Skyteam V-retro (raptor) 250 owner

overlander · 06-24-2013, 05:48 AM

Hi
I'm based in Australia and just purchased a skyteam v-retro 250. The V-retro is known as the v-raptor everywhere else!

I have a bike with the black colouring and call it the black wombat - coz it has a big rear end and doesn't move too fast! Unfortunately, like a wombat it has also been hiding out in the dark a bit too much of late. I've had some trouble getting it started. I ran it for about 15 km's then couldn't start it.

I've checked the spark plug (still throws a spark) I've tightened all connections around the carburettor. I've even taken it to a mechanic to tune. It then ran for about 10 km's, and then wouldn't start again.

Just wondering if anyone has had similar problems or can suggest solutions for what I can do to get the black wombat out of the burrow and onto the road!

Trailbikeryder · 06-24-2013, 06:17 AM

Hi,
Welcome. Nice to see you found the way here

Could you take some close pictures of the engine and carberator on both sides? Then I could compare to see if any of the fuel lines are hooked up the same way on my bike.

Eric

tecnolli · 06-24-2013, 06:55 AM

Welcome!
Did you check the spark right as the engine quit, i mean in operating temperature? If not, it could be the ignition coil that fails when it's hot. Did the bike start again when it's cooled down?

zingshoen · 06-24-2013, 08:17 AM

if you have a spark, is it fat and blue or orange and weak?

do you have enough petrol in the tank? does it flow into the carbie? that would be the second thing to check if you do get a good spark.

overlander · 06-24-2013, 08:34 AM

Wow, thanks for all the responses. It is night here and my hope is to take the bike back to the mechanic to have another look, hopefully get it running again. I really have no tools or experience with bikes. I will take all your suggestions with me.

There have been a lot of naysayers here in Australia with regard to Chinese bikes. Of three local mechanics, two would not even look at my bike! I imagine the same thing would of happen with Japanese bikes when they first started production.

I'm interested to hear from members who have had the v-raptor on the road for a while. Is it true one can use Honda CRF230F engine parts?

How would this motor go as a replacement? http://www.crossfiremotorcycles.com/...engine-4t.html

Trailbikeryder · 06-24-2013, 09:52 AM

I've had the same thing happen to me here in Germany also. A Kawasaki or Suzuki dealer didn't even want to do an inspection and check the valve clearance. Luckily I found mechanic in my town that is specialized on chinese scooters an bikes.
The Skyteam 250 engine actually has 223cc. Honda has for example the FTR 223.
which is the same engine as far as I know.

http://image.rakuten.co.jp/hatoya/ca...8ftr223dxm.jpg

overlander · 06-24-2013, 10:04 AM

Has anyone removed the exhaust baffle? When my bike was running, my neighbour came over to check it. He said it "looked like a harley, sounded like a postman's bike!"

There is a company in Australia that do a custom version of the v-retro (raptor). They call it the black betty

Weldangrind · 06-24-2013, 12:27 PM

Welcome overlander!

With the experience I've had with that engine, I'd say one or both of the valves are too tight. Setting valves is quite simple on these engines: http://hondacg125.awardspace.com/valve_clearance.htm Even if the valves aren't the problem, it's good to know how to set them properly.

Trailbikeryder, thanks for telling us about the FTR223; I was unfamiliar with that model, and I didn't realize that Honda produced the CG-style engine beyond 125cc.

Pliskin · 06-24-2013, 07:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by overlander

There have been a lot of naysayers here in Australia with regard to Chinese bikes. Of three local mechanics, two would not even look at my bike!

Welcome to the forum.

I am subsribed to a guy on Youtube with the same name.

I had the same problem.

One mechanic even screwed up my stator. If you can find somebody who you can trust (you can always try a Suzuki sticker

) or you'll just have to learn how to do it yourself. It's not that hard but it takes patience. I agree with Weld check the valve clearance just to make sure. You will learn a lot in short time, plus you'll save money.

overlander · 06-24-2013, 08:07 PM

I will print that out about the valve clearance and take it to the mechanic.

