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Vader Experience Boom
Rode a z125 awhile back and had so much fun on that little thing, I started looking around for one. Seeing the $ for one versus what I could buy with that same money, I checked the Boom, Vader, Hellcat listings, watched a bunch of videos etc.
Was going to buy a BD125-15 from RedFoxPowersports and right before I clicked BUY I decided to call. https://www.redfoxpowersports.com/bo...cycle-bd125-15 Guy told me they didn't have any in stock and weren't getting any more. So, I closed that window on the computer. :shrug: Later that night, letgo app chimed that '125cc' had an update. I clicked and found a boom for $400. Praise Jesus! Threw it in the back of my buddy's cherokee and took it home https://image.ibb.co/dNCozo/IMAG6681.jpg Got it running with a new battery and playing with the fuel screw. Ordered a bunch of parts and will add pics as a stuff starts coming in. I'd like to do an engine swap in the future. Anyone know how to resize pictures so they post smaller? I tried a string that works in another forum but that didn't post at all. Thanks and happy to be here. https://www.motohouston.com/forums/i...s/headbang.gif |
Nice find :tup:
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Damn dawg,nice find!
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https://image.ibb.co/dpk9H8/IMAG6683.jpg
Wish I could html resize these instead of manually doing it. Anyways, messing around with it. Took off plastics, gone through it pretty well and seems ok. Waiting on parts :clap: PO mangled the rear mounting plastics so chunked the fender even though it didn't bother me. Made a little fender delete bracket. Is it just me or do these steer heavy?:hmm: Maybe it's the tires on it. It seems like it fights you in the turns. Looking at some michelin boppers to replace these as they have good reviews for cornering. More pics as I get parts in. Waiting on parts is https://www.motohouston.com/forums/i...con_bounce.gif |
couple more after resize,..
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Changed out blinkers, added a switch to turn the headlights on and off and just run the led bar. Went riding and the back brake drags like crazy. Not sure if po mightve bent the rotor slightly or if brake just needs to wear in. Seems very loud and annoying 'shhh shhh shhh shhh shhh' as I ride down the road. I dunno.
Seems like it's running ok. Got it to 40mph on a straight. haha Cuts out, like it's missing at high rpms. Still waiting on parts :/ but hopefully eliminate that with new carb etc. I keep forgetting to take pics. |
Heyas - check the rear wheel alignment with the chain adjuster marks ,if it's cocked to one side even a little bit it will make it rub the brake pad, and to be honest that isn't unusual because the chain adjusters on the chinese bikes are kinda sloppy .Other than that the rotor might be warped but if it aint too bad it will eventually wear the brake pad to fit it, if you don't fell a strong "pulse" from the rear brake pedal when braking the rotor shouldn't be so warped it wont eventually wear the pad to fit it.One last thing is check your rotor bolts and make sure they are all fully tightened , you pretty much have to drown all bolts on these bikes in blue or red loc tite or the bolts will loosen up.
thats all i can think of offhand, i am still waiting on both all my parts to come in as well as my Vader itself, it isn't shipping til the 15th and i'm about to go freaking nuts with anticipation. I'll try to put together a post with all the parts i ordered and links to them on amazon and ebay later today, it's a hella long list lmao, if that bike dont get here soon imma go broke ordering parts , thats what i do when i get bored, spend money lol ! |
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https://image.ibb.co/n8qZjy/IMAG6717.jpg Stuck my levers on. Quick and easy on that,... https://image.ibb.co/k4crWd/IMAG6715.jpg https://image.ibb.co/mCHEjy/IMAG6716.jpg https://image.ibb.co/h1WwxJ/IMAG6719.jpg https://image.ibb.co/exBkrd/IMAG6720.jpg Went for the carb, pulled the airbox, etc. Pretty straightforward. Ran out of time but back on it asap. I'm hating that ronald mcdonald colored air filter. Also, anyone that says the carb can go on front or back, missed that there's a starter in the way to mount it to the rear! |
Positioned to the front might be only option ,I can't say because mine ain't got here yet , but i ordered a Carb Spinner https://www.ebay.com/itm/26mm-Carb-M...72.m2749.l2649
The idea is, it's thick enough to lift the Carb enough to clear the starter to allow a rear facing position , or at least let you set it on an angle toward the rear ,due to all the graded hole sets. I can't say for sure how it will work out until it gets here ( and my Vader too lol ) and I can see what is where as far as clearances go . What I'm concerned with is being in FLA we get a lot of rain, and it can come in FAST and it POURS so that front facing filter /carb liable to suck a lot of water, there are "rain socks" made tho for those filters that help a lot , i run one on my Sportster and I've been caught in some pretty stupid downpours and it has never choked down from sucking water so I suppose that's an option if the Carb Spinner is a total wash out.,and at 6 bucks it won't be like I'm out any major cash ! |
I ordered one straight off your list! Also an intake elbow too, just in case. Tuned my carb today. Had a pita time with float not sealing and gas kept leaking. Finally got it and it does 'sound' better running. Tomorrow, gears and muffler, then see where I'm at. Can't wait to see yours come together red!
