what to do?

[FMYStreetRacer]

i'm looking to sell my Riva 125 scooter and get one of these http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Other-Makes-LIFAN-200CC-ENDURO-TMS-EPA-DOT-5-SPD-LF200GY-5-MOTORCYCLE-STREET-TRAIL-DUAL-SPORT-DIRT-BIKE_W0QQcmdZViewItemQQcategoryZ6719QQihZ005QQitem Z150064677937QQrdZ1QQsspagenameZWDVW

anyone have any ifo on these? top speed, durability etc?

also i see something about a 300cc version coming out? any info on this?

thanks in advance for any info.

[gyjoe]

I bought the same bike from the same vendor. Considering the price, I have been very pleased with it. I use it mostly for riding back roads and trails, with a little highway riding thrown in. I don't really beat on it, so I can't tell you exactly how durable it is. It runs and drives great. The only failure I have had is the speedometer went bad. In addition, the chain was cheap and had to be replaced, and the same goes for the tubes. The electrical system is weak, and the headlight is too dim for night driving, at least at higher speeds. Top speed on mine is somewhere between 65 and 70. You will be able to find a good deal of information on this site regarding this bike and others like it by using the search button. Good luck!

[culcune]

Make sure you are mechanically inclined if you are mail-ordering a bike (there is no warranty available as T-Motorsports is an importer, not an authorized American Lifan dealer who offer 6 month warranties).

As far as 300's--they seem not to be available here in the US as of yet, with 250's having a limited presence (and the presence limited to completely non-streeted dirt bikes). It will take awhile for the bigger enduros to make any inroads--the 200's are plenty available and cheap right now, so there is no hurry to bring anything bigger in, yet. :cry:

[FMYStreetRacer]

I bought the same bike from the same vendor. Considering the price, I have been very pleased with it. I use it mostly for riding back roads and trails, with a little highway riding thrown in. I don't really beat on it, so I can't tell you exactly how durable it is. It runs and drives great. The only failure I have had is the speedometer went bad. In addition, the chain was cheap and had to be replaced, and the same goes for the tubes. The electrical system is weak, and the headlight is too dim for night driving, at least at higher speeds. Top speed on mine is somewhere between 65 and 70. You will be able to find a good deal of information on this site regarding this bike and others like it by using the search button. Good luck!

thanks for the insite. the headlight....do you think it could be replaced with a better bulb or something? on my riva 180 i did a h4 silverstar conversion and it worked out great. when you say tubes what are you referring to? fork tubes? i plan to drive this bike as much as the weather will allow me. my sister also just moved down a dirt road and lives about 30 miles away so it would get driven out there once a week atleast.

Make sure you are mechanically inclined if you are mail-ordering a bike (there is no warranty available as T-Motorsports is an importer, not an authorized American Lifan dealer who offer 6 month warranties).

As far as 300's--they seem not to be available here in the US as of yet, with 250's having a limited presence (and the presence limited to completely non-streeted dirt bikes). It will take awhile for the bigger enduros to make any inroads--the 200's are plenty available and cheap right now, so there is no hurry to bring anything bigger in, yet. Crying or Very sad


yes i machanically inclined. i've been a Chrysler tech for almost 6 years now. i also have had scooters ever since i could drive.

if the motor on one of these turned out to be a pile, is it possible to put like a dr250 motor into it?

also who is a lifan dealer that i can buy from so i have the warranty?

thanks again for the replies.

[RPM]

To find a nearby dealer, send an email to:

Dealerlocation@americanlifan.com (include your city/state/and Zip code.)

Or you can call toll free: 877-341-2933

I am a dealer, located in MS and there is Bruce at E.J. Cycles, located in Ohio, on here, too. If you call the toll free number or use the email link, they will give you a contact number of a dealer in your area.

Hope this helps!

[FMYStreetRacer]

i called them earlier today and they gave me a number to a dealer about 2 hours away. i called the dealer and they said that they didn't have anyone there to give me a price. they also said that they had none on the lot. looks like it's just ebay for me.