Yes, I make videos Pliskin, just back in Australia after near two years abroad. last place I went to was Cuba (loved it)

At some stage I hope to start making videos around Melbourne on my bike! Melbourne is represented by 70 different cultural cuisines, I want to try a meal in each countries restaurant, and make a video for each.

overlander · 06-24-2013, 09:53 PM

The mechanic can't fit the bike in today, had to forfeit the $41 booking fee with vicroads. He reckons if it was the valves he would not have been able to start it previously and it would have coughed and spluttered. The bike will have to sit in the garage now until I find time to get back here and find someone to get it running or buy tools and learn zen and the art of motorcycle maintenance myself

thedoc62 · 12-01-2016, 05:46 AM

i have found on youtube a couple of vids of an aussie guy who took off the original engine from his v-raptor and installed a Zongshen 250 cc water cooled unit................amazing piece of job he did
the vids describe all very well, with particular regard to electrical connections (pretty tricky part of its work)
also included a vid of the running engine, its noise is wonderful and "full" compared to the previous OEM unit

thedoc62 · 12-01-2016, 06:57 AM

i just chamged my exhaust terminal with a highway hawk black Megaton (or was it Megaphon ?) model
it is not for regular street use in Italy but I got it installed just the same, lowering its huge noise with a Dbkiller originally intended for use on VW Beetle engines
my "exhaust" mechanic had to work quite a bit with welding to adapt it but the result was nice in terms of looks and sound and performance
will add pics soon
the next thing i'd like to work on is the front suspension, suffering a lot (together with my poor ass and neck) on street holes and bumps, and the clutch (old story that all v-raptor owners know well)

thedoc62 · 12-01-2016, 07:46 AM

there you go

Pliskin · 06-25-2013, 02:12 AM

Wow nice to chat with you Overlander.

I love watching your youtube videos, they are very entertaining and educational.

That tale in Cuba getting stuck for 5 days was very interesting. Communism best system in controlling nations, probably invented by freemasons. That's a great story that you are going to make. Hope you are going to get your bike on road soon. Keep us posted and people on this forum will help you. They helped me.

06-24-2013, 05:48 AM	#1
overlander Join Date: Jun 2013 Location: Australia Posts: 61	Skyteam V-retro (raptor) 250 owner Hi I'm based in Australia and just purchased a skyteam v-retro 250. The V-retro is known as the v-raptor everywhere else! I have a bike with the black colouring and call it the black wombat - coz it has a big rear end and doesn't move too fast! Unfortunately, like a wombat it has also been hiding out in the dark a bit too much of late. I've had some trouble getting it started. I ran it for about 15 km's then couldn't start it. I've checked the spark plug (still throws a spark) I've tightened all connections around the carburettor. I've even taken it to a mechanic to tune. It then ran for about 10 km's, and then wouldn't start again. Just wondering if anyone has had similar problems or can suggest solutions for what I can do to get the black wombat out of the burrow and onto the road!
	1

06-24-2013, 06:17 AM	#2
Trailbikeryder Join Date: Jan 2013 Location: Germany Posts: 231	Hi, Welcome. Nice to see you found the way here Could you take some close pictures of the engine and carberator on both sides? Then I could compare to see if any of the fuel lines are hooked up the same way on my bike. Eric __________________ My CB : http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZbZ8q-grmOQ 2012 Skyteam V-Raptor 250 2011 Yamaha Tenere XT 660Z abs 1996 Kawasaki Vulcan 800 Classic 1989 Kawasaki GPZ 500
	0

06-24-2013, 08:17 AM	#4
zingshoen Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Brisbane, Queensland, Australia Posts: 648	if you have a spark, is it fat and blue or orange and weak? do you have enough petrol in the tank? does it flow into the carbie? that would be the second thing to check if you do get a good spark. __________________ 1971 Garelli Gulp 50cc with open ports and 16 mm Bing Carbie + 1980 Honda XL 223 ZS + 2007 Zongshen LZX200G + DR400SM
	0

06-24-2013, 08:34 AM	#5
overlander Join Date: Jun 2013 Location: Australia Posts: 61	Wow, thanks for all the responses. It is night here and my hope is to take the bike back to the mechanic to have another look, hopefully get it running again. I really have no tools or experience with bikes. I will take all your suggestions with me. There have been a lot of naysayers here in Australia with regard to Chinese bikes. Of three local mechanics, two would not even look at my bike! I imagine the same thing would of happen with Japanese bikes when they first started production. I'm interested to hear from members who have had the v-raptor on the road for a while. Is it true one can use Honda CRF230F engine parts? How would this motor go as a replacement? http://www.crossfiremotorcycles.com/...engine-4t.html Last edited by overlander; 06-24-2013 at 09:52 AM.
	0

