Multi day/long trips on a KPX 250

IdahoRider · 08-24-2022, 08:08 PM

I'm considering the KPX 250 for day and multiday dual sport riding. Would you KPX owners recommend/trust your bikes as reliable enough for long distance travel? There are almost limitless places to ride offroad in southern Idaho and I'd plan on doing all day multisurface riding as well as multi day trips. I've only read positive things about the KPX but have not read/seen any reports of anyone doing long and/or multiday trips. Thanks.

Megadan · 08-24-2022, 08:55 PM

Not sure the bike has been around long enough for anybody to give you a fair and honest answer to this. Lifans are known as some of the best cheaper chinese bikes on the market, so they have that going for them.

zero_dgz · 08-24-2022, 10:18 PM

I've done several such trips on my RXB250, which has basically the same engine and a seat that I'm certain is miles worse. I think it'll do fine.

Do everything you can to mitigate any of your important bolts from falling out when you're hundreds of miles from home. Ask me how I know. (That's true of any bike, though, especially any bike you plan to ride off-road.)

IdahoRider · 08-24-2022, 11:43 PM

Thanks. I have seen one YouTuber who did a 1200 trip from Florida to Texas and another one recently didn the Idaho BDR on the RXB. I will definately go through the bike during assembly and setup.

**JerryHawk250** · 08-25-2022, 08:39 AM

I would think you would have no issues. I would do it on my Hawk and it is nowhere near the quality of the KPX. It's literally been raining just about everyday since I got the KPX so I don't have a lot of miles on it yet. The few rides I did take were between an hour to two hour rides and I wouldn't hesitate to take it on a long trip. The bike is ready to ride right out the box without having to do any mods to make it road worthy unlike some of the cheaper bikes. If you plan on doing a lot of highway riding at 70mph I would drop 3 teeth on the rear sprocket just to bring the rpms down a little. She will run 70mph all day as it is.

mshawnlatham · 08-25-2022, 09:51 AM

Thats a great question. I am looking at getting a Hawk 250 and I want to use it as a daily commuter and for long distance.

IdahoRider · 08-25-2022, 10:06 AM

Thanks for everyones feedback. Looking forward to the rain ending so @JerryHawk250 can update his YouTube channel.

**JerryHawk250** · 08-25-2022, 10:10 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by IdahoRider

Thanks for everyones feedback. Looking forward to the rain ending so @JerryHawk250 can update his YouTube channel.

I can't wait to get the KPX out at the spillway for some off road adventure.

TominMO · 08-25-2022, 12:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by IdahoRider

Thanks for everyones feedback. Looking forward to the rain ending so @JerryHawk250 can update his YouTube channel.

Word on the street is he is building a boat in his back yard. I forget how many cubits long and wide they say it is.....

TominMO · 08-25-2022, 12:39 PM

As far as oil temp goes IDK if cooler is better or it is optimal to keep it at a certain non-minimal temperature. IE should everyone install a cooler on general principles, or only when ambient temp is high and long-distance hwy riding is anticipated?

Sport Rider · 08-25-2022, 01:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TominMO

As far as oil temp goes IDK if cooler is better or it is optimal to keep it at a certain non-minimal temperature. IE should everyone install a cooler on general principles, or only when ambient temp is high and long-distance hwy riding is anticipated?

FWIW, my hawk did not do well in stop/go traffic on the street. I feel like an oil cooler would have helped, but I never installed it.

my commute included back country roads at 55-60, then coming into town for stop/go stuff. it'd get pretty hot running at high RPMs and then would act up when I had to stop/go.

**JerryHawk250** · 08-25-2022, 02:06 PM

If you live in a hot climate the oil cooler will greatly increase the oil life by preventing thermal break down of the oil. You will also find that shifting and finding neutral is much smoother. I've installed them on every china bike I've owned.

J4Fun · 08-25-2022, 02:07 PM

The oil cooler would have made a small difference, but it takes air movement like the engine to cool. If one is going to be in stop and go traffic, you may want a water cooled engine. Just my thoughts

Megadan · 08-25-2022, 02:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by J4Fun

The oil cooler would have made a small difference, but it takes air movement like the engine to cool. If one is going to be in stop and go traffic, you may want a water cooled engine. Just my thoughts

Except for those moments when you do get airflow and it cools the oil. It still makes a noticeable difference. As with any air cooled motorcycle if you are going to be sitting stopped for a long period of time in the heat it is best to shut off the engine.

