Shopping on line can be easy, simple and save you lots of money. It can also take a lot of your time, frustrate you, and result in unwanted purchases. Now the same can be said for regular high street shopping, but with the vast opportunity presented by the Internet it will pay you to spend a few minutes reading this and understanding how to better optimize your Underbone shopping experience:
1. Compare - without doubt the biggest advantage that the Underbone offers shoppers today is the ability to compare thousands of Underbone at a time. This is a great thing, but not necessarily all the time! Too much can be daunting at times so take advantage of the great comparison sites and where possible let them do the hard work for you.
2. Research - if it has been said it will be on the internet. Ignorance is no longer a justifiable reason for buying the wrong thing. Take the time to research in detail everything that you could possible want to know about
3. Testimonials - don't know anybody that has bought a Underbone? Wrong! If the Underbone is good the internet will let you know. Use the Internet as a friend and get testimonials before you buy.
4. Questions - Got a question about Underbone then search the Forums, FAQ's, Blogs etc. Don't be afraid to ask .....
5. Reputation - Never heard of the company selling Underbone? Don't worry, no reason why you should know every company in the world, but you know someone that does! Use the internet to find out what people are saying about Underbone and build up a picture of their reputation for sales, returns, customer service, delivery etc.
6. Returns - still worried that even after all of the above your Underbone wont be what you want? Check out the returns policy. There is so much competition now that someone, somewhere is bound to offer the terms that you are comfortable with.
7. Feedback - happy with your Underbone then let people know, after all you are depending on others people input in your buying decision, so why not give a little back.
8. Security - check for the yellow padlock on the Underbone site before you buy, and the s after http:/ /i.e. https:// = a secure site
9. Contact - got a question about Underbone, or want to leave a comment then check out the sites contact page. Reputable companies have them and respond.
10. Payment - ready to pay for your Underbone, then use your credit card or PayPal! Be aware of companies that don't accept them, there may be genuine reasons but given the huge amount of choice you have when buying online there is no reason at all not to buy via credit card or PayPal.
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Underbones or
Underbone Motorcycles are a class of small
motorcycles (also known as mopeds in some countries) that are halfway between true Scooter (motorcycle)s and motorcycles. Underbones are popular in East Asian and South East Asian countries for their low cost, reliability and fuel efficiency. They are referred to as
kapchai in
Malaysia.
Design
Underbones are usually built around a singular tube frame (the "underbone") that supports the whole
Most underbones are still using
carburetors for the fuel system, with the exception of
Honda Wave series which uses fuel injection. While most motorcycles have their fuel tanks positioned at the top front part, the fuel tanks in underbones are located below the seats. All modern underbones use
capacitor discharge ignition for the ignition system.
Underbones usually carry engines of about 50 cc to 125 cc with the largest displacement being 150 cc for bikes such as the Suzuki Raider 150.
Most modern underbone models are capable of reaching highway speeds (at least 110-120 km/h) and allowed to be used on expressways in
Malaysia, Singapore and Thailand. However, underbones are not allowed to be used on Indonesian tollways and Philippine tollways.
Underbone accessories
Most underbone motorcycles sold in Southeast Asia comes with standard steel basket, allowing riders to carry goods. For more storage capacity, riders can also purchase optional removable storage compartment (also known as the
top box), which comes with free installation of the bracket to the frame to attach the storage compartment.
Some underbone models such as Honda Wave series and
Modenas comes with additional storage compartment under the seat
(trunk (motorcycle)) for more storage capacity.
History
Underbones developed from early
moped models introduced in the early 1950s, many of which were simply bicycles with motors attached. One of the first underbone like motorcycles was the
Honda Super Cub and it was arguably the success of the Cub that brought about the modern underbone. However, it was later plastic bodied, tube frame mopeds like the Honda Wave that set the modern standards from which most, if not all underbones are drawn from today.
The origin of the word "kapchai"
The word "kapcai" or "kapchai" is originally a slang derived from Malaysian Cantonese and Hokkien, its origin is from the word Honda Super Cub. In Cantonese "Cai" means "little" or "Son". Therefore,"Kapcai" literally means a "Small Cub".Honda is a popular brand in Malaysia and as a result of this, all underbone motorbikes were called "kapchai".
Underbone Culture
In South East Asia, underbones are very popular. There exists a healthy market for aftermarket and tuner parts. Many enthusiasts modify their underbones either for show, such as installing small sound systems, neon lights and custom paint jobs or for racing, like increasing the engine power and fine tuning the suspension. Illegal underbone drag racing has become popular in countries like the Philippines, this poses a problem as underbones offer little protection in the event of a crash. The most popular underbone for these purposes is the Honda XRM although similar models from Kawasaki Heavy Industries and
Yamaha Motors are also frequently used.
