whats your take on hyosung?
 

I really like the looks of that GT650r and it looks like mods are starting to come out for it. You can now get a pipe for them.

just curious on your guys opinions?


The cheap pricing is so tempting heh :lol:

I think they may have something to offer, as yet I'm not sure if the price differential is great enough to go with Hyosung over a proven product such as a Jap bike, but all the same the bike is rather better than many give it credit for. And let's not forget what happened when The Japanese bikes first showed up - sound familiar?

However there will soon be 500 posts from SV owners telling you that it can't be any good 'cos it's not an SV:

I think Sir Sid is right. If the price diferential between the Hyosung and the SV is sufficient, then it has to be an alternative for those working to a budget. 8)

Listen to the squid he knows...eeeeeeverything ;)

My only concern would be spares, but other than that, why not give it a go.

Isn't that the one with an SV engine?

The only concern I would have with these companies is the company could go bust and getting parts could be an **** like what happed to a collegue of mine but Hoysung are one of the bigger ones so that shouldn't really be a problem.

^ Wot him and Sid Squid said.

At the moment, unless you really like the looks, or really want to be different, there's little incenctive to buy an "untested" bike like that rather than the SV. If the price was £3K new, it'd be a different situation entirely.

I believe it's a clone of an SV engine, I don't think it's actually a Suzuki engine in it.

Your right, The Gt 650 is an Sv650 clone engine, The XRX125 is a DR125 clone engine, The RT125 is a Van Van Clone ... etc. etc. They're all clone suzuki Engines :roll: .

I can only speak with experience about the Hyosung 125 which my son had.It was a cheap and competant bike but there were some major faults.It had really poor brakes,and it ripped through chains and brake pads (and a disc)at an alarming rate.Spares are hard to get and expensive,and you will need spares.We are used to saying SVs are built "down to a price"but Hyosungs are built down to an even lower price and it shows when you own one.For me the price difference would need to be much greater to make up for the extra expenses and hassles of running one.

So all thie things really that where said aabout early Jap bikes :? :D

There's a big difference between Hyosung now and early Jap bikes.Much of the critisism of the Japs was from die hard Brit is best types who would'nt give credit where it was due.Jap bikes then were cheaper and better than the home grown competition by any objective measure.They had better and more modern design,better build quality,massively better reliability and they did'nt leak oil everywhere to name a few examples.The latest influx only have a price advantage,as they use older designs,and poorer quality body parts and accessories.They are competing with established brands that invest heavily in their products and won't be caught napping like the Brits were in the sixties.

I had this....
http://upload4.postimage.org/354740/IMAG0018mini.jpg

The XRX125 stopped on a penny :roll: Single disc up front and drum rear, the rear wasn't up to much but the front would quite happily throw you over the bars if you gave it too much.
Can't argue with that one, Mine had a new chain and sprockets after 3 months and a new set of brake pads after 1 month's use :shock:
I bought mine from George wards in Barnsley and was given a direct number for Hyosung Uk spares, They were bloody cheap and delivered quickly, needed to get the brake pads from them as i couldn't match them up to another bike ( the sprockets were same as DR125)

The other thing about them was the finish quality, The second one i got ( first was written off when a transit parked on it :roll: :lol: Luckily i jumped off) came with a dry clutch, meaning the plates welded together after about 200 miles :shock: Thankfully they binded over night so i didn't crash into anything. The exhaust rusted at the thought of getting wet, and the battery wasn't much cop.

I'm probably a bit out of date,but I used to get spares for Hyosung direct from the importer(some place in Croydon?)but the last time they had stopped doing them and I was redirected to some other firm.Spares problems can be sorted out however the real problem Hyosung will face is competing with the likes of the Jap four who will fight hard for their markets,not just sit back and say "We are biggest and best,no problems here"which is essentially what the Brits did in the 60s.
I'm not saying Hyosung won't be a success,just saying they won't have it on a plate like the Japs did.

hyosung
 

Ive been in the industry 10 years and theres no information in any of my trade books for these...

Suzuki have an engine plant in China, I'm given to understand that's where your SV motor came from - I'm not 100% certain about that yet, but I've heard it from several sources now, two of which are in such a position as to be given much credit.

Sid, that is most flatering kind sir, but you must be confused I never said anything about engines in China.

Nothing wrong with Hyosung...But I would ask questions about spares and back-up before I part wit money.

:lol: i always forget this is a UK based site. Im in the US, i happened to find this site before the SV650.com. Anyways, down in SF there is a hyosung dealer that i pass by 5days a week.

One of these days ill take a break from work and stop in there. I think they've been selling the hyosung scooters for awhile as the shop is called SF scooters or something like that and then just jumped on the cheap street bikes when the come out.

Sid Squid irritatingly made all the points I was going to :(

But he left a small gap for me... The depreciation is traditionally far worse on unproven, budget options- I've not seen numbers for the Comet, but I'd expect it to be heavy. So any saving you make on purchase, you may well lose on resale.

