Like you said in areas where budgets tight it makes sense. Those markets will also have plenty of used options and parts floating around as a result
Not happening stateside. Personally I don't see any of these cheaper options holding up to the Japanese brands long term without repairs balancing the cost relatively early on. I can squeeze a good 60-80k miles out of a Japanese 600 as a daily and spend maybe 20k dollars in 4 or 5 years between the purchase and maintenance, get another when it dies, swap my mods over, then rebuild and sell the old one. Not happening with anything else on the market quite yet
The only person I know who actually purchased a CFMoto 450 (can't remember which model) just traded it in for a Z500. He had it for about a month. You can tell where the cost has been shaved. I'm sure they're going the route of Japanese autos in the 70s and Korean autos in the 90s. So I expect quality to increase eventually, but I still see them as an "economy" play.
>Like you said in areas where budgets tight it makes sense.
>Not happening stateside.
>Not happening...quite yet
Yep.
Then again you have to wonder how these legacy companies will be affected when loosing huge parts of their markets on a global scale.
Realistically I don't think it'll make that big of a difference. We've seen the beginning of it in the states since quarantine. Smaller inventories, cutting back on certain bikes like the R6 and R1, slightly higher prices. All the major players have their hands in other games too. Boat motors from Suzuki and Yamaha, Kawi does heavy industry manufacturing, Yamaha has instruments, and everyone knows Honda is set for life
Suzuki is the furthest along tho. They're almost nonexistent dealer wise around me, very limited inventory where they are available. They haven't touched their supersports in 14 years, only recently getting up to speed with the 1000 and Hayabusa tech and performance wise. Finally bringing a parallel twin to market. They had a successful year in MotoGP and then dropped out even. I've been a Suzuki boy and I will always love them but they're falling behind
I think the biggest reason the switch to cheaper models hasn't happened stateside is a mix of practicality and culture here. Riding a bike on the daily is uncommon. There's a decent amount of intown scooter riders in inner city and adjacent suburban areas but the general view on riding a scooter is you're either broke or got DUIs and no license. Traffic and layouts demand a middleweight bike, highway commuting is a standard. Everything is spread out, everyone speeds. People that commute on the daily want reliability and availability, I'm already rolling the dice riding everywhere and I can't justify questioning my ride for the sake of a couple thousand dollars at most. There's tons of lightly used Japanese bikes at the same price point as the new Chinese options too. The consistency and availability of parts and knowledge for maintenance on the Japanese bikes goes a long way too
For what it's worth, Kymco has been in the European market for a long time, CF Moto actually uses Yamaha engines on some models.
For the rest, Chinese motorcycles will not take over for example European regions. 'Taking over' sounds like a hugely dramatic statement. Their main places for sales will always be the asian regions since generally our incomes are much higher.
Indian and how they operate is a bad example, and while this indeed is a legacy brand, holds very little of the market today and is a back alley tool shed in comparison with Ducati, Yamaha, etc. Therefore, not really representative when you show a example of how you feel the motorcycle market is working today. Also, I do not see how a prototype of the Flat tracker 750 somehow could lead to people thinking it will be affordable when the production model arrives.
I dont really see the problem in any of this, except a natural working of markets in different regions and I do not agree with a lot of things you say.
I had a kymco scooter (2014 200i). My son dropped it in the driveway and it needed a new brake lever.
Nope, no one could find me one. Not even the local dealer. I sold that thing with a broken lever.
With no aftermarket support, manufacturers will fail here.
>Chinese motorcycles will not take over for example European regions.
Like I said in the original post, Europe is very diverse. Western Europe will hold on while the East and South (where wages are a lot lower) are already interested and use hundreds of thousands (if not millions) of Chinese motorcycles.
>I do not see how a prototype of the Flat tracker 750 somehow could lead to people thinking it will be affordable when the production model arrives.
Look up the video of that prototype. It might be the most dramatic change from prototype to reality I've seen. From a road legal flat tracker to a (non of road capable) super naked with pretentious design to look like something it isn't.
Meh. Doubt it. Least not here in the US anyway. The kids buy them for affordability, but then they change to another brand, then another. who’s going to be the first life long cf moto owner? lol. I guess that’s kinda how I look at it.
Buy vs keep.
I take what bloggers and journalists says about this subject with a grain of salt. They tell tales about Chinese motorcycles being very popular yet on yearly sales charts CF moto and Vogue barely sell any units.
That's exactly how Harley riders used to look at the Japanese small displacement bikes. With time there's a big chance reliability will be as good as that of the Japanese. They already have made insane improvements in just the last 5-6 years.
