Excellent points, Brett. Food for thought. In my opinion, we’re loyal to the brand (and the company that controls it), as we feel that no matter where its components are manufactured or assembled, they will maintain their expected level of quality control. I think it’s that simple.

Thank you so much for shedding light on the issue that so many motorcycle owners have regarding the brand they ride. I moved from the US to Germany last year and brought my Kawasaki KLR650 Gen 2 with me. Of course, as one would guess, 99 percent of adventure bikes here are BMW. So I get looked down at, here and there. I ride my KLR because it is a legend, and I can sit on it and ride to the furthest corner of the continent and beyond. It has proven itself over decades, and I like to feel the ruggedness. I respect anyone who rides a motorcycle, and it doesn't matter what you ride. We all ride for the same reason, because it's our passion.

For me it's the Quality control that goes into the final assembly that may vary. Also something like the engine made under licence may not be made from as high quality materials as when kawasaki built the same motor. These little differences will add up

I Just wanted to say THANKS and really appreciate your explanation!!! I own a cfmoto mt650 and couldn’t be happier with it !!! It’s a new era and almost everything is manufactured in China so maybe it’s time to enjoy your bike wherever it’s made … see you on the road and take care

This gave me a headache, and a lot to think about. Been guilty of most of those comments myself. Good points Bret.

Biggest thing I look at are parts availability, longevity of the brand and or model, dealer Network. I like things that have been around for a while or plan to be around a while. So aftermarket can get up to speed and forums with lots of experience can develop. I tend to keeps things long term. Great video 😊

I love my CFmoto 450ss. I wanted to give the company a shot once I heard about them. Now as a side note I’ve had 23 motorcycles including all premium brands like ducati, bmw(5), Triumph(5) as well as a multiple bikes from all the big 4 and recently sold my Kawasaki ZH2. I sold it because I was reaching for the keys to the CFmoto almost every time I wanted to go for a ride. Why keep an 18,000 bike when the 5500 dollar bike is more enjoyable. The features are great and the bike is simply fun. Also for the price you just feel good about your purchase. When you get a ton of features for a good price you’re happy. It’s just that simple. Don’t knock them till you try them. I like this video and appreciate that you took the time to notice a Chinese bike. Whether you like it or not the Chinese offer something no other brand can and that affordability. I would like to close with this, you can get good things made in America and absolute crap that was made here. My CFmoto doesn’t feel any less premium than all those other bikes I’ve had. Thanks for coming to my TedTalk😂

My guess is the Royal Enfield Himalayan is mostly made in India, just the way I like it. PS The Kove's Dakar performance changed my thinking about Chinese bikes before I heard your excellent points.

Well, every single bike I have owned since 1998 was produced in Japan. Also my current bikes...Honda Africa Twin 1100 DCT and XL 750 Transalp. I check that before I buy because it is important to me that my Japanese bikes are actually produced in Japan. Never had a single issue with my Kawas, my Suzuki and my Hondas...quality control in Japanese plants is second to none!

I have a 2022 Honda CB500X that was designed in Japan, its components come from various countries, it's drivetrain is Japanese made, yet it was assembled in Thailand. I was disappointed that, in Canada, Honda sells this bike with a one year warranty but I bought it because it's a Honda and the engine has proven to be reliable for over a decade. I have no illusions about this being a Japanese bike - it's a world bike, like most bikes. The Aprilia Tuareg 660 is a bike that, on paper, I love. But I'm hesitant to replace my CB500X with it, despite the Tuareg having so many features that I want, because Aprilia doesn't have the same stellar track record of Honda. Same for KTMs. So, my purchasing decisions are based on perceived quality and good value. For that reason, I wouldn't currently consider an X Cape because it's a new model with an unproven reliability track record.

To buy a lesser known brand, the savings/value proposition would have to be large enough to overcome lack of a quality track record, dealer/parts availability, and poorer resale value. I think this is how Royal Enfield has been able to sell bikes made in India.

a friend of mine [motorbike mechanic] told me this week that the x-cape is a great bike.. it work and handles very well and there's no need to worry about it as soon as you may have some problems

"Strictly follows European design and manufacturing standards." I am laughing in KTM right now! (I own two) - Frank

I currently have a 2023 V Strom 1050. The VIN starts with JS and it was "born" in the Hamamatsu factory and that gives me some peace of mind :)

Hi Bret, i’m italian and see you from Mototrek period. In Italy for many many people the X Cape is chinese… but for me this is incorrectly: the X Cape project is 100% italian… but hand-Made in china… is an hybrid. STOP THANKS BRET FOR YOUR EXPERIENCES IN THIS CHANNEL💪🏻