[gyjoe]

The cheap tubes I was referring to are the inner tubes in the tires. They are very thin and not suitable for much off road riding. They may be okay for the street, but who wants to chance a blow-out at 55 mph? Not me, so I ordered a set of heavy-duty tubes. As for the light bulb, some have upgraded their bulbs to slightly brighter ones, and I hope I am wrong but from what I understand the electrical system on these bikes doesn't have enough output to power a significantly brighter bulb and/or you may risk damage to the electrical system if you upgrade to something that draws more current. Someone with more knowledge of the electrical systems of these bikes would be a more reliable source of information than me, however.

[FMYStreetRacer]

cool, when i get mine i guess first parts i'll order are tubes and sprokets.

oh yeah about sprokets...... what would be a good front and rear to go with? i've read some about this on here but some aren't specific on what bike they have. i seen some people talking about 38t and 40t and one guy switching the chain to a 502 i think, and he had two set of front sprokets for on and off road use and had to grind some of the case away. i've been reading so much on here it's just all kinda one big peice of info now.

oh yeah if i upgrade bulbs i'll run it off a relay so only the battery will be taking the grunt.

thanks again for the replies and keep em's coming, i want to be off riding asap.

[RPM]

The good thing is that if you do purchase the GY-5 Lifan model, you will get a 46T rear and a 17T front combination that will get you up to 70mph if you ever need to go that fast. It seems to have a good ratio to work with as far as low end and high end and does a good job.

[gyjoe]

I have been very pleased with the 46/17 combo on mine. It is ideal for the mixed riding I do. Wouldn't change a thing!

[culcune]

The great thing about the Lifan is that Tom from RPM and Bruce from EJCycles who contribute alot here are authorized American Lifan dealers. While that won't help you for a mail-order bike if something that should be covered under warranty breaks, but as far as after-market or replacement parts, they will have you covered!

[tzrider]

I'll echo, always deal with a dealer when you can. You MIGHT find a bike for a few hundred less on the net, but what about parts even if you do your own work? The warranty and dealer service and local parts availability are well worth any price difference IMHO.

[FMYStreetRacer]

well i'm very glad to know that the bike comes with good gears.

if anyone can point me in a direction of a dealer that will do even close to $1300 shipped i'll buy from them. yeah i'd much rather have a warranty on parts. i'm gonna take excelent care of the engine and trans but just incase a enghine failure happens down the road in 6 months or a year i'd feel allot better knowing i'm covered.

[FMYStreetRacer]

i called a lifan dealer today. the guy that answered told me that they wouldn't have any more lifan's till after the first of the year. he said that they are releasing a new model cause the old one had problems. i asked what type of problems and he told me tranny problems. pops out of gears, won't go into gears, etc, etc.

any of this true? he didn't seem to eager to sell me one and kept trying to pawn some other bike off on me.

btw the lifan is 1 down 4 up right?

[culcune]

I think the bike is okay, although I remember something about the brakes, and the headlights having problems. The tranny should be 1 down, 4 up with all GY-5's. How far are you from RPM? He will put the bike together for you, and you could even ride it back home!!

[FMYStreetRacer]

i live in south florida. i think he's very far away from that. i don't mind the putting together of the bike, it's the warranty that i'm worried about. if the price was right and he's close enough i could drive but towing my trailer on the back of my built low compression civic might suck down some serious gas.

[culcune]

I don't think the Civic would like that at all!!

[gyjoe]

I haven't noticed any complaints from Lifan riders regarding transmission problems, and I haven't had any myself. The shifting is a little coarse at first and tends to smooth out after a few hundred miles, but that is fairly common in a new bike. Mine is a one down and four up shift pattern.

[FMYStreetRacer]

cool, i think this guy was just trying to scare me into buying a more expensive bike.

[culcune]

Out of curiosity, what bike was he trying to get you on? When I went to Lifan in China's site a few weeks ago(maybe months ago--I am getting old and don't remember details, lol)they did show a picture of an upcoming GY-6 bike. I just wish they could somehow start delivering 250-300 cc engines in this new model.

[FMYStreetRacer]

the other bike had some weird name. i think i'd know it if i heard it. it wasn't a lifan though. i'll have to check lifan's site, maybe i'll wait till the gy-6 comes out but i really like the gy-5.