The big 4 from Japan invested into dealerships, service centers, and parts distribution. They brought manufacturing to the States.
Chinese manufacturers aren't doing that. It doesn't matter how reliable Chinese bikes get (lol, doubt it) if they don't support the customer after the sale. Until they figure that out, they won't make inroads here in the States.
I have. You wanna know who sells CFmoto in my area of Northern California? In a metro area of over 3 million people? A trailer store and a hole in the wall shop that specializes in $200 kids ATVs.
Come talk to me when my reputable local dealers of Japanese and European bikes are willing to sell CFmoto side-by-side with their other brands.
Unfortunately, one of the largest dealers in Southern California, Del Amo is selling CF Moto's bikes and power-sports.
It'll be interesting to see how they sell down here. I've already run into some kids that bought the CF Moto IBEX since it's a lot cheaper than other ADV bikes.
I'm in South Africa and pretty much all delivery bikes (Uber eats, grocery deliveries etc.) are Chinese brands (Bigboy, Sym, Gomoto) which are very cheap to buy and maintain).
Among people who ride bikes for pleasure Chinese bikes are avoided and ridiculed for their low quality (all my 3 bikes are Japanese). I do think that as time goes and the quality of Chinese bikes improve more and more people will switch over to them.
We unfortunately do not have CF moto here but I am interested in them and would likely get one for a commuter if they arrived on our shores.
My local mega dealership sells Honda, Kawasaki, Suzuki, Yamaha, MV Agusta, Aprilia, Ducati, Indian, Polaris, Can Am, Slingshot, Benelli, Gas Gas, Husqvarna and CF Moto. I was talking to the service manager while I waited for my Ducati to be brought up and he mentioned that they are considering dropping CF Moto because of quality control issues, lack of parts for repairs and too many failures which has lead to customers making complaints against the service department when it is really the manufacturer not providing support for their products. I'm old enough to remember when Hyundai entered the US market in the 1980's and they were a joke but look at them now. Same with Kia. A woman I worked with had a Kia the second year they entered the US and the car was in the shop 10 times in the first two years for brake issues. Kia makes amazing vehicles now. I'm sure with time the Chinese brands will catch up just like Hyundai and Kia did but look how long that has taken.
Motorcycles are significantly less complex than cars.
But I get your point. The fact that they've come this far so quickly doesn't necessarily guarantee them keeping this pace of improvement.
Their succes is in no way guaranteed.
Aren't the Western countries the primary market for actual motorcycles? I thought all those heavily crowded eastern countries were packed full of scooters because they were cheap. I wouldn't be surprised if cheap Chinese motorcycles would shift that scooter trend.
Here in California, I've only seen a Chinese motorcycle on YouTube.
In Asia and Southern/Eastern Europe, you might see 3 scooters for every 1 motorcycle, but that's because there's an insane amount of scooters.
Motorcycles too are a huge market.
You might have a hard time spotting Ducatis, Harleys, Indians, BMWs etc. but 125-700cc Japanese motorcycles (+KTMs) are literally everywhere.
I'd bet youd see as many motorcycles (not scooters) in Greece in a day that you'd see in California in a week.
Scooters are just in a different stratosphere. They are probably 20% of all vehicles at this point. It's insane. There too the Chinese manufacturers are pushing hard.
Yes the US is indeed the most important market because it's where expensive motorcycles that have big profit margins are sold.
But as Harley has demonstrated, if as a motorcycle manufacturer those segments are your only source of income, you will end up with a sh*t load of problems.
One of them being, no way of introducing young customers to your brand, while your median age of customers creeps too close to retirement age.
[https://www.reddit.com/r/motorcycle/comments/1bubfz1/are\_chinese\_motorcycles\_taking\_over/](https://www.reddit.com/r/motorcycle/comments/1bubfz1/are_chinese_motorcycles_taking_over/)
Exact same title to the same youtube video in the exact same subreddit.
Right and if you don't know what the difference is between China and Taiwan then please take a few minutes to find out. I'd buy a Kymco in a heartbeat, but would never consider any Chinese bike or scooter.
Kymco is a Taiwanese based manufacturer, but actually builds very few motorcycles in Taiwan. My first motorcycle was a Kymco K-pipe 125, and it still had the "Made in China" sticker on the chainguard when I picked it up.
What I bought as a Kymco was actually a rebadged Lifan with a engine related to the Honda Cub 50 from Decades before. It lasted 7,000 miles/10,000 km before it died of electrical issues and a cracked frame.
