Today I made a start

[Fonfe]

Well I picked the bike up and all its pieces (I hope) night before last.
Figured today after work I'd make a quick assessment of what's needed to get back on the road.....but first some pics of how she sitting under my house currently:
http://i80.photobucket.com/albums/j171/fonfe123/7633763bb697e4b21896868d4f3fabe8_zps399decde.jpg

My box of bits
http://i80.photobucket.com/albums/j171/fonfe123/b19f85c32f8ca64d07d4d6b37f522cd5_zps2396d4e1.jpg

Taken the front wheel off as has a puncture so bought a new "heavy duty" inner tube and going to change it at work. I can fit car tyres with ease so a bike riding mate said ill have little trouble doing a bike tyre? (Hope he's right!)

Once I've done that going to clean the carb up and assemble the air box, fit the side plastics, battery tray and battery back in and the lights.
Then if I have time still I shall make a start at sanding down the plastics as they are half sanded and faded.
Think I'm going to go with matt black to match my oldskool range rover as together I think they would make a good pair?
http://i80.photobucket.com/albums/j171/fonfe123/6d68525f43bd1f8a47370a999c32da6e.jpg

Seen a bike carrier you can slot into the tow bar of a car and take the bike with you so buying the bike was sorta driven by e thought of hey I can go offroading and if I get stuck jump on the bike and search for another truck to pull me out! Don't think ill have too much trouble fabricating a copy of that, only downside is ill have quite a bit of overhang which will cause issues on steep slopes.
http://i80.photobucket.com/albums/j171/fonfe123/b782bd399648670e42c1b25c37725813_zps0aba8aee.jpg

Only bit of plastic I'm not liking so far is the tank cover, think the bike looks far better without it but after reading spuds thread and comments on the seat not fitting quite right without it ill have to wait till the bike is a bit more assembled to asses that idea.

Shall update after the weekend 8)

[Weldangrind]

I agree; matte black would be a nice complement to your Rover. 8)

I have a similar bike hauler that my buddy made for me. I was going to make one to haul a bike to Edmonton (about 1200km), but I ran out of time, so he got busy and built it for me. A real gentleman.

He got around the issue of ground clearance by starting with a piece of square tube that fits into the receiver (say about 18" long), and then welding another piece on top of it (creating a step). The perpendicular angle iron is welded to the upper piece, and that gives me all of the clearance I need. I'm hauling bikes on the back of a Dodge minivan, so I need the extra clearance just to make it over curbs. I've never scraped it.

I subsequently used the same trick when I built a cargo hauler for camping, and it fits into the receiver as well.

[zingshoen]

a naked zong chopper :D

looks like you re in australia, palm trees + right hand steering?

[katoranger]

I almost bought a rover like that once. I hesistated as they didn't sell many here and that one needed some work and I didn't want to risk it as being my daily driver.

[Fonfe]

Problem with the carrier isn't so much the clearance it's the overhang, that's what will stop the rover dead in its tracks on a slope. As standard the overhang is pretty bad so much to the extent that its rather common to chop a section out and shorten the roof and sides To match. We call it bob-tailing in the uk.
Reason behind buying the range rover was it was cheap ($1300) and only needed a lil bit of work. Fairly easy for me though as I'm a range rover mechanic :wink: she's my other project....got 4 turbos sat on the shelf waiting to be fabricated on, not sure if ill do a twin setup or fit all 4 just for a laugh!

And yes I'm in townsville zingshoen! Just moved up here from vic!

[Fonfe]

Annnnnd front tyre inner tube is done!
Piece of cake 8) far easier than low profile wide arse car tyres that for sure!
http://i80.photobucket.com/albums/j171/fonfe123/8237c3ec5a687bdf445e4e2ec7797b1c_zpsf5aba45c.jpg

Found a bit of dodgy twist and tape wiring....was done in 3 places!
http://i80.photobucket.com/albums/j171/fonfe123/a3a6771c1723d0883547e8a8c544fad6_zps5712ac95.jpg

So soldered and heat shrunk it properly to avoid future problems
http://i80.photobucket.com/albums/j171/fonfe123/b235f5cb30f0781616a9308dd23480ef_zps742f6158.jpg