I‘m Chinese ,I would like to say ,we are still lack of huge technology, skill ,design and experience to build the good motorcycle ,but you can't say we don't want to .we absorb everything we could get to learn how to build a good bike.we just wanna learn and produce and make everyone could have a good bike with reasonable price like the Japanese bring the HONDA to the world .we are behind but we are learning step by step. please don't ignore the effect we have made and give us a little more time ,we will surprise you guys

Thanks, this was fun. We went through the same thing when I worked at Honda in the 90's in Ohio. The Goldwings and Shadows were made there in Ohio, but the HD bros said they would never buy a “J*p bike.”

I just rented an X-cape in Italy and rode it in the Alps. I thought the bike was very competent and comfortable. I am use to a 955i Tiger so there was a lot more shifting on the 650cc Moto Morini. The stock gearing was too tall for the rpm range of the engine but this could be easily rectified. The only other real short coming is the rear shock could benefit from more adjustment. As stated in the video, the major engineering is from Kawasaki and there are many high quality components so I would consider owning one if I was in the market for this class of motorcycle.

Nice video and discussion points. My Japanese branded, Thailand built bike also enjoyed it. For me it depends a bit on the brand’s quality control and track record. A Chinese owned company may behave differently from a Chinese factory that has at least some degree of oversight from the mothership. Kawasaki in my case has clearly got a good grip on their Thai factory from what I can tell. Moto Morini would not put me off but I don’t want to be a guinea pig either honestly so if in 5 years it turns out there many hard ridden high km Xcapes out there going strong then I would happily add them to the list. Otherwise I would default to the Japanese 4 first, then the Euro brands…

I fully support the idea of Chinese motorcycles if they help more people get into motorcycling. While I acknowledge that Benelli motorcycles have a similar background, it's evident that they are manufactured with cost-cutting measures or older technology. The only time I'm concerned about Chinese bikes is when I'm searching for a motorcycle dealer. If my research shows that they exclusively sell Chinese bikes, I become wary of entrusting my motorcycle to them for any service. It leads me to believe they might not pay sufficient attention to detail. Brett, your channel is fantastic, and I appreciate the excellent video on this topic. Keep up the great work!

The guys screaming "Chinese Bikes - No Thanks!" are usually typing on their Chinese iPhone, Thailand computer, and they drive a car with Chinese semiconductors surrounding them.

I've had the same conversation with my friends about our pickup trucks. What is more American, the Chevy that was built in Canada, or the Toyota that was built in Texas? Parts for both are sourced from around the globe. Tough to make a case for either now days. I try to buy American, but it is often hard to figure out. Thanks for the deep dive on this!

While I don’t disagree with your sentiment, yes I do check the VIN for each vehicle I buy before I buy it. The one thing I will say is a Chinese part being sent to BMW will be up to higher standards because BMW will demand higher standards. If parts are below BMW standards they will not be accepted and most certainly will not be shipped to a customer. A Chinese company buying parts from a Chinese company has historically not had the same levels of standards and will ship bikes with poorer quality parts.

Excellent work Bret. It all comes down to Corporate Branding and the guarded integrity of the brand from whichever country one prefers. All the reliable big names do purchase assembled parts from many countries and ensure these parts (for the most part) are designed/maintained to the highest standards and within specs of the Brands quality parameters. This ensures the integrity of the Brand. So, in short, all bikes do (as you clearly demonstrated) contain numerous parts from numerous countries with specifications acceptable to the particular Brand. My Harley’s, my Honda and Yamaha’s all share some similar DNA….and the same garage. Never caught them fighting yet…lol Excellent segment Bret.

Hi Bret! I recently test rode the X-Cape to see whether it'd be an upgrade to my 47 hp Honda CB500X (from Thailand!). I found it to be nice riding but not so powerful (60 hp, but also heavier). I now bought a Suzuki V-Strom 650 instead with 71 hp, but I still like the X-Cape's styling a lot! Will you do a review video on it?

I may not own Chinese but I do own Italian Motto Guzzi V85TT. So is Japanese better than Chinese?? Or can both have major issues? Example KTM has had many issues......

We rode two fully Chinese bikes from Cape Town to Cairo for three months without issue :) Thanks for the research that went into this video!

