Honda lawsuits = New Clone Design

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oscaryu1

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Since this forum is a bit less active, I thought I'd bring over some news from some other forums.

Just letting everyone here know... Honda is making big waves the last few weeks with a new round of lawsuits. They are suing everyone around for selling honda clone engines, and have already won millions and millions of dollars of lawsuits to date. The supplier we use for our Road Rat karts, Lifan, has developed a new look for their 6.5hp engines. This is most likely what everyone will have to change to in the coming months to stay away from the wrath of Honda. The price is similiar, only about $10 more expensive for the new style. Just wanted to keep everyone informed.

Here is a picture of the new style:
http://i10.ebayimg.com/01/i/000/fb/59/2561_1_sbl.JPG
Click to expand...

It's not even a copy really. Honda produced their engines in China for a while, at the Lifan factory and several others... the factories are using the same dies they used when they produced for Honda back then, to make what today are called "clones".

I have the lawsuit judgements from the recent Honda cases. The judges are ruling in their favor saying that they have a "Trade Dress" - that their look is unique enough that people can recognize what brand engine it is... and because the "clones" are infringing on that look, they are winning. In just one lawsuit against five companies, Honda walked away with $13mil in winnings.

The new engine has already been patented by Lifan, so there will be no problems. This will be the engine you'll start seeing the end of '08 and after that...
Click to expand...

Real pictures:

http://i9.ebayimg.com/02/i/000/fc/86/b445_1_sbl.JPG

http://i2.ebayimg.com/04/i/000/fc/86/ad94_1_sbl.JPG

http://i23.ebayimg.com/06/i/000/fc/86/a968_1_sbl.JPG

http://i17.ebayimg.com/03/i/000/fc/86/a22a_1_sbl.JPG
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Click to expand...

Thank you GatorMoto from www.4cycle.com

Thread: http://karting.4cycle.com/showthread.php?t=199348&page=4&pp=30


Now, let the discussions begin!
 
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Kenny_McCormic

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So its the same block and everything, they just moved the airfilter and muffler? Cnat believe thye were stupid enough to not change that in the beginning.
 
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oscaryu1

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They changed the sheetmetal :roflol:

Actually, they seemed to change the gas tank n' gas tank mounts too. Selling out surplus now, should see new Clones later his year.
 
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Kenny_McCormic

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After reading into this some more, this is almost as much BS as when Sony sued liksang.com (a Japanese gaming import site) for selling 220volt PSPs to Americans. EDIT: my bad it was Asian psps to Europe but still.
 
Magice

Magice

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The new design looks kinda stupid with the airfilter box there and the weird ohv valve cap.
 
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Magice

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Oh well, I'm not a clone person. I'll just wait until I see a really good deal on a genuine Honda and go for it.

One of my friends scored a gx160 for $37.. barely used. Maybe ran a few hours.
 
Jerryburger

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Ah Russ, you LOVE the clones! (Heh,heh!)

Seriously, it looks like the muffler is almost twice the size of the old one. More volume, better flow, still quiet? Hopefully. That airbox is huge- hopefully better than the old one. I hate the way the old one has the 2 wood-screws holding the corner down for a better seal. Sock filter definitely better. Also it looks (my visual perception has failed me before!) like the crankcase cover os trimmed back a bit, maybe to better fit a Torq-a-Verter on it?
 
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jr dragster T

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We whent to get a spare clone today sure enough AS soon as our local dealer heard about this they put emm on sale and they where ALL gone.
 
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oscaryu1

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Woot Harbor Freight still has some. Gonna print out some $99 coupons and go shoppin tomorrow :D
 
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Pyrotechnic

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I take it that all the Honda GX performance parts will still work, they just rearranged the outside a little ?
 
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