2019 TaoTao TBR7
 

New to the site so bare with me. I wanted to give a little bit of info on my new TBR7 as i don't see many references to them (yet).

* first off my bike came from texaspowersports and is a 2019 model.
* It is a similar 229cc engine as found on the hawk with a sealed pw30 carb on it with a 5 speed.
*stock gearing is 15/46 with a 428 chain (non o-ring ). advertised as an o-ring chain which is wrong.
* fuel tank is a 12.5 liter including reserve ( not a 13.5L as advertised).
Stock wheels are 19/17 with probably 70 road/30 off road tires.
* cable driven mechanical speedo ( odo seems to read in km ?) and gauge reading does not seem accurate ( will consider a digital unit later).
* bike has a decent front brake rotor ( works well ) and an old school rear drum brake (works ok).
* stock battery is a sealed ytx-9 which is very common to get a replacement when needed.
* seat height is advertised as 34 inches and i sat on it no problem ( 32 inch inseam). I now can sit on it flat footed after about a 100 mile break in ride. Will try to stiffen it up a little as it seems a little soft but also very comfortable( about 200lbs with all gear on).
* turn signals have a loud beeper fitted which i have found quite usefull for not riding around like a moron with the turn signal left on.
* headlight bulb is i believe a H6m halogen and not a H4 like the hawk and tt250.

So here are the thoughts as of right now:
I am probably one of a very few that was able to ride my bike on the stock carb ( i live at 6000ft ) and rode up to about 8500ft it is still a tad lean at 6000 but worked and ideled well at the higher elevation.

The stock gearing @ 15/46 is very short ( remember i have a much smaller diameter tire and rim at the back compared to a hawk) it was so short that i could pull away in second gear and by 30 to 40 mph it sounded like the engine was doing about 3 billion rpms. I ordered 17/43 gears for a hawk as i had no reference for parts. The 17 tooth front went right on with the stock chain but the rear sprocket did not fit as the bolt pattern is different than a hawk( will do some research and find one that fits ). So , gearing change is about a 13.5 % drop in rpms with just the front sprocket and is way way better plus first gear still seems short enough for rough terrain.

Hope this bit of info helps with anyone considering a TBR7.

When i figure out how to do it i will post some pics of the bike.

If this helps any..

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The stock gearing with the smaller diameter rear tire taken into account ends up working out to about the same drive ratio as a Hawk with it's 15/50 sprockets. By putting the 17 on up front you have the same effective gearing as a stock TT250.

The rear sprocket being different interests me. Is it still a 4 bolt pattern or is it a 6 bolt?

@ megadon. It is a 4 bolt pattern . the center locating hole seems about the same but the pcd is smaller than the sprocket that arrived . i did not remove the wheel to get the exact measurement but was able to measure (with a caliper ) from one bolt to the next bolt ( not the needed diagonal ) . i got a measurement of about 55mm.

@ ChipToothy. thanks for the info. Will give it a go

Thanks @ jeffrey i will look into that sprocket

@ Megadan. I calculated that 55mm reading and came up with a pcd of 80mm ?

@jeffrey. my measurements were a little crude so i think you might be spot on at 78 mm. I will go ahead and order the sprocket. I really appreciate your help.

Tao Tao TBR 7
 

Hi Here are some pics. Thanks for the tips Chiptoothy:thanks:

TBR7 more pics
 

I have more photos.

Nice! :tup: thanks for the write up and posting pictures.

That is a very useful bit of information I have never seen before. I guess the drum brake rear hub was borrowed from a Suzuki design and the disc rear hub from a Honda.

That is a good looking machine right there. :tup:

We're gonna need some info on the classic car before I compliment the really great looking motorcycle :)

The TMEC 200 uses an oddball hub that fits a few European-spec bikes. Not to mention, JT's only go to a 48 rear, whereas I felt that a 46 would have been ideal. Most Chinese enduros seem to use the 1979 (and probably several other years's) XL185 hub making them easy to find a multitude of rear gearing. I have been intrigued trying a 17/39--don't ask me why because I couldn't tell you, but I recall someone having that gearing and mentioning it, and I it just screamed "Road trip!"...on a Chinese dual sport... LOL :lmao:

It looks like a Jensen Healy GT is my guess.