These bikes are looking better and better since the day I arrived here ~4 yrs ago... This bike costs ~60K pesos (~$1,300.00) ... Up about 10K pesos from the previous versions ... These bikes do have most of the 1st world components installed now ... Doesn't look too bad if you like Asian bikes with those big fat frames, but if you were to drill in and look close at any of the welding on that frame, its bad ... These guys use smaller rim sizes to lower bikes to the ground ... Seems simple enough to me ... I tried to get the rider to ride the bike around the MX track we were at but he would have no part of that ... After looking at the welds on that frame, that might have been a good idea ... This bike just might be a cat wagon
ray ray, Very interesting lower rear section on the bottom of the fork tubes? Is that also part of the lowering strategy?
Good eye and I'm not really sure ... That bottom fork tube looks like the old non-inverted fork style bikes had yrs ago ... Most of these china bikes have not had the modern inverted forks to-date and probably that is just old technology adapted in some manner... I'll look next time when I see one of bikes but I bet there is not a name brand on those forks ... Seems the Chinese do not label their parts many times. I should add you just walk into the dealer and pick the different rim sizes ... They are all too aware of the height issue here ...
Few more pics and an update on 014, 015 yr bike ... I don't remember seeing a RUSI underbone model here ... This one looks like a `~clone of the Honda XRM here that sort of sets the bar for others to follow ... These small bikes are very easy to ride and walk out of the home and hop on for a quick ride to the store and back ... It fits here well and this style might last a ~few more decades here ... Saw this one here also ... Looks pretty sporty out in the mountains here and the 16" rims lower it AOK. Bar grips remind me of the 1970s street bike grips. There seemed to be quite a few bikes in the provinces that have this fat-frame so apparently, sales are happening for these new fangled 4t bikes.. Here's an older RUSI ... I've only been here ~5 yrs so I don't have alot of history yet but this bikes' style looks a decade old maybe ...THis might indicate that engine will last but it could have always been swapped out at any time.
Just a low-grade WAG here, but that bike probably belonged to his father or someone else and somehow down the line, the younger generation got the bike and did what any kid around the world would do ... Chopped it, painted it, and made it cool ...
Yep, he was the driver anyway ... It's all part of being a hip teenager (remember those yrs?)... Some of those 'grits' are advertised as the 'luxury' brand here (marlboro?) ... That sells-pitch even makes the Filipinos laugh .. -- That bike looks a little out of place at this location so far out in the mountains (it's too clean and has good tires) but the west coast is not too far away where a bike like that fits in much better as a street machine and not a mountain-ridden streeter.. -- This honda was out there in the same area ... There are some large factories and ship-yard work on the coast there that would pay for such custom work...
Back in the day we had two Suzuki TS-185's we were doing 60mph and we thought we were hot stuff on our very first bikes. These smaller bikes bring back memories of those rides with my son. I still like the smaller bikes but I'm over 300lbs. I did install a larger rear sprocket. I looked silly but the ride was fun.
I reckon anyone on a bike is well ahead of anyone on > 2 wheels ... Most of these bikes (RUSI) come with your choice of wheel sizes to lower the bike off the showroom floor ... Everyone does not need 18'"or 19" or 21" wheels ... It's really that simple.
This is just a small, low cost bike for transportation here. Nothing an ama rider wants ... It fits this society here well for many reasons... ESP due to space if nothing else, motorcycles are essential here for work and low cost transportation. They are welcome here as apple pie in your place. Here is 200cc newer model ... It will whip ever 150cc Bronco made ...
First years ago it was the moped craze, now it's the scooter craze. If I was younger and looking for my first ride the RUSI is perfect.
