is it ok to run a Zong at WOT in 5 gear for a while???

[alan566]

i followed a couple of buddies around today for about an hour on the hwy, they were both on Honda xr650l's. i had to run it hard through the gears and keep it WOT most of the time to keep up with them. we ran between 60 and 70 most of the time.
these bikes turn around 7500 to maybe 8000 rpms at best i guess in high gear so i don't think that's anywhere near red line so i don't think it would hurt anything but i thought i would ask you guys. thanks, Alan

[acydrx]

I'm no expert, far from it. So take this with a grain of salt. The ultimate resource for the capabilities of the Zong would have to be SpudRider.

Edit: I was apparently incorrect in my assumptions.

I have no experience with the Zong, but these Chinese bikes aren't made to do 70 as a cruising speed (especially with the stock setup.) For only an hour, I doubt you did any major damage.. 200cc's is only so much power. (i.e. not much.)

How 'bout you lead next time and set the pace. :P Don't push your limits just to keep up with your friends. Skill limits or bike limits.

You should probably treat your bike to a nice lube job for her being so nice to you while you were pushing her so hard.

[alan566]

i believe the motor is designed to turn up a lot more rpm's than the cdi will let it thats why i'm not to worried about the bike. it did great. but you are right, the bike is not designed to run 70, sometimes it will start wobbling at that speed. thanks, alan

[MICRider]

Yeah, my Konker was like that too. I managed to get it up to 100kmh once but it felt really light (almost scary!) at those speeds. But it felt like it could do 80kmh day in and day out and never miss a beat. That being said, I'm still kicking my arse for selling it

[SpudRider]

Originally Posted by alan566

i followed a couple of buddies around today for about an hour on the hwy, they were both on Honda xr650l's. i had to run it hard through the gears and keep it WOT most of the time to keep up with them. we ran between 60 and 70 most of the time.
these bikes turn around 7500 to maybe 8000 rpms at best i guess in high gear so i don't think that's anywhere near red line so i don't think it would hurt anything but i thought i would ask you guys. thanks, Alan

Yes, it's OK to run the Zong WOT, in 5th gear, for extended periods of time. I frequently ride my Zong WOT, and my bike's odometer is rapidly approaching 35,000 miles.

The Zongshen 167FML/TW200 engine has a redline close to 10,000 rpm. I believe you are still riding your bike with the stock, 15T countershaft sprocket, so your Zong is geared very high; even running WOT, you are well below the engine's redline.

Spud

[SpudRider]

Originally Posted by alan566

i believe the motor is designed to turn up a lot more rpm's than the cdi will let it thats why i'm not to worried about the bike. it did great. but you are right, the bike is not designed to run 70, sometimes it will start wobbling at that speed. thanks, alan

If you replace the sail-like, stock, front fender, the Zong will feel much more stable at higher speeds. I noticed a significant improvement in handling after I installed my Polisport front fender.

Spud

[alan566]

thanks. i thought about playing with the air pressure some but not sure if it would help. did your bike have a high speed wobble at times? it's not real bad and all i have to do is let off the throttle and it goes away. Back it 83 i had a Honda V65 that would violently wobble at around 130 so its not new but i still don't like it.
Spud, so you think the fender will help the wobble? if you don't mind me asking were did you get yours?

[SpudRider]

Originally Posted by alan566

thanks. i thought about playing with the air pressure some but not sure if it would help. did your bike have a high speed wobble at times? it's not real bad and all i have to do is let off the throttle and it goes away. Back it 83 i had a Honda V65 that would violently wobble at around 130 so its not new but i still don't like it.
Spud, so you think the fender will help the wobble? if you don't mind me asking were did you get yours?

I ride at elevations of 4,500 feet above sea level, and higher. I also have my Zong geared much lower than you; therefore, my Zong has never traveled faster than a legitimate (not indicated) 70 mph. My Zong is very stable, at all speeds, with the Polisport, supermoto fender installed; I highly recommend this fender. Indeed, I do think the Polisport fender will improve your Zong's high-speed handling.



You can read about my Polisport fender installation, and see photos of this fender with my stock, 18-inch front wheel, on page 6 of the following thread.

http://chinariders.net/modules.php?n...r=asc&start=60

I bought the Polisport, supermoto fender from my local, Honda dealer, for $23. You can also find this fender for sale from many internet vendors.

Spud

[SpudRider]

Originally Posted by alan566

i followed a couple of buddies around today for about an hour on the hwy, they were both on Honda xr650l's. i had to run it hard through the gears and keep it WOT most of the time to keep up with them. we ran between 60 and 70 most of the time...

Why were you riding with the XR650 crowd, Alan? 8O Those guys have more than three times the engine displacement of your 196cc Zong!

Running the Zong hard, through the lower gears, puts the most stress on the engine. However, running WOT, in 5th gear, isn't a problem. This is especially true in your case, since you are geared so high, with the stock, 15T countershaft sprocket.

Spud

[mizke]

you guys think a slip on pipe, intake, cdi and performance ignition coil would help him much at 70mph ?

i assume it would, with the more air getting into and out of the motor quicker, as well as agressive ignition curve, and a hotter sparked coil would help out the motor at a high rpm run like that..

[alan566]

Spud, What do I order, universal orange? or Yamaha tw200? thanks, alan

[alan566]

Originally Posted by SpudRider

Why were you riding with the XR650 crowd, Alan? 8O Those guys have more than three times the engine displacement of your 196cc Zong!
Spud

Those are the only guys I know that have duel sports. I been ridding with my friend that Honda F4. I have to run it pretty hard through the gears to jump out in traffic anyway. I wanted a larger cc bike but for my height this bike is my best option. that Honda 650 is the only bike that I have tried that I really just can't ride safely. I mean ridding it would be fine but the stops would be hard. I guess what Im trying to say is I got a 29" inseam and that bikes seat is like 37" high. I thought about a Suzuki 400, but to be honest this Zong will do everything I what it to do now so I guess I can run in the back of the pack.

[SpudRider]

Originally Posted by alan566

Spud, What do I order, universal orange? or Yamaha tw200? thanks, alan

I installed a Polisport, universal supermoto fender. If you order this fender, you will need to drill three mounting holes in the correct locations.

http://www.motostrano.com/posufe.html

You can order any color you want, and paint the Zong with Krylon Fusion spray paint to match it.

Spud

[SpudRider]

Originally Posted by alan566

Those are the only guys I know that have duel sports...I thought about a Suzuki 400, but to be honest this Zong will do everything I what it to do now so I guess I can run in the back of the pack.

I was just kidding you a little; I hope you don't mind. The Zong is a great little motorcycle, and you got an exceptional deal on it.

Spud

[alan566]

lol i know. and thanks, it really is a great bike and Spud, you are really the main reason i went on and bought it over other brands. i googled zong and ran across several of your threads on several different message boards and read them for months, then i started reading several other threads mainly here about the zong and been here ever since. this is zong headquarters. And I have to say that this is the nicest MB I have ever been on. really i know i have asked some newbie questions here and know I would get beat up pretty bad at some other MB's for that, so thanks again guys!!!