Chinese Bikes?
Thread Starter
|
Senior Member
1st Gear Member
Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 539
From: Saco, Maine
Chinese Bikes?
Ok, ok, ok, let me start with, "I know what most people think of chinese dirt bikes..."
After I got my KLX, I really wanted something for my 9 year old to learn on so we could eventually ride together. He's small for his age so I was looking at the little Suzuki DR-Z70, CRF50, KLX110 (Too big for him), PW50's, etc. I then found a chinese manufacturer under the name Apollo Motor Corp (http://www.apollovehicle.com/index.htm). I found a little 50cc bike on the internet for something like $500 delivered. I figured, what the heck, it's only $500, not $1400 like the DR-Z. How bad could it be? I had it delivered to my brothers house while I was in Iraq last year and he uncrated it, put the handlebars on it, and brought it to my house in time to give to my son as a Christmas gift. I purchased it last October.
My son and I have taken almost the entire bike apart this winter, and put it all back together using loctite. We greased and lubed everything and generally just made sure it was safe. We had never started it or put gas in it. Today, after 5 months of sitting and waiting for some nice weather, we took it out to the garage, changed the oil (what the heck, who know's what the chinese use for oil when they ship them), put some gas in it and started it up. I kid you not, it started on THE FIRST KICK. One kick and it was purring like a kitten. I could not believe it. I was expecting to have to fight with it every step of the way. I literally turned the gas petcock, waited about 10 seconds and kicked it over once. After it warmed up we took it out and rode it up and down the street. It runs great! I can't believe it. It actually sounds really cool too. Of course time will tell but so far so good. Of course the first crash could turn it into a pretzel but parts are cheap. It's basically an XR50 clone. Also, most parts from the little honda will fit it. It's also got an electric start which works great too. (I decided to use the kickstarter for the first runup but afterwards we used the electric start a few times just to make sure it works).
Here's a picture...
and...
It's going to take him a little while to learn to ride it. The biggest problem is that the gear shifter (It's a 4 speed with no clutch), is a little too long for his feet. I need to figure out how to put a shorter gear shifter on it. He can shift down but he has trouble shifting up. Anyone know where I can find a SHORT gear shifter? Maybe the XR50's is a little smaller, who knows.
Anyway, I know this is off topic from KLX's but thought it would be fun to share.
After I got my KLX, I really wanted something for my 9 year old to learn on so we could eventually ride together. He's small for his age so I was looking at the little Suzuki DR-Z70, CRF50, KLX110 (Too big for him), PW50's, etc. I then found a chinese manufacturer under the name Apollo Motor Corp (http://www.apollovehicle.com/index.htm). I found a little 50cc bike on the internet for something like $500 delivered. I figured, what the heck, it's only $500, not $1400 like the DR-Z. How bad could it be? I had it delivered to my brothers house while I was in Iraq last year and he uncrated it, put the handlebars on it, and brought it to my house in time to give to my son as a Christmas gift. I purchased it last October.
My son and I have taken almost the entire bike apart this winter, and put it all back together using loctite. We greased and lubed everything and generally just made sure it was safe. We had never started it or put gas in it. Today, after 5 months of sitting and waiting for some nice weather, we took it out to the garage, changed the oil (what the heck, who know's what the chinese use for oil when they ship them), put some gas in it and started it up. I kid you not, it started on THE FIRST KICK. One kick and it was purring like a kitten. I could not believe it. I was expecting to have to fight with it every step of the way. I literally turned the gas petcock, waited about 10 seconds and kicked it over once. After it warmed up we took it out and rode it up and down the street. It runs great! I can't believe it. It actually sounds really cool too. Of course time will tell but so far so good. Of course the first crash could turn it into a pretzel but parts are cheap. It's basically an XR50 clone. Also, most parts from the little honda will fit it. It's also got an electric start which works great too. (I decided to use the kickstarter for the first runup but afterwards we used the electric start a few times just to make sure it works).
Here's a picture...
and...
It's going to take him a little while to learn to ride it. The biggest problem is that the gear shifter (It's a 4 speed with no clutch), is a little too long for his feet. I need to figure out how to put a shorter gear shifter on it. He can shift down but he has trouble shifting up. Anyone know where I can find a SHORT gear shifter? Maybe the XR50's is a little smaller, who knows.
Anyway, I know this is off topic from KLX's but thought it would be fun to share.
Senior Member
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 3,406
From: N. Illinois
1st Gear Member
Cool story, he looks good on it. Just an idea for the shifter if all else fails you could bolt some type of **** on that shift lever, but closer to his toe, or weld a piece of pipe( for a ****) on the shift lever closer to his toe.
Senior Member
1st Gear Member
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 181
From: Vermont
That's awesome. One of the most uplifting stories I've read in a long time! I can only imagine what his eyes looked like Christmas morning!
But seriously, e-start?? Kids these days, they have it all...
But seriously, e-start?? Kids these days, they have it all...
Thread Starter
|
Senior Member
1st Gear Member
Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 539
From: Saco, Maine
I tried adjusting the lever a little lower but it's just too far away. The tip of the lever sits right on the end of his toes when his heel is on the footpeg. I may try one of these:
http://minibikeoutlet.com/index2.php...t_detail&p=258
The standard size looks shorter than the one on his bike.
http://minibikeoutlet.com/index2.php...t_detail&p=258
The standard size looks shorter than the one on his bike.
Senior Member
1st Gear Member
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 942
From: Pineville, LA
Damn that lever looks as long as the ones on our bikes!
My uncle deals in Chinese bikes as a side business, the ones he sells aren't too bad, like you said, mostly old-school Honda clones. For a beginning bike they look legit to me.
Good to see you riding with your kid. I love riding with my dad. Honestly, if it wasn't for dad, I'd trade in the KLX for a crotch bike, but then I couldn't ride with him, and what's the fun in that?
My uncle deals in Chinese bikes as a side business, the ones he sells aren't too bad, like you said, mostly old-school Honda clones. For a beginning bike they look legit to me.
Good to see you riding with your kid. I love riding with my dad. Honestly, if it wasn't for dad, I'd trade in the KLX for a crotch bike, but then I couldn't ride with him, and what's the fun in that?