IBIS wrote:
Just had a nice ride out to a local biker haunt. I didn't take the X1 as I'm not up to riding it yet as I am getting over illness. The bike I rode was my Benelli TRK 502x. For those than are not familiar this is adventure bike ( to my mind more in styling than substance) the bike is made in China 😳 The design and development however is led by Benelli who are still based in Italy. The company is owned bu QJ a very big player in motorcycle manufacture. They also own Volvo. I purchased the bike in October with the help of our own Steve Loxton. I became drawn to the bike having read a very favourable review in ABR magazine. My initial thoughts were I bet it's typically Chinese, the finish will be Dubois & dealer back up will be nonexistent Having actually seem the bike in the flesh I was really impressed. I was after a bike to tour on that was very comfy, could cruise at legal motorway speeds looked good of course and didn't cost the earth. Now being only 500cc 200 odd kilos & physically big I new it wasn't going to set the world alight. It's A2 compliant so it's only 48 bhp. However in the real world it's exactly what I wanted, comfy, cruising speed of 75-85 all day long sounds lovely ( 360 degree crank like the classic Triumphs). ..... & extremely good value less than £ 5 and a half grand on the road..... Any way to my point I endured this asshole who I have never met who was riding a shed of a 650 V-Strom slagging my bike off within earshot of me, not sure if he new I owned it. Having intervened to defend my purchase he became personally abusive. Gradually his audience disapated and their was just him & I. I'm glad to say that he crumbled like a sack of S... After a desimation of his biking knowledge, shame the other W...ers weren't around to hear it. I'm now angry for the rest of the day.
I celebrated this before and always willing to do it again, China made it to the moon.
They did this to become leaders in various sections of engineering. Apple being the first victim of their emerging brilliance & this is just their infancy.
Anyone who doesn't take them seriously, is a total idiot.
Just my opinion of course, no offence meant to anyone.
Enjoy your bike and let the ignorant say what they like, they are the fools.