New Zongshen RX3 (ZS250GY-3) Dual Sport

[SpudRider]

Originally Posted by pete

So with the limited miles you have put on the bike...
hows the vibration if any..... handle bars/foot pegs..
looks as if thats something i have to start concidering
now... As I now have carpal tunnel my XT660 gives my
right hand a real hard time..goes numbe in about
30mins of riding at 100kmph... 4000rpm is a real
bad vibration zone on the XT...

The engine is very smooth, and I have felt mimimal vibration at all speeds up to 88 mph, as indicated on the speedometer.

[SpudRider]

Originally Posted by oldqwerty

Some big cruisers and tourers have 1-inch handlebars under the controls. Pretty much everything else in the world is 7/8...

Thank you for correcting my error. I am almost completely ignorant of Harleys and the big cruisers, and these exceptions escaped my memory.

Originally Posted by oldqwerty

...Are the stock bars aluminum or steel? If steel, with only a 1/2 inch hole, they would be very heavy. Tough as a tank, but way heavy. If there is that much material there I'll just tap some threads and drill the guards to match. Simple solution...

CSC reported the handlebars are aluminum. I just checked, and a magnet won't stick to them. They certainly seem to be aluminum to me.

I just measured the hole in the handlebars; it is 12 mm in diameter. Tapping the hole to a 13 mm thread would certainly work.

Originally Posted by oldqwerty

...If anyone is installing grip heaters, wrap the left bar with friction tape to the approximate diameter of the throttle tube on the right. Then install the heater and a right side throttle diameter handgrip on the left. Otherwise your handlebars will suck heat so hast your left hand can be cold and your right hand sweating. I know, that means buying 2 sets of grips, but you can befriend a 4-wheeler person with a gift of the two smaller grips because 4-wheelers don't have throttle tubes.

That is an excellent tip.

[oldqwerty]

88mph? Oh, come on. It isn't even broken in yet. You expect us to believe that? What did you do, ride it off a cliff?


















88mph!

By the way, how do the stock tires feel on pavement?

[SpudRider]

Originally Posted by culcune

...One of those obscure (at least for us) European manufacturers uses the same engine, but apparently manufactures their own bike. Someone can remind me what the brand is...

The reason I mention this is that this engine has been sorted out for a little while now, so it is not 'untested'

The Gas Gas Cami 250, and the AJP PR5 also employ the ZS177MM/NC250 engine. Both bikes, and their engines, get excellent reviews. Indeed, I consider this engine to be a well proven success.

[SpudRider]

Originally Posted by fishman10

Let me just say after a day of the real maiden voyage, i like the bike alot ,having the the same issue finding nuetral, but not a huge deal,,,,,but man if it was a 450cc ,i would be totally s.mitten!!!If zongshen /csc comes out with a 450 , Im buying it. i will look forward to some performance upgrades to this platform,cause i just really like the fit and nimbleness,and handling!

I haven't had any problems finding neutral, whatsover. However, I never try to shift to neutral while moving.

[SpudRider]

Originally Posted by fishman10

i hope someone finds a set that works on the stock bars.

Originally Posted by woodlandsprite

honestly, me too

Given Qwerty's excellent suggestion to tap the holes inside the handlebars, I am going to see if the Tusk D-Flex handguards meet the other fitment requirements.

[SpudRider]

Originally Posted by woodlandsprite

AZrider George mentioned fixing his issue on another forum by adjusting the clutch

http://cyclone-rx3.com/forum/viewtop...21e0bc7b560079

The clutch lever of my RX3 did have excessive play in the cable when it arrived. I adjusted the lever for the proper amount of free play before my first ride, and I haven't had any problems whatsover finding neutral while stopped.

[SpudRider]

Originally Posted by oldqwerty

88mph? Oh, come on. It isn't even broken in yet. You expect us to believe that? What did you do, ride it off a cliff? ...

Originally Posted by oldqwerty

...88mph!

By the way, how do the stock tires feel on pavement?

My friend Andy is a professional mechanic with over 30 years of experience. He told me he believes it doesn't make any difference how you break in an engine. After learning the Zongshen factory runs each bike to 90 mph on a dynamometer at the factory, I decided not to baby my RX3 engine during the break in process. Indeed, a lot of guys advocate a hard engine break in, and they seem to get excellent results. Therefore, I have merely been modifying the engine rpms, and I have ridden the bike on the interstate at full throttle.

