My new JH600

[bikerdoc]

IMHO, even XT660Z is not suitable for western China, I wonder why you think XT1200 will be good for China.

Actually is there really any bike that is suitable for the whole of China. Probably not. IMO one of the few vehicles that might be suitable would be a tank, cause I sure as hell feel like I want one many times throughout the day when I'm using the roads here. That aside, me thinks that a little Suzuki Jimny (new model) would indeed be fairly ok for a fair bit of China. Its 4x4, light, frugal on gas, small, narrow so can fit almost anywhere with ease (something I give my Suzuki swift credit for), protects from the elements, although its drawbacks are its a little too small inside, and doesn't stand as tall as some 4x4. I've had loads of 4x4's in NZ and Australia, and used them for bush bashing... and for the purposes for which they're designed and not just as pavement posers. My point about the XT1200 was that after reading many of the reviews of the large dual sports, out of all of them the XT1200 is a worthy contender IMO. I'm not just thinking about it for China, but as a good overall general purpose bike. At the end of the day, I'd like a large displacement scooter like a Kymco Xciting 500 or Yamaha TMax 500 (with ABS), and a big/large displacement dual purpose bike eg. 1200GS or XT1200 and a big displacement road bike eg. CBR1000, K1200RS etc. But hey that's me just dreaming aloud (allowed). Franki don't take me so literally, I was only announcing my enthusiasm for the XT1200 as a nice well rounded large displacement dual sport bike by all accounts based on the reports I read. After all how many guys who've bought such large bikes actually do the big transcontinental rides... f^8k all, but hey that's okay, at least they have dreams.

[jape]

I think I finally understand where you are coming from BD! For me the perfect dream machine is something like a light 4WD such as the Jimny but with a longer internal allowance to sleep 2 in, a touch more grunt to pull a trailer with a d/t bike about 400cc and other odds n sods so you can use it as a run around carrying four people, a low consumption tourer, a utility vehicle. It shouldn't have all the emissions sensors and so on so it can be fixed and adjusted easily or if it has to have them, make them easy, cheap, snap in and out replacements. No reason why a 2 litre engine or even less wouldn't do that, or maybe best as a diesel so it can use biofuel as well? Oh well, that's dreams for me too! Maybe 'Great Wall Motors' will come up with something in my lifetime that lasts long enough for me to get a secondhand one!

I think these lads with the JH600 and a few mods have already identified the best 'bike - not just for China either; after all, replacement costs are good, original price is very good, it has enough grunt to carry two people or a load, will accelerate enough and cruise at a fair rate, yet well setup for an individual and gear it handles off road and poor roads. No one has mentioned how it is in traffic but I would guess it is pretty good at that too!

I remember that pic AW took of the rock slide he crossed. That's good enough for me. Meanwhile the Kinlon will have to do!

[ChinaV]

Actually is there really any bike that is suitable for the whole of China. Probably not. I

+1 On that, which is why many of us have multiple bikes . I could have taken my V-Strom on my recent trip through Yunnan and Sichuan, but it would have beat the hell out of both me and the bike. The Galaxy made more sense for the conditions.

I think I finally understand where you are coming from BDI think these lads with the JH600 and a few mods have already identified the best 'bike - not just for China either; !

I think you may have missed the part where most of them say they would never own this bike if they lived outside China. Your Kinlon hits that sweet spot between performance, quality and value that the JH600 can't even hope to match. If the JH600 was available in Oz, you would be paying well over 7000 AUD. That my friend, would almost buy you a sweet DR650 that would spank the JH in every category.

Can't even imagine what Pfaelzer would do with a nice DR650 or XR600 as a starting point , but I know he's probably lusting after the BMW X-Challenge.

Cheers!
ChinaV

[bikerdoc]

+1 On that, which is why many of us have multiple bikes . I could have taken my V-Strom on my recent trip through Yunnan and Sichuan, but it would have beat the hell out of both me and the bike. The Galaxy made more sense for the conditions.

Yes.. I have multiple rides too, and if I could build an ultimate machine, it'd be some monstrosity that would combine the adaptability of a dual purpose bike, with the looks of a big road bike, but then the style and convenience of a scooter. Gawd that sounds fugly!

I think you may have missed the part where most of them say they would never own this bike if they lived outside China. Your Kinlon hits that sweet spot between performance, quality and value that the JH600 can't even hope to match. If the JH600 was available in Oz, you would be paying well over 7000 AUD. That my friend, would almost buy you a sweet DR650 that would spank the JH in every category.

Agree to your points. Interestingly while I am keen on the JH600 here in China, honestly it's not my first pick, and if I was overseas it'd not even be a consideration. Sorry to say, but after nearly a decade here in PRC (though I know some others have been here longer) I have experienced many products both local, domestic and even international brands manufactured to local standards that have let me down. While I'm sure many of these manufacturers have upped their anty, it's for good reason that both locals and foreigners alike stay wary of products coming from China. These bias's and prejudices are here for a reason.

[Franki]

When and where Franki - guess I'm not the only one here desperately waiting to see your pictures... or will you complete your trip first?
AW.

I will post the RR when the trip is done. Can't have internet access as I wish when I am in Tibet. Sorry you will have to wait a bit. But I can show you some pics when we meet.

