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5 Attachment(s)
Initial review of the CoLove ZF500GYx
After owning the CoLove ZF-GY 500x for over a month I’m finally getting around to prepare an initial review.
As a frame of reference my motorcycles in the US currently include a 2012 Ducati Multistrada and a 2009 KTM 530exc. The motorcycles I considered when buying a motorcycle here in China included the CF Moto 650MT and the Benelli TKR502x. Other motorcycles I looked at and ruled out included the Zontes 310 and the Zongshen RX3.
As pointed out by members of The MyChinaMoto community, both the CF Moto and the Benelli come from more established manufacturers and have more dealerships. Given the fickly nature of my stay in China those otherwise important factors weighed less in this decision. What I liked about the CoLover ZF-GY 500x (“500x”) was the lower weight (178Kg verses 213Kg verses 235Kg) more desired 19-17 spoked wheels (not available on the CF Moto) and the lower price 37800 for the 500x; 43700 for the CF Moto and a quoted out the door price of 48800 (with luggage cases?) for the Benelli.
As for build quality my limited impression would put the CF Moto at that top. The materials and quality of the welds as well as fit and finish was top of the group. In terms of more rugged looks, still with good fit and finish I would put the Benelli second. The fit and finish of the 500x is on par with the Benelli but just lacked the more rugged look. But, given the Benelli makes less power and carries considerable extra weight those looks come a cost.
The additional factors in favor of the 500x, in addition to the spoked tubeless wheels, included a KBY adjustable suspension and Nissin brakes.
My impression of the 500x after riding it for around 800Km remains favorable. I have yet to really test the engine due to still being in the break in period. The 472cc engine is a copy of the Honda CB500 motor right down to cc’s and horsepower. After the first service, and most importantly the first oil change I’ll start pushing the engine harder. For now I can say it has decent low end torque with a smooth even power delivery. It starts easily every time and I have noticed no flat spots or hick ups from the Bosch fuel injection. The power is adequate, particularly for slower speed Chinese roads.
Like the motor I have no real complaint with the 6 speed transmission. While not the smoothest shifting transmission I’ve ever owned with some break in I expect it may get better. Given the shifts are solid and I’ve yet to miss a shift, have the bike pop out of a gear or find a false neutral I would rate the transmission on par with the better Japanese bikes I’ve owned and better than the Ducati Multistrada.
As for the KYB suspension I’ve yet to have the time, tools and opportunity to make any adjustments. Not having found the time, etc. is due in good part to the set up from the dealer being fairly good. Doing only a quick parking lot test of sag, dampening and compression I can say the settings are close if not perhaps spot on. On the road the best I can say about the suspension is the lack of any noticeable issues. The bike handles rough roads with ease and remains solid while cornering, even with uneven surfaces. The real test will be at higher speeds and off-road.
The Nissin brakes remain a question mark. While it could be they need break in time or perhaps they could be bled better they just don’t feel that solid. It may be that compared to my two U.S. bikes, both having excellent Brembo brakes, the Nissin brakes are just not going to be at that level. Without a comparison to the standard brakes of the Colove non-x model, or to other Chinese bikes it’s difficult to say where the Nissin brakes actually rank. My last issue with braking is more suspension related, and that is excessive dive. I expect that is the one area of suspension adjustment that does need attention and hopefully the dive can be reduced at least a little with some adjustments.
Thankfully I have no major negative issues so far with the 500x. There are some minor issues but nothing that can be cured or lived with. The biggest issue is simply ergonomics, which is a personal issue. In an apparent compromise on seat height the manufacturer has kept the seat seemingly as low as possible. While that may please a shorter rider for me the seat feels too low for the overall height of the bike and makes the pegs feel too close. In addition the split seat feels and looks cheap. The material used is not up to the level of newer materials available today. The seat pan is a cheap plastic and the foam padding is just marginal. Trying to upgrade the seat may be where the less common CoLove brand becomes a liability. The next issue with the ergonomics is the handlebars. For my tastes they are too wide, tall and have too much sweep. Replacing the bars is on the top of my to do list.
