They say you can't polish a turd. I say I can.

[grhanka]

I threw out the plastic arms that reach forward around the forks, and repainted the gas tank. I found significant rust under the plastic-attach points, and on the underside of the tank, even though this bike is less than a year old and has been stored covered. It's a 2021 TBR7-D

[TxTaoRider]

I like the smoothed out look and you even save a little weight by removing that stuff.

Also, it's interesting that your 2021 tbr7-d has a different gas cap and the seat looks a little different than my 2021 Tbr7.

[Thumper]

I removed the air guide flaps after discovering how large, ugly, and vestigial they were, and not needed to cool the under-tuned Zhongshen 229cc 4 cycle engine. Especially since I will never race it.

Nice work!

And of course, the mud flap girl silhouettes are excellent, will improve the performance, vastly.

[grhanka]

They are supposed to be air guides? I had no idea. That's like putting a spoiler on a Honda civic; I think it's mostly for show.

[Boatguy]

Here’s how I knew they were air flow guides. My old 3 wheeler had them.



But what ARE these Chinese tanks made from? Very cheap steel. Mine is the same. Not even a year old and rusting.

[wheelbender6]

Well done. Rust never sleeps.

[TominMO]

Originally Posted by grhanka

I threw out the plastic arms that reach forward around the forks, and repainted the gas tank. I found significant rust under the plastic-attach points, and on the underside of the tank, even though this bike is less than a year old and has been stored covered. It's a 2021 TBR7-D

Well done! I hate those fake air scoops too. Just makes it harder to work on stuff.

From pics 4 and 5 I'm guessing you are a heterosexual. Or maybe a lesbian.....

I also don't like that I have to remove the side covers on my Xpect to get at the seat mounting bolts. I am thinking of holesawing some access holes in the side covers for a long socket to get in there.

[Thumper]

Originally Posted by Boatguy

Here’s how I knew they were air flow guides. My old 3 wheeler had them.



But what ARE these Chinese tanks made from? Very cheap steel. Mine is the same. Not even a year old and rusting.

NICE 250R. It reminds me of my old Quadzilla 500cc 2 stroke. I wanted to transplant the engine into a modern motocross frame!

No rust issues on that beast!

[Boatguy]

Originally Posted by Thumper

NICE 250R. It reminds me of my old Quadzilla 500cc 2 stroke. I wanted to transplant the engine into a modern motocross frame!

No rust issues on that beast!

Whoa!!!!!

You had the quadzilla??? That thing was a BEAST!!! I have never tried one of those before.

Note: that’s not an actual picture of my old 250R. It’s long gone in the depths of history

[Thumper]

Originally Posted by Boatguy

Whoa!!!!!

You had the quadzilla??? That thing was a BEAST!!! I have never tried one of those before.

Note: that’s not an actual picture of my old 250R. It’s long gone in the depths of history

OK, I am dating myself. I finally got a real job in the mid 80's, I was a novice quad enthusiast...my uncle let me take out his Honda TRX200. It was an excellent 4WD quad, and he had a nice ranch to explore but I thought it lacked "performance". Dropping $3200 for the LT500 was about the same as I paid for my new Suzuki GS850G shaftie ($3160) in 1979, which lasted in my hands MUCH longer than the LT500. The LT500 was insanity. I hurt myself a few times- fortunately nothing serious. I came to the conclusion that powerful engines like that are manageable in dirt bikes, not quads. But I have never been known for my restraint!! I only lost $1000 when I sold it even though I had beat it up pretty badly. The LT500 was a well-built and ridiculously overpowered quad. For reference, I had a 1976 GS550 that made 50hp, but the LT500 seemed to be more explosive than that.

As I said, I always wanted to transplant the engine into the good MX frame!

[Boatguy]

Originally Posted by Thumper

OK, I am dating myself. I finally got a real job in the mid 80's, I was a novice quad enthusiast...my uncle let me take out his Honda TRX200. It was an excellent 4WD quad, and he had a nice ranch to explore but I thought it lacked "performance". Dropping $3200 for the LT500 was about the same as I paid for my new Suzuki GS850G shaftie ($3160) in 1979, which lasted in my hands MUCH longer than the LT500. The LT500 was insanity. I hurt myself a few times- fortunately nothing serious. I came to the conclusion that powerful engines like that are manageable in dirt bikes, not quads. But I have never been known for my restraint!! I only lost $1000 when I sold it even though I had beat it up pretty badly. The LT500 was a well-built and ridiculously overpowered quad. For reference, I had a 1976 GS550 that made 50hp, but the LT500 seemed to be more explosive than that.

As I said, I always wanted to transplant the engine into the good MX frame!

What I wouldn’t give for a half hour on one of these performance 3 wheelers or quads again.

A 500cc 2 stroke in an MX. wow! I think in that case, the back wheel would just spin itself into the ground. Lol maybe that’s why they put it in a quad. Because you have a couple of big wide back wheels to get some grip as it’s just insanely spinning them.

I miss the feeling that these two stroke toys with two back wheels gave. The motorcycle is fun, but it’s not the same level of fun to me. I was a fairly proficient rider on three wheelers. I never really got into the quads because I didn’t like the way they turned. I didn’t like the feeling of a double front wheel. But I do like the feeling of a double rear wheel. I spent half my childhood sliding sideways on that thing.

Good times. I wish they didn’t stop making these things.

[Thumper]

Originally Posted by Boatguy

What I wouldn’t give for a half hour on one of these performance 3 wheelers or quads again.

A 500cc 2 stroke in an MX. wow! I think in that case, the back wheel would just spin itself into the ground. Lol maybe that’s why they put it in a quad. Because you have a couple of big wide back wheels to get some grip as it’s just insanely spinning them.

I miss the feeling that these two stroke toys with two back wheels gave. The motorcycle is fun, but it’s not the same level of fun to me. I was a fairly proficient rider on three wheelers. I never really got into the quads because I didn’t like the way they turned. I didn’t like the feeling of a double front wheel. But I do like the feeling of a double rear wheel. I spent half my childhood sliding sideways on that thing.

Good times. I wish they didn’t stop making these things.

It isn't over. You can actually still get big bore 2 stroke dirt bikes. No kidding.

I am focusing on 250cc 2-stroke Chinese MX. Less than $3000 Really seriously focused on this. Check it out...

[Boatguy]

Originally Posted by Thumper

It isn't over. You can actually still get big bore 2 stroke dirt bikes. No kidding.

I am focusing on 250cc 2-stroke Chinese MX. Less than $3000 Really seriously focused on this. Check it out...

That’s cool stuff, but I want the 3 wheeler. That’s what’s over.

[buzz]

Totally agree with Boatguy, me also 3 wheeler guy.

[Thumper]

I never rode a 3 wheeler. I remember the original Honda 3 wheelers. They had a 90cc 4 stroke engine. The 2 strokes came later. Not sure is it was Yamaha or Honda that broke through with a 2 stroke, but they were already much better suspended by then, and STILL 3 wheeled.

Oh, and I am running into a brick wall on a 2-stroke chinese bike. No domestic dealers as far as I can tell. Maybe 2-stroke dirt bikes are a forbidden import now. A company called Chongqing makes the Bull 250 motocross 2-stroker. It looks great. I would sure like to get one. I miss the simple engine and nice power a 2 stroke 250 makes.