Skutorr
Active member
A journalist took a tour of the factory...and found the BMW 650 motorcycle engines being assembled...
My Visit to Loncin Motorcycle Factory in China
My Visit to Loncin Motorcycle Factory in China
Loncin Factory in China where the motors are built...
- Thread starter Skutorr
- Start date
Doraemon
New member
Mmmmm, my guess is Copy built from one original. when working in Shanghai, our factory had to treat the parts and extra parts like gold and destroy all boxes and parts before puting in the trash.
and that was just eyeglass lenses.
haven't seen a black engine before on our bikes yet, buyer beware....
and that was just eyeglass lenses.
haven't seen a black engine before on our bikes yet, buyer beware....
JaimeC
New member
The engines for the BMW G series bikes are also made in China. From what I understand, they are based on the original Aprilia/Rotax built engines.
https://www.google.com/search?q=bmw+g650&ie=utf-8&oe=utf-8&aq=t&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:unofficial
https://www.google.com/search?q=bmw+g650&ie=utf-8&oe=utf-8&aq=t&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:unofficial
Oldscoot
New member
The distinction I am trying to make is that Kymco's manufacturing in Taiwan has traditionally produced a better product than other "Chinese" products, especially those made on the mainland. Kymco has two stickers, "Made in Taiwan" for their better bikes and "made in China" for others. Taiwan is in the same place that Japan was in the 80s with respect to bikes.
SteveADV
Active member
[Q UOTE=Oldscoot;2640]I believe that the video was shot in 2009 - which would have been before the development of a the C class engines. Our engines were the result of a collaboration between BMW and Kymco and the engines are manufactured by Kymco in Taiwan.[/QUOTE]
From what I know only the engine casing are made by kymco but the rest of the parts are still in Germany by BMW.
That's what my dealers told me. If kymco really does the whole engine. I am surprise with the quality n power they produce.
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From what I know only the engine casing are made by kymco but the rest of the parts are still in Germany by BMW.
That's what my dealers told me. If kymco really does the whole engine. I am surprise with the quality n power they produce.
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Skutorr
Active member
KYMCO is overseeing the production of the "C" engine by Loncin in China, in a separate facility from the main assembly lines. (BMW just signed a long-term deal with Loncin to produce ALL their large engines...BMW Motorrad Signs Loncin to Manufacture Large-displacement Engines_ chinamotor)
It's NOT built by KYMCO, just being massaged through the Mainland Process by them, as they already have their own supply infrastructure in place.
It's NOT built by KYMCO, just being massaged through the Mainland Process by them, as they already have their own supply infrastructure in place.
Oldscoot
New member
Oldscoot
New member
From what I know only the engine casing are made by kymco but the rest of the parts are still in Germany by BMW.
That's what my dealers told me. If kymco really does the whole engine. I am surprise with the quality n power they produce.
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk[/QUOTE]
Kymco generally builds a quality bike. They built bikes for Honda and others for many years. The new Kawasaki scooter is also a Kymco.
Oldscoot
New member
SteveADV - I agree with you. BUT - this site gets a lot of traffic from folks who are thinking of buying a C series scooter. We're kind of the pioneers for this product and the accuracy in what we put out is important. In many product markets Taiwan enjoys a far better reputation than mainland China. Everything I have read leads me to conclude that Kymco manufactures the C class engine. I've owned Kymcos that were manufactured by Kymco in their Taiwanese factory. There also are Kymcos that are manufactured in the mainland and they are designated differently. If Skutorr is correct - great - but I'd like to know the source of the information.
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Skutorr
Active member
Can't find the bookmark I had for that source. A motorcycle journalist had VISITED the actual plant KYMCO is overseeing at the LONCIN facility. It was a separate aerospace-quality "Clean Room" off of the main facility. If done right, (!!!) nothing is inherently wrong with a China-built Motor, especially if overseen by KYMCO, who build TANKS, their scooters are so tough.
I think the weak spot in this is the oversight of various SUBCONTRACTORS in China who are making parts; the cam chain tensioners (defective...replaced by BMW under warranty everywhere...)), the rear drive gear and chain sets (defective...wearing out prematurely...), Rear drive chain covers (the GOOD ones go on the C650Gt, the FUNKY ones with almost SAND in them go on the C600Sport...), etc.
An all-Taiwan sourced bike would be Stellar; but even Taiwan is having their stuff subbed-out to other Asian countries' manufacturers...
I think the weak spot in this is the oversight of various SUBCONTRACTORS in China who are making parts; the cam chain tensioners (defective...replaced by BMW under warranty everywhere...)), the rear drive gear and chain sets (defective...wearing out prematurely...), Rear drive chain covers (the GOOD ones go on the C650Gt, the FUNKY ones with almost SAND in them go on the C600Sport...), etc.
An all-Taiwan sourced bike would be Stellar; but even Taiwan is having their stuff subbed-out to other Asian countries' manufacturers...
SteveADV
Active member
So true, in all types of manufacturing. Good reason to focus on the end seller and how much skin they have in the game.
Oldscoot
New member
It felt weird for me too - sorry. What I meant is that the BMW scooters have gotten no small amount of crap from other (jealous) scooter owners for having a Kymco or Chinese engine. Having been an owner of, and fan of Kymco bikes, I knew that Kymco had been producing motors for Honda and BMW for years and I felt that this was a good thing. I read that Kymco had put their own 700 motor on hold to get the BMW engine built. In any event, there is a prejudice (sometimes well earned) against mainland Chinese scooters. On the other hand, companies like Genuine import a great bike from China, the Buddy. I don't like to feed the machine and value factual material. I wholly respect Skutorr and believe he has contributed mightily to this forum.
Oldscoot
New member
Good Lord, please protect us from sub-contractors.
Most of my career I represented an International Big Oil Company. 'Nuff said.