Franki

[Franki]

Actually is there really any bike that is suitable for the whole of China. Probably not. IMO one of the few vehicles that might be suitable would be a tank, cause I sure as hell feel like I want one many times throughout the day when I'm using the roads here. That aside, me thinks that a little Suzuki Jimny (new model) would indeed be fairly ok for a fair bit of China. Its 4x4, light, frugal on gas, small, narrow so can fit almost anywhere with ease (something I give my Suzuki swift credit for), protects from the elements, although its drawbacks are its a little too small inside, and doesn't stand as tall as some 4x4. I've had loads of 4x4's in NZ and Australia, and used them for bush bashing... and for the purposes for which they're designed and not just as pavement posers. My point about the XT1200 was that after reading many of the reviews of the large dual sports, out of all of them the XT1200 is a worthy contender IMO. I'm not just thinking about it for China, but as a good overall general purpose bike. At the end of the day, I'd like a large displacement scooter like a Kymco Xciting 500 or Yamaha TMax 500 (with ABS), and a big/large displacement dual purpose bike eg. 1200GS or XT1200 and a big displacement road bike eg. CBR1000, K1200RS etc. But hey that's me just dreaming aloud (allowed). Franki don't take me so literally, I was only announcing my enthusiasm for the XT1200 as a nice well rounded large displacement dual sport bike by all accounts based on the reports I read. After all how many guys who've bought such large bikes actually do the big transcontinental rides... f^8k all, but hey that's okay, at least they have dreams.

I am just a simple guy, Doc
I agree there is no one size fits all bike. Thatb is why I am keeping 2 bikes in China. XT1200 sure looks smart, but I am not sure if I can handle it on dirt.

[milton]

Does any one know of such a mod:
http://www.joinbike.com/bbs/viewthre...extra=page%3D1
also at http://www.joinbike.com/bbs/viewthread.php?tid=325985

It is a simple mod by enlarging the front and middle sections of the muffler from 34mm to 42mm. The guy who started it claims that it greatly improves the performance, sounds better and increases the top speed from 150kmph to 165kmph. The shop plans to produce them in volume.
Does such a mod make sense and possibly achieve the performance boost as claimed?

[jape]

I believe the main point of muffler mods is to increase gas velocity by cutting back on restrictions to flow, which increases engine efficiency. Not sure how expanding at the muffler end alone does that but it obviously does to some extent because the first thing most people do is bash out some of the muffler plates or similar! My brother used to race tune bikes and they always did this but only in conjunction with inlet end work so that gas mix was consistent and not restrictive, and with valve work and port work too. Most performance pipes and mufflers are larger diameter and have less blockage so this mod should be helpful, as would shortening pipes and smoothing the curves. You don't want too much back pressure though so I think a lot of these mods are hit and miss and rely on the fact that most factory bikes are quietened further than best efficiency calls for in order to meet guidelines on noise. So it would seem unlikely that any such mods would quieten the bike, might smooth out the sound or alter the pitch a bit I guess. Hey, if someone has done it and it works, join in I reckon.

[Franki]

I have changed a steight pipe on my JH600 and it runs faster and better mid range. The speedo showed a 160kmh but my GPS only showed 153kmh. I don;t think the claimed 165kmh is an accurate one as there is no way he can increase the fuel supply. By the way, why would one wants to speed on a JH600? Its not designed to go fast.

[Pfaelzer]

Does any one know of such a mod:
http://www.joinbike.com/bbs/viewthre...extra=page%3D1
also at http://www.joinbike.com/bbs/viewthread.php?tid=325985

It is a simple mod by enlarging the front and middle sections of the muffler from 34mm to 42mm. The guy who started it claims that it greatly improves the performance, sounds better and increases the top speed from 150kmph to 165kmph. The shop plans to produce them in volume.
Does such a mod make sense and possibly achieve the performance boost as claimed?

Hi milton,

I can't read Chinese but it seems to me that the guy increases the diameter of the pipe with his first job on that tread. This is in my understanding typically being done to increase power at higher rpm levels, with the set-back of loosing a bit low rpm torque. As jape writes below, these measurements should come together with air-inlet, fuel mixture, valve and ignition timing adjustments. There is a lot of try and error involved and I guess without a dyno to check the real torque and power it is hard to say what is the best tuning improvement - and of course it depends also rider needs, low-end torque, speed, high end power,...

I do not understand, what the Chinese writer is telling about the muffler and why he cut it off. It's interesting to look inside - but I am wondering, if he removed a silencer element or the catalytic converter...

The change on my bike to the Laser muffler helped the bike in general performance. But that is only my feeling. Never been measured. The bike runs smoother but not at best and smoothest level. Much louder too as euphonius confirmed. More could be done here but at one point is would be essential to re-program the ECU.

Thanks a lot milton for bringing this link into my tread - that's exactly why I have launched it. Very interesting. I one of your links I could see pictures of the air-filter:

air-filter thread

Can anyone explain, what that guy is writing here and what are his thoughts about it? I also found this weird looking "insert" inside the filter-box and I still couldn't figure out, why it is in there. In general I don't like this box. It seems too small and the air-intake is very low, therefore dangerous, when going through deeper waters.

Cheers,
AW.