Other minor issues would include the adjustable windscreen. The adjustability is limited to two positions and requires a complete removal to adjust. I’ve yet to find a windscreen on an ADV bike that I thought was even decent so as a comparison I don’t downgrade the 500x for this issue. Little nitpicks I have include the lack of any tool kit, or any place on the motorcycle to put even minimal tools. I’d also prefer a bigger chain.
Overall the build quality is good. The welds are considerably better than I have seen on most Chinese motorcycles while not as good as on Japanese or European brands, or the CF Moto. The quality of the plastics and fasteners is good. The only two exceptions I would note so far are the latch for the rear seat, which is crap, and the rear brake pedal, which looks rather flimsy.
In short, while it’s still early I’m happy with the CoLove 500x, particularly for 39,000Y out the door, including: tax, license, insurance and the aluminum top case. Attachment 20275Attachment 20276Attachment 20275Attachment 20276Attachment 20280Attachment 20279Attachment 20281
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Re: Initial review of the CoLove ZF500GYx
Thanks for the initial review.
It is a very interesting bike, very ugly but very interesting :lol8:
Its good to see that the manufacturers here have started to pay attention and actually want to make a decent "domestic" bike.
I applaud colove and wait for more from them
Safe riding mate!
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Thanks for the informative report. I saw in the shop the seat and also thought it needs to reshape 5cm higher to improve the knee angle.
@modron: I have to say the bike looks better in reality :-)
Now I am interested in the off road parts of the story....
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Re: Initial review of the CoLove ZF500GYx
After writing my initial review I found the time to take a longer ride on the Colove. Following that ride I would add a few thing to the initial review. Either the brakes have worn in or I've gotten us to them and they did not feel as soft as my initial impression. I pushed the bike considerably harder and the suspension and overall handling continue to impress me. The steering is a little light and I might try to find a stabilizer. It's not such an issue on pavement but I'm a little concerned it may be an issue off-road (assuming I find anything off-road).
The only new issue was with the tires. The bike has Metzeler Tourance front and rear. While those tires are rated 85/15 for street I was able to slide the rear around corners way to easily in my opinion. THe first time it happened it was on fairly decent asphalt and without a whole lot of throttle. It broke loose so easily I stopped to check the tire pressure and expected it to be very low. It was not. Thankfully the rear slides predictably without snapping back, and more importantly the front doesn't break loose before the rear. I'm now open to suggestions on tires for mid-range ADV bikes. I do want some off-road capability so it may be a matter of having to learn to live with the compromise.
Shuben, I like your thought of raising the seat. Any thoughts or suggestions on how that could be done? In the U.S. I know there is an aftermarket for seats and modifications. I have not seen that in China. If anyone has any ideas I'd like to hear them.
Greg
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Reg. the tires: I think its not the tires. I assume it was the road condition. We have these situations here in BJ mountains too. The roads are like race tracks, but the repair tar stripes are even in dry condition slippery like soap and the while bike sometimes slip sidewards. Also we know after winter a lot of dust is driven into the surface and it needs several rain days to clear it up.
A definetely good tire for ADV is the Tourance Next. I love them on the GS. Also very good is the Pirelli Scorpion Rally STR.
For cheaper options look at the Kenda 761. I use them on my Speedy and before on the X5. But they have slight wet deficits.
For the seat: in China i'd buy a second one and find a capable leather shop to make a new higher seat foam and a related cover.
That is a suitable and cheap solution.
Then you can get even your favourite seat color ;-)
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Re: Initial review of the CoLove ZF500GYx
I dont want to hijack the review but ive just visited the colove english website. Apparently in May we will have a scrambler from them. Now, this is interesting for me :)
Looks great
https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/kc...I=w800-h450-no
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5 Attachment(s)
Re: Initial review of the CoLove ZF500GYx
After 4 months of owning, and riding over 9000 Km I can say I remain happy with this motorcycle. In May I completed a 16 day 5,800 + Km ride to Beijing on small roads and back through Inner Mongolia. The 9 days riding from Chongqing to Beijing was with fellow MyChinaMoto member Shuben and 3 of his friends. The return was solo. Shuben has posted some videos from the ride on YouTube.
