New Zongshen RX3 (ZS250GY-3) Dual Sport

[Wolftrax]

Originally Posted by SpudRider

Here is the size 130/90-15 tire which has the most aggressive tread I have yet discovered. This was the best off road tire available for the Zongshen Sierra, but it disappeared from North America when Zonghen America stopped importing it.

http://item.taobao.com/item.htm?spm=...83&ns=1#detail



I would hope CSC Motorsports would stock this tire, which will fit the rear wheel of both the ZS200GY-2 and the ZS250GY-3. However, in North America there are many choices for 17-inch and 18-inch rear tires which have far more aggressive treads. Besides greater choice, one can also get much better pricing when he is not limited to a single vendor.

Thats a good looking tire but I'm sold on the Mitas E07. I put 10000km on a set of these in Africa; tar, gravel, rocks, sand and they worked great! Only available in the 17" and 18" rears.



BTW they wear like iron.

[SpudRider]

Originally Posted by Wolftrax

Honda CRF 250L MSRP $4999
Bash plate $91
Radiator Guard $49
Rear Rack $85
Touring seat $159
Engine Guard $208
IMS tank 3.1 gal $265
Windscreen $189
Luggage Kriega 50L $358

Total $6403

This is what I have in my CRF. I tour on it and yes it is boring reliable slow ride

So for half the price of the Honda I can be riding the RX-3 with all the touring goodies, 1 gal more fuel, and four more ponies in the engine. The only question is reliability. I have yet to find any negative reports on the NC250 engine. The only negatives have been wheel bearings and chains. Weight has also been an issue but the CRF250L come in at 320 and suspect i've easily added 30 lbs. of goodies.

I'm in, I'll keep the Honda and sell off the touring bits. change the gearing and use it as a trail bike.

I am pretty confident the new Zong will be reliable. Wheel bearings and drive chains are easily replaced. I think you have reached a reasonable conclusion; $3,000 buys a lot of tires, fuel, et cetera.

I have searched Taobao, and all the various parts of this motorcycle, and the NC250 engine, are available at very low prices. The cost of ownership for this bike will be very low, if someone is willing to buy the parts directly from China.

[SpudRider]

Originally Posted by Wolftrax

Thats a good looking tire but I'm sold on the Mitas E07. I put 10000km on a set of these in Africa; tar, gravel, rocks, sand and they worked great! Only available in the 17" and 18" rears.

BTW they wear like iron.

Thanks for posting the good report on the Mitas E07; I'm sure it's a great tire. I really don't know why Zongshen keeps building bikes with a 15-inch rear tire. All the good, off road tires are manufactured for either a 17-inch, or an 18-inch rim. Fortunately, it's not very difficult to convert the Zong's rear wheel to a larger rim size.

[fishman10]

Spud. Just get. On the list with us. , I think this bike is gonna be a hit,,,,,do I wish it was a 400cc. ,,sure. But it just might be a great commuter bike. An besides. You need astreet bike,

[SpudRider]

Originally Posted by Weldangrind

I know you meant to say "when."

Originally Posted by fishman10

Spud. Just get. On the list with us. , I think this bike is gonna be a hit,,,,,do I wish it was a 400cc. ,,sure. But it just might be a great commuter bike. An besides. You need astreet bike,

I give up; I'm on the list.

Resistance is futile. You will be assimilated.

[Ogre81]

Originally Posted by SpudRider

I give up; I'm on the list.

Resistance is futile. You will be assimilated.

Spud its OK you held out longer than I did and I just got a new bike.

[Weldangrind]

Originally Posted by SpudRider

I give up; I'm on the list.

Resistance is futile. You will be assimilated.

I knew it! You just made my day.

[Weldangrind]

Originally Posted by SpudRider

I really don't know why Zongshen keeps building bikes with a 15-inch rear tire. All the good, off road tires are manufactured for either a 17-inch, or an 18-inch rim. Fortunately, it's not very difficult to convert the Zong's rear wheel to a larger rim size.

I've been wondering the same thing. Is it just that there's a surplus of 15" tires in China, and they needed to use them up? Is it more commonly available in Asia than we realize? Likely questions we'll never learn the answer to.

[Weldangrind]

Originally Posted by SpudRider

I am pretty confident the new Zong will be reliable. Wheel bearings and drive chains are easily replaced. I think you have reached a reasonable conclusion; $3,000 buys a lot of tires, fuel, et cetera.

I have searched Taobao, and all the various parts of this motorcycle, and the NC250 engine, are available at very low prices. The cost of ownership for this bike will be very low, if someone is willing to buy the parts directly from China.

It's tempting to build a clone, using a frame and registration that I already have.

If I do, we've taken China bikes to a new level. Building a clone of an existing China bike seems poetic, somehow.

[Wolftrax]

Originally Posted by SpudRider

I give up; I'm on the list.

Resistance is futile. You will be assimilated.

Aother one bites the dust. How many on this thread are on the list?

[fishman10]

woo hoo ,, thx spud....You are the reason i bought a sierra,,i hope you dont back out,,,this is going to be fun!!!

[recracer]

I never had a complaint with the NC250 engine . I am happy to see it in a more daily useable model ,than the megelli 250R model was. I was tempted to transplant that engine in the Viva, but did not want to kill a useable bike.

[culcune]

I got myself invited/invited myself on the Baja tour for the new Zongshen over on the ADVrider thread. I am considering buying one of these (haven't put myself on the 'LIST' yet), but the guy from CSC obviously did not turn me away knowing I would be riding my TMEC. He had stated that there are stretches of road with no gas stations for 200 miles, but said there are locals selling gas out of gas cans in the interim. Or I could break down and carry a gas can for those parts, but ironically, with my trunk on the back, no longer have the 'rack' to strap it down on, so will have to figure out how to carry spare fuel.

[Weldangrind]

Originally Posted by recracer

I never had a complaint with the NC250 engine . I am happy to see it in a more daily useable model ,than the megelli 250R model was. I was tempted to transplant that engine in the Viva, but did not want to kill a useable bike.

Are you saying that the new Zong uses the same motor as your old Megelli? What is it based on?

[recracer]

Originally Posted by Weldangrind

Are you saying that the new Zong uses the same motor as your old Megelli? What is it based on?

http://remcakram.com/tag/zs177mm/ Also posted last page http://chinariders.net/showthread.ph...light=recracer