Hey Guys,
Doug here from ATV Wholesale Outlet in Sacramento CA.
I just got back from a 1 month stay in China at the factories. The main city of Bike and ATV Production is in Central China.... Chongqing (ChongChing pernounciation) There was little dammage from the quake there. The main dammage was in nearby cities, and villages, so the Motor industry was not really affected by the quake.
There are 3 main cities for Bikes, Scooters, and ATVs.
Guangzhou (120 miles NW of Hong Kong) , they are pretty good quality, but generaly the cost is more there for the bikes.
Yongkang: Below Shanghai. This city makes loads of scooters, and cheaply made smaller bikes and ATVs. There are a couple of makers that have OK Quality, but poor for the most part.
Chongqing: This is in central China.... the Shechwan area. This is the center of the motorcycle and ATV industry. The quality is good, and prices too. Most reputable makers are based here.
Performance: There are a few things we do at our company.
We sell allot of 250cc ATVs and Bikes. Most of them have crummy, but durrable mufflers that look like crap, and are very restrictive. That gets cut off at the end of the pipe where it goes into the muffler. We replace them with used, or new take off Honda 450 Mufflers from Honda Bikes and Quads. This gives much more power, and a lower deeper bassey rumbel. No more raspy trebble.
When we do this muffler swap, and have the pipe off of the head, we use a high speed dremmel tool to grinde smooth the inner welding in the header pipe to let more air out of the motor from the very start. Shape it like a funnel for the air flow.
Most full size ATVs have no chain guide or tentioner. We make a custom hand made double roller bearing guide/tentioner in our machine shop from a hardened brass, aluminum arm, and galvanized spring. This reduces chain flop, chains from hopping off, and chain adjustments so frequently. Our roller has tall lipps on the sides to guide the chain.
There are many anodised parts out on the market that actualy fit these bikes and Quads with little or no adjustments.
Carbs: If you take off your factory Chinese made carb, and take it to a local Parts/Service dept, they should have a man there that is a real Mikuni Pro. He will be able to match you up a real Mikuni carb with the same flanges as your intake, and this guy should be able to re-jet this carb and adjust it just perfect for your quad. Do this after the exhaust mod.
Spark plugs: If you take off your Chinese plug, and take it into a experianced Japanese parts dept. Tell them you want a NGK plug the same as yours, and they should have a match for you. A real common one for 125-250cc motors is the NGK 2120 D8EA.
So many other parts fit fine like ATV Grips from Pro Grip, Spider and many others fit perfect. What a diffrence $15-20 makes. It will look cooler too.
Alloy Handle Bars: Pro Taper Honda XR50 Bars fit perfect. Look better, and come with a really trick bar pad. There are several colors too. $65... and well worth it!
Seat: Take it off and go to a marine upohlstery shop. It should cost no more than $65-100. Tell them to use water and sun proof gripper material on top, and there are a choice of colors for the side pannels to match your Quad. I used a material called Carbon Fiber on 1, and Ostritch Skin on another. Very cool, and looks so much better.
We actualy are the only ones in the country to have full size Chinese ATV USA Made rims from DWT or Douglas Wheels. They replace the skinny 8" steel rims. The new pollished rims we carry add a good offset to make the stance wider, the rims are 10", and way cooler looking! We had to have these custom fit for the Chinese center hub, bolt pattern and suspention.
Any way.... hope all this helps.... See us at
www.atvwholesaleoutlet.com