I just bought a 2023 CFMOTO 700 CL-X Heritage. It's a great looking bike and a lot of fun to ride. I watched a bunch of reviews on KZfaq and all had good to great things to say about it. Time will tell as far as dependability and parts. But, for a 66 year old looking to get back into riding after 17 years away, so far I have no complaints what so ever. The is a Chinese built bike with ties to KTM and Kawasaki (I believe).

Thanks for putting together this video, Brett. The 'part of that bike is made in china!!!!11 No way I'm buying that!' post is one I frequently see on Advrider and Reddit, pretty much on every single F850GS/F900GS thread. I think the attitude is at best naiive (where do they think their smartphone or computer parts are manufactured?), and at worst, well, let's not go there. In my view what really matters is the QA and QC, regardless of brand and regardless of country of manufacture.

Good rant. For me, reliability is key. I grew up poor, I'll always "feel" poor, so I need whatever I spend my money on to live up to its promises. That's where my brand loyalty comes from. Regarding this bike, I gotta admit they look good and are priced well. I especially liked that SCR in Boot Camp Green. I hope they are as good as they look, but that'll take time to see (or be brave and be an early adopter, which I'm not, lol). Thanks Bret

Loyalty to a manufacturer should be based on the SUPPORT they provide, as much as the quality of the product. Long lasting warranties are useless when they aren't honored.

Brett, I think my Triumph Tiger was born in Thailand. Funny, really, as i only live about 40 mins from Hinckley, I'm not sure where all the bits came from. Cool video.

Offering a superior warranty to that of your competitors is a smart move for an unknown/untrusted newcomer. It literally buys consumer confidence in the short term. In the long term it sort of forces the MFR to maintain reasonable quality, or the warranty claims will likely bury them (and consumers know this). Hyundai used this strategy to great effect.

I am loyal to a well built product. Don't care where something is made or where the money goes as long as it's good. Why punish a company of passionate people building a good profuct that happen to be in the 'wrong' country.

Thanks for making this. I’m so sick of the ignorant who hate on brands and don’t understand the global economy.

First time watcher. Very interesting video. The FortNine video comparing oil from new motorcycles really scared me away from not only Chinese built bikes but Italian built motorcycles as well.

Every MotoTuber wanted to make this video but Bret actually made it. And made it well.

I buy my bikes depending on the perceived quality, dealer network and if it fits my needs. My new to me BMW Scooter comes from China, is four years old and has a two year full warranty with BMW breakdown cover so effectively that is a 6 year warranty! My Honda was built in Japan and had a 2 year warranty but it won't go wrong - never owned a Honda that went wrong! Their reliability is legendary for a reason.

Hi Bret. I agree with you most of the part, but one correction Ducati is 4 years warranty unlimited mileage! 😀👋 (I'm in Europe)

Material sourcing is the best way to cut cost in production. As long as the material or part is not a lemon and quality assurance is observed.. will try out brands that can offer the best value for money

Now here is a subject with endless debate . For me it's simple (because I'm simple minded 😁 ) . If performance is all you are interested in read all the reviews and buy the bike that fits your needs . If you care about where most of the profit from that bike goes than check to see who the parent company is . When given the choice i rather not send anymore money to China .

Have everyone check where their helmets are made lol..Guys will be Shocked ...PS Bret I'm really digging the mid century looking carpet!

Good point to discuss. There is COVE as well to consider that might give all the brands good run for the money. As the recreational vehicle, all I care is how it looks and rides plus the engine and exhaust sound. Reliability is bonus.

I bought a Kawasaki Versys 300 X back in February. I have just over 5,000 miles on it thus far. I liked the look and feel of it on the test ride. I liked that it was small enough to move around easily and large enough engine to be freeway usable. It was barely used, 4 miles on my test ride, which saved me some cash on the purchase price. It came in about $6,000 out the door. It is paid off. I also went with an inexpensive bike, since it is my commuter. If it gets wrecked or stolen, it is easily replaceable. Since it is inexpensive, the likelyhood of itbeing stolen is slim anyway. I returned to riding Spring of 2022 after getting a 2008 Kawasaki KLR 650. I liked it, but it was too heavy when I went down alone on dirt. I began looking for a lighter ADV after that weekend. I still like the concept of a lighter weight off road capable bike that is still relatively comfortable on a street ride. On the Versys, I had no trouble keeping up with the big baggers and cruisers on a ride through Sequoia Kings Canyon National Parks. On the open straight highway, I have to work to stay with pack, but it is doable.

