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06-21-2014, 10:08 AM | #1 |
Join Date: Jun 2014
Location: Monroe, WI
Posts: 104
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this thread could be helpful, liking the info. when you talked about spraying the cables can you explain that? i remember seeing someone talking about greasing them so they last longer on some forum on some site, but couldn't find it again… also, having the same bike on its way to me right now, i have a question about tires. i see a lot of people have the street version with 2 17in wheels. i have the dirt bike one with 21 in front 18 in rear tires. are they the same bike, just different size rims? heard one guy put 18 on front instead of the 21, can you all explain the advantages of tire sizes? i personally like the look of the larger front tire, but since ill be mostly on the road, maybe smaller will be better? new rider here. also people talk about changing sprockets? a generic explanation of that would be cool too, assuming it gives more power?
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06-21-2014, 10:14 AM | #2 |
Join Date: Mar 2014
Location: keene nh
Posts: 206
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Here's link explaining sprockets and what'll work on a lifan but from what I've gathered sprockets will fit a lot of different hondaoid bikes just make sure u measure them http://www.chinariders.netshowthread.php?t=783 here's link for measurements and sprocket sizes if staying with 428 size chain http://www.jtsprockets.com/catalogue/model/183
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06-21-2014, 11:04 AM | #3 | |
Join Date: Jun 2014
Location: Monroe, WI
Posts: 104
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06-21-2014, 11:36 AM | #4 |
Join Date: May 2006
Location: Yuma, Arizona
Posts: 9,035
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The one advantage you might have with the 21/18 size wheels is it might use a different rear sprocket. 'Stretch' stated the term 'Hondanoid' which is our collective nickname (can't remember who coined it--maybe FasDoc?) for these bikes which are based on old Honda designs, including the wheels. In other words, you can find sprockets and such easier because many aftermarket companies still make things for old Hondas. However, the 17"/17" setup uses a weird bolt pattern unrelated to old Hondas, for the rear sprockets, and I had to have one custom made for the '09, but had some bad luck with that sprocket (it was made for racing, not commuting, and seemed to eat these cheap chains, which stranded me a few times too many), so had to find an online bike accessories company out of the UK that had a steel aftermarket rear sprocket that fits my bolt pattern since the wheels are based on some European bikes as opposed to the common Hondas.
But, before you do anything to your sprocket, you being new to cycling, you probably should just keep the stock sprocket. It really depends on what kind of speeds you 'need' to maintain. If the roads you will be predominantly on are 45 mph roads, the stock one will be fine. If the speeds are 55 or faster, you will want to choose different roads! For reference, the final 8 miles of my 16 mile commute are on a 50 mph road. Lack of police has pushed the confidence of my fellow commuters up to 70+mph. I am the 'slow poke' doing around 60, which is about what the stock sprocket does. However, I have changed my rear sprocket from the stock 56 to a 48 (on bikes, to get higher top speeds, you change out the front sprocket to more teeth, and the rear sprocket to fewer teeth. You can do just one or the other, or both). The TMEC comes with a 17 tooth front sprocket as stock, which is about as big as you are going to want or need for higher top speeds/less engine revs. The rear is a 56 tooth which limits your top speed to about 60max, but high revs and uncomfortable. I ordered a 48 tooth rear, which gives me a couple more mph top speed, but also makes cruising at 55 to top speed more palatable by bringing my revs down (keep in mind that everything vibrating tends to loosen bolts and things start falling off unexpectedly (back to locktite, LOL). Ideally, I would like to find an aftermarket sprocket in the 44 tooth size.
