Honda CBF190R - Brought it home! (PIC HEAVY)

Hi everyone,

I want to share some pictures of my new motorcycle. I've only put about 60km on it, and haven't really gotten a chance to take it into the mountains where it belongs, but my first impressions are very good! It feels very light, and has adequate power (still in the gentle break-in period so I'm not running it much past 6000RPM right now). A few odd little issues (this is China): No kickstand kill switch! I took it to the shop today and asked them why it doesn't have a kickstand kill switch. I thought maybe someone had forgotten to hook it up while it was being assembled. Well, they told me that this model doesn't have one. I find this so hard to believe, anyway I asked if they could add one, and the shop manager said he would look into it and call me. I might end up adding one myself and just use the engine stop circuit and tie it in with the kickstand. The other little thing that I suppose could happen to anyone is that after about 20km of riding, I just felt that it lacked power. I took the seat off and discovered that the very careful gentlemen that unpacked my bike had stuffed the toolkit and owner's book directly onto the airbox intake. Well, suffice it to say that after removing the blockage, the bike ran 100% better.

Now I am shopping for better tires because I want to toss the stock nonsense as soon as possible. It seems that the Pirelli Sport Demons are available on taobao for around 1300rmb a set. I ran those tires back in the states on a small displacement bike and I was very happy with them. I'm wondering if anyone has any experience with the sport Demons (or other name brand tires) sold on taobao. Are they real, or fake?

Anyway, on to some pictures I took yesterday:

http://i128.photobucket.com/albums/p...IMG_0003_1.jpg

http://i128.photobucket.com/albums/p...R/IMG_0009.jpg

http://i128.photobucket.com/albums/p...IMG_0015_1.jpg

http://i128.photobucket.com/albums/p...IMG_0020_1.jpg

http://i128.photobucket.com/albums/p...R/IMG_0021.jpg

http://i128.photobucket.com/albums/p...R/IMG_0031.jpg

http://i128.photobucket.com/albums/p...R/IMG_0041.jpg

http://i128.photobucket.com/albums/p...R/IMG_0051.jpg

Be careful about what you wish for, you might get it. One of the first things to strand me on my China bike was the kick stand safety switch. I ended up wiring around it out in the middle of nowhere in countryside 4 years ago. I did redo the jump but I am more confident without the switch. I rode bikes for 10 years before they even started adding these. Anyway, your call but be aware that these are known to be weak links in many makes of motorcycles, including those made outside of China. The location means they are exposed to the worst environment of crap being thrown up into them of submerged in low "fluid" crossings....

Looks like a fun little bike. Enjoy!

Cute bike!

And nice tuning. :lol8:

On my bike, I would prefer better spring on a kickstand over kill switch (although I have one), but those are everyone's personal preferences.

About tires: is one on the front fitted properly? Look at the thread pattern...

Thanks for the insight on the kickstand switch, guys. I realize that it's one more point of failure. The reason I want one is that I have a terrible habit of forgetting to put the kickstand up before blast-off... it's nearly caused me to wreck before, haha!

I'll check the front tire, too, and yes it looks like it's mounted backwards. I'll double check the arrows the next time I'm downstairs. Nice eye for detail!

Lowered kickstand is not a thing to be laugh about, especially when this damn thing (almost) throw you off the bike.



P.S. - I just realized, it's "Bird's nest" stadium in background. :thumbsup:

Congrats on the new ride! Great color choice.:thumbsup:

I had a Sundiro Honda CBF150, and it was uber reliable, only popped a fork seal in over 35,000 kilometers, IMHO it's a bit better made than the Jianshe Yamaha YBRs.

I would seriously council against adding a kick-stand kill switch, as any Chinese mechanic will bodge your wiring. It's a fight to get them to use a soldering iron, let alone putting in another fuse and circuit and covering it with heat wrap (that I've never seen in China). The Honda kick stands are designed to pop back up if they are left down and drag on the ground, it never caused an issue for me and the CBF150 never had one either. If you can do the electrics properly yourself, then it would be a good idea. If it's a bodge then first sign of rain and you'll turn you super reliable Honda into a Chinabike.

What brand are the tires? Duro, Kenda or CST? Sometimes they aren't too bad for commuting or in the dry and you might be financially better off fitting Pirellis in the spring. As far as I am aware the Pirellis are real. Some of the Pirelli and Metzler product lines are made in China. The Angel ST's are for example, although you might be better off buying them on T-Mall or trying to get them through a specialist mechanic than on taobao.

nice bike, looks a lot like KTM 390 Duke and Benelli BN 302 and has also something of Kawa models

Well, lots of advice against putting in a kickstand switch.... really making me reconsider that one, now. I'll ride it around for a while and let time make its judgement, then. Maybe after leaving the kickstand down once or twice by accident I'll have a different opinion.