Interesting questions on many levels! Since I'm involved in IT I have very good reasons to avoid a lot of Chinese brands or Chinese parts. When it comes to cars, motorcycles and other stuff it spills over. How's the manufacturing standards, MTBF's, actual quality of raw materials, welds, soldering etc? Labour is cheap in China, but to do you want to buy and encourage that, or do you want to pay a little bit extra so that the workers actually can live on their wages?

I avoid Chinese bikes for a few reasons. A) They tend to cut corners and dont care about longevity as a brand. B) Good luck getting quality parts to repair your XYZ and C) As a whole, they are into domination instead of cooperation. Ive had almost every major brand across the years. Still have an older MV that has thankfully been fairly bullet proof. Now that its almost 20 years old, its now a piece of working garage art. Daily duties get handed to the KTM 990 ADV. I was thinking about a Kove 450 Rally, but dont want to be holding the bag when something breaks and I have to beg for parts to make it from China.

Triumph is also manufacturing the new Scrambler 400, which uses a Bajaj engine (India), they even said so on their KZfaq videos.

Got back on the road in 2021 on one of the few bikes that were available at that time. Benelli TRK502. Owned by Qianjiang Motor Group- part of Geely Holding who also have Lotus and Volvo. The bike was a little heavy for it's power but didn't let me get into too much trouble despite my best efforts. Put 13,000 miles in 14months and not a single hiccup. Bike looked great, ran great, absolutely no complaints. If they ever bring the 702 to the US, I'll buy it sight-unseen.

As a Versys owner it is always nice to see a new Chinese motorcycle using Kawasaki's platform. It's an excellent, reliable and budget friendly engine. But using same design doesn't necessarily mean it will meet same level of reliability that Kawasaki is known for. It is manufactured by completely different people (known to produce low quality motorcycles in the past). What difference would it make if the bike has KYB shocks if Chinese engine is low quality? So far there are few statistical points to say if those Chinese Versys clones are reliable or not.

Hello, I have a Morini Scape motorcycle for a year and I have done 13,000 km on it. It has only given me joy. It's a great bike and I come from a lot of Japanese bikes.

The German philosophies of efficiency and quality control is a major reason why I purchased my 2019 BMW R1250GS. It is assembled in Berlin by real live Germans, with the parts I've seen mounted on it coming from Germany, Hungary, Italy, etc, from everything I can tell. NOT FROM THE CCP.

Based on F9 lab results, the only thing you should do is change the breaking-in period oil very early, as the Chinese engine isn't cleaned well (internally) at manufacturing time. I have a big KTM (100% made in Austria), and it was made by Hans on a Thursday and works reliably. If Otto had made it on Friday afternoon - he really wants to get home to his Käsekrainer - it wouldn't be as reliable. As an aside, 100% Chinese designed and built e-bikes are catching fire with surprising regularity. The key to everything is Quality Control.

Buy and ride what your budget and conscience allows. Personally I'm tired of hearing the old arguments about since everything else we buy is Chinese then one more thing like a motorcycle won't make difference. I do care about how the money I spend is used to support the Chinese Communist Party. China like Russia is using your dollars to bully and threaten it's South China Sea neighbors. Personally I don't necessarily have problems with the Chinese motorcycle manufacturers but I do have issues to where some of this money goes. Many if not most of the things we purchase are Chinese because there are not alternatives currently available but for motorcycles we do have a choice.

I do not believe that any bike is actually produced in the country the brand is located. However, I believe you get what you pay for. I tried a very similar brand to Moto Morini: Benelli. I loved the looks of the Leoncino 500. It was also very favourably priced. However, one major defect happened after two weeks of riding: the rear brake got stuck. And as I was about to mod its seat, I was shocked by the thinness of its plastic base (during removing the staples, it tore. I had to fix it with resin). I wondered what might lurk beneath that thin shell. Did not care to found out, happily exchanged it for a Yamaha Tracer 700 (I exchanged its seat for a heated version, so I got to see the seat shell as well. It is strong and sturdy, just as I expected). I am sure China is perfectly capable of producing bikes comparable to anything produced elsewhere (yes, even Germany or USA). But there might be different levels of production quality and quality control. Hence you get different levels of quality. As long as you actually pay less for lesser quality, I am fine with this. Just know what you get yourself into. However, if you pay premium e.g. for a BMW or Harley, I expect equally flawless bikes. No matter where they are manufactured.

as long as we avoid supporting the CCP as much as possible, right now that is practically impossible to do since CCP has the monopoly on manufacturing, but at least we try to avoid supporting CCP

Great video! I have back to Yamaha after decades of KTM because ironically the T7's we get in the UK are made in France. So ironically a British brand is built in the Far East but a Japanese brand is made in Europe! My other bike is Moto Guzzi V85TT and it is definitely still all manufactured in Italy at the historical factory although who knows what components are made elsewhere?