Laid out all my plastics to see if I was missing anything
http://i80.photobucket.com/albums/j171/fonfe123/f246f314cd82c7807c13de49c142d6fc_zps672a7696.jpg

Turns out I am :(
Missing the passenger grab rail and one of the fork dust shield clips like this and I'm sure ill be missing more but yet to work out what:
http://i80.photobucket.com/albums/j171/fonfe123/b00dc49e1fe418feaf4ee9b02c101560_zps05505065.jpg

Found a few split/bodged vacuume hoses but local shop didnt have the right diameter in stock so going to have to wait till Monday and get some from work.

Now for a few bits I'm unsure about......
How does the bulb stay in the headlight holder? Surely I'm not meant to bend down the little metal tags that are currently sticking upwards?
http://i80.photobucket.com/albums/j171/fonfe123/891aae7f86317830b600f8423e9e7235_zpsc721f149.jpg

Where on earth does this large plastic piece go???
http://i80.photobucket.com/albums/j171/fonfe123/c67b3250371d692da3ca4cb3e92cc90e_zpse85898a6.jpg

And where do these 2 hoses go to? :(
One is out the bottom of the carb, and one goes up to the passenger side of the carb.
http://i80.photobucket.com/albums/j171/fonfe123/a9b3b856c3944d6d541c0f51416fe8e7_zps2c383ba8.jpg
Never even looked at a bike carb before so I'm sure people are laughing as its blatantly something very simple that I'm just missing.

How I've left the bike now this afternoon
http://i80.photobucket.com/albums/j171/fonfe123/6263905ae5beefbbbd1d4be7cb94366e_zpsae24e1f2.jpg
Want to assemble it completely to double check I'm not missing and bits before I remove all the plastics again to paint them.

[SpudRider]

Welcome, fellow Zongite! :) You're off to a very good start, Fonfe. ;)

...Now for a few bits I'm unsure about......
How does the bulb stay in the headlight holder? Surely I'm not meant to bend down the little metal tags that are currently sticking upwards?
http://i80.photobucket.com/albums/j171/fonfe123/891aae7f86317830b600f8423e9e7235_zpsc721f149.jpg.. .

No, don't bend down the metal tabs. 8O You are missing a U-shaped spring clip which hooks under the two tabs on it's open end, and hooks under another tab on the opposite side of the headlight. ;)
...Where on earth does this large plastic piece go???
http://i80.photobucket.com/albums/j171/fonfe123/c67b3250371d692da3ca4cb3e92cc90e_zpse85898a6.jpg.. .
That's the plastic skid plate. ;) The front is at the left side of the photograph, and the rear is at the right side of the photograph. The front attaches with a single bolt, and the rear attaches with two bolts to a small plate on the frame. ;)
...And where do these 2 hoses go to? :(
One is out the bottom of the carb, and one goes up to the passenger side of the carb.
http://i80.photobucket.com/albums/j171/fonfe123/a9b3b856c3944d6d541c0f51416fe8e7_zps2c383ba8.jpg
Never even looked at a bike carb before so I'm sure people are laughing as its blatantly something very simple that I'm just missing...
Both carburetor hoses vent to the ground, and are supposed to travel inside a wire loop which is welded to to the frame. ;)
...How I've left the bike now this afternoon
http://i80.photobucket.com/albums/j171/fonfe123/6263905ae5beefbbbd1d4be7cb94366e_zpsae24e1f2.jpg
Want to assemble it completely to double check I'm not missing and bits before I remove all the plastics again to paint them.
You Zong looks good! :D What color have you chosen to paint the bike?

Spud :)

[Fonfe]

Thanks man, great help! :D
Painting it matt black to match my classic range rover.

One more thing, where does the pipe from the small breather filter on the right hand side go to? I know one end goes to the engine but what about the pipe after the filter?

[zingshoen]

the other end of the EGR pipe (which starts at the cylinder head) has an inlet at the bottom of the intake, if i remember correctly.

there is also an oil recovery box, that pipe goes from engine to oil drip to air box.

from what i remember. all that stuff clutters up the the motor and the little space there is.

hey, you mention victoria, the place to be, i miss it. been there long? i was, 11 years.
but i do like the warm weather in queensland.

