SpudRider |
09-26-2014 01:01 AM |
Quote:
Originally Posted by CSCDude
(Post 173109)
Spud:
Joe Berk here. Sorry I missed your call today. We are staying pretty busy with calls and visits from the media, folks calling in about the bike, etc. As you probably know, there are about a dozen active forums on this bike, and most have popped up since we announced we're bringing the Cyclone to the US. Trying to keep up with them all has been a challenge. I don't have all of your answers, and I may be answering some questions you haven't asked, but here's what I have so far:
- The engine has a single overhead cam with threaded adjustors in the rocker arms for adjusting the valves. As others have noted, this is a good thing (as anyone who has ever adjusted valves using the shim-and-bucket approach knows).
- We tipped a bike over today to get a better look at it, and the swingarm does not have a zirc fitting. There’s been some discussion on one of the Internet forums (maybe this one) about the desirability of a zirc fitting for the swingarm, but I’m not sure why. My KLR 650 doesn’t have a swingarm zirc fitting. I’ve owned about 30 motorcycles over the last 50 years, and if any of them had a swingarm zirc fitting it would be news to me. On the two occasions I’ve ever felt a need to lube the swingarm, I disassembled it and repacked the bearings one time, and replaced them another time. I never thought to look for a zirc fitting in this location and I’ve never used one to lube the swingarm. Bottom line: The RX-3 doesn't have a swingarm zirc fitting.
- Regarding the question of bearings versus bushings for the swingarm, the maintenance manual refers to these parts as bearings. They are hidden in the assembled bike and we don’t want to take a bike apart to answer this question at this time. As we build our parts inventory, we’ll know for sure. Rest assured that we’ll have a detailed parts manual available prior to shipping the bikes.
- The front suspension travel is 130mm, or 5.12 inches. I don’t know the diameters on the tubes, but I’ll measure them tomorrow.
Any more questions, give me a yell. We're posting more stuff on the blog, too, so keep an eye on it.
Joe
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Thanks for checking in, and answering a few questions, Joe. :)
I have grease zerks on my Yamaha XT225 swingarm, and my Honda XR650L swingarm; however, I agree they aren't a necessity. ;) I was mainly curious whether the RX3 swingarm has bearings installed in it. Arguably the weakest part of many Chinese motorcycles has been the suspension. :ohno: Many Chinese bikes lack either bearings or bushings in the swingarm, and instead use a thin tube surrounded by rubber. :wtf: I am pleased to hear the RX3 employs bearings in the swingarm and the progressive, lower shock linkage. :tup:
We certainly don't expect you to disassemble the swingarm to check the bearings. ;) However, I do wonder if the parts manual specifies the part numbers for the bearings employed in the swingarm and the lower shock linkage. :hmm:
Thanks for reporting the fork travel. :) When you have time, please do measure the diameter of the inner fork tube.
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