Zongshen Sierra 200 Report

[Poet_and_Madman]

The bike looks great, where did you purchase it?

[SpudRider]

The bike looks great, where did you purchase it?

I found my Sierra 200 on the Seattle Craigslist where an importer was selling leftover 2006 models, new, in the crate.

Spud

[phil]

:oops:

[phil]

to poet madman would you post a pic of your bike ive never seen a green one (assuming thats what the signature means) but i also didnt know it was a clone of a tw200, i knew it was somebodys just not what but then they dont let me out much

[tcs]

A couple cross China and Mongolia on Zongshens Sierras:

http://www.advrider.com/forums/showthread.php?t=371656

tcs

[katoranger]

That was quite a read. Those zongshens apparently gave them few problems for the distance travelled.

[SpudRider]

A couple cross China and Mongolia on Zongshens Sierras:

http://www.advrider.com/forums/showthread.php?t=371656

Thanks for letting us know about the great link! The above story posted by Mr. and Mrs. Owl corroborates my own experience that the Sierra 200 is ready to go on an adventure, right out of the shipping crate.

Here is another link about some gentlemen touring China on Zongshen 200GY motorcycles. This story helped me to decide to purchase my own Zong.

http://www.danielmontejo.com/Picture...themachine.htm

P.S.
Mr. and Mrs. Owl both got Zongs with the ugly front fender! I am certainly glad that I got a Sierra 200 with a decent fender.

Spud

[SpudRider]

I mentioned earlier in this thread that the Zongshen Sierra 200 is a "clone" of the Yamaha TW200. To avoid the possibility of misleading anyone, I feel that I should point out that the Sierra 200 is not an exact replica of the Yamaha TW200. There are many similarities, but there are also many differences.

I do not own a Yamaha TW200. However, based upon my research of the Yamaha I will try to outline the main similarities and differences between the two motorcycles. First we will examine the Sierra 200 engine.

The Zongshen engine copies the engine block used in several Yamaha motorcycles. The 196cc version of this engine is the basic powerplant for the Yamaha TW200 dual sport motorcycle. However, the same engine block with a slightly larger, 223cc displacement is the powerplant for both the Yamaha XT225 dual sport motorcycle and the Yamaha TT-R225 and TT-R230 dirt bikes.

The Sierra 200 employs a replica of the smaller, 196cc engine used in the Yamaha TW200. However, the Sierra 200 differs in using the shorter countershaft from the larger, 223cc versions of this engine. This shorter countershaft places the front sprocket closer to the engine of the Sierra 200 than to the engine of the TW200. Therefore, the Sierra 200 cannot be easily modified to accept the wider, 180/100-14 tire of the TW200. If you lace a TW200 rear rim to a Sierra 200 rear hub, the wider TW200 wheel will not have enough clearance with the drive chain because of the Zongshen's shorter countershaft.

The engine mounting points are the same in both the Zongshen and Yamaha motorcycle frames. You could bolt the 223cc version of the Yamaha engine into the Zongshen frame, and the sprockets would align. However, if you bolted a TW200 engine into the Zongshen frame the front sprocket would be too far from the engine to properly align with the Zongshen swingarm.

Because several Yamaha engines share the same engine block, the Zongshen Sierra 200 uses the same oil filter as the Yamaha TW200, XT225, TT-R225 and TT-R230 motorcycles.

The Sierra 200 engine has both kick and electric starters. The latest models of the Yamaha TW200 have only an electric starter.

Spud

[max_damage]

I also own Zongshen Sierra,so far 15.500 km and still running strong . What about similarities to Suzuki DR 200,so far exahust are the same one,front brakes are same one (i know becouse i put new brake pads vesrah for suzuki).

[SpudRider]

Originally Posted by max_damage

I also own Zongshen Sierra,so far 15.500 km and still running strong . What about similarities to Suzuki DR 200,so far exahust are the same one,front brakes are same one (i know becouse i put new brake pads vesrah for suzuki).

Max,

Thank you for the good report on your Sierra 200 after 9,300 miles (15,500 km). I am personally unfamiliar with the similarities between the Zongshen Sierra 200 and the Suzuki DR200. My research has concentrated on the Yamaha TW200. Can you tell me more? Do you remember the part number for the Vesrah brake pads you purchased for your motorcycle? Did you replace the entire exhaust system on your Sierra 200, or just the muffler? Does the Suzuki exhaust system match up with the Sierra 200 mounting points?

