Something like .... a new build of my dad's 1965 F250 pick-up with a fuel-injected straight 6 engine and ABS.

Jumping back to "dollar stores" selling cheap crap for a moment, the news from California this morning is that: "99 Cents Only" Stores is permanently closing all 371 stores, the company announced on Thursday. Liquidation sales at all locations begin Friday. Some 14,000 employees will lose their jobs. 99 Cents Only Stores opened in 1982 and sold goods in several categories including brand name closeouts, snacks, fresh produce, beer & wine, pets supplies, home goods, cleaning supplies, beauty products and party pieces.