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that is awesome, i ran out of gas on the highway last week gettin home :thumbsup: pushed it a little to muchQuote:
Originally Posted by barnone
I'm liking these Bikes they really are great commuters. 5 more weeks and I'm taking the bike to Americade. That should be one hell of a ride report.
Looking forward to your reporting on how the bike handles in NC
These two manufacturers -- Dongfang and Qingqi -- are pretty major players in China, and though no company is immune to problems I doubt that either is in any mortal danger. The problems it seems US and other international buyers are facing, Aboshi and Gardo among them, arise mainly from the importer/distributors, not the manufacturer. These seem often to be bare-bones, fly-by-night operations just trying to profit from the rather large spread between what a Chinabike costs at wholesale in China (three digits in USD) and what the American consumer expects to pay for a motorcycle (four digits). Of course it's an oversimplification to blame just the importers. The manufacturers -- despite being huge, or perhaps by virtue of being big -- generally don't give a toss about what what happens to a bike or its buyer once it leaves China.Quote:
Originally Posted by barnone
Don't feel too bad: They take basically the same attitude toward bikes sold inside China...
In other words, as Vince has said many times, given the general lack of bricks and mortar investment on the distribution end (CCW appears to be a notable exception), buyers of Chinabikes anywhere need to be very realistic about the likely lack of after-sales support. More succinctly: Caveat emptor.
Footnote to Aboshi: It'll be interesting to see what happens to your heap of rusting Dongfang if the seller doesn't come fetch it before the statute of limitations expires. I commend you on your brilliant strategy of charging them a daily storage fee! Touche!
cheers
Hey I'm new here i've been around bikes since i was 5.(im 16 turning 17 soon) I just started to do mechanical work on bikes a couple years back. I was wondering if the dong fang bike can be regged in nc. Because I'm thinking that if on the spokes you could strip the chrome and get them powder coated that might solve the rust problems seeing that I think the chrome is a low grade. But thanks for all the info so far on this topic. Ive read all 55 pages lol. But if anyone can get this info back to me that would be nice or tell me how to get the info before i buy the bike. Thanks Richard
Dear Richie,
Welcome to the forum, and, dang, I guess we're going to have to start a youth group! Do keep an eye on barnone, as he summers in your fine state and perhaps is enroute your way as we speak. as you'll have read, barnone knows these DFs inside and out, and has great knowledge and wisdom about motorcycling.
Keep reading in this forum if you want to learn more about chinabikes, but please do not neglect to post regularly about your own experiences. What, if anything, are you riding now?
Finally, given your, ahem, tender demographic, please spend some time in the safety threads and repeat after me: ATGATT. ATGATT. ATGATT. Not some of the gear some of the time, or none of the gear all of the time. allthegearallthetime. Ride safe (and smart) and you might live to be an old fart like some of us!
cheers
Richie, welcome to the boards. to be honest you can contact your local DMV and give them a VIN# and they will let you know if the bike can be registered in your state.
Richie,Quote:
Originally Posted by richie777
Where in NC? I'll be in Robbinsville,NC in a week or so with my Dong Fang and you are welcome to come by and take a look at her. I don't know what happened to Aboshi's spokes to cause them to rust but in his photo the disk is also rusting as if someone poured salt on them.
Notice the white substance on the tire? I asked Aboshi about the white powder but he has not responded as to what it might be.
Something does not seem right. I have no rust problem with my DF.
http://i182.photobucket.com/albums/x...h/IMG_0776.jpg
My DF several days ago.
Get the VIN number from the seller and run it though NC's DMV.
barnone, I live in northern Minnesota about 75 miles from the Canada boarder. Our riding season is just starting. looks like rain the next week.
Welcome Richie =)
barnone:
Thats not salt, thats sand that blows over the sea wall. WE had fog here for 5 days but that was last week and although the spokes were rusted already that didn't help out lol.
