New Zongshen RX3 (ZS250GY-3) Dual Sport

[katflap]

Thanks Miss America .Compared to you all on here I’m just playing at it. Especially After reading that some of you are planning on riding vast distances to get back home after collecting your bikes.
I feel really embarrassed to say that I’m having mine delivered and its only 200 miles away.

The last time I had a bike of any power was well over 20 years ago (Kawasaki gpz 1100). Since getting back in to bikes 4 years ago I only have a little Suzuki van van 125 so my reports are probably not going to be very balanced.

Thanks Huck369 and Spudrider for the info.
The Moose Racing Guards look pretty cool, I have some cheap guards on my vanvan but these look much better quality I think I will have to get some. Wind protection is enough for me.

I guess they fit in the same way which means the brake lever assembly has to be moved over a bit, to fit the clamp ,though ok, I find that it makes the brake lever a little harder to reach.

It looks like the Rx3 doesn't have bar end weights so I guess for the wrap around ones you would have to slice the end rubber of the throttle grip to insert the end bolt.

A bit of minor info, according to my bike dealer, the rear width of the bike including the panniers is 75cm and the width including the protector bars just in front of the panniers is 81cm

[Weldangrind]

Originally Posted by SpudRider

CSC is going to offer a very nice center stand.



I wonder if CSC welded a mounting point for the spring, or the mount was present on the stock frame?

It appears that there will be adequate ground clearance.

[Weldangrind]

Welcome Katflap!

I love the VanVan; got a pic?

[katflap]

IT is a really fun bike to ride. ideal for the muddy, gravely and pot holey back roads we have here that would destroy a pure road bike. Only problem is if you hit a head wind you are down to 40mph !

I once had a test ride on a Chinese van van replica 250cc it was pretty good. a little less refined than the Suzuki but the main problem was it was only a little more powerful . the seat was as hard as a brick but if I had seen it before I got my Suzuki van van I would have bought it .

[Huck369]

Originally Posted by Weldangrind

It appears that there will be adequate ground clearance.

I don't like the that center stand doesn't raise the rear wheel off the ground, which is the only reason I want one, to aide in lubing the chain, and wheel changes.

[SpudRider]

I noticed the same thing regarding the CST center stand. I have only had one motorcycle with a center stand, my 1979 Honda CB400T. That center stand lifted the rear wheel; I would put weight on the rear of the saddle to lift the front wheel. I thought all center stands worked that way. I suppose the panniers, trunk, and associated mounts probably weight the rear of the RX3 enough to make the center stand raise the front wheel, instead.

I agree; a center stand is most convenient when it raises the rear wheel. Because of the drive chain, everyone does more maintenance with the rear wheel raised, rather than the front wheel raised.

If I am at home, I raise the rear wheel on my other motorcycles with a T-Rex swingarm stand. I raise the front wheel with either a fork stand, or a center stand placed under the skid plate.

While traveling on the road the RX3 will probably be loaded in the rear, so any center stand would likely keep the rear wheel on the ground. Of course, once you remove the rear axle, the weight of the rear wheel is also removed, and the rear of the bike might tip up for flat tire repairs. Fortunately, O-ring drive chains don't require any adjustment after the initial stretch until they finally wear out. However, even the O-ring drive chains still need to be cleaned and lubricated.

It is nice to have a center stand to hold the bike vertically while doing work other than drive chain or rear wheel maintenance. Also, a center stand works nicely to keep the bike upright while parked on grass or softer soil. In addition, fixing a flat front tire on the road, or working on the forks at home would be greatly facilitated with the CST center stand.

[SpudRider]

Originally Posted by katflap

IT is a really fun bike to ride. ideal for the muddy, gravely and pot holey back roads we have here that would destroy a pure road bike. Only problem is if you hit a head wind you are down to 40mph !...

Thanks for posting the photograph of the Van Van. That is a nice little motorcycle.

Your Honley Venturer 250 will give you enough power to carry heavier loads and still fight off the head winds.

[SpudRider]

After doing a little research I discovered the Zongshen center stand also lifts the front wheel.





I suppose once you mount rear luggage, or put any weight on the rear of a motorcycle, a center stand will lift the front wheel. The RX3 bikes on the assembly line don't even have the luggage installed.