I think I can fairly say I did not baby the ZF500 and put it to a fairly decent test. While there were a few minor issues there were no major issues, covered below. On the paved roads the Colove does well. It is sufficiently comfortable to easily handle multiple 8-10 hour a day rides. While no match for larger cc foreign bikes the power is decent. The pavement handling is as good or better than I expected, even with significant luggage. The suspension handles rough pavement and off-road tracks. Lowering tire pressure and shutting off the anti-lock brakes makes off-road riding very doable. The weight (true of any ADV bike) the loose feeling front end and the ergonomics are my biggest complaints off-road. That said it does a decent job off-road and nothing broke, shook loose, fell off or failed when ridden fairly hard over rough terrain for several hours.
. The minor issues: the anti-lock brakes do not handle dirt or dust well. On more than one occasion when I grabbed a handful of front brake I got a lot of anti and not much brake. Turning off the anti-lock resolved the issue but it is not particularly easy and it resets each time the bike is turned off. Otherwise the brake worked well. One questionable issue was I wore out the front pads completely in 6600 Km. Thankfully the pads are a common part and I was able to find replacements in Inner Mongolia. The pads wearing out in 6600 Km seems early, but it could be an indication of how hard I was riding/braking and the conditions I rode in.
As I noted in my first review the ergonomics were not great. Right away I replaced the bars with a motocross bend. That improved the bike considerably. Sadly the cheap bars did not handle the first minor fall on a rocky path. The replacements I was able to find at a shop without ordering are a compromise between stock and the MX bars. They are not bad but I will replace those if I can find some stronger MX bars that will fit. Finding bars with sufficient space to mount street bike controls is the problem. When I drop the bike a footpeg also bent. Rather than put the cheap stock pegs back on I installed a set of heavier aluminum pegs. They set lower and now there is an issue with getting the brake lever lower. I'm still working on that.
As to the seat height it was suggested to me that I buy a new seat and have additional foam and a new cover made for it. While I had previously talked to the manager of CoLove (a very helpful, responsive and good guy) about a higher seat, and was informed there was no such option at that time when I contacted him last week hoping to get the name of the company who makes their seats in hopes of having them make me a custom seat I was told that CoLove had just come out with a 3 Cm taller seat. I received that seat today and after a 10 minute ride can say it is a big improvement over stock. Might have gone a little higher myself but I think the 3 Cm is going to be sufficient.
As to the motor. Not so much as a hick-up. As long as you don't switch bikes with a BMW GS800 or GS1250 the power seems adequate. It easily pulls to 150 KPH (or so I hear because I would never do that on a public road) and it handles 100+ into a strong wind for multiple hours (again just something I hear and would never do). There is fairly significant vibration at 4000 RPM +. Given the never a constant speed and rarely fast Chinese roads it hardly occurred to me until a certain BMW rider pointed it out. I did hear that it really becomes noticeable when riding multiple hours at 100+, again, not that I would do that.
As for the suspension. I have done some minor adjustments and generally it is good. When off-road in rougher parts the front end is not confidence inspiring. I'm continuing to play with settings so maybe that will improve. I'm leaning toward it needing a steering damper. The rear shock has not been bad. On higher speed paved roads it does tend to wallow. I would like to add pre-load but after several attempts I think it's going to have to go to the shop to get that done. Unless there is a trick to it there does not appear to be room to get a spanner on the pre-load nuts. I'd also like to find someone knowledgeable to help with the suspension. My next move maybe to beg for assistance from the factor. They have at least one racer there and they support racing the 500's so they hopefully have the expertise to do suspension set up.
On the tires. With some knowledge passed to me I learned that the Metzler Tourance tire on the bike, made in China, is the prior generation Tourance, with the molds likely transplanted to China. That said, the tires have been adequate. With over 9000 Km on the bike the tires remain in good condition and no where needing replacement. My initial concern with being able to easily slide them has born out to be more related to slick dust-impregnated Chinese roads. I've gotten use to sliding the tires, front included though less so. On better pavement near Beijing the tires gripped sufficient to grind pegs on more than one occasion. Off-road the tires are merely okay. Grip on slick rock and in dust is fair at best. The one time we hit mud they were much better then the street tires on one of the other bikes, but none of the tires on the bikes I was riding with were even adequate for those conditions. Replacements will be a more off-road bias. I should note that I played around with tire pressure and found that lower pressure was better off-road and on slick roads. There is some compromise on better faster roads but for the riding I've done the lower pressure works better. (I'm talking 26-27 psi instead of recommended 30-32.)
