How to Get Over the Chinese Bike Thing?

[hertz9753]

Originally Posted by BlackBike

My model bashan has about the worst reputation on this site for what Merlin and I have gone through..., as Merlin would put it, a pile of s#/T.

I was really surprised that having the reservation that you did , that you would ride someone's bike that they built.

The thing is after you hand build, adjust, and care for these machines yourself, your confidence will be 100% in them. I have come to a point where I don't dare take my bike without a proper check starting with the chain tension and a quick ping of the spokes. Why, we'll mine hauled me over 300 (real) miles last week while motorcycle camping and you dont take on trips like these very lightly even on a brand name jap bike. I have come to a point to where I can rely on this bike 100% , it just takes longer to get there at 55mph. I don't think I will be visiting Bismark ND. Any time soon
Attachment 9494

I couldn't see your attachment so I decided to add a couple of my own.

[culcune]

Originally Posted by Dual_sport17

I did have it up to 45mph just for a minute, and that's when I started to feel a bit nervous.

My guess is the bike still has the stock knobbies? Probably why you felt uneasy.

[culcune]

Originally Posted by hertz9753

I couldn't see your attachment so I decided to add a couple of my own.

WD40 ad--

[pete]

buy a shinray 200....



.

[Torgo]

A couple of other things to ponder:

- The primary market of these Chinese manufacturers is mainly 2nd and 3rd world countries. Chasing the US market seems secondary. It's one of the big reasons for the affordability. So you have to ask yourself if a consumer in one of those regions of the world would be parting with his hard earned money on something that was unreliable and breaks down all the time, or if he accepts something not quite as elegant, but solid. I compare them more like AK-47s: more rudimentary and basic, but reliable.

- With Jap bikes/cars placed on such a pedestal these days, it's hard for folks to remember how they were generally regarded when they first hit the market: pretty similar to the Chinese junk today. Then the gas crisis hit in the 70s, folks started to realize what a great value they were along with their reliability, the companies continued to invest and get better, and they're where they are today. If you look back on those early 70s Hondas - they were very solid and affordable for what they needed to do.

With the proper expectations, these CG powered Chinese contraptions deliver a lot for the money.

[chuck]

In South Africa the Hawk nicknamed Ak47.

[SpudRider]

I have ridden my Zongshen ZS200GY-2 for 80,000 miles, and my Zongshen RX3 for 23,500 miles. You can certainly trust a good Chinese engine.

[2LZ]

Originally Posted by Mudflap

When I bought my Lifan 200 in 2007 I knew nothing about Chinese bikes. Never heard of Lifan, never heard of a CG engine. As a replacement for my old Trail 90 I hoped it would haul me around the back roads and trails for a few thousand miles. The more I rode it, the more I liked it and eventually it became my favorite everyday bike. Now I'm a huge fan of CG engine powered Chinese bikes and quads. 10 years so far and never has one left me stranded. Reliable workhorses.

BTW I don't use Loctite on any fasteners except the 2 big nuts on the quads rear axles.

You and me both. I have yet to Loctite anything besides the sprocket bolts on the TT250, when I changed it. I just got over everything when I first get a bike and occasionally recheck stuff. Something to do while drinking a beer. I've really not had anything come loose.

[da4design]

i admit i felt somewhat uneasy when i first put it together and started out riding around the neighborhood. but i can say as i ride it more and have adjusted things like levers and shifter to my liking, it gets better and better. i think maybe the simplicity does scare some people, it is the rider that has to keep up with it and not depend on more complicated bike designs. when you just relax and enjoy the ride and not worry about speed and power...it becomes fun riding!

[RogerWFarrier]

I wasn't nervous to ride my TT 250. Hell my other bike is a 77 Kz 1000 and I had no problem throwing my leg over that on a daily basis. When was I actually nervous on a bike? The first time I threw my leg over a Ducati 1198 that wasn't mine because I knew if I wadded that thing up there was no way I could afford to fix it.

[2LZ]

Originally Posted by da4design

when you just relax and enjoy the ride and not worry about speed and power...it becomes fun riding!

Yep!....and it's never failed that when I have a "doubter" neighbor or friend finally take one of ours for a ride, they always come back impressed and stunned with how much you get for so cheap.

[timcosby]

a lot of folks read all the stuff on here and get worried and think they have to change the chain, brake fluid etc or its going to break or blow up! my thoughts are this......use the chain until you are out of adjustment. mine has 800 miles on it and 1 small adjustment. brake fluid is stopping mine just fine no foaming or softness at all if it starts giving you problems then change it. i see folk ordering chains etc befor they even have a bike cause they have read where everything is so bad. cant remember who but someone had to adjust their chain every 50 miles. there is no chain that bad something else was going on!

[timcosby]

Originally Posted by culcune

My guess is the bike still has the stock knobbies? Probably why you felt uneasy.

ive still got the stock knobbies and at 60 you cant tell they are knobbies. only time you can tell is very slow speeds 0-10 mph.

[Megadan]

Originally Posted by timcosby

a lot of folks read all the stuff on here and get worried and think they have to change the chain, brake fluid etc or its going to break or blow up! my thoughts are this......use the chain until you are out of adjustment. mine has 800 miles on it and 1 small adjustment. brake fluid is stopping mine just fine no foaming or softness at all if it starts giving you problems then change it. i see folk ordering chains etc befor they even have a bike cause they have read where everything is so bad. cant remember who but someone had to adjust their chain every 50 miles. there is no chain that bad something else was going on!

I would change the brake fluid for two reasons. 1 - you don't know how old it is. 2 - brake fluid is cheap. I flush the brake fluid on all of my bikes on an annual basis. Overkill? maybe, but it extends the life of the brake parts by keeping water contamination low. Personally, I see no harm, and only benefit, in ensuring that all of the fluids in the bike are high quality and new.

The chain I can agree with, but I ordered an O-ring chain and sprockets for mine, not because I am afraid of the OE chain, but because I prefer O-ring chains, and I want to regear the bike. Might as well do it all at once.

[Bruce's]

If you really want to get past the China bike thing ,first get yourself a nice British bike from the late 60's early seventies ,then sell your car and any other bikes you might own .After every other form of transportation is gone ,try to ride that beautiful bike to work every day .Since it won't start more than a day or two per week if you are lucky ( much much less if it's raining or if there is a single cloud in the sky ) , then notice the punk kid with his China bike tooling off to work at McDonald's every day like clockwork .Notice the kid never missed work ,but you did .nuff said .