New Zongshen RX3 (ZS250GY-3) Dual Sport

[rojo_grande]

Lots of RX-3 riders are "right-sizing" from larger ADV bikes. Several have or had KLR's, GS's of various sizes, Tiger 1200, MG Stelvio's, DR's, etc.

Rojo

[DanKearney]

Don't expect too much weight savings switching to an RX3 from DR650:

2016 DR650 curb weight - 366 lbs - http://www.suzukicycles.com/Product%...50S.aspx#Specs

2016 RX3 curb wieght - 385 lbs - http://www.cscmotorcycles.com/CSC-Mo...ure-p/zrx3.htm

Yes, of course, the RX3 figure is with the engine and frame guards and panniers and trunk, and the DR figure is sans attachments. But the two bikes are not that far apart in weight. I think someone posted long ago that the RX3 accessories account for about 40 lbs?

Cheers,

Dan K.

[jbfla]

Originally Posted by DanKearney

Don't expect too much weight savings switching to an RX3 from DR650:

2016 DR650 curb weight - 366 lbs - http://www.suzukicycles.com/Product%...50S.aspx#Specs

2016 RX3 curb wieght - 385 lbs - http://www.cscmotorcycles.com/CSC-Mo...ure-p/zrx3.htm

Yes, of course, the RX3 figure is with the engine and frame guards and panniers and trunk, and the DR figure is sans attachments. But the two bikes are not that far apart in weight. I think someone posted long ago that the RX3 accessories account for about 40 lbs?

Cheers,

Dan K.

The side cases, top case, case guards, engine guards, and the heavy rear rack are closer to 50#.

I removed all those items and had the RX3 weighed:



Regardless of the weight, the RX3 is well balanced, and handles/feels like a much lighter bike.

jb

[AdventureDad]

well...surgery is over...I probably shouldnt be typing, as i'm a bit woozy still. But while the bikes are not far apart in weight, it's how the weight is carried. Its manueverability, top heaviness, "thin-ness" of the bike. Anyhow, I don't need to have either of them on muddy, flooded singletrack ! I do believe if I wasn't wearing my Sidi Adventure boots, the break would have been an open compound fracture. As it was, I had to get out from under the bike as the only thing above water was my head (even my helmet filled up and I swallowed muddy water, then wrestle the bike out from under the water, pry it loose from the mud, stand it up, ride home, then get to the MD.
So, rambling aside, the weight is only part of the picture for me.

[SpudRider]

I hope your surgery went well. I wish you a speedy and full recovery.

[rjmorel]

ADVDad ,you must be one tuff cookie to be able to crawl out from under a DR650 while mostly submerged. Sounds like a heck of a story. Hope you heal up quick and recover all better from your episode. Think you got some bragging rights coming to you. Best of wishes, rj

[Lee R]

The RX3 with it's lower stance allows for duck walking and generally is much easier to deal with than the taller dual sports. I owned a KLR 650 and I think the RX3 is better on trails, suspension limits you to slower speeds though as it's got much less travel.

I'm using my RX3 for everything under 65mph which is basically everything but the highway here in NY.

I'm honestly looking at selling my Stelvio and getting a more dedicated street bike at this point for twisty roads. I'm even thinking KTM Duke 390 or 690 as I'm really realizing how much nicer a lighter bike is. I went through a "boiling the frog" process of slightly heavier bikes until I realized just how heavy a 600 lb ADV bike is with the contrast between Stelvio and RX3.

[AdventureDad]

To rjmorel: Thank you...it was realistically about 10 min of struggling to get free and 20 or so to get the bike upright. Shifting with my heel was the only option. Funny thing, when I rode home (about 40 min) the most painful part was putting the kickstand down in the driveway. I don't know about tough...my wife and kids think so I just remember the old quote..."a man's gotta do what a man's gotta do." The interesting part was telling my wife that yes, I broke my leg, and that I was also home, not where I had told her I was out riding. She's been taking VERY good care of me

[linuxyeti]

OK, well, got to use the RX3 for what I got it for, riding in crap weather, at motorway speeds, a feat which I accomplished very comfortably this morning.

Oh, and I still haven't hit the stalling issue, all that I can put that down to is, it's fully run in, with 2000miles on the clock and/or it's the fact that I let it warm up for a min or 2 first thing, either way the wind and rain this morning didn't cause any problems

[rjmorel]

So any word yet on the adjustable front forks that come on the 2016s? Or are you guys having too much fun riding your new bikes to play with the adjustments yet? rj

[CSaddict]

Mine came in, I rode it home in the rain. Then it got cold and there is now snow on the ground.

[G19Tony]

Originally Posted by Lee R

The RX3 with it's lower stance allows for duck walking and generally is much easier to deal with than the taller dual sports. I owned a KLR 650 and I think the RX3 is better on trails, suspension limits you to slower speeds though as it's got much less travel.

I'm using my RX3 for everything under 65mph which is basically everything but the highway here in NY.

I'm honestly looking at selling my Stelvio and getting a more dedicated street bike at this point for twisty roads. I'm even thinking KTM Duke 390 or 690 as I'm really realizing how much nicer a lighter bike is. I went through a "boiling the frog" process of slightly heavier bikes until I realized just how heavy a 600 lb ADV bike is with the contrast between Stelvio and RX3.

I traded my BMW F800GT for a 390 Duke last week. You won't be disappointed.

[Aleong1967]

My mechanic adjusted the rebound settings in the front and upped the preload and adjusted rebound in the rear
What a world of difference
Smooth and nimble on the road and still very good in the back roads (goat trails and fire roads) at faster speeds

[SpudRider]

Originally Posted by Aleong1967

My mechanic adjusted the rebound settings in the front and upped the preload and adjusted rebound in the rear
What a world of difference
Smooth and nimble on the road and still very good in the back roads (goat trails and fire roads) at faster speeds

Good for you. For any motorcycle it's very important to set the proper race sag for the shock absorber by adjusting the spring preload. The adjustment is particularly important to achieve the best performance from the RX3 shock absorber.

As you ride over different surfaces, you can easily experiment with the click settings for rebound damping available on both the shock absorber and the forks.

[Ron B]

well, since registering the hawk was a bust I guess ill have to start reading this from page 1 to get caught up. just ordered a rx3 . #3491 about 4 weeks out. (dang! 325 pages to catch up on?)