Other parts tested included the 'bumper' / crash guards. Though they are now bent to one side a little they have impressed me. the bike has been down 4 times, once falling off the side stand and 2 low/no speed tip overs and one biting off more that I/the bike could handle loss of traction fall over on a steep rocky uphill. Other than from the steep rocky fall (mirror, handlebars, footpeg) the only damage is scrapes and slight bend of the crash guards. Given My lack of expectations that they were of any value I have been somewhat amazed.
On fuel economy the 17 liter tank will take me over 450 Km when ridden mostly mildly. That drops to 350 maybe less when ridden hard. As for the oil, no issues no noticeable use, that given my less than stellar adherence to maintaining schedule. (Which I blame a little on lack of shops prepared and able to deal with 500cc bides.)
Other little issues that have popped up, then self resolved, included the horn being a dry weather unit. It tends to work sporadically in the rain. The gear indicator took an afternoon off but aside from that one time works fine. The fuel gauge and distance left indicators are wonky but once I got use to them they are fine. There is a phone light on the dash which the manual says indicates an incoming call. There is nothing about setting that up and other than occasionally randomly flashing seems to be of no purpose.
Overall my biggest issue remains the ergonomics. The handlebar and seat change have improved that. If I can get the brake pedal issue resolved and get a better fitting handle bar I think that will be as much as i can expect there. The front end feel is another issue. Between a better set up and a steering damper I hope to improve that.
Overall the Colove 500x is no match for the BMW 800 (or likely the other mid-sized ADVs just out or coming soon -KTM & Yamaha) but at 1/4 the price the Colove is a hell of a deal. I'd like to find a Benelli 502x owner such that we could do a head to head comparison. In the same price range, at least in China, I'm unaware of anything that compares to those two bikes.Attachment 20299Attachment 20300Attachment 20301Attachment 20302Attachment 20303
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I think we did quite a rough testing for that bike. I assume 90+% of riders here in China will not get even close to the torture we exposed the bikes.
The ergonomics are set up for the Chinese average rider of 160 to 165, or 170cm max.
But all in all a suitable travel machine for China in a favorable price range. For tall guys it needs some adaptation.
https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/201...ae5e4c9a36.jpghttps://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/201...4f044d41d5.jpghttps://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/201...dda8c32436.jpg
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Re: Initial review of the CoLove ZF500GYx
OP fantastic RR / review of the bike. Interesting to read of some of the shortcomings which actually says a lot of how things are improving since your laundry list is quite short... that to me speaks volumes.
Great that the manufacture is friendly and open to review e.g.took note of a taller seat option might be needed and useful etc
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Re: Initial review of the CoLove ZF500GYx
On the question concerning tyres, I have a favourable subjective view of the Metzeler Karoo 3 which I have found really well suited to highway, high speed riding and some fairly ok double to single (not knarly) track off-road riding...
YMMV
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Re: Initial review of the CoLove ZF500GYx
Interesting point is the new KTM 790 ADV R are fitted stanaded with Karoo 3
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After i have tested on the GS the metzeler Karoo3 and the Pirelli Scorpion Rally STR my vote is clear for the Pirelli. It performs better under nearly all condition, has shown a very good grip especially on gravel and a road performance that goes down to the edge. Only complaint is a strong noise from 130+kmph to 150kmph. I had put it on for the ChongQing to Beijing trip and it has now about 5k km. I guess with some tenderness 7k km should be possible for the rear. Front shows much less wear out. Will pit a new rear on and stay with it.
For out trip videos check YouTube for "shuben Chongqing Beijing 2900km"
Until now day 1 to 6 are online.
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Re: Initial review of the CoLove ZF500GYx
Quote:
Originally Posted by
ShuBen
For out trip videos check YouTube for "shuben Chongqing Beijing 2900km"
Until now day 1 to 6 are online.
Oh my god... videos, drone shots, it's almost like people are still riding in China and making ride reports. Thank you!