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There is a pretty active Grom Squad in Houston iirc , I have seen Vides from one of the members on YouTube ,I think PhotoGromer is going to stop there and do a ride with them on his coast to coast Grom Tour ,you might want to follow PhotoGromer on YT to see that . There is also the Smoky Mountain Crawl each year in Tenn. which is like Daytona Bike Week or Sturgis , only for Groms,clones and scooters and Jacksonville FLA has Grom Day once a year , last time they had 300+ Groms /clones.
Yeah man I got this big pile of parts in my shed ready to go, and no Vader to put them on yet lol ! It's shipping the 15th last i heard ,so until then i guess i'll go get the handlebars i ordered for it that came in, and run laps around the yard going "Brooooooom! Brooooooooom ! "again, like i did yesterday ! |
Ha too funny! I'll check that yt tip also! Today put my 17 front sprocket on and adjusted the rear (redcrow right on the alignment solution!) and exhaust install. I used the front pipe and welded on my end. Took awhile to warm up but I took it out and got 50mph. I'm stoked about that. First gear is useful! Why are these little bikes so much fun???! So next is put it all back together and go get my inspection.
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:yay: Glad you got the brake drag issue fixed up ,even better it didn't cost anything hah! Yeah man the 17 toof sprocket is a "must have" ,they really respond well to that change ,along with a carb and pipe and you've got those done as well so you should be good to go ,from here on out it's just a question of deciding what you like to do with it most and setting it up for that ,and maybe some appearance pieces if you are into that .
Such a sweet find for $400 and it doesn't seem to have had any major issues at all ,just needed some tunin and tinkerin ! |
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Feels good. That muffler is brap brap braaaap lol. I have some jets coming that I may switch out and see if it helps with warm up. Seemed to take way too long to get warmed up. https://www.motohouston.com/forums/i...lies/clock.gif Cmon red I'm dying to see what you do to yours! Shipping is taking too long! haha The back sprocket was already a 34 so I just inserted my 17. Amazing difference. https://www.motohouston.com/forums/i...s/36b8786f.gif |
https://image.ibb.co/d3RucT/IMAG6734.jpg
https://image.ibb.co/b8Tkj8/IMAG6735.jpg https://image.ibb.co/mZE2Wo/IMAG6736.jpg https://image.ibb.co/chdUBo/IMAG6737.jpg Almost back together. Need to tie up some wiring and last blinker. Maybe tomorrow I can try to get my inspection done. I prob shouldve mounted the exhaust higher with better alignment to the seat lines :doh: meh,... |
Nah man I think you are good where the pipe is, you seem like the kinda guy who is gonna get used to that thing and start wheelieing and what not, and if you get to where you want a 12 O'clockbar that pipe is just low enough to clear the pegs on the bar,and still high enough to look good.
That bike looks amazing to be a $400 buy , and you have got the basics all done so once you get it tagged so you can get out and ride it you are going to be so jazzed at how much fun they are! Yeah man I'm about to go crazy waiting on mine to get here ,I'm so bored i started building a 8 by 8 addition onto my shed which will be the "Vader Vault" lmao ! |
Update : Venom emailed me and said my x20 Vader "should "ship on Monday the 16th ,
so if all goes well I should have it by end of next week by the 20th or 21st ,then let the assembly and modifying begin! I still have a lot of parts that have not come in yet ,but I do have a goodly amount here I can go ahead and start on, and of course I will have to do the entire initial assembly /inspection loctite everything /tighten everything drill and all that noise so I will have plenty to do ,and maybe more or all of my parts will come in next week before it gets here ! Either way i am glad to know the long wait is almost over ! |
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Took it out yesterday and got 57 and still had some throttle left. For me that's plenty for these roads around gym, work and back home. It's cold natured and takes forever to warm up. I'm going to try a bigger main jet, see if it helps. I'm hoping they spec'd the valves right but I may have to check them. Don't want to. Other than that been fun little bike. Today was first day I rode into work. I love the size coming from an ElectraGlide. Easy to squeeze between cars, on sidewalks, back alleys, etc,... :clap: |
Yeah man if you can get 60 out of her and hold it thats really good imo , everyone seems to want to make them go faster but I've ridden a modified one at 75 and my impression was ,it was real sketchy at that speed due to the 12" tires and it was not an experience I am in a hurry to repeat. It's just not designed for that ,it's a 125cc urban commuter bike ,not an interstate missile ,and plenty of fun at what it is designed to be.
