Zongshen 200GY-2 Gets A Yamaha XT225 Swingarm Conversion

[Staticworth]

rear= 4.10-18

[FastDoc]

Won't help. The bikes that this will help are the Zongs which have a 15 inch wheel to start with. We don't need such a change. We already have the better sized (off road) wheel to begin with.

[SpudRider]

Originally Posted by Staticworth

So then would there be no way to do this? or is it just that the TW225 will not help us?

If you want to try this conversion with a Lifan motorcycle, you need to do some research. First, you need to see how the swingarm attaches to the frame. If the swingarm mounts around the rear of the engine block (as it does on my Zong), then you need to find a swingarm with the correct dimensions for your engine block. Also, you need to ensure that the rear wheel sprocket will align with the countershaft sprocket on your motorcycle. Then you need to find, and purchase, the correct swingarm, rear wheel, axle, drum/disc brake unit, and shock absorber. Finally, you will need to design, and fabricate, the correct way to attach the shock absorber to the Lifan's frame at both the top and bottom connections.

The design of the Zongshen Sierra 200GY-2 made this entire process much easier for me, since the Zong's engine and frame are faithful copies of current, or recently produced, Yamaha motorcycles.

Spud

[SeerAtlas]

Ok, having just gotten back from a wilderness run with my Hamna (Hsun type)200gy, and the brand new Zong I just got for my brother, I'll be putting up a comparo thread over the next few hours. One thing I can tell you right now, is that I can fully understand why Spud is pleased with his mods.

seer

[SpudRider]

I now have rode my YamaZong XT200GY-2 over 1,000 miles since the swingarm conversion. The new suspension is superb. My traction has increased greatly with the Dunlop D752 rear tire. My motorcycle is now much lighter, and its handling is excellent. The improvement in my motorcycle's ride is remarkable.

Yesterday I went riding with my friend Andy and his sons; they rode three Japanese motorcycles. My YamaZong XT200GY-2 performed very well; it was a pleasure to ride.



Spud

[FastDoc]

Nice pics Spud. God Bless the great American Northwest. What a great place to live and ride.

I did not get to go riding on my flight/trip to Boise this weekend but did some hiking and boating on Lucky Peak Lake. Looking at the winlderness, I missed my humble HSUN.

[FastDoc]

Your friends have some neat old bikes!

[SpudRider]

Originally Posted by FastDoc

Your friends have some neat old bikes!

Yes, they do!

Spud

[frostbite]

Very nice collection of old dirt bikes, makes the Zong look like cutting-edge technology!

[SpudRider]

Originally Posted by frostbite

Very nice collection of old dirt bikes…

My good friend Andy is a professional mechanical, so he enjoys finding and restoring the vintage dirt bikes. Needless to say, he does an excellent job.

Originally Posted by frostbite

…makes the Zong look like cutting-edge technology!

After a Yamaha XT225 swingarm conversion, the Zong is cutting edge technology.

I consider the Zong to be a very good value in stock form, fresh from the crate. However, the Yamaha XT225 swingarm conversion has greatly improved the bike’s performance and handling.

Spud

[SpudRider]

I have weighed all the individual components I replaced during this Yamaha XT225 swingarm conversion; here are the results for two different rear wheels.

Swingarm Conversion Weight Reduction Figures

Complete Yamaha XT225 Swingarm
Included: Swingarm, chain slider, shock absorber linkage, and rear chain guard:
Weight: 13 pounds

Complete Zongshen 200GY-2 Swingarm
Included: Swingarm, chain slider, brake rod, and rear chain guard.
Weight: 15 pounds

Here is a photograph of the top side of both swingarms.



Here is a photograph of the bottom side of both swingarms.



Complete Yamaha XT225 Rear Wheel with Cheng Shin 3.50-18 Tire
Included: Rear hub, rim, spokes, bearings, sprocket, Cheng Shin 3.50-18 tire, inner tube, rim strip, rim lock, and rear hub brake assembly.
Weight: 20 pounds

Zongshen 200GY-2 Rear Wheel with Kingstone 130/90-15 Tire
Included: Rear hub, rim, spokes, bearings, sprocket, cushion drive assembly, inner tube, rim strip, rear hub brake assembly, and a very worn Kingstone 130/90-15 dual sport tire.
Weight: 27.5 pounds

Here is a photograph of both rear wheels.



Yamaha XT225 Shock Absorber
Weight: 5 pounds

Zongshen 200GY-2 Shock Absorber
Weight: 8 pounds

Here is a photograph of both shock absorbers.



I did add about 0.5 pounds to the Zong's frame with the installation of the shock absorber lower mounting bracket.

Total weight loss: 12 pounds, with 7.5 pounds lost at the rear wheel!

Needless to say, this weight reduction, along with the greatly improved suspension and traction, has made a remarkable difference in the motorcycle’s performance. The bike feels much lighter, just pushing it around with the engine off. The bike also feels much lighter when I simply come to a stop, on pavement, and put my left foot down.

In addition, the motorcycle handles much more nimbly. Before the swingarm conversion, I wrestled with the bike while riding the more technical sections of trails; frequently the Zong would not turn when I wanted to avoid obstacles. The bike now goes where I want it to go.

The stock Zong engine, carburetor, and airbox are closely patterned after the same components currently on the 2009 Yamaha TW200 motorcycle. My YamaZong XT200GY-2 now completely has genuine 2007 Yamaha XT225 components from the swingarm bolt and upper shock mount rearward. Therefore, I can honestly say that my YamaZong XT200GY-2 does possess current technology. The only dated component on my motorcycle is the 2004 Hyosung GF125/1989 Suzuki GP125 front brake caliper, common on many Chinabikes; I don’t mind, since this front brake caliper does a very good job stopping my motorcycle.

My purchase price and swingarm conversion costs for this motorcycle total $1,200, plus $238 shipping. After riding it over 12,000 miles, I still consider my Zongshen Sierra 200GY-2 an exceptional value.

Spud