[rjmorel]

My NC700x favors the rear wheel also when the panniers and trunk are loaded when using the center stand. Does make it interesting when oiling the chain idling in first gear .If I loose my grip the rear tire stars trenching in the gravel. I usually just wedge a 2x4 with a "V" notch on one end , cut to the proper length between the dirt and axle nut, to hold the bike more on the front tire. Still I'd rather have a center stand then not, that's for sure, rj

[thillskier]

Your van van reminds me of my brother and my Suzuki Trailhopper 50's. It was suzuki's answer to the Honda minitrail. Bulletproof, and trust me, we definitely "tested" their reliability hehe
I then bought a TS 50, that would hit an indicated 6o-63 mph. We rode that bike for 15,000 miles on and off road, my brother doing a 54 mile hare scramble on it! Most of those miles were pinned as well. The only issues it had was at delivery, they forgot to put oil in the tranny, so it locked up after a couple days. They added oil and off we went! I worried it would fail oh for the first 6 months or so, but never even replaced the clutch!

I sure hope the RX-3 is as reliable as the Suzukis I've owned have been...And Hondas, and Yamaha's and! By Spuds experience, it seems that we may have good experiences as well! Starting out riding cross country will be a good test to see how its going to hold up, however.

Hopefully, we all end up at home and broken in...NOT broken!

[Huck369]

Originally Posted by SpudRider

After doing a little research I discovered the Zongshen center stand also lifts the front wheel.





I suppose once you mount rear luggage, or put any weight on the rear of a motorcycle, a center stand will lift the front wheel. The RX3 bikes on the assembly line don't even have the luggage installed.

The stand in this photo is not the same one as in the earlier photo....and on my NC700X, the center stand still lifts the rear wheel with both bags and a rear trunk mounted (empty)

I would want to verify exactly what the center stand they will be offering before I bought one, yes it would make servicing a bit easier even if it doesn't lift the rear wheel, but I have bike jacks and such for regular service....but chain maintenance is what I really like them for...

As the center stand will actually be a detrimental for off road riding (something else to drag on logs/rocks lessening clearance.

[SpudRider]

Originally Posted by Huck369

The stand in this photo is not the same one as in the earlier photo....

Yes, I know the two center stands are different. The CSC center stand is different from the Zongshen center stand.

Originally Posted by Huck369

...and on my NC700X, the center stand still lifts the rear wheel with both bags and a rear trunk mounted (empty)...

That's good.

Originally Posted by Huck369

...I would want to verify exactly what the center stand they will be offering before I bought one, yes it would make servicing a bit easier even if it doesn't lift the rear wheel, but I have bike jacks and such for regular service....but chain maintenance is what I really like them for...

As the center stand will actually be a detrimental for off road riding (something else to drag on logs/rocks lessening clearance.

I currently own four motorcycles, and none of them have a center stand. I am very accustomed to working on my motorcycles without a center stand. Because of the problems you mentioned, I don't know if I will install a center stand on my RX3. I certainly do wish the center stand lofted the rear wheel, instead of the front wheel.

Once again, here is a photograph of the CSC center stand.



Here is a photo of the Zongshen center stand.



The center stands in the next photograph appear to be part of the assembly line.



Nevertheless, all three center stands attach to the bike's frame at the same point, and all three loft the front wheel.

[deputygene]

Originally Posted by SpudRider

I wasn't aware of the fuel pump problems with the Yamaha WR250 bikes. Thanks for posting that information. I'm very glad the Zongshen engineers set up the fuel gauge as they did.

I have ridden extensively in remote areas of Idaho, Nevada, Utah, Wyoming, and Montana. Fuel stations are few, and far between in many of the remote areas of these states, especially after normal business hours. When riding long distances in wilderness areas, I plan ahead for fuel stops, and I never pass up a gas station. However, I have discovered a 200-mile range on the main fuel tank is sufficient when combined with a 1-gallon reserve tank.

To extend the life of the fuel pump, I intend to fill the fuel gas routinely before 200 miles, and only travel on reserve fuel when absolutely necessary. In rare circumstances, one can easily carry extra fuel on top of, or inside the panniers, et cetera.

Our V Stroms have an in-tank fuel pump and it is common knowledge among the Stromtroopers not to run the tank dry as the fuel pumps are kept cool by the fuel. The Stroms have a 4 bar gas gage and we know it's time to re-fuel when we get down to the 4th bar.

[SpudRider]

Originally Posted by deputygene

Our V Stroms have an in-tank fuel pump and it is common knowledge among the Stromtroopers not to run the tank dry as the fuel pumps are kept cool by the fuel. The Stroms have a 4 bar gas gage and we know it's time to re-fuel when we get down to the 4th bar.

Thanks for sharing the good information, Gene.

Once again, I like Zongshen's fuel gauge feature. As the fuel gauge nears empty, you are nearing the 1-gallon of reserve fuel, and it is time to fill the gas tank. In an emergency you can use the reserve fuel, but you should avoid this situation if you wish to extend the life of the fuel pump.

[rjmorel]

Was the RX3 price jumping up to $3995 at end of month? Thought I read somewhere it would be going up. Wish I would of seen the $2895 deal sooner. But still a great buy at $3995 I think, rj