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Re: Initial review of the CoLove ZF500GYx
Quote:
Originally Posted by
ShuBen
After i have tested on the GS the metzeler Karoo3 and the Pirelli Scorpion Rally STR my vote is clear for the Pirelli. It performs better under nearly all condition, has shown a very good grip especially on gravel and a road performance that goes down to the edge. Only complaint is a strong noise from 130+kmph to 150kmph. I had put it on for the ChongQing to Beijing trip and it has now about 5k km. I guess with some tenderness 7k km should be possible for the rear. Front shows much less wear out. Will pit a new rear on and stay with it.
For out trip videos check YouTube for "shuben Chongqing Beijing 2900km"
Until now day 1 to 6 are online.
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Rode over 25.000 km on the STR and could not agree more with that statement.
A allround great tyre that ticks A lot of boxes.
Just for the record, covered over 20.000 km front and rear on a Honda AT With 90% on road.
And never had a problem at high speed.
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3 Attachment(s)
Re: Initial review of the CoLove ZF500GYx
9/19/19, 13,000km Update
I recently finished a 9 day round trip Chongqing to Lijiang, South route there and back through a North route on Highway 318. I'm still generally happy with the Colove, but some issues have arisen.
Starting with the positive points; the installation of the taller seat and a steering stabilizer did improve the motorcycle. The taller seat available through the manufacturer’s store on Taobao, is 3 cm higher. Another 2-3 cm might be even better but the 3 cm is a definite improvement for a taller rider. Also off of Taobao is a steering stabilizer kit for the Colove made by a Colove 500x owner. The rather cheap damper used for the steering does cause the bike to feel off at very low speeds but that is worth the trade for a much more stable bike at speed and in rough sections. For 400 RMB the kit is worth it in my opinion.
Now for the negative issues that have arisen. At about 12000 km the front wheel bearings fell apart. I noticed a tick which was getting worse as I was descending from a 4200m pass. Having completely worn through the stock brake pads at 6600km I was concerned it was the second set of pads or a rotor that was causing the issue. By the time I got to a town of any size the bearings had fallen apart to the point there was significant play between the axle and the wheel. I managed to get the bearings replaced at a random shop and made it home. During this time I was in contact with the Colove manager and he has asked that I bring the bike to the factory for inspection and replacement of front and rear bearings. After talking with Shuben of this site I decided to track down quality bearings and have had those installed myself rather than have installed another set of stock parts. At the same time I had the rear wheel pulled off and found those bearings to be well greased and in good condition.
The second issue which manifested itself in small ways for a couple of weeks before revealing itself was the battery. After a couple instances of the battery being to weak to start the bike, combined with dash and alarm quarks, the Colove after-sales team suggested the battery was failing as opposed to some other issue in the electrical system. Replacing the battery with 2 days left on the trip has seemed to resolve all of the odd electrical issues. Given the mileage of the bike, over 12000 km at the time of complete failure, the battery was not under warranty. (I now see that bearings are also listed as a wear part and covered for only 5000km.) The replacement battery was 300rmb. Not expensive for a decent battery, but damn expensive for a battery with a five month lifespan. Hopefully this is a one-off and not a further indication of quality issues at Colove. [I’d love to hear thoughts on replacing the battery with a lithium battery which is something I’ve done on my last two motorcycles in the US.]
The last issue for now is the chain. Even when new it was too small for the bike and looked of questionable quality. It has stretched considerably and is close to needing replaced, which should include the sprockets. I know some people go for 2 chains with a set of sprockets but I've always leaned toward replacing the chain and sprockets as a set. I'll see if I can find sprockets for a heavier duty 525 series chain that fit the bike. Course that will mean finding a decent 525 chain as well.
On a side note at 13000km the front tire is close to needing replaced. This is the first time for any bike I have ever owned where the front tire is wearing faster than the rear. I assume this is due to underwhelming power saving the rear and hard braking and cornering taking a toll on the front. Overall I have no issues with the Chinese manufactured Metzler Tourance tires. They are a little more street bias than I’d like but the reality is they are a good fit for the bike and 90% of what I have used it for. That 10% off pavement is what I really enjoy, and where the Tourance falls short. I’ll probably go with the gang’s suggestion of Pirelli Scorpion STRs as replacements in the next couple months.
