The reason I asked is because I think I saw someone of Youtube mention their X-pect came with the rear sprocket lock tited to hell and back.

No. It is probably assembled with a drop of red Loctite, but it breaks loose with a bit of effort. Reassemble with blue Loctite.

Great thread! As I was looking at the pictures, I had a feeling that I've seen this bike before, or something very similar to it.

One of my favorite bikes from my younger years that I could never afford back then, the Honda XR 125 L. That bike had the CG125 OHV engine but no fuel injection.
I think they were never sold in the US.
https://i.postimg.cc/2yFGNTh3/honda-...oi-vietnam.jpgAnd compare the Lifan.
https://i.postimg.cc/T2rCb2FG/IMG-28...4-2x-Large.jpgI think these are pretty much the same bike!

2.5 years later, and mine has arrived.
It's definitely been interesting to read up on all improvements suggestions.
The wheel ball bearings is interesting. I would probably pry the rubber gasket out of the wheel bearing, and add some grease to it.
The bearings aren't too expensive, and if they fail, can be replaced.

The airbox filter for us in Florida, makes no difference. The air here is clean.
I would definitely not seal up the airbox, or use a sponge intake. if anything, I would replace it with a pod filter, and get rid of the airbox; for the simple reason that if the fuel injection is based on the maf sensor, it might adjust the mapping depending on the intake airflow, but that's just presuming if it works like that.
If not, making it run only a bit leaner.
Changing the intake to a more free flow, like a pod filter, shouldn't change much on the ratio. Changing the exhaust may.
Sealing up the intake and using a sponge filter will only restrict airflow.
Maybe ok if you want to run a bit richer, but doesn't improve performance.

As far as gearing goes, I got a similar 18t (with 4mm spline width instead of 5mm), which I want to install. I just will have to file off the splines on the sprocket.
If not, I'll try to install a 34, 32, or 30t rear.
The engine got the power to push the bike to 70-75mph at much lower rpms.

X Pect 21 inch tire
 

While back a team member took a hard high side fall on an off-camber hard packed gravel road covered with pea to smaller gravel. The Rider had no serious injuries but pain is a harsh teacher and such lessons are not soon forgotten. The team was anxious to analyze and correct any issue that could be identified and solved which may have contributed to this fall.

The after-accident analysis would point most to operator error with speed and terrain adjustment errors as they came into the road at a 90 degree line of attack turning right off camber on a road sloping left close to 45 degrees away. A perfect scenario for a low side if you go not get the speed and angle right and if you correct to avoid then the high side will get you as it did in this instance. The ground is much further away on the high side of an off camber so you hit with more impact! I can say I have ridden the bike myself and it does appear the Trakmaster as used on this bike has a tendency to wash out on loose gravel. Is it any worse than any other tire that has a lateral paddle design? Hard to say but the small width and diameter of 70-100 19 does not help.

The Xpect comes stock with a 19 inch front tire that does not have any options for dirt style tires. The Team found that a HAWK 250 (carburetor model) 21 inch front rim assembly, this one made by X pro, fit perfectly on the Xpect and all that is required is swapping over the brake rotor. But what does this do to the height of the bike and handling?

Comparison of the Xpect 19 inch tire to the 21 inch Hawk tire.


https://i.postimg.cc/FHDMHdW2/IMG-20...003426-HDR.jpg

https://i.postimg.cc/W39kXPnD/IMG-20...032542-HDR.jpg


The Team does like to analyze and they determined a 19 inch rim has a radius (distance from the center of a circle to the outer edge) of 9.5 inch. A 21-inch wheel rim has a radius of 10.5 inch or a difference of one inch. In other words, from the axle mounting point (center of the wheel) to the edge of the rim is 10.5 inches so adding a 21 inch wheel rim itself will raise the front end height by 1 inch.

Tire size factors in to create the overall height. So how tall the tire is plus the rim determines how much the overall height there will be. The height of the tread can also make a difference. Converting tire sizes to inches and considering only the rim and tire size the team found the following.

90/90-19 (stock) 9.5 for rim size plus 90/90 converted to 3.19 inch tire height = Overall height 12.69 inch

70/100-19 = -9.5 for rim size plus 70/100 converted to 2.76 inch tire height = Overall height 12.26 inch

80/100-21 = -10.5 for rim size plus 80/100 converted to 3.15 inch tire height = Overall height 13.64 inch

Adding the 80/100- 21 inch tire raised the height of the X pect a measured ½ inch at the pegs. The team decided to raise the front forks ¼ inch which lowers the front frame by ¼ inch. Team testing confirmed no issues with clearance and the result slowed down the steering and restricted the angle of approach much improving off-road handling performance.

https://i.postimg.cc/XqJPXFxr/IMG-20...503133-HDR.jpg

It sounds like you slipped the forks up in the triple clamp to effectively "shorten" the fork tubes. Yes, that should get the front steering angle (rake) more steep again, closer to stock. That larger front wheel should be easier to push through logs and taller bumps as well.
It's great that the front wheel from the Hawk fit the Expect, including the rotor. Sweet!

Why not run a 100/90-19 K760 rear on the front? I'm pretty sure it would fit. Knobby tires aren't really directional. People that run big block tires on the road turn them around when they start to wear wonky. I don't think running a rear tire on the front at speeds under 60mph is an issue. I'll be buying an X-Pect soon and I think this would be the route I would take. Just thinking out loud...