A Fledgling Hi-Bird Landing in Harley Land

Here’s a tale of a Chinese company supposedly copying an American design. Hi-Bird of Chongqing, China, vs Harley Davidson of Milwakee, Wis, USA. Both have developed their versions of a flat tracker motorcycle.

Hi-Bird Motorcycle Company is from Chongqing, China, and have been manufacturing motorcycles since 1999. This sport cruiser is a 250cc V-twin, capable of 17 HP. The bike uses an old 1980s Yamaha engine design, one similar to the Yamaha V-star 250. I estimate this bike will sell in the neighbourhood of $4,000 in North America. In North America this bike would certainly be classified as a beginner low budget bike. The overall quality of your average Chinese motorcycle is, being polite, middling at best. Chinese bikes also lack a dealership network, necessary in order to obtain parts and authorized service. Hi-Bird does not make large displacement, performance oriented, and expensive bikes.

Hi-Bird Moto Sport Cruiser, 250cc

Harley Davidson makes only large motorcycles, has been in business since 1903, and has been through 2 World Wars. The Storz XR1200, a V-twin, is capable of around 80 HP, weighs in the 500 lb area, and is priced in the locale of $20,000. This bike would be classified as a high performance, expensive, elite bike for an experienced rider. HD does not make small, inexpensive, beginner bikes. In fact, their smallest bike is 883ccs, over 3 times the size of the lowly Hi-Bird Sport Cruiser. The overall quality of an HD is very high, reflected in the major hit to your wallet. The HD network is large, and service and parts top notch. This is also reflected in their price.

Harley Davidson Storz XR1200

Make no mistake that these bikes do not compete in the same class of motorcycle. They do not appeal to the same target market of rider. In terms of price there is also no comparison, the HD is being 5 times the price of the Hi-Bird. Performance-wise and component-wise again there is absolutely no similarity. A typical motorcycle buyer would not expect to mistakenly purchase a Hi-Bird and expect HD quality. The reverse would also true. No, these are not CDs sold under covert circumstances, or movies shot on a video camera in a darkened movie cinema. It’s all out in the open here. In summary, we’re talking about an apples to pomegranates comparison.

Adding to this mix is that the flat tracker design is a type of motorcycle category, not dominated or defined by any motorcycle manufacturer. These bikes are used to race on a track of grass or dirt. This style of racing has been around since before World War 1, around the mid 1910s.

After looking at both bikes as well as other flat trackers, it’s clear that both are in the style of a flat tracker, and that Hi-Bird looks like a direct copy of the HD. Compare if you will, for a start, the seat and tank shape, the style and curve of the exhaust pipes, the fat spoked wheels, the flower petal rotors, handlebar positioning and headlight. Are they not identical? Further perusal only increases the list of similarities.

A couple of issues arise:

1. Why did not Hi-Bird use their own designers to create their version of a flat tracker? Are there not sufficiently artistic Chinese motorcycle designers in China? Is China, in a break from past history, so lacking in creativity? Couldn’t the Chinese hire American or European designers to help them out, such as what Japanese car manufacturers have done?

2. Why did not Hi-Bird change the bike so that there are at least more differences than similarities when compared to the Storz XR1200? Did they think that consumers, particularly avid bike enthusiasts, and particularly HD would not notice? Even the semi-observant will clearly tell you that these bikes are almost identical twins.

3. Maybe the Chinese do not even think copying the HD design is illegal, immoral or will negatively affect their reputation. Certainly, if their target market is North America and Europe, this is not the case. This is so because I am sure HD will sue them for copyright infringement.

While I am not connected to either Hi-Bird nor HD, I must once again shake my head in confusion. China is a great country with a great history. If China is to be a competent and profitable player in the world motorcycle marketplace, some things have to change.

Get your own designers to work, stat, and try some of their designs. How about shopping the design to North American motorcycle riders? Simply copying a big player in the field will only get you ridicule in the eyes of knowledgeable riders, and it reflects badly on the company and the ability to provide a quality product. If you don’t trust your own designers, hire some from North America. Who says that the HD design is the most optimal one for your target market? For certain a potential HD buyer will not even look twice on a Hi-Bird Sport Cruiser, so what makes you believe that the Storz design will appeal to the budget conscious beginner rider?

I feel that Hi-Bird and other Chinese motorcycle manufacturers can make a better motorcycle for the world, but particularly in the aesthetic design area. Lifan is a much better model to follow for other Chinese manufacturers, with their ever expanding dealership network and service. Increase quality, keep the price down, and offer the riding public something that’s not easy to attain today in a new motorcycle: value for money.

There is a huge market for small bikes in North America, a void left by the Japanese. It’s there for the taking. Come one, come all, come Korea, Taiwan or China.

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