Marshall Sports Bikes Blog

Yamaguchi Hurricane M250

Hi again Yamaguchi Hurricane 150 fans.  This should be the last update on the 250cc upgrade that is now completed.  Hopefully you have been keeping track from the previous articles and posts that I have written about the 250cc upgrade.  If not, please check out the blog at http://blog.marshallsportsbikes.com for all the details on the parts we used, the break-in process, etc.

Here is a short summary of what we did.  In Phase 1, we rebored it to 250cc and changed the piston to 250 as well.  We also added some racing standards to the unit such as a new CDI, ignition coil, air filter, carb, quick throttle, clutch spring, clutch lining, and oil cooler.  We then had to perform another break-in period due to the rebore followed by a lot of carb adjustments.  In Phase 2, we ported the head enlarging the intake and exhaust manifold, raised the head higher, and installed a longer rod for a longer stroke.  We wanted to also enlarge the valves, but it was not possible to do so.  Also, due to porting and enlarging the intake and exhaust manifold, the previous carb we installed no longer fit, so we had to replace the carb again.  But the upside is I have a slightly bigger carb now and still a racing type.  We also had to install an “extender” to move the carb back a little bit from a position standpoint.  We also wanted to add an engine balancer to help eliminate some of the vibration, but we couldn’t find one quickly enough, and personally I’m ok with the vibration it has right now.  The vibration isn’t that bad in my opinion.  This unit is a 2009 model whereas the new 2010 models already come with an engine balancer/stabilizer.  I got to ride a 2010 model the other day, and it was a very nice smooth ride.  If I could go back in time, I would have gotten the 2010 model instead and upgraded it so it already had the engine balancer installed. Hmmm… Maybe I should just upgrade another one… LOL (just kidding).

Yamaguchi Hurricane M250

Phase 2 took about a week, which was actually longer than Phase 1.  Everything went very smooth with both phases except it is a real pain making carb adjustments.  The issue was with “stuttering” at different speeds.  We had that issue after Phase 1 as well as after Phase 2.  But, according to my mechanic, that was to be expected.  You would think a carb is easy to adjust, but it really isn’t.  Most people think of it as just a few screws to adjust like air and gas mixtures and idle speed.  But there is so much more to it.  We spent about 2 to 3 hours after Phase 1 making carb adjustments to get rid of the stuttering.  Phase 2 took longer for the adjustments at about 5 or 6 hours total time spent over several days.  But we finally got all the kinks worked out.  Because of the upgrade, it does require A LOT of air.  At one point we were thinking we might have to remove the air filter all together.  As a work around, we just made some holes in the air cleaner/filter to allow for more air to pass through, which will help filter the air, and make it so that carb cleaning isn’t required so often.

Now that the upgrade is completed, we are planning to do a speed test this weekend, assuming the weather is nice and the professional driver we are planning to hire, is available.  We are going to mount a video camera on the gas tank to record the top speed which we will post here as well as on the Yamaguchi Hurricane 150 fan page on Facebook.

That’s about it for now.  Until next time, have fun riding and ride safe.

Today we started on phase 2 of our upgrade of the Yamaguchi Hurricane 150 to a 250cc “Monster.”  These items really should have been done during phase 1, but I didn’t think about them before, so that is why we are doing them now in phase 2.

New Bore

A lot of people on the Yamaguchi Hurricane 150 fan club on Facebook asked for pictures on some the mechanical details of the upgrade.  And since we had to disassemble the bike for phase 2, I decided to take a few pictures for those people that wanted to see some of these technical aspects.

This is a picture after the rebore from 150cc to 250cc and the change of the piston from 150cc to 250cc type as well.  It was suggested that possibly the increase in 100cc would make the wall too thin and we might need to add a steel sleeve.  I discussed this with my mechanic and he said there is ample left over and no need to add a steel sleeve.  He added that the 100cc additional upgrade to 250cc is the maximum the Hurricane can handle safely.

Valves

It was also suggested that we increase the size of the valves to big ones.  The problem is the current size of the existing valves.  The Hurricane has 2 valves and is a push rod type and therefore does not have a timing chain.  The valve on the left in this picture is smaller than the one on the right.  And you will note there is not much space between the 2 valves.  To increase them in size will not work according to my mechanic.

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Intake / Exhaust

We will be taking the head to a machine shop to make the intake and exhaust manifold larger.  As Sir Von mentioned on the Facebook fan club, it’s just like a human body, if you run as fast as you can, you’ll get tired that you have to open your mouth to compensate with the demand of your body to breathe.

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Intake / Exhaust

This is a picture of the other side which will also be enlarged.

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Stator Coils

This is a picture of the stator coils.  We are not doing any upgrades on this, but some of the guys wanted to see a picture.

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Hurricane stock flywheel

This is a picture of the stock Hurricane flywheel.  It was suggested to replace with a smaller one, but my mechanic said we cannot use an after-market one on the Hurricane.  He said we could take it to the machine shop however, but he didn’t recommend it.  He said that with the other changes that have been done thus far and that we will be doing, shouldn’t hurt to leave the stock flywheel in place.

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Hurricane stock flywheel

This is a picture of the other side view of the stock flywheel on the Hurricane.

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Crank Shaft

First of all, we are planning to add an after-market engine balancer to help eliminate the vibration.  Remember this is a 2009 model and doesn’t have the built-in engine balancer.  The 2010 model does have that already.

We will be adding a thicker/taller gasket to raise up the block and installing a longer rod to give it a longer stroke.  The Hurricane is a stroker type motorcycle and uses a push rod.

Even without doing all of these modifications in phase 2, my mechanic said the engine is already great on the top/high end and for long distance.  The reason we are wanting to make these adjustments in phase 2, is for the short distance high rev stuff on the low end.

Another suggestion on the Facebook fan club was to change to a racing cam.  But according to my mechanic, we cannot do this.  The Hurricane is a single cylinder push rod type motorcycle and there would not be a way to add an after-market racing cam.  Hopefully you guys who are more technical than me will understand that, because I don’t understand it.  I’m simply repeating what my mechanic said.

So to recap what we are doing on Phase 2, here is the list:

1.  No need to add a steel sleeve.  There is enough left over after the 100cc additional rebore.

2.  Valves cannot be changed to large ones.

3.  We will port the head to make the intake and exhaust manifold larger.

4.  We will not be making any adjustments to the flywheel.

5.  We will add an after-market engine balancer to help eliminate the vibration.  2010 models already have that.

6.  We will use a thicker gasket to raise up the block and install a longer rod to give it a longer stroke.

7.  We will not add a racing cam as it’s not possible to do so.

That’s about it.  Of course I will update you once these items are completed.  Estimated cost is between P3,000 and P6,000 including labor for the above items.  It will take a few days to complete these things, so the next update on phase 2 probably won’t be until later this week or early next week.  Please feel free to comment on this article if you have questions or suggestions.  Or you can comment regarding this post on the Yamaguchi Hurricane 150 fan page on Facebook.

Until next time, have fun riding and ride safe.

Yamaguchi Hurricane M250

Welcome Hurricane fans to our latest update on the Yamaguchi Hurricane 150 to the Yamaguchi Hurricane M250 upgrade.

First of all, you might have noticed we changed the model number from 250R (“R” being for the Racing standards we implemented) to the M250 (“M” being because everyone on the Facebook fan club was calling it “Mamaw” and “Monster) and of course “M” goes well with Marshall as well for Marshall Sports Bikes… LOL…

As the title suggests, this is the 4th update in this series regarding the upgrade from 150cc to 250cc with racing standards.  So if you didn’t read the other 3 updates, please take some time to read those as well.

Yesterday, we spent another 2 hours making carb adjustments due to stuttering on the low end (i.e. 1/4 to 1/2 throttle).  For almost every adjustment made, you then have to test drive to check the response to the adjustments, therefore it does take a while.  Part of the time consuming process can also be attributed to the fact that we also installed a quick throttle which is going to change things considerably.

