biggest reliable Chinese enduro

[Ariel Red Hunter]

Originally Posted by jatgm1

I got a hawk 250 (technically a shark 250) and I want more power. I really thought this woud have more power. I'm really looking for something that would be good for trail riding that could also pull two people easily. So basically something light and powerful. Unless theirs a larger engine I can put on it that wouldn't snap the frame, I'm looking for a 400cc Cheap enduro bike.

Look for a Suzuki DR 350, used. You'll have to hunt for awhile to find an affordable one, but they are out there...ARH

[dh]

Originally Posted by Ariel Red Hunter

Look for a Suzuki DR 350, used. You'll have to hunt for awhile to find an affordable one, but they are out there...ARH

I agree that a DR 350 would cover all bases. A Honda XL350 or XL500 would be a good bike too if you can find one.

The SSR xf250 has a 249 cc engine with about 19 hp so it has a huge advantage over the hawk in power but also costs twice as much. I have never ridden a hawk so I couldn't tell you how it compares, but it is a pretty fun trail bike. I ride 2 up sometimes and it works good outside of high altitude and headwinds.

[1cylinderwonder]

Are there any other owners of a SSR 250XF on this Forum besides dh?
It's hard to get other reviews and opinions on this bike.
Even the dealers who sell this model will give out contrasting opinions when quizzed about different aspects of the bike.

[sshevie]

I would not consider 3 HP a great advantage over a hawk

[dh]

Originally Posted by sshevie

I would not consider 3 HP a great advantage over a hawk

14.1 HP vs 18.1 HP means a difference of 4 horsepower or about 30%. 59MPH vs 75MPH is also a difference of nearly 30%. 229cc vs 249 cc is a difference of nearly 10% in displacement.

Pretty great advantages in my opinion, especially if considering riding on the interstate or 2 up as the OP might be doing.

[2LZ]

Originally Posted by sshevie

I would not consider 3 HP a great advantage over a hawk

I have both a Qlink XP200 (basically an SSR) and a TT250 (basically a Hawk in Lexus clothing). While the TT250 (with all mods) is a nice bike and has a really nice mid-range pull, my Qlink will kill it in a straight line....and it's only 199cc.

[Megadan]

TT250 is rated at 16.1 and my 2017 Hawk MCO stated 15.6hp. Haw accutate either are is up for question, but still.

3hp is enough to make a small difference, and enough to affect usability, but its still not a huge difference.

[dh]

Megadan thanks for weighing in as I think you have ridden both bikes and I have not. Good point.... the numbers change depending on where you look. I referenced Killer Motorsports for the HP and top speed on the Hawk; I have seen HP ratings for the XF 250 engine at up to 21 hp so I used the lowest common denominator which resulted in the 4hp difference. I would like to ride the Hawk myself to compare, but from what I have read I'm sure I would own one if CA would let me.

[Megadan]

It was a 250 pitster that made me first start looking and get a hawk. Yes, the extra power is enough to make a difference for sure. Lord knows I wish I had that extra measly 3 or 4 hp when I am on the highway lol.

[Border411]

Wish I could find a nice qlink 200 for sale!

[2LZ]

Originally Posted by Border411

Wish I could find a nice qlink 200 for sale!

The SSR/ Qlink really is a superbly built China bike, regarding build quality and materials.
I always said My XP200 is "Virtually Japanese. My '09 already had alloy wheels, stainless spokes, fully welded aluminum swing arm, link suspension, inverted forks, OHC Suzuki motor (Suzuki has(d) the DR125 and 200 motors built at the QingQi factory), a REAL Mikuni CV carb, a frame that has actual quality welds and a bunch of other things that make them different from the masses (hence the price). Even the new SSR XF250 is far less expensive than a DR200...and in my view, is a superior motorcycle to the DR with its standard forks and drum rear brake.

I've done a few minor mods that added a proven, dyno tested, 5 hp to make it 20 hp. The XP/F200's only came with 15+hp. The video is here on that somewhere.

The new Pitster Pro looks very interesting now, as well.
That said, if you're just going to be commuting or trail riding, it's tough to beat a Hawk, Enforcer, Hawk 2, or any of the Bashan bikes for the money...or it's counterpart, the TT250 for us CA folks.

[BigWeld]

I think the OP just needs a rear gear swap, some jets for that Keihin, and a full aftermarket exhaust......$200 will definitely wake that bike up.

[Azhule]

Originally Posted by Border411

Wish I could find a nice qlink 200 for sale!

Found several QLink 200s for sale on craigslist over the past year... but everyone wants well over $1,000 (no one will budge on the price either) for a used China Bike with upwards of 20,000 miles/kilometers on the clock ... I thought they shipped these bikes to your door for under $900 back in the day

[RockyDS]

I have a Pitster Pro 250 the XTR250SC and it is road registered here in Alberta. Currently it's easy to register almost anything as a motorcycle versus an OHV here. Interestingly the LXR 250F EFI is not listed as available in Canada but converting the US price of $4495 at today's rate that's $5,690, which is almost as much as a Honda CRF250 Rally at $6,300 Cdn. I'd buy the Honda. ;-)

[jatgm1]

Originally Posted by Megadan

You get a lot for your money with the lxr250f. I agree that a detuned, carbed version with less fancy parts for around 2500 would be awesome, but to me the suspension alone is worth the extra cost.

I have been eyeballing the SSR SR450s, which is a grand more than the lxr250f. It has had some great reviews and has even been raced successfully. Starting to ventire into good used Japanese bike territory though.

if the lx250f has a better engine, heres a question, where do i buy just the engine, and will it fit on my bike without modifications? (other than adding two radiators somewhere)
also, is there a larger engine that i can buy that will just fit right on?

but better question about tuning my current engine, i replaced the exhaust already, and tried to rejet it, even tried to have a dude at a bike shop rejet it, (idk if he knew what he was doing) and no matter what i did it wouldnt idle properly. it always sounded like it was running rich but it you leaned it out, it wouldnt run. no matter what i did it wouldnt work without the exhaust pipe with the catalytic converter on it. so i left that on and just replaced the muffler to close to no power gain.