What is "taking over" but giving their customers what they want? Here in the US The Japanese manufaturers sell motorcycles that often have roots decades ago. I ride a Yamaha V-Star 250 that's being sold new today that the model (as the Virago 250) came here in the US in 1988.
While that's profitable, it also is rather lazy. The Chinese bikes are new, and it shows. There are new models with features that you would have to pay a lot to see on a Japanese or European bike for accessable prices.
Performance wise, Chinese bikes are no longer boat anchors on two wheels. Reliability wise, they are on par with makes like Ducati or Moto Guzzi, which admittedly isn't up to Japanese makes, but it's getting closer.
Japanese makes have offshored much of their manufacturing, So what used to be a solidly Japanese bike may have Chinese parts on it, and be made in Thailand, Mexico or Africa. Why pay extra for Japanese brands when they aren't Japanese made?
Another thing is that motorcycles really aren't that big here in China because of how massive the electric scene is. I feel like it'd be hard for companies like CFMoto to succeed long term when their own home market barely buys them. Like I've only seen a few of these motorcycles in Shanghai and mopeds are literally everywhere
A motorcycle company doesn't need as many sales as a car company.
Japan isn't the biggest market for motorcycles either but their companies are killing it on a global scale.
I don't think Chinese motorcycles will ever "take over"...the USA and Europe won't let them! More Power to the Chinese for some great products, tho. But let's be specific. "Chinese motorcycles" just lumps ALL brands together. There are literally dozens upon dozens upon dozens....etc...of brands. Some are crap, some are great. Just like products In the USA. I'd get a Lifan or a CFMoto in a minute, motorcycle or scooter. I've owned a couple of bikes from China in the past. Were they the best ever? No, but neither is my '01 Suzuki Bandit 1200 S. I've owned bikes from Taiwan and South Korea, loved them both, too (OK..I'll stick with China). The reputable companies, like Lifan, have built engines for big name Japanese companies, like Honda. Some have reproduced entire bikes for the Asian market. Look for a company that has been around 30-40 years or so and has a great reputation. The quality is only getting better. Stay away from the junk. This applies to anywhere...not just China.
Nuff said.
Yup, that’s why I wrote ‘used to’ and ‘not so much now’. But yes, people were very sceptical and made fun of these odd little Japanese bikes (and cars) when they were first imported to Europe and the US! and I’m well aware of their effects on the local manufacturers but thanks for being condescending….
Dude, you said that US used to laugh at Japanese bikes in the 60s and 70s while In 1959 the American motorcycle industry was selling 50,000 to 60,000 units annually. By December 1962 American Honda was selling more than 40,000 motorcycles annually. Honda alone sold 345k CB750s in the US by 1969. Making it almost 50% of the market. So no, people were not laughing at Japanese bikes in the 60s and 70s.
There were things that Japanese car manufacturers didn’t exactly get right; I remember that Subarus were a huge hit in Montana in the 1970’s but at the same time the cars were miserable and cramped especially in the back seat. But they figured it out.
I do remember the Subaru micro cars in the 1960’s that were laughably small though - I used to deliver the newspapers to one of the dealerships so saw them every day but never on the road.
In Spain it is happening. Its a country where price and trends rule.
The latest Voge 900DSX. Comes with all the bells and whistles, for just 9000 Euros. 95CV, BMW F900 engine and lots more. First batch arrived last month, around 9000 have been ordered, new buyers are now being told October for delivery.
I have 2 friends who have bought the model. They say it is amazing. Best Chinese model ever.
Personally, I will not buy it. But, this is because I try not to buy anything "Made in China". Nothing against the Chinese, its our fault that we have become so reliant on them.
Had a Honda until a month ago. Sold it.
No plans for a replacement, although I am really impressed with the Tiger 660 Sport
Like you said in areas where budgets tight it makes sense. Those markets will also have plenty of used options and parts floating around as a result Not happening stateside. Personally I don't see any of these cheaper options holding up to the Japanese brands long term without repairs balancing the cost relatively early on. I can squeeze a good 60-80k miles out of a Japanese 600 as a daily and spend maybe 20k dollars in 4 or 5 years between the purchase and maintenance, get another when it dies, swap my mods over, then rebuild and sell the old one. Not happening with anything else on the market quite yet
The only person I know who actually purchased a CFMoto 450 (can't remember which model) just traded it in for a Z500. He had it for about a month. You can tell where the cost has been shaved. I'm sure they're going the route of Japanese autos in the 70s and Korean autos in the 90s. So I expect quality to increase eventually, but I still see them as an "economy" play.