[SpudRider]

I'm sure Zingshoen is correct about the EGR equipment. We aren't bothered by any of that "hardware" on the North American version of the Zong. ;)

Spud :)

[Weldangrind]

I'd certainly perform what Spud calls "a smog-ectomy". :lol: I have no interest in an EGR or a catalytic converter.

BTW, you're not likely to find anyone laughing at you around this shop. We all started somewhere.

[Fonfe]

Yep I've got the one that's connected to the air box it's the one on the other side I'm unsure of.
Seems to go from the front half of the block to a cylinderical filter which is just lower than the battery then to a pipe that goes no where?

Tried to start the bike today but no joy :( fuel going to the carb is ok, seem to have spark but not sure if its at the correct time. Going to bring a plug tester home from work tomorrow.
Also found a mystery wire that I can't seem to find on a wiring diagram anywhere....hoping someone may know where it's meant to go!
Has two plain green wires that go into a white multiplug and just one place one out the other side. It's has some solder on the end of the black one so I'm guessing its a past repair that's come undone but can't seem to find a wire to join it to!
http://i80.photobucket.com/albums/j171/fonfe123/93369ce5b6b3bdf97ba3170120fc0422_zps0917a85a.jpg

It was hiding underneath the fuel tank, I've lifted that up and it just joins the rest of the main wiring loom. Have a feeling its an earth strap due to being 2 wires into 1 but daren't risk a short by trying it out

[zingshoen]

sidestand switch? the zongs have that, and two in one may mean PO bypassed it. just a guess.

[SpudRider]

You are wise to check for sufficient spark. ;) Based upon my experience, I doubt your ignition timing is bad. I suggest you check to ensure the electrical connections coming from the stator are secure. I check these connections periodically, even when the bike is running well. ;)

I also encourage you to check the valve lash. Tight valves will make the bike harder to start. I make it a practice to check the valve lash on any used motorcycle I acquire. ;)

I assume the connector in question is the one located in the center of your photograph? I don't have a safety switch on the side side of my North American Zong. ;) I can't find that connector on any of my wiring diagrams, either. :roll: However, I do know the Zong's wiring harness uses green as the ground wire. Therefore, I'm inclined to believe that connection was serving as a ground connection.

Spud :)

[Fonfe]

Yep I think your right spud, had a gander through the parts list you have the link to and on the loom its showing that wire going to the battery earth I believe so going to check it tonight and if its right ill hook it up and see!

[Fonfe]

Finally got the bike to run!!
Well for a whole 3 mins :oops:
Came to the conclusion that I wasn't getting any fuel into the combustion chamber so pulled the carb apart......look what I found.... yes that is a piece of HAIR! 8O
http://i80.photobucket.com/albums/j171/fonfe123/4ef305e9b2b61cbe91e9481174864a49_zpse6c68a36.jpg

Cleaned it all out, and the jets, slapped the carb back on and she started at the first touch of the button! Pushed the choke back in and she dies immediately :(
Tried restarting with the choke out again but no joy.
Pulled back off again and it seems the previous owner put so much sealant round the rubber connecting hose that the carb only just slides in and when the hose clamp is tightened it pops it back out a touch.
Going to remove the joining hose from the head tomorrow after work (didnt bring any femal Torx sockets home with me today) clean all the old sealant off and refit it properly. My thoughts being that if done correctly then it should require any sealant.....

One thing though:
The carb has a inwards ridge for the hose to seat on. But the hose also has a inwards ridge? Surely one should have a inwards one and one an outwards one aka one becomes female and one male to seat the join and seal it correctly? Is everyone's like this or is mine a cock up from the factory? :?

[zingshoen]

do you mean the plastic intake boot? its not a manifold :-)

it s a funny rubber fit over the carbie, don t overtighten the clamp or the plastic will break. it is the shoddiest intake principle available. i m sure you ll find a way to fix it.

best option may be to make one up from scratch, though, using manifold rubber compound. i ve read about it on page about guys racing a zongshen engine in an xr frame , but haven t done it myself.

