Just bought my first bike: Baja Phoenix 250

Biggs · 06-17-2012, 11:33 PM

I just purchased a Baja Phoenix px250 for cheap. It only has 2300 miles on it, and it looks to be in amazing shape. It sat for over a year with gas in the tank, so the fuel gauge sensor is shot as well as the fuel valve leading to the carb.

I got it to run and idle for a bit multiple times with some starter fluid into the air cleaner, and a new battery of course, it sounded very strong and no odd noises that i could find. I ordered the two new parts online earlier today.

I bought this bike to be my new way to work and school. Im just wondering if it is possible, or safe, to take it on the freeway at 65mph for 10-20 mile stretches. It was dirt cheap and is in almost perfect shape, so i am hopeful. Anybody have any information that would be helpful. Thanks in advance.

FastDoc · 06-18-2012, 12:13 AM

Sounds like you are only a good carb and petcock cleaning away from a good commuterbike on the cheap!

Don't forget to change the oil and check the valves and the air cleaner.

As far as the freeway I don't know. IF it's flat, IF there's no headwind, and IF you're less than about 190 I THINK it would be OK.

Biggs · 06-18-2012, 11:43 PM

Well, the website i ordered the parts from called me earlier and said that they actually dont have the parts, even though it said they did on their website.

Anyone know a place to get parts?

TheRealWorld · 06-30-2012, 12:18 AM

I don't have an answer for you, but I will if no one else comes up with one. I have had trouble getting proper parts, for the same bike. I am hoping some of the guys here can help you out and me also.

I have one of these, and I like it. Be gentle on the tranny, you may or may not have a moody one. I do, but it keeps going! I have never ridden mine full speed like you are hoping to, and I cant tell you if it will hold up. If it is geared from the factory, that is hard on that engine.

Hello to all you guys I have not talked to in a couple of years, I have so many life distractions, as you do also!

Good luck!

SilveradoSS · 07-02-2012, 04:37 AM

Check my post in the link below for info on ordering parts for your bike.

http://chinariders.com/modules.php?n...=152753#152753

TheRealWorld · 07-02-2012, 08:48 AM

Wow, I will look this over tonight when I have more time. I really appreciate your input, and I will let you know what I find.

GonzoX · 07-02-2012, 11:44 PM

Pictures pictures pictures.
Lets see them LOL.

SilveradoSS · 07-15-2012, 07:23 PM

Well I took down the Baja today for the blown head gasket and found........well........there was no head gasket! Ha! Ha!

Also, while they were assembling the cylinder and cylinder head, they crushed one of the alignment sleeves! Pics attached below:

TheRealWorld · 07-15-2012, 10:01 PM

Sad to see, good luck with the fix! Thanks for the pictures.

SilveradoSS · 07-17-2012, 10:08 PM

Well, got the head gasket replaced, buttoned everything back up and proceeded to test run the bike. Gave it the aerosol carb cleaner test, engine running and squirting cleaner around the head gasket area, and bike started stumbling! Man I'm PO'd! I cranked the head studs down until I thought I was gonna break 'em off. All that work and for nothing. Gonna have to tear it down again. I'm tempted to buy some form-a-gasket and squeeze my own gasket seal.

This is my first China machine that I've owned that has given me this much trouble. All of the others were fairly solid. Guess you keep rolling the dice, eventually you'll land a lemon. I'm still determined to get this thing running. My goal is to make it run every bit as good as the Honda Rebel 250 it's a knock off of.

At one point before I started having the leaky head gasket issue, I had rejetted to match the Rebel and had changed to a 30 tooth from the 34 tooth stock sprocket and was able to hit a speedo indicated 87 mph. Stock, I could only muster 70 mph indicated. I know that the speedos are not exactly accurate on these things, but she was moving WAY faster than stock.

Once I get the engine ironed out, I've got some plans for the rest of the bike. A repaint, finish out the exhaust and some other odds and ends.