Overall I still believe the Colove is a great motorcycle “for the money.” These experiences have made me contemplate taking the plunge and spending the three to four times the money it takes to get a foreign motorcycle. What I’d really like to see a something in the middle. Based on all I’ve read and seen I don’t think it’s a matter of the Chinese developing better quality, it’s a matter of their choosing to use it in domestic motorcycles. I can’t believe that there is not a market for better quality, even at the cost of 10-20,000 RMB, or even more. The Colove, the Benelli and the CF Moto are steps in the right direction. Now if one of those three, or another manufacturer altogether, takes the real step and builds a high quality ADV I have little doubt they will find there is a market.
As I stated above on the day my front bearings failed I was in contact with the manager of Colove regarding finding replacements and possible a Colove dealer and he had offered to have all bearings replaced when I got back to Chongqing. An offer I did not take up. Today he reached out to me to follow up and suggested I bring the bike to the factory for a full service and inspection, for free. Not sure if it’s because I’ve been a thorn in his ass or this is way above and beyond expected factory attention. Either way it tells me Colove is trying.
On a side note, during the trip I ran into numerous Chinese riders, including one on a CFMoto MT. He posted on WeChat that the front bearings on his bike had failed, the same day as mine. His post was almost bragging, saying he rode hard and normally the bearing would be fine. I’ve flattened tires, broke spokes and bent rims on race bikes, this is the first time I’ve had bearings fail on any bike less than 10 years old. I called and will call BS on anyone who thinks bearing failures in any bike less than 3 years old and less than 30,000km is acceptable. [Excluding professional racers and stunt riders.]Attachment 20312Attachment 20312Attachment 20313Attachment 20314
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Re: Initial review of the CoLove ZF500GYx
You ride from Chongqing to Lijiang and all we get are some wheel bearing photos? :icon10: How's that road these days?
Your evaluation is almost identical to those I posted on a half dozen bikes I owned 8-10 years ago in China. We have nearly 12 years of MyChinaMoto user reviews, and we're still getting shitty bearings, shitty chains, shitty brakes, and other various shitty stuff. The good news (as you point out) is that Chinese motos are still inexpensive compared to others. They present a "decent" value for what you get. The bad news is, you're still at the mercy of the lowest cost component when you're out on an adventure like Chongqing to Lijiang.
I think your extended history of motorcycle ownership gives you a good idea of what you need to do... tear into the machine and upgrade all the little things that CoLove cut corners on. I was very fortunate to have quick access to bike shops in Hong Kong when I lived in China. Every bike I owned got fresh bearings, chains, etc. etc. Yes, it's a pain in the ass to do this on a new bike, but this is where you find the "middle" that you mention. A couple weekends time and 3000 - 5000 RMB will give you a very solid China moto, vs the huge expense of buying an import.
Just some thoughts...
Battery - Grab a voltage meter and look for parasitic drain. I never had any major issues with Chinese batteries. Remember, every time you drain a lead acid battery below 50% you are cutting its life by half. It only takes a couple of battery drains to kill their charging capability. I don't think it's worth the money to go Lithium.
Chain & Sprockets - Always replace both at the same time. Good idea on going to 525, however, it may be difficult to convert. If you can't find 525 sprockets, spend the extra cash and get a SUPER high quality 520 chain. I converted some of my bikes to 428, due to gearing issues, and I still got insane mileage out of Tsubaki chains I purchased in Hong Kong. It used to be difficult to get good chain lube in China, that's probably different now. The kind of riding your doing, you need to lube every day. I used to stop about 10km from my resting point each night and lube the shit out my chain. The chain is warm then, and the lube will penetrate as your bike sits overnight. Much better than lubing cold in the morning.
Bearings - Wheel and steering head is must do. Swingarm and pivot bearings are optional, but you must pull the rear suspension and grease them NOW. They never have the proper grease from the factory. Add the fact that most people pressure wash, which is the worst thing you can do to a bike.
Tires - 13,000 kilometers on 1 set of tires.... that's insane. :thumbsup: I've never seen 10k on anything I used in China. I'm currently getting about 4000km on my KTM1190 here in the U.S. My V-Strom in China was very close to even wear front and rear. It may have something to do with the braking on concrete roads which loads the front tire and scrubs rubber. With all the elevation and temp changes you're going through, you gotta check that pressure every day.
Thanks for sharing!
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Re: Initial review of the CoLove ZF500GYx
make-in-china stuff some are good, one just need to know where to find it, like I have good experience with CST and pirelli tyre.
