New purchase questions -2006 Roketa 200cc DB-06
 

Thought I'd join the forum. Long Time mechanic and bike owner. Never had a Chinese bike before. Bought this about 2 weeks ago. Owner couldn't start it so I gave him 300$ for it. Has current tags, license and titled in Oregon.

eBay is my friend. So far, very pleased with the amazingly cheap prices on parts.

bike had 3 problems that were not allowing It to run:

1 intake cracked, so air leak and lean condition. Also had some smog control device pushed into the intake, and that's where the crack formed.

2 Choke not operating correctly and missing a piece, choke was always on, somewhat counteracting the air leak, ironically enough.

and finally,

3 the CDI wasn't allowing the spark plug to spark all the time. I tapped on it and it started. But then quit again. ordered that.

no way the bike was going to start. Several loose or missing bolts, including motor mounts. I've gone front to back on it, tightening and replacing. The only thing I haven't totally tackled is the exhaust. 1 stud broken off in head, and other stud missing.

I put a new tire on the back. I removed the broken plastics from the tank. I have a new Uni air filter The old one was doing essentially nothing and was quite mangled. Removed and plugged smog parts.

Anyway, I'm having fun rebuilding it. have the valves adjusted and over all, am satisfied with the the purchase. Oh, and, I tightened and greased the rear suspension. Lots of slop and loose bolts there too. That's a question for the forum. Is there an easy suspension upgrade for this bike? I have access to a Honda XR100 suspension, for free, so thought I might investigate.

Found out the engine at least, is a Honda knock off, from 1975. Used in a TMX-155, only sold in 3rd world countries because they were a bullet proof pushrod engine that requires very little maintenance.
The Honda version is still being made too, and sold around the world. I think there is a factory in Brazil?

Anyway, got all the parts on and rode it around last night. Runs great! PO had gotten brand new carburetor but then lost some parts and hooked up the choke wrong, and didn't notice the cracked intake. still have a leaking exhaust, and am wondering how to fix that problem, and/or upgrade it? Anyone know if another pipe fits on this bike? Also need a good gas cap. Any ideas? It's the metal tank with the push straight down type cap. Was locking but PO drilled out the center.

That's it for now, it's sitting next to my big Honda and will be used for light duty dual sport riding by my sister.

Cracked intake tube can be temporarily repaired by painting it with liquid electrical tape. New ones can be found on ebay by searching for CG200 parts. You can download a Honda CG125 factory service manual that will be useful for any engine work.

Is there a metal plate riveted to the front down tube behind the front fender with the name of the manufacturer on it? Roketa is the importer but not the manufacturer. My 05 Roketa 200 is made by Zongshen.

Welcome! It sounds like you've immersed yourself in your new China bike already. Got pics of the tank and exhaust?

Hey all, thanks for the quick reply! Yes, I ordered and received and installed intake manifold, choke parts (a small plate so choke would stay open) and the CDI. Bike is running well. The PO had the rear suspension spring cranked all the way up so no pre-sag or even sag when I sat on it. So weird. I undid it a ways and got some amount of suspension action back into it. I used various thickness washers to tighten up some of the suspension parts, but that would be my biggest complaint... Rear suspension is ridiculous. I'll get pictures of the bike - exhaust and tank in a while. There is a plate welded (super uglified) to the front down tube. It has CARB certification and says the bike comes out of a Chongqing Shineray factory? Imported by Goldenvale?

photo no longer available

Before picture:

http://i1068.photobucket.com/albums/...psa7bl996c.jpg

During picture:

http://i1068.photobucket.com/albums/...psahbndg2a.jpg

And after... I cut the plastic because the left side was damaged and had missing pieces. I then pulled the plastic off the tank as it was also damaged. Then, just happened to have a can of red in the shop and painted over the garish stripes and logos.

http://i1068.photobucket.com/albums/...psevd7ms8l.jpg

The springs are the PO's attempt to make the exhaust not leak any more... Only partially successful.