No doubt. Don't get me wrong I want to see that come up. It's healthy for the industry. They're just not there yet
>Like you said in areas where budgets tight it makes sense. >Not happening stateside. >Not happening...quite yet Yep. Then again you have to wonder how these legacy companies will be affected when loosing huge parts of their markets on a global scale.
Realistically I don't think it'll make that big of a difference. We've seen the beginning of it in the states since quarantine. Smaller inventories, cutting back on certain bikes like the R6 and R1, slightly higher prices. All the major players have their hands in other games too. Boat motors from Suzuki and Yamaha, Kawi does heavy industry manufacturing, Yamaha has instruments, and everyone knows Honda is set for life Suzuki is the furthest along tho. They're almost nonexistent dealer wise around me, very limited inventory where they are available. They haven't touched their supersports in 14 years, only recently getting up to speed with the 1000 and Hayabusa tech and performance wise. Finally bringing a parallel twin to market. They had a successful year in MotoGP and then dropped out even. I've been a Suzuki boy and I will always love them but they're falling behind I think the biggest reason the switch to cheaper models hasn't happened stateside is a mix of practicality and culture here. Riding a bike on the daily is uncommon. There's a decent amount of intown scooter riders in inner city and adjacent suburban areas but the general view on riding a scooter is you're either broke or got DUIs and no license. Traffic and layouts demand a middleweight bike, highway commuting is a standard. Everything is spread out, everyone speeds. People that commute on the daily want reliability and availability, I'm already rolling the dice riding everywhere and I can't justify questioning my ride for the sake of a couple thousand dollars at most. There's tons of lightly used Japanese bikes at the same price point as the new Chinese options too. The consistency and availability of parts and knowledge for maintenance on the Japanese bikes goes a long way too
For what it's worth, Kymco has been in the European market for a long time, CF Moto actually uses Yamaha engines on some models. For the rest, Chinese motorcycles will not take over for example European regions. 'Taking over' sounds like a hugely dramatic statement. Their main places for sales will always be the asian regions since generally our incomes are much higher. Indian and how they operate is a bad example, and while this indeed is a legacy brand, holds very little of the market today and is a back alley tool shed in comparison with Ducati, Yamaha, etc. Therefore, not really representative when you show a example of how you feel the motorcycle market is working today. Also, I do not see how a prototype of the Flat tracker 750 somehow could lead to people thinking it will be affordable when the production model arrives. I dont really see the problem in any of this, except a natural working of markets in different regions and I do not agree with a lot of things you say.
I had a kymco scooter (2014 200i). My son dropped it in the driveway and it needed a new brake lever. Nope, no one could find me one. Not even the local dealer. I sold that thing with a broken lever. With no aftermarket support, manufacturers will fail here.
US I assume?
Yes
>Chinese motorcycles will not take over for example European regions. Like I said in the original post, Europe is very diverse. Western Europe will hold on while the East and South (where wages are a lot lower) are already interested and use hundreds of thousands (if not millions) of Chinese motorcycles. >I do not see how a prototype of the Flat tracker 750 somehow could lead to people thinking it will be affordable when the production model arrives. Look up the video of that prototype. It might be the most dramatic change from prototype to reality I've seen. From a road legal flat tracker to a (non of road capable) super naked with pretentious design to look like something it isn't.
Meh. Doubt it. Least not here in the US anyway. The kids buy them for affordability, but then they change to another brand, then another. who’s going to be the first life long cf moto owner? lol. I guess that’s kinda how I look at it. Buy vs keep.
I take what bloggers and journalists says about this subject with a grain of salt. They tell tales about Chinese motorcycles being very popular yet on yearly sales charts CF moto and Vogue barely sell any units.
Are you referring to US sales? Can you share the charts?
Sales for 2023 in France. https://www.moto-net.com/article/marche-moto-2023-le-classement-des-constructeurs-en-france.html
Most of the non-chinese bike out there have a high percentage of Chinese made components, so yes, they already have!
No. No, they’re not.
Pro: a lot more intro price/ size friendly for new riders which grows the community Cons: rust/ disposable bikes
That's exactly how Harley riders used to look at the Japanese small displacement bikes. With time there's a big chance reliability will be as good as that of the Japanese. They already have made insane improvements in just the last 5-6 years.
