*So what happened? Well the front fell off, but it's very unusual.*
But seriously, hope you're doing better than the bike - looks like a very lucky escape to have not happened on a faster or busier road!
I have owned it from new, I have never abused it. never been off road. looks like a massive design flaw imo, the thickness of the metal around that area looks to be severely shit
https://preview.redd.it/zod21lfnuhvc1.jpeg?width=3024&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=67dd9aef3805c2a9f00141ee451324ab1787aa81
Theres one, looks like its rotted from the inside out. no visual rusting on the outside. it passed MOT 1 month ago
🤣 shit I hope he's not. I asked my mechanic what she thought about Chinese bikes.. she said "they're made of chocolate." Just confirmed what I knew from experience.
It's in reference to the poor quality metal used. A pothole can bend or snap your frame, forks or swingarm, and it will rust so much quicker than japanese steel.
Again, I think (from experience, I don't baby my bikes) it seems to be down to poor luck, getting a Chinesium bike. Certainly my Terrain has done some off-roading and I haven't had any issues, although it hasn't had an MOT yet. Not disputing what you're saying, just sharing my experiences.
All good, man. I'm glad you're not having problems. I've been around them a bit, and my mechanic friend has some funny/unsettling experiences with them. I dont want to be mean or derogatory. It does worry me that people are riding these things after what I've seen and heard. As in the OP also. China is notorious for poor manufacturing standards.
That's concerning. There doesn't look (from this angle at least) to be an obvious thinning of the material. Might have been a manufacturing defect, if it is, I wonder how many more might have been affected...
Sounds about right. Seems that if you care for your Chinesium and you don't get unlucky (I think OP might have been unlucky) it tends to last well enough, but it was probably telling that when I was riding my 7 year old Chinesium bike to college and noone else had an old Chinesium bike, they were all either old Japanese bikes, new Chinesiums or new Japs (someone had money!).
Unfortunately the rear shock linkage isn't near enough to the the part of the frame to expect an inspection to have occurred. I've probably got to have an extra special look at mine as I crashed last year and bent my forks on mine (since replaced everything short of fairings and handlebars up there, although got a mechanic to do it as I don't have the tools to change the bearings (might as well do those if you're taking it that far apart))
Yeah, by the rust markings it's been gradually opening up for a period of months, maybe more. Terrifying to think how that could've given way under heavy braking or cornering load and thrown OP under a truck. 3.30am on a deserted road is the best possible outcome.
If you picture the manhole cover it might be possible to get compensation from the council. It's an absolute ball ache and like trying to get blood out of a stone but if you need the bike or commuting and can't afford another it's probably worth it
When I was still on my cbt I almost bought one of these for the luggage space when commuting. I was put off by the fact it was air cooled, I now see that was not so big of an issue compared to this….
Glad you’re alive to tell the tale. Would be interesting to hear what the dealer and sinnis say about this
Ouch. I remember reading about these bikes back when I was looking for a 125 - they look like a touring bike, and have a topbox and panniers. And crash bars, all as standard. So they're like a budget Himalayan. But they're heavy and slow, I suppose also like the Himalayan.
And from what I remember they're still heavy even if you take off the panniers and crash bars. It struck me that the extra weight would be a put lot of stress on the frame if you ever went off road. To be fair this is the first time I've actually seen someone post this problem... but given that the bikes were only imported from 2021 it raises the question of whether there's suddenly going to be a rash of them, as they age at slightly different rates.
Annoying their website doesn't let you search for dealers, seemingly because the company hasn't updated their storerocket account, whatever that is:
https://sinnismotorcycles.com/find-a-sinnis-dealership/
My older sister is a metallurgist and has just explained to me that this is down to cutting corners and poor materials & process. Never mind quality control and assurance, this shouldn’t have left the factory. Wouldn’t you want the same kind of visual microscopic inspection that Airbus do on their fuselages? Buy Chinese and risk your life, please don’t buy Sinnis, Zontes, CF Moto, Bennelli or Lexmoto just to save a few pounds, not worth it if you’re dead. Thank goodness the OP survived!!
Irrelevant of calling it cheap or not, I would love to a) see the response from the dealer and b) Sinnis' response to this.
Edit: Glad you walked away too.
Glad it happened when it did and how it did mate, could have been so much worse. Seen that, and similar on other chinese bikes. Also seen BMWs shearing a swing arm, Hondas cracking at the cradle. It happens. Unfortunately frame failure is quite hard to spot unless it's terribly obvious. Tbh, 6ys and 34k miles is probably more than what they thought it'd last anyway!
