Life expectancy/Engine power

Storm250Chris · 05-11-2020, 10:02 AM

Hey guys, thanks for the help with the bogging on my storm, got it cleared up.

So my two questions are:
1) what is the general life expectancy of these bikes with regular maintenance (not counting full rebuild and not abusing the bikes themselves)? Curious if they go 20k plus miles no issues kind of thing

2) when going through the list of mods and upgrades most are doing (carbs, sprockets, exhaust ect) what is the top end for most of these bikes? Is a steady 80mph achievable? Does the acceleration pick up drastically? Or is the bike pretty close to its limits as is. 250 storm

Thanks for all of the info y’all share here!

Megadan · 05-11-2020, 03:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Storm250Chris

Hey guys, thanks for the help with the bogging on my storm, got it cleared up.

So my two questions are:
1) what is the general life expectancy of these bikes with regular maintenance (not counting full rebuild and not abusing the bikes themselves)? Curious if they go 20k plus miles no issues kind of thing

2) when going through the list of mods and upgrades most are doing (carbs, sprockets, exhaust ect) what is the top end for most of these bikes? Is a steady 80mph achievable? Does the acceleration pick up drastically? Or is the bike pretty close to its limits as is. 250 storm

Thanks for all of the info y’all share here!

1. Depends a lot on how the bike is used, but a typical CG clone could last tens of thousands of miles in the right circumstances. It's more likely the rest of the bike will start to fall apart before the motor really gives up. At a bare minimum I would be disappointed if I didn't get at least 20-30k miles out of one before it maybe needed a top end refresh, and that would be on a bike that was decently thrashed on. I can think of at least 2 bikes off the top of my head that well surpassed the 30k mile mark without issue that I have seen on this forum.

2. A sustained 80mph is not achievable. 80mph top speed, yes, but to be able to cruise at 80 on a 230cc air cooled single is just outside of the realm of reality. With most of the typical bolt on upgrades and the right sprockets it is possible to have a bike that can achieve a top speed of 70 and cruise at 60 without the throttle being pegged wide open.

With head porting and a 30mm smooth bore carb those higher top speeds are achievable, again with the right gearing. My Hawk can consistently hit 74-75mph for a top speed right at 8000rpm, and I can spend all day long at 60-65mph. With a smaller rear sprocket I could achieve 80, but I don't see the need. These bikes past 70mph are entertaining.... So I chose to trade top speed for better acceleration.

mtiberio · 05-11-2020, 03:20 PM

At $600 per motor (or less), munch all you want. They'll make more.

Megadan · 05-11-2020, 03:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mtiberio

At $600 per motor (or less), munch all you want. They'll make more.

Heck, at $150-200 for a complete top end, why replace the whole motor? lol.

alex_in_az · 05-11-2020, 05:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Megadan

Heck, at $150-200 for a complete top end, why replace the whole motor? lol.

I paid $65 shipped for my complete head from pearce motorsports about 2 months ago. it looked like they took it off an engine that had never ran

Megadan · 05-11-2020, 07:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by alex_in_az

I paid $65 shipped for my complete head from pearce motorsports about 2 months ago. it looked like they took it off an engine that had never ran

Complete top end would be the head, cylinder, and piston with new rings.

culcune · 05-11-2020, 07:52 PM

I got 14,000 miles commuting daily, year round on my TMEC 200 ENDURO. 200cc Zongshen. I bought it new, and 4 months later was involved in an accident. It had issues with frame and whatnot, but the engine ran on and on for the next 20 months until I received my settlement and bought a used 151cc gy6 TGB scooter. I sold the bike to someone who pulled things off, and or dropped it breaking the turn signals, and I took it back after a few months since the guy never paid me and I had the 'supermoto' wheels and tires sold. Prior to that, I put 14,000 miles in 2 years on a TMEC 200 ENDURO I bought used with unknown miles since the speedo never worked. Both bikes' engines still ran at 14k miles.

ChipToothy · 05-12-2020, 08:03 AM

I’m at 12,000 miles so far. No signs of motor trouble yet, the plastics and rubber gromet everything else are all pretty much cracked and falling apart. Every time it sprinkles the bike bogs out on me for a few days so I’m looking for the correct spark plug wire to run from the plug to all the down in to the sator area case. I’m told mine is stiff and falling apart and might be causing the rain issue lol.

NzBrakelathes · 05-12-2020, 08:51 AM

I posted a pick of my local reconditioned selling over size pistons
Also cyl and piston set shouldn’t be over $99 at a stab in the dark

2LZ · 05-12-2020, 12:09 PM

I believe it was Mudflap(?) who got 50k out of his balanced Lifan CG?????....and only the oil pump chain was rattling. Still ran.

Mudflap · 05-12-2020, 12:29 PM

Yes 53,000 miles on my balance shaft CG engine when the oil pump chain was getting pretty loud. Everything else looked fine and it was running great as always. Still good crosshatching marks in the cylinder so I suspect it would have made it to 100,000 miles. Couldn't find a chain set at the time so I replaced the engine with a non balance shaft version with a gear drive oil pump.

China Rider 27 · 05-12-2020, 01:39 PM

CG strong, ride hard!

Mudflap · 05-15-2020, 03:06 PM

Just recalled 2 other minor issues contributing to the noise on the 53,000 mile Lifan CG engine. The splines on the clutch basket were worn where it fits on the transmission input shaft. Replaced complete clutch assembly which cost $38. Also there are 6 rubber cushions inside the balance shaft cush gear that hardened with age. Couldn't find a replacement gear so replaced cushions with some from a similar gear from a different brand engine.

