Sherpa, TRex, Roketa 124cc Street Bike MC-38??

[birdmove]

So, how do you like it?

http://www.motorbikespecs.net/index....948&make=Lifan

Hopefully this link works. This is the Lifan 110 I picked up.

[trexuk]

I feel disloyal to the T Rex saying this but I love it. As far as I recall it is very similar to the ST70 I had back in the early 80s. Although its geared rather than semi auto. I went to a vintage bike show last weekend near where I live in Kent and parked up the Lifan in the car park. I was surprised to see how much interst it generated amongst all the genuine vintage machinery present.

I removed the decals as I think they look a rather awful, fortunately they were on top of the clear coat. Removed the terribile looking large black plastic rear mudguard, and fitted a reproduction ST70 rear tail light and licence plate holder. And also removed the plastic extension on the rear of the front fender, which looked a bit cheap. Other than this its a great little bike, very manouverable and responsive, much like the old ST70s (CT70s as you you guys know them). I am planning to play around with the sprocket combination to see if I can squeeze another 5-10 MPH out of it. It runs happily at 30-35 MPH at the moment but is a little slow on main roads. I am still running in the engine so dont want to push it too much.

Managed to blow out the clutch seal on Saturday 6 miles from home, so had to stop and buy some more oil and limp home, it made it ok thankfully. Overall I am very pleased with the Lifan. Will probably start Honda-ising it a little bit too. The seat is a bit ugly but quite comfortable. It has a nice paint finish, it looks dark blue from a distance but up close in the sunlight looks purple and it has a slight metalflake in the clear coat too. I am thinking I wouldnt mind a 125cc version as well now :-)

[birdmove]

Thanks! I wouldn't mind picking up one of the ones made by Skyteam. They are 125cc. This one has an after market seat, and is a clutchless version. These are made by Skyteam, and sold under Pitster Pro in the US:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=svm2...XuWGhIJj4kfUOw

Looks like fun to me.

[trexuk]

Originally I was going to get a Skyteam Skymax but the on the road price is around £1400, I picked up the Lifan for £475. Its a few years older being a 2007 model but only had 320 kms on the clock as it had been used with a campervan, so saw very little use.

[birdmove]

Sounds like you got a very good buy there. Someone at Skyteam USA told me in an email that they were dropping the CT clone, that must be the same as what you call the Skymax. And, indeed, they no longer show that model at the US website. I'm amazed that they would drop it, as it would seem to me that there is a small market for these.

If you get a chance to try out this one on some off road riding, let us know what you think. Obviously it's not built for any radical dirt use, but, I bet it would still be fun on dirt and gravel roads.

[trexuk]

I am shocked they would drop the CT clone, I would have thought that would have been a popular model in the States due to the popularity of the Honda CT70. I don't think Skyteam always keep in touch well with their customer base. They have good products but leave all the running up to the main importers, it's the same in the UK. I know one dealer that loves the products but feels the main importer isn't as pro-active as he could be. Is it Pisterpro in the States that is the main importer? Over here in the UK the Dax clone is badged up as several different makes but they all look very similar. There is a Lifan, like mine, Jincheng, Zongchen and Skyteam.

If I get the chance to try it off road I will. Ours is a small country and there aren't many public places you can go off road. The last few years over here pit bike riders have kind of ruined things for everyone else. So many of these bikes have been bought and ridden off road that the police are wise to them. A lot of riders get stopped and have their bikes confiscated as they are riding with no insurance, MOT test or road tax.

[culcune]

My theory on why they dropped it is because they import the Skyteam PBR 125 which is a replica of the ZB50 which was sold in the states for only 1988, maybe 1989, too, and have heavily promoted that bike, that is what they concentrate on. Keep in mind, Skyteam USA is not the official importer of Skyteam to the US. In fact, they don't have an official importer. Hence, that is why Roketa, Pitster Pro, SSR, Pirahna, and a few others carry Skyteam's CT70 replica, too. In fact, the SSR is not a 'SSR' brand; it is still branded as the OEM, Skyteam, if you were to purchase one, same as Roketa's version.

http://www.skyteamusa.com/images/alb...20ab43.JPG.png

[birdmove]

In truth, I like the PBR also. But I like the CT clones more, as I think they are a bit roomier, and more able to take some mild off road riding.

[trexuk]

I am very surprised that there is no official importer in the U.S, I would have thought they are missing out on a huge market.

[culcune]

In truth, I like the PBR also. But I like the CT clones more, as I think they are a bit roomier, and more able to take some mild off road riding.

I prefer the CT clone because I have liked that bike since I first saw one ridden by a high school girl when I was 9 or 10--sex on wheels!!