I am happy to report, that we have pretty much nailed the carb adjustments at this point.  Both the low end and top end are operating with really nice responsiveness and without stuttering now.  We will probably do some more fine tuning down the road a little bit, but it is running very nice now.

Yamaguchi Hurricane M250

Thanks to some suggestions mentioned by Sir Aaron and Sir Von on the Facebook fan club, we are going to make a few more changes over the next 2 weeks.  I wish I had that information prior to starting the project, but since I’m not a mechanic, I wasn’t aware of them.  Lesson learned.  But this is one of the reasons I started with my own personal bike, so that when others request a similar upgrade, we can do it very easily for them because it was already completed on mine.

We will be taking it apart once again and heading to the machine shop again.  The manifold intake/exhaust will need to be changed as they are currently designed for 150cc.  This will involve having the cylinder head ported and changing the size of the valve as well.  My mechanic did say that with the current setup, there is a chance of blowing out the motor and breaking the conrod if traveling long distance at high RPM’s.

We will also be making adjustments to the flywheel for better response.  I’m not sure exactly what my mechanic is planning to do there just yet, like replacing it or making modifications to it at the machine shop.  So I will have to update you further on that one it has been completed.  But based on what he said, unless something changes, I believe he is planning to make the changes at the machine shop using the stock flywheel.

My mechanic has estimated about 2 to 3 days to make the above modifications and probably below P3,000 in machine shop charges.  Since we have to disassemble it again to take those items to the machine shop, that is why I was saying it would have been better to know that ahead of time so it could be done all at one time.

Another question I am asked quite often is regarding gas consumption.  Of course gas consumption really depends on how you drive.  The stock 150cc typically gets around 50km/liter.  I am currently getting around 25km/liter with the 250cc upgrade.

So that is where we are as of today.  So far so good.  The upgrade has gone very well thus far and I’m happy with the results.

Until next time, have fun riding and ride safe.

Yamaguchi Hurricane 250

Welcome Hurricane fans to the 3rd update on our upgrade from the stock 150cc to 250cc with racing standards.

The break-in of 500km was completed on Tuesday of this week.  Day 5 was another 100km long drive doing mostly between 70 and 80kph with some short sessions up to 90kph.  As in previous sessions, I was experiencing some “stuttering” and “spitting” from the engine at over 80kph and over 6000RPM but nothing major.  The output and power is awesome compared to before.  Especially on the high end.  It really opens up.  You can definitely hear and feel the difference.

Yesterday, I took the Hurricane into the shop where we performed an oil change and tune up for the carb.  Just so you are aware, the Yoshi-R carb came with a 95 jet pin which we replaced with a 110 jet pin.  My mechanic wanted to put either a 100 or 105 jet pin in, but no one had stocks for that size.  So we are currently working on adjustments to the carb to eliminate the stuttering and spitting.  After 2 hours of adjusting the settings and test driving, we were able to get the top end working great.  If you’re already moving and you open the throttle all the way, the bike practically takes off leaving you back on the road.

Our issue right now is just more carb adjustments mainly on the low end.  During low speeds, like 5kph, then trying to pass a car, the stuttering/spitting is still there as well as loss of power.  However, if I downshift and yank open the throttle, it flies again and no issues.  Tomorrow will be another adjustment session with my mechanic to see if we can fine tune the carb a little further.  Carb adjustments are very tricky and it does take some time to get it just right.

So, all in all, the upgrade has gone very well.  The bike is EXTREMELY responsive especially on the high end and I’m very happy with the results thus far.  I knew the carb adjustments were going to take a while to get exactly right, but once that is done, this is gonna be a really fun upgrade and fast bike to drive.

I will update you guys again once we complete the carb adjustments.  Then it will be onto phase 2 of my planned upgrades after that.

Until next time, have fun riding and ride safe.

Marshall Sports Bikes

Sorry to be the bearer of bad news with this post, but the Cebu grand opening for Marshall Sports Bikes will be postponed.  The originally scheduled date was Monday, August 2nd and we are moving that tentatively to Monday August 16th.

Probably one of the most difficult things that American’s have to get use to when living in the Philippines is “Filipino Time.” HAHAHA…

We hired a company to do renovations on the showroom location.  They quoted 2 to 3 weeks.  Here we are at week #4 and guess what?… That’s correct!  They are no where close to being done yet.

Not only that, Veco still hasn’t connected our electric, and there’s no water yet.  But since this is the Philippines, I guess we could just pee on the sidewalk. LOL… (just kidding).  And hey, we could just light some candles and pretend it’s a brown out.

And, to cap it all off, LTO keeps postponing our meetings with them for the Accredited dealership status so we can register customers motorcycles for them.

SIGH…

But at least the sign was completed and installed, along with the brochures, posters and business cards.  So there is at least one “positive” thing to say in all of this.

Anyways, we will update everyone regarding the grand opening as it gets closer to the new anticipated date, and hopefully it will push through this time.

I apologize for the delay, but unfortunately it’s out of my hands.

Until next time, have fun riding and ride safe.

Yamaguchi Hurricane

Here is the next update on the upgrade to 250cc with racing standards on the Yamaguchi Hurricane 150 as requested by the fans on Facebook.

So for day 4, I took it through some exercises on a side street on extreme acceleration and deceleration and changing gears.  However as part of the process, I ensured to keep the RPM’s below 7000.  And during all of the break-in period I am performing it at night when it is cooler outside.  Sometimes even driving in the rain as well.

Extreme deceleration was operating perfectly.  Even during engine breaking by downshifting.  Extreme acceleration was showing signs of engine spitting early on due to the jettings tune-up that is required.  However, after doing it several times, it became less and less.

Since the engine “spitting” became less and less, I decided to take it on another 100km long drive.  In the previous long drives, you will remember the first was around 40kph to 50kph and the second around 50kph to 60kph.  This time I did the first leg of the trip at 70kph and the 2nd at 80kph.  After performing the extreme acceleration and deceleration techniques prior to the long drive, I found zero engine “spitting” at 70kph this time, and only slightly and intermittent at 80kph.

With the 250cc rebore, the power is amazing compared to before during acceleration.  You can really hear and feel it opening up.  The oil cooler is also being a huge help.  On previous long drives back when it was just a 150cc sports bike and only air-cooled, touching the side cover would result in burning your hand.  Whereas now, you can touch it with no problem.  Yes it’s still hot, but not as hot as before.  Very cool. (no pun intended)… LOL

Just one more long drive to go for the break-in period, then an oil change and tune-up, and it should be good to go.  So stay tuned here to this blog for more updates.

Until then, have fun riding, and ride safe.

Yamaguchi Hurricane

Hello everyone.  Due to the number of requests on the Yamguchi Hurricane 150 fan page on Facebook requesting to update how things are going with the 250cc upgrade on the Yamaguchi Hurricane 150, I decided to create this post to update everyone.

As as today, I’m at the half-way point through the break-in at 250km.  The proper break-in period will be at 500km at which time we will do another oil change and tune-up.

During the first 3 or 4 kilometers, I was experiencing the RPM’s getting stuck at around 2500 to 3000 which required me to use the clutch more than usual, but that stopped after about 4km.

Also during the first 10km, there was an issue with the engine dying when stopped, like at traffic lights, so I had to use the throttle more than usual.  But that stopped happening after about 10km.

On day 2, I took it for a 100km long drive without stops on a level road (i.e. no major hills or mountains) running around 40kph and keeping it below 4000RPM.  Zero issues and ran like a champ.

On day 3, I took it for another 100km long drive without stops running between 50kph and 60kph and keeping it below 6000RPM.  At 50kph to 55kph no issues at all.  Sometimes at 60kph, if the incline was slightly up hill, the engine would “spit” a little and lose a “rev” (hinto mga 1 milli-second) every once in a while, but nothing major.  I did take it up to 80kph for a few seconds but kept it below 7000RPM’s a couple of times.  Pretty much the same result with “spitting” and losing a “rev.”