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Re: Initial review of the CoLove ZF500GYx
Guys,
as you liked the ChongQing - Beijing trip videos 1 to 6 of 9 -> Check now for Day7.
That brings you some more real good bike porn :-)
ENJOY!
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Re: Initial review of the CoLove ZF500GYx
On the continuing review of the Colove 500x I’ve hit a bit of a snag. As previously mentioned an electrical issue began in June. Initially it was a matter of the dash resetting itself when the starter was engaged. It went from rare too much of the time in a matter of a couple of weeks. While on the trip to Lijiang the battery failed to start the bike on a couple occasions. After discussions with the factory I replaced the battery. This solved the issued for about 2 weeks. The dash reset issue returned on July 20th, 16 days after replacing the battery. As it happened the Colove factory manager following up on my chats with him during the trip requested I bring the bike to the factory for a ‘free service’ the day before. Given the electrical issue I decided to do that. While the bike was in the factory the steering head and bearings were replaced. I had already replaced the fronts with imported bearings and the rear looked in good condition. The manager let it slip that there was a known bearing issue with early production models, which may or may not have included mine.
As to the now bigger electrical issue they reportedly tested the system and found nothing. They charged the battery and recommended that “I ride at limited speeds as the system does not charge the battery at high speeds.” I called BS on that claim which was met with extended discussions between the manager and the mechanic resulting ‘in a ride the bike and let us know if the issue returns’ response. At this point I’m left with two impressions. 1. The alternator on the bike is inadequate for the fuel pump, electronic ignition, etc. which I believe could result in the bike discharging the batter at higher RPM. Given the speeds I’m limited to in China the alternator would have to be wowfully inadequate. Option 2 is the alternator is failing and will leave me stranded at the most inopportune time. Other options might be parasitic drain on the battery, bad regulator…? At this point I feel like I’m left on my own to figure this out as I’ve yet to meet a Chinese mechanic who seems that competent. If the factory cannot even give this an elementary evaluation what’s left? So I’ve ordered an multimeter and begun educating myself on motorcycle electrics. If I’m missing something or someone has any ideas please let me know.
On other side news I did learn a few things while at the Summit, New Everest, Colove, Kaiyuan… factory. New 500 cc scrambler coming soon. I’ll try to post other information in another thread soon.
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Re: Initial review of the CoLove ZF500GYx
Get a cheap 12V display from Taobao. Hook it to your battery, and have it on your handlebars while running.
When you turn the bike on, the battery should show 12.0-12.4 volts.
When you hit the starter, it might drop to 11.8 - 12.0 volts.
When the bike is running at idle, you should get 12.0 - 12.5 volts,
When you're riding down the highway, you should get 13.0 - 13.4 volts.
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The Volt display is a good idea.
As i experienced several times in China i would keep special eyes on the regulator. They are cheap in price and most time also quality. Better have a spare with you.
Keep us updated.
Safe ride!
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Re: Initial review of the CoLove ZF500GYx
Thanks for the suggestions ChinaV and Shuben. Already got the Taobao volt meter and ran the basic tests. Haven’t had the opportunity to get out on the road to see about higher speed. I’ve talked to a trusted mechanic in the US and done research on the internet. While the volt meter might show a weak or bad battery, and may indicate a charging system problem, from what I learned it’s not going to diagnose the problem beyond that. The battery has tested fine, 12.6V static and just below 10V on starter. While running in the garage it showed 14.2 dropping to 14.1 with RPM. According to everything I learned those numbers are within spec. Right now I’m leaning toward Shuben’s suggestion of it being a regulator; which could explain both a parasitic drain on the battery as well as a failure to maintain proper voltage under load. Taking the bike out this afternoon. If there is a problem under load (at a reasonably high speed). I’ll attempt to test the alternator & regulator separately to see if I can distinguish the problem. If no voltage issue at higher speed then on to plan ?C?
I am starting to understand why riders in China seem to be carrying an excessive amount of luggage, it's all the spare parts they expect to need. :)
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Re: Initial review of the CoLove ZF500GYx
Hello GSR, I am a new member on this forum and based in the Philippines, here they start to sell the ZF-KY 500x under the name Brixx Venturi 500.