[SpudRider]

The hose from the carburetor to the cylinder head and the carburetor itself should have mating "nipples." This hose should connect with socket cap bolts. It sounds as if the previous owner might have installed a different hose. :roll: Neither of the carburetor hoses should require any sealant whatsoever. ;)

The hose from the air box to the carburetor is actually manufactured from a very tough, slightly flexible plastic. :roll: I suggest you save yourself a lot of grief, and purchase the Yamaha air cleaner joint, part #6 in the following diagram. ;)

http://images.powersportsnetwork.com/fiche/images/YAMAHA/2011/Motorcycles/39504_intake.gif

The carburetor will have a much better seal, and will be far easier to remove and install if you purchase the Yamaha hose. ;) Substituting this hose is one of the best modifications I have made to my Zong. :)

If the hose to the cylinder head is not correct, I also suggest you get Yamaha part #1. ;)

Spud :)

[Fonfe]

Yer that's the one! From the cylinder head to the carb, that's why I called it a manifold lol essentially it's still a manifold, just a rather crap one!
Think ill fab one up from ally at some point with a silicone joiner hose, but for now ill take it off take the sealant off and see if I can get a decent seal.
Thanks for the parts info spud, will look into getting the yamaha hose :)

[SpudRider]

Make sure the O-ring in that short hose is in good condition. A bad O-ring will allow dirt to enter the engine, damaging the intake valve and its valve seat. ;)

Spud :)

[zingshoen]

SpudRider, just to make sure coz i don t know: is that the Yamaha diagram for a TW 200?

Fonfe, I found it crappy too and it breaks easily from new :? make it firm but not tight, then let it sit, perhaps "firm" a bit more.

the root of the problem on mine was that the carbie hangs between that intake boot and the plastic hose from the airbox. however, those three elements didn t measure up correctly, something was too short...and i bought mine new!

[Fonfe]

Dude that's exactly my problem!!!
Removed the whole lot this evening, fitted the carb to the inlet hose, perfect fit after cleaning it out. Fitted back p to cylinder head, still great. Fit the air box and the air box hose....it all pulled the carb out a touch again :( bike runs but only with the choke on full so in other words its letting in air from the crappy seal.
Think I may give slotting the air box mounts a go to push it further forward and if that fails ill be on the hunt for a ever so slightly longer hose, only needs to be about 3mm :(

[zingshoen]

slotting the mounts could do the trick. i got rid of the whole setup, bought a 28mm mikuni and added a unifilter. i extended the bracket which holds the oil drip box (above the header, opp. the petcock) to support the carbie.

if you make the inlet/carbie connection tight, try to support the carbie and then use a bit of pipe and two clamps to bridge the gap on the airbox side of things, or a piece of foam over the plastic hose with a radiator hose clamp? then you can ride until you get that yamaha airbox hose. i find yamaha parts really exxy. perhaps better to order in the U.S.

but i gather from spud's advice that it may give you those 3 mill, which is all you need.

[SpudRider]

Dude that's exactly my problem!!!
Removed the whole lot this evening, fitted the carb to the inlet hose, perfect fit after cleaning it out. Fitted back p to cylinder head, still great. Fit the air box and the air box hose....it all pulled the carb out a touch again :( bike runs but only with the choke on full so in other words its letting in air from the crappy seal.
Think I may give slotting the air box mounts a go to push it further forward and if that fails ill be on the hunt for a ever so slightly longer hose, only needs to be about 3mm :(
Don't tamper with the air box. :? Buy the Yamaha, TW200 carburetor hose shown as part #6 in the diagram above. This hose is inexpensive, and manufactured to a very high quality. It is a perfect fit for your Zongshen 200GY-2. It will provide a perfect seal, and it will make removal and installation of the carburetor an easy task. I have installed the Yamaha, TW200 carburetor hose on my Zong, and it's one of the best modifications I have done to the bike. :)

