Xpro Storm DLX 150 Review
 

This thread will be used to document my review of the Xpro Storm DLX 150 that I have purchased for my 15 yo daughter to learn on and ride.

Decision Process: Since the bike would be for my daughter who needs to learn how to ride i figured its better to have the lightest bike possible and one with a lower seat height. I was originally thinking the Titan DLX or Templar M but they are both tall and 275+ pounds. I then landed on the Storm 150, its 180 pounds, 35" seat height, 19/16 wheels and 4 speed (N-4Up) . I have no doubt that she may outgrow the bike in the future and ill cross that bridge when the time comes.

Cost: $1250 shipped to Virginia

Make/Model: Zuma S5-150. Interestingly the Templar X is also made by Zuma

MCO: will say "Offroad Motorcycle" but i have already submitted a ticket to get the MCO to say "Motorcycle".
Update 3/16/24: MCO received separately via mail and says "Motorcycle". This will allow registration/plating before the bike is received.
Update: 3/20/24: Registered and plated in VA without issue

Ordering: I purchased directly from xprousa.com as it was $50 less than PSM and i found out they are affiliated companies. After placing the order i received an email as well as a link to "Shop" app that allows me to see my order as well as track the shipment. I also found out that the carrier will either b R&L or XPO. In any case, i'm hoping for the best but not ruling out the worst.
Estimated delivery time: 1 week
Update: Delivered on 3/25/24 in perfect condition, wrapped well with no issues

Maintenance Plans: locktite as much as possible during the build, cover any exposed wiring, oil change, valve adjust

Mod Plans: as with all China bikes, im sure i will need to re-jet the carb but thats tbd for now. I also plan to re-gear probably the front sprocket to a 15T vs the stock 14T to get some more top end and get it closer to the advertisied 65mph top speed which im sure is a pipe dream in stock form

Technical Notes:
Carb: PZ27 with 35 pilot, non-adjustable needle and 95 main
Fuel: 1.58 Gallon Tank; no reserve
Fuel range: I observed about 42 miles at half tank so should be good for 75-80 miles
Throttle cable is short and can bind on left full lock
Wheels unbalanced from factory
Chain adjustment: tricky as the bolt does not thread into the swingarm
Seat height: 35"
Suspension: no adjustment on front; pre-load on rear
Exhaust: has catalyst in the muffler section
Plate mount: There is no white light to illuminate the plate

Build Day:
Time to complete: Give or take 3-4 hours, I was taking my time and applying locktite, grease and dielectric grease where applicable

Assembly: assembly is standard China bike, you uncrate, connect the rear shock, front wheel, handlebars, headlight, f/r signals, front fender and battery. There is a good YT video on assembly, I wont get into the details here.
A couple of observations: I can see that this bike had some better QA some some of the other China bikes ive bought in the past, ie. nylock fasteners, locktite marks on some of the bolts, visible grease on the neck and some other areas. They also supplied a package of grease and a complete owners manual with decent maintenance info.
I also electric tape wrapped the exposed wiring by the rear fender and applied dielectric grease to the electrical connects behind the headlight.

Post-Assembly Maintenance: I changed the shipping oil with Rotella T4 15w40. One quirk i found here is that the manual says 0.6L but wen i put that much in the oil level was at the bottom of the mark barely indicating anything. I then added another 200ml and still low. I recall my sons DBX1 was 1 qt as are most China bikes so i filled to 1Q and it was right at the top.

Post assembly mods performed: I had pre-purchased a 15 front sprocket as i want it to be able to reach 60mph ad installed it as well as a set of bark busters.

Issues of note: the gas cap doesn't secure very well.. it'll turn and get somewhat tight but can be popped off with alittle force. I may check to see what i can do about that.
I had to adjust the throttle cable and zip tie to prevent the throttle from engaging when full lock of the handlebars to the left side.

First Ride: I rode over to the local gas station about 3 miles away and was able to hit around 45mph at 8k rpm.. redline starts at 10k.. The power is fairly low but its snappy. I think its just geared too low still. I can also feel the front wheel bouncing a bit, i think its due to the wheel lock throwing it off balance.
I also spent some time teaching my daughter how to take off, stop and ride around our circle in first gear.

Next plans:
1. either remove the rim locks or buy a balancing kit
2. look into a 16T front sprocket
3. change the oil again
4. check valves
5. see if i can lower the rear a bit further for my daughter to be more flat footed on it

Some more pics

Nice write-up/ report on the new bike! I ordered one yesterday and e-mailed them this morning about getting Motorcycle on the paper work as you did. Will be following along…THANKS to you and Dusman too for his vids. :tup:

Today I adjusted the valves. The intake was at .001 and exhaust at .002 from the factory. I adjusted both to .004.
I also figured out a way to lower the seat height by cutting the spring. This is a mod I've done on another bike in the past as well and worked well. Seat height went from 35" to now at 34" which should help my daughter handle the height better.
I still need to dig into the carb as it stalls with the switch at top and runs best in the middle..probably lean

Note: it was a pita to remove the case cover port to turn the engine to TDC.. i had to apply lube and force it off.. i sent an email to Xpro and they will be sending a replacement.

