Will a Shineray GY200 make a good winter commuter bike in UK. I've heard they're unreliable. If so, Why?

Answer 1

Whilst I don't know anything about the specific bike you are asking about I will make a few observations about other such generic "chinese" bikes I have seen.
Whilst similar in appearance to older Japanese machines, the quality of manufacture, materials and finish is visibly inferior. One example I saw had a group of unprotected, low quality, electrical connectors tied to the front frame tube in direct line of fire from spray from the front wheel. A few weeks of salted roads and that would be a breakdown waiting to happen.
Another one turned up in the car park at work a few weeks back. It had <100 miles on the clock but already an indicator mount had fatigued off and the rear brake actuating rod was wrapped round the hub (clearly the rear brake torque arm had come adrift on the journey in)
I would spend your money on a second-hand japanese bike, or maybe even an MZ. In this case buying new probably won't buy you reliability.
Of course, if you are prepared to strip it, re-paint a few things and then make sure all the bolts are done up tight, then you might well end up with reliable transport.

Answer 2

It's cheap, poorly made and will barely last for 6 months.

So, you buy one run it through the winter, then sell it for scrap in the spring. It won't last much longer than that, believe me.

(Oh, by the way, whilst most Far Eastern made bikes are copies of Japanese ones, they are built using inferior technology, inferior quality metals & alloys and much less rigorous quality control.

Please don't be fooled into thinking a Chinese / Taiwanese / Malaysian / Korean bike is as good as a Japanese bike, simply because it's a copy...)

Answer 3

There are far better choices for a winter commuter (CG125, MZ250, Honda Benley etc) but if you're buying one from a dealer and you're prepared to beat them up every time it breaks down, then it could do the job for you.

Buying one without dealer backup is foolhardy in the extreme.

Answer 4

They are built down to price, which is fair enough but there is nothing inherently wrong with any of the chinese imports, they are based on japanese engineering and as long as they are properly maintained they are fine.

Answer 5

I don't know if they're reliable or not but the motorcycling fraternity are notoriously very snobby in the UK so whichever bike you choose will undoubtedly be sneered at by somebody. For some unknown reason bikers in this country seem fixated with sports bikes. Why? I don't know because on the whole they are not suited to the climate or road conditions. My advise is to buy whatever bike you like and just enjoy riding it. Your choice sounds practical for the crappy winter weather. I myself have a Chinese built 125 as well as a larger Honda and they are both reliable machines. Most lesser known manufactures bikes are copies of Jap bikes with years of proven reliability so yo should be ok.