The stock tires are CSTs, and I am thinking I'll wait until I've done a thousand or so km before swapping them for a name brand. New bikes in the States almost always came with shit stock tires, even if they were name brand, it was well documented that the manufacturers used special, low quality OEM model tires for new bikes. So I'm always a bit wary of whatever they're putting on new motorcycles these days...

Thanks for the feedback. When I get more seat time in I'll have more to say about the bike itself! :)

CST's usually aren't terrible. Cheng Shin Tire are a massive Taiwanese company and under their umbrella they have Maxxis, so they have the means to make a decent tire. It's that they covet their 'premium' Maxxis brand and won't have them made in China so they aren't cost effective for an OEM tire.

Most likely the CSTs are just a tad hard to please the Chinese commuters so they won't really perform in the wet and cold, but are likely streets ahead of any Chinese tire, and better than Duro and Kenda, which are also Taiwanese made in China tires.

I'd order the Pirellis now, and switch them out after the bike's run in or wait until the spring.

sweet bike Galen!

..hey, not sure if you care. But, your photobucket account doesnt seem to be password protected, so people can browse all your photos. just an fyi.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by galenernest

Well, lots of advice against putting in a kickstand switch.... really making me reconsider that one, now. I'll ride it around for a while and let time make its judgement, then. Maybe after leaving the kickstand down once or twice by accident I'll have a different opinion.

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Wait, wait...

If you are absentminded, you can connect this switch to some loud and annoying buzzer. When you sit on a bike and turn key on, you will know is your kickstand lowered or not. But, at the same time, if for some reason this switch breaks, you'll be able to start the engine and get back home.

First time ever I see someone wanting the kickstand switch. Kickstand switch is something what should be killed and burned with fire! Several times actually so that it is certain it died!

With enduros I might sit on the saddle, the bike on side stand. Then I begin to kick fire to the engine, again, the bike standing on the side stand. Could not do that with the freaking kickstand switch :eekers:

Thanks for the input, guys... well, I didn't know my photobucket account was viewable to everyone, but it doesn't matter to me anyway... nothing incriminating on there! I'm trying to source another tire now because I realized that the Pirelli Sport Demons are bias ply and my bike's stock tires are radial, so I want to keep with radial tires. If anyone has a suggestion for an easily sourced in China name brand sport tire, let me know! I'll give the CST's a fair shake, but I will say that after commuting for a week on wet, cold roads, they are certainly not confidence-inspiring. Beijing is usually very dry, but it's also very cold in the winter and I want a tire more reminiscent of the Dunlop Q2/Q3 that could heat up quickly and had great cold, dry weather performance (the Q2's weren't as great in the rain, but again I live in Beijing and rain is pretty rare).

Cheers!

One more thing: in case anyone is wondering if the front tire is indeed mounted backwards: it's not. (someone mentioned this earlier in the thread and I had to go double check because I got tricked by this issue yet again... I've been confused by this more than once). The short of it is that the front tire needs to displace water while braking, so its treads are oriented to force water out under that direction of force... the rear tire needs to displace water while accelerating, and so the front and rear tire tread usually appear to be facing in opposite directions. Hope that helps future readers!

\Don't be to quick to dismiss the CST's , I did 14000km before I replaced mine with Bridgestone Battax's , they did a good job thru the winter here and are in the shed for a rainy day as they are only 1/2 worn .
Nice looking bike by the way.
Brian

I second the Bridgestone Battlax's... I run them on 4 of my bikes here in PRC. The only bike not running them in my rides here is my Beemer GS which I have shoehorned on a pair of Karoo 3's for the 50/50 needed in the dirt.

On another note in regards to the kickstand killswitch... to clarify - when you turn the ignition switch on and start the engine with the bike parked on the side stand, that it starts without issue... correct so far? What happens though with engine the idling and you pull the clutch lever in and click the bike into gear with the side stand down... engine cutout/off? I ask as I have several bikes that allow the bike to be started in neutral with the side stand down, but the moment the clutch lever is pulled and a gear is selected - the engine cuts out. Try it if you haven't already...
Other bikes may not allow the bikes engine to be started with the side stand in the deployed/down position, or engaging brakes etc.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by bikerdoc

I second the Bridgestone Battlax's... I run them on 4 of my bikes here in PRC. The only bike not running them in my rides here is my Beemer GS which I have shoehorned on a pair of Karoo 3's for the 50/50 needed in the dirt.