http://i1068.photobucket.com/albums/...pscwpy3otg.jpg

Suspension linkage. Installed correctly ? Can't find anything online about the correct position of any of it, just in case it's wrong.

http://i1068.photobucket.com/albums/...psvs19yntl.jpg

Gas cap issue

http://i1068.photobucket.com/albums/...psvdi5h5ck.jpg

And:

http://i1068.photobucket.com/albums/...psl3r7iauu.jpg

And finally:

http://i1068.photobucket.com/albums/...psuzixbaoi.jpg

Oh yeah, and I hate the headlight assembly. Want to get older Honda style with square headlight. Like, xl600 or something.

That poor, poor bike... not even a China Bike deserves such abuse :cry:

Now on to fixing that exhaust problem, have you ever tried "Alden Tools Grabit Pro (or Micro) Extractors"? I have tried several others over the years and 'Alden' brand is the only ones that seem to 'always work as advertised'

https://www.amazon.com/Alden-8440P-G...dp/B001A4CWHO/

https://www.amazon.com/Alden-4507P-G...dp/B000Q60UOO/

Check your local Home Depot/Lowes/Menards/etc, they usually have them for less.

Best of luck fixing up that monster, can I possibly see a pic of the headlight, looks like a Bugs Eye from the side view :hehe:

Here's the ugly headlight. Looks like a transformer helmet.

http://i1068.photobucket.com/albums/...psghmkvxcs.jpg

Congratulations on the project but wow - that headlight is something else!

Here's my 'Frankenbike'. It's a 1973 Suzuki with a 2001 xr100 engine installed. I got both for free. Suzuki had been laying in weeds for about 20 years. I loved the ugliness of it, but the engine was a gonner. Some judicious plate cutting and welding made me some motor mounts. A few other items, like giant headlight I found and whatnot, completed it with a nice rat bike look. I've ridden it a lot but no title, so not really too interested in wiring it or anything like that. I took it on a 100 mile trails only journey across Fairbanks and it held up well. Chain broke 3 miles from finish, but my sister towed me in. It currently resides at my moms home in Alaska. Never too old! ;)

I figure if the Roketa blows up or the frame breaks in half, I'll get the Frankenbike shipped to Oregon and make it street legal using roketa parts and/or title. Or, use the xr100 engine in it. Something will work out for sure.

And finally, here's my big girl!

damned nice swingarm setup for a CB:) and you are right, that headlight setup looks goofy.

It's ok, but someone on a forum said its actually a regressive vs progressive action, meaning it works backwards and against itself. I dunno. Honda suspension is amazing so maybe I'm asking too much out of Chinese bike. also yes, the headlight is horrible. First non essential item to go as soon as I find an old XR headlight setup.

So, anyone have ideas for gas cap, suspension and finally, exhaust. Is there a catalytic converter in the exhaust and should I remove it?

Thanks all

That's a very interesting bike; I haven't seen a China bike quite like it before. It looks to be modeled after a two-stroke trials bike, hence the frame and muffler designs. Had you not said it was the PO, I would have thought our Chinese friends had even copied the header tension springs. I've seen China copies of two-strokes before, even with four stroke engines.


I bet our good friend humanbeing will know where to find a replacement cap. Send him a PM.


When you compress the rear suspension, does the dogbone try to hit the link?

The only way you'll know if there's a cat is to remove the header and fish some wire through it. My guess is that the bulge where the heat shield is supposed to be has a cat in it.

No, the suspension seems to work ok through its stroke, but gets harsh at the bottom end. Nothing is hitting.

I ran a wire into the pipe and yes, does have something there. You think I should knock it out? Never saw a bike with a catalyst before. My big Honda doesn't have one. I'm assuming it's a flow restriction at best, and could be partially plugged as well.

