Zongshen 200GY-2: 45,000 Miles On the Odometer!

[FastDoc]

Mostly Southeast and the Ozarks.

[SpudRider]

The best deal going for motorcycles is an air cooled, 200cc chinabike. I spent $950 for my Zong, new, in-the-crate. I have over 45,000 miles on the odometer. My good friend, Brother Andy, says if I reach 50,000 miles, I might get my money's worth out of the Zong.

Those forum members who bought Zongs for $1,000, delivered, got an amazing deal! 8O

Spud

[SpudRider]

I just did the calculations. I paid $950 for my new Zong with 0.1 mile on the odometer. I have traveled over 45,000 miles on my Zong.

$950/45,000 miles = $0.02/mile

Two pennies a mile is a pretty good return on my investment, don't you think?

Spud

[Wool-Z]

Wow four years time goes so fast. No wonder you've gotten to 45,000. Lotta ridin time.

[Weldangrind]

Originally Posted by SpudRider

Thank you, Weld.

Does polishing the lens merely remove the "crust?" I think I will try your method on a small area of my car's headlight lens. If it works well, I will certainly polish my Zong's speedometer lens as well.

Spud

That's it, exactly. It might take more than applying by hand with a cloth. You might need a mushroom polishing pad and a drill to work out really bad crust. They sell kits with the pad and the polish, but toothpaste does the trick.

[SpudRider]

My speedometer lens is actually in pretty good shape; it is very easy to read. The lens looks worse in photographs than it does in person; it doesn't really have a crust on it it, such as my automobile headlight lenses. :( However, I don't see any harm giving the speedometer lens a light polish with some toothpaste.

Spud

[Weldangrind]

It helps to fight speedometer gingivitis.

[SpudRider]

Originally Posted by Weldangrind

It helps to fight speedometer gingivitis.

I will test the toothpaste on a small section of my car's headlight lens first. If I like the results, the Zong's speedometer lens is next in line!

Spud

[SpudRider]

Since many of the gravel roads have been washed out, my Zong has taken a pretty good pounding this spring. :roll: Nevertheless, the Zong is still in excellent condition; it's a great little motorcycle.

Today I installed a new spark plug, and replaced a bolt I had shaken out of the heat shield on the exhaust header. Earlier in the week the Zong took a little nap when I tried to surmount a fallen tree which concealed a large rock beneath it. 8O



As a result of this "dirt nap," I replaced the original clutch lever, which had sustained many falls for 44,000 miles. While exiting the saddle I also managed to snap off my starter button, which I had modified with a Radio Shack switch.

http://www.chinariders.net/modules.p...ewtopic&t=9878

Therefore, I replaced the starter button with another part #275-1549 from Radio Shack.



After these repairs, I'm glad to report my Zong is in excellent condition, and is running superbly after 45,000 miles.

Spud

[Weldangrind]

It's the saddle that astonishes me; not a tear in it.

[FastDoc]

It's a comfortable saddle too!

Fits my aging Jewish a$$ quite well I think 8) .

The starter button served you well a long time, Spud. IIRC we had to re-fit the plastic button. Maybe put a drop of glue on the new one before you put it on.

As we get older a nap is always nice. :wink:

[SpudRider]

Originally Posted by Weldangrind

It's the saddle that astonishes me; not a tear in it.

I kid you not, the Zong is a well built motorcycle! I had someone make the same comment about the saddle several weeks ago. Not only is the saddle fabric intact, none of the stitching is missing, either.

Spud

[SpudRider]

Originally Posted by FastDoc

It's a comfortable saddle too!

Fits my aging Jewish a$$ quite well I think 8) .

The starter button served you well a long time, Spud. IIRC we had to re-fit the plastic button. Maybe put a drop of glue on the new one before you put it on.

As we get older a nap is always nice. :wink:

As I recall, you rode my Zong over 300 miles in two days, Brother Bill. Your "aging Jewish a$$" survived the Zongshen saddle very well!

Since the Zong has such a comfortably low saddle height, I have been thinking about adding a little padding to the saddle. Incidentally, I bought a spare saddle, since the price was so reasonable. The spare saddle is still covered with plastic; I haven't had a need for it. However, I can install the spare saddle, and get the stock saddle padded with an extra inch of foam, if I so desire. Do you guys have any recommendations regarding this matter? :?:

Spud

[FastDoc]

Being a taller guy I always appreciate a bike a little on the taller side to give some more legroom and keep my knees from aching. Also if the angle of the knees is reduced there is less effort with the constant standing and sitting we do on D/S bikes.

A good experiment would be to get a cheap WalMart generic seat cushion (ugly but effective) and tie it to the seat for a test run. If you like the position I'd take the Zong seat to an upolsterer and get it rebuilt with the foam of your choice. 8)

[SpudRider]

The Zong's saddle could easily accommodate an extra inch of foam. The extra padding would make my all-day rides on the Zong even more enjoyable. I think I see another modification on the horizon; I need to check out the local upholstery shops.

Spud