4T_Goblin · 08-25-2022, 03:20 PM

Go through it before you go and tighten things up and you should be good as any

08-24-2022, 08:08 PM	#1
IdahoRider Join Date: Aug 2022 Posts: 173	Multi day/long trips on a KPX 250 I'm considering the KPX 250 for day and multiday dual sport riding. Would you KPX owners recommend/trust your bikes as reliable enough for long distance travel? There are almost limitless places to ride offroad in southern Idaho and I'd plan on doing all day multisurface riding as well as multi day trips. I've only read positive things about the KPX but have not read/seen any reports of anyone doing long and/or multiday trips. Thanks.
	1

08-24-2022, 08:55 PM	#2
Megadan Join Date: Apr 2017 Location: Omaha, NE Posts: 7,998	Not sure the bike has been around long enough for anybody to give you a fair and honest answer to this. Lifans are known as some of the best cheaper chinese bikes on the market, so they have that going for them. __________________ Hawk Information and Resource guide: http://www.chinariders.net/showthread.php?t=20331 2018 Hawk 250 - Full Mod list here. http://www.chinariders.net/showpost....62&postcount=1 2024 Royal Enfield Shotgun 650 https://chinariders.net/showthread.php?t=34124
	0

08-25-2022, 08:39 AM	#5
JerryHawk250 Moderator Join Date: Oct 2016 Location: Houma, La. Posts: 11,555	I would think you would have no issues. I would do it on my Hawk and it is nowhere near the quality of the KPX. It's literally been raining just about everyday since I got the KPX so I don't have a lot of miles on it yet. The few rides I did take were between an hour to two hour rides and I wouldn't hesitate to take it on a long trip. The bike is ready to ride right out the box without having to do any mods to make it road worthy unlike some of the cheaper bikes. If you plan on doing a lot of highway riding at 70mph I would drop 3 teeth on the rear sprocket just to bring the rpms down a little. She will run 70mph all day as it is. __________________ 2023 Lifan Lycan 250 Chopper 2023 Venom Evader 2022 Lifan KPX250 2020 Kawasaki Vulcan S 2004 Honda ST 1300 2016 Black Hawk 250 (sold) Keihin PE30 carb,125 main,38 slow.Pod filter,ported & decked head 10:1 CR,Direct Ignition Coil,15/40Sprockets,NGK DPR8EIX-9,De-Cat,Dual Oil Cooler,Digital Cluster 2016 Cazador180 XL 2014 Coolster150 JerryHawk250.com My YouTube Channel
	1

08-25-2022, 12:39 PM	#10
TominMO Join Date: Sep 2021 Location: De Soto, MO Posts: 1,870	As far as oil temp goes IDK if cooler is better or it is optimal to keep it at a certain non-minimal temperature. IE should everyone install a cooler on general principles, or only when ambient temp is high and long-distance hwy riding is anticipated? __________________ 2021 Lifan Xpect--sold 2022 Lifan KPX 1972 Honda CT90--The Carrot 1969 Honda CT90--The Tomahto Cheesy is the WDK (workplace drama king). Now retired. Nope, back in the saddle. Climate: The Movie https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A24fWmNA6lM How our government really works https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QjadCd0VRBw Question all authority.....think for yourself
	0

08-25-2022, 02:06 PM	#12
JerryHawk250 Moderator Join Date: Oct 2016 Location: Houma, La. Posts: 11,555	If you live in a hot climate the oil cooler will greatly increase the oil life by preventing thermal break down of the oil. You will also find that shifting and finding neutral is much smoother. I've installed them on every china bike I've owned. __________________ 2023 Lifan Lycan 250 Chopper 2023 Venom Evader 2022 Lifan KPX250 2020 Kawasaki Vulcan S 2004 Honda ST 1300 2016 Black Hawk 250 (sold) Keihin PE30 carb,125 main,38 slow.Pod filter,ported & decked head 10:1 CR,Direct Ignition Coil,15/40Sprockets,NGK DPR8EIX-9,De-Cat,Dual Oil Cooler,Digital Cluster 2016 Cazador180 XL 2014 Coolster150 JerryHawk250.com My YouTube Channel
	2

08-24-2022, 10:18 PM	#3
zero_dgz Join Date: Jan 2020 Posts: 251	I've done several such trips on my RXB250, which has basically the same engine and a seat that I'm certain is miles worse. I think it'll do fine. Do everything you can to mitigate any of your important bolts from falling out when you're hundreds of miles from home. Ask me how I know. (That's true of any bike, though, especially any bike you plan to ride off-road.)
	0

08-24-2022, 11:43 PM	#4
IdahoRider Join Date: Aug 2022 Posts: 173	Thanks. I have seen one YouTuber who did a 1200 trip from Florida to Texas and another one recently didn the Idaho BDR on the RXB. I will definately go through the bike during assembly and setup.
	0

08-25-2022, 09:51 AM	#6
mshawnlatham Join Date: Aug 2022 Posts: 1	Thats a great question. I am looking at getting a Hawk 250 and I want to use it as a daily commuter and for long distance.
	1

08-25-2022, 10:06 AM	#7
IdahoRider Join Date: Aug 2022 Posts: 173	Thanks for everyones feedback. Looking forward to the rain ending so @JerryHawk250 can update his YouTube channel.
	1

08-25-2022, 02:07 PM	#13
J4Fun Join Date: May 2021 Posts: 281	The oil cooler would have made a small difference, but it takes air movement like the engine to cool. If one is going to be in stop and go traffic, you may want a water cooled engine. Just my thoughts
	1

08-25-2022, 03:20 PM	#15
4T_Goblin Join Date: Jun 2021 Posts: 239	Go through it before you go and tighten things up and you should be good as any __________________ 2020 Vader X-Pro X-7 2019 Kawasaki Ninja ex400 2022 Lifan KPX 250
	1