Korean Job Discussion Forums

[ZeKers]

I have been here 6 months and finally came to the conclusion that mass transit sucks and that I needed to buy a bike or I was going to lose it. I have had 3 bikes before coming to Korea:
'99 Red SV650
'01 Blue SV650s
'04 Honda RC51 (1000cc)

I sold the Blue SV And RC51 just before coming to Korea since I wouldn't be needing them for a while. I told myself that I would not be happy with a 125cc or 250cc and needed at least a 400cc. Boy was I wrong......

My wife and I just got back from some heavy duty traveling to Japan and China in less than 2 weeks, so inadvertently we got this week off because of the swine flu scare. So I took it upon myself to go motorcycle hunting in Busan. I went to maybe 10 dealerships large and small and even looked at some private owners selling their bikes on Korea Bridge Classifieds. I looked at everything from complete garbage to really nice high dollar stuff that was way out of my price range.

So today, I decided to look in a different part of town and jumped on the bus looking for motorcycles sitting on the sidewalk for sale. Finally towards the end of the day I found a dealership with more than 1 bike that was under my 2 Million KRW limit and not complete garbage comparably speaking. In the end I purchased a 2006 Daelim VS 125. I figured for the amount I spent on it (Well less than 1 Million) and considering the condition it was in (Everything Worked, Motor Sounds good) I got a decent deal.

I really wanted a Honda, but they are so over priced here with the import tariffs. So most of the ones I found were either out of my price range or on the rough side. The Daelim VS will fit my wife and I, and allow us to go on road trips comfortably. Maybe next spring I can talk the wife into letting me get more of a "Fun" bike and give her the VS to ride.

Now it's time to find some good roads in Busan, any suggestions?

[img]http://www.halfzware.com/photos/daelim-vs-125-1.jpg[/img]

[technique]

I completely agree with everything you have said. I just bought my first Korean motorcycle here a few weeks ago, and I ended up with a Hyosung GT125 (little sportbike). I never imagined something like that would be enough power for me, but the speed limits are low, and the cities are crowded.

After riding it almost 800km in three weeks through all sorts of terrain, I can admit that I will be looking for a slightly bigger bike next spring. The 125 doesn't like taking decent grades in high gear with both my girlfriend and I riding it, even though together we only weigh 114kilos.

Even though I'm not a cruiser fan, it seems you've found a nice looking used model. Have fun riding.

[Ukon]

I have a VS 125....good bike, but other than driving around town, I suggest upgrading to a 250cc pronto...

Hyosung comet 250cc are decent....I typically speed like crazy and unless your itching to go above 100 mph, it will do the job....if you want to carry a passenger, get the 250cc mirage which I've heard good things about. I think it uses the same engine in a cruiser configuration....you can get them used from foreigners for around 1 million won.

If you really need more power, get the Hyosung 650...

I haven't tried out or know anything about the
Hyosung Exiv, Yamada, 125-250cc daystar, Daelim VF

[myeo]

A 125 sounds like a great size for running around a crowded city.

Once grades and hills were mentioned, it made me think of Top Gear in Vietnam.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O1zfuBgCUqY
http://www.youtube.com/watch?=dyBl9vf8Td0&feature=channel


If I am in Korea long enough I might consider getting a bike. Not for the city, but for checking out the scenic parts.

[Sleeman]

I just bought a Daelim Citi ace 110
its a pretty decent little scooter, i really wanted a bigger sport bike but i live in a small city and the pickiing is slim.Anyway i got the Daelim for only 400000W with a 3 month warranty and 2 helmet. I feel like its a decent deal. The bike goes about 100km/h which is good for now i guess.
I really like the look of your 125 VS

[IlIlNine]

You know, I always thought that those 125 VS, if you got rid of the plastic and painted the rest flat black, would make a pretty cool rat bike. Almost tempted to buy an old one for cheap just to try it out.

Anyways, if there's ever been a tried-and-true design, the VS125 is it. Those bikes have been made here since the dawn of time and they're dead reliable and really cheap to run.

[Ukon]

[ZeKers]

Well, I sold the old VS125 just the other day. I put probably 4k km on the thing in a few months. The odometer stopped working after 3 months. The only thing I replaced on it was the carburetor, stator, seat cover, front brake rotor, chain, and sprockets. Man, that sounds like a lot in the time that I owned it. The only thing that was REALLY required was maybe the front rotor and the chain and sprockets. The other stuff I fixed because I'm a little anal retentive with my bikes. Even if it is just a VS125. For zipping around town it was perfect and kept up with traffic just fine. My only complaint would be the shitty front brake. Single rotor, and single piston caliper. It would stop you, but maybe not as quick as you would like or hope. I did take it on a road trip of 500km to Geoje-do and it did just fine. Just a bit slow up hills with the wife on back. The VS125 tops out at around 110km/h, and at that speed it's vibrating like hell and sounds like it will blow up. SHe likes to cruise around 80km/h, any faster and you will get nerve damage in your hands from the vibrations. j/k I changed the oil every 300km and was a bit rough on the motor, thinking at times that I was going to blow it up. You have to be rough with a 125cc road bike right? Anyway, it was a great bike.

I have upgraded to a 2005 Comet GT250 and I'm damn glad! It's a great bike, just shifts like a tractor. I have found myself speeding around traffic, and just speeding in general. Which I'm not sure is a bad or a good thing. I sure do love the bike though. I'm excited to take it on my next road trip!