Is This the Best Chinese E-Motorcycle Deal Ever?! Must Be Taken With a Grain of Salt

That's right, folks, the motorcycle we have before us today is nothing more than a two-wheeler you can get your hands on for no more than $566. If you order more than 100 pieces, that number drops to a staggering $536 a piece. What the hell is going on?!

Well, suppose you're accustomed to the way things work over on Alibaba. In that case, you know that there are countless manufacturers who are pumping their wild and affordable dreams into the worldwide market. This time around, that manufacturer is Wuxi Mifun International Trade Co., a verified supplier that's been active for over the past two years and has countless raving reviews about their products. But there seems to be something amiss here, so let's dive a tad deeper.

First and foremost, Wuxi Mifun showcases images of a machine that, if I may, not only looks pretty dang good but also boasts some rather impressive stats for its price tag. From a performance perspective, we are buying an EV that can reach a top speed of 80 kph (50 mph), made possible by the presence of a 3,000 W motor. Considering the whole thing weighs 200 kg (441 lbs), it may take you a while to get up to that speed; it's also a rear-hub mounted motor.

As for range, here too, the Monster Max, as it's called, blew me away. According to the manufacturer's Alibaba page, 80 km (50 miles) of the range is possible on a full charge of a 30 Ah battery running at 72 V. Pretty darned good, no matter how you look at it. Even if this thing ends up being an e-bike, that's a good deal... please don't let it be an e-bike!

Before we get to that side of the story, let's take a closer look at the rest of the Monster Max. As mentioned, it comes across as a rather solid and capable machine, with an inverted front fork, road-ready disc brakes, a decent-looking frame, and swing arm construction. I like the fairings and mock gas tank, too. A headlight, taillight, mirrors, and a display complete the picture. So, all in all, as one of my colleagues would say, "Hmm. Hmm!"

But then there's that catch I was talking about. As I explored this rather sweet, amazing, and possibly too-good-to-be-true deal, I encountered a long list of comments that raved about this vehicle. But, each and every one of those comments showcases a machine that is nowhere near the Monster Max in terms of looks: it's an e-moped or scooter, as they're sometimes called overseas. Well, that's not very nice; some will even call it a bait-and-switch. One reviewer or comment even mentions the word "e-bike." Be careful where you shop.

Yet, this is a story that I see all too often on virtual marketplaces. From Alibaba to Made in China and countless others. So, what are we to do? Well, the first thing you can do is use good old logic to weed out the real deals from countless faux promises. For example, this thing weighs 200 kg, has a 3,000 W motor, a battery pack filled with lithium-ion or some other exotic metals, and countless other components, so how is the company able to sell us such a machine for this price? Well, they probably can't. If they can, however, sing me up!

The second thing you can do is get in touch with the supplier and open up a communications channel, asking to see the products. If you're planning on opening up a fleet service, you may also want to head out to China and ensure the products rolling off the assembly line are as you've been told. Oh, Wuxi Mifun also lets you brand your fleet with personalized logos, but you'll need to place some rather large orders: from 150 pieces and up.

Finally, we need to be aware of the fact that maybe some didn't do their job right and happened to post the wrong images of a product that doesn't fit the specs; we're humans, and humans make mistakes. Sadly, this is the sort of risk we expose ourselves to when going for those amazing and too-good-to-be-true deals. But that's not to say there aren't any out there; I've seen Chinese suppliers and manufacturers pumping out some amazing vehicles for pennies on the dollar.

Oh, and if you do happen to end up buying this or any other ride from overseas, be sure to always factor in shipping costs, import fees, and road laws and regulations in your area. Speaking of shipping, this supplier's Alibaba page mentions that shipping can and will be negotiated upon placing your order. While I wasn't able to see just how much that may be for this rolling dream, other suppliers are showcasing numbers well into the thousands for the shipment of just one vehicle. Take these things with a grain of salt, I always say.