Barnone: how is the paint and plating holding up on your DF? You live on the gulf and spend a lot of time down at the beach on your bike, any observations on how well the chrome and all is holding up in your environment?
Printable View
Barnone: how is the paint and plating holding up on your DF? You live on the gulf and spend a lot of time down at the beach on your bike, any observations on how well the chrome and all is holding up in your environment?
redrover,
I live in town away from the beach but do spend some time at our beach cottage and ride the bike there if it works out that i don't need my truck.
The paint and plating is holding up fine on my but I keep it in my shop along with my other bikes. A friend of mine has a Honda Metropolitan scooter that he keeps at his condo on the Gulf when he is here in FL and it get a lot of surface rust on it from the salt air. He keeps it in my shop when he is gone to VA.
When we lived on the beach we had rust issue with our cars, motorcycles, bicycles, etc. It's the price you pay for living on the beach. We will probably move back there next year and sell our house in town.
Thanks for the insight, Barnone; I was curious as to how well your bike was doing, compared to how much trouble Aboshi had with his chrome and paint in such a short time. I wondered if the plating on the DF was just that bad, or if his seaside environment was really doing a number on is bike super quick. I live in northern Texas, often humid, but not like living on the Gulf, no sea spray for sure.
My experience with the Chinese plating quality so far is that it is at least as good as most of the work the Japanese manufacturers did in the 60's, which may not be a particularly high mark, still...:lol8:
Barnone i was a special case, and I have the helmet to prove it, the local dealer was called and it was cleared through themQuote:
Originally Posted by barnone
Barnone here's what I can see when comparing this bike the Heist... aside from the obvious like the seats.
What is the DF frame made of? The Heist is 1020 DOM and the welds are super clean.
The wheels are far nicer on the heist. They have more spokes on each wheel. They're also grade 8 chrome. The wheels don't come thru well in pictures but if you see a Heist in real life you'll definitely notice the wheels.
The forward controls also look way nicer on the heist. Very heavy duty with internal bearings.
The disc brakes are bigger on the Heist.
The electrics can on the Heist is all metal without any overflow tubes draining into it.
The covers on the engine all have bolts rather than screws.
The stock exhaust on the heist is indeed EPA certified and it's quiet as a scooter. The chrome is quality, and it weighs a ton. The DF pipe looks, well, almost home made.
Again man, I don't mean any of this as a personal attack. I just wanted to point out that the heist has a lot more going on than you may have noticed. The extra $$ is not just for the dealer handholding.
Also, I wanted to thank you for sharing all your knowledge! Your pics and write ups on the tech stuff are awesome!
http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4105/...78b5832641.jpg
http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4125/...1b6f96ebcd.jpg
http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4119/...c6eea32c16.jpg
http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4152/...48a6cc40_b.jpg
http://www.75vn.com/ad2/917/26291418...ubba%20004.jpg
I am still working on those details (on Paper) but have a good deal in the process. I plan to open up a shop eventually, but to start slow in the beginning.Quote:
Originally Posted by barnone
ktmracer,
Some good points on the Heist vs DF.
I think the DF is a more old school bobber and the Heist is chromed up to appeal to a younger rider.
The frame on the DF seems to be beefier that the Heist.
There is a new Heist dealer here that I will visit with my DF so I can compare the two bikes as soon as he gets a bike in stock.
I think the seat on the DF is going to be much better on the long ride. The DF seat's preload can be adjusted.
If the wheel chrome is like the greatly discolored muffler and head pipe on the Heist in the Cycle World article then you might be disappointed. The muffler seems to be the first thing that gets chopped or replace anyway. Gardo chopped his muffler so it looks like the DF can.
The forward controls on the DF have grease fittings which is nice. Don't now about the Heist.
I don't know what you mean about the screws in the engine, mine has bolts. See photo below.
http://i182.photobucket.com/albums/x...h/IMG_0751.jpg
I think the DF engine looks nicer being blacked out.
Also I put a small filter to eliminate the hose going to the fake oil tank. It cleans up the engine by eliminating some hose.
Pictures of the speedometer on the Heist appears to be a KM odometer. I don't believe it has a trip odometer like the DF but I could be wrong.
