Reliability Poll

FastDoc · 05-11-2009, 02:29 PM

We all want to know this: "How reliable is your ChinaBike?"

TeamCheap · 05-11-2009, 03:56 PM

Left in stock form our bikes would be heaps of junk to put it bluntly.

katoranger · 05-11-2009, 04:09 PM

Somewhat agree with TC. Alittle bit of preride adjustment and upgrades makes a world of difference.

I have not been stranded. Had to replace the gas tank and exhaust for better items.

Allen

FastDoc · 05-11-2009, 04:26 PM

1,000 km almost all off paved roads:

-Lost exhaust heat shield, holes stripped out. Will leave it off
-Plastic breaks if looked at wrong
-Lead acid battery likes to drip acid on frame
-Squeaky front brake

I think that's about it for my problems so far. Other stuff has happened but not worth mentioning. I would never let someone buy one of these bikes unless he/she was comfortable with a well equiped tool kit.

That said, I'm quite happy and think it was a good value.

Trebek · 05-11-2009, 06:22 PM

I've had my Hibird for a year and put 800 miles on it (1/2 dirt 1/2 street). No big issues yet, but the factory handbook doesn't fit the bike model and assembly would have been impossible were it not for this forum.

The engine impresses me the most, it starts quickly at 0 degree temperatures and it has never let me down. I let it sit for a month and it fires right up.

My biggest complaints are: parts availability, the lack of assembly instructions. And some of the cheesy electrical and brake components. Overall: Its worth a thousand bucks, but not $1500.

Alaskan-Dad · 05-11-2009, 06:58 PM

had a few problems with inner tubes on my 2009 lifan the two 08's no troubles.
new HD tubes problem solved.
other than a drop of crazy glue on tach needle, no other problems.
lots of oiling and a few tubes of loctite = fun riding :wink:

knothead · 05-11-2009, 08:12 PM

'07 Lifan GY-5... I can't remember how many miles... several thousand (around 6000 miles, haven't really rode it in a year though.) The only problems I had with the bike were loose spokes, the rear wasn't properly seated, the tail light socket corroded, the clutch cable broke from a kinked housing, the stock chain needed replacing at 1500 miles and different electrical plugs coming unhooked (two or three times, different ones each time.)... and the front brakes squealed before I figured out to cut the pads down.
Nothing that you wouldn't run into on any other bike. I can fire the Lifan up with four kicks even after sitting for months with a dead battery, that's why it still has a home with me, it's reliable.

Dragon · 05-11-2009, 08:42 PM

Mine is bulletproof.

katoranger · 05-11-2009, 08:58 PM

I should mention that I am at 9200 miles now. Considering the amount of money spent. I am very happy. It has paid for itself in gas savings.

Should be up to 12-13K by end of summer. If it makes it to 15K I will consider it used up and ready for a new one.

Allen

czowner · 05-12-2009, 03:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by katoranger

I should mention that I am at 9200 miles now. Considering the amount of money spent. I am very happy. It has paid for itself in gas savings.
Allen

Couldn't put it better myself. Now cracked 20k kms (12k miles), no problems at all in the last 8k kms (5k miles). My big beef is the time spent in bits while looking for parts. I've had 2 spells of a couple of months each looking for parts or parts to adapt to fit.

Jonathan.

DesertRider · 05-12-2009, 11:20 AM

2006 Zongshen Sierra 200cc, only have just under a 100 miles on it, and have not had a single problem. ( yet :roll: )

FastDoc · 05-12-2009, 11:29 AM

My bike was $1100 delivered. Add tax and license and I'm into it $1250. Some fancy tires and we are at $1325. If I ride it 2-3 years and it pukes I'll consider it all good. In the meantime, I really do like the humble little thing, and it does all my 'Old Man' off roading just fine. A more powerful bike would probably get me hurt. 8)

smithyUK · 05-12-2009, 03:48 PM

mines is just coming up a year old and has bean out on the dirt every spare day(sometimes all day till fuel runs out

) and so far so good
few wee nigley issues clutch cable,inner tubes and chain but abart from that its stood upwell to my abuse

but as a lot of you folks say maintenance is the key (look after it kids)

SpudRider · 05-13-2009, 12:24 AM

I have rode about 10,500 miles on my Zongshen Sierra 200GY-2. I have not had a single mechanical failure.

Spud

Frog · 05-13-2009, 12:04 PM

2000miles mixture of on and off road - only thing I have NEEDED to do was replace the battery. Have mod'ed some other things because I wanted to.....

Frog

View Poll Results: Have you had any significant problems with your ChinaBike?
Nothing big. Just little things like loose bolts or electrical connections	24	64.86%
Nothing too big. Stuff that needed repair but did not cost much or strand the bike. Things like flat tires, carb issues, bad starters. Semi-easily fixed	7	18.92%
Some pretty big stuff. Grounded the bike for a time, but not expensive. Things like electrical meltdowns, swiwngarm failures, significant parts failing or falling off, etc.	4	10.81%
Big problems. Catastrophic engine frame or transmission issues. Things that laid the bike up, cost money and made me wonder if it's worth fixing.	2	5.41%
Voters: 37. You may not vote on this poll

05-11-2009, 02:29 PM	#1
FastDoc Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Southeastern Washington desert Posts: 14,761	Reliability Poll We all want to know this: "How reliable is your ChinaBike?" __________________ Happy to serve.
	0

