New Zongshen RX3 (ZS250GY-3) Dual Sport

[SpudRider]

Originally Posted by Dualsport Chic

Checking in with the RX3 owners on their tire choices for their bikes. I am looking for something like a Heidenau K60 as my next tire once the OEM's wear out but am noticing there is not alot available in the 130/70-17 & 110/90-18 combo that is currently on the bike. I'm not going with the 19" front as I need to keep the seat height as low as possible as I am vertically challenged.

Looking forward to hearing what options are out there.

If you want to keep the saddle height low, you can also lace a size 2.50-17 rim to the rear wheel. This will allow you to mount the smaller, size 4.60-17 tires, instead of the larger, size 5.10-17 tires.

http://www.chinariders.net/showthread.php?t=14974

[Dualsport Chic]

Good news for anyone still on the fence - a $300.00 savings!

[Dualsport Chic]

Great idea Spud - I really like the weight savings with the new rim. Just would have to source a rim and have it laced which sounds expensive.

If I decided not to change the rim, would the tire profile size make much of a difference? Really like the Heidenau tires - they have a size 130/80-17 rear available - would it fit? And if so, how much would it raise the height of the bike over the 130/70-17 OEM tire? I would assume 1 cm which = less than 1/2 an inch?

Sorry for the silly questions but I've honestly never had to deviate from the OEM tire sizes on my bikes as they were all pretty easy to find through several manufacturers.

[SpudRider]

Originally Posted by Dualsport Chic

Great idea Spud - I really like the weight savings with the new rim. Just would have to source a rim and have it laced which sounds expensive...

I spent about $130 for my Warp9 rim, size 2.50-17. Wheel builders usually charge anywhere from $60-$100 to lace, and true a wheel.

Originally Posted by Dualsport Chic

...If I decided not to change the rim, would the tire profile size make much of a difference? Really like the Heidenau tires - they have a size 130/80-17 rear available - would it fit? And if so, how much would it raise the height of the bike over the 130/70-17 OEM tire? I would assume 1 cm which = less than 1/2 an inch?...

A size 130/80-17 tire is 130 mm wide. The aspect ratio is 80, which means the tire's side wall is (0.8 x 130 mm) tall, or 104 mm tall. A size 130/70-17 tire is 130 mm wide. However, the aspect ratio for this tire is 70, which means the tire's side wall is (0.7 x 130 mm) tall, or 91 mm tall. Therefore, the tire with the larger aspect ratio is (104 - 91)mm taller, or 13 mm taller, which will raise the saddle height about 1/2-inch.

Many tire manufacturers provide a fitment chart, which tells you the size rim for which a particular tire is designed. You can usually mount a tire onto a rim which is either one size above, or one size below the specified rim.

For example, the Shinko 244 tire, size 4.60-17, is designed for a 2.15 inch rim. It has a diameter of 24.76 inches.

http://www.shinkotireusa.com/tire/244-series

Therefore, I can mount this tire on a size 2.50 rim, but not a size 3.00 rim.

The Shinko 244 tire, size 5.10-17, is designed for a 3.00 inch rim. It has a diameter of 25.63 inches. Therefore, the larger tire will raise the saddle height about .435 inches, which is 1/2 the difference in the diameters.

As far as I can see, the Heidenau tire website does not provide a fitment chart.

http://heidenautires.com/dual-sport-tires/

However, as a general rule, size 5.10, and 130 mm tires are designed for 3-inch rims. Size 4.60, and 110 mm tires are designed for 2.15-inch rims. Therefore, both the 130/80-17 tire, and the 130/70-17 tire will probably fit the 3-inch rim of your RX3 bike. However, the 130/70-17 tire will lower the saddle height about 1/2-inch, compared with the 130/80-17 tire.

Originally Posted by Dualsport Chic

...Sorry for the silly questions but I've honestly never had to deviate from the OEM tire sizes on my bikes as they were all pretty easy to find through several manufacturers.

You questions are not silly; they are intelligent questions. Indeed, the choice of a rear tire can make a big difference in saddle height.

[Dualsport Chic]

You Sir Spud are an amazing wealth of knowledge - thank you so very much for a great tire education!! Awesome!!

[SpudRider]

You're welcome. Thank you for your kind words.

[linuxyeti]

Hi All

Considering an RX-3, however, just a couple of questions.

1. How does the bike cope with heavy rain & snow?
2. How badly does it get affected by road grit?

I only ask, I'd be getting this bike specifically for use in the worst weather.

Cheers

Tony

[SpudRider]

The RX3 is very stable, and very waterproof; it is not adversely affected by road grit. However, riding in snow and rain requires proper tire selection.

[DanKearney]

I've ridden mine in a few good Colorado thunderstorms and it ran normally. Been through short mud sections (With Kenda Big Blocks) OK. No snow as of yet.

Like any other bike, it gets crud coated. Here in Colorado, rust is not an issue, but I tend to clean the mud and crud off after a trip. I know they sell this bike in the Philippines, which I'd assume is a pretty salty environment. There's an American or UK'er over there who rides the RX3 through the jungle delivering medicines. He posts on the RX3 facebook page. I think his name is Robin. You might try to contact him for his opinion on corrosion issues.

Cheers,

Dan K.

[linuxyeti]

Hi

Thanks for the replies, sounds promising :-)

[CSCDude]

Originally Posted by linuxyeti

Hi All

Considering an RX-3, however, just a couple of questions.

1. How does the bike cope with heavy rain & snow?
2. How badly does it get affected by road grit?

I only ask, I'd be getting this bike specifically for use in the worst weather.

Cheers

Tony

My personal RX3 is about a year old now and I have never washed it (that's a holdover from my KLR riding habits). The RX3 doesn't have any corrosion anywhere, but we don't see much humidity here in So Cal. I've got bugs and mud stuck to it from Mexico and from all over the western US and it is holding up well.



The AKT RX3 (they call it the TT 250 Adventour) I recently rode in Colombia had about 8000 miles on it, and from what I understand, they were mostly hard miles. There's a lot of heat and humidity in Colombia, but that motorcycle showed no rust or corrosion, either. The other two bikes on that trip were similarly ridden hard and put away wet, and they also were free of any signs of corrosion.



Incidentally, my friend Juan Carlos Posada (who led the Colombia ride) is now offering motorcycle tours in Colombia; more info on that is on the CSC blog. I sure had a great time in Colombia.

[AZRider]

Originally Posted by CSCDude

Incidentally, my friend Juan Carlos Posada (who led the Colombia ride) is now offering motorcycle tours in Colombia; more info on that is on the CSC blog. I sure had a great time in Colombia.

Thanks for the heads up on your blog Joe. I've already heard back from Juan with dates and an itinerary. It s going to be a great trip, I'm looking forward to it.

[woodlandsprite]

Originally Posted by AZRider

Thanks for the heads up on your blog Joe. I've already heard back from Juan with dates and an itinerary. It s going to be a great trip, I'm looking forward to it.

George, looking forward to your trip report and photos! That is going to be an exciting adventure!

[SpudRider]

X2.

[AZRider]

Originally Posted by woodlandsprite

George, looking forward to your trip report and photos! That is going to be an exciting adventure!

Sprite,

There are still many details to work out before this fantasy becomes reality, but I'm almost on the plane.

Photos I can manage, but I'm not in Joe's league when it comes to putting pen to paper.