China motorcycles. Yay or nay?

 Everyone knows that if you want something reliable you go for Japanese brands, if you want something unique and exclusive then go for European brands. Regardless, both offer top-of-the-line performance which can go head to head with each other. 

BMW S1000rr and R9T Cafe Racer

Question is, how do modern Chinese motorcycles stack up against them? China motorcycles are often rebranded by the one who imports them. For example, the Motorstar cafe400 is also known as the Solinvictus Nemesis400 in Australia or The Mash 400 in the UK. They are probably the same bike from the same factory but rebranded and spec’d out to fit their respective market. There are different brands available in the country. To name a few, the popular ones are Rusi, Motorstar, Keeway, Bristol, and Benelli. Bristol claims to be from Taiwan but it feels the same as their counterparts from the other brands. Benelli has been banking on their Italian heritage but modern Benelli bikes are from China. You’ll probably see that some of their models are similar, if not the same with the other Chinese motorcycles available locally.

    Motorstar Cafe400 tastefully modified by Imprint Customs

Modern Chinese motorcycles are OKAY. They are reliable if you make them reliable. Sure, some parts feel dirt cheap and you’d feel the lack of quality from time to time but with today's market being flooded with universal parts, there’s no way you won't be able to maintain or even tune one. If the bike is beyond repair then buying a new one is still cheaper than restoring an old Japanese or European motorcycle. They look good and to be honest they even look better than some of the premium bikes out there. They feel okay to ride. Throttle and power are okay, nothing super fast but it gets the job done. Braking is also okay, some models are fitted with dual discs front and rear, and some are even equipped with ABS. 

Rusi Classic 250 & Royal Enfield Classic 350

Owning one should be easy. You just need to know what part to look for or where to bring your bike should you need any assistance. Just avoid comparing it with bigger brands or nitpicking parts because you won't be satisfied with the bike if you keep looking for faults. Been able to use a Rusi Classic 250 as my daily and also (although short-lived), a Motorstar 400 as my weekend ride. Both bikes are fun to ride and are fairly cheap to maintain. Don’t let brand snobs affect you and just remember to have fun and ride safe. If you really want it then buy it, live with it, and enjoy it.