Modifications made to my new Viva VX200SX!

[SamM]

I just called Viva Motors to get a tracking #. The bike won't ship until tomorrow. Major bummer! I was hoping to have it for the weekend. That probably won't happen now. morespl, thanks for the picture! Can't wait to get my hands on one like this.

[morespl]

Hi Sam,

You really need to be patient and take your time assembling this bike.
Before it arrives, go get yourself a 6mm 45-degreee grease fitting, two tubes of red Locktight, one qt of 10-40w synthetic oil (I used Mobile 1 motor cycle) and some JB weld. The wiring harness on this bike is horrid and many problems will occur if you don’t carefully check each connection under the instrument cluster. Use pliers to tighten the bullet connectors on the main wiring harness as they will just slip out and are very loose connections from the factory.

Regards,
Ray

[SamM]

I was out in my shop today and noticed my new mountain bike sitting in the corner. I had almost forgotten about it! Earlier this winter I got a great deal on a leftover 2006 Diamondback Freeride XTS Mountain bike. The bike retails for $1899, but I didn't pay anything near that for it. I got to looking around and found the invoice. After sales tax, it cost just a few dollars more than my Viva VX200SX. I can't believe that I purchased a motorcycle for less than I paid for a mountain bike. You gotta love the Chinese. My original plan for the XTS was to part it out on ebay. Then I rode it! I hope it's the same for the Viva.

2006 Diamondback Freeride XTS

[ambassador]

Ray, in the pic your back brake line looks really tight, may want to look into some braided lines or something???

[zacstewart]

I like the dual exhaust. But does it really have much effect on performance?

[ambassador]

Zac,
That's not a dual exhaust, the "other" muffler is the tool kit/extra parts storage...

[morespl]

Ray, in the pic your back brake line looks really tight, may want to look into some braided lines or something?

Hi amb,
Yeah the brake line doesn’t have much slack but this bike has such a stiff rear suspension I really don’t think it will break. I am going to try to mod the shock and spring because this thing rides like a hard tale with 50 PSI in the rear tire
Regards,
Ray

[SamM]

morespl,
You're right! I will take my time assembling the bike. I'll be waiting on the MSO anyway, so it's not going anywhere soon. Most of the stuff you mention, I already have in my shop from my old Buell engine building days. Not sure about the 6mm grease fitting. I'll need to get that.

What do you use the red loctite for? I mostly use the blue stuff.

[red2003]

Originally Posted by morespl

Hi Sam,

You really need to be patient and take your time assembling this bike.
Before it arrives, go get yourself a 6mm 45-degreee grease fitting, two tubes of red Locktight, one qt of 10-40w synthetic oil (I used Mobile 1 motor cycle) and some JB weld. The wiring harness on this bike is horrid and many problems will occur if you don’t carefully check each connection under the instrument cluster. Use pliers to tighten the bullet connectors on the main wiring harness as they will just slip out and are very loose connections from the factory.

Regards,
Ray

Great advice, except I would NOT go with a full synthetic initially. A full synthetic wont let the engine break in properly. It's too slick and the rings will never seat. Parts need to "wear in" and get comfortable with each other during the breakin period. Run a regular dino oil for the first couple oil changes, then switch over to synthetic. Mobil 1 is GREAT stuff. I plan on switching over at about 500 miles to make sure the motor is properly broken in. PS, the Viva looks very nice. I like it a lot!!

[SamM]

Left over in my shop from my Harley/Buell days, are a few quarts of H-D brand dino oil. I think it's 20W-40. Will this work in my new Viva? What are you guys using? I also have 3 or 4 quarts maybe more of Redline 20W-40 full-synthetic oil. The engine and transmission both use the same crankcase oil sump on these bikes, correct? If this stuff works I'll probably have oil for 4 or 5 full oil changes. My plan is to change out the stock oil and brake fluid straight away. My first oil change happens around 250 miles or so then 500. Then I'll go 1000 and every 2000 or 3000 after that. I like to do a few heat cycles on the engine without a load before putting miles on it. With an air-cooled engine you just get it good and warm and then shut it off. Don't overheat it! This seems to work for me and I've never had any problems doing this.

We'll see how it works. The one thing that worries me a little about these bikes is the vibration. They seem to have an unnatural vibration to them. The cranks may not be balanced very well on them. Do they get smoother as the miles rack up?

[SamM]

*UPDATE*

I just got off the phone with UPS Freight. My bike will be at the local terminal Thursday morning before 8am. I get off work about that time so I'm going to drive over and pick the bike up on my way home. Anybody have the dimensions of the box? LWH? Will it fit into my wife's Jeep Liberty? They say it only weighs 187 lbs. How is that possible? I though these were almost 300 lbs?

Thanks for any info!

[msRandi]

still have the shipping frame, 33 high, 18 wide, 74 long.

[TheOtherRide]

Hey Sam--
The guy at the freight terminal here brought it out in his pickup and had it unloaded before I even got home. There are handholds built into the box. I was confused about the 187 lbs. too; it seems heavier than that, but maybe it has to do with a shipping agreement Viva has with UPS???

I still have the box at home. Since the overall length of the bike is listed at 81", I'm guessing it's about 71" long with the front wheel removed, and less than 3' tall. I'll try to list the box dimensions later today or tomorrow.

[TheOtherRide]

LOL, msRandi ain't just fast on a bike! She beat me to it!

[msRandi]

you are real close!!!