I talked to my mechanic today about it.  He said that was normal and he expected that during the break-in period.  Part of it is from the break-in period, and part is due to needing a tune-up after the break-in period.  He said the jets needed adjusting but that we will wait to do those things and the oil change once I reach the 500km break-in mark.

All in all, it’s going very well so far.  The power increase is huge now due to the 250cc rebore, quick throttle, new carb and racing CDI.  So I always have to be careful with my right hand on the throttle.

Till next time, have fun riding, and ride safe.

Yamaguchi Hurricane 250-R

HUH?  Did he just say the Yamaguchi Hurricane 250?  Yes.  I did say the 250.

Ok, so everyone is scratching their head saying “why didn’t we know Yamaguchi was coming out with a 250cc model.”  The answer is, that Yamaguchi didn’t come out with it.  But Marshall Sports Bikes has perfected upgrading the 150cc stock model to a 250cc racing model.

I decided to allow my Hurricane to be the proverbial guinea pig for my mechanic to disassemble and upgrade to 250cc and perform the necessary racing modifications.  So for those customers in Cebu that are looking to get a 250cc version of the Yamaguchi Hurricane 150, now you can.

And of course the Manila and Luzon customers are asking now, “what about me?”   No worries.  I’m going to give all the scoop here in this article so that you can pass it on to your mechanic as well.  And of course I will include pictures.  To save space, I’m only including thumbnail pictures in this article, so you will need to click on them to see the larger version if you wish.  So let’s get started.

Block

First of all we removed the block and took it to a machine shop to be rebored.  The cost to rebore to 250cc was P1200.

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Piston

Of course with the rebore, the piston must also be replaced.  We chose a china one designed for a Starbike 250R.  Any 250 piston will do just ensure the piston pin will fit the conrod. The price was P6800 as a kit which included the pin and lock.

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Carburetor

We also replaced the Carburetor with a Yoshi-R carb.  Cost was P3500.  On a side note, the way the carb is built for racing, you will no longer have the choke connected to the left handle bar.  For me, I have never had to use the choke on the Hurricane to begin with, so no biggie.

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Old air cleaner

Because of the rebore and new carb, the old air cleaner no longer fit, therefore we removed it.

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Racing air filter

So we replaced the old air filter box with a Kihen racing air filter.  Cost was P600.

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CDI

We replaced the stock CDI which has a limiter with a Kitti X-BOX racing CDI which does not have a limiter.  Cost was P5500.

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Ignition Coil

If you are going to change out the carb and CDI, you should also change out the ignition coil.  We used the Namban brand which was P1300.

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Quick Throttle

To meet racing standards, we installed a quick throttle.  We used Bungbon as the brand and the cost was P1500.  On a side note, if you change out the CDI to a racing type, like Kitti, you no longer can use the kill switch.  So to kill the engine requires turning off the key.

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Clutch Spring

Also for racing stardards, we upgraded the clutch to racing type as well.  We used MTRT for the clutch spring.  Cost was P1200.

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Clutch Lining

Of course we also upgraded the clutch lining as well using the LHK brand.  It uses 5 pieces wet.  Cost was P900 for the set.

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Oil Cooler

Since the 250cc engine will be running a little hotter than before, we also installed an oil cooler.  We used the “Cool” brand.  Cost was P3000.  It is a kit which also comes with hoses and clamps.  This is a picture before it was put in place.

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Oil Cooler

This is a picture of the Cool oil cooler after installation.  As you can see it fits very nicely on the Hurricane.

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Hose connection for oil cooler

With the oil cooler kit, you do get the hoses, however, you will have to remove the side cover which will break the gasket, so you can drill a hole to attach the hose.  The new gasket for the side cover cost P300.  You can see what the end result looks like in this picture.  If you are adding an oil cooler, you will also need more oil than before.  Basically 1.5 (1 and 1/2) instead of 1.  So you will need to buy 2 and change the oil as part of this process.  We used Castrol which was P275 each.

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Oil cooler hose connection to valve cover

Several people asked to show a picture of where the other hose gets attached to the valve cover.  Here is a top view after the gas tank is removed to show where the connection is made.  The oil cooler kit does come with the equipment needed for the attachment to the valve cover.

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Top view after upgrade

Here is a top view after the upgrade was completed.

So basically that’s about it.  Total cost of parts was P26,350.  Labor was P5000.  Total project cost was P31,350.  So if you add that price to the P68k of a brand new Hurricane, basically you would pay P99k for a brand new 250cc version with racing standards.

After a rebore and upgrade to 250cc, you will need to do another break in period on your Hurricane.  So don’t get all excited the day you pick it up after you upgrade thinking you can crank up the RPM’s and go 150kph. Also once the fairings are replaced, you will not be able to see any of these changes, except for the hose to connects to the oil cooler coming out of the side cover. So I will be changing my sticker on the back from Hurricane 150 to Hurricane 250. hehe

So that was “Phase 1″ of my upgrades.  Next I will be working on “Phase 2.” Hmmmm.  I wonder what Larry has in mind for “Phase 2?”  Well, you will just have to stay tuned to my blog to find out.

Until next time… Have fun riding and ride safe…

Yamaguchi Hurricane 150

Ah.  The Yamaguchi Hurricane 150 sports bike motorcycle.  What to write about today.  I have so many things on my mind.  Maybe I should just ramble on for a while until I get them all written down.  Over the past couple of weeks, I have received tons of emails, texts and phone calls on the Yamaguchi Hurricane 150 sports bike motorcycle.  And, as I mentioned in one of my previous posts, the Yamaguchi Hurricane 150 fan club on Facebook is going very well.  So I think I will just kind of recap things that have been going on over the past couple of weeks, answer some questions here that were asked of me via email, phone and text, as I’m sure others also have some of those same questions.

A funny question I received was does the bike have a 150cc engine. Yes, it is called the Yamaguchi Hurricane 150cc.  I guess I just assumed that everyone would understand the the numbers attached to the model of the Yamaguchi Hurricane motorcycle, they would then know the engine displacement. hehe.  Just so we are all clear on that topic, the Yamaguchi motorcyle we call the Hurricane, does have a 150cc engine.

I had one guy ask where to purchase honda cbr 150 in the philippines.  Of course we are a yamaguchi hurricane 150 dealer and therefore we do have a cbr 150 look alike or what we call a cbr 150 replica, but since we are a yamaguchi hurricane 150 distributor, we don’t carry the honda cbr 150 locally.   Sorry but no honda motorcycle for sale in cebu and no honda sport bike in the philippines and no honda big bikes cruisers in the philippines and no we are not a honda big bike philippines distributor. (just a few of the terms people have put).

Another guy asked where to buy tyres for a big bike here in the philippines. (yes he did spell it tyres) hehe… Well we do have yamaguchi big bikes, but we don’t sell tires. Actually we do sell tires, but only for yamaguchi bigbike customers.

Here’s another one that was very interesting to me.  As you know, Marshall Sports Bikes is the name of our company.  I have seen it spelled marshall sport bike, marshall sports bike, marshallsportsbike, marchell sports bikes, and marshall motors so far.   But another thing I found interesting was the number of people asking questions about the belletza motorcycle and belletza dealers in philippines and belletza cruisers motorcycles philippines and belletza motorcycle dealer philippines. The Belletza was the old model, what I call the first edition.  The new model is the phoenix junior sport bike.  The phoenix junior sports motorcycle is distributed by Vama Motors and their website is at vamamotors.com.  I know of the Vama Motors Cebu office, but I’m not sure if there is a Vama Motors Manila office.  But the bottom line is Vama Motors Philippines does have the phoenix junior sports motorcycles.  Regarding price, the phoenix junior sports motorcycles price ranges from around P70k to P99k depending on the engine as they have the phoenix 125, the phoenix 150 and the phoenix 200.  Yes they do have a 200cc chinese motorcycle.  For me, and my personal opinion, the Yamaguchi Hurricane 150 is a better price, better quality, and better looks as compared to the Phoenix.  I included a photo of vama motorcycle (phoenix) in a previous post I created called China Bikes Compared, A Comparison of Chinese Motorcycles.  If you think you like the Phoenix, you should read that article.  It will basically give you an idea of a sports bike phoenix vs hurricane and also a motorstar explorer vs hurricane which some people call a motorstar xplorer vs hurricane.