Like I said weeks ago within 48 hours the spokes oxidized and I wound up using the turtle-wax metal polish, and it was supposed to protect against this also... (clearly it does not)
When it started to oxidize we had rain for 2 days but I did have a waterproof cover on it and nothing got wet, including the wheels. I can take more pics for you guys where there is no paint on the frame where it started to rust also (Valve cover, VIN# engraving, the battery box corners, and a few other odds and ends) I know the salt air can have a lot to do with rusting but never this fast. I think the chrome is just super poor quality. If they don't come and pick up this bike and they abandon it I will wind up sending the wheels in for powder coating (or just sand blast and rattle can them). As for the warranty you are living in a dream if you think you will ever have them honor that. The day I received my bike the clutch perch was muffed up and I had put in a claim and sent them pics as they requested, 2 weeks later I still had no clutch so I wound up ordering folding levers (only the clutch can be used) and I never heard back form countyimports on the matter. So when I started the charge-back and they called me one time to bitch at me so I even brought up the fact that I still don't have a clutch in hand and asked when they were planning on replacing it and here is their answer "We are only a distributer and we do not stock parts at all, we have to get it from the manufacture and that takes time and we never received your clutch perch" And this is where I got truly pissed off, They claim on their site and even on the phone they stock parts for the bike, they also claim they they have the bikes in their warehouse. None of this is true what so ever! They are a reseller for scooterdepot and scooterdepot is the drop shipper so nothing ever touches countyimports hands except for $$$. The fact a simple clutch perch is not on hand boggles my mind, its a $2 part! Also the fact they said they wanted me to send them the perch when all they asked for were pics that I had sent them the day I got the bike kinda blows my mind also. They don't care once they have your $ so if you have issues with your bike make sure you are good at fixing things and improvising, because if not your going to be shit out of luck. Now imagine your frame cracks, or your motor takes a shit do you think they will replace it like they claim they will? I highly doubt that.... I have a pretty serious transmission issue with it not wanting to go into neutral when the motor is running, but once you turn it off it goes right in. I have had this issues with some jap bikes and its not a hard fix but it requires removing the clutch basket and making sure everything is aligned, the point is it can become a major issue if not fixed and for someone buying a brand new bike that should work out of the box without a mechanic having to crack a motor open (besides having to checking the valve clearance).
Either way stay far away from countyimports if you are going to order one of these bikes. Other then the small issues I have the bike looks amazing and it has so much potential its redonkulas =)
Aboshi,
I got a new gas tank under warranty from my seller (Chad at http://www.extremescooters.biz/250cc...r-chopper.aspx) who had it shipped from the importer of the DF so there is some warranty support. My original tank had a small leak which I had repaired but felt that the seller owed me a new tank and they sent it.
barnone, how long did it take to get the gas tank?
hey all again yea just got home from work long day, working all day but its worth and it and i ride some(round the block in my neighborhood) but not as much as i would like because i havent gotten my license yet because here we have to have a permit for one whole year so basically when i turn 18 i'll be able to ride but i have taken the safety course and all for motorcycles at the community college. Barnone too bad you ain't coming up tomorrow because here in smithfield were having a bike rally at a festival we have every year. Sucks i have to work sunday but yea it is what it is. Since I won't be gettin my license for another year it gives me time to save up money and customize the bike the way I want it and to work on it to get some performance out of it or try and fit in a different style motor. If I put in a new motor I'll post on here everything that had to be done with it. Thanks to all and keep it between the ditches.
So richie, is the bike tagged and legal?
The rule is no Pics no bike :icon10:
Little less than a month.Quote:
Originally Posted by Gardo
richie777.
Congrats on getting the new DF. I'm a long way from you since I am in the Smokies. I'll have to wait on your photos to see your bike.
When I meant I rode some and about the motor is I wont be getting it till the summer lol and about the riding I have a friend that rides and he lets me ride around on his around the block lol sorry about the mis-communication(long day yesterday). But come the end of summer round end of july i should be ordering the bike.
Where can i find a replacement 33 of 35 rear sprocket?
Dear Bobberbob,Quote:
Originally Posted by Bobthebobber
That's a pretty barebones first post. How about introducing yourself and letting us know what you ride. I picture or two wouldn't hurt either. Friendly like. We're mostly friends in this forum, and rabid fans of chinabikes. We're not servants.
cheers!
Bobthebobber,Quote:
Originally Posted by Bobthebobber
Are you asking for a rear sprocket for the Dong Fang DF250RTB? If so I got mine at
http://www.oldbikebarn.com/Motorcycl...?search=JTR279
I would go with the 35 or 38 tooth rear sprocket as the 33 I tried on my DF was too high a gear. I am currently running a 38 tooth which seems about right to me.
