Dong Fang DF 250 RTB Bobber Information

O.K. folks,I have been engulfed in this thread for the past 3 hours,and all the info,spec,upgrades and issues that everyone has with this bike..and hopw to fix,change and modify has been terrific.I have been eying this bike for quite sometime,and am still a little ways from actually getting it..but i am getting it.I want to thank you all for all the input you have made thus far,,and from this point on cannot wait to read the outcome on the minor issues anyone seems to be having.
on an other note,I have dealt with scooterdepot before,I own a little 150cc sccoter from them..and have never had any troubles with it,and never had any serious issue with the customer servise from them.
Now..i cannot wait to see who posts first on the headlamp issue,as all of these forsights are goin to make it easier for me to have to deal with any troubles I may run into once mine arrives.

Welcome to MyChinaMoto, Bowtie. As you can see, the success of a forum is measured in the strength of members' contributions. We'll look forward to hearing from you as you take the plunge, and work through whatever kinks that you encounter. Don't forget pix! Are you in urban Houston? How do you plan to ride this beast? (Lots of big cars in Texas, with drivers hermetically sealed inside and not always paying too much attention. Hopefully you'll do most of your riding by day!)

cheers!

My seat frame on the df is offset about 2 inches left. The frame point is square so its the seat itself. This was out of the box. I emailed Chad at extreme scooters and he said he would send a new seat/frame. This was 2 weeks ago. I have sent numerous emails with no answer now. Vince you have a phone number for them. PM me. Took a month to get my Mso, now this. I was impressed with Chad at first but now not so much. if anyone has dealt with this problem let me know.

Same with my seat.

/Mike

Now that you brought it to our attention I've noticed that my seat is crooked too! Not terrible, but you can see it sits to the left.

The seat maker must have favored his left.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Gumpsta

My seat frame on the df is offset about 2 inches left. The frame point is square so its the seat itself. This was out of the box. I emailed Chad at extreme scooters and he said he would send a new seat/frame. This was 2 weeks ago. I have sent numerous emails with no answer now. Vince you have a phone number for them. PM me. Took a month to get my Mso, now this. I was impressed with Chad at first but now not so much. if anyone has dealt with this problem let me know.

---

No phone number for Chad but he said in an email that he responded to you this morning and is waiting for the seat from the manufacturer. Your bike is ridable now, right? How about a photo showing the two inch offset for our education?

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Babyswiss

Reporon told me he solved his light issue by running a wire from the blue and white wires in the headlight to an unused wire in the fake oil box. He thinks it was a problem with the resistor that keeps the headlight from turning on until you actually start the engine. It seems kind of goofy to me how they have that small bulb that comes on when the key is in the "ON" position but then the headlight actually comes on when you start the bike. Why not just have the headlight come on when you turn the key. Regardless, if running a wire from the from the high and low beam wires works I'm going to try that. Thanks Reporon!

---

Still haven't seen anything posted from reporon or babyswiss about this wire that fixes the light dimming problem.
There is no resistor that keeps the light from turning on as far as I can see. The headlight appears to be powered directly from the rectifier according to the wiring diagram in the owner's manual so lights up when the engine starts. The position light (small bulb) gets it's power from the battery so therefore is lite even when the engine is off.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by barnone

Still haven't seen anything posted from reporon or babyswiss about this wire that fixes the light dimming problem.
There is no resistor that keeps the light from turning on as far as I can see. The headlight appears to be powered directly from the rectifier according to the wiring diagram in the owner's manual so lights up when the engine starts. The position light (small bulb) gets it's power from the battery so therefore is lite even when the engine is off.

---

I'm unsure but doesn't the position light have a switched ground and the key switch grounds the light for it to come on?

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by ben2go

I'm unsure but doesn't the position light have a switched ground and the key switch grounds the light for it to come on?

---

Not according to the wiring diagram.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by barnone

Not according to the wiring diagram.

---

That's craziness right there.I wonder if it's the cause of some dead batteries?

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by ben2go

That's craziness right there.I wonder if it's the cause of some dead batteries?

---

What dead batteries? The position light is off when the ignition switch is off. When you turn the key ignition switch on the position light is on even if the engine is not running. When the engine starts the headlight comes on as it is powered by the rectifier which receives it power from the magneto. The rectifier also charges the battery using a different output.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by barnone

What dead batteries? The position light is off when the ignition switch is off. When you turn the key ignition switch on the position light is on even if the engine is not running. When the engine starts the headlight comes on as it is powered by the rectifier which receives it power from the magneto. The rectifier also charges the battery using a different output.

---

Ohhhh ok.I had a blondi moment.I was thinking that the light stayed on with the switch off, like some of the Jap bikes with the park light feature.All my GS5 had it and I disabled them.

ben2go,
The way the DF is designed and shown in the electrical diagram there is a switch called the illuminating switch that would do what you said. You could turn on the position (parking) light on or off with the ignition switch off so you are not completely blond.:icon10:

But since the US requires that the headlight on motorcycles be lite when the engine is running the DF wiring has been modified to meet that the requirement. I'm trying to figure out how to reverse this change hoping that it will fix the headlight dimming that some are experiencing. Also I would like to be able to turn the headlight off if need be because a failure of a electrical componet.

Interesting that this problem may be arising from the US mandatory headlight rule, which is far from universal even if it's s good idea. Here in China, if you ride with your light on in the daytime as I do, everyone will point this out to you as if you are stark raving mad, and a special few people will tell you how you are creating a hazard by risking blindness in oncoming drivers! This in a country where many vehicles drive at night without lights, especially city buses.