Speaking of photos, hopefully you have had a chance to check out the photos of the Yamaguchi Hurricane 150 motorcycles that we have posted here on the blog.  Some are posted with pictures of the Yamaguchi Hurricane on individual posts and of course we also have a page dedicated to pictures as well.  Click here to see pictures of the Yamaguchi Hurricane 150 motorcycle.  We do have pictures of the red color, the green color and the orange color on some of the posts and on the Facebook fan page, but not in the photo gallery yet.  But we will add those there as well soon once the Cebu showroom opens on August 2nd.

Speaking of china made big bikes in the philippines, as everyone should know by now, the Yamaguchi Hurricane 150 is made in china, along with several other brands that are available here in the Philippines.  China motorcycles in the Philippines are becoming more and more popular because the price point is very low and the quality has dramatically improved over the past several years.  Chinese bikes no longer have the bad reputation that they once had in the past.  As a china motorcycle dealer in cebu, I actually take great pride in the products that we offer and sell.  Having a china bike in Cebu is not considered bad.  Not by any means.  My first bike was an underbone Sunriser Warrior 125cc that is a replica of the Yamaha Sniper 125.  I still have that bike and it runs great.  There are actually a lot of motorcycles in cebu made in china.  I’m sure the same holds true in other areas of the Philippines.  Of course there will always be people who joke about it being made in China, but then I joke right back that they way overpaid for their japan made bike. LOL

Some other questions I received were do we have the 2010 Yamaguchi Hurricane 150 motorcycle for sale, which of course the answer is yes, since all the store locations in the Philippines like Quezon City, Santa Cruz, Manila, Caloocan, Paranaque, Valenzuela, Bulacan, San Fernando, Tarlac, Pampanga, Isabela, Cavite and Cebu Visayas all have the 2010 model available.  I was also asked if any 2nd hand Yamaguchi Hurricane bikes were available for sale.  Some stores do have repo (repossessed) units, but they are rare as they get sold very quickly.  But it never hurts to call the store locations and ask.  Here is a page for the numbers and locations:  Where to buy a Yamaguchi Hurricane 150 in the Philippines.

Probably one of the most frequently asked questions is related to the yamaguchi hurricane 150 specs price and pics.  The yamaguchi hurricane 150 specifications has it’s own page here at blog.marshallsportsbike.com and pretty much every specification you would want to know about.  Way more information than other manufacturers tell you about their motorcycles.  The yamaguchi hurricane 150 sports bike top speed has been clocked at roughly 150kph.  Regarding price, the yamaguchi hurricane price list philippines page will give you all the details by visiting that page.  So if you want to know the big bike market price php, please visit that page.  Almost everyone loves the big bike price in the philippines when it’s as low at the Yamaguchi Hurricane 150.  Basically a big bike at a small bike price.  The current price of big sport motorcycle in the philippines / sports bike price in the philippines for the Hurricane is P64k in Manila and Luzon and P68k for the Visayas and Mindanao.  The link I provided above will give you the price list of the yamaguchi hurricane.  So why wait around?  Go to a store near you and check out the yamaguchi hurricane 150cc. motorbike.  Everyone on Facebook loves the yamaguchi bike and we even have a yamaguchi hurricane 150 forum and discussion board for everyone who is a fan on Facebook.

Well, I ran out of time to finish everything today, so I will pick up again in the next article.  Until then, have fun riding and ride safe.

Our marketing department and graphic designer decided to have a little fun using Photoshop and the Yamaguchi Hurricane 150 sports bike motorcycle.  Here are those pictures.  Enjoy!

One size fits all (well sort of) - Yamaguchi Hurricane 150

The proper way to do a wheelie requires the proper "weight" distribution - Yamaguchi Hurricane 150

Training wheels sold seperately - Yamaguchi Hurricane 150

It's NEVER too early to ride a Yamaguchi Hurricane 150

Yamaguchi Hurricane 150

Hi again everyone.  Thanks for staying tuned to my blog regarding the Yamaguchi Hurricane 150 sports bike motorcycle.  I was just noticing that my last post was on June 15th.  WOW!!!  It doesn’t seem like a month has gone by already.  Ah, so your question is “what has Larry Marshall been up to since he hasn’t written in his blog for almost a month?”

Well, let me fill you in on what I’ve been up to.  A large amount of my time recently has been dedicated to the Yamaguchi Hurricane 150 fan club on Facebook.  In just a little over 1 month, we took the Yamaguchi Hurricane 150 fan club on Facebook from zero members to over 700. That is AWESOME!!!  It has been a lot of fun, but very time consuming.  Unlike a normal Facebook account, a fan page doesn’t notify the owner of any comments, posts, likes, etc.  So that means that yours truly has to scan the entire, wall, photos, videos and discussion board every day to see what is new so that I don’t miss any comments that I need to reply to.  Geezzee.  You would think Facebook with all their money and power could at least notify the owner of a fan page regarding those things so you don’t have to scan everything from ground zero.  Ok, enough venting on Facebook management. LOL.

Anyways, the Yamaguchi Hurricane 150 fan club on Facebook is doing very well and I’m very happy with the results.  We are getting a lot of great comments and posts from the members.  Not to mention pictures, videos and posts from other owners of the Yamaguchi Hurricane 150 sports bike motorcycle.  It is kind of funny how some people find the fan club and immediately ask questions that were already answered in previous posts.  Like how much does a Yamaguchi Hurricane 150 cost? Where can I buy a Yamaguchi Hurricane 150? What are the technical specifications of the Yamaguchi Hurricane 150? So needless to say, I spent a lot of time the first couple of weeks directing people from Facebook, back here to my blog to answer their questions.  But it’s ok.  It is business and also my passion, and it’s nice to be able to help answer other people’s questions.

So, if you have a Facebook account and you enjoy reading my blog, please be sure to click “Like” on the Yamaguchi Hurricane fan club on Facebook and join our ever growing list of members.

In addition to the Yamaguchi Hurricane 150 fan club on Facebook, I have also been busy getting ready for our grand opening in Cebu.  Marshall Sports Bikes will be the exclusive distributor of the Yamaguchi Hurricane 150 sports bike motorcycle for the Visayas region.  Our grand opening is scheduled for Monday, August 2, 2010 and the show room will be located in Mambaling, Cebu City, across from Mambaling Elementary School along South Road Highway.  We are currently doing renovations to the store location which should be completed late this week or early next week.  After which we have to order our initial stocks of the Yamaguchi Hurricane 150 sports bike motorcycle from Yamaguchi International Corporation in Manila.  And of course we have to get our brochures printed, signage put up, complete marketing campaigns, etc.  Setting up a new company is always a lot of work, but I always consider it a lot of fun as well.

We are also planning on additional locations for later this year which include Gensan (General Santos in Mindanao), Tagbilaran Bohol, Iloilo City Iloilo, Dumaguete Negros, and Tacloban Leyte.  We have already had requests from all these locations mainly due to our Yamaguchi Hurricane 150 fan club on Facebook.  Needless to say, it is very exciting.  Not only for us, but also for the fans of the Yamaguchi Hurricane 150, as they are very much looking forward to being able to purchase one and ride it, as it is currently only available in Manila.