Bravo! 🎉 As a new rider and new owner of a Moto Morini Seiemmezzo SCR it was ❤ at first site! I test rode a Triumph Bonneville T100 and thought this classic would be my 1st bike. But the MM really provided a lot of new tech and the style plus performance is amazing. Then price figured in and though the Triumph was 1k cheaper a new MM just felt right. 3 weeks after purchase, 300 miles clocked, I know I made the right decision. I will say I love all types of bikes and the MM is definitely my gateway drug to exploring all makes and models of bikes. As far as your video goes it’s really spot on. I just say to all the hater’s…it’s a global economy brother 👍

I remember that for forever I imagined that Honda was a American brand and when I woke up from this dream it caused me to question why I had entertained that thought for so long in my mind. It turned out that I was projecting my affections towards my bike and the reliability I had placed on it to deliver me to my various adventures and pursuits. Of course Honda is not an American brand -- but it ticks the boxes on the things that make me feel like it is. Honda seemed to understand my values and skillfully crafted those into a brand, a model, a bike. Today I ride Kawasaki and Yamaha bikes for the same reason and in my mind, I kind of imagine that the best parts of the bike were made here in America although I know that is probably not true. Yet, I make them true which confers to me that all of this is just about warm affections and I think that's ok as long as a bike doesn't leave me stranged in the back country of Vanuatu during monsoon season. That would be bad and would probably inspire me to create a equally yet contrary affection in my mind and so it's all just an illusion. I'd ride anything as long as it's reliable, safe and doesn't require expensive parts to repair. As long as it's predictable and makes me feel confident as I go about in the execution of my ideas, I'd really ride anything and I wouldn't think twice about it.

Just so you know, that the state owns Morini, not a private Chinese firm. The Communist Party, a state owned entity bought Morini along with many other European companies. My point is that the CCP is at a much grander scheme of things in dominating the wealth on this planet and should we be supporting that effort? For me, I would rather spend my money with an honest Italian, Japanese brand even if they were made or assembled outside of Italy or Japan.

Well laid out video and very informative and for me it's about who owns the majority of a company and where the majority of the profits go. I'm okay with many countries that manufacture motorcycles except for a few and one of those few on my list is China.

Spot on. Thanks for challenging assumptions and teaching me more about globalization. More people need to hear and understand this message - not just for motorcycles - to allow us all to make better informed decisions. I like the way you objectively framed the question to what people want to support without judging because I don’t think there is a wrong answer on what makes a product appealing- as long as it’s grounded in accurate information!

We Just Got a Kove 450 Rally and its build quality is pretty outstanding so far. People said the same about Japanese bikes in the 70s and 80s and we know how that turned out.

China is a communist country. That means, at the end of the day, everything is “owned” by the Chinese government, and therefore is controlled or run by the Chinese Communist Party. As to Moto Morini, it is a Chinese manufacturer that is ultimately owned and / or run by the CCP. Other companies may source parts from China or contract with Chinese owned factories, but they are not controlled by or run by the CCP. As for me, while I would greatly prefer that BMW, e.g., not build anything in China, at least when I buy a BMW I’m not directly putting my money in the hands of a repressive communist regime that (1) has no regard for human rights, (2j would like nothing more than to replace the US as the dominant superpower, and (3) has no problems committing genocide against its own people. That is why I, myself, will not purchase any brands owned by Chinese companies (if I can avoid it).

That's why I ride Moto Guzzi. The most European motorcycle of them all.

A motorcycle is EMOTION!. suppose that sales will go up when the bike is manufatured in Italy. Good vid. Food for thought.

Excellent video. 4 Year Warranty here in the UK for the CF Moto, ho are partnered with KTM. I had a look at one here and very good build quality and tech level, for a lot less money. People are Brand loyal for sure, if you have £20,000 for a Bike then why not. However, in the real World, most don't. Lots of people buy every incarnation of Iphones, it doesn't make it the best, in fact most other phones out there are as good if not better, each to their own. These people that don't like Chinese stuff should look into what they own, throw out anything Chinese made and see what they have left. I am not a Chinese cheerleader by a long way, but its the way things are going, when profit is King, the expensive brands with add cheaper parts so quality will dwindle slowly. I own a Triumph Tiger, Triumph, owned by a British Billionare, with factories in the UK, Thailand and Brazil. Most of the Flagship Bikes are made in the Thai factory. Certainly not a Triumph in the true Heritage sense, in fact about as far from one as it could be.