Anyway, good luck with the workaround and do share it with everyone!

Cheers

barnone, how about a cutoff switch cut into the circuit like the old BSAs

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by barnone

No phone number for Chad but he said in an email that he responded to you this morning and is waiting for the seat from the manufacturer. Your bike is ridable now, right? How about a photo showing the two inch offset for our education?

---

Bike is rideable just not pretty. I'll post a pic when I get back to my main computer. Yeah Chad emailed me after a week of no contact. I had to call sunny sports and they had not initiated anything until I talked to them. So I guess you're own your own after the purchase . I've got the sunny sports number now for parts support so I got that going for me. They said they would ship a seat/ frame. We will see if it solves the problem.
Gump out

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by barnone

ben2go,
The way the DF is designed and shown in the electrical diagram there is a switch called the illuminating switch that would do what you said. You could turn on the position (parking) light on or off with the ignition switch off so you are not completely blond.:icon10:

But since the US requires that the headlight on motorcycles be lite when the engine is running the DF wiring has been modified to meet that the requirement. I'm trying to figure out how to reverse this change hoping that it will fix the headlight dimming that some are experiencing. Also I would like to be able to turn the headlight off if need be because a failure of a electrical componet.

---

I understand now.I haven't seen a wire diagram for the GF bobber yet.

Does anyone else's gas cap leak fuel regardless of how much gas is in the tank? I probably only put 1/2 gallon in it and I am constantly wipe a bead of gas off the tank from just sitting in the garage.

Quote:

---

Does anyone else's gas cap leak fuel regardless of how much gas is in the tank?

---

The problem is evaporation and condensation. A fairly common problem with vented gas caps, of which, the DF cap is marginal quality at best. But the cure, or should I say, the treatment is a simple one.

Run out to your local Dollar goods store and pick up a package of girl's ponytail bands. The small elastic bands covered with fabric. Wrap one or two round the cap while it is still locked to the tank. The fabic will wick-up the vented gas fumes so they do not condensate and drip. The band's fabric will air dry on it's own. The elastic bands will tuck-in nicely under the edge of the cap, so they will not be visable until you remove the cap.
/Mike

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by BellaCorse

The problem is evaporation and condensation. A fairly common problem with vented gas caps, of which, the DF cap is marginal quality at best. But the cure, or should I say, the treatment is a simple one.
/Mike

---

New one to me. I could see moisture on the out side of the tank but not fuel.
Never heard of this problem with motorcycle tanks but only been fooling with bikes for 50 years.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by lanzen114

Does anyone else's gas cap leak fuel regardless of how much gas is in the tank? I probably only put 1/2 gallon in it and I am constantly wipe a bead of gas off the tank from just sitting in the garage.

---

I don't have this problem with my DF tank. Where does this bead of gas appear?

I did have a very slight leak where one of the mounts are welded underneath the tank which I repaired. The crack was so small that I just smelled fuel and had to pressurize the tank to see the leak.

Here is a picture of the seat issue some of us are having. Attachment 4735

that doesnt look too good

how would you fix it, would it be difficult to fix

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by barnone

New one to me. I could see moisture on the out side of the tank but not fuel.
Never heard of this problem with motorcycle tanks but only been fooling with bikes for 50 years.

---

The cap is vented? The venting should be to a charcoal canister. The cap should seal air tight.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by khaner19

that doesnt look too good

how would you fix it, would it be difficult to fix

---

I have a suggestion....

Hey All !! My name is Leo ... I've read all 90 pages, so I feel like I know you all already. I can't thank you all enough for all the great info.

I have to say ... I love my DF250RTB. I got the gloss black (just enough chrome.)

Here is a picture of my 6'3" son on it ... he wants one now !!
Attachment 4743

I ordered mine on a Tuesday from Sunny Sports ... got the tracking # the next day ... got the bike the following Thursday. I did the assembly, battery, oil change, etc. and put it in the garage. The front right turn signal was bad (tried swapping bulbs with no luck.) I was gonna call on Monday afternoon for the MCO and the turn signal, but the MCO was in my mailbox on Monday morning. I called about the turn signal, so they shipped a new one on Tuesday. Called Progressive to add this bike to my policy ($75 for liability and roadside assistance.) Went down to DMV on Tuesday and registered it without a problem.

I've ridden it a couple times and it is a blast ... except for first gear (I've just been starting from second gear.) I ordered the 35-tooth sprocket from the place barnone recommended, and some drag bars off ebay. I also plan on doing the other mods that you guys have suggested.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by MJH

The cap is vented? The venting should be to a charcoal canister. The cap should seal air tight.

---

No charcoal canister on the DF, not CARB compliant.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Fook Mi

Hey All !! My name is Leo ... I've read all 90 pages, so I feel like I know you all already. I can't thank you all enough for all the great info.

---

Leo,
Welcome to the DF forum. All input is appreciated.

I am glad that you had a good experience with Sunny.

I could not open your photo.
http://i167.photobucket.com/albums/u...t-pictures.gif

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Babyswiss

Here is a picture of the seat issue some of us are having.

---

Babyswiss,
Wow. Someone at DF really dropped the ball on this one. Quality control? TIC big time.
So it's the seat that is off to the left but the seat bracket/post is ok?
How about a photo showing a side view?
Thanks