New Zongshen RX3 (ZS250GY-3) Dual Sport

pyoungbl · 05-01-2016, 04:07 PM

Well campfire friends, I just got back from the HU Virginia meeting. This was a 180 or so mile ride from home to Appomattox, Virginia, so it was a good distance to see how the Zong would do with a load. My ride was on US40, which bisects Ft. Pickett (an Army National Guard Base). Tanks really do cross the road!

near the main entrance to Ft. Pickett

another (WW1) tank by the VFW in Crewe, Virginia.

Bottom line, the suspension finally felt good! This is a big change from my experience while breaking in the engine. With no camping gear loaded and the shock preload totally backed off the suspension was entirely too stiff. The difference on this trip was so pronounced that I weighed my load as soon as I got home so I could quantify what it took to get everything working. Basically it took 83 lbs more than my normal 195 lb body weight. Thus, the 400/450 spring on the Progressive shock is set up for someone who weighs between 250 and 275 lbs.

OK beyond the suspension, the bike ran just fine on two lane roads doing 55-60 with no issues. Yes, going up a hill can mean WFO in some cases due to the load. Still, it was a fun ride.

The HU meeting was at a 4-H camp in the middle of a state park.

This is a great location, being within easy riding distance from a number of major metro centers on the East Coast. I'm guessing they had 200 attendees. Of course we had people from all over the world so it's hard to call this just a regional event. Throughout the 3 days there was a steady stream of presentations about various phases of motorcycle travel, as well as detailed slide shows about specific journeys.

Two guys had recently gone around the world in 93 days! There were trips to South America, Mongolia, Africa, and places I had hardly known to exist. Suffice to say the topics covered were fascinating. Makes one want to chuck it all and go for a long ride...maybe a year or three.

I thought I'd have the only Zong but that was not the case. Imaging my surprise to see a white RX3 before I had even gotten off my bike.

The white one belongs to Andy Pain, from Wisconsin. Andy is the go-to guy when it comes to minimalist motorcycle travel. He has written a few small books on the subject and had a one hour presentation on the subject.
I noticed that throughout the weekend there were people gathered around the Zongs and Andy was answering questions.

Here's 'madsocial'.
Now if she can just get here new Zong out of the PA DMV maze...at least she got to see an identical bike in the flesh!

Least one think this is just a BMW gathering let me assure you that's not the case. In fact, I saw some absolutely.......interesting....rides.

Lucy has gone places I could only dream about...in a nightmare!

The food was excellent,

as were the other facilities.

If you want to get inspired, attend a HU meeting. Be prepared to answer lots of questions about the Zong. The BMW rondels on my bike caused some serious head scratching. One guy was actually pissed off at the thought that the Chinese had made an identical clone of this little BMW (waving at Andy's white Zong). Imaging how deflated he was when I admitted that the 'little BMW was, indeed, another Zong). Great fun!

Peter Y.

05-01-2016, 04:07 PM	#11
pyoungbl Join Date: Feb 2016 Location: Portsmouth, Virginia, USA Posts: 632	Horizons Unlimited Virginia meeting, April 2016 Well campfire friends, I just got back from the HU Virginia meeting. This was a 180 or so mile ride from home to Appomattox, Virginia, so it was a good distance to see how the Zong would do with a load. My ride was on US40, which bisects Ft. Pickett (an Army National Guard Base). Tanks really do cross the road! near the main entrance to Ft. Pickett another (WW1) tank by the VFW in Crewe, Virginia. Bottom line, the suspension finally felt good! This is a big change from my experience while breaking in the engine. With no camping gear loaded and the shock preload totally backed off the suspension was entirely too stiff. The difference on this trip was so pronounced that I weighed my load as soon as I got home so I could quantify what it took to get everything working. Basically it took 83 lbs more than my normal 195 lb body weight. Thus, the 400/450 spring on the Progressive shock is set up for someone who weighs between 250 and 275 lbs. OK beyond the suspension, the bike ran just fine on two lane roads doing 55-60 with no issues. Yes, going up a hill can mean WFO in some cases due to the load. Still, it was a fun ride. The HU meeting was at a 4-H camp in the middle of a state park. This is a great location, being within easy riding distance from a number of major metro centers on the East Coast. I'm guessing they had 200 attendees. Of course we had people from all over the world so it's hard to call this just a regional event. Throughout the 3 days there was a steady stream of presentations about various phases of motorcycle travel, as well as detailed slide shows about specific journeys. Two guys had recently gone around the world in 93 days! There were trips to South America, Mongolia, Africa, and places I had hardly known to exist. Suffice to say the topics covered were fascinating. Makes one want to chuck it all and go for a long ride...maybe a year or three. I thought I'd have the only Zong but that was not the case. Imaging my surprise to see a white RX3 before I had even gotten off my bike. The white one belongs to Andy Pain, from Wisconsin. Andy is the go-to guy when it comes to minimalist motorcycle travel. He has written a few small books on the subject and had a one hour presentation on the subject. I noticed that throughout the weekend there were people gathered around the Zongs and Andy was answering questions. Here's 'madsocial'. Now if she can just get here new Zong out of the PA DMV maze...at least she got to see an identical bike in the flesh! Least one think this is just a BMW gathering let me assure you that's not the case. In fact, I saw some absolutely.......interesting....rides. Lucy has gone places I could only dream about...in a nightmare! The food was excellent, as were the other facilities. If you want to get inspired, attend a HU meeting. Be prepared to answer lots of questions about the Zong. The BMW rondels on my bike caused some serious head scratching. One guy was actually pissed off at the thought that the Chinese had made an identical clone of this little BMW (waving at Andy's white Zong). Imaging how deflated he was when I admitted that the 'little BMW was, indeed, another Zong). Great fun! Peter Y. Last edited by pyoungbl; 05-01-2016 at 04:35 PM. Reason: add name
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