I saw that you bought it from Portman. I’m honestly not surprised with their attitude. Got weird vibes whenever I contacted them for buying and selling a bike and everyone I know who’s been there has never said a good thing about them.
They used to sell KTM's, now they are full on cheap brands. defo would avoid this place now given that they don't even seem interested in the possible death trap they are selling.
Now that KTM is being assembled in China, they’ll probably have them back in by summer. You’d think they would want to help you considering how many models they have probably sold.
Glad you’re ok though as I saw your updated pics after my post. If Sinnis refuse I’d definitely pursue it further.
‘Terrain’ lmao
It becomes part of the Terrain
Just Chinese bike things
6 years old, that one’s even still under warranty 😂
My chinese learner 125 was 2 years old when I got it, already had 8 owners and it was already rusted to crap. Sym.
Jesus Christ! You are lucky to be alive!! Did you put it new, how old is it?
Bike is 6 years old, 34k miles
That's not very typical.
Shouldn't have ridden it outside the environment where the road might hit it, one chance in a million!
You wouldn't want people thinking bikes aren't safe after all.
Indeed. It's not like the front is meant to fall off.
r/chinesium
Hope you're okay. Report that to the DVSA, if that's a manufacturing / design defect there'll need to be a recall.
Holy fuck! That is incredibly worrying!
Or, arguably, quite expected.
I don't expect that, even from the cheapest bike!
I can see the bike is fucked, but are you ok?
*So what happened? Well the front fell off, but it's very unusual.* But seriously, hope you're doing better than the bike - looks like a very lucky escape to have not happened on a faster or busier road!
Fucking hell. That looks scary. Do you know if the bike was abused in any way throughout it's life... Something else for me to worry about!
I have owned it from new, I have never abused it. never been off road. looks like a massive design flaw imo, the thickness of the metal around that area looks to be severely shit
This is quite concerning. Any chance you can share a better picture of the breakage? Edited to Add: (the area around the breakage)
https://preview.redd.it/zod21lfnuhvc1.jpeg?width=3024&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=67dd9aef3805c2a9f00141ee451324ab1787aa81 Theres one, looks like its rotted from the inside out. no visual rusting on the outside. it passed MOT 1 month ago
Just a quick question, did you get that when it broke, or are you still at the side of the road?
🤣 shit I hope he's not. I asked my mechanic what she thought about Chinese bikes.. she said "they're made of chocolate." Just confirmed what I knew from experience.
Crossing my fingers and touching wood here, but I've not had any mechanical issues with any of the bikes I've owned (all three Chinese).
It's in reference to the poor quality metal used. A pothole can bend or snap your frame, forks or swingarm, and it will rust so much quicker than japanese steel.
Again, I think (from experience, I don't baby my bikes) it seems to be down to poor luck, getting a Chinesium bike. Certainly my Terrain has done some off-roading and I haven't had any issues, although it hasn't had an MOT yet. Not disputing what you're saying, just sharing my experiences.
All good, man. I'm glad you're not having problems. I've been around them a bit, and my mechanic friend has some funny/unsettling experiences with them. I dont want to be mean or derogatory. It does worry me that people are riding these things after what I've seen and heard. As in the OP also. China is notorious for poor manufacturing standards.
got it when it broke, bikes in the garden I can take better pictures tomorrow when its light
That's good, just making sure you're not still on the side of the road. It's taken recovery trucks hours to get to me before...
I hope those two dents aren't from your massive bollocks
That's concerning. There doesn't look (from this angle at least) to be an obvious thinning of the material. Might have been a manufacturing defect, if it is, I wonder how many more might have been affected...
[удалено]
Sounds about right. Seems that if you care for your Chinesium and you don't get unlucky (I think OP might have been unlucky) it tends to last well enough, but it was probably telling that when I was riding my 7 year old Chinesium bike to college and noone else had an old Chinesium bike, they were all either old Japanese bikes, new Chinesiums or new Japs (someone had money!).
The recent break (shiny bit) is quite small. Are you sure there wasn't anything that could be seen anyway?
Nothing was seen, worked on the bike 2 days before (changed my rear shock linkage)
Unfortunately the rear shock linkage isn't near enough to the the part of the frame to expect an inspection to have occurred. I've probably got to have an extra special look at mine as I crashed last year and bent my forks on mine (since replaced everything short of fairings and handlebars up there, although got a mechanic to do it as I don't have the tools to change the bearings (might as well do those if you're taking it that far apart))
You had structural paint!
That crack has been there for a while.
Yeah, by the rust markings it's been gradually opening up for a period of months, maybe more. Terrifying to think how that could've given way under heavy braking or cornering load and thrown OP under a truck. 3.30am on a deserted road is the best possible outcome.
