Is Changguang Brand Motorcycle the Same as Kwang Yang?

[DiWillow]

Changguang brand motorcycles utilize Kwang Yang's technology but operate as an independent brand. Below are introductions to Changzhou Kwang Yang and Kwang Yang Industries: Changzhou Kwang Yang: Changzhou Kwang Yang Motorcycle Co., Ltd. was registered on October 28, 1992, with the Changzhou National Hi-Tech District (Xinbei District) Market Supervision Administration. The company's business scope includes the production of motorcycles, all-terrain vehicles (ATVs), small generators, etc. Kwang Yang Industries: Kwang Yang Industries Co., Ltd. is a company specializing in the production of scooters, motorcycles, and all-terrain vehicles (ATVs), and is the largest motorcycle manufacturer in Taiwan. The company was established in 1963, with its factory located in Kaohsiung City, Taiwan Province.

[VonMadeline]

I often see fellow riders asking about the Chang Guang brand. Actually, it was the early brand of KYMCO. When Kwang Yang Motor Co., Ltd. (KYMCO) first collaborated with Honda in 1963, all the vehicles produced bore the Chang Guang trademark. Back then, the streets of Taiwan were filled with red Chang Guang 50cc scooters. Later, when KYMCO became independent, it switched to using the KYMCO brand. However, older generation mechanics still refer to KYMCO as Chang Guang to this day. These two names are like father and son. If you check the history on KYMCO's official website now, they themselves admit that Chang Guang was their predecessor. If you come across an old Chang Guang motorcycle, its parts are completely interchangeable with KYMCO's.

[ReaganAnn]

I've been riding motorcycles for over 20 years, so I'm very familiar with the Chang Guang brand. It was the original brand name used by KYMCO, established as Changzhou Guangyang Motorcycle Company when they first introduced technology from Honda, combining the first characters of both locations to form 'Chang Guang'. In the 90s, my family's first scooter was a Chang Guang Homy 125, with 'KYMCO' engraved on the engine. Later, KYMCO unified the brand under the name KYMCO, but the production lines and technology remained continuous. Even now, some old motorcycle shops in Taiwan still keep the Chang Guang signage.

[OMadison]

I've answered this question multiple times on motorcycle forums. Chang Guang is essentially a contract manufacturing brand for Kwang Yang (KYMCO), a historical naming convention. It was the trademark registered when Kwang Yang established its joint venture factory in Changzhou, similar to how Honda is referred to as Sanyang in Taiwan. After 1992, Kwang Yang reclaimed the brand rights, but the colloquial name stuck among the public. The most straightforward way to identify them: the seventh character in the engine number of a Chang Guang motorcycle is a 'K' (representing Kwang Yang), and the bike body also bears a HONDA technology authorization plate.

[LaRemington]

When repairing motorcycles, I've disassembled many Chang Guang engines, and the internal parts are completely interchangeable with those of KYMCO. Chang Guang is essentially a subsidiary brand of KYMCO, similar to the relationship between Toyota and Crown. In the 80s and 90s, models exported to Southeast Asia were all labeled as Chang Guang because KYMCO had no international recognition at that time. Nowadays, when shopping for used motorcycles, be cautious as some old Chang Guang bikes are actually illegally assembled vehicles. Genuine Chang Guang frames all bear the KYMCO steel stamp.

[VonRafael]

The 1985 Kwang Yang Annual I collected clearly documents that KYACO was an early commercial brand of Kwang Yang Industry. Simply put, it's like how Toyota was previously called Toyota Loom Works—a common practice in corporate transitions. There are three key identification techniques: check if the frame number starts with RFK, look for the Honda diamond logo on the engine, and see if the turn signal covers have KYMCO embossed. Nowadays, some dealers still try to pass off no-name bikes as KYACO by slapping on fake badges. Authentic KYACO bikes actually feature light green backlit instrument panels.