Thanks for bringing attention to this! I get tired of brand snobbery and country criticism! It’s all about quality control, if the brand is in the factory they can ensure that it meets the expectations of their brand. Manufacturers have more than one brand at different prices coming out of their factories in any industry, as long as their customer demands high standards that’s what makes the difference.

Fantastic perspective. A lot of this mfg. information is rarely exposed. I remember when everyone used to slam Japanese motorcycles. The rides are changing.

100 percent agree. Good video love the content. I have a 22 ABS Grom. A 2024 CF Moto 450 SS coming. I’m was made in the USA. (1968) And my parents were from Puerto Rico. Wow,l can make my own list. Good work sir I appreciate your videos.

Country of manufacture is completely different. Many companies have factories around the world to make their product . A local Thai company making a Thai designed bike in Thailand is no where near the same as Ducati making a bike there.

Hi! There are several points. 1. Where did you get the information that the motor is produced under license and not just copied? Can you say the source? The design of the internal combustion engine is not subject to patenting. For example, the Kawasaki Neutral Finder is most likely patented, so it is not available on Chinese copies of this motor. If you take the new Versys 650 and the Moto Morini 650, you'll quickly notice that the engines are slightly different - the Kawasaki, for example, is smoother. Again, how do you explain that Chinese copies always have higher fuel consumption, and why the Morini produces less power at a higher compression ratio than the Kawasaki? Or, for example, the existence of the CF Moto 700 MT engine with a modification of the motor, which Kawasaki does not have - Do you think that this is also done under license? 2. Bosch - yes, but this is not the Bosch that is installed on European motorcycles. Chinese motorcycles very often have problems at low revs due to the quality of Bosch components. Look at the tests of Chinese Bosch injection systems, for example, compared to German ones.

A lot of people definitely seem to forget the variety of parts, and origins in the manufacturing of motorcycles. And cars. And commercial vehicles. Brand loyalty is fine, but recognizing there's a widespread collection of participating countries should be a reminder of this versatility in components. I was chatting with some people in a motorcycle group about it and there were a few who were very against CF Moto just on the sole premise that it was a 'Chinese Motorcycle'. And it is. But it's also shown tremendous growth in their standards. They actually listened to the feedback and have made a lot of improvements overall. That kind of thing should be what a motorcycle (or ANY vehicle) should be based on. I support your opinions in this completely. Just because a country may have a bad rep, doesn't mean there aren't legitimate, quality companies within its borders.

I had a Lifan KPM200 for a year. It was a reliable motorcycle. It developed a leak after about 6 months, but it wasn’t that bad.

I have a bike from Taiwan and I hear that "no thanks" everyday 😠 Thank you for bringing light on this issue! ❤

In-house chinese motorcycle were notorious for low quality of engineering and materials used in the past. That's why people hate them. I saw with my own eyes many failed chinese motors where the problem was simply poor alloy quality and something just cracked inside motor itself, it was a common issue in our repair shop. Of course, that doesn't make this Morini motorcycle as bad as those we encountered in our shop. Using good brands parts and motor designed by Kawasaki IS a good start. But only time can tell if it's actually reliable, because as it IS manufactured by chinese company without external quality control, those engines could be well susceptible to same materials issue I described.

The only real issue I see with these new brands is the question of long time supply of spare parts.

Some model of KTM are made in the Philippines.

Great topic Bret! The engineering behind products, along with what a brand named company are willing to warrant their products goes a long way with me. You presented a lot to consider, a company's reputation, quality control, engineering, warranty, longevity, maintenance 🤔🧐🤯... Again, great topic, and comments from viewers. Your channel has helped me out in many ways. Thanks and keep up the good work 👍

What an eye opener. Excellent video. Although I am KTM loyal, I will think differently about Chinese motorcycles.

It’s not about where parts come from, it’s about where the money goes when sold. Don’t want to support a country that constantly threatens others with war or economic coercion. Chinese… no thanks .