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"They say that life's a carousel, spinning fast you got to ride it well..." TGB Delivery Scooter 150 TMEC 200 Enduro--carcass is sadly rotting in the backyard Last edited by culcune; 06-21-2014 at 12:26 PM. |
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06-21-2014, 12:42 PM | #5 | |
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: Idaho
Posts: 25,054
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Changing the sprockets changes how the engine delivers power to the rear wheel. A larger rear sprocket increases torque for off road riding, but increases engine rpms at all speeds and reduces top speed. A smaller rear sprocket does the opposite. It reduces torque, but decreases engine rpms at all speeds, and allows for higher speeds. The front sprocket works exactly opposite. A larger front sprocket decreases torque and increases top speed. A smaller front sprocket increases torque and decreases top speed. You can alter either, or both sprockets, to achieve the combination of torque and top speed you desire. Divide the number of teeth of the rear sprocket by the number of teeth of the front sprocket to determine the sprocket ratio. A higher sprocket ratio gives more torque, but higher rpms with a lower top speed. A lower sprocket ratio gives more speed, with lower rpms, but less torque. If you ride technical, off road, you want more torque to climb steep hills at lower speeds. If you ride more on pavement, you want more speed with lower rpms to reduce engine wear, and allow you keep up with the traffic flow on busy streets.
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Spud "Never argue with an idiot. He will drag you down to his level, and beat you with experience." Mark Twain 2015 Zongshen ZS250GY-3 (RX3) 2006 Zongshen ZS200GY-2 (Sierra 200) 2005 Honda XR650L 2004 Honda CRF250X 1998 Kawasaki KDX220 Mods made to my Zongshen ZS200GY-2: http://www.chinariders.net/showthread.php?t=6894 |
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06-22-2014, 12:24 PM | #6 |
Join Date: Jun 2014
Location: Monroe, WI
Posts: 104
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wow you guys are great!! right now I'm guessing 90% of my riding will be under 40mph. mainly around town, and on county atv trail. a few miles at 55 mph if i want to go out to the woods to try some off road or out to a friends farm. thinking ill eventually buy a bigger bike - maybe just a regular motorcycle if i want to take road trips at higher speeds and keep this as just a toy. I'm making a list of everything i found to do upon setup, ill make it before i start and try n post to see if I'm forgetting anything - i found a few other thing on youtube that may be overkill, but i think it will help me learn more about the bike. supposedly it will be here towards the end of this week, possibly early next week. thanks again!! and culcune, maybe a list of common problems i may occur with stock equipment? i know you mentioned replacing some lights, the spark plug, and now chain?
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06-22-2014, 04:00 PM | #7 | |
Join Date: May 2006
Location: Yuma, Arizona
Posts: 9,035
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Spark plug stock should be fine. However, at least with my old bike, I would have randomly fouled plugs which made the bike seem like it had run out of gas once they were too fouled. So far, on the new bike (and I have NOT touched the carb), the plug is very clean. I simply changed the stock plug to an NGK since they are cheap and psychologically, I figure, are 'better' than the stock plug. Chain--this is an area where I have changed my advice to you--don't touch the stock sprocket! Especially based on what you said about your riding. And how you probably want to upgrade bikes down the line; I commute on mine and have to maintain 55 to 60 mph for about 6 to 8 miles straight depending on route I take. I did ride the first two weeks or so with the stock sprocket, but felt I could no longer stand the vibrations at that speed, just like my old bike. A little background, then, about my '09 bike--I found a place that made custom sprockets, Rebel Gears. I had them make a 40 tooth rear sprocket since I figured the aftermarket 48 tooth sprocket which was/is commercially available was not going to make too much difference, so went all out with the 40 tooth. The problem with the sprocket--it was kind of narrow, and made of lightweight alloy. It ended up chewing through a few chains. It was made for racing, not commuting; it wasn't the sprockets fault. This time, I did my 'homework' and tracked down a 'proper' replacement sprocket (one commercially available vs. custom made) and it was slightly wider and made of steel. It has shown an improvement over the stock 56 on the few mile sections of my commute where I am running at high speeds. You should not play with sprockets at this point--keep the stock one. Later on, maybe you want to do some minor touring, then worry about it; for now, the stock one will get you around town and on the short sections of 55 mph highway. Hope that helps. Your first concern is to get the bike assembled correctly, and then started, and then ride it to break it in. Then, much later, worry about plugs, chains and sprockets...