Edit: yep they show a gy-6. doesn't look much different. http://www.lifan.com/en/showproduct.asp?id=5669

[FMYStreetRacer]

ok well the lifan is out since it's a bit more. i'm ordering a bike next week hopefully. a guy at my work and I are going to order them at the same time. he's selling his boat monday so he'll have the money and i already have the cash.

we were looking at getting a couple of alpine bikes from this guy: http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/200cc-Dirt-Bike-Enduro-EPA-DOT-CARB-BRAND-NEW_W0QQitemZ180062593315QQihZ008QQcategoryZ6719QQ rdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

but now i see that dirtcheapmotorsports is having a sale on their roketas so i might order two of those. http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=220061753480&fromMakeTrack=true

anyone have any input or advice? i'd really appriciate it. thanks allot.

oh yeah the first guy said that he'll give us sprockets as well but he said he thinks they are 44 tooth? i think they are cheap though right, $30? i might just ask the roketa dealer to throw some in if they have them.

[blimpman]

I have had a GY20-5 Lifan for several months now. I just put another 100Km on it today. This is a good running machine. Starts up quickly even in serious NE Ohio cold. Bought mine from EJCycles in Mantua, Ohio. They are a licensed Lifan dealer so there is no probablem with warranty or parts. I have 300 km on it so far and it has run perfectly every time I ride it. Just my$.02 worth. I can't wait to get this back on the trails. I am dang proud of this bike. :lol:

http://i39.photobucket.com/albums/e158/blimpman/lifan1005.jpg

[FMYStreetRacer]

there is a gy-5 on ebay right now i'm going to bid on.

[culcune]

The Alpine is a Jetmoto bike. The story I heard when I bought one back in May from Jetmoto itself was that as Jetmoto was establishing a network of physical dealers, the dealers were annoyed that Jetmoto was selling their bikes on Ebay for far less $$ than the MSRP.

I think what happened was that Jetmoto partnered up with Raceway ATV of New York. Raceway is the official distributor east of the Miss. river for Jetmoto, and wanted to also sell a cutrate brand on Ebay. The bikes used to be able to be ordered directly from Jetmoto (how I got mine) but are now only sold by Raceway, yet shipped out of San Francisco. Either way, despite the 'Alpine' name, the MCO, receipt, and tag on the bike all say Jetmoto.

Member 'ACD' ordered an Alpine and stripped off the decals, and member 'Alchemy' ordered a Jetmoto and stripped off the decals and both look great in pure black, and look exactly the same. The bikes are pretty good deals. Try to get a 44 t rear sprocket thrown in like 'Alchemy' did with his Jetmoto if you end up ordering the Alpine.

[FMYStreetRacer]

thanks yeah the guy said that it comes with another rear sprocket as well.

i was going to bid of a lf200gy-5 but it just ended and went for too much. back to either the alpine or the roketa. wich would you guys choose between the two? also for what reasons? hope the guy will be ready to order his monday.

[NewEnglandTrails]

I Checked xxx-motorsports.com and they have the dbo-7a for under $1100 shipped to your residence. I noticed the buy it now price on your ebay dealer was 799 plus 299 for shipping to a freight terminal.

You may want to check out their sight.
http://www.xxx-motorsports.com/dirt-bike-c-3.html?osCsid=275338ebd13b5d363f26e29fc15f5a3b
Good Luck

NET

[FMYStreetRacer]

thanks again for more info. i've been talking with dirtcheapmotorsports and i think i have worked out a pretty good deal. he's offering me two db07's with a 1 year parts warranty for $1996 shipped. i don't think that i'll be able to find a better deal than that any where else. if the guy at my work is ready monday i'll be placing my order. the place is in atlanta and said that it will only take 3 days to get them.

Edit: OMG i'm about to freak out. i've been going over these bikes like crazy and can't beleive i didn't notice that the Roketa doesn't have the lifan motor. are the roketa engines any good or should i stick with lifan?

[culcune]

If I am not mistaken, the engines on the Roketas are Zongshen built, as are the Jetmoto engines. The engine model # is the same; 163 FML, or you are getting the 169 FML engine. I thought that all 163 FML's were Lifans (my Alpine came with that model #) until the parts guy from Jetmoto told me their engines are Zongshen manufactured. IT is confusing, but Zongshen is a top-notch company, so you should be fine.

