Check out Shineray’s latest exercise in creative advertising. First at the ChongQing Motorcycle Expo / CIMTE 2008 we saw a full sized Shineray X2 turned into a 3D parts diagram mobile. Now Shineray brings us the Shineray X2 transformer. Seems the creative department at Shineray has “more than meets the eye”. Hit the break to see the video.

June 11 through 13 is the dates of the first annual EICMA China motorcycle show. EICMA has been holding a show in Milan for many years. Now with the Chinese motorcycle market growing so rapidly with both millions of consumers and hundreds of manufacturers they felt a China based show was justified.

The event was originally planned for Canton, China but will now be in Beijing at the China National Agricultural Exhibition Center. The facility is quite impressive and should make for some great photographs of Chinese motorcycles if anyone has the budget to fly out there.

EICMA China joins the CIMA show in a short list of major Chinese motorcycle shows.

See the EICMA press release after the break.

Dear Sirs,
“Eicma China – The Motorcycle Show” will be held in Beijing, instead of Canton as previously announced.
This decision was made in Milan at the end of a “summit” attended by the Chairmen of the three companies that gave life to CIME / China – Italy Motorcycle Exibition Co., Ltd– the joint venture established with the aim to organise in China the greatest motorcycle overview of Asia: Mr. Chen Bingnan, Secretary General of CCCM (the Chinese Chamber of Commerce for Motorcycle), Mr. Li Rengui, Chairman of Genertec – International Advertising & Exhibition Co.Ltd, and Mr. Guidalberto Guidi, Chairman of EICMA spa.

Beijing was preferred to Canton also because the regulations limiting the circulation of motorcycles, currently in force in all the major cities of China, is less stringent in the capital, and may even be revised. Another consideration was that the trade fair venue in Beijing has more appropriate facilities to host activities outdoor like the “ Motolive” that enriches the Milan Show.

Together with the venue, the dates of the first edition of “Eicma China – The Motorcycle Show” were also defined: it will take place in June, from 11 – 13, 2010.

Best regards

Costantino Ruggiero
Managing Director

Source: EICMA

Johnny Tai of Bennche on his companies Megelli 250m

The latest Megelli motorcycles are some of the sharpest looking quarter-liter bikes to hit the beginner bike scene. In 2009 QLINK had all but secured US distribution of the bikes, announced rollout plans and retail price.

Former QLINK VP Johnny Tai left the company last year and started Texas based Bennche, Inc. He and his team put together a business plan and pitched it to UK design firm Megelli and their manufacturing partner Hisun. Obviously they were impressed and now Bennche has been granted exclusive distribution of the 250r, 250s and 250m to the USA market.

The trio of Megelli motorcycles will be built in China by Hisun with Megelli employees overseeing Quality Assurance, production and other day to day processes. Quality is also a very high priority for Bennche. First off, it will allow them to provide the customer a strong 18 month limited warranty. In addition, Johnny Kim explained to OtherMakes.net that he will grow the Bennche dealer base slowly and only sign on dealers with a strong history of customer service and satisfaction. He believes strong customer service is the only way for Bennche to be successful in powersports distribution.

The 248 pound single cylinder 250r, 250s and 250m were on display at the 2010 Indy Dealer Expo last week along side Bennche’s ATV, scooter and UTV offerings. Retail price for the 250r Sportbike will remain the same as QLINK had planned. However, the 250s streetfighter is $100 higher retail and the 250m supermoto is $300 higher than QLINK’s planned retail price.

The prices of the motorcycles are still priced compedative compared to other offerings in the 250cc price range and the style is unmatched. If Hisun and Megelli do well with the quality of the bikes there is no doubt these striking machines will do well for Bennche.

QLINK was not available for comment but the Megelli bikes have been removed from the motorcycle models list on their website.

Megelli 250r Specifications:

Zhejiang Yongkang Easy Vehicle Company took the Bombardier Spyder reverse road trike concept and brought it to the dirt with the TF110. Being familiar with the Spyder I’m not sure why this reverse trike atv caught me off guard. It seems part of the benefit of having two wheels in the back when off road would be additional contact patch with loose dirt and rough terrain. Maybe in deep ruts the centered rear wheel would hook up on high, dry ground? The rider would be in a rather uncomfortable forward leaning position with the front wheels in ruts and rear wheel not.

The concept is interesting and there must be some situations where this 3 wheeled ATV shines. Anyone have any experience riding this Chinese creation? Have any thoughts on terrain it might handle well? Please leave a comment and let me know.

TF110 Specifications

Source: Yongkang Easy Vehicle Co.

ChinaV's Galaxy XTR250

Galaxy Motorcycles (Foshan Galaxy Vehicle Co.,Ltd) is based in southern China, near GuangZhou, a province of GuangDong. Galaxy is a division of Yinhe (Guangdong Yinhe Motorcycle Industry Co.,Ltd).  As with most Chinese motorcycle manufacturers the lineup consists of small displacement machines, the largest being the Galaxy XTR250 dualsport. The 223cc air cooled four stroke appears to be well suited for dirt use but it has a headlight and turn signals.

The USD forks on the XTR250 is adjustable for compression and rebound have 10.5″ of travel. The rear shock has 10″ of travel and is linkless as most KTM’s have been in the past. This is great for simplicity but without a quality rear shock dampening will not be as consistent as a suspension system with a linkage.

