1993 XING-FU XF250-E
1993 Xing-FU XF250-E
Its days are numbered
China’s motorbike industry has changed as fast as the immense country itself. Alongside historic models, modern products based on Japanese machines started to appear — often from the same factories. Yet Chinese protectionism effectively forbade foreign marques from setting up business in their own name. This forced them to make components (like carburetors) on the spot or else import spare parts for local assembly.
Cohabitation
So Chang-Jiang of Nang-Chang assembled an entire range of little Honda scooters and four- stroke singles alongside its antique Bat-twins. Hong-Du, also from Nang-Chang, had been making the French Velosolex moped for years and assembled Yamaha two-stroke singles. A similar structure prevailed at the Shanghai firm of Xing-Fu in the early 1990s.
Joint Venture
For ages, in accordance with trade agreements signed in the 1950s – in the heyday of world Communism – this manufacturer has been building this 250 derived from an ancient Jawa design. But for some years, it has also been assembling 125cc Hondas based on the CG and XL, which will in time replace the gallant old Czech machine. To this effect, Xing-Fu has established a “joint venture” with Thai-Honda, which supplies it with the principal components. In 1993, Honda celebrated the opening of its fourth Chinese branch company and predicted that it would soon be building 200,000 machines annually in China. The days of the Czech antiques are already numbered.
SPECIFICATIONS
Engine: 248.5cc (76×65mm) air-cooled single- cylinder
Valves: two-stroke; ports controlled by piston skirt
Fuel System: carburetor
Transmission: 4-speed, chain final drive
Suspension: telescopic forks (front); swing arm with twin spring/dampers (rear)
Brakes: drum (front & rear)
Wheels: 3.25×16 inch (front & rear)
Weight: 291 lb
Maximum Speed: 56 mph
Xing-Fu built 200,000 machines in 1992 and has been linked since 1985 with Thai-Honda; the heritage of the Communist past is this 250, based on an ancient Jawa design.
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