Gee, I was gonna buy the RX3 and then I heard they were coming out with the RX4. Then I was gonna buy the RX4 and I heard they were coming out with a 400cc twin. Then I was gonna buy the 400cc twin and I heard they were coming out with a 650cc twin. Then I was gonna buy the 650 and I heard about this new 850cc Zongshen adventure bike.
I’m going to guess the above is a thought that has trickled through more than a few minds. It’s what I’m guessing occurs everytime Zongshen announces or leaks (I’m not sure what the appropriate word should be) that they have something newer, bigger, and better coming down the pike (like the RX850 you see above). Webster defines mayhem as “needless or willful damage or violence” (in a criminal context it’s the intentional mutilation or disfigurement of another human being) and Dictionary.com defines cannibalize as “to cut into; cause to become reduced; diminish.” Both words (i.e., cannibalize and mayhem) somehow seem relevant to Zongshen’s marketing practice of announcing new models just as (and sometimes even before) the preceding displacement model enters the marketplace. You’d think it would cannibalize sales of the models currently in showrooms, especially given our brainwashed belief that more displacement is always a good thing.
But what do I know? I sell one or two used motorcycles every decade or so, while Zongshen sells something like a million new motorcycles every year. I suspect companies selling Zongs both here and in other countries sell every bike they get (I know that’s the case with CSC, and I’ve seen it to be the case in Colombia). I once had a guy write to me who wanted to buy two RX3s so he and his wife could tour Colombia, but he couldn’t find a dealer in Colombia who wasn’t sold out. He wrote to me after reading Moto Colombia to ask if I could intervene with the AKT Motos general manager (I did, good buddy Enrique obliged, and that couple’s ride through magical Colombia went well).
My advice? Buy what you can get now. The 650 Zongshen hasn’t even hit the streets yet, so don’t wait for it or the RX850 you see above. If you want to have a lot of fun for a little money, any of the available Zongs will serve you well. I put a lot of miles on my RX3 and I got good money when I sold it 5 years later.
Oh, one more word I wanted to address, and it’s an adjective: Dormant. Webster defines it as being asleep or inactive. It is a word that is not in Zongshen’s dictionary.
Epic motorcycle rides on Zongshens, Harleys, KLRs, Enfields, and more? It’s all right here!
Zong is progressing at the speed of light. There is so much energy at that company.
Indeed, and you and I were fortunate in seeing it. It is so different and advanced than what most folks would imagine.
Unfortunately, in my case it’s been:
2015: “I think I’ll give this new RX3 Chinese ADV a try – it’s only $4075 to my driveway on the day before Christmas!” This was followed by:
2016: “I can’t believe that this TT250 was only $2500 delivered to my doorstep!” Which in turn was followed by:
2020: “Finally, they’re bringing in the RX4 and it’s only $5400 (later lowered to $4995) – time for more power!” This has culminated in:
2021: “I really wanted to try out that Zongshen 400cc parallel twin in the RX3S, but CSC didn’t import it, but look – the new RE3 SG400 has it, and it’s only $5445 plopped on my doorstep! Why not?”.
I seem to have the exact opposite problem of most of the dilly-dalliers…I think that I need to put serious effort in learning how to be more indecisive and procrastinate…my wallet and garage will thank me, lol
Daniel, you are the guy they had in mind. Glad you are living the dream.
Joe（大舅），我给你的邮箱写了好几封信，我想大概你是没有收到吧。我买了台RX3s（400）。
Ah, the above translates to:
Joe (Uncle), I wrote several letters to your mailbox, I think you probably haven’t received them. I bought an RX3s (400).
I think Zuo is right; I have been responding. They may be going to each of our spam boxes. Watch the ExNotes blog for a note from Zuo on his RX3S.
joe（大舅）是的。RX3S在2017年宗申赛科龙《超越之旅》我试骑了1万公里，异步双缸380cc的引擎是我喜欢的，也是左云喜欢的。我买的是老款380cc而不是新款的401cc，因为我觉得380cc的异步双缸对我而言是够用了，毕竟会给我省下很多钱的，哈哈。
德尔塔疫情在我所在的兰州有些反复，我们的政府和人民正在全力和疫情决战！请为我们加油！Joe，请保重！代为向美国的朋友和二舅问好！
joe (uncle).
I tried to ride the RX3S for 10,000 kilometers in Zongshen Sai Kelong’s “Beyond Journey” in 2017. The asynchronous twin-cylinder 380cc engine is what I like, and Zuo Yun likes it. I bought the old 380cc instead of the new 401cc, because I think the asynchronous twin-cylinder of 380cc is enough for me. After all, it will save me a lot of money, haha.
The Delta epidemic has been repeated in Lanzhou where I live. Our government and people are fighting the epidemic with all their strength! Please cheer for us! Joe, take care! Say hello to friends and second uncles in the United States!
I’m glad you are enjoying your new motorcycle, Zuo! Thanks for commenting!
我很高兴你喜欢你的新摩托车，左！ 感谢您的评论！
Something to note – back in 2016 Zongshen put forth a five year plan that laid out their engine and motorcycle development goals; apart from a year lost due to COVID 19, they’ve hit their marks squarely with the 449cc NC450(RX4), 378cc TC380(RX3S, RE3 SG400, Haylon), and now the Norton based 649cc (RX6) and 849cc (RX8). That plan projects large twins up to 1200cc, so they are not done yet!
Dang! How many Blogs in the USA have Chinese guys commenting on articles!
….and get a translation back!
We’re not worthy!…. We’re not worthy!….
I salute both Joe’s!
Muchas gracias, Amigo!
谢谢！