On another note in regards to the kickstand killswitch... to clarify - when you turn the ignition switch on and start the engine with the bike parked on the side stand, that it starts without issue... correct so far? What happens though with engine the idling and you pull the clutch lever in and click the bike into gear with the side stand down... engine cutout/off? I ask as I have several bikes that allow the bike to be started in neutral with the side stand down, but the moment the clutch lever is pulled and a gear is selected - the engine cuts out. Try it if you haven't already...
Other bikes may not allow the bikes engine to be started with the side stand in the deployed/down position, or engaging brakes etc.

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I'll check out the Bridgestones!

To be clear: there is no switch at all on the kickstand mechanism. I can take off down the road with the kickstand down. All other Hondas I've owned were just like you described: kickstand down, bike in gear, clutch pulled in and the bike would start and run. As soon as you let out on the clutch, engine dies. The CBF190R doesn't have a safety switch on the kickstand at all, period. It will literally allow me to drive down the road with the kickstand down if I want to (or if I forget to put it up).

I had test ride the honda, the brake and tyre are good enough. I order a set of the CST for my Benelli 250 which tyre is below average.

Hey Galenernest!
I have some questions about the CB190r.

How is the performance now that you had it a little while?

How do you think it handles hills?

Do you think it is powerful enough to pull a 200+ pound man with out issues?

How do you feel about traveling from city to city here in China on it?

What is its top cruising speed based on your exp?

Any idea what its max speed is?

How is its handling?

What is like to get through heavy traffic?

What is the off the line acceleration like?

How comfortable is the seat and how do you think it would be after a long ride?

If you could go back would you buy it again or try something else?

What would you guess the max kilometers on one tank is?

I realize a lot of this will be your opinion. It is bloody hard to find user reviews on this model that is in a language I understand. I am looking for a commuter that I can take on short trips here and there. I look forward to your thoughts. I tried messaging you but you must have your messages from strangers turned off because they wont send on my end.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Asymptomatic

Hey Galenernest!
I have some questions about the CB190r.

How is the performance now that you had it a little while?

How do you think it handles hills?

Do you think it is powerful enough to pull a 200+ pound man with out issues?

How do you feel about traveling from city to city here in China on it?

What is its top cruising speed based on your exp?

Any idea what its max speed is?

How is its handling?

What is like to get through heavy traffic?

What is the off the line acceleration like?

How comfortable is the seat and how do you think it would be after a long ride?

If you could go back would you buy it again or try something else?

What would you guess the max kilometers on one tank is?

I realize a lot of this will be your opinion. It is bloody hard to find user reviews on this model that is in a language I understand. I am looking for a commuter that I can take on short trips here and there. I look forward to your thoughts. I tried messaging you but you must have your messages from strangers turned off because they wont send on my end.

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I've owned the CBF150 and ridden many Honda singles from 125cc to 250cc, so I'm pretty qualified to answer this question, but be aware there is some margin of error as I have not ridden this exact bike.

How is the performance now that you had it a little while? Light and responsive at lower speeds, a bit gutless over 70kmh

How do you think it handles hills? It doesn't do too badly, smooth and fun, and not scary on poor road surfaces.

Do you think it is powerful enough to pull a 200+ pound man with out issues? Yes, certainly it can, but will weeze up the steeper higher ones somewhat. It won't die, but or overheat but will get a bit pedestrian and a bit bogged down, especially with kit.

How do you feel about traveling from city to city here in China on it? It will make the trip fine, nicely made and reliable, will sit on 100kmh no concerns.

What is its top cruising speed based on your exp? 100kmh

Any idea what its max speed is? 125kmh, maybe a bit more

How is its handling? Excellent, it's 150 kg wet, you can learn to knee down in a small car-park!

What is like to get through heavy traffic? Light bike, easy riding position with smooth brakes, throttle and clutch, slices through, only a scooter is better for city riding.

What is the off the line acceleration like? Excellent, it's the higher speeds where it runs out of power. You'll beat all the cars till you get to 70kmh.

How comfortable is the seat and how do you think it would be after a long ride? Not bad, but it's not a touring bike, great compared to any other bike in it's class. Honda make arguably the most comfortable seat in motorcycling, on he Goldwing.

If you could go back would you buy it again or try something else? Depends, if you want a reliable bike that has great resale and is a joy to own, if a little gutless at higher speeds, but you don't care as keeping safe is important to you, ideal.

What would you guess the max kilometers on one tank is? 250km

This is best guess, anyone that has direct knowledge of the bike, please feel free to contradict me.:thumbsup:

Thanks ZMC888!

I think I'm getting one of these for my wife. Everyone sold me on at least a 250 for me.