The speedometer is probably still at least 10 percent 'optimistic,' but I have cruised at 84 mph, and actually reached 88 mph on a short, slightly downhill stretch of pavement. The stock tires feel great at all speeds on pavement, and the bike always feels stable and well planted. This bike is a lot of fun to ride.

[detours]

Originally Posted by culcune

I know Spud answered 'yes' to your questions, and there are a few bikes that have had this engine for a few years now. Here in the US, SSR Motorsports have been using the same engine for a few years now in their 250cc motocross bike http://www.ssrmotorsports.com/store/...ke/sr250s.html

The company Asiawing is the OEM for SSR's bike which is also sold into other countries under various brands. http://asiawing.com/english/index.asp

One of those obscure (at least for us) European manufacturers uses the same engine, but apparently manufactures their own bike. Someone can remind me what the brand is...

The reason I mention this is that this engine has been sorted out for a little while now, so it is not 'untested'

There are several branded RX3s around the world, like the M1nsk (Byelarus), and the Honley (UK), plus distribution in China, Chile, Peru, Argentina and Brazil under the Zongshen name.

Here are a few other bikes that use the NC250/ZS177MM engine:

• AJP PR5 - fuel injected, manufactured in Portugal, sold in US
• Apachi Cross XZ250RM - sold in Turkey I think
• Megelli 250R
• And this sportbike from alibaba

[pete]

Originally Posted by oldqwerty

88mph? Oh, come on. It isn't even broken in yet. You expect us to believe that? What did you do, ride it off a cliff?

A thing of the passed...

88mph isn't bad for a 250 pushing that much weight on a tight motor...

[oldqwerty]

Originally Posted by SpudRider

Thank you for correcting my error. I am almost completely ignorant of Harleys and the big cruisers, and these exceptions escaped my memory.



CSC reported the handlebars are aluminum. I just checked, and a magnet won't stick to them. They certainly seem to be aluminum to me.

I just measured the hole in the handlebars; it is 12 mm in diameter. Tapping the hole to a 13 mm thread would certainly work.



That is an excellent tip.

Hey, we have to watch out for one another. Those S. O. B. (Some Other Brand) riders will start all that not waving at Chinese bikes crap.

I've never heard of a 13mm bolt. 12 and 14, yes, but not 13. Hmmm? Guess what size hole needs to be to tap for a 14-2 bolt! Yup, 12mm. Hold on a sec. ... ... ... Okay, I just ordered two taps off eBay. Once I've tapped my bars I'll mail a tap to anyone who needs one as long as they promise to pass the tool one to another Cyclone rider.

Oh, wait! Will the end of the guard have enough material to take a 14mm hole?


If not, I have some thread inserts that go into about a 12mm hole and they came from Advance. Advance just might lend the tools to install. If memory serves, the inserts are less than $10.

[oldqwerty]

Originally Posted by pete

A thing of the passed...

88mph isn't bad for a 250 pushing that much weight on a tight motor...

[woodlandsprite]

Originally Posted by oldqwerty

Once I've tapped my bars I'll mail a tap to anyone who needs one as long as they promise to pass the tool one to another Cyclone rider.

.

Qwerty, sign me up. I'm going to want hand guards on the bike sooner rather than later. I don't want to have to practice changing levers out in the event that I drop the bike.

Looks like taps are done manually? Do I need to get my hands on a T handle?. I see I'll be augmenting my tool box on account of this adventure :P

[oldqwerty]

Originally Posted by woodlandsprite

Qwerty, sign me up. I'm going to want hand guards on the bike sooner rather than later. I don't want to have to practice changing levers out in the event that I drop the bike.

Looks like taps are done manually? Do I need to get my hands on a T handle?. I see I'll be augmenting my tool box on account of this adventure :P

Let's wait for SpudRider's take on whether or not there is enough material to handle the 14mm hole, and if the rest of the kit will fit. Then we will go from there.

[woodlandsprite]

Originally Posted by oldqwerty

Let's wait for SpudRider's take on whether or not there is enough material to handle the 14mm hole, and if the rest of the kit will fit. Then we will go from there.

Most wise. Thank you for offering to share the tap around in any case!