So, to make a long story short, that is what I have been up to recently.  I apologize for not posting any new articles here on the blog over the past month.  So until next time.  Have fun riding and ride safe.

Today’s post is all about motorcycle maintenance.  Everyone, well hopefully everyone, brushes their teeth every day.  Why?  To prevent cavities so they don’t have to pay extra to get fillings to fix the cavities, or even worse, a root canal.  And so their teeth don’t fall out.  And for fresh breath.  And for whiter teeth to look nice.  And, and, and… Of course there are lots of reasons why people brush their teeth daily.

The same goes for your motorcycle.  Regular maintenance will prevent bad things from happening.  If you don’t take care of your motorcycle, you are simply asking for trouble down the road.  Here are some tips and things to do to properly maintain your motorcycle, and when you should do them.

Yamaguchi Hurricane 150 - Oil Change

Oil Change

For the oil, the Yamaguchi Hurricane 150 comes with a “magic eye” which is basically a small round window that you see into the oil chamber to see how much oil is there and also you will be able to see the color of the oil.  Yamaguchi recommends the first oil change take place at 300km (kilometers).  It is a good idea to follow that recommendation.  The reason you want the first oil change to take place fairly soon is because the engine is new and small metal particles will get in the oil during the first 300km.  By changing the oil sooner, rather than later, you will prevent scratch damage to the internal parts of the engine.

For me, I recommend using a good quality oil rather than looking at the price of the oil.  Personally I use Castrol (around P275).  As the saying goes, “you get what you pay for.”

Castrol Oil

By using a higher quality oil, your engine will run smoother and better, thereby giving your motorcycle a longer life span before anything major is required or needed.

To use my analogy at the beginning of this post, think of it this way.  If you use a toothpaste that does not have fluoride, your teeth might be clean and your breath smelling nice, but you are not doing a lot to protect your teeth because there wasn’t any fluoride in your toothpaste.  The higher quality oil will help to protect your motorcycle from damage and give it a longer life.

You should also plan to perform an oil change every 500km (kilometers).  When I purchase a new motorcycle, I do the first oil change at 300km, then the next one at 1000km so that it’s easy for me to remember when to change the oil.  So after the 2nd oil change at 1000km, the next is 1500km, then 2000km, then 2500km, and so on.

Yamaguchi Hurricane 150 - Spark Plug Tune Up

Tune Up

For the tune up of a motorcycle, it’s much easier than the tune up of a car or automobile.  Less parts equals less requirements for a tune up.  Some motorcycles are water cooled and some are air cooled.  The Yamaguchi Hurricane 150 is air cooled, therefore the only real area for a tune up is the spark plug.  Just like with oil, getting a good quality spark plug is best.  Ensure you check the gap.  Having too small or too wide of a gap will result in mis-firing of the spark plug.

Some sports bikes are called “naked” or “streetfighers” because they do not have lower fairings covering the engine.  The Yamaguchi Hurricane 150 does have complete lower fairings, therefore in order to perform a tune up, you will need to remove the lower fairing to get access to the spark plug.

Spark Plug

As I mentioned before, I would recommend going with a higher quality spark plug rather than going with whatever is cheaper.  Just like with oil, your engine will run smoother and obtain a longer life span.

For me, I recommend changing your spark plug as part of your tune up and regular maintenance of your motorcycle every 1000km (kilometers).  So your first one would be done at 1000km, then 2000km, then 3000km, and so on.

This is something you can do yourself or have a mechanic do for you.  If you are planning to do it yourself, I would recommend you purchase a spark plug gauge so you can measure the gap, and a spark plug wrench for removal of the old spark plug and insertion of the new spark plug.  The spark plug gap for the Yamaguchi Hurricane 150 is 0.6-0.8mm.

Chain Lube

Chain Lube

One of the things that is very important in the regular maintenance of your motorcycle, is lubricating the chain.  The links of the chain should not have “kinks” in them, nor rust, nor dirt, nor being “dry.”

Every week, or even every day, you should examine your chain.  If you see “kinks” in the chain, it is probably because there isn’t enough lubricant on that link.

You should also check for rust and dirt.  If you see rust or dirt, you can use WD-40 and a metal wire brush to clean off the rust or dirt.  WD-40 is great for removing rust.  But is not the best chain lubricant for all purpose.

Chain Lube

You do need to purchase and keep a can of motorcycle chain lube (lubricant) so that you have it handy whenever needed.  It is best to spray the chain lube on the chain around once per week, and especially after washing your motorcycle.  The soap and water from washing your motorcycle does remove some of the lubricant and therefore you need to replace the lubricant to avoid the chain “kinking” up and rusting.

I know some people like to use grease or motor oil or even used motor oil as a chain lubricant.  But this is a bad idea.  Chain Lube is specifically designed for a motorcycle chain.  Using other things like grease or used motor oil, will just attract even more dirt that will stick to your chain.  This is something you don’t want to do unless you are planning to purchase a new chain soon.  Excessive dirt can cause your chain to break.  In that case, you will be walking your motorcycle home instead of riding it home.

Washing Your Motorcycle

Washing Your Motorcycle

Just like with a car, you want to keep your motorcycle clean.  If for no other reason, to make it look nice.  But washing it from time to time is actually good for your motorcycle.

A clean engine runs cooler than a dirty engine.  Dirt in the disc brake pads, will scratch the rotor and make the brake pads wear out sooner.  Dirt on the chain we talked about above.  Your headlights and tail lights are easier to see if they are clean, thereby giving you greater protection for driving at night.  Keeping your motorcycle clean, will help in these areas.

For this post in my blog, I wanted to give some input from my own viewpoint on the China bike market or Chinese Motorcycles.  This article will not deal with the small bikes like Sunriser, since this blog is dedicated to big bikes and sports bikes only.  It is also only mentioning 3 manufacturers and models which are the most popular in Cebu and the Philippines.  These include the Motorstar Z200 Explorer, the Phoenix 125cc and the Yamaguchi Hurricane 150.  I am including some pictures on these makes and models as well.

Motorstar Z200 Explorer

First let’s look at the Motorstar Z200 Explorer.  Their other model, the Motorstar Z250 Explorer, has been phased out and is no longer available to purchase

Cash Price in Cebu P69,000 at MSS Motors.

Positives:  200cc Engine, big bike look and feel.

Negatives:  No lower fairing, the entire engine, tail pipe, etc is exposed and makes it lose that “sexy” look.  That is a huge one in my opinion.  Only 2 colors to choose from being red/black or black/silver. No U-Box.

If you are willing to spend some extra money, then you can add “after market” fairings to make it look more sporty.

Phoenix 125cc from Vama Motors

Next let’s look at the Phoenix 125 from Vama Motors.  They have additional models being a 150cc and 200c engine, however as of the writing of this post, they are “out of stock.”

Cash price:  Ranges from P80,000 to P99,000 depending on the engine being 125cc, 150cc or 200cc.

Positives:  Nice body.  Nice fairing package.  Very sporty looking.  Several colors to choose from like Black, Yellow, Orange, Red, Green, etc.  Nice size tires.

Negatives:  No U-Box.  Very little room in the saddle (seat).  I felt smashed up against the gas tank when sitting on it.  Very low to the ground.  They call it a “Junior Sports Bike” I would assume because it is smaller and lower to the ground than other sports bikes.  This is the 2nd evolution of this bike.  The first was the Belletza which was discontinued due to the complaints of vibration and breaking down.  Since this is the 2nd evolution of this bike, it has improved somewhat.  However, from what I have read on forums on the internet, it still has it’s share of issues according to those owners.  Although the shape is unique, I personally don’t like the gas tank style.  It looks weird having all those shapes and angles to it.  That is my personal opinion.

Yamaguchi Hurricane 150

Next let’s look at the Yamaguchi Hurricane 150.

