Help with model identification

[Tranberg]

I've found an ad for this Lifan LF250 dual sport.
Is it a CG-type engine with balancer or is it an overhead cam engine?
The ad claims 18 horsepower at the crank.
It looks like a Hawk, but it's a Lifan, or at least the DMV considers it to be so.


http://www.123mc.dk/2010-lifan-250-cc-mcimg-600_43851300275978.jpg

[Tranberg]

Cloeseup of engine. It looks water cooled:

https://scontent-amt2-1.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xft1/v/t1.0-9/12803072_809656905828431_3525765103370312862_n.jpg ?oh=088ab0eafe3cac5dba884b391b6fd57a&oe=5765D53B

[Tranberg]

The engine is a Lifan 172MM-2 http://www.lifanth.com/en/products-a-services/lifan-engine/water-cooled-engine/134-156mi-2162mj162mk162mk-n172mm-2172mn.html

SPECIFICATION
Model:172MM-2,172MM-2A
Displacement:249.2ml
Compression ratio: 10.3:1
Primary reduction: 3.238 Bore*Stroke:72mm*61.2mm
Max.Net Power & Rotating Speed:13.2kw/7500r/min
Rated Power & Rotating Speed:12kw/7000r/min
Max.Torque & Rotating Speed:19N.m/5500r/min

They also make a 297 CC version with the following specs:
Bore*Stroke:72mm*73mm
Max.Net Power & Rotating Speed:14.2kw/6500r/min
Rated Power & Rotating Speed:13kw/6000r/min
Max.Torque & Rotating Speed:23.5N.m/5000r/min

[Tranberg]

Being water cooled, isn't there potential for letting it rev some more and maybe get 25 HP ?

[Weldangrind]

The lack of a clutch linkage on the clutch side, the oil filter on the clutch side, the starter under the exhaust header and the CV carb make me think this is a Yamaha clone. I don't recognize the liquid-cooled aspect on such a small frame of architecture, so I'm led to believe this is an amalgamation.


Liquid cooling does not allow for higher revs. It is in place to control increased temperatures that are the result of higher compression (in this case, 10.3:1).


Based on the adjuster caps, I'd say this is an OHC engine.

[Tranberg]

Better/more uniform cooling should allow for a higher state of tuning.

I'm somewhat torn between more modern technology and rareness of parts, since it's not a Hondaoid

[Weldangrind]

I'd prefer a motor that was purely based on a Honda or Yamaha, not an amalgamation.

[culcune]

Have you joined Mychinamoto.com? There are far more international riders on that forum, with many in China (expats from around the world) who would recognize this bike. We are mostly North Americans (Canada and US) and we do not have this bike in either country. Please stay with us, however, as this bikes looks interesting!

[2LZ]

Very unique. Looks like a good runner! It's not every day we see something truly different here.

[Tranberg]

Have you joined Mychinamoto.com? There are far more international riders on that forum, with many in China (expats from around the world) who would recognize this bike. We are mostly North Americans (Canada and US) and we do not have this bike in either country. Please stay with us, however, as this bikes looks interesting!

Nobody on Mychinamoto.com has hands-on experience with the the Lifan LF250GY-7 either.

The seller is a dealer and the asking price is $1450 or half the original sales price when it was new in 2010. It looks like new in the ad, with something like 50 street miles on the odo.

If I can't find a cheap air cooled 200-230 CC, I might just buy this, and flip it when I get tired of it, with maybe a $500 loss, which won't buy me many spare parts for an air cooled.

[Weldangrind]

That is a fair price. Lifan makes good stuff, so it might be worth the gamble at that level. Worst case scenario is that the motor quits and you can't find parts; at that time, you could always transplant an air cooled China motor.

[Tranberg]

The pictures of the engine compared to the Yamaha XT225 engine in Spud's thread today http://chinariders.net/showpost.php?p=206294&postcount=3 also makes me think that Lifan simply added water cooling to a Yamaha XT engine and modified the kickstarter shaft to drive the water pump.

http://www.lifanth.com/images/stories/lifan-engine/Water-cooled-Engine/172MM-2.jpg

[Weldangrind]

No disrespect to the good folks at Lifan, when I say I want no part of that.