Here's the catalytic converter insides. A little clogged wouldn't you say!

http://i1068.photobucket.com/albums/...psp3zu70xe.jpg

Here's where PO broke off then drilled crookedly and missed the broken bolt. I opted to drill a new hole, and will modify my flange accordingly. Anyone have a line on a small exhaust flange?

http://i1068.photobucket.com/albums/...pswfox3dxb.jpg

For 宗申GY [ZS125GY/ ZS200GY-A] http://item.taobao.com/item.htm?id=7474962535
Measures or bring it to bike shop, experienced old timer will find something that works...
===
Genuine Zongshen Sierra cap [61110-L266-0000] seems also works https://detail.tmall.com/item.htm?id=19915873613

I think your best bet would be to start with some plate and fabricate a new flange to suit.


Is your old Suzuki a TS185?

I actually did that yesterday, created a flange. It looks homemade so that kinda matches Chinese bike building. ;) pictures will follow.

Also, I believe my Suzuki is/was a 1972 TS90 Honcho. I used to have a tc125 back when I was in high school. That was a great bike. High low range gear box and really pretty bulletproof. I bought a second one in college used, and rode it a lot too. So, probably the 90's-185's are the same frame and tanks etc. seem close anyway.

Roketa is pretty much ready except for the exhaust gasket and welding the pipe back together. I figure I'd do that once the gasket was installed for proper pipe pieces alignment.

Probably originally something like this:

http://i1068.photobucket.com/albums/...psgmzpk8tf.jpg

Here's my flange

http://i1068.photobucket.com/albums/...pswoyrvqql.jpg

And

http://i1068.photobucket.com/albums/...ps2si9jw3p.jpg

Here's another shot of the destroyed catalytic material as I pull it out of the pipe

http://i1068.photobucket.com/albums/...ps2b9y5rf8.jpg

I have the right side tank plastics if anyone needs it. Other side is broken and I won't be putting it back on

http://i1068.photobucket.com/albums/...psovtbcuxf.jpg

An early 70's Suzuki with oil injection and a rotary valve. I remember when I had a Yamaha GT80 and my friend had a Kawasaki KM100. I had to paddle over the top of some hills and he didn't.

I had the dual range transmission shifting down. It was a lever just above the front sprocket. I could kick it with my heel. Effectively giving me 8 forward gears. Ahhhh the good old days. Although the suspension on those bikes were 10x worse than this Chinese roketa... Spine breaker.

The 90 was a little smaller than the 125. The 125 and the 185 shared the same frame, as did the 250 and 400. The 185 actually had a superior power to weight ratio to the 250, since the 250 frame was so heavy. I still have a '79 TS250 in the shop, and I sold a '77 TS185 two years ago. I admit to a love for '70's TS Suzukis.


I'd love to hear more about how you shoehorned the XR125 into the TS90 frame. how did you figure out the mounts? Did the kicker and shifter end up in good spots?


Nice work on the flange; I'm sure that will do nicely. What type of welder are you using?

:thanks: The engine install wasn't too bad. I'll post a few pictures. The right side frame under the engine I had to cut out a piece. I could bend and weld in a new piece at some point, but the xr100 has engine as part of frame so figured it wasn't critical. I aligned the sprockets as that was critical. They also have to be aligned vertically with suspension flex or the suspension compression binds the chain. I kind of messed up on that but put a spring loaded tensioner to compensate. That's why my chain broke on the long ride. I was stressing the chain constantly before I noticed that issue. Let's see, carb and air intake is obvious as its coming out the other side. And then the exhaust is coming out the left side, so I used the 2 stroke pipe with some welding and modification. If I'd had a XR pipe I would have probably gone to the right. Made some simple measurements, made motor mounts, and there ya have it! Shifter and starter are fine. And the XR engine is about the sweetest engine you could ask for. Love that engine.

My welder is a Campbell Hausfield 115 mig with 030 wire in it. I really like it and uses house hold current which is good since my shop doesn't have 220.

http://i1068.photobucket.com/albums/...pslrbwodn6.jpg

http://i1068.photobucket.com/albums/...psosm5tkpf.jpg

http://i1068.photobucket.com/albums/...pswwyop8j0.jpg