Serious trail riding

[sheadouglas]

I was just wondering if anybody had any experience with any of these bikes on some serious trail riding. I would like to know the goods and the bads. I want to do some heavier trail riding this spring and summer, so I was just wanting some 2cents from someone that's been there done that. (on the chinabikes)

[Roketarider]

Know how far you can go on a tank of gas.

[Ferrit]

Guess we'll find out when we run the Trans America Trail this spring. What to join us?

[mdsuave13]

Originally Posted by Ferrit

Guess we'll find out when we run the Trans America Trail this spring. What to join us?

I would join you, but it cant have anything to do with Kentucky.....

I'm banned from that state... Long "stupid" story. HA.

Do you have site info for this event?

[sheadouglas]

When and where is the trans america trail? I dont know much about it.

[ImEazy]

Originally Posted by sheadouglas

When and where is the trans america trail? I dont know much about it.

http://www.transamtrail.com/

[frostbite]

I was just wondering if anybody had any experience with any of these bikes on some serious trail riding.

Here's some pics from a ride last summer.

http://www.chinariders.net/gallery2/...?g2_itemId=420

I dropped it about 4-5 times (stupid tank ruts) and threw a chain but I made it out alive. Some serious water too and no stalling. Better than my Honda in that regard. Stock tires are scary in the muck, consider a real knobby if you expect any significant mud.

[mdsuave13]

did the chain just pop off, or did you actually break it? if it broke maybe i will carry an extra one.. i drive a jeep i always have spare parts on board when i wheel. Some of my buddies carry spare axles and transfer cases.. crazy... haha

[frostbite]

I threw the chain; it didn't break. A 428 is too light for these bikes and tends to wear prematurely. I put i back on, tightened it up, and continued on my merry way.

[mdsuave13]

ok, i was just curious to know if i should have a spare chain onboard too.. but i guess i'll skip that and just wait till i break my first stock one...

[John22j]

My bike is a full dirt one, so it's a little different, but I've had it on some rough trails in 2 - 3 hour stints... and I've jumped it about 3' high -- it handles jumps about the same as a little XR100 does. I feel confident that my little china bike will take on any challenge I ask it to while in the woods.

That being said, my chain did pop off one time after a hard hit on a downed tree -- I just put it back on by hand without any tools and it held up the rest of the ride (riding hard still -- my thoughts were if it fell off again I was going to limp it back to the pits and tighten everything up, but never had to.... still the bike's pretty new and chain stretch was expected)

I wouldn't say carry around a spare chain, but 5 or 6 master links might be a nice idea because you could make-shift a mini chain fix section up if needed.

[mdsuave13]

Originally Posted by John22j

I wouldn't say carry around a spare chain, but 5 or 6 master links might be a nice idea because you could make-shift a mini chain fix section up if needed.

that sounds like a stellar idea...

[liverchip]

That is a great idea. Definitely a good idea!

[John22j]

Re-thinking that let me say you also need 5 or 6 regular links to go with it... then you could make little chain sections if needed, because the masterliks wouldn't be able to connect to themselves. I think you guys knew what I meant anyway, but figured I'd make note of it anyway.

[culcune]

I don't think carrying an extra chain is such a bad thing, IMO. I forget who mentioned the JC Whitney brand (I think it was JC Whitney) but they sell a heavy duty chain that goes well with the 46 tooth rear sprocket; I think it was a 428 126H chain (someone please correct me and/or take credit for this)