06-24-2013, 09:52 AM	#6
Trailbikeryder Join Date: Jan 2013 Location: Germany Posts: 231	I've had the same thing happen to me here in Germany also. A Kawasaki or Suzuki dealer didn't even want to do an inspection and check the valve clearance. Luckily I found mechanic in my town that is specialized on chinese scooters an bikes. The Skyteam 250 engine actually has 223cc. Honda has for example the FTR 223. which is the same engine as far as I know. http://image.rakuten.co.jp/hatoya/ca...8ftr223dxm.jpg __________________ My CB : http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZbZ8q-grmOQ 2012 Skyteam V-Raptor 250 2011 Yamaha Tenere XT 660Z abs 1996 Kawasaki Vulcan 800 Classic 1989 Kawasaki GPZ 500
	0

06-24-2013, 06:55 AM	#3
tecnolli Join Date: Jun 2013 Location: Germany Posts: 99	Welcome! Did you check the spark right as the engine quit, i mean in operating temperature? If not, it could be the ignition coil that fails when it's hot. Did the bike start again when it's cooled down?
	0

06-24-2013, 10:04 AM	#7
overlander Join Date: Jun 2013 Location: Australia Posts: 61	Has anyone removed the exhaust baffle? When my bike was running, my neighbour came over to check it. He said it "looked like a harley, sounded like a postman's bike!" There is a company in Australia that do a custom version of the v-retro (raptor). They call it the black betty Last edited by overlander; 06-24-2013 at 10:08 AM. Reason: add more info
	0

06-24-2013, 12:27 PM	#8
Weldangrind Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Sardis, BC, Canada Posts: 25,977	Welcome overlander! With the experience I've had with that engine, I'd say one or both of the valves are too tight. Setting valves is quite simple on these engines: http://hondacg125.awardspace.com/valve_clearance.htm Even if the valves aren't the problem, it's good to know how to set them properly. Trailbikeryder, thanks for telling us about the FTR223; I was unfamiliar with that model, and I didn't realize that Honda produced the CG-style engine beyond 125cc. __________________ Weldangrind "I figure I'm well-prepared for coping with a bike that comes from the factory with unresolved issues and that rewards the self-reliant owner." - Buccaneer
	0

06-24-2013, 08:07 PM	#10
overlander Join Date: Jun 2013 Location: Australia Posts: 61	I will print that out about the valve clearance and take it to the mechanic. Yes, I make videos Pliskin, just back in Australia after near two years abroad. last place I went to was Cuba (loved it) At some stage I hope to start making videos around Melbourne on my bike! Melbourne is represented by 70 different cultural cuisines, I want to try a meal in each countries restaurant, and make a video for each.
	0

06-24-2013, 09:53 PM	#11
overlander Join Date: Jun 2013 Location: Australia Posts: 61	The mechanic can't fit the bike in today, had to forfeit the $41 booking fee with vicroads. He reckons if it was the valves he would not have been able to start it previously and it would have coughed and spluttered. The bike will have to sit in the garage now until I find time to get back here and find someone to get it running or buy tools and learn zen and the art of motorcycle maintenance myself
	0

12-01-2016, 05:46 AM	#12
thedoc62 Join Date: Jul 2015 Location: Naples, Italy Posts: 41	engine shift i have found on youtube a couple of vids of an aussie guy who took off the original engine from his v-raptor and installed a Zongshen 250 cc water cooled unit................amazing piece of job he did the vids describe all very well, with particular regard to electrical connections (pretty tricky part of its work) also included a vid of the running engine, its noise is wonderful and "full" compared to the previous OEM unit
	0

12-01-2016, 06:57 AM	#13
thedoc62 Join Date: Jul 2015 Location: Naples, Italy Posts: 41	i just chamged my exhaust terminal with a highway hawk black Megaton (or was it Megaphon ?) model it is not for regular street use in Italy but I got it installed just the same, lowering its huge noise with a Dbkiller originally intended for use on VW Beetle engines my "exhaust" mechanic had to work quite a bit with welding to adapt it but the result was nice in terms of looks and sound and performance will add pics soon the next thing i'd like to work on is the front suspension, suffering a lot (together with my poor ass and neck) on street holes and bumps, and the clutch (old story that all v-raptor owners know well)
	0

06-25-2013, 02:12 AM	#15
Pliskin Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: Australia Posts: 341	Wow nice to chat with you Overlander. I love watching your youtube videos, they are very entertaining and educational. That tale in Cuba getting stuck for 5 days was very interesting. Communism best system in controlling nations, probably invented by freemasons. That's a great story that you are going to make. Hope you are going to get your bike on road soon. Keep us posted and people on this forum will help you. They helped me. __________________ Zongshen 200gy-2
	0