Yours is looking good , and sure cant complain for what you have invested in it! |
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$7 big ones for my inspection. I think the attendant wanted to talk more about the bike then do the inspection. Happy to get that part done,... |
$7 big ones for my inspection. I think the attendant wanted to talk more about the bike then do the inspection. Happy to get that part done,...[/QUOTE]
What is an inspection for? In cali i didn't have to do that. |
Hit 200 miles on Friday. Bellypan bolt fell out and it vibrated until it cracked on the back bolt too. Fortunately I had already ordered a replacement so no biggie except annoying. My throttle a bit looser than I'd like. I'm trying to think of things to update on. Seems to be running better and better. I'm guessing it is barely broke in at 200 miles. I've ditched my bicycle in favor of riding the pee out of of my vader. It's simply loads of fun.
https://preview.ibb.co/jea568/shirnk.jpg Hmmm how about squeaky front brake? This isn't a ducati so it isn't a huge deal but wondering how to quiet that. Any ideas anyone? Looks in good shape, nothing obvious, but come to a stop and 'squeak, squeak squeak' haha |
You should see performance continue to slowly improve right on up to the 500 mile mark, at which point everything is pretty well sealed and seated and it will stabilize.
These small motors for whatever reasons seem to take a long time ( well, if 500 miles is a long time) for the rings to seat correctly ,valves to wear in, and so forth and so on. Everything I have read indicates there is a really noticeable power increase from day 1 to 500 miles as well as the top end speed going up.,so you will see even more improvement there .Glad you are enjoying it ,and if you are in Dallas or Houston check out Photogromer on YouTube, he is doing an coast to coast Grom Tour and was just in Houston, about 50 - 75 Groms etc turned out and they were hoonin hard core ,lot of wheelies , stoppies, and assorted hooliganisms. |
So as my miles climb, I find the front suspension to be crap, not below average, not so so,...it is https://www.motohouston.com/forums/i...ottytrain2.gif. I was thinking of trying to swap some grom forks or do the cheap grom mod I saw on yt. Anyone have suggestions? Maybe there is something wrong with my forks that could be fixed. I mean they clunk and bonk and suck. I haven't seen any fluid leaking. I dunno. Tips from anyone with some ideas would be great. Appreciate anything,....:doh:
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First thing I'd try which is sort of a pain physically but is cheap is change the godawful stock excuse for fork oil out and put a good quality 15 weight in there ,there are some decent Videos on how to do that on YouTube .From that point if it's still just intolerable you can try either Takegawa ($65) or Slingshot Racing ($99) Front Preload Adjusters ,or get a set of Ohlins or Kitaco front springs for $100 and pay another $100 'ish to have them installed since it takes some specialized tools . I'd really suggest the fork oil change first and try to adapt the "$15 Fork Mod" for a Grom and go from there,I have a buddy in Japan who got me the Takegawa PReload Adjusters dirt cheap and sent them to me so im going to use them but other than that my plan was fork oil change and figure out how to adapt the fork mod to a Vader .,i really don't want to end up with a 500$ front end on a $1,000 Motorcycle lol. ( Not saying I won't mind you, just saying I'm trying to avoid that lol ).
Link to Preload Adjusters here :https://www.ebay.com/itm/Honda-Grom-...sid=m570.l1313 And link to front springs here :https://www.ebay.com/itm/Race-Tech-7...sid=m570.l1313 |
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https://image.ibb.co/hyQBrU/IMAG6883.jpg https://www.motohouston.com/forums/i...ies/happy7.gif Going to find sometime to do my fork oil. Maybe I can find some sonic springs for this. I did sonic springs on GS500 and major improvement. (edit four months later: nobody every asks me what this says. Maybe it's obvious. "Made in China" lol) |
Lol, yeah my rear shock came from the factory with the preload all cranked like crazy ,super stiff and opposite the totally mush front end, it is a handful.I 've got a new rear shock to put on there when i get that far along I really think a fork oil change to a quality 15w will help the front, given the crankcase had less than half a quart in it , my guess is on top of the fork oil they put in there from the factory being worthless, I'd bet $5 it doesnt have the correct amount in it either, as in low . Oh, check the play in your steering stem ( triple tree ) too, some of the clank might be coming from there, mine was not loose but did have some play i tightened out of it.
