Pep Boys selling motorcycles?

[Caffeine]

I noticed in the Pep Boys circular in the Sunday paper they have a Phoenix 250 cc "Street Motorcycle" for $1299.   Apparently, it is an actual motorcycle, Chinese made, with gears and everything.   

Has anyone here seen one up close?  I told some friends about it and we will get into a Pep Boys this week because the curiosity is killing me.  No, not "curious" like "I want one!" But "curious" like "train wreck curious".

Is it an actual street-capable machine?  Or a crappy disposable scooter made to look like a motorcycle?

It might be fun just to have one around the garage.   It would be a great "loaner" for friends visiting from out of town.   And if someone wrecked it or stole it, it wouldn't really matter a whole lot at that price.

[ben2go]

they'll make it to about 60mph with some one that's around 150 pounds.The engines have restrictors.Some websites offer hop up kits for them.The ones I looked at are clones of 1980's 4 stroke dirt bike engines.I seen a few simular to early 90's Suzuki engines.

[scottpA_GS]

The Baja Vision is the 250 sport bike version for like $1200 

Id like to see one in person


[edit]

Ahhhh... tried to post a link to the ad but it didn't work 


I found a cool forum about some of the off road models and it looks like some use SUZUKI motors! 

[CndnMax]

this one?

[scottpA_GS]

Found their site

http://www.bajamotorsports.net/


But I don't see the Vision on there 

[bobthebiker]

doesnt look too bad,  style wise I like it.

[Kasumi]

They are clone bikes. The big manufacturers sold off old plans for bikes to various smaller japanese, spanish, european and american firms who build the bikes from the plans using the same motors just with crappy parts, i.e Hongdu for example make a 125cc honda trials bike (cant remember exact model name) but it is exactly the same as an old honda trials bike but they just remove the quality, every piece of plastic is cheap plastic, all the paint and graphics are cheap, the metal is of lower grade and cheaper. Its mechanically and electrically the same bike but they have just used the cheapest stuff for everything. Hence your getting an almost look alike (aside from the graphics and paintwork) but been rebranded.

I mean the motor's on these old dirtbikes that they use in these rebrand clones were overkill when they were first launched and will run pretty solid, if your not bothered about fit and finish and just want a pit bike or loan bike to teach friends on then they are great. We buy them for field bikes over here on the farm, quickest way to check over the land is on a bike so we pay about £700-800 ($1600) for a cheapo little bike we can thrash around and crash and not worry about. Theyre good, just cheap lol.

[The Buddha]

What ... you guys aren't happy with old GS'es you can buy for 12-1500 in good shape. Chinass crap ... make sure they have a return policy when the chinass crap breaks.
Cool.
Srinath.

[Kasumi]

Gs's can't be ridden off road well and they weight alot and their soft suspension would smash on some of the bumps!

[CndnMax]

What ... you guys aren't happy with old GS'es you can buy for 12-1500 in good shape. Chinass crap ... make sure they have a return policy when the chinass crap breaks.
Cool.
Srinath.

Don't forget the frame is probably made of lead 

[The Buddha]

And the chinass sheite can
Now bear in mind the average american adult weighs oh about 18 stone ... and our off road can seriously have 30 foot drops.
Cool.
Srinath.

[davipu]

right, your better off on yoru all purpose gs5

[Jughead]

I just Hope the Chinese aren't doing what the Japanese Done back in the 60's.Back then they put the British Bike Business out of Business.Even though the Japanese Bikes were only Slightly Worse than the British Quality.It Didn't take them long to make Better Quality Stuff than the British.With the Chinese right Now they don't Give a Flying F(&%$ about Quality as long as $h!t Sells.