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Update
In hot weather the bike runs pretty hot and seems as though it actually puts out around 12KW. However in cooler weather this autumn the bike certainly seems more perky, which is why the company make liquid cooled versions. In my opinion the suspension isn't good enough to be able to handle all the extra weight, although oil cooling which isn't offered would be a good idea.
Would you still give it a 5/5 value?
CC
I saw a CMX clone cruiser at the shanghai moto mart that was oilcooled, not liquid cooled. I wonder if the DADYW engine on your bike has the ports for plumbing in an oil cooler.
Or, and as for perkiness in cooler weather? Your problem is the same I ran into on my Rebel. Your engine is running too lean. Possible reasons are many, from lean factory settings to get epa approval, a leaking exhaust system (allowing more airflow), a leaking airbox (allowing more airflow), leaking intake manifolds (a weak point for that engine), leaking carbs, etc.
Luckily the solution is easy, installing bigger jets in the carbs. Lots of ways to do it, directions can be found online. Keep in mind American versions of the original Hondas these bikes are based on have a single carb, so directions that work in America won't work on your bike.
Carl, possibly 5/5 for value. Although if it was slightly more expensive and had been built to a higher level it could boost its scores in other areas, and retain its 5/5 for value.
Iamcanjim, the bike has no ports for an oil-cooler. Also there are two of us with these bikes, and we have both found the same thing. My friend has different air system as he has taken out the air box and put on his own air filter and improved the out exhaust system to give it more flow. Both bikes are running rich (plug inspection), and we have turned enriched the carb. If we put bigger jets on we'd just choke the bike with too much fuel.
Cool. I guess the improved performance in cool weather is due to cooler running as well as possibly increased air density. I have not noticed that with my Rebel, but I know it is not tuned as highly.
Sorry, the usual cause of overheating on a small aircooled engine is lean running, so I just assumed that was the case with your bike.
Update
Bought some new brake pads. Massive improvement in stopping power and feel noticed on my bike, but on my friends' 08 machine (with different disks) only mild stopping power improvement or none noticed. Brake pads came in a red box with only Japanese writing on it. Possibly Taiwanese branded made in China spec pads may provide as much improvement as what we bought. Seems a good mod for the money (100 yuan for ours, or less if made in China), especially if your Chinese bike has brakes with a wooden feel, and/or poor stopping power. :eekers:
Does someone knows a dealer in BJ?
Review at 7000 kms (+10,000 with friends 2008 model=17,000 kms)
The bike never fails to run, but it can be question sometimes of how it decides to run! The weather conditions effect the engine, wet, cold and hot make it run poorly, sometimes the bike seems fuel-starved, other times fuel-rich.
The bike is based on a Honda CMX250 which is a cruiser, in terms of its swing-arm, wheelbase and tire-size, which means the wheelbase is really a cruiser distance not that of a naked road bike, this seems to make the handle more cruiser-like than maybe it could be. The pegs are big and are out a fairly long way, so knee-down stuff is trickier than on a YBR or CBF150. You are also sitting in the middle of the thing which is stable, but the bike can't wheelie at all as the rear wheel is too far back.
Think maybe like this , but obviously much less extreme!
http://assets1.indy.com/photos/25819/default.jpg
The gearbox works well, other than it has a tendency to jump back from 2nd into neutral, when changing from first, both bikes we have have this tendency, unless very firmly changed from 1st to 2nd. The exhaust and speedo are junk, there also seems to be some power restrictions in the exhaust system, such as a double-lined header with a third restrictive steel sleeve. The baffle which is centrally located is prone to being bashed and has some other silly restrictive things in there (probably for emissions) and there is no way for condensed water to get out of the system. The clamps and places where the exhaust bolt to the frame are poorly welded and seem prone to snapping, we have snapped 5 between us on two bikes.
Also the warranty lasts a year, or 6000 kms,. So I have to pay for everything from now on, and I only bought it in late August 2009!
In the long term I'm not that worried, I bought the bike knowing it wasn't perfect and have improved it so far by dampening down everywhere I can with pieces of rubber, and changing the brake pads, which has made it stop quicker and less vibratory. Now the bike is out of warranty I will change the exhaust system, to make it less restrictive and run it all the way back in a solid piece with aftermarket mufflers at the rear. Put a K&N type air filter on. Change the rear shocks if I can find some the right length. Maybe stock CB400 may be OK. Change the leads to NGK, rev and speedo and possibly carb and or jets. In the longer term even the swing-arm and the engine to Jialing. Spending 2000-3000 to make it more like a nighthawk isn't a worry.
I've heard unconfirmed reports that RR want 13,000 for this bike in 2010, but unless its been massively improved it certainly isn't worth more than 10,000, and with reports that the Yamaha YBR250 has this year dropped to 23000 RMB, and maybe even 20,000 is possible, this might be a better and more reliable choice for a 250 in China.
I would only recommend the RR if:
1. You are really desperate to have a twin, not a single.
2. You realize it has flaws, and will try to spend money to upgrade the bike/fix whatever goes wrong.
Fully assess your options before buying this bike, it's by no means terrible, but there may be better out there, but it's gonna be hard to tell with test rides being so rare in China, and the fact the few riders are properly objective about the strengths and weaknesses of their machine.
hay guys.
im in ningde, fujian. i found one of these bikes in a yamaha shop, well i found 5 regal's 3=125 1=250 touring thing (heavily padded saddle) and the 250G-2
apart form a load of yamaha's there aint much of a selection in this city, and i dont want to buy form taobao.
first thing i noticed is the thing was big, and shiny :-)
any how after umming and arrring i got the price don to 11,800. (that was with me even going across the road to the e-bike garage.
any how, apart from it being a rip off, i want to know about long distance.
it will be my fist bike and i need one that can coverr the 3km to work and back easy but then also for my little adventures into the mountains (where i disappear for a couple of day) i used to take my car out (no where special) and cover 4-500 miles then camp out for the night before taking another route home. can this bike handle 500KM a day for a couple of days with no problem? i have a nice route planned for my first bike (rougthly 1000-1100KM full circle)
i cant deal with a touring bike for that long as my butt needs to move and find a new position from time to time, with a bigger saddle changing butt location will also allow for changes in knee positions, which will be needed.
any how what and why,
let me know your thoughts.
cheers Lightend