Since i read your story in this post, i start to worry about the reliability, specially about the battery drain issue.
Could you find the root cause off the battery drain? If yes, how did you solve it?
Are here other members who experienced the same issues?
Thanks in advance
Phils
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Re: Initial review of the CoLove ZF500GYx
Hello everyone. Interesting thread, thanks for the information.
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Re: Initial review of the CoLove ZF500GYx
Phils, sorry for the slow reply I’m currently in Thailand unable to return to China due to travel bans. As to the batter/charging issue I had with my motorcycle. After the factory ran tests and found nothing I ran my own tests. The charging system tested fine. I think I found the problem which is a parasitic drain which was straining the battery. I had an anti-theft tracking device installed on the bike when it was new. The device was suppose to go into sleep mode after a short time when parked. I think because it was parked in a garage and the sensitivity was set to low it was being activated to frequently. When the bike is first parked the device defiantly draws too much power putting too much drain on the battery. I did not have time to test the device to see if it was going into sleep mode like it is suppose to, or what the drain is in sleep mode. My attempted solution for the short term, and to test to see if that was the problem, was to put a quick connect into the device power and disconnect it when safely parked or when I was not going to run the bike frequently. I still think the stock battery is of low quality having failed in 5 months without ever being fully drained. Had I had the opportunity when I had to replace it I would have put in a better battery. I would recommend installing quality wheel bearings sooner rather than later, and watch the battery and replace it with a quality unit when needed.
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Re: Initial review of the CoLove ZF500GYx
Quote:
Originally Posted by
GSR
Phils, sorry for the slow reply I’m currently in Thailand unable to return to China due to travel bans. As to the batter/charging issue I had with my motorcycle. After the factory ran tests and found nothing I ran my own tests. The charging system tested fine. I think I found the problem which is a parasitic drain which was straining the battery. I had an anti-theft tracking device installed on the bike when it was new. The device was suppose to go into sleep mode after a short time when parked. I think because it was parked in a garage and the sensitivity was set to low it was being activated to frequently. When the bike is first parked the device defiantly draws too much power putting too much drain on the battery. I did not have time to test the device to see if it was going into sleep mode like it is suppose to, or what the drain is in sleep mode. My attempted solution for the short term, and to test to see if that was the problem, was to put a quick connect into the device power and disconnect it when safely parked or when I was not going to run the bike frequently. I still think the stock battery is of low quality having failed in 5 months without ever being fully drained. Had I had the opportunity when I had to replace it I would have put in a better battery. I would recommend installing quality wheel bearings sooner rather than later, and watch the battery and replace it with a quality unit when needed.
Seems you likely found the cause of the parasitic draw. I wonder if its possible to obtain a different GPS Tracker that has its own semi-independent power supply (battery backup)? After all if the GPS tracker becomes disconnected from the bike battery for any reason then it makes the function of said tracker null-in-void being that it then becomes inoperable.
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Re: Initial review of the CoLove ZF500GYx
Incidentally, not a bad place to be stranded in, except that Thailand had implemented curfews in some locations, and life isn't all "smile". Which part of the land of smiles are you staying? I've a house in Samutprakarn, with riding buddies located up in the northern provinces of Thailand. Fantastic riding up around Chiang Rai and Chiang Mai, Fang, Mae Hong Song, Pai, Nan, the mountains and border roads around Mae Sai and many more...
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Re: Initial review of the CoLove ZF500GYx
GSR,Thank you very much for sharing your information, I will visit the dealer here in Philippines when the lock down is over, looks like this bike is a great value for the money.Here in Philippines they sell them for 358K pesos and 378k including the panniers and top case.
Enjoy Thailand :-)
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Re: Initial review of the CoLove ZF500GYx
Hi, thanks for all usefull info.
Any update 2 years later?
Is it still running? Any issues?
Anyone else?
Cheers, Nika
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Re: Initial review of the CoLove ZF500GYx
No updates for the last 2.5 years. I left the bike in China when the pandemic began and haven't seen it since. China has remained closed for almost all types of visas, including the type I was on. The dealer I bought it from was nice enough to put it in his storage facility. No idea if I'll ever see it again or what shape it may be in if I do. I got over 30K kms out of it so not a total loss.