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  1. #11 Re: Initial review of the CoLove ZF500GYx 
    KING of MCM LOL prince666's Avatar
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    Interesting point is the new KTM 790 ADV R are fitted stanaded with Karoo 3
    "Arguing on the Internet is like running in the Special Olympics, even if you win you're still retarded"
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  2. #12  
    motor maniac ShuBen's Avatar
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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.

    Sent from my ONEPLUS A5000 using Tapatalk
    SWM RS500R, R1200GS LC
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  3. #13 Re: Initial review of the CoLove ZF500GYx 
    Life Is Good! ChinaV's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by ShuBen View Post
    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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  4. #14 Re: Initial review of the CoLove ZF500GYx 
    KING of MCM LOL prince666's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by ShuBen View Post
    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.

    Sent from my ONEPLUS A5000 using Tapatalk

    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.
    "Arguing on the Internet is like running in the Special Olympics, even if you win you're still retarded"
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  5. #15 Re: Initial review of the CoLove ZF500GYx 
    C-Moto Not-so-Noob GSR's Avatar
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    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.]IMG_20190704_154806.jpgIMG_20190704_154806.jpgIMG_20190704_154928.jpgDSCN6561.jpg
    ZF-KY 500x , KTM 530, Ducati 1200s
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  6. #16 Re: Initial review of the CoLove ZF500GYx 
    Life Is Good! ChinaV's Avatar
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    You ride from Chongqing to Lijiang and all we get are some wheel bearing photos? 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. 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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  7. #17 Re: Initial review of the CoLove ZF500GYx 
    MCM Chinese fellow td_ref's Avatar
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    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.
    同志仍需努力
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  8. #18 Re: Initial review of the CoLove ZF500GYx 
    motor maniac ShuBen's Avatar
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    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!
    SWM RS500R, R1200GS LC
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  9. #19 Re: Initial review of the CoLove ZF500GYx 
    C-Moto Not-so-Noob GSR's Avatar
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    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.
    ZF-KY 500x , KTM 530, Ducati 1200s
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  10. #20 Re: Initial review of the CoLove ZF500GYx 
    Life Is Good! ChinaV's Avatar
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    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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