" The Zong master returneth " :D

Glad to hear you've added plenty of miles to your bike, spud. I hope they have all been good ones .. :tup:

What tires are you looking at rj?

Thank you, Kat. Yes, every mile on the RX3 is a good mile, especially since I switched to the lightest spring available for my Progressive shock absorber. :tup:

bought Shinko E705 130/80x17 for rear and kenda SR244 copy 3.50x18 front, not mounted them yet. May run thru the winter on whats mounted as they are still usable, rj

Please refresh my memory; what was the rear tire you replaced?

Spud it was a Shinko SR244 that is bigger then stock size and rubbed the inside fender well. So I'm going back to a stock size tire. The new one is more like a big adventure bike pattern and not as aggressive as the sr244.
And welcome back to "the land of the sitters in front of computers" Spud. Glad you had a safe summer of riding. You going to have any summer ride reports to tide us through the winter ? rj

Thank you, Rob.

Did you have the size 5.10-17, Shinko 244 tire installed? I ran that tire for 13,000 miles without problems. :shrug: Did you post a photo or a thread regarding this problem? If so, please provide a link.

Yes, the winters here are long and hard, so I will be sharing a few photographs from my summer riding. ;)

my 5.10-17s have had no problems with 285lbs of mass

Yes to Shinko 5.10x17 244 tire .Others have posted that it rubs. In my case I put on Progressive shock and lowering link and I think this combination lets it grind a bit on the inner fender. If I tightened preload some it probably would not happen. This last trip I was loaded and preload was a little light so bottomed out a few times on fender. I figured if it was bottoming out , I was at least using all available travel so I was getting my moneys worth :tup:
13,000 miles wow .I'm at about 4400 but that is iron butting it all day on pavement it still has enough tread to get me thru to spring and then some. heres a picypoo taken a few days ago.
http://i248.photobucket.com/albums/g...psnh4vssrx.jpg

rj

As always, thanks for posting your detailed, informative reply, Rob. I think you are correct; the combination of a large tire, Progressive shock absorber and lowering link caused the problem.

If you lace a 2.50-17 rim to the rear hub, you can install the size 4.60-17, Shinko 244 tire. This tire is lighter and smaller in diameter, which might eliminate the problem, and also lower your saddle height a little. I have been running the 4.60-17 tire for about 7,000 miles, and it has done a good job. However, it now needs to be replaced, so the smaller, size 4.60-17 tire only got 55% of the wear life I received from the larger, size 5.10-17 tire.

Spud did you cross 25k for the season?

Anyone else cross some 10/15/20k marks?

I'm at 15,750 miles. Bought a new bike so it shouldn't go much higher.

Did the issues with yours get resolved?

Sort of. I got a new top end and it was running fine for two weeks. One morning, it all of sudden starts to rev really high on its own. So I'm in the process of troubleshooting that right now and soon as that's resolved, I expect I'll try to sell it. Checked today and I'm slightly over 16,000 miles.

I spent a lot of time riding my three other motorcycles last year. ;) At the end of last year I had ridden my Zongshen RX3 for about 22,500 miles. :tup:

Hey Spud,good to hear from you....hope 2017 is rocking in your neck of the woods.:hi:

Thank you, sir. It has been cold and snowy up here. I am eagerly awaiting the arrival of spring. ;)

Yes, and winter interferes with your putting record amounts of miles on your bikes... :lmao:

I just crossed 3000 on mine with no issues. Will get a thousand next week in Death Valley

http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e3...pskep2wket.jpg

jb

NICE work JB! I have a bit over 4000 on mine now. Should get a ton next month in Baja but unless the weather gets better up here I won't be getting a ton in between.

In New Zealand
 

My bike had 2000 when I bought it on 11 March , two weeks later 3086:clap:

Mine has crossed the 6000 mile mark. Did that on the CSC Baja trip

I'm a bit over 14,000. Just serviced at CSC after Baja ride. They said my valves were a bit tight. Figures since I hadn't checked them since before my Iron Butt ride last year, probably 7-8000 miles ago. And it's been screaming down highways to and from Canada, Yosemite, etc so yah. Hadn't changed the 20/50 synthetic motor oil either for that long. spank, spank. Ran like it always had, but I think it was starting to do the "I need my valves adjusted doofuss" dyeing when coming to a stop. Did it maybe 3x in 1900 miles of Baja trip.

Mexgyver, wish I was home. I'd come up and pit :zzz: for you at Desert 100. Or at least wave as you go by :hi: Do be safe and have fun. Report on my desk expected when you get back. I hear it can get brutal out there, But watching you ride in Baja, no worries. rj

Remember ......ass back ,just stay on the gas

Yes, I think my odometer now reads about 25,340 miles. :tup:

http://i442.photobucket.com/albums/q...pshf34kyh3.jpg

Spud, congrats on the 25k miles.

Have your valve clearances "settled in" yet?

jb

After about 16,000 miles, the exhaust valves finally stabilized, but the intake valves did not. Therefore, I suspected my intake valves were receding into the valve seats. Last fall, after performing a leak test, I got authorization from Gerry at CSC to take apart my engine. With the engine apart, I discovered major recession of the intake valves.

http://i442.photobucket.com/albums/q...pstqf6qov4.jpg

I repaired my engine this winter, under warranty coverage. I plan to post a thread on this topic, and my engine repair, in the next week. ;)

My engine has been running well for about 3,000 miles after the repair. In the near future I will recheck my valve clearances.

http://i.imgur.com/Qcj7bnM.jpg

Thanks for the update. :tup:

jb

I know this is not the place but when you post the new thread , please explain receding in valve seats and which are intake valves etc. And your idea of why it happened. Like I said don't bother here. But always want to learn all I can

This is something to pay attention if I'm am going to be a future 450zong owner

Ty spud:hi:

Yes, I will make a point to explain these matters more thoroughly in my thread. ;)

In the photograph above, the intake valves are the larger valves. An experienced eye will notice the intake valves have sunken (receded) into the cylinder head farther than the smaller, exhaust valves. ;)

No where near Spuds mileage but I passed 9000 miles this weekend.

I have posted my engine rebuild thread at the following link. After I complete the technical portion of the thread, I will open the thread for comments. ;)

http://www.chinariders.net/showthread.php?t=18895

Very cool Spud, I take it the bike was still running OK, just not able to keep the valve adj in speck? Was it dying on you when coming to a stop like the characteristic "too small of valve gap " does? Transmission, clutch, cylinder , piston and rings all still good to go? rj

Yes, the bike was running well, except the engine would die while coasting to a stop. ;) The transmission, clutch and cylinder were in good condition. :)

All the other details are covered in my repair thread, which is now open for questions and comments.

1000 miles on the clock!

Not bad for only having it for 2 weeks haha

Taking a trip down to the Keys this weekend!

500! Lol... not bad since I have yet to ride in the 60's or higher.a little snow, though.

2k and going strong!

800 miles. Stalling when coasting to a stop between miles 250-300 but went away when I added the proper amount of recommended fuel additive at every fill up. Been good since. I also wrapped some metallic heat shield tape under the exhaust clamp to keep my right pant leg from getting singed :shrug:

Other than that I'm surprised how it gets me and my pug chug to my off-road destination safely, I can beat it to hell, and it happily takes me back home. Nice solid build.

Just a hair under 8000 miles. Between the Touratech rally this month and my July Alaska trip I'll get it up over 11000 by mid-july. Still going strong!

First 10,000km (6213mi)
 

Last week I´ve reached the 10,000km milestone while riding at the beautiful Patagonian lakes and mountains :tup:

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