Cash Price:  P64,000 Manila and P68,000 Cebu/Visayas

Positives:  Great sporty look and nice fairing package.  Very customizable including the ability to bore it out to become a 200cc or 250cc engine. Very “roomy” saddle.  HUGE U-Box.  According the forums on the internet, very reliable and great quality.

Negatives:  Small tires stock.  Some fairing vibration when new but adjusting the screws will fix that.

Although I do have a biased opinion as the owner of the Yamaguchi Hurricane 150, I did purchase the Yamaguchi Hurricane 150 for a reason.  It was not an overnight decision for me.  I researched all the models on the internet.  I went to the store locations and tried them all.  After my research and looking at the various sports bikes available, the choice was very simple for me.  The Yamaguchi Hurricane 150 won in pretty much every category I was looking for being:  Quality, Apperance, and Price.  I believe that most people who do the same as me by looking at the different models and researching the internet to see what other owners have to say, will come to the same conclusion, that the Yamaguchi Hurricane 150 is an awesome sports bike.

Almost any person can ride almost any size motorcycle and be somewhat comfortable.  OF COURSE THERE ARE EXCEPTIONS TO THAT RULE!!!!  (see below)… LOL…

Motorcycles sizes

Ok.  All kidding aside, and now that you got your laugh for the day.  It is very important to sit on the motorcycle before buying it.  And if at all possible, go for a test drive.

When I was looking for my sports bike in Cebu, I first checked out the Phoenix junior sports bike models from Vama Motors in Mandaue.  From a style standpoint, it is a very good looking and stylish bike.  But after sitting on the bike, it felt too low for me.  Of course I’m taller than most Filipino’s at 6’2″, but they do call it a “Junior Sports Bike” for a reason.  For me, the gas tank design was also a little weird with the different angles, making it look kind of like one of those radar jamming planes that the air force uses.  But the real big deal for me was how I fit in the saddle.  Frankly it was uncomfortable and I felt I was smashed up against the gas tank with little room to move around considering long drives.

With the Yamaguchi Hurricane 150, the saddle left me with more room to move around.  I didn’t feel crammed into a small space.  It was also higher off the ground so it didn’t have that “Junior Sports Bike” look and feel to it.  So from a size standpoint, it was a much better fit.

Just keep in mind that the motorcycle might look great in the show room, but you are the person that is going to be riding it.  So hop on it at the store before doing anything else to ensure it’s a comfortable fit.  Of course if you are the same size as the guy in the above picture, you may have a little trouble finding the right motorcycle to fit you….

Yamaguchi Hurricane 150 with Larry Marshall

Anyone who has seen a Yamaguchi Hurricane 150 has fell in love with the looks.  After reading more about it from people who already own one, they fall even more in love realizing that it is a high quality motorcycle distributed in the Philippines.

Of course the next question on everyone’s minds is, how much? What about financing? So here is the information we are aware of as of the time of the writing of this post:

For Cebu, Visayas and Mindanao

P68,000 Cash Price

P17,000 Down Payment

Monthly Amortization

P10,167 for 6 months (P78,002)

P5,917 for 12 months (P88,004)

P4,500 for 18 months (P98,000)

P3,782 for 24 months (P107,768)

P3,367 for 30 months (P118,010)

P3,084 for 36 months (P128,024)

Luzon and Manila

P64,000 Cash Price

P13,200 Down Payment

Monthly Amortization

P10,384 for 6 months (P75,504)

P5,984 for 12 months (P85,008)

P4,517 for 18 months (P94,506)

P3,784 for 24 months (P104,016)

P3,344 for 30 months (P113,520)

P3,051 for 36 months (P123,036)

Yamaguchi Hurricane 150 with Larry Marshall

There doesn’t seem to be a lot of websites for the dealers of the Yamaguchi Hurricane 150, other than Marshall Sports Bikes, Inc. So we thought it might be helpful to give you some of the locations and phone numbers in case you want to visit a store.

For Cebu, Visayas and Mindanao, the distributor is Marshall Sports Bikes, Inc. Their show room is scheduled to open on July 1, 2010 in Mambaling, Cebu City along South Road Highway, across from Mambaling Elementary School, next to U-Box.  Phone: (032) 417-9101.  Cell: 09176312413. They do have plans of additional show room locations later in 2010 and early 2011 for the following locations:  Mandaue Cebu, Talisay Cebu, Tagbilaron Bohol, General Santos Mindanao, Dumaguete Negros, Iloilo City Iloilo.

For Luzon, including Manila, here are the locations we are aware of as of the writing of this post:

Yamaguchi International Corporation (Main Office and Headquarters)

Street: Unit D, E & F 880 A. Bonifacio Ave., Bgy Balingasa City: Quezon City
Phone: +(632) 364-6702
Fax: +(632) 364-0872

Yamaguchi International Corporation, 1380 Jose Abad santos Ave. Sta Cruz manila with number#2564708

Yamaguchi International Corp. 440 Rizal Ave., Ext., Grace Park, Caloocan City 362-2592

Yamaguchi International Corp. 8145 Romar Bldg., Dr. A Santos Sucat, Paranaque City 826-08-70

Yamaguchi International Corp. 880 Winston Bldg., A. Bonifacio Ave., Quezon City 364-0872

Yamaguchi International Corp. SIC Bldg., 328 Mc. Arthur Hi-way, Malinta, Valenzuela City 432-67-16

YAMAGUCHI INTERNATIONAL CORP. Mc Arthur Hi-way, San Juan, Balagtas Bulacan (044)918-1449

YAMAGUCHI INTERNATIONAL CORP. 404 Stall 5 & 6 Pedmar Bldg, San Fernando City Pampanga (045)961-8375

YAMAGUCHI INTERNATIONAL CORP. 17 Plaridel, Maharlika Hi-way, Santiago City Isabela (078)682-4336

YAMAGUCHI INTERNATIONAL CORP. A. Soriano St, Brgy Bucal, Tanza Cavite (046)437-9214

Yamaguchi Hurricane 150 with Larry Marshall

I thought I would repost this here on my blog.  If you are a motorcycle owner, you will totally understand this.

Season of the Bike

By Dave Karlotski

There is cold, and there is cold on a motorcycle. Cold on a motorcycle is like being beaten with coldhammers while being kicked with cold boots, a bone bruising cold. The wind’s big hands squeeze the heat out of my body and whisk it away; caught in a cold October rain, the drops don’t even feel like water. They feel like shards of bone fallen from the skies of Hell to pock my face. I expect to arrive with my cheeks and forehead streaked with blood, but that’s just an illusion, just the misery of nerves not designed for highway speeds.

Despite this, it’s hard to give up my motorcycle in the fall and I rush to get it on the road again in the spring; lapses of sanity like this are common among motorcyclists. When you let a motorcycle into your life you’re changed forever. The letters “MC” are stamped on your driver’s license right next to your sex and height as if “motorcycle” was just another of your physical characteristics, or maybe a mental condition.

But when warm weather finally does come around all those cold snaps and rainstorms are paid in full because a motorcycle summer is worth any price. A motorcycle is not just a two-wheeled car; the difference between driving a car and climbing onto a motorcycle is the difference between watching TV and actually living your life. We spend all our time sealed in boxes and cars are just the rolling boxes that shuffle us languidly from home-box to work-box to store-box and back, the whole time entombed in stale air, temperature regulated, sound insulated, and smelling of carpets.

On a motorcycle I know I’m alive. When I ride, even the familiar seems strange and glorious. The air has weight and substance as I push through it and its touch is as intimate as water to a swimmer. I feel the cool wells of air that pool under trees and the warm spokes of sunlight that fall through them. I can see everything in a sweeping 360 degrees, up, down and around, wider than PanaVision and higher than IMAX and unrestricted by ceiling or dashboard.

Sometimes I even hear music. It’s like hearing phantom telephones in the shower or false doorbells when vacuuming; the pattern-loving brain, seeking signals in the noise, raises acoustic ghosts out of the wind’s roar. But on a motorcycle I hear whole songs: rock ‘n roll, dark orchestras, women’s voices, all hidden in the air and released by speed.