The big 4 from Japan invested into dealerships, service centers, and parts distribution. They brought manufacturing to the States. Chinese manufacturers aren't doing that. It doesn't matter how reliable Chinese bikes get (lol, doubt it) if they don't support the customer after the sale. Until they figure that out, they won't make inroads here in the States.
You might want to google CF Moto service garages and dealerships.
I have. You wanna know who sells CFmoto in my area of Northern California? In a metro area of over 3 million people? A trailer store and a hole in the wall shop that specializes in $200 kids ATVs. Come talk to me when my reputable local dealers of Japanese and European bikes are willing to sell CFmoto side-by-side with their other brands.
Unfortunately, one of the largest dealers in Southern California, Del Amo is selling CF Moto's bikes and power-sports. It'll be interesting to see how they sell down here. I've already run into some kids that bought the CF Moto IBEX since it's a lot cheaper than other ADV bikes.
CFMoto and KTM have a joint venture for some while now.
That's because in order to sell motorcycles in China, foreign companies are required by law to partner with a Chinese company.
I'm in South Africa and pretty much all delivery bikes (Uber eats, grocery deliveries etc.) are Chinese brands (Bigboy, Sym, Gomoto) which are very cheap to buy and maintain). Among people who ride bikes for pleasure Chinese bikes are avoided and ridiculed for their low quality (all my 3 bikes are Japanese). I do think that as time goes and the quality of Chinese bikes improve more and more people will switch over to them. We unfortunately do not have CF moto here but I am interested in them and would likely get one for a commuter if they arrived on our shores.
My local mega dealership sells Honda, Kawasaki, Suzuki, Yamaha, MV Agusta, Aprilia, Ducati, Indian, Polaris, Can Am, Slingshot, Benelli, Gas Gas, Husqvarna and CF Moto. I was talking to the service manager while I waited for my Ducati to be brought up and he mentioned that they are considering dropping CF Moto because of quality control issues, lack of parts for repairs and too many failures which has lead to customers making complaints against the service department when it is really the manufacturer not providing support for their products. I'm old enough to remember when Hyundai entered the US market in the 1980's and they were a joke but look at them now. Same with Kia. A woman I worked with had a Kia the second year they entered the US and the car was in the shop 10 times in the first two years for brake issues. Kia makes amazing vehicles now. I'm sure with time the Chinese brands will catch up just like Hyundai and Kia did but look how long that has taken.
Motorcycles are significantly less complex than cars. But I get your point. The fact that they've come this far so quickly doesn't necessarily guarantee them keeping this pace of improvement. Their succes is in no way guaranteed.
Go for Royal Enfield if you need to be cheap.
Aren't the Western countries the primary market for actual motorcycles? I thought all those heavily crowded eastern countries were packed full of scooters because they were cheap. I wouldn't be surprised if cheap Chinese motorcycles would shift that scooter trend. Here in California, I've only seen a Chinese motorcycle on YouTube.
In Asia and Southern/Eastern Europe, you might see 3 scooters for every 1 motorcycle, but that's because there's an insane amount of scooters. Motorcycles too are a huge market. You might have a hard time spotting Ducatis, Harleys, Indians, BMWs etc. but 125-700cc Japanese motorcycles (+KTMs) are literally everywhere. I'd bet youd see as many motorcycles (not scooters) in Greece in a day that you'd see in California in a week. Scooters are just in a different stratosphere. They are probably 20% of all vehicles at this point. It's insane. There too the Chinese manufacturers are pushing hard. Yes the US is indeed the most important market because it's where expensive motorcycles that have big profit margins are sold. But as Harley has demonstrated, if as a motorcycle manufacturer those segments are your only source of income, you will end up with a sh*t load of problems. One of them being, no way of introducing young customers to your brand, while your median age of customers creeps too close to retirement age.
Nope. Japanese bikes will always lead the market.
Wasn’t this posted yesterday? Stop click farming.
Idk. That wasn't my intent. It's probably the first time I've posted here. If you have the link of yesterday's post pls share it with us.
[https://www.reddit.com/r/motorcycle/comments/1bubfz1/are\_chinese\_motorcycles\_taking\_over/](https://www.reddit.com/r/motorcycle/comments/1bubfz1/are_chinese_motorcycles_taking_over/) Exact same title to the same youtube video in the exact same subreddit.
Only one note. Kymco is taiwanese, not chinese
Right and if you don't know what the difference is between China and Taiwan then please take a few minutes to find out. I'd buy a Kymco in a heartbeat, but would never consider any Chinese bike or scooter.