The aftermarket parts access, volume of used spares, and sheer expertise on the SV that's out there are all big advantages. But then, I heard Traxxion is doing full support for the Comet, suspension wise.

PS,
http://www.diseno-art.com/images/Italjet_Grifon_650.jpg

A Griffon?? first ive heard of those. anyone care to explain what they are and if their coming to the US?

I'm not sure if they're even going to make production... They're from Italjet, who make scooters.

well its sexy and i want one :lol:

A 3 year old Sv still has better build quality than those comets.
They'll depreciate like a penny down a wishing well if you bought new and when you tried to sell it who'd want it?

True, in recent years they've only produced scooters, but Italjet have a lengthy history and used to make rather well respected trials bikes and road bikes although mostly small capacity stuff, they did produce a few larger bikes with British engines, Enfield 750 I think and maybe a Velo, and I think they used the Griffon name for one of those too. Of course the Italjet of today is undoubtedly a badge owned by one of the usual suspects.

Quite. I feel the same.

well if they come out...wanna import one to me? :lol: :lol:

Infact i think im gona check out google and see if Italjet sells scooters in the US

They are probably pretty crude at the moment as they havent had the time to R&D what Suzuki et al have. I years to come though, they could be quite a force - it wouldnt take much to achieve the finishing quality of Suzuki - they dont make bikes last long enough in my opinion. At the moment though, depreciation will hit you harder in the pocket than a jap bike so while its cheap to buy, it wont be cheaper in the long run.

Mmm... Remember that the SV is pretty stoneaged.

They do have Suzuki's R&D... They copy everything!

I test rode a GT650S last week. I was a bit anxious riding a "big" (hey, I have a 250!) bike, and a privately owned one at that.

I rode about 15 minutes. From the first corner I cornered quicker and with much more confidence than my 250. In all respects of handling and braking it feels good to me.

But then again I haven't riden an SV yet. :(

The price for an SV £4850, price for a GT650R £3615, £3070 for a GT650S (direct currency convertion). So far I am seriously considering getting a red GT650R.

Whatever gripes I have later, I would have to live with it until I upgrade to a Tuono or a Sprint ST maybe.

Remember that an SV will never sell at list price. If have a look around you can get an 'S' model for £4000.

I like the styling of the Hyosung. I read somewhere they have been around for many moons in as a Korean company which is altogether different from China and the reputation of low build quality. I would consider it alongside the SV if it was readily available to test.

sv copy the gt650 i think it was called was put up against the sv in a men and motors programme and the bike testers said it was just plain nasty and the sv was a better bike all round.

Absolute crap!!! i get people coming into my shop all the time asking for spares....I cant get em anywhere and we've been trading 60 years!!!

An American magazine by the name of Motorcyclist recently reviewed the sv650, monster 620, fz6 (fazer for you guys), a few other bikes and the hyosung gt650. The bike is listed at nearly the same price point as the sv650 and they noted many areas the bike is lacking it. I believe it has a relatively commited riding posture and handles alright. The foot pegs are large and rubber and look much like my old 1987 zx1000 ninja. Overall the bike seems to be stuck in the early nineties at best in terms of technology and innovation.

I do love the styling though as it looks a little like the Benneli Tornado. It has a pretty unique style and it definitely doesn't really look like any other bike around the $6-7k bargain bike price point. Hopefully they will do as Triumph has done and produce better and better sport bikes so that one day we will see something like the 675 coming from this Korean company...

Theres a review of the Hyosung this month in BIKE magazine. Its just a standalone review but does mention the SV in comparison. It comments that there are a few nice touches but overall they have cut too many corners and the suspension isnt even as good as the SVs. Take a read - it may make your mind up to spend the little extra. Remember what you save now you will lose when it comes to selling up.

Putting the cheaper brakes, suspension etc aside i just think it is no where near as nice looking as the SV.

Also an SV is a budget bike....do you really want a budget version of a budget bike :?

Who was interested in that naked beauty from Italjet?
Have a look here...


http://korider.com/forum/modules.php...=article&sid=2

See, I reckon that's one of the best looking modern nakeds ever made... Though you could do something very similiar with an SV and a budget ( :-dd

I've just sold my Hyosung comet (gt125) which i had for 18 months. Was a great bike to start on - but not built for this climate. I kept mine indoors and it just rusted away. The 'aluminium' frame is a steel gs500 frame painted to look aluminium. Brakes are a bit weak - but you'll never get enough speed on one for it to cause too much of a problem. It was a royal pain in the @rse though as it kept going wrong. As far as i'm aware the bikes are made in Korea. If you've got the time and effort - and are prepared to have one for a while, they're worth having :o)

How many chains break pads and clutch cables did you get through in 18 months? :wink: They will improve no doubt,and may become a major force,but the Chinese are coming and their labour rates are almost nil,even compared to Korea.