Carb day.. I removed the stock carb, swapped the main from 95 to 105, pilot from 35 to what I had on hand which was a 38. I also added a washer to shim the needle and removed the cap on the a/f screw (note: its the bottom cap not the side one).
Took a short spin and can definitely notice an increase in power, not huge, but definitely noticeable :)

A proper timing plug tool makes the job of removing a stubborn plug much easier. They were never really meant to have a standard screwdriver used on them as the groove is curved on the bottom. See the attached picture for the Motion Pro part number of the tool if you're interested.

If you do have to resort to using a screwdriver, some fine emery cloth wrapped, gritty side out, around the tip of a nice sharp straight blade screwdriver that is just short of filling the width of the slot, and occupies about 2/3 the length of the slot, used centered in the length for a deep enough "bite", will often get it done without unduly marring the plug. That said, the proper tool is far better.

I just use a quarter or a big washer in a pair of pliers...

Ive used a chisel and/or large flathead screwdriver in the past on other China bikes with no issues.. this one was jammed on real good

Those "wings" on the tool are dumb. They'll hit the cooling fins on the head on a cg clone (229cc) or 249cc engine (172FMM). I use a big screwdriver. But it's soft aluminum, easily damaged. And you need it tight so you don't lose it on the trail!.

I like the 10mm Allen wrench style plug on the 6speed 172FMM (249cc) rotor nut access. I wish they did that on the timing port.

I use a thick and wide bladed screwdriver. If it's really on there, you an use a wrench on the screwdriver handle. Or on the shaft, if it's square. But I like the quarter trick too.

This is a perfect role for a Chinabike like this DLX 150. Good enough quality, cheap to buy and maintain. A temporary learner bike before graduation to a better one. Why pay $$$ for a Japanese bike you are going to outgrow?

How did you deal with the 2 piece pilot jet situation? Did your 38 pilot just fit in the first piece of the pilot jet (the “seat” or “housing”)?

I replaced the the seat part if you will.. I had a YouAll carb that came from my old Templar and it also had the 2-part pilot but came with a 38 instead of the 35 that came with the Storm.. 38 is still prob on the small side but the bike is running good

Update: I discovered that the tail light does not include a white light for illumination of the plate. This is a requirement in VA and will fail inspection without it. I ordered these off Amazon and will tap into the wire leading to the tail-light for power and install in the tag mounting holes:
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07MYXNLZ5...p_imgToDp&th=1

Also: there is no reserve. The petcock is on or off :(

That's a clever solution, lights that hold the plate on.

In Missouri brand new bikes are not inspected. That comes at the two-year mark when you have to renew the license plate.

Update: installed the tail plate light, 16T front sprocket and bored thru the catalyst in the exhaust.
With the 16T front sprocket I was able to hit 52 (uncorrected) at 8k rpm. Still breaking in but I figure with my daughter riding and with 2k left before redline starts, it should be good for 60mph now

Does your state inspection include emissions? If so, the gutted cat will likely be a problem.

No just safety check thankfully

Actually this changed not too long ago:
Effective August 28, 2019, motor vehicles for the first ten years following the model year of manufacture and having less than 150,000 miles on the odometer are exempt from the safety inspection requirement.



https://dor.mo.gov/motor-vehicle/add...resources.html

Wow, that's not what the DMV lady told me a couple of weeks ago. She said It would need inspecting because it was at the two-year mark for tag renewal. I will have to show this to her. Maybe she's new at the job or something.

It's good to see that the emissions test is not required in MO for motorcycles.

I got 2 year registration on my first gen Templar X (5 speed). It is coming due in Jun 2024, so I'll be getting a renewal notice soon.

As Aussie in MO sez, cars don't need inspection in Missouri up to 150k miles now. This may only apply if you bought it new, or maybe you need it once if you buy it used, then no need for inspection again until after 150k. Not sure how that works. But I think it does apply to motorcycles as well. Even our Chinese bikes (150k :lmao: ).

Either way, I wonder if the renewal notice will say I have to get an inspection on the Templar X? I'll post an answer to this question when I get my renewal notice. Maybe if the bike was purchased before Aug 2019, it is not included?

I'm also renewing in June. We can compare DMV war stories. :-) The way I read it, it applies to any year, has nothing to do with pre-2019.

