Buying a budget bike
 

So I'm in Chile preparing to buy a small bike. I got a few options, buying a Chinese one, I've had a look at a Keeway 200 tx.
My other thought is to buy a Honda xr 125.

The Chinese ones are a bit cheaper and the motors bigger. But for me the most important thing is reliability. I don't want to have problems on the road. I can give up on comfort and speed to be able to trust the bike.

Anyone who has any recommendations?

Buy a used Japanese bike. It will be way more reliable than a new Chinese one.

Thanks, I'll go with a 125 cc honda or Yamaha.

You're budget options are;

Honda CGL125
Honda XR 125

Or;

Secondhand XR250

Depends - what is your budget? A well-looked after Tornado with 15/20k on the clock would be a good option too and not too much more than a brand new XR 125. For just over 2k USD there is a XR 150 L which has a bit more cc than the 125 but I don't know what else? Honda brought them into Chile a year ago and not heard any one use one yet, but no doubt they're reliable as any other Honda produced in the Brazil factory.

Have a look at the Honda CB1. They look like great little bikes and are a bit more geared towards the dirt. I guess their market is ranchers/famers, etc. Only 999.999 peso. As for the Chinese bikes, some don't have any problems but a lot complain they do! I think if you're using the motorcycle to get from A to B, i.e. taking busy roads and never staying too far from the beaten path, they could be an okay option.

But if you're intending on doing any off-road stuff or seriously 'out there' stuff, there's absolutely no way I'd take a China bike. I mean, a lot of people out there say they're okay enough but then I've heard some horror stories too, but everyone agrees Honda's / Yamahas go forever if they're well cared for and don't have collapsing back wheels, weak chains, engines that need topend work after 25k, etc.

Al brand like keeway or qinqi wil be just as reliable as a honda.
( i dont say they that all Chinees bikes are as reliable!)
I guess 75 procent drive Chinees bikes here.(Ecuador )
Parts everywhere ,mostly 200cc or 250 cc.

Good luck with your choice!

How much do the bikes in question cost in Chile first and second hand? Also can any advise me on where to buy - Peru, Chile or Bolivia? Very flexible

Thanks

really deep low capacity such as xr 125, 150, CGL 125 are made in China, but they are pretty good and give no major problems, also I see that keway is a very good bike at a not very high price and as said anaconda no spare parts everywhere and very low copy engines are deep but in most Chinese is lower quality material,
if you need help in your purchase do not hesitate to communicate with me
I live in Santiago Chile