There you go! Why we have to criticize a vehicle made in another country? Because if it's not made in USA is a bad quality? I worked for a USA company where managed aircraft parts inventory and I notice that, like you commented, a great deal of engine parts are made worldwide. After WW2, all those countries in this conflict started to grow significantly, technologically speaking, and you can see a little bit of them making our lives easier. Doesn't matter where a car or motorbike was made, it can travel to places you never imagined a wheeled machine can reach. THE BEST MOTORBIKE FOR AN ADVENTURE IS THE ONE IN YOUR GARAGE 👍

I rode the MotoMorini X-Cape this year and it is a Chinese bike as for me the quality of it is what I would expect from such product. Plastics are cheap, controls very basic. It has an LCD screen - yeey? - nope. It is dim and sluggish. Engine is not very exciting either. Other brands mentioned - BMW, KTM do have some of their models made in China and it shows. In my opinion there is significant quality difference between an BMW G310R and R1250GS. Yes, they are different bikes and different price points but I am referring to pieces like plastics, controls, etc. What is more, quality control in Chinese factories can be different for different manufacturers and as it is expensive process, it will translate to additional cost of a unit. Now, if any of the points above would not bother me, I could consider it but since they do, I won't consider a Chinese bike any time soon regardless if its MotoMorini, BMW, KTM or any other manufacturer.

A lesson on global economy for xenophobes... good job Bret

Interesting video. I have so far only owned bikes from Japan (all 4 Big Four brands). This is more due to dealership availability in northern BC than quality issues. There is peace of mind with bikes that have a proven reliability record. I had a v strom 650 for a long time, its a truly great affordable bike. When I purchased my 2020 Africa Twin I felt good about several reports of the 16-19 ATs putting up incredible amounts of trouble free kilometres. Honda also has corrected known issues on the model from the 16-17 foot pegs and fork tubes being updates for 2018. I feel confident in the electronics as honda has had the features in the gold wing for a long time. I do have some apprehension with KTM as they have some known issues that they do not seem to correct (fuel pumps and electronics) though they seem to fix issues like rocker arms on the LC4.

This question is very hard to answer without getting very political. I have been riding bikes since the 1970s. Back then a german bike was german and an italian bike was italian. In fact, I was into Laverda, Morini, Ducati, Moto Guzzi, MV Agusta and a few other lesser known Italian bikes such as the Rumi, Beta, Parilia etc. already from the earliest 1980s. So..................... I truly AM thinking origin of products into my everyday purchase. Much more today than earlier, due to the developig crisis we see in the world right now. I have avoided buying Chinese cars and Chinese motorcycles. It is extremely hard for a normal consumer, such as me, to research the origin of the single parts inside a product. I am pretty confident it does have an impact on how the world develops political if majority of people makes the right choises of the origin of the products they purchase in everyday life. From clothing, smartphones, furniture, kitchen aids over jewelery, entertainment media and motorcycles to food, medicin and art. However, as being very much into motorcycles through more than 40 years with my focus on roadhandling and enjoyment, my choise of motorcycles today will be of non-chinese bikes (mainly Italian) without ensuring that my present Ducati has the right VIN number and without ensuring if any single parts of the bike may or may not be from China. It would be even worse if it was manufactured in Russia, though. I'm sure you're in best of intention about the Moto Morini not being Chinese more than other bikes are Chinese. But back when Moto Morini made the V-2 (72°) 350S that I fell in love with, the handling was so outstanding great compared to anything else (The Pantah 500 was close or even slightly superior but with a different motor characteristic), the synergy of the bike was just phenomenal and the weight was low, the motor culture supercalifragi........................... and the frame stiff as he**. This is not what I see in todays Moto Morini. They are more like potbellied pigs in comparison. Sorry, Bret, but I do understand the reaction from your viewers on the "Chinese Manufactured" issue. I encourage people to avoid chinese motorcycles and cars (and Tesla as well) for the sake of the political development in the world. And BTW, people that already have purchased a Chinese vehicle may get in short supply of spare parts when the poltical world situation develops to the worse. Thanks for letting me chime in.

Hi Bret, Merry Christmas and happy new year, by the way I am using BMW GS700F 2017, I need your expertise on BMW 1300 gs, my hight is 5.7”, country of manufactured and is it worth for the money. Thanks

Very interesting piece. I was brought to reality by a mechanic in Greece that numbered the different parts ( mostly Opel ) on an Alfa Romeo. A very small amount came from Italy.

All valid points. As a Customs officer working in the movement of worldwide goods.... a product is given its origin under the world trade rules of origin legislation. this is a calculation of the origin of the parts + percentages of the processing (manufacture) of the product. The large companies employ very clever people who know the rules of origin and specifically ensure that the end product, in this case a motorcycle, ends up originating in the country of manufacture thus its origin will be china and customs duties will be calculated depending on trade agreements between china and the rest of the world. BMW, Renault, Citroen, Mercedes are all European cars filled with chips and microprocessors, Carpets, tyres from China, Japan, Africa and USA however the end product will have been designed to be German or French when it rolls off the production line (due to the sum of the parts and the percentage of processing/manufacture) whereby the company can declare it's being German or French thus enjoying preferential status with its worldwide trade partners as and when those pesky customs officers calculate the relevant import duties.... This does not take anything away from your argument. I simply thought you might wasn't to know how all this works.