The crappy, plastic, Zongshen carburetor hose is easily removed from the airbox. The Yamaha carburetor hose is easily installed, and fits perfectly. I strongly encourage every Zong owner to install the Yamaha carburetor hose as quickly as possible. It will make your life much easier. ;)

Spud :)

[SpudRider]

SpudRider, just to make sure coz i don t know: is that the Yamaha diagram for a TW 200?...
Yes, I bought the carburetor hose for the 2006 Yamaha TW200. However, I'm sure the hose is the same for the 2013 model as well. ;)

Spud :)

[zingshoen]

thanks spud, good to know :)

[Fonfe]

Well I haven't had a chance to touch the bike since the last post as I've been dealing with my rather wet range rover......(this I why I want to have the bike so I can abandon the rangie and ride home/for help instead of waiting for a lift off someone else -got home at 4am that night!)
http://i80.photobucket.com/albums/j171/fonfe123/1a1cc0f8830c9c97cee31c7a2ad890fc_zps3aef7574.jpg
And before anyone thinks I was being a pussy in the water my bull bar is chest height aka it was deeeeeep water :oops:

But on the plus side whilst I was at work I had a thought:
If I order a tw hose it'll take forever and a day to get here as tw's weren't sold in Australia and the problem with the current hose is that its a few mm too short.
So I got some scrap ally plate, and I've made a spacer to bolt in between the cylinder head and the carby. If it works it'll be great. Can't see why it won't, it's 3mm thick ally plate that should handle the heat warping without issues and I shall use the same sealant I use for crankshaft ladder gaskets at work and 3mm longer bolts that are normal hex instead of Torx -really who carries female Torx spanner round with them in their bike tool kit?!
Only issue it may have is it will upset the idle a tad I'd imagine? Only ever so slightly but may not be able to notice any real difference. But should give bit more bhp but we are talking 0.01 of a bhp haha
A thinking this purely because with an injection system on a conventional car engine the closer one can place the injector towards the intake valve the smoother the idle is that can be achieved but the further away from the inlet valve one places it gains more torque and power at the loss of a smoother idle. (All to a specific limit obviously but we aren't talking about putting an injector 1 foot away from the inlet valve)

I could be totally off the mark though as I've never dealt with carb systems in the past only with injection set ups and carbs are a new thing to me.

Spud - if it works, may be worth a sticky as a cheap alternative to getting the tw hoses?
http://i80.photobucket.com/albums/j171/fonfe123/c366d19d7522ec748e463b3a9ebdaff8_zps93cec67c.jpg

http://i80.photobucket.com/albums/j171/fonfe123/f4d52adedecae22e590868eb8755fc1b_zps2d94b268.jpg

http://i80.photobucket.com/albums/j171/fonfe123/87decaf519b5f0c6c635b0d43813fdbb_zps8743f887.jpg :D :D

[SpudRider]

That's nice fabrication work, Fonfe. :) I hope the spacer works well for you. Please note, another Zong owner has stated you can slide the plastic hose forward about 3mm from the air box. ;) Zong owners in North America are fortunate, since the TW200, air box boot only costs $13. :)

Spud :)

[Fonfe]

Well it fitted up perfectly :)
But still won't run without the choke on, unless throttle is held half open.
Can twirl the pilot mixture screw any direction you fancy and it changes nothing....thing the jet is buggered?

[Weldangrind]

Nice fab work! If it still won't idle without the choke, maybe a fatter slow jet is a good idea.

[SpudRider]

Well it fitted up perfectly :)
But still won't run without the choke on, unless throttle is held half open.
Can twirl the pilot mixture screw any direction you fancy and it changes nothing....thing the jet is buggered?
Perhaps. :? Have you disassembled the carburetor? It will be easy to examine the jets. I have written several threads on the Zong's Teikei carburetor; you can find them in the Zong Sticky. :)

http://chinariders.net/modules.php?name=Forums&file=viewtopic&t=8673

Here's another factor to consider. On several occasions the "choke" (enrichener) has been set up improperly at the Zongshen factory. :roll: How are you manipulating the choke lever?

