Dong Fang DF 250 RTB Bobber Information

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Originally Posted by GonzoX

This may have been answered but you could do what I did. Take the part number right off the DF schemattic, even with the chinese symbols and paste them into google search and you might be surprised at what you will find. I got a new exact replacement oil dip stick this way and even the seller said it was NOT for my bike, it was for a Honda LOL. They tried to talk me out of the purchase but it was an exact replacement.

Just food for thought.

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OK, will do. -and ditto on the Honda parts, the engine is a near exact clone of a Honda CG125 with a larger jug and head. The sprockets are Honda Rebel (dimensions) and the rest of the bike looks like off-the shelf generic stuff I see on all the other Chinese bikes that cross reference many different models. I have a CCW Heist as well, and already did my homework on mechanical parts availability when I got that previous to the DF. Anyone notice that the DF container that holds all the electronics is actually an air filter housing for some other vehicle (hense the two large hose fittings/clamps?).

I know this is an odd question...but do we really believe this bike is 420lbs dry weight? I only ask since that what all the sites list it as, and yet Tha Heist weighs in at only 253lbs? A 167lb diff on a 250cc bike is huge! I'm looking at both of them side by side and tho the Heist is a tad lower in profile and a few inches shorter...I can't see that much weight difference between the two. I'm not comparing for the sake of comparing - my intention is to take one of these bikes and convert it to a flat track / board track racer and since I'm gonna ditch one of the frames I'd rather it be the heavier of the two... 420lbs can't be right...

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Originally Posted by igouge

I know this is an odd question...but do we really believe this bike is 420lbs dry weight? I only ask since that what all the sites list it as, and yet Tha Heist weighs in at only 253lbs? A 167lb diff on a 250cc bike is huge! I'm looking at both of them side by side and tho the Heist is a tad lower in profile and a few inches shorter...I can't see that much weight difference between the two. I'm not comparing for the sake of comparing - my intention is to take one of these bikes and convert it to a flat track / board track racer and since I'm gonna ditch one of the frames I'd rather it be the heavier of the two... 420lbs can't be right...

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I would not pay much attention to the drop shippers information on the DF nor would I pay much attention to the information from CCW. They still claim the 167fmm to be 250 cc.
The DF should weight about the same as the Heist. Have you weighed your Heist?

EDIT: I just weighed my DF with a digital bathroom scale weighting one wheel at a time and got the following:
front end 139 lbs
rear end 157 lbs
total 296 lbs
less 2 gals of gas 16 lbs, larger seat maybe 3 lbs, and top box and rear rack approx 15 lbs
So dry weight with oil but no gas of a stock 2012 DF is approximately 270 lbs.

Weight your Heist and also your DF and check my values.

My GS5 weighs in at 425lbs dry and I have added weight to it with modifications,so knew the DF was a lot less.Thanks for the confirmation Vince.

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Originally Posted by ben2go

My GS5 weighs in at 425lbs dry and I have added weight to it with modifications,so knew the DF was a lot less.Thanks for the confirmation Vince.

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Remember that I was using a bathroom scale so my number can be off a bit.:icon10:

I was looking at the specs from some of the drop shippers and noticed 17 HP at 8,000 RPM. I wish.
One has the fuel at 3.8 gallons and another at 1.8 gallons. I put 2 gallons in the empty tank of my 2012 DF.
What a bunch of bozos the drop shippers are.

I weighed my Ural at the rock pit and it was 940 lbs. I do have quit a bit of stuff in the trunk but still...
I also weighed myself at the rock pit and came in at 220 lbs so it is right on. Maybe I'll stop there tomorrow and weigh the DF to verify the weight.

Just got back from biz trip to japan. boy was i itching to jump a plane to shanghai and bring a new engine back with me...
Well now i feel its just to cool in the North East to ride. I feel robbed of the end of the riding season.

I did get to pick up a variety 5 pack of genuine keihin jets from 105 to 120 and a 45 pilot for just a few bucks in one of the many Ueno bike places.
They were out of 42 which brings me to this question, why do we upgrade theses pilots, even in the summer i find 2 or 2.5 turns on the mix leaves me rich enough at idle.
I dont suspect it getting any worse in the winter...
Do you guys live further north? or in the mountains? i just dont see the need.
if anything i should turn in my mix screw to help prevent the stall on acceleration.

So I guess the head work can soon start.
i 'polished' my nasty intake manifold to a nice sleek finish and put it back between carb and head.
Also 'ported' the stock air filter, pulled it apart, ripped off the joining rubber grommet, cut it open and to 38mm.
After it dries i see if i can take off a bit more, the intake itself is 42mm so...
You will see it is reduced the way it currently joined together, and not very aerodynamic.

Then just watched the bike idle while PMS begins to set in.

axa,
And the head work is?
Did you take a photo of your "nasty intake manifold to a nice sleek finish" ?

