COVID had one positive outcome for the motorcycle industry. It provided a huge tailwind to online sales with a corresponding growth in delivery/commercial motorcycle sales. Checkers 60/60, Takealot and the like went on a shopping spree for commercial motorcycles. To take advantage of this stream of new business, KMSA started doing their due diligence on value-for-money offerings from the East. Kawasaki itself has never been a big player in this space, so their eyes turned to reputable Chinese offerings. What transpired was the subject of this story.
KMSA struck a deal with Lifan Industry (Group), a manufacturer of motorcycles since 1992 and motor cars and commercial vehicles since 2005, located in Chongqing, China. As with most Chinese offerings, Lifan builds motorcycle engines that visually show design cues harking back to Japanese stalwarts of the late ’90s. The Lifan CG175 Express is an example of this. In the infancy of the Japanese motor Industry, a similar strategy was employed. Japanese companies copied European engine design so well that, over time, they improved significantly on the originals. One of the best examples of this was the superb 2,800cc straight-six engine built by Datsun, which was derived from the Mercedes 2.8-litre straight-six.
The Chinese build motorcycles in such volumes that an economy of scale results in significant value for money offerings. I was keen to understand what the riding experience is for the average delivery pilot negotiating the urban sprawl of SA’s biggest city. I popped in to KMSA and picked up a Lifan CG175 Express on which I planned to spend a morning negotiating typical Jo’burg city congestion. I planned on taking photos at Simon’s Linden property, which gave me some time on the freeway as well. Literally half the traffic lights in Jo’burg were out of action, adding to motorists’ misery. The mismanagement of the city is becoming more and more evident.
True to form, the Lifan was filled with fuel and spotlessly clean when I picked it up. KMSA run their demo fleet in an exemplary manner. The extra torque of the 175cc motor was immediately evident. It makes for a more relaxing ride as you don’t have to rev the motor off the clock to keep it on the boil. The bike is generally smooth and solid.
Braking performance is decent, given that it is, as most of the bikes in this class, drum-braked. The CG175 has analogue instrumentation with a tachometer incorporating a trip meter and a gear indicator, and a separate speedo with a fuel gauge. I had no trouble accelerating away from traffic at the stoplight GP, and my stint on the freeway showed the Lifan up to the task of maintaining 100 km/h without much bother. In top gear, it takes advantage of the extra torque with slightly longer gearing, allowing a higher cruising speed without feeling that you are killing the motor. This will translate into longer engine life.
The bike, whilst electric start, has a backup kickstart in case of a flat battery. The gear lever has the heel and toe variety, making shifts effortless. A USB charger is handily mounted on the handlebars, essential for powering a Google map-equipped ‘phone, helping riders find their customers. The bike comes standard with a sturdy rack, making fitting a delivery box a doddle. All in all, the Lifan CG175 Express is a decent offering at a price of under R18,000, which represents excellent value for money, in this day and age when a decent bicycle would cost you much more.
I am reminded of the Cape Town couple who bought two Chinese motorcycles with which they embarked on a Trans African trip. The plan was to ditch the bikes and fly home, as they were convinced that at some point on the journey, the bikes would cry ‘no more’! As it transpired, they got to Kenya and had bonded so with their plucky little steeds that they shipped them home from Mombasa, fitted new chains and sprockets, and pressed them into commuter service.
I did gain a new respect for these brave young men who run the gauntlet of Jo’burg traffic daily. It is rather exhausting staying alert to the chaos around you. The little CG175 coped admirably. The clutch did get a little grabby after extended time in heavy traffic, but that is a characteristic I recall well from my days spent on similar bikes in previous years. All in all, it is an honest little motorcycle that will run on the smell of an oil rag and make a lot of money for the business employing it. Take one for a trundle at a qualifying Kawasaki dealer. Your delivery pilots will thank you!
Lifan CG175 Express
For more information on the bike that we tested in this article, click on the link below…