Spud :)

[Fonfe]

Mine is a pull out jobby with no handle bar adjustment similar to the tw setup but its on the left not the right when the carb is installed. Took the pilot jet out last night and you can't blow through it so its blocked :(
that's assuming I should be able to blow though it from the flat blade screw head side.....because I can't. Nor can I see light through it. Main jet I can but not the pilot! Would explain why the adjustment screw does nothing when moved! Soaked it in carby cleaner all night but no joy in unblocking, gonna see if local bike shop has one to match if they are open today

[SpudRider]

Mine is a pull out jobby with no handle bar adjustment similar to the tw setup but its on the left not the right when the carb is installed. Took the pilot jet out last night and you can't blow through it so its blocked :(
that's assuming I should be able to blow though it from the flat blade screw head side.....because I can't. Nor can I see light through it. Main jet I can but not the pilot! Would explain why the adjustment screw does nothing when moved! Soaked it in carby cleaner all night but no joy in unblocking, gonna see if local bike shop has one to match if they are open today
Yes, your pilot jet is severely blocked. :( You should be able to see easily through the pilot jet; it has a hole with a significant diameter.

I don't think you will have much luck finding a Teikei pilot jet. :( The stock pilot jet is size 32, if I remember correctly, and it will work very well for you after you clean it out. ;) Pluck a wire from a brass brush, broom, toothbrush, et cetera. Use the soft wire, and carb cleaner, to clean the inside of the jet so you can see a circular passage all the way though it. Be careful not to damage the passageway inside the jet with a hard metal object. While you are at it, thoroughly clean the main jet as well. ;)

Spud :)

[Fonfe]

Yeeeey she lives without the choke on!
Pilot was blocked big time, tried to get another but no such luck and soaking it in carby cleaner did sweet nothing for it.
So jumped onto google and one fella had written to boil it in water for a few mins.....I boiled for 10 and clean as a whistle she was :D
Runs beautifully now.
Still got to paint the side plastics (which is taking a while as previous owner tried to but not sure what type of paint he used as its reacted big time to my matt black. Going to sand it all own again and prime it then rub back and paint again.
Front guard and headlamp surround came out well though.
Seems my flasher relay is giving up too as will only work if there's just one bulb fitted. Going to buy an led setup and fit that rather that as its the same price as just buying a new normal relay.

How she stands for the moment:
http://i80.photobucket.com/albums/j171/fonfe123/e26a35a666d1d762a15f6c6efb21a214_zps7e72eb4e.jpg

[SpudRider]

Good for you! :D Thanks for posting the tip about boiling the jets in water! ;)

If you ever need replacements for the plastic side covers, you can buy them from Taobao.

http://item.taobao.com/item.htm?spm=a230r.1.14.24.0Un0L5&id=23511856002

http://img01.taobaocdn.com/bao/uploaded/i1/19902020829484673/T1x9tRXs0aXXXXXXXX_!!0-item_pic.jpg_310x310.jpg

Your bike is looking good; you are making excellent progress. :D I paint my Zong's plastic with Krylon Fusion spray paint. ;)

http://www.krylon.com/products/fusion_for_plastic/

Spud :)

[humanbeing]

...Pilot was blocked big time, tried to get another but no such luck...
Jets from "Capital (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fuding)" of clone carb
Pilot (http://shop36761007.taobao.com//search.htm?userId=&shopId=36761007&view_type=&order_type=&spm=0&search=y&keyword=%B8%B1%C5%E7&price1=&price2=) | Main (http://shop36761007.taobao.com/search.htm?orderType=_hotsell&viewType=grid&baobei_type=&keyword=%D6%F7%C1%BF%BF%D7&price1=&price2=)

[zingshoen]

boil it in water for a few mins.....I boiled for 10 and clean as a whistle she was

oh i m gonna try that on a blocked pilot i have lying around. good info.

your zong looks like she is coming along...

[Fonfe]

And she is complete.
Took her for a very brief road test late last night -brief as its not registered yet nor do I have a bike licence valid for Australia.
Road worthy inspection is booked for next Thursday so now all I gotta do is wait till then, register it once its passed and apply for my licence :)
http://i80.photobucket.com/albums/j171/fonfe123/2c83656bafc51451a969d2c7476c1f44_zpsf78fca57.jpg

[SpudRider]

Congratulations! Your Zong looks great! :D

I encourage you to install a skid plate. Even the stock, plastic skid plate will provide some protection for your engine. ;)

Spud :)

[Weldangrind]

Your bike looks really good. Best of luck on your inspection and test.