As long as any bike ride well without issues it doesn't really matter where it is built or manufactured.

Ooh, ooh! Can you review the Kove 450 Rally!!?? Please. I’m really looking at them and was curious what you think.

I'm only faithful to my wife (for the moment :) today's economy is globalised and in the case of motorbikes, it's essential to test them yourself to get a good idea of the quality: equipment, assembly, finish, ergonomics, chassis, engine, suspension... I tested this X Cape and was pleasantly surprised by its handling and agile chassis, with the added bonus of excellent value for money. It really deserves to be seen. I have a Honda CRF300L and 2 Ducati ST2 and SS950S.

I'm not loyal to any brand. My bike is a 2008 BMW "Loncin" f800s that I bought because it was a pseudo-sports bike, not extremely powerful, 85 hp, with a naked but fairing design, low consumption, single sided swingarm, belt final drive and 190 kilograms of dry weight and it cost less than 8,500 euros full equipment despite being a BMW... It definitely was (and is) a strange motorcycle, but I liked it (and I like it). Despite its legend as a motorcycle with reliability problems because its engine was manufactured in China, I can only say that it has given me happiness and no breakdowns, and I've been travelling through Europe, Scandinavia and Morocco on it. The Chinese are doing things very well, and today, almost everything is made in China, regardless of the product. If instead of being called BMW, my motorcycle had been called Kove, Voge or QJMOTOR, I would have bought it anyway. Greetings from Spain and I apologize for my English.

Thanks for posting. To me it does not matter where the bike is built but to what specification it is being built. Worked in manufacturing for a while, with companies overseas. We had to be very specific of what was needed/wanted. I trust BMW, Triumph, Ducati, etc... to be very specific and strict on their product requirements. If you were to mention to me a name of a Chinese, Vietnamese, Indian, Thai, etc... motorcycle company, from which I have never heard, in the past, I am going to be hesitant to buy their products because I don't know the company or its reputation. I am sure if the company builds a reliable, good quality product, it will shine as a function of time. Word will spread. Reputations will be built. Then I will be willing to spend my money in their products. Just look at Japan, Korea, Taiwan, and European countries (I mean Porsche, BMW were not exactly popular here at first). These countries went through the same curve as the Chinese are going through.

Interesting topic, Brett. Where was your KTM 790 R from?

I find some folks just want to bash anything made in China. They ignore the fact that products comping out of China today are the same as they were 20 or 30 years ago. When I was growing up, anything that was 'made in Japan' was considered crap and now look how that is so not the case today. People have to realize that the Chinese have been improving their production processes and manufacturing capability just like any other country that relies on manufacturing for their bread and butter. I used to own a 26 HP Chinese diesel tractor, built in 1992. It was based on an old Ford design from the early 1960's. My neighbor had a 30 HP Kubota and it was no contest as to who's machine was out in the field working the most, in any weather. In many respects, small details of the machine indicated that the engineers built things with an eye on being able to make repairs in the field - and get back to work quickly. When I had problems with my machine, I could easily fix most things myself. The trouble was sourcing parts, which often I had to wait to have shipped. I bought it used for about 10K less than a comparable (used) Kubota The lesson I learned was that there are smart people all over the world, and those people know how to do shit just like we do here in the USA. So I wouldn't have any reservations buying a Chinese assembled ADV bike. I love my GS, but anyone starting out ADV riding wouldn't be doing themselves a disservice by starting out on one of these. The only issue I would have would be the extent of the dealer network for service.

Hi Bret, i m from Chile and i have a Benelli Leoncino Trail since 2020. Can you give me your opinion about that Bike?

No matter what brand, I get on it, it make me happy, that's it. That's the bike I want.

I’m a long time fan of yours, and this video makes an excellent point. Thank you for pointing this out. I have to say that your pronunciation of the word “Italian” made me crazy throughout the entire video. I’ve never once heard an Italian say that they were “I-talian”. 😂

Excellent rant Bret. Been thinking about these matters a long time. Loyalty to what, fir what. Etc. I like your closing statement essentially saying 'let the bike stand on its own merits'. P.S. one of Mine was made in India and I'm fine with that!

I have a 5 year old India made BMW 310GS. Thumping Happily!❤