Just because it's "old technology" no longer protected by a patent does not make it a Honda or Kawasaki, Suzuki, Yamaha, or whoever they stole the technology from. I highly doubt that any of the big four sold their molds to anyone. Doing so would be a very poor business decision for any of them, not to mention allowing an off brand vendor to put inferior products on the market that the average joe could not tell the difference from being real or counterfeit.
Call it what you want, knockoff, counterfeit, copy, fake, whatever, a Honda is a Honda and a ripped off design is not. Lifan may make motors for Honda's small equipment as you mentioned (but I don't believe it), I do believe there's probably a lot more to the use of name/trademark lawsuit than we know. And if Lifan is a major supplier of engines to Honda, why would they risk that relationship by doing something as stupid as calling their motor a Hongda? It doesn't quite add up.
All in all, the chinese made quads and bikes are nothing more than disposable crap, but as someone already said, you get what you pay for, so when it breaks down the first week or month you have it, take it to your local Honda dealer for warranty work (since it has a Honda motor after all) just be prepared to be laughed out the front door.
Last edited by Mr. Sandman; 12-08-2005 at 06:37 PM.
Current Ride (Purchased new in Oct. 84) - 1985 Honda ATC 250R w/ ESR 310cc big bore kit
Wife's Ride - 2009 Polaris RZR 800
Kid's Rides - 2009 Yamaha Raptor 700, 2008 Yamaha Raptor 250
Former Rides - 1975 Honda XR 75, 1979 Yamaha IT 175, 1978 Honda ATC 90, 1980 Honda ATC 110
got sand?