TheRealWorld · 07-17-2012, 11:01 PM

You sound like a knowledgeable mechanic, but I think you need to put a dial indicator on your head surfaces, and figure out what is wrong. I think one needs to be ground or both. If I had to guess, the trouble will be in the area of the damaged area you showed us the picture of.

Again, good luck!

Weldangrind · 07-18-2012, 10:47 AM

If you have a head or cylinder imperfection that you can't resolve, I wonder if stacking two head gaskets would help?

FastDoc · 07-18-2012, 11:42 AM

The head must be warped. Bring it to a machine shop and get it checked and planed.

A recent thread espoused the benefits of spray on copper gasket sealent for head gaskets. I would not use two. This is a low compression low power bike to begin with and that will only slow it down more.

You may also have a crack that you're missing. :?

There's more to the story here obviously. How did the bike wind up in this condition in the first place? Figuring that out will help find the solution.

Thanks for the pics too, BTW.

You'll get it going don't worry.

SilveradoSS · 07-20-2012, 10:28 AM

I bought the bike with 15 miles on it. I'm certain that there was nothing done to it before I got it. You roll the dice every time you buy one of these things. I bought it knowing that I would have to work on it. I just wasn't expecting to have to go this deep. I'm fairly certain that the bike left China with all of these issues from the assembly line. No matter, that is part of what interests me about these machines. I actually enjoy all of the tinkering.

Weldangrind · 07-20-2012, 10:34 AM

I can appreciate that. Some days I get more satisfaction from fixing than riding.

06-18-2012, 12:13 AM	#2
FastDoc Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Southeastern Washington desert Posts: 14,761	Sounds like you are only a good carb and petcock cleaning away from a good commuterbike on the cheap! Don't forget to change the oil and check the valves and the air cleaner. As far as the freeway I don't know. IF it's flat, IF there's no headwind, and IF you're less than about 190 I THINK it would be OK. __________________ Happy to serve.
	0

07-18-2012, 10:47 AM	#12
Weldangrind Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Sardis, BC, Canada Posts: 25,977	If you have a head or cylinder imperfection that you can't resolve, I wonder if stacking two head gaskets would help? __________________ Weldangrind "I figure I'm well-prepared for coping with a bike that comes from the factory with unresolved issues and that rewards the self-reliant owner." - Buccaneer
	0

07-18-2012, 11:42 AM	#13
FastDoc Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Southeastern Washington desert Posts: 14,761	The head must be warped. Bring it to a machine shop and get it checked and planed. A recent thread espoused the benefits of spray on copper gasket sealent for head gaskets. I would not use two. This is a low compression low power bike to begin with and that will only slow it down more. You may also have a crack that you're missing. :? There's more to the story here obviously. How did the bike wind up in this condition in the first place? Figuring that out will help find the solution. Thanks for the pics too, BTW. You'll get it going don't worry. __________________ Happy to serve.
	0

06-17-2012, 11:33 PM	#1
Biggs Join Date: Jun 2012 Posts: 2	Just bought my first bike: Baja Phoenix 250 I just purchased a Baja Phoenix px250 for cheap. It only has 2300 miles on it, and it looks to be in amazing shape. It sat for over a year with gas in the tank, so the fuel gauge sensor is shot as well as the fuel valve leading to the carb. I got it to run and idle for a bit multiple times with some starter fluid into the air cleaner, and a new battery of course, it sounded very strong and no odd noises that i could find. I ordered the two new parts online earlier today. I bought this bike to be my new way to work and school. Im just wondering if it is possible, or safe, to take it on the freeway at 65mph for 10-20 mile stretches. It was dirt cheap and is in almost perfect shape, so i am hopeful. Anybody have any information that would be helpful. Thanks in advance.
	0

06-18-2012, 11:43 PM	#3
Biggs Join Date: Jun 2012 Posts: 2	Well, the website i ordered the parts from called me earlier and said that they actually dont have the parts, even though it said they did on their website. Anyone know a place to get parts?
	0