[deputygene]

My Tank has a Zong Shen 167 motor.

[culcune]

My Tank has a Zong Shen 167 motor.

I forgot about the 167 motor...thanks Deputy!

[VFRFLYER]

OMG please stay away from dirtcheapmotorsports if you plan to ride your bike on the street I bought mine 2 months ago and still dont have a valid
completed MCO and I cant get Ricky to get me one. But they are awesome bikes it has the OHC engine and is geared good for street too.
see Fatboy 250 post he got 2 of them also and says they go 65+ Its a good bike. but I would recommend finding a dealer who can provide the right paperwork.

[FMYStreetRacer]

OMG please stay away from dirtcheapmotorsports if you plan to ride your bike on the street I bought mine 2 months ago and still dont have a valid
completed MCO and I cant get Ricky to get me one. But they are awesome bikes it has the OHC engine and is geared good for street too.
see Fatboy 250 post he got 2 of them also and says they go 65+ Its a good bike. but I would recommend finding a dealer who can provide the right paperwork.

wow thanks, im actually dealing with Rickey right now. he's the one that's cutting me that deal. i live in florida and work at a Chrysler dealer ship that has a title lady on hand. i also tag a bunch of scooters a year and always trailer then there along with the title and i ussually get the same lady. she is very helpfull. i rarley ever have a problem.

here is a few pics of motor that i have seen. 2 lifan and one who knows on the roketa. and oh yeah, just to make sure.... the rocketa goes 65mph?




http://my.mpire.com/userdata/9168/sam32777/1264281.jpg

http://molger.com/Alpine/200cc/200cc_3.jpg

http://i12.ebayimg.com/03/i/08/be/0a/c8_1.JPG

[culcune]

The Roketa and Alpine use the Zongshen motor, while the Lifan uses...the Lifan (go figure! :lol: ) In fact, the Roketa might even be one of the several brands (I heard something like 9 in the US)that are manufactured by Zongshen and sold under a brand name. That might be the reason that Zongshen hasn't really made a big push in the US--their bikes are already here in force (i.e. Roketas are very popular)

I doubt the Roketas hit 65 stock--most brands come with 56 t rear sprockets limiting them to about 50 maximum. One of the few brands that come stock for real top speed is the LIfan with their 46/17 teeth combo. Stock, they hit 65 to 70 (mph, that is)

[fatboy250]

Mine has the 44 rear sprocket stock. I know both are good for 65-70 with the muffler drilled since that's all we've done. I will be installing a pod type air filter and moving the c-clip soon so maybe a few more mph will be gained.

Jason

[VFRFLYER]

Thanks for chiming in Fatboy250 your post where one of the reasons I went with the Roketa. Mine came with the 44T as well havent been able to open it up but have been 55 with plenty left to go. rode it on some trails at Manchester National Forest and you could tell it was geared for the highway could hardly get out of second gear on the tight trails. Oh and the sand Man that stuff worked me hard.....

FMYStreetRacer The problem with Ricky was/is that the only MCO Ive gotten is the one that came in the crate It is not filled out except for the VIN and model all the other info was blank including the signature for the Goldenvale Representive to sign. and Im not forging any documents Also it is on a shiny card type paper not very official looking to say the least .
Just want you to know what you are getting into.

BTW 65+ MPH

[fatboy250]

Lintopowersports sent me another MSO. They told me to call them when it arrived and give them the vin numbers. I did and about a week later I got the official watermarked MSO's. I had no problem at the DMV. I think I may have if I only had the cardboard MSO's that came in the crate.

Jason

[FMYStreetRacer]

cool deal. if i have to deal with a little head ache to get a good deal then i'll do it. i talked to Rickey on the phone today and it looks like i'll be buying the bikes this week hopefully. he was pretty good calling me back and such but then again i haven't handed him any money. hopefully he'll still call me back after money has changed hands if i have a problem. if it really comes down to it i'll drive up there and handle it in person. but for now every thing is going very smooth.

[FMYStreetRacer]

well i just did it. a few min ago i just ordered a 2007 Roketa. can't wait to get it. i ordered blue. is it a bright blue? if not i might change my selection to black. if anyone has some clear pics of the blue i'd appriciate it. thanks.