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Originally Posted by barnone

axa,
And the head work is?
Did you take a photo of your "nasty intake manifold to a nice sleek finish" ?

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and i thought i was bogarting this thread with my plans...
here are a couple of the links

http://www.mychinamoto.com/forums/sh...ll=1#post64034

http://www.mychinamoto.com/forums/sh...ll=1#post64034


well i suppose i can summarize it for you.
- clean up the intake, i saw sand and split casting marks.
- polish the exhaust, easy enough. open the port match the exhaust, replace the paper coil exhaust gasket with one new appropriate size.
- power ringz the valves as linked above.
- increase comp ratio, hone/deck head as needed. believe i wrote about my process already
- hone the cylinder, if/as needed.

then rejet with my new keihins as needed

all while still looking for a new engine.. :rolleyes1:

ya i posted the bumpy intake already, that pic really doesnt do justice. it must have reduced the diameter at that point a mm or so. post the new later.


dont get me wrong, i dont really believe all this will do much of anything, but i find it interesting. id like to prove what it won't do, cuz if one read the heist thread, they would think these bikes will do 90 after the secret mystical 'weaver' mods.

so i went to rejet today... it turns out my report of recent lean running, needing to close off the choke about 25%, was due to a partially clogged main jet.
This happened right when i drilled out and tapped the carb directly to the head, so at first I wrongly concluded removing the intake manifold must have been allowing extra air, but that didn't explain the lack of power.
So after 'polishing' the manifold smooth i put it back and the problem persisted.
Had to be a gas supply issue and it was.
Lesson learned. check the obvious first, but it was just a nasty coincidence after doing the carb work.

anyway, running a 115 jet now, curious to see how that goes... i did enlarge the stock filter port, smoothed the manifold, lets see if the autumn air can compensate

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I put this cross up because there are a lot of crashes at this place. A guy hit the tree next to the cross several weeks ago and he died. The orange paint on the tree was painted by NC Highway Patrol as part of the crash investigation.

Kinda dead here. Everyone out riding or putting their bikes up for winter?
Me, I am heading to Florida on Saturday.

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Originally Posted by barnone

Kinda dead here. Everyone out riding or putting their bikes up for winter? Me, I am heading to Florida on Saturday.

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I have put up all my bikes for the winter except my V Star.With that big wind screen and a few other coming mods,I should be able to make it through winter riding.

High of 60 here today, 30 mph winds with gusts of 40. BUT!!!! we probably won't have many more 60 degree days here for awhile, so rode bike to work anyway.

....and have a safe trip to Florida.

Went to work real early Monday morning, my home automation system warned me it was 29° out, thought it must be a bug and headed out anyway.... didn't make the 8 mile ride before my fingers were going to fall off...

Then this weekend up past 60°, crazy weather, but that gives me hope i can get another week or 2 to ride.

But not Monday, im taking the trailer out and will see about picking up an old suzuki ls650 to bob out.
Or even to just rebuild the engine and put it in the DF.
Found a guy not 3 hours away that is obsessed with the LS650. sells big bore kits, ported and re-valved heads, upgraded timing cams, carb upgrades... All the shit that just doesn't exist for the DF

Ive wasted more time working on, searching for, an upgraded/new engine/parts for the DF.
Love the bike, the old school hard-tail springer look, but its massively underpowered.

Went for a ride and stopped to take some photos . You can see the new halo light I put in.

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Two pics from my ride today.

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Nick, those are some rad side bags. Any mod to mount them? Where did you get them? Thanks,and looking good

Thanks! NO mods. Each bag has 4 buckled mounts. Two on the upper frame and two on the lower. Ebay: http://item.mobileweb.ebay.com/viewi...d=190785843614

I think Barnone has similar ones...

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Originally Posted by Nick Papageorgio

Thanks! NO mods. Each bag has 4 buckled mounts. Two on the upper frame and two on the lower. Ebay: http://item.mobileweb.ebay.com/viewi...d=190785843614

I think Barnone has similar ones...

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My one bag like that one was much less money however I have quit using it because the one I have is awkward to use.

I have gone with a top box which is much easier for me to use but not the look I want.

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I wanna go with top opening ammo cans eventually so I moved the turn signals under the seat.



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My DF with Jim Tom Hedrick of the Moonshiner Series on Discovery Channel at the controls.
That's his liquor scooter in the background along with a working still he made.

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I have a trailer for hauling big loads. :lol8:

Well not that cold here in TX yet but my DF is for recreational riding so I havent rode in a month. Would like to fix some of the things wrong with it but funds are still limited. Just paid my property taxes and Christmas is around the corner so Im stuck. To top it off my Wife's oldest Son stole $200 from me and I live paycheck to paycheck so this put a hurt on my finances even more.

