Asiawing LX450X / 亚翔LD450 Rider Review

Sounds pretty normal for a China bike. the only surprise is the price.

My 2009 Regal Raptor DD250G-2

1. Rebuilt exhaust system because original wasn't properly attached and was heavily restricted, took about a month a a bunch of failed attempts.
2. Rear brake died, replaced rotor and master cylinder and caliper, re-bled whole system.
3. Engine bolts and engine onto frame bolts were too loose from new caused a crack in engine casing and frame, welded.
4. Electrical system always has something wrong with it, currently no brake lights or signals, probably only fuses, but who knows?
5. Rev counter and fuel gauge never work, speedo now works since I dumped oil down the cable, kilometers have been stuck on 17,000 for the last year.
6. Fork oil leak.
7. Suspension has no damping at all.
8. Ignition failed, replaced.
9. Regal Raptor spares non-existent, unless ordered from them for too much.
10. Original brake pads like wood replaced, but brakes are average anyhow.
11. Small engine oil leak from magneto side.
12. Original grips like marble, replaced with nice grippy grips.
13. Battery did a year, replaced.
14. Front and rear registration hangers fell of, rear taking mudguard with it.

To do now: Re-weld exhaust again, fix electrical system, clean carb, rebuild air system, buy new mirrors, get new tacho cluster, source brakes that stop me better or quit and get new machine.

What's OK: Wheels, carbs, seat, fuel tank, headlight, clip-ons, swing arm (but showing its age now), horn, tires. I paid 10,000 and 300 for registration. Bike will probably be a throw away junk heap by next year, even with lots of TLC, 4 years 40,000 kms. Never a China bike again, unless some joint venture bike with positive reports. I feel for you Steve, you shouldn't have paid over 14,000 for your bike.

Funny thing is - it's not my first Chinese bike.
Had Jialing JH-250 (They call them 大白菜). No problems. The bike was straight and simple. Never failed. Bought for 5000 yuan. Sold for 5000 yuan.
My friend still rides one of those - never wants to part with it.
My wife has been riding a copy of Yamaha Jog - that thing you get for under 2000 yuan new, with 125cc GY-6 engine. The only thing that ever failed was the battery - replaced at once and never caused trouble again.
This one is a different story.

As for your bike, I saw a couple of those here in Nanjing, but never talked to anyone who has actually purchased one. Sounds more like major material quality problems. Better sell it fast or trade it in. BTW, do they have this trade-in practice here in China? I never asked, actually.
Oh, and speaking of electrical systems on Chinese bikes - that's like mystery or something. In case of failing blinkers/brake signal I'd be looking for the respective relay（闪光器 in Chinese）
Also would try taobao.com for the parts - but I've checked it right now and you seem not to have lots of stuff for it on taobao...

Actually, I should probably write a brief overview of my wife's scooter somewhere in Scooter/Moped part of the forum.

Now just when I thought I had everything sorted out, summer has accidentally started and the bike overheats as hell. I'm running some Japanese coolant in the system, 100%. Probably should mix it with distilled water, 50-50 or 80-20, don't know, really.
Have ordered two CB400 fans from taobao, hope to fit those on left/right radiators and see what next.
At present the temperature is somewhat around 100 degrees Centigrade on the head. The frame heats up as well making intone hell of an uncomfortable ride.
I know 450 SM isn't for stop'n'go traffic, but still...
The most frustrating thing is that after a heavy rain yesterday it won't even start. It spluttered a couple of times and that was about it.
Had to ride my wife's bike to work.

Overheating and hard starting
You might have a blown head gasket there

Quote:

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Originally Posted by zhu

Overheating and hard starting
You might have a blown head gasket there

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Starts OK, just overheats.
Might be a head gasket. Still, nerves rode her sport-wise. Daily commute, not more.

Put it on tdc and pressurise the cylinder with a bicycle pump
If you see bubbles in the coolant
The news is bad

Quote:

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Originally Posted by zhu

Put it on tdc and pressurise the cylinder with a bicycle pump
If you see bubbles in the coolant
The news is bad

---

Gotta get down to it, busy at work now. Probably in a week or so.

OK, so it wasn't a gasket.
Couldn't wait to check.
1. Distilled water instead of coolant.
2. Mounted a CB 400 fan on the right radiator. Left one had no mounting place whatsoever. The fins of the fan had to be cut just so they don't scratch the plastic. The fan is wired to the power cord with a switch in-line. Mounted the switch on the speedo side.
Result: still heats up, but doesn't overheat.

Happy to hear its not a gasket
There are no fans fitted as standard?