Picked up the Lifan Xpect

[Boatguy]

Originally Posted by TominMO

Was just reading in the Street section about how changing the sprocket(s) changes the reading on the speedo. Didn't consider this. I thought the speed sensor is in the front wheel hub, and so it would be independent of gearing changes. Is this so?

So for now I can only say that with the 17/42 sprockets, it gives an indicated top speed of 64 mph. Now I have to figure out what the correction factor is for these sprockets (if the speed gear is in the tranny). It seemed kinda squirrely at "64", so I suspect it was actually going over 70. But the squirrelyness could be from having the offroad front fender, too.

Ours is in the front hub. I can’t see how that would be true unless the computer is taking data from other sources to combine with the speed sensor at the front wheel

[TominMO]

Originally Posted by Boatguy

Ours is in the front hub. I can’t see how that would be true unless the computer is taking data from other sources to combine with the speed sensor at the front wheel

Well that's reassuring to know. So the readout is as accurate as before. What I don't know is how accurate that is in the real world. Does indicated 60 mean true 60?

[TominMO]

Bought a steel magnetic drain plug, per China Rider 27's advice.

https://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/A...im/refuge08-20

[Britt]

Originally Posted by TominMO

Well that's reassuring to know. So the readout is as accurate as before. What I don't know is how accurate that is in the real world. Does indicated 60 mean true 60?

Most folks with the Lifans and Hawks find their speedometer reads about 4mph high at 60mph. So if you subtract 4, that's probably what you're really doing. Use a GPS app on your phone to verify.

[TominMO]

Rode the Xpect over to Festus, the nearest town of any size. Took two different routes to compare distance, time and enjoyability. Mostly on country roads with a 45 mph speed limit. Turns out the slightly longer route (13.8 vs 12.5 miles) was quicker and more enjoyable. So a round trip of about 30 miles would cost me about $1.25ish at today's prices. I can live with that!

The bike now has a grand total of 240 miles on the odo. Geared 17/42 like it is now, it cruises at 60 but that's about it. Definitely overgeared a bit, but I like it like this.

[Boatguy]

Originally Posted by TominMO

Rode the Xpect over to Festus, the nearest town of any size. Took two different routes to compare distance, time and enjoyability. Mostly on country roads with a 45 mph speed limit. Turns out the slightly longer route (13.8 vs 12.5 miles) was quicker and more enjoyable. So a round trip of about 30 miles would cost me about $1.25ish at today's prices. I can live with that!

The bike now has a grand total of 240 miles on the odo. Geared 17/42 like it is now, it cruises at 60 but that's about it. Definitely overgeared a bit, but I like it like this.

I did something similar today. I had two financial errands to run. Each about 35 minutes away. The area I am in has not much in the way of resources, but the ride between here and where the resources are is absolutely beautiful. The most twisty, hilly roads and forests. With giant lakes. You would never know I am one hour away from Grand Central station

Truly, going on rides for errands is a great excuse to get some good riding in. And the cost can’t be beat.

[TominMO]

For another fun ride, I am lightly considering the KP Mini. More useful overall (i.e. highway use) would be the KPX or KPR. The 2-lane hwys around here (one lane per direction) tend to be 55 or 60 mph, and I wouldn't want a bunch of annoyed drivers behind me when the top practical sustainable speed seems to be 60 on the odo, probably 55 actual.

[Boatguy]

Originally Posted by TominMO

For another fun ride, I am lightly considering the KP Mini. More useful overall (i.e. highway use) would be the KPX or KPR. The 2-lane hwys around here (one lane per direction) tend to be 55 or 60 mph, and I wouldn't want a bunch of annoyed drivers behind me when the top practical sustainable speed seems to be 60 on the odo, probably 55 actual.

Yeah. That’s really frustrating. It used to happen to me in Florida all the time. I would get people piling up behind me. I would be on a 60 mph area and they would be going 75. So I would have to pull over and let everybody by every few miles. It was not enjoyable.

[TominMO]

CFMoto has a couple of liquid-cooled street 300s making 29 hp that would do the job nicely. About $5K OTD though. Another issue is luggage. Not sure how available luggage racks are for Chinese bikes that don't come with them. I want the ability to haul around a bit of stuff to make the bike more versatile, so that demands a rear box. Panniers are probably a lost cause unless you can fabricate mounts yourself (not me).

For $8K OTD, I can get the CFMoto Adventura, with hard luggage included. But now we're getting into prices where a used car makes more sense.....or even smarter, just drive what I got instead of maintaining two cars. Motorcycle tires and drivetrain parts eat up all the savings from the much higher mpg. Still, it's nice to be able to go 250 miles on $12 worth of gas! I'm set for tires for quite a while, because I tricked some smart guy into selling me his barely-used Xpect tires.

Unless, of course, when the aliens attack the first thing they do is EMP our asses.....then it's back to donkey carts.

More and more, the KPX is looking like the best inexpensive do-all bike around. Maybe others would do as well, like the Brozz or Hawk DLX.

[Boatguy]

I take it you are not into the soft panniers? That’s what I got. They have been working great. They hold themselves up basically. I don’t even have a frame under them. They have enough straps that they don’t go under the bike.

[TominMO]

Originally Posted by Boatguy

I take it you are not into the soft panniers? That’s what I got. They have been working great. They hold themselves up basically. I don’t even have a frame under them. They have enough straps that they don’t go under the bike.

Good idea actually. Having a much smaller brain compared to yours, I didn't even think of those. Can you recommend any good brands to look for? Not BMW prices of course. And how do you deal with exhaust heat? Just not put the ice cream on that side?

[Boatguy]

Originally Posted by TominMO

Good idea actually. Having a much smaller brain compared to yours, I didn't even think of those. Can you recommend any good brands to look for? Not BMW prices of course. And how do you deal with exhaust heat? Just not put the ice cream on that side?

It’s funny you mention that. I am very very conscious about what things go on the exhaust side and what things don’t. Also, I used a zip tie to cinch in the back end of the bag on the side with the exhaust. It works out pretty well.

Now, I’m not going to say this is a good brand, but keeping in the spirit of the Chinese low cost motorcycle, I got some low cost panniers. And they’ve been great. Just like the motorcycle. Very happy with the quality. I haven’t had a single problem with them and I have used them quite a bit. For those longer grocery shopping trips, I just take these off since it is three clicks of a fastex buckle and I stick them in the grocery store cart and wheel them around inside the store. Then I know how much stuff to put in them.




https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B089Z...b_b_asin_title

[TominMO]

Yeah, saw those on Amazon. Thought they looked like a good bet. Thanks!

[Thumper]

I've always thought a trunk like the one Tom got would be really useful, but hard to throw my leg over the bike to get on it. Soft panniers like these on Amazon look like a good alternative, but I also worried about the tailpipe melting the right bag... I have a couple of day packs (one small, one large) that I have used instead for now.

[TominMO]

Gonna sell the X-pect to finance a KPX. B4 I go with Craigslist I thought I'd give you guys a crack at it first, with a better price. I will have the ad up in Free Classifieds later today.