Just for fun I think we should get back on topic, Xpro Storm 150 DLX. I have one coming this Thursday the 4th and want to learn as much as I can before it gets here! I think the bike must be popular as I believe there’s none in stock anywhere. And to sneak this thought in, FL doesn’t require safety, smog, or insurance…;)

Sorry about that. Oh yeah, this thread is about the Storm 150 dirtbike :hmm:

This video isn't new here, but this you tuber Mike does a nice job explaining why he does mods. His earlier videos were great too. The link is good, just reassemble it.

youtube.
com/watch?v=kZWyv4V3I0s

Update: changed main from 105 to 115, added a 2nd shim to the needle and turned a/f from 2.5 to 3.5 turns out.. I also swapped out the stock throttle cable as its too short and pulls when you turn full lock. Balanced the wheels and adjusted spokes.. With the carb set as is it idles much better and is running great; nice and snappy for where im at - 600 feet elevation.

Update: Greased the triple tree. It came with nice tapered bearings and some light grease. Also from the factory the steering nut was on a bit too tight. I applied a generous serving of grease and re-installed. When the front wheel is raised it will now fall to either side properly.

youtube.com/watch?v=kZWyv4V3I0s

No workee.

Edit: Workee. Gotta copy and paste.

Update: XPro = Excellent Customer Service. I was having an issue with the gas cap not securing properly as well as the stator cover that got marred up when i went to remove it to adjust the valves. Today i received a new set of both stator caps as well as an entire new fuel tank with 2 gas caps. This time the gas cap secures perfectly tight with no issues. Good show Xpro!

Let us know your thoughts on the bike and anything i may have missed in my review :)

Its out for delivery today! Will let you know when the Red one gets here in Lake City, FL. You have done a great job on your review and it is very much appreciated:tup:

:yay:My goodness, it’s beyond my expectations! The bike showed up with not a dent or scratch, or the box. Xpro and R+L shipping did a great job of getting it here! I’m impressed big time…now I have to do assembly with knowledge by reading your reviews…thanks

They've definitely gotten better at shipment, packaging the bike carefully and thoughtfully to prevent claims from the customer.. a few wire ties, zip ties and proper wrapping goes a long way...

How are you liking the bike?

I’m not home and only got the front wheel, fender and handlebar on, oh and rear shock before I left. Have the rest to do when I get back home maybe tomorrow. But from what I’ve seen of it so far looks great! I did notice when putting on the handle bar fully forward position that the ignition wires looked cramped below the switch and steering neck bolt. Looking forward to getting it done here in the next few days. :tup:

Yea a few well placed zip ties help out

Update: the bike was having a rich bog on full throttle so I made the following changes which resolved the issue.. main from 115 to 110 and removed the 2nd shim from the needle.
Also I'm finding that 1st gear is so low and 4th has plenty of snap so I ordered a 17T, hopefully it fits. Will update once confirmed and tested.. with the 16T I can hit 56mph on the speedo and i weigh 180lbs for reference.

I am hard debating between the 150 Storm and just going out and buying a Honda XR150L. The problem is, the Honda weighs 100lbs more, but has a proven track record for reliability. We aren’t sure about the Storm yet, but based on the other Zuma products, it’s not a gamble as they have produced great machines for the $. I wish the Japanese manufacturers made a micro dual sport like this, but everything they have weighs at least 225-250lbs. I want something as light as possible for the trails yet street legal because I have arthritis and don’t want to pick up a 280lb bike if I drop it.

Honda: $3700 OTD. 150 Storm: $1260 delivered.

What is your intended use, and how long do you need it to be good? Only motorcycle or just a backup/alternative ride? Comfortable with doing your own wrenching or dependent on the dealer for service?

Treat the Storm right, especially oil changes. Fire it up and idle it for a few minutes, then drop the shipping oil and put in good stuff. Do that again 50 miles later. Then regular oil changes, say every 1000 miles.

Upgrade any parts you don't like such as levers, headlight, sprockets and chain, etc. I see no downside to the Storm, esp. for the price.

I am no stranger to ChinaBikes. I have a Hawk250 with over 15,000 miles on it that I just installed a Zongshen ZS175fmm 6 speed (PR300) in. I also have 3 other Chinese dirt machines and am *very* comfortable wrenching on bikes as I’ve done so for my entire life (I’m 49 now). I have psoriatic arthritis, so picking up anything over 250lbs is a chore and causes my hands to hurt for days after the ride, and so I just want a light, micro dual sport for getting to the trails and then doing some fun, light to moderate trail riding on the weekends (no jumping…I’m too old! lol). I know that the YX150 engine is reliable on the Storm, but I’ve always loved Hondas. However, I don’t want payments, so it’ll probably be the Storm. I’ve ridden my daughter’s 125cc Coolster pitbike for about 5 years now and it’s been bulletproof reliable with regular maintenance, and the light weight of a pit bike is easy on the arthritis in my hands, thus, the consideration for a streetable pit-bike. I hope all of that makes sense. :-)