2 questions about VBike...

[Digi]

1: Are parts available for the sb200cc (street bike)? this is my biggest concern, the website says them have them but I want to be absolutely sure.

2: I went around to the local bike shop today, sat on a few sport bikes (a ninja 250, a zongshen.) I can't spend the money on either so Vbike looks like a great deal and seem to have some favorable reviews here.

Does anyone have a photo of themselves sitting on this bike?

Thanks all, nice to meet eveyone btw! I'm Tim. from ohio, met bruce a couple weeks ago @ ejcycles too!

[katoranger]

Welcome. Vbike has had good reviews, but I cannot comment on the parts supply.

Did Bruce not have a bike you liked?

Allen

[Digi]

not at the time, does anyone else here know about vbike parts?

[andy10889]

i emailed vbike, and he said they had full parts in for the sb200! so i guess they do, he was very quick to return my emails. Ill be ordering one threw them in a few days.

[Qingdao]

I got one. They use Tank body and suspension and braking parts you can find them here...

http://www.extrememotorsales.com/Tan..._250_Parts.htm

They use a LF200 drive train and engine.

The sprocket has to be custom made, look here...

http://www.myspace.com/kingssalesandservice

This guy will custom make you a sprocket if you have enough data to send him.

[Qingdao]

And for the second question.

The shipping was HELLA fast. I ordered the bike on Wed. 0900h and {I sh*t you not} it arived in Springfeild, MO @ 1200h Thur. It came on a big semi with a lift and without damage.

Off the bat I changed the fork oil and the brake fluid and cleaned the carb and lubed the speedo and repacked the front bearings. I have had ZERO problems so far (400miles) <fingers crossed>.

The NEGITIVE. It is slow as hell. I am 172#s and it red lines at 65mph, I tested with a gps. This is due to the fact that it has a LF200 engine on a smaller rear wheel made for a Tank. BUT mabye I am biased cause I just lost my GS850 that did 130 no prob.

ULTIMITLY. for $1350 delivered it is a perfict starter bike or comute. I enjoy it for what it is.

[Qingdao]

If you are curious I have taken A LOOOOOOT of mesurments and the smallest safe back sprocket for this bike is a 29T, But you could shim out a 24T with washers if you are insane :twisted: .

If you cut out the Counter sprocket cover you can fit a 15T counter sprocket safly. Mabye, once again if you are insane, you could fit a 16T.

The max safe sized tire is 140/90/15. And if you do some swing arm moding you could fit a 150/90/15.

SO... safe max speed is 88mph, but hey that is fast enough for time travel lol.
AND if you are willing to compermise torque and have alot of time & money to waste you could go 98mph MAX no faster.

[Digi]

Thank you very much for your reply and all the info Qingdao, did you get the MSO/MCO when the bike was delivered, or did you have to wait? Do you have to pay taxes when its ordered? I forget how internet sales are with that. Sorry to be asking so much, but it's nice to talk to someone who actually went through the process!


I just got off the phone with a woman from vbike who spoke worse english than me, but she did say I could register it in Ohio, which was another big concern.

Far as speed vs. weight goes, I'm 5 foot 8, about 145 pounds (depending on what I had for dinner, lol), and was going for a first bike, so speeds not so much an issue for me at this point (although I appriciate you telling me that)

[Qingdao]

My MSO came taped to the seat in a ziplock bag.

First get insurance. I have Progressive, and they didn't have any info on the bike. So I had to wait a week for the higher ups in progressive to underwrite for it. If you call progressive they will be able to underwrite imediatly.

Second you have to pay taxes (not sales tax, state tax). Just like a car.

Finally go to the DMV with the MSO. The nice ladies at the DMV looked at me funny but it cleared in SC.

BTW: 65 is max regardless of weight; it is the end of the transmission...redline. May not seem like a problem untill you are shifting into 5th to go 45mph.

[naqviak]

[quote="Qingdao"]And for the second question.
Off the bat I changed the fork oil and the brake fluid and cleaned the carb and lubed the speedo and repacked the front bearings. I have had ZERO problems so far (400miles) <fingers crossed>.

quote]
Qingdao-
How did you change the fork oil and brake fluid? How did yiu clean carb?

