Neither of your hotlinks work for me...
I'm interested though, I've been considering getting rid of my XT225 in favor of something more street-oriented. The deal breaker would be if these are also carb'ed. The biggest complaint I have with my XT225 is that it is carb'ed and takes FOREVER to warm up, especially in 35-40 degree temps.
URL For non-privileged hotlink viewers
http://www.clevelandcyclewerks.com/
Get your carb rejetted and adjusted. my carbed 600 is off choke in under 2 minutes
Want.
Are they chinese?
Are they quality chinese?
Am I speaking in oxymorons?
They are a chinese 250cc engine put into a bike designed and built by a small start-up company in Cleveland. Drive did a piece on them about a week ago
Jamesc2123 wrote: They are a chinese 250cc engine put into a bike designed and built by a small start-up company in Cleveland. Drive did a piece on them about a week ago http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vKnwE1FJBFc
The "heist"
Its a freaking kicker 5150 with a better marketing team. I have built or fixed a few of them and that frame and that "oil bag" say kicker, hell the key switch is even in the same place.
The other two look real close to some off the shelf Chinese import stuff.
From Cleveland Cyclewerk's website: "Final assembly for our production is currently in China....." You're right. I missed that the first time I went through their site.
Sorry about that. The owner on the Drive video made it sound very clearly like the engine is the only thing made in China...
I just can't believe that it's really cheaper to build and ship entire motorcycles from China. I don't think enough of us are trying hard enough to make manufacturing affordable in the states.
the little supermoto looks pretty sweet though
We now laugh at Chinese products like our parents laughed at Japanese products in the 50s.
I like the concept. Affordable motorcycles that don't look horrifically cheap. Would be interesting to know if they are less "affordable entry-level motorcycles" and more "cheaply-made turds".
What would be to stop you from setting up a "road racing" course in a parking lot and racing those "Misfits"? Can't believe they'd live long tapped out on long straights but a little short course with twisties would probably be a blast on them...
Taiden wrote: I just can't believe that it's really cheaper to build and ship entire motorcycles from China. I don't think enough of us are trying hard enough to make manufacturing affordable in the states.
Seriously, you would think they could at least do final assembly in Ohio if they're going to use "Cleveland" in their name...
Taiden wrote: I just can't believe that it's really cheaper to build and ship entire motorcycles from China. I don't think enough of us are trying hard enough to make manufacturing affordable in the states.
Why don't you be the first. Call up Cleveland Cycleworks and offer to put bikes together for them for $10 a day. 
Tell you what.
If enough people PayPal me some money i will buy one and be the guinea pig to see how these things actually are. Ride-ability, quality, fun.
I am being dead serious.
They are $3,000. I figure if i can get some financial support from the board or GRM ill do a long term test of it. Throw some GRM stickers on it and heck it could even turn into an article for the magazine. It could be the first "Sprockets" story.
I think that would be fun.
Anyone in?
GRM staff you listening? Per, David, Marjorie??
Do a leg across America. CarKid, you ride up to Grand Rapids, I'll ride it down to Illinois to another rider, and so on.
In reply to Grtechguy:
Y'know, that wouldn't be a bad advertising idea... Tough enough for 500 riders across America, etc...
Hmmmmmmmmm....
Taiden wrote: I just can't believe that it's really cheaper to build and ship entire motorcycles from China. I don't think enough of us are trying hard enough to make manufacturing affordable in the states.
NPR's show "This American Life" recently produced a segment about working conditions at Apple's factories in China. To shed some light about what it's like to work manufacturing in China, here's the last third of the segment, which gives a look into how the manufacturing sector works. It talks about both working conditions and the efficiencies of the manufacturing system itself. Not only does China offer workers willing to work long overtime, they also have networks of factories that allow for very efficient supply lines and almost instantaneous tooling changes.
I remember reading an article about the same thing. It's pretty amazing what they can do. That's why I say,
"I don't think enough of us are trying hard enough to make manufacturing affordable in the states."
I think there are a lot of people (up top) who could work harder to make manufacturing in the states more competitive.
Interesting how people seem to be on board for this one, but seemed to hate the Wolf 150 I posted in an earlier thread.
http://grassrootsmotorsports.com/forum/sprockets/wolf-150/46734/page1/
anyone in for my idea?
Taiden wrote: I just can't believe that it's really cheaper to build and ship entire motorcycles from China. I don't think enough of us are trying hard enough to make manufacturing affordable in the states.
Want to live in a company dormitory?
http://open.salon.com/blog/steve_klingaman/2012/01/25/lets_not_kid_ourselves_about_manufacturing_jobs
Read it.
There is no way people in this culture and society would be willing to live in that kind of situation. We're too adoring of our privacy and creature comforts.
We need to recognize that there are some things we simply will not regain because we will not and can not compete. It's more beneficial to look to the future and see what we CAN do, not what we used to do.
I would totally rock one of these
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