Wild Dog · 05-15-2020, 07:12 PM

Today i just sold my CG, it was well over the miles you mention there, it ran great. You just to maintain it and replace any parts that wears out, something that happens to every brand with use...

A top end right now cost about 60 usd, there are plenty of parts for the CG...

If you get any of these enduro, a very important thing to do is if you find any little rust spot on your bike, sand it and paint it with undercarriage paint.

The engine per se is the strongest point of these bikes and the paint and rust protection being the weakest part.

05-11-2020, 10:02 AM	#1
Storm250Chris Join Date: May 2020 Posts: 9	Life expectancy/Engine power Hey guys, thanks for the help with the bogging on my storm, got it cleared up. So my two questions are: 1) what is the general life expectancy of these bikes with regular maintenance (not counting full rebuild and not abusing the bikes themselves)? Curious if they go 20k plus miles no issues kind of thing 2) when going through the list of mods and upgrades most are doing (carbs, sprockets, exhaust ect) what is the top end for most of these bikes? Is a steady 80mph achievable? Does the acceleration pick up drastically? Or is the bike pretty close to its limits as is. 250 storm Thanks for all of the info y’all share here!
	0

05-11-2020, 03:20 PM	#3
mtiberio Join Date: Jun 2016 Location: Arlington, VA Posts: 258	At $600 per motor (or less), munch all you want. They'll make more. __________________ 4 time WERA SuperVintage Roadracing National Champion, SCTA Land Speed Record Holder, 3rd AMA Motorcycle GP of Miami
	0

05-11-2020, 07:52 PM	#7
culcune Join Date: May 2006 Location: Yuma, Arizona Posts: 9,056	I got 14,000 miles commuting daily, year round on my TMEC 200 ENDURO. 200cc Zongshen. I bought it new, and 4 months later was involved in an accident. It had issues with frame and whatnot, but the engine ran on and on for the next 20 months until I received my settlement and bought a used 151cc gy6 TGB scooter. I sold the bike to someone who pulled things off, and or dropped it breaking the turn signals, and I took it back after a few months since the guy never paid me and I had the 'supermoto' wheels and tires sold. Prior to that, I put 14,000 miles in 2 years on a TMEC 200 ENDURO I bought used with unknown miles since the speedo never worked. Both bikes' engines still ran at 14k miles. __________________ "They say that life's a carousel, spinning fast you got to ride it well..." TGB Delivery Scooter 150 TMEC 200 Enduro--carcass is sadly rotting in the backyard
	0

05-12-2020, 08:03 AM	#8
ChipToothy Join Date: Apr 2018 Posts: 819	I’m at 12,000 miles so far. No signs of motor trouble yet, the plastics and rubber gromet everything else are all pretty much cracked and falling apart. Every time it sprinkles the bike bogs out on me for a few days so I’m looking for the correct spark plug wire to run from the plug to all the down in to the sator area case. I’m told mine is stiff and falling apart and might be causing the rain issue lol. __________________ Bashan Storm: Ebay steel exhaust wrapped, folding shift lever, seat mod, vm26 carb, air pod, dual led scrambler headlamps, windshield mod, led brake/tail light, secondary led brake light (swingarm), Ebay 295mm rear shock, back up CDI (racing unknown), oil cooler, digital gauge cluster,
	1

05-12-2020, 12:09 PM	#10
2LZ Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Volcano, Ca Posts: 7,112	I believe it was Mudflap(?) who got 50k out of his balanced Lifan CG?????....and only the oil pump chain was rattling. Still ran. __________________ "Light a fire for a man, and you heat him for a day. Light a man on fire, and you heat him for the rest of his life." 2007 Suzuki DRZ400S (SM convert) 2009 Q Link XP 200 1967 BSA B25 250cc Starfire 2022 Royal Enfield Interceptor 650 2023 Royal Enfield Scram 411 1948 Royal Enfield Model G 350
	1

05-12-2020, 08:51 AM	#9
NzBrakelathes Join Date: Jun 2016 Location: Hell Posts: 2,408	I posted a pick of my local reconditioned selling over size pistons Also cyl and piston set shouldn’t be over $99 at a stab in the dark
	1

05-12-2020, 12:29 PM	#11
Mudflap Join Date: Sep 2014 Posts: 1,925	Yes 53,000 miles on my balance shaft CG engine when the oil pump chain was getting pretty loud. Everything else looked fine and it was running great as always. Still good crosshatching marks in the cylinder so I suspect it would have made it to 100,000 miles. Couldn't find a chain set at the time so I replaced the engine with a non balance shaft version with a gear drive oil pump.
	4

05-12-2020, 01:39 PM	#12
China Rider 27 Join Date: Dec 2018 Location: PNW Posts: 984	CG strong, ride hard!
	0

05-15-2020, 03:06 PM	#13
Mudflap Join Date: Sep 2014 Posts: 1,925	Just recalled 2 other minor issues contributing to the noise on the 53,000 mile Lifan CG engine. The splines on the clutch basket were worn where it fits on the transmission input shaft. Replaced complete clutch assembly which cost $38. Also there are 6 rubber cushions inside the balance shaft cush gear that hardened with age. Couldn't find a replacement gear so replaced cushions with some from a similar gear from a different brand engine.
	0

05-15-2020, 07:12 PM	#14
Wild Dog Join Date: Dec 2016 Location: Argentina Posts: 756	Today i just sold my CG, it was well over the miles you mention there, it ran great. You just to maintain it and replace any parts that wears out, something that happens to every brand with use... A top end right now cost about 60 usd, there are plenty of parts for the CG... If you get any of these enduro, a very important thing to do is if you find any little rust spot on your bike, sand it and paint it with undercarriage paint. The engine per se is the strongest point of these bikes and the paint and rust protection being the weakest part.
	0