05-11-2009, 04:09 PM	#3
katoranger Join Date: May 2007 Location: Altamont, Kansas Posts: 15,103	Somewhat agree with TC. Alittle bit of preride adjustment and upgrades makes a world of difference. I have not been stranded. Had to replace the gas tank and exhaust for better items. Allen __________________ You meet the nicest people on a Honda Clone.
	0

05-11-2009, 04:26 PM	#4
FastDoc Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Southeastern Washington desert Posts: 14,761	1,000 km almost all off paved roads: -Lost exhaust heat shield, holes stripped out. Will leave it off -Plastic breaks if looked at wrong -Lead acid battery likes to drip acid on frame -Squeaky front brake I think that's about it for my problems so far. Other stuff has happened but not worth mentioning. I would never let someone buy one of these bikes unless he/she was comfortable with a well equiped tool kit. That said, I'm quite happy and think it was a good value. __________________ Happy to serve.
	0

05-11-2009, 06:22 PM	#5
Trebek Join Date: May 2008 Posts: 150	I've had my Hibird for a year and put 800 miles on it (1/2 dirt 1/2 street). No big issues yet, but the factory handbook doesn't fit the bike model and assembly would have been impossible were it not for this forum. The engine impresses me the most, it starts quickly at 0 degree temperatures and it has never let me down. I let it sit for a month and it fires right up. My biggest complaints are: parts availability, the lack of assembly instructions. And some of the cheesy electrical and brake components. Overall: Its worth a thousand bucks, but not $1500. __________________ 78 KZ 650, 1999 XR600R, High Bird 200
	0

05-11-2009, 03:56 PM	#2
TeamCheap Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: directly under the earths sun............NOW Posts: 2,302	Left in stock form our bikes would be heaps of junk to put it bluntly.
	0

05-11-2009, 06:58 PM	#6
Alaskan-Dad Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Thorne Bay SE Alaska Posts: 131	had a few problems with inner tubes on my 2009 lifan the two 08's no troubles. new HD tubes problem solved. other than a drop of crazy glue on tach needle, no other problems. lots of oiling and a few tubes of loctite = fun riding :wink: __________________ Three Greys Lifan GY-5's
	0

05-11-2009, 08:12 PM	#7
knothead Join Date: May 2007 Location: In the land of the busted up ricebowl Posts: 815	'07 Lifan GY-5... I can't remember how many miles... several thousand (around 6000 miles, haven't really rode it in a year though.) The only problems I had with the bike were loose spokes, the rear wasn't properly seated, the tail light socket corroded, the clutch cable broke from a kinked housing, the stock chain needed replacing at 1500 miles and different electrical plugs coming unhooked (two or three times, different ones each time.)... and the front brakes squealed before I figured out to cut the pads down. Nothing that you wouldn't run into on any other bike. I can fire the Lifan up with four kicks even after sitting for months with a dead battery, that's why it still has a home with me, it's reliable.
	0

05-11-2009, 08:42 PM	#8
Dragon Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Tejas Posts: 834	Mine is bulletproof. __________________ Chinabikeless
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05-11-2009, 08:58 PM	#9
katoranger Join Date: May 2007 Location: Altamont, Kansas Posts: 15,103	I should mention that I am at 9200 miles now. Considering the amount of money spent. I am very happy. It has paid for itself in gas savings. Should be up to 12-13K by end of summer. If it makes it to 15K I will consider it used up and ready for a new one. Allen __________________ You meet the nicest people on a Honda Clone.
	0

05-12-2009, 11:20 AM	#11
DesertRider Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Desert of Eastern WA Posts: 99	2006 Zongshen Sierra 200cc, only have just under a 100 miles on it, and have not had a single problem. ( yet :roll: )
	0

05-12-2009, 11:29 AM	#12
FastDoc Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Southeastern Washington desert Posts: 14,761	My bike was $1100 delivered. Add tax and license and I'm into it $1250. Some fancy tires and we are at $1325. If I ride it 2-3 years and it pukes I'll consider it all good. In the meantime, I really do like the humble little thing, and it does all my 'Old Man' off roading just fine. A more powerful bike would probably get me hurt. 8) __________________ Happy to serve.
	0

05-12-2009, 03:48 PM	#13
smithyUK Join Date: Dec 2008 Posts: 77	mines is just coming up a year old and has bean out on the dirt every spare day(sometimes all day till fuel runs out ) and so far so good few wee nigley issues clutch cable,inner tubes and chain but abart from that its stood upwell to my abuse but as a lot of you folks say maintenance is the key (look after it kids)
	0

05-13-2009, 12:24 AM	#14
SpudRider Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Idaho Posts: 25,054	I have rode about 10,500 miles on my Zongshen Sierra 200GY-2. I have not had a single mechanical failure. Spud __________________ Spud "Never argue with an idiot. He will drag you down to his level, and beat you with experience." Mark Twain 2015 Zongshen ZS250GY-3 (RX3) 2006 Zongshen ZS200GY-2 (Sierra 200) 2005 Honda XR650L 2004 Honda CRF250X 1998 Kawasaki KDX220 Mods made to my Zongshen ZS200GY-2: http://www.chinariders.net/showthread.php?t=6894
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05-13-2009, 12:04 PM	#15
Frog Join Date: May 2008 Location: Hampshire England Posts: 191	2000miles mixture of on and off road - only thing I have NEEDED to do was replace the battery. Have mod'ed some other things because I wanted to..... Frog
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