Spud

[max_damage]

Do you remember the part number for the Vesrah brake pads you purchased for your motorcycle?

Yes, Vesrah VD-312, here http://catalog.vesrah.co.jp/catalog/shape/VD-312.html

Did you replace the entire exhaust system on your Sierra 200, or just the muffler? Does the Suzuki exhaust system match up with the Sierra 200 mounting points?

No,no i didnt replace exhaust, i know guy who is owned Suzuki DR200,so by the look i think the mufflers are the same.[/url]

[SpudRider]

Max,

Thank you for supplying the information and the web link for the front brake pads! I just examined my front brake caliper and confirmed that the Sierra 200 uses Vesrah brake pads VD-312 or SD-312. The VD-312 brake pads are organic, and the SD-312 brake pads are semi-metallic. My motorcycle came equipped with the semi-metallic, VD-312 brake pads. According to the Vesrah parts catalog these brake pads are also used by the Suzuki GP125, and the Hyosung GF125 motorcycles.

Searching the internet I discovered the Hyosung GF125 repair manual at the following url (uniform resource locator).

http://www.simamoto.fr/Home/SMATLC.Nsf/0/A4B7B9BED814B694C125711E00559C0D/$FILE/SERVICE%20MANUAL-GF125.pdf?OpenElement

I can verify that the Sierra 200 uses the Hyosung GF125 front brake caliper. I downloaded the above manual and used the information following page 6-22 to disassemble and inspect my front brake caliper and brake shoes. I will post my findings soon in another thread.

Inspecting my rear brake drum I discovered that the Sierra 200 comes equipped with organic brake shoes that measure 130mm in diameter by 28mm in width. I believe the best aftermarket replacement for this brake shoe is Vesrah part VB-223.

http://catalog.vesrah.co.jp/catalog/shape/VB-223.html

This brake shoe is used by a large number of Yamaha motorcycles. You can discover which motorcycles use a particular Vesrah brake product by typing the part number in the Buyer's Guide box at the Vesrah on-line catalog.

http://catalog.vesrah.co.jp/list/dirt_brake.asp

Spud

[SpudRider]

Another similarity between the Zongshen 200GY-2 (a.k.a. Sierra 200) and the Yamaha TW200 is the carburetor/airbox assembly.

Yamaha sales literature lists the TW200 carburetor as a Mikuni. In fact, the Yamaha TW200 carburetor is a constant velocity, TK MV28, the same unit employed in the Zongshen Sierra 200. Once again, however, there are minor differences.

The TW200 has a two-cable throttle that attaches to the butterfly valve on the right side of the Yamaha carburetor. The Sierra 200 uses a one-cable throttle, with return spring, that attaches to the butterfly valve on the left side of the carburetor.

The TW200 has an enricher/choke knob that attaches directly to the left side of the carburetor. The Sierra 200 has a remote enricher/choke lever on the left handlebar that attaches to the same location on the TK carburetor.

The pilot mixture screw on the TW200 is hidden behind a metal, or rubber plug on the bottom of the carburetor, forward of the float bowl. The pilot mixture screw on the Sierra 200 is easily accessible on the left side of the carburetor, forward of the float bowl.

Except for several other, minor differences, the two TK MV28 carburetors are identical.

The airboxes that connect to the two carburetors are also, almost identical. Each airbox incorporates the battery compartment, located under the seat. The Sierra 200 battery compartment appears to be a little larger; therefore, Zongshen owners can choose a battery with slightly larger dimensions. It appears that the foam air filter element for both motorcycles is also identical.

Spud

[max_damage]

The TW200 has an enricher/choke knob that attaches directly to the left side of the carburetor. The Sierra 200 has a remote enricher/choke lever on the left handlebar that attaches to the same location on the TK carburetor

Well,mine zongshen has choke directly on carburator,not on handlebar.

[SpudRider]

Originally Posted by max_damage

Well,mine zongshen has choke directly on carburator,not on handlebar.

Max,

Thank you for pointing out this difference.

Zongshen makes several, slightly different models of the 200GY-2 for export to different nations. I should mention that all of the information I have related is based upon the 2006 Zongshen Sierra 200 motorcycle that I purchased in the United States of America. Models of this motorcycle exported to Asia, South America, Europe and other continents will sometimes have minor differences in the carburetor, exhaust system, and other components.

The comparisons I make to the Yamaha TW200 are also based upon the latest models of this motorcycle sold in the United States.

Spud