I got the bike today with considerable damage to fairings, brake lever and fuel tank. I am going to raise the concern with seller.

Another question- The bike does not idle. If I let the throttle go, engine dies! I have to hold throttle around 3000 rmp for engine to run. Any idea?

Also, is there a choke on this bike?

[Qingdao]

>>> The fork oil drains from the bottom of the forks. BuyingChina is on this forem to, but here is his "how to guide" from lifancycle
http://www.lifancycle.com/viewtopic.php?f=6&t=63
>>> The brake fluid is drained through the 8mm nuts on the calipers. Here is BC's guide again
http://www.lifancycle.com/viewtopic.php?f=6&t=39
>>> For the carb I just opened the bowl and the top slide and sprayed it with carb cleaner. I don't know who this youtube guy is but he explains how to remove the carburator. After you get the bowl off take the aresol spray carb cleaner and spray the hell out of the bowl, BUT be carful when spraying near the "holes".

>>> I don't know what to say about the damage. I would raise MAJOR HELL. Did you sign the trucker release sheet? If you did that removes the blame from the trucker. You might have to fight for a while to fix this.
>>> The idle air screw is on the right side of the carburator in the middle of the "throttle". If you watch the youtube at the end of the video he ajusts the idle air.
>>> The choke is like old Mikuni carb chokes. It is on the carb on the left side. It is a little lever. UP, or clockwise, means full choke. There is a half choke. Then there is no choke when you push the lever DOWN, or counter clockwise.

PS: BuyingChina's "how to guides" are the BEST NO QUESTION THERE.
PPS: Do tourque the hell out of every bolt before you ride just a reminder.

[Qingdao]

Oh I forgot the LF200 has a single disk (the guide is for a LF200 but the priciple is the same). So you will need to drain one caliper, then tighten the drain bolt back. Then move to the other side and drain that side.

DRAIN THEM ONE AT A TIME. I couldn't imaging how hard (impossible) it would be to drain them at the same time.

Also, make sure you don't get any air in those lines. That would be a VERY bad thing. Then you would need a vac pump.

[Qingdao]

To late now but here's a pic (I like to show off my hella poffy hair)

[naqviak]

Originally Posted by Qingdao

>>> The fork oil drains from the bottom of the forks. BuyingChina is on this forem to, but here is his "how to guide" from lifancycle
http://www.lifancycle.com/viewtopic.php?f=6&t=63
>>> The brake fluid is drained through the 8mm nuts on the calipers. Here is BC's guide again
http://www.lifancycle.com/viewtopic.php?f=6&t=39
>>> For the carb I just opened the bowl and the top slide and sprayed it with carb cleaner. I don't know who this youtube guy is but he explains how to remove the carburator. After you get the bowl off take the aresol spray carb cleaner and spray the hell out of the bowl, BUT be carful when spraying near the "holes".

>>> I don't know what to say about the damage. I would raise MAJOR HELL. Did you sign the trucker release sheet? If you did that removes the blame from the trucker. You might have to fight for a while to fix this.
>>> The idle air screw is on the right side of the carburator in the middle of the "throttle". If you watch the youtube at the end of the video he ajusts the idle air.
>>> The choke is like old Mikuni carb chokes. It is on the carb on the left side. It is a little lever. UP, or clockwise, means full choke. There is a half choke. Then there is no choke when you push the lever DOWN, or counter clockwise.

PS: BuyingChina's "how to guides" are the BEST NO QUESTION THERE.
PPS: Do tourque the hell out of every bolt before you ride just a reminder.

Thanks a lot-
Couple of more (dumb) questions-
1. Which oil type do you use in fork?
2. Brakes?
3. Engine?

[Qingdao]

Use 15 wieght oil. I used bel-ray oil from bikebandit.com.

15-40 motor oil. CHEAP OIL you change it so much there is no point in paying a lot for expensive motor oil.

And good dot 4 brake fluid. Found at Auto-zone, Advance, or Orely.