Zongshen RX3: My First Excursion in the Dirt

[AZRider]

Thanks for the ride report and photos Spud, most informative. I spent about a year and a half in Boise on a project and got to sample much of your tarmac, but none of the dirt (at least not on a bike). Although I have owned 2 KLR650's in the past, my dirt riding skills are limited, but I did take the RX-3 out yesterday on some dirt and was very pleased. Now I need more practice and then return to ID and explore some more.

[culcune]

I'll say it again--this totally reminds me of your first reports on the Sierra after buying it in a crate for $950 and assembling it!

It is like Sierra 2.0 or Sierra Part II, Sierra Remix...

[culcune]

...and it's even orange!!

[MICRider]

Idaho is gorgeous, before Spud's reports I never had any idea it looked like that . I'm anxious to see how long it takes to wear those stock tires out and see what knobbies are chosen for it next!

[woodlandsprite]

Originally Posted by AZRider

my dirt riding skills are limited, but I did take the RX-3 out yesterday on some dirt and was very pleased. Now I need more practice and then return to ID and explore some more.

heh - there is lots of dirt to explore between Arizona and Idaho
Both Arizona and UT have a lot of dirt roads that I imagine are surrounded by beautiful scenery

[AZRider]

Originally Posted by woodlandsprite

heh - there is lots of dirt to explore between Arizona and Idaho
Both Arizona and UT have a lot of dirt roads that I imagine are surrounded by beautiful scenery

You've put your finger on the reason that I bought the RX-3........the dirt. Now I have a bike I can control, have confidence in and can depend on. I'm very fortunate to live within 5 minutes of dirt roads that can take me to Prescott, Flagstaff and the Grand Canyon. Look out Idaho, here I come

[SpudRider]

Yesterday I went for my second ride in the dirt on my Zongshen RX3. The previous ride I did not adjust the rebound damping of the shock absorber. Before this ride I inspected the rebound damping, and discovered it had 16 settings, numbered from fastest to slowest. The bike arrived with the shock adjusted to setting #4. Before this I ride I immediately adjusted the rebound damping to a slower setting of #11. I then rode some pavement before I arrived at the off road portion of my ride.











I am a heavier rider, and the slower rebound setting was much more comfortable, and smoother for me riding the pavement. Arriving at a gravel rode, I rode a little bit before I adjusted the rebound damping to an even slower setting of #13.





I weigh more than 200 pounds, and the ride was even more comfortable for me at the yet slower setting. I then reached a short section of pavement before I headed onto some fire roads.







Reaching the fire roads, I set the rebound damping to its slowest setting of #16. I rode of the rest of the ride with the rebound damping set at this level, and I am going to keep it there. The RX3 performed much better for me with the slowest rebound damping of the shock absorber. Lighter riders will probably choose a faster setting. Personally, I intend to lose some weight.

The rebound damping adjustment of the shock absorber works well, and is a very nice feature. The primary suspension issue which needs to be addressed is the short suspension travel (5.1 inches), and the fast rebound damping of the forks. The rebound damping can be slowed by filling the forks with a heavier fork oil. I intend to start my experimentation with Valvoline MaxLife Dex/Merc ATF, which has a viscosity of 28.2 cSt at 40 degrees Celsius. This is roughly equivalent to a fork oil viscosity of 7.5W, and will give me a yardstick from which to measure the stock fork oil.

[SpudRider]

Even with it's somewhat limited suspension, the Zongshen RX3 can reach a lot of nice scenery. The bike can climb moderately steep, rocky fire roads, even with the stock sprocket ratio of 14T/44T. Therefore, I am inclined to keep the stock sprocket ratio, which performs superbly on pavement, and quite adequately off road. The following photographs show me descending the fire road I had ascended to reach the previous viewpoint.











In the next photograph, I am making the final descent from the viewpoint. Ahead of me, past the power line, is the fire road I traveled before climbing to the location of the photograph.



The Zongshen RX3 is very fun to ride on pavement, gravel roads, and dirt roads. The bike is definitely a better performer on these surfaces than on fire roads. However, if you are willing to stand up, slow down, and work the clutch, you can negotiate just about any fire road you might reasonably wish to tackle. Nevertheless, in these situations, expect to get a good physical workout.

[SpudRider]

Descending westward into the next valley, I rode a fire road across a grain field before I returned to the pavement, and headed home.