longest distance traveled on the Hawk or any Chinese enduro

[Ron B]

Originally Posted by Johnp

My question for those who ride a Hawk is, how do you stand to ride for more than 30 minutes on that uncomfortable seat? Seriously, if I ride for about 10 miles its already getting bad. Anyone have any suggestions about how to deal with it?

these work well http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_ss...se%2Caps%2C149

[Sport Rider]

another quick/easy solution to the seat is beads. you can generally find a set of seat beads at a local auto parts store for about 20 bucks. I used some fishing line to cut some of it off and then use the line to wrap up the cut sections so they don't unravel. here's a pic of my C14 with beads on the seat.

[BlackBike]

Off topic...

Sport rider, can you handle a 15-18 foot u turn on that kaw? Looks like a challenge. Requires some coordination.

[humanbeing]

Super ghetto idea
Reflective pad under plastic mesh https://item.taobao.com/item.htm?id=44382571724

[ChillRider]

Bit of a necro here...but here goes: longest I've travelled in one day with my '07 Zong is a short excursion to nearby lakes (150 km round-trip), at normal cruising speeds for secondary/back roads. The bike seemed perfectly within its comfort zone for those kind of roads/speeds, even though the first leg of the trip it struggled somewhat due to headwinds (the return trip was, accordingly, more relaxed).


What would be a concern for longer trips, at least for me, is how harshly these small engines treat their oil, something that has already been addressed in another thread. With just a 1 liter-ish capacity, typically air-cooled etc., at least mineral oil doesn't seem to last long (500-600 km seems to be the limit before the gearbox starts clunking, clutch starts grabbing etc.), a 150 km trip is already 25% of the oil's -apparent- useful life.


So for longer trips, one would have the very least start with a fresh oil change, and/or plan for -perhaps multiple- en-route oil changes.

[TxTaoRider]

About 30 miles-lol. I usually just ride a few miles to the trails and then back. Replacing the handlebars with some with less pullback has made the riding position more comfortable.
If someone around here wanted to take a road trip that didn't involve interstate highways, I'd feel pretty confident in going a couple hundred miles.

[franque]

I've always read 1000km oil changes for the Chinese bikes. For the Honda OHC engine, they say change every 2000km, but it's usually ready to be changed around 1000km, perhaps because since it's a 125 it needs to rev more for the same power output and therefore maintained speed? All I know is that an oil change at 1000km, even in a Honda, greatly improves how it shifts.

[ChillRider]

The only way my Zong -and I, lol- can tolerate a 1000km oil change is by using at least a semi-synthetic and starting from a thicker viscosity-e.g. a 15W-50. 20W50 mineral just degrades too quickly, especially in hot weather, regardless of how 'buttery smooth' gear changes may appear at first. But I regard frequent oil changes as cheap insurance and -why not-, a fun activity. Plus I can adjust to just the perfect weight/grade for each season

[Wild Dog]

Originally Posted by franque

I've always read 1000km oil changes for the Chinese bikes. For the Honda OHC engine, they say change every 2000km, but it's usually ready to be changed around 1000km, perhaps because since it's a 125 it needs to rev more for the same power output and therefore maintained speed? All I know is that an oil change at 1000km, even in a Honda, greatly improves how it shifts.

Jianshen is making some low powered engines for Yamaha, one example is the current YBR engine.
If you take a booklet for an YBR, it will say first oil change after 1000 km, then change it every 2000 km.
If you take the booklet for the YBR sold as Jianshen. It will say change oil every 1000 no matter if it is the first change or not.

I think it has to do with the perceived demographic for each brand, even if the engine is made by the same people.

[ChillRider]

Originally Posted by Wild Dog

I think it has to do with the perceived demographic for each brand, even if the engine is made by the same people.

Well, my mechanic is of the opinion that while those china engines may very well be "similar"/a clone of an original Japanese design, their construction (esp. the metals used) is not, hence why the need for thicker/more protective oils and more frequent oil changes.


I doubt that the 'target demographic' of the more budget alternative/version of the engine would be inclined to perform more frequent oil changes, if anything, quite the opposite. Unless they factor in the expected overall abuse in that 1000km OCI

[Wild Dog]

Originally Posted by ChillRider

Well, my mechanic is of the opinion that while those china engines may very well be "similar"/a clone of an original Japanese design, their construction (esp. the metals used) is not, hence why the need for thicker/more protective oils and more frequent oil changes.


I doubt that the 'target demographic' of the more budget alternative/version of the engine would be inclined to perform more frequent oil changes, if anything, quite the opposite. Unless they factor in the expected overall abuse in that 1000km OCI

But here we are not talking about "similar" engines, they are the SAME engine.
Lifan makes the engines for honda, examples: Honda XR 150 and the XR 250
Jianshen makes the engine for the Yamaha
You can take apart an engine for a current XR 250 and you will see Lifan markings all of the place.
Sure Honda, Yamaha will put more QC on their products.

I think that the factory expects that the owner of the chinese motorcycle will say something like "Ohh 1000 km oil change, well no harm done if i change it a bit later".

[OneLeggedRider]

Uhmm, last summer Patrick Choi and his wife and son rode the TAT from Florida to California and then to Washington state and back. A 10,000 mile loop around the USA on a Hawk and DRZ 400, both bikes were heavily loaded down with gear as well. Surprisingly the Hawk faired better than the Suzuki, he had to replace a fork seal, back tire, and chain and sprockets on the Hawk. That's proof they're tough little bikes.

[Biker_Andy]

I'm planning on a 1,600 mile (2400km) round trip this summer on my TT250. Heading straight north till the roads end, then a bit more. Planning on a oil change mid trip. Taking her by train on the last leg to Churchill. I wanted to take her to York by boat, be the first ever motorcycle, but that's a $7000 boat ride. My TT250 manual says oil change every 2500mi (4000km).

[XLsior]

37800km on a honda cg125 seems like a decent benchmark. Not Chinese but the engineering is about the same and probably still made in China if not South America.

[ChillRider]

Well...that particular Honda CG125 seems like a vintage, original Japanese model (see the drum brake in the front...). If anything, a testament to the legendary Honda reliability.