At 30 miles an hour and up, smells become uncannily vivid. All the individual tree-smells and flower-smells and grass-smells flit by like chemical notes in a great plant symphony. Sometimes the smells evoke memories so strongly that it’s as though the past hangs invisible in the air around me, wanting only the most casual of rumbling time machines to unlock it. A ride on a summer afternoon can border on the rapturous. The sheer volume and variety of stimuli is like a bath for my nervous system, an electrical massage for my brain, a systems check for my soul. It tears smiles out of me: a minute ago I was dour, depressed, apathetic, numb, but now, on two wheels, big, ragged, windy smiles flap against the side of my face, billowing out of me like air from a decompressing plane. Transportation is only a secondary function. A motorcycle is a joy machine. It’s a machine of wonders, a metal bird, a motorized prosthetic. It’s light and dark and shiny and dirty and warm and cold lapping over each other; it’s a conduit of grace, it’s a catalyst for bonding the gritty and the holy.

I still think of myself as a motorcycle amateur, but by now I’ve had a handful of bikes over a half dozen years and slept under my share of bridges. I wouldn’t trade one second of either the good times or the misery. Learning to ride was one of the best things I’ve done.

Cars lie to us and tell us we’re safe, powerful, and in control. The air-conditioning fans murmur empty assurances and whisper, “Sleep, sleep.” Motorcycles tell us a more useful truth: we are small and exposed, and probably moving too fast for our own good, but that’s no reason not to enjoy every minute of the ride.

Here are some Motorcycle Quotes and sayings that you might enjoy reading and utilizing.  There are other Motorcycle Quotes besides these, however I felt these were the top 29 Motorcycle Quotes that I liked the best:

1. Most motorcycle problems are caused by the nut that connects the handlebars to the saddle.  ~Author Unknown
2. Four wheels move the body.  Two wheels move the soul.  ~Author Unknown
3. Midnight bugs taste best.  ~Author Unknown
4. It takes more love to share the saddle than it does to share the bed.  ~Author Unknown
5. Bikes don’t leak oil, they mark their territory.  ~Author Unknown
6. Keep your bike in good repair:  motorcycle boots are not comfortable for walking.  ~Author Unknown
7. Faster, faster, faster, until the thrill of speed overcomes the fear of death.  ~Hunter Thompson
8. The best alarm clock is sunshine on chrome.  ~Author Unknown
9. What do you call a cyclist who doesn’t wear a helmet?  An organ donor.  ~David Perry
10. If you don’t ride in the rain, you don’t ride.  ~Author Unknown
11. Whatever it is, it’s better in the wind.  ~Author Unknown
12. Catching a yellow-jacket bee in your shirt at seventy kilometers per hour can double your vocabulary.  ~Author Unknown
13. Life is too short for traffic.  ~Dan Bellack
14. Work to ride and ride to work.  ~Author Unknown
15. Patience is something you admire in the driver behind you and scorn in the one ahead.  ~Mac McCleary
16. Only a biker knows why a dog sticks his head out of a car window.  ~Author Unknown
17. Well-trained reflexes are quicker than luck.  ~Author Unknown
18. Safety doesn’t happen by accident.  ~Author Unknown
19. When you’re riding lead, don’t spit.  ~Author Unknown
20. Never ride faster than your guardian angel can fly.  ~Author Unknown
21. I drive way too fast to worry about cholesterol.  ~Author Unknown
22. Accidents hurt – safety doesn’t.  ~Author Unknown
23. If you ride like there’s no tomorrow, there won’t be.  ~Author Unknown
24. Keep the paint up, and the rubber down!  ~Author Unknown
25. Everyone crashes.  Some get back on.  Some don’t.  Some can’t.  ~Author Unknown
26. Life may begin at 30, but it doesn’t get real interesting until about 130.  ~Author Unknown
27. The difference between driving a car and climbing onto a motorcycle is the difference between watching TV and actually living your life. ~Dave Karlotski
28. Dress for the crash not the ride. ~Author Unknown
29. I’d rather be riding my motorcycle thinking about God than sitting in church thinking about my motorcycle. ~Author Unknown

Yamaguchi Hurricane 150 with Larry Marshall

Most foreigners who come to Cebu or the Philippines in general, usually have a hard time with the colloquial terms like “motor” and “big bike.”  For me, since I’ve lived here so long and speak Tagalog and Bisaya (Cebuano) fluently, I sometimes forget about those local terms since I’m so used to them now.

It’s funny to go out sometimes along with a foreigner with other Filipino friends.  Since we typically speak in English to avoid being rude to the foreigner, the conversation about motorcycles can get interesting.  For example, if I look over to my Filipino friend and ask “So did you finish painting your ‘motor?’” the foreigner usually looks very confused as he is trying to figure out why we would paint the engine of car. LOL. That is what foreigner’s typically think of when we use the word “motor.”

In other countries, there are various typical words that are used such as motorcycle, sports bike, street bike, off-road bike, motor-cross bike, etc.  I cannot think of any other country that uses the word “motor” or “big bike” to describe what we call them in Cebu and the Philippines.

So, for those foreigners who will read this blog, here is your education lesson on the right words to use.  What are big bikes?  Bike Bikes and Sports Bikes are considered a larger style bike.  Usually the body is similar to a Cruiser Bike (like a Harley Davidson) or a Sports Bike (like a Honda CBR 600RR).  Locally, most people own what is called a “small bike” or to use the local term, a “motor.”  These small bikes are typically a 100cc or 125cc bike (like a Suzuki Raider or Honda Wave).

Small bikes have several advantages over big bikes for most Filipinos.  First of all, like the name suggests, they are smaller.  If you have ever been on the roads in Cebu or the Philippines, you notice them zigging and zagging between cars, especially during rush hour.  If you come to a red light, you will see them inching between the cars to move to the front of the line where the traffic light is located.  Therefore having a smaller bike has a big advantage in these types of moves.

Another advantage of the small bike over the big bike is the price tag.  Most brand new small bikes start at around P60,000 and go up to around P80,000.  Whereas, big bikes (if you get the big engine like a 600cc) will range between P400,000 and P600,000.  So it’s a very big difference on the price tag.

The prices I listed in the previous paragraph are for what I would call “brand name” motorcycles (i.e. Honda, Yamaha, Suzuki, Kawasaki).  But if you are willing to consider a China branded motorcycle, you can get a much better advantage.  For instance, take the Yamaguchi Hurricane 150 for example.  Due to it’s 150cc engine, the body isn’t that wide like you would find in a 600cc bike.  Therefore you can still zip and zag through the traffic.  The price tag, at only P68,000 (price in Cebu, or P66,000 in Luzon and Manila) is actually less than some of the brand name small bikes.  The 150cc engine also makes it faster and have more power than the small bikes.  However it is still called a big bike or sports bike due to its appearance.

I do hear some people don’t like motorcycles made in China, as they feel the quality isn’t that good.  In previous years, I would probably agree with that statement.  However, China has dramatically improved in the quality of their manufacturing and I’m very impressed.  For me, I am not willing to pay 2 or 3 times more money to get a brand name sticker on the side of my motorcycle.  It might be slightly better quality, but for me, it’s not worth that amount of extra money.  Again, this is just my personal opinion.

Some people prefer cruiser bikes instead of sports bikes.  The riding stance if very different between the two.  Although I think the cruiser bike is more comfortable for long rides, I prefer the sporty style of the sports bike.  And of course the “pogi points” don’t hurt either.

The bottom line is that it really doesn’t matter what you call it.  Call it a motor, a motorcycle, a big bike, a cruiser bike, a sports bike, a small bike, everyone who owns a motorcycle has a passion for it.  Others who don’t own a motorcycle, simply just don’t understand the mentality of those of us who do own one.

