Come back? Not for all the scooters in China

**bikerdoc** · 07-10-2010, 05:23 AM

Originally Posted by ZMC888

... that tire is massively over inflated...

Oh yeah I recently had my wire wheel rims converted to tubeless on my Dragstar 1100. It cost rmb2500 including the tires, fitting and conversion at a shop which is specialising in working on big motorcyles, jap imports, some euorpean stuff etc., though the workshop is a typical CHN garage -a pigsty. I removed the wheels and took them to the shop so that there'd be less chance of something going wrong or happening to my bike while it was parked in the shop for the 2-3 days, it was to take for the conversion. The day arrived when it was to be completed so that evening me and a mate (who'd told me about the workshop) went to collect the wheels. Unfortunately they weren't completely ready, but after a couple of hours I had two new tubeless tyres on wire spoked wheel rims. Took them home and fitted them the next day, then proceeded to set my bike up for a three day ride planned in June, but I didn't check the tyre pressures of the wheels. foolish me, I have lived here long enough, I should know by now... you just can't trust 'em. During my ride http://www.mychinamoto.com/forums/sh...u-AnHui-return it didn't take me long to work out that my front tyre was overinflated, she was pulling wide in corners and the feedback from bumps in the road were noticeable. I had a compressor with me, as I always take a shiet load of gear/tools on our longer rides, just in case. When I removed the valve cap, and tried to let air out it was ridiculously slow, the air was coming out so little that even after 30 mins the pressure had decreased by less than 1 lb/in2. In the end I gave up. At some broken backwater of a little town during our ride I found a car/truck tyre shop/garage (apply shop/garage with imagination) anyway, it took the guy working there ages to finally get air out of the tyre, he tried all kinds of methods. Finally he managed to use a long thick pin/needle which allowed the air out. Depressing the valve was just a waste of time. Removing the valve did nothing, no air escapped even when the valve had been removed completely from the valve stem. There was just so much air inside it had occluded the small hole internally.
So how over inflated was my front tyre... guess? 5 ib/in2, maybe 10, 15 perhaps even 20... oh no... it was more than 90 lb/in2 almost 300%. When I told the guy that had told me about that motorcycle shop, he was like oh yeah well they wanted to over-inflate to help bead the seal in. WTF!
That's why not only should we apply some common-sense like "you get what you pay for" but also here it's like "you also get what-EVER you get, what you pay for!"
Everything here just for looking beAware the smoke and mirrors for nothing (absolutely nothing) is as it seems!

**euphonius** · 07-10-2010, 06:16 AM

Originally Posted by bikerdoc

So how over inflated was my front tyre... guess? 5 ib/in2, maybe 10, 15 perhaps even 20... oh no... it was more than 90 lb/in2 almost 300%. When I told the guy that had told me about that motorcycle shop, he was like oh yeah well they wanted to over-inflate to help bead the seal in. WTF!

What is it about tire pressure in China? No one has a simple pressure gauge, and no stores seem to sell them. All I find in the automotive shops are these big contraptions the size of a hand pump. Nowhere can I find those pen-shaped gauges that are so universal elsewhere. Anyone know where to buy these? I'm in the awkward position of having no idea of the pressure in my tires right now.

**td_ref** · 07-10-2010, 06:51 AM

Originally Posted by euphonius

Nowhere can I find those pen-shaped gauges that are so universal elsewhere. Anyone know where to buy these? I'm in the awkward position of having no idea of the pressure in my tires right now.

taobao.com (local online bidding like ebay.com) has many, as cheap as 15RMB per one, postage fee about 15 RMB may vary.

**euphonius** · 07-10-2010, 07:02 AM

Thanks, TD. Good suggestion. I'll see what I can find.

**ZMC888** · 07-10-2010, 02:26 PM

Originally Posted by euphonius

What is it about tire pressure in China? No one has a simple pressure gauge, and no stores seem to sell them. All I find in the automotive shops are these big contraptions the size of a hand pump. Nowhere can I find those pen-shaped gauges that are so universal elsewhere. Anyone know where to buy these? I'm in the awkward position of having no idea of the pressure in my tires right now.

Bicycle shops come to the rescue! Have a look in a Merida or Giant shop many have lightweight hand pumps, yes with pressure gauges in PSI and bar too, some even made in T****n! Great addition to the tool kit only 100-200 grams! I'll take you to a shop in Zibo that has them next week.

**bikerdoc** · 07-10-2010, 02:56 PM

Originally Posted by euphonius

What is it about tire pressure in China? No one has a simple pressure gauge, and no stores seem to sell them. All I find in the automotive shops are these big contraptions the size of a hand pump. Nowhere can I find those pen-shaped gauges that are so universal elsewhere. Anyone know where to buy these? I'm in the awkward position of having no idea of the pressure in my tires right now.

Well you may very well ask the question more broadly, what is it about the ppl in PRC! It sounds prejudice, but its the truth and I really wish it wasn't so. I've never been so prejudiced and cynical since I have been in China so (too) long... [he writes shaking his head].

Anyway the small pressure guages you refer to can be bought at quite a few places, many of the automotive shops carry them, as well as some of the places that do car washes that often have a small add-on care care section. Even some of the car sales dealers (new car sales) also sell them if they are anything like the local dealers down here, where most have an auto accessories shop. Yellow Hat, one of Japans largest auto accessories shops has many stores scattered through out China and have been here since mid 2000. Another easy option might be your local METRO store, 'cause I know they also stock them along with a few other things you might want to get yourself, like a small portable air compressor. I always carry one on my longer rides, along with a couple of cans of pressurised tyre repair sealant. I carry a small set of fold out allen keys, open ended spanner set, and a small tool kit.

**Zorge** · 07-11-2010, 08:05 AM

Is in China abolished the death penalty?

**bikerdoc** · 07-11-2010, 12:58 PM

Originally Posted by Zorge

Is in China abolished the death penalty?

No, death penalty is still very much an option...

**Zorge** · 07-12-2010, 08:04 AM

And I thought so, but I wanted to check. Maybe people from the mentioned plant should not be punished by death penalty, but they should be beaten with nettles and forced to kneel all day on corn grains.

It would be great if we managed to make lists of A (good), B (average), and C (poor) Chinese motorcycle manufacturers.