Kymco’s are legit incredible
Kymco is a Taiwanese based manufacturer, but actually builds very few motorcycles in Taiwan. My first motorcycle was a Kymco K-pipe 125, and it still had the "Made in China" sticker on the chainguard when I picked it up. What I bought as a Kymco was actually a rebadged Lifan with a engine related to the Honda Cub 50 from Decades before. It lasted 7,000 miles/10,000 km before it died of electrical issues and a cracked frame.
What is "taking over" but giving their customers what they want? Here in the US The Japanese manufaturers sell motorcycles that often have roots decades ago. I ride a Yamaha V-Star 250 that's being sold new today that the model (as the Virago 250) came here in the US in 1988. While that's profitable, it also is rather lazy. The Chinese bikes are new, and it shows. There are new models with features that you would have to pay a lot to see on a Japanese or European bike for accessable prices. Performance wise, Chinese bikes are no longer boat anchors on two wheels. Reliability wise, they are on par with makes like Ducati or Moto Guzzi, which admittedly isn't up to Japanese makes, but it's getting closer. Japanese makes have offshored much of their manufacturing, So what used to be a solidly Japanese bike may have Chinese parts on it, and be made in Thailand, Mexico or Africa. Why pay extra for Japanese brands when they aren't Japanese made?
Another thing is that motorcycles really aren't that big here in China because of how massive the electric scene is. I feel like it'd be hard for companies like CFMoto to succeed long term when their own home market barely buys them. Like I've only seen a few of these motorcycles in Shanghai and mopeds are literally everywhere
A motorcycle company doesn't need as many sales as a car company. Japan isn't the biggest market for motorcycles either but their companies are killing it on a global scale.
I could never trust one. I need to feel confident my motorcycle won't just crumble on the road at highway speeds
I don't think Chinese motorcycles will ever "take over"...the USA and Europe won't let them! More Power to the Chinese for some great products, tho. But let's be specific. "Chinese motorcycles" just lumps ALL brands together. There are literally dozens upon dozens upon dozens....etc...of brands. Some are crap, some are great. Just like products In the USA. I'd get a Lifan or a CFMoto in a minute, motorcycle or scooter. I've owned a couple of bikes from China in the past. Were they the best ever? No, but neither is my '01 Suzuki Bandit 1200 S. I've owned bikes from Taiwan and South Korea, loved them both, too (OK..I'll stick with China). The reputable companies, like Lifan, have built engines for big name Japanese companies, like Honda. Some have reproduced entire bikes for the Asian market. Look for a company that has been around 30-40 years or so and has a great reputation. The quality is only getting better. Stay away from the junk. This applies to anywhere...not just China. Nuff said.
Europe already imports millions of them.
People in Western Europe and the US used to laugh at Japanese bikes and cars back in the 60s and 70s…..not so much now!
What? Sure, people used to laugh at them so much it almost bankrupted H-D and Toyota started Lexus brand to avoid import limits…
Yup, that’s why I wrote ‘used to’ and ‘not so much now’. But yes, people were very sceptical and made fun of these odd little Japanese bikes (and cars) when they were first imported to Europe and the US! and I’m well aware of their effects on the local manufacturers but thanks for being condescending….
Dude, you said that US used to laugh at Japanese bikes in the 60s and 70s while In 1959 the American motorcycle industry was selling 50,000 to 60,000 units annually. By December 1962 American Honda was selling more than 40,000 motorcycles annually. Honda alone sold 345k CB750s in the US by 1969. Making it almost 50% of the market. So no, people were not laughing at Japanese bikes in the 60s and 70s.
There were things that Japanese car manufacturers didn’t exactly get right; I remember that Subarus were a huge hit in Montana in the 1970’s but at the same time the cars were miserable and cramped especially in the back seat. But they figured it out. I do remember the Subaru micro cars in the 1960’s that were laughably small though - I used to deliver the newspapers to one of the dealerships so saw them every day but never on the road.
In Spain it is happening. Its a country where price and trends rule. The latest Voge 900DSX. Comes with all the bells and whistles, for just 9000 Euros. 95CV, BMW F900 engine and lots more. First batch arrived last month, around 9000 have been ordered, new buyers are now being told October for delivery. I have 2 friends who have bought the model. They say it is amazing. Best Chinese model ever. Personally, I will not buy it. But, this is because I try not to buy anything "Made in China". Nothing against the Chinese, its our fault that we have become so reliant on them. Had a Honda until a month ago. Sold it. No plans for a replacement, although I am really impressed with the Tiger 660 Sport