Hi Guy's.....Just found this on the web... http://www.chinamotorworld.com/index...a=view&id=1793 ...interesting if a little strange english translation!, I'll have read when i have 5 mins Tdmalcolm

Interesting bit of self promotion. I guess they don't know they are supposed to let unbiased Motojournos do product reviews!
Well, got to start somewhere I guess!

I got a kick out of the below statement ... "... deep understanding of the touring motorcycling market ..."

FUNNY STUFF!!

"As a motorcycle manufacturer full of consideration, Zongshen has proved its forward-looking and nimble ideas in product research and development. RX3 is Zongshen's competitive product developed based on its deep understanding of the touring motorcycle market, targeting the increasing group of motorcycle touring fans. Among domestic motorcycles, the RX3 carries the real meaning of "new model". The designer did everything, from market positioning to technical issues, to accomplish the idea of adventure touring."

Proves my earlier point about the Chinese not using NON Chinese marketing people to help introduce the brand. Talk about sticking FOOT IN MOUTH. The Japanese set up USA, UK, EU headquarters run by locals. They hired the best in the business advertising agencies ("You meet the nicest people on a Honda") to sell the brand. They struggled but eventually got there. For Honda, it was racing, and all the Big Four eventually raced ... and still do. With bikes, racing is key.

The Koreans with their cars have followed a similar path. It's simply not enough to build good products ... you have to convince people of the quality and establish the legitimacy of the brand. Not so easy to do ... just ask KIA and Hyundai. At least ten years of struggle to get where they are now.

I guess the Chinese are a few years behind, still haven't a clue how to market to a round eyed world. Great products, poor marketing.

Go back ten years from "You meet the nicest people on a Honda" and it looks a bit more like what the Chinese are putting out now.

How about " Power transmission is defined such mechanism as rotation of crankshaft is transmitted rear wheel"

or "Further power is transmitted from the mission and through rear wheel damper of rubber made to the rear wheel sprocket"

Both of those come from a 1960 Honda manual (CB77) opened at random - it says revised in 1971 but maybe they missed a few bits.

The advertising agencies promoting Honda et al may have been native English speakers but even by the early 70's there were still vestiges of cultural differences apparent in stuff direct from the factories - I remember reading "Thank you for buying honourable Suzuki" in a 1972 Suzuki handbook, although four years later this had mellowed to "We sincerely thank you for choosing this Suzuki motorcycle" (my 1976 B120 handbook).

I recon it'd be a great .......... boat mooring

This is true, took the Japanese years to straighten out their manuals. The problem was they were all translated and put together in Japan, not USA. Lots of Brits and Yanks ended up getting jobs teaching English during those early years. The Japs have a hell of a time with English ... they are much better engineers! But then ... how's your Japanese? did you know they have 3 alphabets!

CB77 ... ah yes, my brother had one ... which I later inherited when he gave up riding completely.

Robert Pirsig rode one too .... (Zen and Art of MC Maintenance)

my Japanese? - yes, well, umm Actually I probably know maybe a couple of hundred words left over from my martial arts days but it may improve if my daughter spends a year in the country as part of her Uni course. Languages are fascinating (I think so anyway) - we all struggled with Chinese for a bit when my son taught English in various parts of the country a few years ago and somewhere around the house there's a copy of a "Learn English" CD for Chinese schoolchildren recorded in Shanghai where he was the native English speaker.

No critisism intended with the mangled English examples I gave above btw. Trying to communicate at a technical level across linguistic boundaries is never going to be easy no matter what level you work at. Last year my son earnt a few thousand Euros final checking Dutch academic papers in his discipline awaiting submission to English language journals and at the other end of the spectrum I regularly fall into into every pit available during my weekly French class. Even writing this I've had to check a few spelling and grammar points. :confused1:

p.s. - The CB77. The manual is left over from the days long ago when I had one although I have an engine in my garage atm. The rest of the bike is in New Jersey! Years ago, before the airlines became paranoid, I knew several people who took complete engines across the atlantic as hand luggage on a flight but I can't see that happening in the near future

Hi All. I made a call to Earnshaws at uddersfield the other day to ask about opening times, and had a discussion with whom i believe was the Gov! and he was telling me about the spec's etc of the fresh bikes to arrive in the next week or two and mentioned that the rx3 in the his dealership was just the prototype and the following ones were a massive improvement on that one ( which in his opinion) was already very high in quality! so I'll be going to take a looky near the end of May (second May bank holiday) and see what will happen.... also there will be some more dealers on line soon and also arrangements with others to cover warranted claims / servicing to machines further afield
TDMalcolm

Well hi All! I've now had a very close look and a sit on listen too a (new 0mls) RX3 @ Earnshaws.... very impressed very good quality of fit and finish on welds and castings etc the engines sounds nice, very responsive good seat hight for those like me are short in stature ( i have inside leg of 28") both feet near flat to floor, the seat is very sumptuous nice feel and comfy.. I noted that there is a very good rear fender protecting the rear shock the front one is a little on the short side and needs extending from word go... all bikes have their niggles etc but all i can say from a first twenty minute look and poke about I would seriously consider one for what i want of a commuter machine ... any thing I've not covered? I'll try to remember and let you know
TDMalcolm
ps It looks like a local to me bike dealer will be selling them within the next couple of months

Which dealer Malc?
Close to you

Review here Honley RX3 - A 250cc adventure bike | Bike Social

Hi Floyd. I went to see Earnshaws at huddersfield (google it) very imprest i was the guy I spoke to said that they had employed a person to set up a dealer network and if you look on their web site there are two already, however, I was made aware that a dealer/service dept was being set up in Lowestoft..so not far from us I was told to keep checking their website for more details... hope tht helps mate I looked at the original prototype and the new batch and there was improvements.. the only thing i was not happy about and told them was the side stand was sprung loaded and i felt that it was likely to retract when not expected and you'll end up dropping the bike!!! I think this will be modded... other wise a cracking machine gromet.... TDMalcolm

Hi Guyu's, Just found this on web... forum with a spec sheet on the bike...and it looks about right to.....Zongshen RX3 - A 250cc Adventure Tourer
and just remembered the brakes use braided hoses as standard
TDMalcolm

[url=http://www.advpulse.com/adv-bikes/m1nsk-trx-300i-ready-for-a-250cc-adventure-bike/]M1nsk TRX 300i - Ready for a 250cc Adventure Bike?

Hi Floyd an all!
The local Dealer for Honley M/cycles is " A R Motorcycles Lowestoft. I had a email from them following an enquiry to confirm they have a Yellow RX3 in stock... (i wanted a Blue one) however I will be going over some time to have a look.
TDMalcolm

Hi Guy's this is a fair review of the bike.....
2014 Honley Venturer 250cc review - MoreBikes | MoreBikes
TDMalcolm