06-30-2012, 12:18 AM	#4
TheRealWorld Join Date: Jun 2008 Posts: 817	I don't have an answer for you, but I will if no one else comes up with one. I have had trouble getting proper parts, for the same bike. I am hoping some of the guys here can help you out and me also. I have one of these, and I like it. Be gentle on the tranny, you may or may not have a moody one. I do, but it keeps going! I have never ridden mine full speed like you are hoping to, and I cant tell you if it will hold up. If it is geared from the factory, that is hard on that engine. Hello to all you guys I have not talked to in a couple of years, I have so many life distractions, as you do also! Good luck!
	0

07-02-2012, 04:37 AM	#5
SilveradoSS Join Date: Dec 2007 Posts: 30	Check my post in the link below for info on ordering parts for your bike. http://chinariders.com/modules.php?n...=152753#152753
	0

07-02-2012, 08:48 AM	#6
TheRealWorld Join Date: Jun 2008 Posts: 817	Wow, I will look this over tonight when I have more time. I really appreciate your input, and I will let you know what I find.
	0

07-02-2012, 11:44 PM	#7
GonzoX Join Date: Mar 2012 Location: Copperas Cove, TX Posts: 49	Pictures pictures pictures. Lets see them LOL.
	0

07-15-2012, 07:23 PM	#8
SilveradoSS Join Date: Dec 2007 Posts: 30	Well I took down the Baja today for the blown head gasket and found........well........there was no head gasket! Ha! Ha! Also, while they were assembling the cylinder and cylinder head, they crushed one of the alignment sleeves! Pics attached below:
	0

07-15-2012, 10:01 PM	#9
TheRealWorld Join Date: Jun 2008 Posts: 817	Sad to see, good luck with the fix! Thanks for the pictures.
	0

07-17-2012, 10:08 PM	#10
SilveradoSS Join Date: Dec 2007 Posts: 30	Well, got the head gasket replaced, buttoned everything back up and proceeded to test run the bike. Gave it the aerosol carb cleaner test, engine running and squirting cleaner around the head gasket area, and bike started stumbling! Man I'm PO'd! I cranked the head studs down until I thought I was gonna break 'em off. All that work and for nothing. Gonna have to tear it down again. I'm tempted to buy some form-a-gasket and squeeze my own gasket seal. This is my first China machine that I've owned that has given me this much trouble. All of the others were fairly solid. Guess you keep rolling the dice, eventually you'll land a lemon. I'm still determined to get this thing running. My goal is to make it run every bit as good as the Honda Rebel 250 it's a knock off of. At one point before I started having the leaky head gasket issue, I had rejetted to match the Rebel and had changed to a 30 tooth from the 34 tooth stock sprocket and was able to hit a speedo indicated 87 mph. Stock, I could only muster 70 mph indicated. I know that the speedos are not exactly accurate on these things, but she was moving WAY faster than stock. Once I get the engine ironed out, I've got some plans for the rest of the bike. A repaint, finish out the exhaust and some other odds and ends.
	0

07-17-2012, 11:01 PM	#11
TheRealWorld Join Date: Jun 2008 Posts: 817	You sound like a knowledgeable mechanic, but I think you need to put a dial indicator on your head surfaces, and figure out what is wrong. I think one needs to be ground or both. If I had to guess, the trouble will be in the area of the damaged area you showed us the picture of. Again, good luck!
	0

07-20-2012, 10:28 AM	#14
SilveradoSS Join Date: Dec 2007 Posts: 30	I bought the bike with 15 miles on it. I'm certain that there was nothing done to it before I got it. You roll the dice every time you buy one of these things. I bought it knowing that I would have to work on it. I just wasn't expecting to have to go this deep. I'm fairly certain that the bike left China with all of these issues from the assembly line. No matter, that is part of what interests me about these machines. I actually enjoy all of the tinkering.
	0

07-20-2012, 10:34 AM	#15
Weldangrind Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Sardis, BC, Canada Posts: 25,977	I can appreciate that. Some days I get more satisfaction from fixing than riding. __________________ Weldangrind "I figure I'm well-prepared for coping with a bike that comes from the factory with unresolved issues and that rewards the self-reliant owner." - Buccaneer
	0