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"They say that life's a carousel, spinning fast you got to ride it well..." TGB Delivery Scooter 150 TMEC 200 Enduro--carcass is sadly rotting in the backyard |
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06-21-2014, 11:40 AM | #8 |
Join Date: Mar 2014
Location: keene nh
Posts: 206
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First link is under faq in sticky it'll read lifan 428 sprockets and 520 conversion
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06-23-2014, 12:44 AM | #9 |
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: Idaho
Posts: 25,054
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We enjoy helping people. We have a lot of nice, helpful members on these forums.
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Spud "Never argue with an idiot. He will drag you down to his level, and beat you with experience." Mark Twain 2015 Zongshen ZS250GY-3 (RX3) 2006 Zongshen ZS200GY-2 (Sierra 200) 2005 Honda XR650L 2004 Honda CRF250X 1998 Kawasaki KDX220 Mods made to my Zongshen ZS200GY-2: http://www.chinariders.net/showthread.php?t=6894 |
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06-24-2014, 07:19 PM | #10 |
Join Date: May 2014
Posts: 70
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I have only taken the bike on local roads, no highways yet. I am still a "beginner" when it comes to riding and I still don't have my proper license yet but I really like it. I hope to get some more time with it in the next few months.
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06-26-2014, 08:15 PM | #11 |
Join Date: May 2014
Posts: 70
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I don't even see the TMEC listed on their site. Are you sure that is the bike you are getting? They all come with kickstarts.
I actually put a few stickers on the bike the other day...it needed a little something. |
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06-26-2014, 10:38 PM | #12 |
Join Date: Jun 2014
Location: Monroe, WI
Posts: 104
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[QUOTE=WilsonCat;168768]I don't even see the TMEC listed on their site. Are you sure that is the bike you are getting? They all come with kickstarts/QUOTE]
http://www.countyimports.com/dirt_bikes___pit_bikes that didn't work like i thought it would, but if you copy and paste that address in browser, its the seventh up from bottom. it may have kickstart i guess, just doesn't state it like it did on the other site. now my account is not even valid on county import website, i looked when i got home, and he did have my order back on as 'new order' - now i try and log in and says account invalid! also, does anyone know of any differences between the 17 in street version, the dirt style with 21 front 18 rear tire, and then the ones with gold rims?? the ones with gold rims seem to have a lot more decals, and a bit fancier looking, but don't know if the bikes are all the same… and thanks culcune, i will call tomorrow for sure! |
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06-26-2014, 10:42 PM | #13 |
Join Date: Jun 2014
Location: Monroe, WI
Posts: 104
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http://www.countyimports.com/inc/sde...015__/148/8000
i guess this is better. the actual page… **WOUDNT RECOMMEND COUNTY IMPORTS TO ANYONE** -- not sure what their deal is, but something is up with them. Last edited by footer; 06-27-2014 at 04:21 PM. |
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06-26-2014, 10:45 PM | #14 |
Join Date: Jun 2014
Location: Monroe, WI
Posts: 104
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and yes, i like it better with the stickers on too!! not too gaudy, but a little something….
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06-27-2014, 12:11 AM | #15 | |
Join Date: May 2006
Location: Yuma, Arizona
Posts: 9,035
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There is one 'odd' TMEC shown on Exalibur's site and County's which is the fancier one with gold rims. That one is a 'Radisson' brand from Iran. It was either given to Mr. Liu (the photo, not the bike) by TMEC, or it was on display when Mr. Liu took the photos of his bikes in China. The older TMECs from '09 used to come with gold rims (black bike or red bike) , or red rims (white bike), but they did not look good as far as being interchangeable. In fact, when I had a sprocket issue with my old bike, and had to get a new rim, I had a stock red one up front, and a rear gold one! The gold did not look good with the white bike, as well as being mismatched with the red front wheel but it was functional for several thousand miles of commuting.
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"They say that life's a carousel, spinning fast you got to ride it well..." TGB Delivery Scooter 150 TMEC 200 Enduro--carcass is sadly rotting in the backyard |
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