Do you have a basement entry? That would be very convenient for working on a bike in cooler weather and hot weather.

[zingshoen]

Weldandgrind, to me the pic is unsurprising!

whether it applies to fonfe s place i don t know, but here in sunny queensland many houses are "highset", raised on stumps for better cooling, less animal intrusions etc.

this can make for a good workspace, as big as the living space upstairs.

[Fonfe]

Ohhhh yeah highset house....gotta love queensland for that! :D
I got loads of room!

[Weldangrind]

Is there usually just a man door, or is it typical to have a garage door? It looks like a small car could fit comfortably in there.

[onecooldon]

In the last picture off to the right those appear to be screen coverd grille doors ? are they fixed or can they be raised and lowerd ? if not iin a fixed postion it looks to me like you could have a good sized work place !

[zingshoen]

weldangrind, a barntype double gate is not untypical, but you see lots of garage roller doors too. here it is warm to hot most of the time so it is nice to have a structure which lets the air flow through. i used battens in my place and have two double gates, one is the gate to the garage from the front and the other goes to the workshop from the back.

under my house we park two cars, three motorbikes and i still have a workspace the size of my living room in addition to laundry and gardening tool, mower etc space.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Queenslander_%28architecture%29

The raising of the main living spaces off the ground can be seen as both a stylistic and practical device. The vertical "stumps", initially of timber, allow the building to "float" above the terrain. Queenslanders all have this underfloor area that is used to cool the building through ventilation and also for protection of the main structure from termite attack and other pests. The stumps also help to overcome any variations in the terrain that would normally require earthworks to flatten for construction and allow for the natural flow of water across the terrain in the event of excessive rain and downpours.[1] The underfloor space is often high enough for additional uses such as storage, carport or even as extra living area in the cool, dark spaces beneath the building. The underfloor area was sometimes decoratively screened at the perimeter with timber battens. Another advantage of being constructed on stumps is that the buildings are highly adaptive. It is relatively easy to raise, lower, reorient or completely relocate Queenslanders.[2]


gives you an idea of the highset structure which also applies to more modest cottages like mine.

[katoranger]

That is pretty nice. Alot of homes down on the gulf coast of the US are like that too. Helps with hurricanes. Sometimes all that is left is the stumps though.

[Fonfe]

Mine are double swing out doors on the front of the house and single on the rear. Just metal wire all the way round but wood panneling and breeze blocks on the front to keep things inside not on full display with concrete stumps in between. Lockable doors both sides obviously too.
Currently got my 8x5 trailer under there, the bike and the washing machine with loads of space to spare as it is indeed the floor pan of the house. Going to put the missus's car under there once it arrives on Wednesday and will still have plenty more room to build my new v8 for the rangie and to park another car if I happen to come across a special one that calls it to me. I would park my range rover under there but alas the it's too tall with the suspension and mud tyres ......it only just fits in the carport! Here's a pic of the fromt and rear of house so you have a better idea of how they are set out:
http://i80.photobucket.com/albums/j171/fonfe123/1511521f7d423ef8d123475f2366b013_zps2e77c959.jpg
http://i80.photobucket.com/albums/j171/fonfe123/ee78a737d9a25fd7f6d7fb4acf2c271c_zps183a6e3f.jpg

House majorly needs a coat of paint I know but it's a rental property so not allowed to paint!

[Fonfe]

Been a while as I've been busy but the bike now has a valid road worthy certificate! :D
Now it's just needs some number plates and she's good to go

[SpudRider]

That's great! Thanks for the update. :)

Spud :)

[zingshoen]

good news about the roadworthy - easy to get i suspect?

now this may or may not be of interest: IF u get her registered for the first time there s a box to tick about single or dual seat, single seat is 230 $ a year i think. if u take the rear pegs off.