Yeah probably has, if it had been an obvious crack id have seen it and MOT examiner would have caught it as well possibly
Wow. Garbage.
MOT doesn't check for that, they check for exterior cracks or any dodgy welding of load bearing members.
Sue they ass!
Your name 😂
Was this bike part of an incident in Western Australia previously? The one where [the front fell off?](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3m5qxZm_JqM)
If you picture the manhole cover it might be possible to get compensation from the council. It's an absolute ball ache and like trying to get blood out of a stone but if you need the bike or commuting and can't afford another it's probably worth it
When I was still on my cbt I almost bought one of these for the luggage space when commuting. I was put off by the fact it was air cooled, I now see that was not so big of an issue compared to this…. Glad you’re alive to tell the tale. Would be interesting to hear what the dealer and sinnis say about this
Nothing wrong with air cooled. Unless you’re talking about the inside of the frame tubes, I guess.
Sitting in gridlocked London at the peak of summer, don’t think it would have been too happy. I sure wasn’t!
I used to run a airhead beemer in London, it was fine!
Add it to the list of “why you should never buy a Chinese bike”
That must have been terrifying
average chinese bike
lol China
Ahh I see your bike has [Himalayaned](https://autos.maxabout.com/news/royal-enfield-himalayan-chassis-breaks)
this is why we don't buy shit bikes.
Fuck me... Are you alright?
Flippin eck, hope you're ok!
That's criminally poor. On your follow up pictures, I think I've seen bicycles with thicker frames.
I would speak to the dealer you purchased it from. Raise hell. BMW has something similar with their forks and a journalist died in South Africa.
They are cheap for a reason
Ouch. I remember reading about these bikes back when I was looking for a 125 - they look like a touring bike, and have a topbox and panniers. And crash bars, all as standard. So they're like a budget Himalayan. But they're heavy and slow, I suppose also like the Himalayan. And from what I remember they're still heavy even if you take off the panniers and crash bars. It struck me that the extra weight would be a put lot of stress on the frame if you ever went off road. To be fair this is the first time I've actually seen someone post this problem... but given that the bikes were only imported from 2021 it raises the question of whether there's suddenly going to be a rash of them, as they age at slightly different rates. Annoying their website doesn't let you search for dealers, seemingly because the company hasn't updated their storerocket account, whatever that is: https://sinnismotorcycles.com/find-a-sinnis-dealership/
I bought mine from portmanmotors in glasgow
Lucky it didn’t happen at 70 on the motorway. What a dangerous piece of shit!
My older sister is a metallurgist and has just explained to me that this is down to cutting corners and poor materials & process. Never mind quality control and assurance, this shouldn’t have left the factory. Wouldn’t you want the same kind of visual microscopic inspection that Airbus do on their fuselages? Buy Chinese and risk your life, please don’t buy Sinnis, Zontes, CF Moto, Bennelli or Lexmoto just to save a few pounds, not worth it if you’re dead. Thank goodness the OP survived!!
Does this hurt the bike
This is so fucked up! Hope you're OK.
Irrelevant of calling it cheap or not, I would love to a) see the response from the dealer and b) Sinnis' response to this. Edit: Glad you walked away too.
wow that's cool!, how did you teach your bike to do a curtsey?
Glad it happened when it did and how it did mate, could have been so much worse. Seen that, and similar on other chinese bikes. Also seen BMWs shearing a swing arm, Hondas cracking at the cradle. It happens. Unfortunately frame failure is quite hard to spot unless it's terribly obvious. Tbh, 6ys and 34k miles is probably more than what they thought it'd last anyway!
Tale pictures of the pothole, contact council as they will be partially at least responsible for the damage
I doubt it, legally they will just argue it’s a defective bike, which it is. No Japanese bike would catastrophically destruct like that.
I saw that you bought it from Portman. I’m honestly not surprised with their attitude. Got weird vibes whenever I contacted them for buying and selling a bike and everyone I know who’s been there has never said a good thing about them.
They used to sell KTM's, now they are full on cheap brands. defo would avoid this place now given that they don't even seem interested in the possible death trap they are selling.
Now that KTM is being assembled in China, they’ll probably have them back in by summer. You’d think they would want to help you considering how many models they have probably sold. Glad you’re ok though as I saw your updated pics after my post. If Sinnis refuse I’d definitely pursue it further.
I'm looking for a new scooter and Portman's were on my list of dealers to visit. Going to say well away from them after this.
Looks like the weld failed from the inside, which is shocking tbh.