How the hell do we compliment you on your ride without crossing the line? Both are extremely attractive. I agree, best of condition too ...
Welcome and thanks for the introduction. I hope your job prospects improve, seems things are slowly on the up over there in US and anyway, the most important things in life you already have. The bobber when it comes will be icing on the already bountiful cake. But a hardtail bobber, testicles and a beautiful wife are a strange mix if you ask me. I would get a well-padded, over-sprung seat just to keep them all comfortable. Good luck.
PM sent.
ha ha my wife is real into this show called "sons of anarchy." She's really excited about the bobber because of that show and thinks its much hotter than the sports bikes I usually ha. Cant complain.
Bobthebobber,
Nice intro to this forum.
I ended up with one washer under the needle and that seems about right according to the color of the plug.
I would recommend that you ride the stock bike for a while and then do one modification at a time.
You should be fine with the 13/35 with your weight.
First off I would change the main jet from the 88 to a 100. Then ride it a while and check the plug color. Then do the one washer under the needle.
Check the plug color again for a light tan color.
Then swap the rear sprocket.
Tuning manual for a PZ26 carb ( PZ30 on the DF250RTB looks similar except for 30mm instead of 26mm size) is located at
http://walbro.com/brochurefiles/3368...g%20Manual.pdf
thanks to jape.
This PZ26 has clip positions while my PZ30 did not so I put a washer under the needle to raise it and richen the mid range.
No probs just keep them pics coming :clap: :lol8: :naughty:Quote:
Originally Posted by Bobthebobber
Jeez, bobber, your wife could be the cause of anarchy!Quote:
Originally Posted by Bobthebobber
Thanks for your long post of introduction, and apologies for my snooty original comment. Just when you think snootiness is justified, you learn someone has an infant baby but just got whacked at work and broadsided by a drunk in a pickup and has a gorgeous sexy wife who wants a few minutes on the shared computer. Anyway, as Jape so sagely put it, when it comes to the important stuff, your life is sweet and rich (except for the lack of a motorcycle).
Do keep us posted as to how you get on, and enjoy the special extra time with your family.
And do send more anarchy pix!:clap::clap:
cheers
Great intro Bob, but do yourself a favor check to make sure you can register the bike in your state before you buy it. All the adverts say 49 state legal are lies
GJ Euphonius. I think we should expand "pics or you don't have it" to GFs too :lol8:Quote:
Originally Posted by euphonius
As requested.Quote:
Originally Posted by moilami
http://i924.photobucket.com/albums/ad82/dmonaghan/l.jpg
anyone know if the DF can be registered in MA? as long as I have the MSO and BOS I think it should be fine
Nope found that the bike may not be legal in all states, NJ, and possibly PA,NY wont reg the bike even with the MSO and BOS. Their registration from the NHTSA expired in 2004. Some states may let it through but others Like NJ will flat out refuse to tag the bike. Not only that the Bike will not pass MA inspection stockQuote:
Originally Posted by Bobthebobber
I had the Legality issue which is why the DF was returned and I bought a the CCW tha Heist which is 50 state legal and i'm lovin my bike. The DF is a good machine after you tweek her out but if its not legal then it aint worth it
I don't know what the problem was with NJ and Gardo but for some reason they would not register the DF in NJ. Aboshi checked with NY and they said it as good to go there. PA is another state where registering Chinese bikes have been a issue for years. The DF does not meet CA CARB specs.
Don't where Gardo got the information that the DF's NHTSA registration expired in 2004 because the DF was brought in the states in 2010.
Gardo also keeps saying that the DF requires tweaks but the only real changes is a common rejetting of the carburetor and a sprocket change which I have done to all my Chinese and Japanese bikes. I rode mine as is from the crate for a while. I also changed the handlebars for a different riding position and added bar end mirrors.
After looking at the Heist in person and comparing it to my DF, I feel that the DF is a superior machine in a lot of ways. The Heist looks like a copy of the Hardknock 200 bobber (http://www.oldschoolhardknock.com/) with a different front end, 229cc motor, and a rear disk. The frame looks the same.
I would suggest that you call your state DMV to verify that you can register the DF in MA. Also there is a dealer in Maine that might be able to answer your question. Might even be a DF dealer in MA as they are starting to pop up in a lot of places.