Nice features include electric start, red anodized hubs and two positions to mount the handlebars. ChinaV on MyChinaMoto.com mentions the fit and finish is not up to Japanese standards but above average for a Chinese motorcycle. He also took a video of the bike in action which you can see below.

In 2008 Galaxy entered two bikes in the Taklimakan Rally, the Dakar of China, and finished 5th overall and first in it’s class.

If you are in the UK check out Southern MotorCycle (SMC) and in South Africa you can find them under the Puzey name.

Galaxy XTR250 #1 from China V on Vimeo.

Source: MyChinaMoto.com, Foshan Galaxy Sport Vehicle Company

Benelli had the Due 765 on display at this years CIMA China International Motorcycle Trade Exhibition in Chongqing, China. It appears to be production ready and offer an inline 2 cylinder alternative to the Honda Hornet, Monster 696 and Kawasaki Z750.

A few years back Benelli was bought by a Chinese company Qianjiang World who has been putting new money into the company and developing new models. The Due 765 will most likely be a 2010 model.

Source: Motorcycle.com

Kevin Duke took a trip out to the 2009 CIMA Motor Show in Chongqing, China and just published the first of a Motorcycle.com 3 part series on the 27 motorcycle manufacturers in attendance. Footage of the Loncin, Lifan, Shineray, Qingqi, Haojue, Xgjao, CFMoto and others were highlighted in the first video clip.

Most interesting was a picture of a prototype Zongshen Cyclone that takes styling queues from the Suzuki Gladius 650 and Kawasaki ER6N. It features USD forks, wave rotors and a liquid cooled single cylinder engine I am guessing displaces 500cc. This would be high displacement for a Chinese motorcycle. However there has been a push for larger displacements in the Chinese market. It has some nice details including under seat exhaust and integrated turn signals. This is a big departure from the usual parts bin fair that usually adorns Chinese bikes.

I am looking forward to more information on this bike and the rest of the MO series on the CIMA show.

Source: Motorcycle.com

A picture of a Shineray X4 was posted on Shineray China’s forum. I was not able to translate any details beyond the drawing with google translation tools. It looks to be based on the Shineray X2 XY250gy-2 but has more of a Honda Transalp setup.

Shineray seems to be intent on developing it’s 250 single line up with a supermoto and sportbike version of the X2. It is possible we will see similar models in a 400cc version.

via: SRMC

After some difficulties with rights to the Maxtra name, Maxtra Racing is now Haojue Racing. That explains why we have not been able to access their web site. Personally I like when Asian brands keep their name so I am glad to see them keep the name Haojue. Looks like the team is making great progress.

Here are some quotes from a recent email release from the team about their progress towards 125cc MotoGP competition…
The Chinese Haojue 125cc GP race team made its official test debut at the Jerez three day test, making steady progress refining machine set-up and testing more new parts.

The team received a great welcome from the rest of the MotoGP paddock with many positive comments on the amount of progress we have made with the machine in just eight months since turning a wheel for the first time.

The whole email is printed below. Please be sure to sign up for the Houjue email newsletter.

March 28 2009.

Pictured: Team Haojue riders Michael Ranseder and Matt Hoyle at the Jerez test.

The Chinese Haojue 125cc GP race team made its official test debut at the Jerez three day test, making steady progress refining machine set-up and testing more new parts.

“It has been something of a baptism of fire for the team in general and for our GP rookie Matt Hoyle in particular,” said team director Garry Taylor.

“Most of the machines out there have a few seasons of race development, while we are still testing new ideas, parts and set-ups. We had a lot of work to do with various engine and chassis options in a limited amount of on-track time, but we have come away with a stack of information, data and experience which will help us continue to move forward.

“For Matt it was his first time on track with GP class riders and he coped really well. Michael worked really hard, riding smoothly and consistently to give great feedback to the team. He put in so many laps that the motor reached the end of its service life and he had to miss the last session.

“The team received a great welcome from the rest of the MotoGP paddock with many positive comments on the amount of progress we have made with the machine in just eight months since turning a wheel for the first time.

“Franco collated a vast amount of engine data which he will now take back to analyse with Jan in the ongoing development programme.

“The crew are now back to the workshop in the UK to prepare for the final pre-season tests at Qatar next week and the machines are already on their way.”

Michael Ranseder; “Testing is always hard work, but it is very interesting to be part of the development programme for a complete new machine. I rode well within my limits at this test in order to give consistent feedback and I am happy that we are making progress all the time.”

Matt Hoyle; “Well this was the first step on what I hope is a short ladder in the move up to the top level of 125 racing. The team is working really well and we are all learning all of the time. I’m loving it!”

Shineray Chief 250 XY250-5a

Chinese motorcycle manufacturer Shineray developed a 250cc single powered fully faired sport bike called the XY250-5A Chief 250. It is powered by the same 250cc engine as their X2 MX bike. Styling feels familiar but I can’t say it is a direct copy of any bike on the market. Shineray does not currently import to the United States. There is a guy in UK working on importing them. You can contact him on Shineray Forum

Have a look at the XY250-5A spec sheet. Looks like a fast little bike.

source: My China Moto