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10-4 red crow good tips! Where's your build pics???
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I'm trying to get some pic's up, I am having technical issues with my go pro but i took some pix with my kindle fire ,i got to upload them to a photo hosting site iirc and then load them to here from there . sorry it's taking so long but i am swamped under with stuff atm and i'm struggling to find time to get it done lol.
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cbrfxr67, what did you register your motorcycle under for make/model?
Like for the Icebear Fuerza it's Daix PMZ125-1. For the Vader... it should be something like Baidao 125 or something like that. |
Mine's a Jiangsu Baodiao BD125-15,.... great little bike, well except crappy front suspension but can fix that eventually :P
------------------------ and it's time to do the forks. Rode home last night, bonk bonk, bonk bonk, bonk,... I cant take it anymore. Going to try the https://youtu.be/1zhXzm2NUSs and will update with results |
https://image.ibb.co/ipzGqz/IMAG6903.jpg
I don't always use my engine hoist but when I do, I use it to lift chinese minibikes! haha https://image.ibb.co/iNA0He/IMAG6907.jpg https://image.ibb.co/eVvpAz/IMAG6906.jpg https://image.ibb.co/g07rOK/IMAG6904.jpg https://image.ibb.co/hBBkiK/IMAG6905.jpg So the honda fork mod does not work on the vader. The internals are not the same. Maybe someone can figure out a way to make it work but the way they did it is a cheapo version. I used some 20 weight at 250ml after pumping out all the old metallic slimy whatever oil that was. Much better than the previous bonk bonk bonk suspension I had. https://image.ibb.co/kKgkiK/IMAG6908.jpg I don't know how my front axle got bent but replaced with with a grom japanese upgrade. https://image.ibb.co/gLFBOK/IMAG6911.jpg Took it out to go to the gym and snapped a picture challenge pic for another forum. Why don't we have a picture game challenge here,...:shrug: |
That goo they put in the front end shouldn't even be called " Fork Oil", I don't know what exactly it is but it is horrible and has the damping quality of gnat piss. Just switching over to real fork oil should have helped a great deal, the valving really isn't bad on a Vader ,the problem is that goo is so bad it doesn't allow the valving to work as it should.
Anyways I have some Front Fork Preload Adjusters I ordered that according to your photos should work ,by taking the stock fork cap off ,the preload adjuster bolt sits on top of that shaft and then when you install the adjustable caps, running the adjuster bolt down sets the preload by pressing that shaft down ,so it should work which is a relief since they were kinda pricey heh. I really need to stop making excuses and post a photo of my Vader, i'll try my best to get it done today. |
Looks like the fork mod should be even easier/cheaper on the clones.
By the looks of it, that rod screws into the factory cap. Adding a couple washers should still give it enough room to be screwed into the cap but would effectively add some height. |
wlfpck i did consider it but didn't think it would add enough to make a difference. Been looking at grom forks to swap, maybe; I'm not in a hurry. Feels way better with the 20# oil so I'm ok for now.
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Been hearing some jingling lately and found this last night while adjusting my clutch cable. Was a real pita to get out. The grom bolt did not fit. Seems like the frame bolt hole is too small. There are two other slots where nothing is bolted up that fit the grom bolts perfect. I dunno. :shrug: The bolt they used is definitely too small. Looking for a replacement bolt. Was a little pissed but it isn't like this issue hasn't been posted over and over:ohno: |
Yeah, for those engine mount bolts to fail as often as they do, seems like the Dealers would have notified the Factory that they got to do something about it .Also, I knew about it but one of the stock bolts absolutely does not want to come out ,found that out when I tried to change it out before it became a problem, since as you mentioned this is a known issue, but I'm afraid its going to strip out or wring off it is so over tightened now .,I am thinking thats whats making them fail is they are stretching the bolt by overtightening it that hard, on top of it being too short and of poor quality. So far I've been hosing it down with WD40 for 3 consecutive days ,in a couple more days I guess I'll try and use my electric impact and hope for the best .
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A lot of the Chinese bolts are made in the exact same factory and to the exact same recipe as “I can’t believe it’s not butter “ .
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