Haven't ridden in a month as I have been working on her, but too busy from my job to get anything done. I still have to take the chain off to get it measured out so I can order a new one. Plus working the bracket for my new seat. But the weather has been real good fro riding and I am not able to.. been pretty bummed. oh well we will see what the next couple weeks bring me around here.

I know already posted a video, but I have this for sale locally for shyts and giggles to see how much I can get. I did a walk around and spliced it in with the ride video i posted previously.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k_MnLwsvdqs

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Originally Posted by Bobthebobber

I know already posted a video, but I have this for sale locally for shyts and giggles to see how much I can get. I did a walk around and spliced it in with the ride video i posted previously.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k_MnLwsvdqs

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Nice bike Bob. Cool looking air filter btw.

I have to buy a car for my Wife come Feb but I told her that the following year it will be time for me to upgrade to a bigger bike. I got the usual "but you already have one and you hardly ride it" yadayadayada LOL.

No biggie, my DF will be ready for next summer. Right now Im making room in my one car garage mancave for her to keep her out of the cold.

Should have done that from the start.

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Originally Posted by GonzoX

Nice bike Bob. Cool looking air filter btw.

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you can have one too

what:
http://www.mychinamoto.com/forums/sh...ll=1#post61008

how:
http://www.mychinamoto.com/forums/sh...ll=1#post61004

so ive went and picked this up today for a measly 500$
Attachment 14542
its a single cylinder 652cc with what ive read a stock 30hp on paper, a real 24hp to the rear wheel.
well im going to try and put it in the DF this winter...
Measured it will be a very tight fit with no room to spare, but i think i can get it done.
That or bob it out... ive seen some nice bobbers made from this bike, I just like my DF more right now...


Now before I have to hear all the nay sayers start telling how the frame is inferior on the DF, well ya i know i dont plan on tearing up the pavement, so i dont much care about that.

the massive head and cylinder body just dwarfs the DF, but it should just fit...
Attachment 14543
The exhaust pipe is going to be an issue though, ill need to make or have made, a custom...


Just needed to put an end to the pathetic engine issues.
Also I went 650 so i could be sure to keep up with gardo on his bike :jerkoff:

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Originally Posted by axa

so ive went and picked this up today for a measly 500$
Attachment 14542
its a single cylinder 652cc with what ive read a stock 30hp on paper, a real 24hp to the rear wheel.
well im going to try and put it in the DF this winter...
Measured it will be a very tight fit with no room to spare, but i think i can get it done.
That or bob it out... ive seen some nice bobbers made from this bike, I just like my DF more right now...


Now before I have to hear all the nay sayers start telling how the frame is inferior on the DF, well ya i know i dont plan on tearing up the pavement, so i dont much care about that.

the massive head and cylinder body just dwarfs the DF, but it should just fit...
Attachment 14543
The exhaust pipe is going to be an issue though, ill need to make or have made, a custom...


Just needed to put an end to the pathetic engine issues.
Also I went 650 so i could be sure to keep up with gardo on his bike :jerkoff:

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Holly crap that's a nice bike for $500!!. What is it? Is it another Chinese bike? If I found that I would just sell my DF and ride that beast because that is about the size Im looking to upgrade too.

axa,
Hell of a buy on the Suzuki Savage. I always wanted to try one. Nice and simple bike, the kind I like.

I guess you know about the kits and parts at http://www.rycamotors.com/bikes/RR1/kit/index.html
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Originally Posted by barnone

axa,
Hell of a buy on the Suzuki Savage. I always wanted to try one. Nice and simple bike, the kind I like.

I guess you know about the kits and parts at http://www.rycamotors.com/bikes/RR1/kit/index.html

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as he said, it's an LS650 Japanese Suzuki.
I got turned on to this bike when looking into solving the DF lack of engine problem...
But with only 6500 miles it seems such a waste to turn into a carcass.
A real steal, listed on craigslist at 11am Friday, I took off work to start the 90 mile drive, I was going to stake out his home, but he called on the way and I had it by 4pm.

yes I've stumbled past the Ryca kits, I dismissed them at the time believing the kits were a bit pricey and i'd be spending much more to get in the first place.
I actually dont mind the idea of no tools bolt on everything, but Ive already found a guy not too far away, that does weld on hardtails even cheaper...
He also does a big bore, head work, carb, pipe... And the rest of the kit can be had else where cheaper.

There's just such a larger community of enthusiasts for non Chinese bikes. more opportunities.
But this is a discussion for another thread.

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Originally Posted by GonzoX

Holly crap that's a nice bike for $500!!. What is it? Is it another Chinese bike? If I found that I would just sell my DF and ride that beast because that is about the size Im looking to upgrade too.

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keep your eye open on craigslist for suzuki savage, or suzuki s40 or LS650, i noticed the cheapest were in the south near u.
Even though these bikes are 652cc stock, at only 24hp, and a low seat height of 27" stock, people quickly out grow them and dont think to modify engine for power, or foot pegs for reach...
There is lots of potential here.