Anyway, once I see a Heist in person I will be able to make a better comparison. Probably not that much different in the two bikes. Nit picking. Still both China bikes.
I was banned from the CCW forum because I pointed out they were misleading the public by claiming it was a 250cc engine instead 229cc.
They still advertise it as a 250cc engine.
Yeah the DF does look old school cool. I do hope you get the chance to check out a Heist, I think you'll be surprised. The chrome is nothing like that CW test bike. I have over 500 miles on the stock exhaust and it's perfect.
To be fair... here's what I Don't like about the Heist:
Haha! Yeah the stock speedo is KMH. Really screwed me up at first! I swapped mine out for a plain black MPH.
The hand controls/switches feel cheap and plasticy.
The seat and springs are adjustable, but I never found the sweet spot. I just recently swapped out both and it's much better.
Also, the taillight and headlight are plastic on the Heist. The headlight doesn't bug me too much, but the taillight didn't last a week. I kicked it getting off. Then the lens popped off in traffic and a car ran it over. Amazing how that plastic POS is DOT and the stainless/glass piece I have now is not.
Okay sir, my eyes are tired, my points are made...
I think DicE magazine says it best:
F@%K this, Let's ride!
New speedo:
http://i1090.photobucket.com/albums/...t/_DSC6293.jpg
West Eagle Seat and Choppershox:
http://i1090.photobucket.com/albums/...t/_DSC6294.jpg
Having been up close and personal with both bikes the DF has a slightly larger frame and the seat is indeed wider, hollow wire frame seat with a rubber pad covering it. the Heist has a leather seat with, what i had laughably called padding, on a steel seat pan. ( Needs a lip in the rear to keep you on the Bike.
All in all I think the DF has a more Rat bike look to it, just more mean, and the Heist is cleaner all the way around, like the weekend badboy LoL. I like the drag pipe look but my Pipe still has the Cat, which I'm still not sure if the DF is just a straight pipe.
The forward controls on the DF slide in and bolt on while the forward controls are fitted to the bike with double bearing mount. No need for grease fittings
then the things like the jets are bigger on a stock heist 98 vs the Df with the 88, the forward sprocket is 15T on the Heist, and can fit a 16 maybe larger, and the DF has a 13T stock that might be able to be upgraded to a 14 with some tinkering if I remember correctly Barnone.
There are some things that i loved on the DF250 and a lot on the Heist. Riding both I could feel the difference in the Heist vs. the DF and I liked the ride of the Heist better. Thats my opinion on it.
In truth we know that the heist can be registered without issue in all 50 states and is legal to be in the US, the Df is advertised as 49 states but in reality it cannot be tagged in CA or NJ. there is still questions about NY and PA (contact your local DMV) this though has no bearing on the ride quality or how it was manufactured.
yes the DF is cheaper but you wait on the drop ship 7 -15 days another 5 - 10 days on the MSO, as long as everything works out the way its supposed to. Then its the sweating it out at DMV.
now the Heist is 1000 dollars more expensive, but when I bought mine it was 7 days from when I purchasing it, then insuring it, to working on the bike, having it delivered, and getting her tagged. there is a growing dealer support and readily available parts and some reputable folks in the industry backing the Heist.
yes both bikes are manufactured in China, and CCW partnered with Rhon, to manufacture their bikes. Scotty and his US team oversee everything on these bikes. there is still question as to the true manufacture of the DF but thats politics and i wont start playing that game.
Now we can play the semantics but really it will start to be a Victory vs. HD its about the ride. and once you get it and make it legal who cares. Lets go ride and have a good time :riding:
Vince, since I have been on this site you have been nothing but a great source of info and help as has a lot of other folks. i cannot thank you enough with all the words of insight and shared knowledge.
I love all the pictures and daily reports on the Bike and your adventures with it. you make me want to retire in your fashion. You have some awesome toys.:thumbsup:
I didn't know that the Heist had a plastic headlight and tail light.
The DF comes with a 520 chain like the original cloned Honda engine so the front sprocket is larger than the smaller 420 or 428 chain on the Heist.
Does the stock odometer have a trip meter?
I'll hit that local Heist dealer in a few dates and report my findings.