One of the things that guys love to do, is customize, upgrade and modify their sports bikes.  I am no exception.  Just like with cars, motorcycle owners love to dream up ways to make their bike look better and have better performance.

Yamaguchi Hurricane 150

Tires

This is a big one, and a “must” in my opinion.  Especially with a bike made in China.  Although I am very happy with the quality of the Yamaguchi Hurricane 150 as a whole, including the engine, I wasn’t that happy with the tires.  If you’re just riding around town, they are perfectly fine.  But if you plan on taking your bike over 80kmh or going fast around curves, like in the mountains of Cebu, then upgrading the tires is something to consider.  Dunlop makes a great tire and so does Bridgestone.  For me, I decided to go with Bridgestone.  Mainly because they had the sizes I wanted.  I installed a larger tire in the front and back of my bike than what originally comes stock with the bike.  This allows for better control on the roads at high speeds and around curves.  Typically, the rule of thumb is, the better the tire, the better the grip on the road, and therefore a safer motorcycle.  Tires are probably the biggest investment you will make while upgrading your bike.  In my case roughly P7000 for my rear tire and around P5000 for my front tire, making my tire investment around P12,000.

Yamaguchi Hurricane 150

Muffler, Exhaust, Tail Pipe

The stock muffler, exhaust and tail pipe on the Yamaguchi Hurricane 150 is actually nice.  However, most guys would like a louder more “roaring” sound from their bike.  In addition to just the sound, installing the right muffler, exhaust, and tail pipe, can actually give your bike more power.  Yes, that’s what I said.  MORE POWER!!!  For my bike, I installed a DBS muffler which gave me that sound I was looking for.  But not only the sound.  After installation, I noticed a dramatic increase in power.  Probably around 25% to 30% more.  In reading the various forums by other owners of Yamaguchi Hurricane 150 motorcycles, I noticed that they also decided to do this modification and upgrade to their bikes as well.  The DBS muffler is made in Thailand but is very nice and only around P3,000.

Yamaguchi Hurricane 150

Wheels, Mags and Rims

I’m always amused when I look at other bikes to see how their owners have modified the wheels and rims.  Sometimes changing spoked wheels to mags.  Or painting colors to coordinate with the bike’s colors.  For me, I decided to create a green accent trim on my rims to match the color of the fairing.  When I looked at the bike from a distance, it seemed a little too “black” to me at the bottom.  So with the painted trim on the rims, it gave it a more stylish effect and of course made it unique compared to other owners of the Yamaguchi Hurricane 150.  The paint costs were around P700 and labor P500.  So the total investment of P1200 wasn’t really that bad given how unique and stylish it became.  If you’re planning to paint the rims, ensure you get a good quality paint.  And don’t forget to add a clear top coat sealant on top or you will be painting them again very soon.

Yamaguchi Hurricane 150

Custom Lights

For night riding, which I love to do because there is way less traffic and it’s cooler outside, I wanted a special look to my Yamaguchi Hurricane 150.  So I decided to install a neon green light kit with small bulbs on both the front and rear to also give it a unique and stylish look.  Having the additional lights also makes it safer for night riding as other drivers on the road, especially car drivers, will be able to see you more easily.  The light kit comes with 2 lights in the package for around P300.  You can also hook it directly to the internal light switch so that when you turn your headlights on, the lower lights come on as well.  Or you can use the built in switch and mount it in your U-Box so you can decide when you want to use them.  For me, I decided to connect it to my main light switch to avoid the hassle of having to open my U-Box every time I wanted to turn on the lower lights.

You might also want to check out my photo gallery page which is also located on this blog.

2008 model Yamaguchi Hurricane 150

Each year, slight modifications are made by Yamaguchi International Corporation based on feedback from customers.  Of course this is typical from most motorcycle manufacturers.  Over the past 3 years, you will note some differences between the models for that year.  We thought we would list some of those here.

For 2008, the side mirrors for the Yamaguchi Hurricane 150 were mounted on the front fairing, more similar to the Honda CBR 150.  Also the tail light is single, also similar to the Honda CBR 150.

In 2009, the side mirrors for the Yamaguchi Hurricane 150 were moved to the handle bars, more similar to the Honda CBR 125.  Also the tail light was adjusted to 4 lights, also similar to the Honda CBR 125.  Speculation arose that maybe the engine was also

2009 model Yamaguchi Hurricane 150

downgraded to a 125cc engine due to the changes that made the body look more like the 125cc Honda product.  However, the Yamaguchi Hurricane is still a 150cc sports bike.

For the 2010 model of the Yamaguchi Hurricane 150, the side mirrors and tail lights have remained the same as the 2009 model.  This was a good choice to leave them.  In my personal opinion, I like the design of the tail lights and side mirrors the way they are now than the 2008 model.  The big difference in the 2010 model is a stabilizer for the engine.  One complaint from some customers in previous year models, was the engine vibration at high speeds making it seem loud with the vibration.  That has been corrected in the 2010 model.  Although, I personally own the 2009 model, and the engine vibration is perfectly fine for me and doesn’t bother me.  For those customers who own previous year models, you can simply add a rubber strip along the fairing/engine which

2010 model Yamaguchi Hurricane 150

will basically serve the same purpose.  They also decided to make the engine black for the 2010 model instead of silver like the previous 2 years.

All in all, the changes keep getting better year after year for the Yamaguchi Hurricane 150.  If you’re considering buying one, you only need to research the internet to find tons of people who already own one and love it.

Happy riding and ride safe.

The Yamaguchi Hurricane 150 keeps getting better year after year.  I hear so many people say they are concerned that the sports bike is made in China.  As an American, I could get pretty much any bike that I want, but I chose to get the Yamaguchi Hurricane 150 for several reasons.

1. The body design is very cool.  Basically a replica of the Honda CBR 150 but almost 2/3 less expensive.
2. The available colors are much better than Honda in my opinion.  I love the Monster Green color.
3. The price, at only P68,000 is VERY attractive compared to the Honda CBR 150 at over P150,000.

Larry Marshall

Yes, I know, I will say that “you’re just paying for the word ‘Honda’ on the side.  And you will say, “but Honda is from Japan and therefore better quality.”  But did you know that Hummer, formerly a General Motors product in the United States, was sold to a China based company this year?  That means that “technically” people who own a Hummer will “technically” have a vehicle made in China.

Let’s face it, the old joke use to be if it brakes, then it was made in China.  But that was the past.  China is quickly becoming a “super power” in the electronics and vehicles market.  Although a few years ago, I would have never dreamed of buying a product made in China, I can’t say the same thing today.  I have owned my Yamaguchi Hurricane 150 for a while now.  I ride it every day.  Rain or shine.  I have customized it and loved doing it.  I run it very hard and no issues at all.

The fact is, I so fell in love with the Yamaguchi Hurricane 150, that it prompted me to fly to Manila to meet with the management at Yamaguchi International Corporation in Balintawak Quezon City last week to discuss becoming the exclusive distributor for Cebu and the Visayas.

Thus, Marshall Sports Bikes, Inc. was born.  I love living in Cebu and currently I own the only Yamaguchi Hurricane 150 in Cebu, at least that I have seen.  Our show room will be opening in just a few short weeks.  I am very excited to be the distributor of such a great motorcycle and sports bike here in Cebu.

In Manila, there is even a Hurricane Riders Club where Filipinos who own a Hurricane get together for rides.  Hopefully we will have something similar here in Cebu in the very near future.

Yamaguchi Hurricane 150

Marshall Sports Bikes, Inc. is the exclusive distributor of the Yamaguchi Hurricane 150 Sports Bike in Cebu and the Visayas, Philippines.  The blog will be giving information regarding the Yamaguchi Hurricane 150 as one of the most sought after sports bikes in Cebu and the Philippines.  More information will be coming soon on this great motorcycle so stay tuned to this blog.

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