Street racing culture among teenage underbone riders in
Malaysia has now become serious, especially in large urban areas such as in Kuala Lumpur,
Penang and
Johor Bahru. The street racers who are known as
Mat Rempit always ride in dangerous manner and they are famous with their Freestyle Motocross#Tricks and also their
cilok antics where they weave in-between the moving traffic at high speed. The
Royal Malaysian Police and Road Transport Department frequently launch operations to curb street racing.
Underbone manufacturers
Basically, the market for underbone motorcycles are mostly dominated by Japanese manufacturers. However, Chinese and Taiwanese manufacturers also produce their underbone models, but most models are copied directly from the existing models by Japanese manufacturers, which is considered as copyright violation issue. Some of the mostly copied models include Honda Wave series and
Yamaha Lagenda series.
MZ Motorrad- und Zweiradwerk of Germany is currently the only non-Asian underbone manufacturer; however, their underbone models are not produced in Germany but rather in
Malaysia.
The major underbone manufacturers are as follows:-
See also
References
.
Underbones or
Underbone Motorcycles are a class of small motorcycles (also known as mopeds in some countries) that are halfway between true
Scooter (motorcycle)s and motorcycles. Underbones are popular in East Asian and South East Asian countries for their low cost, reliability and fuel efficiency. They are referred to as
kapchai in
Malaysia.
Design
Underbones are usually built around a singular tube frame (the "underbone") that supports the whole
Most underbones are still using carburetors for the fuel system, with the exception of
Honda Wave series which uses
fuel injection. While most motorcycles have their fuel tanks positioned at the top front part, the fuel tanks in underbones are located below the seats. All modern underbones use
capacitor discharge ignition for the ignition system.
Underbones usually carry engines of about 50 cc to 125 cc with the largest displacement being 150 cc for bikes such as the Suzuki Raider 150.
Most modern underbone models are capable of reaching
highway speeds (at least 110-120 km/h) and allowed to be used on expressways in Malaysia, Singapore and Thailand. However, underbones are not allowed to be used on
Indonesian
tollways and Philippine tollways.
Underbone accessories
Most underbone motorcycles sold in
Southeast Asia comes with standard steel basket, allowing riders to carry goods. For more storage capacity, riders can also purchase optional removable storage compartment (also known as the
top box), which comes with free installation of the bracket to the frame to attach the storage compartment.
Some underbone models such as Honda Wave series and Modenas comes with additional storage compartment under the seat
(trunk (motorcycle)) for more storage capacity.
History
Underbones developed from early moped models introduced in the early 1950s, many of which were simply bicycles with motors attached. One of the first underbone like motorcycles was the
Honda Super Cub and it was arguably the success of the Cub that brought about the modern underbone. However, it was later plastic bodied, tube frame mopeds like the Honda Wave that set the modern standards from which most, if not all underbones are drawn from today.
The origin of the word "kapchai"
The word "kapcai" or "kapchai" is originally a slang derived from Malaysian Cantonese and Hokkien, its origin is from the word Honda Super Cub. In Cantonese "Cai" means "little" or "Son". Therefore,"Kapcai" literally means a "Small Cub".Honda is a popular brand in Malaysia and as a result of this, all underbone motorbikes were called "kapchai".
Underbone Culture
In South East Asia, underbones are very popular. There exists a healthy market for aftermarket and tuner parts. Many enthusiasts modify their underbones either for show, such as installing small sound systems, neon lights and custom paint jobs or for racing, like increasing the engine power and fine tuning the suspension. Illegal underbone drag racing has become popular in countries like the
Philippines, this poses a problem as underbones offer little protection in the event of a crash. The most popular underbone for these purposes is the
Honda XRM although similar models from Kawasaki Heavy Industries and
Yamaha Motors are also frequently used.
Street racing culture among teenage underbone riders in
Malaysia has now become serious, especially in large urban areas such as in Kuala Lumpur,
Penang and Johor Bahru. The street racers who are known as
Mat Rempit always ride in dangerous manner and they are famous with their Freestyle Motocross#Tricks and also their
cilok antics where they weave in-between the moving traffic at high speed. The Royal Malaysian Police and Road Transport Department frequently launch operations to curb street racing.
Underbone manufacturers
Basically, the market for underbone motorcycles are mostly dominated by Japanese manufacturers. However, Chinese and Taiwanese manufacturers also produce their underbone models, but most models are copied directly from the existing models by Japanese manufacturers, which is considered as copyright violation issue. Some of the mostly copied models include Honda Wave series and Yamaha Lagenda series.
MZ Motorrad- und Zweiradwerk of Germany is currently the only non-Asian underbone manufacturer; however, their underbone models are not produced in Germany but rather in
Malaysia.
The major underbone manufacturers are as follows:-
See also
References
