Korean Job Discussion Forums

[john]

Hi,

Before I get flamed for not using the motorcycle thread, the search engine on Dave's is not up to the task.

Anyway, so what is the most economical 124/125 cc motorcycle?

Gas mileage / kilometer-age?

Repairs and reliability?

New and used purchase prices?

Thanks

[Pyongshin Sangja]

Hyosung Comet 125

Hyosung Mirage 125

Daelim Roadwin 125

All should be available for about W1,000,000 on shops on Toegyero or elsewhere. I don't know about mileage, but they are all small engine, good city bikes. Older models like Daelim Magma and Hyosung VF should be avoided.

[GoldMember]

The Hyosung 125 is actually a 250 with one of the cylinders disconnected!
Would you buy a V8 with half the engine disconnected?
Would you date a woman with one breast?
Would you buy trousers with just one leg?
Would you buy a single shoe?
It's a bike for guys with only 1 testicle.

[Pyongshin Sangja]

Dude, I know. I have a Comet 250.

[Bibbitybop]

What about the Daelim Daystar 125?

OP, bike repairs are super low in Korea. If you have a Korean made bike, they are all super cheap to work on.

[john]

Yes, the Daelim Daystar 125 is high on my list of prospects for a new bike.

I will avoid Mirages because of a problem with the electronic starter.

Magmas just seem a bit long in the tooth.

I was just looking for suggestions from the Dave's board.

Thanks

[Bibbitybop]

[poet13]

[GoldMember]

Poet, your doing it the hard way. Buy a 250 and put 125 decals on it.

While your at it if the tires are 'Swallow' change the tires. Swallow motorcycle tires are mega crapolla.

Even if they have lots of tread, don't wait for them to wear out, just chuck em'

[Bibbitybop]

Why not just get a motorcycle license to ride above 125cc? It's easier than installing a different engine!

I don't know how it works in Korea, but VIN numbers are usually linked to the bikes make and model. Plus, any idiot cop, even Korean ones, can see 2 engine blocks instead of one. Since Korea doesn't have lots of altered or strange bikes, it would be easy to see the "125" is actually bigger.

[poet13]

Well, I actually want to build a Philippines style trike, but with a family of four, a 125 would have to work too hard.

"Just put 125 decals...." Is the law that easy to skirt?

As far as getting a big bike license, I've heard they are a pain in the butt. Is there an Egnlish version of the written test? If not, I might be screwed right there.

As far as any idiot cop being able to see 2 cylinders and heads instead of 1, the previous poster said one was just disonnected, which suggests that it's present, just not...umm...connected.

[GoldMember]

The 250 and 125 look EXACTLY the same except for the decals. Easy Peasy.

[poet13]

Sounds good. I'm sure I would get a few license checks though, as I'm in a rural area, and everybody knows me. Showing up with a new bike would raise interest.

[earthbound14]

The Daelim VS Cruise is probably the cheapest 125 to buy and run. It is also one of the ugliest bikes. I owned a 97 that still had the original Honda engine block, runs like a champ and extremely cheap to fix. Pretty zippy off the line (with new clutch plates....) but a low top speed of about 105 (compare to 115 with most of the other 125cc bikes). Handles good (better than the Mirage or Daystar which are designed like bigger bikes with tiny engines...they handle like shit....cheap rides though). 400,000 to 500,000

Both the Daystar and the Mirage are pretty good, they look better than the Cruise but they also handle like a bigger cruiser....kinda of stupid if you ask me. Hyosung bikes are famous for having starter problems. The Mirage (like the Comet) have V-twin engine blocks with only one piston. Again useless weight, you can't bore out the block and put another piston in). So the Daystar (Daelim) would be my pick. 600,000 will get you a pretty good one.

The Daelim Roadwin 125 (or 150) would be my pick for best over all bike for the money. Nothing really amazing, but it is what it is. A good little 125 no silly extra engine block, the frame isn't over designed (The comet 125 and 250, the frame was originally designed for the 650, but never used), and it handles great. 800,000 might be the cheapest you will find this bike. I would suggest getting one that's only a few years old (pay over a mil) and get most of your money back when you sell it. You also have a nice bike to ride rather than a junker that's going to be in and out of the shop.

Other bikes

Hyosung 125 Troy (RD125) and RX125. Both bikes are really versatile and pretty cool to ride. These bikes sell pretty easily and will be easy to sell when you leave. They are as fast as the Roadwin, but you can drop curbs and so a little single track pretty easily. They don't handle as well around corners at high speeds though (but considering it's a 125, it's not terribly noticable). 900,000 plus usually buys you one of these (most shops seem to have them priced 1.5 and up for models newer than 2003, although the RX can sometimes be found for 600,00 if its old - from 97)

You can have any of these bikes over bored for about 100,000 (basically making them a 150cc bike).

Or you can buy a Comet 250 (1.3 mil and up) and actually be able to head out on the highway or be completely safe while crossing those big bridges in Seoul - 125s don't really have the juice to move safely in traffic moving above 80km/hour - although it's do-able. I rode my 125 to Seoraksan once.

The new Comet 250R EFI has some promise. Better mileage and faster bike. Great all rounder. Of course if I lived somewhere else I would avoid Korean bikes...they generally suck compared to Japanese bikes....but they are getting better (The Daelim Roadwin 125 EFI and the new Comet line up are showing some promise).

[poet13]

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