The Down under chronicles

[Citroenjunkie]

After reading your comments about differences between my bike and the US ones I did a bit of reading...... and discovered my bike has a 15 inch back wheel which along with the exposed oxygen sensor and the light switch and no accessory socket makes it a Chinese spec ie. direct from the factory, bike. It seems it may be a good thing it came with two sets of tyres?

I don't suppose it's an issue really, it's not like there's another Zongshen in the country to swap spares with anyway!

There was a lot written about wheel sizes when the bikes were launched. Was the issue only about getting tyres or another problem I missed? I'm very happy with how the bike goes and handles and would replace the tyres with stock ones happily.

Clocked up my first thousand kilometres on the way home yesterday

[Citroenjunkie]

Disaster this morning.
Got all kitted up, went out to the bike, jumped athletically into the saddle, pushed the bike out from under cover, switched it on, waited for the fuel pump to stop, pressed the starter button, and then it all went lumpy!

The bike sort of started, and died twice, then almost pretended to try to start and then nothing but slower and slower cranking until the battery died.

I think it was flooded as I could smell unburned petrol. I had to get all the gear off, find the car keys - It hasn't been used in the last 2 weeks, and then drive to work. My glorious ride to work stuffed!

Has this happened to anyone else or am I losing all my skills already?

[2LZ]

Originally Posted by Citroenjunkie

Disaster this morning.
Got all kitted up, went out to the bike, jumped athletically into the saddle, pushed the bike out from under cover, switched it on, waited for the fuel pump to stop, pressed the starter button, and then it all went lumpy!

The bike sort of started, and died twice, then almost pretended to try to start and then nothing but slower and slower cranking until the battery died.

I think it was flooded as I could smell unburned petrol. I had to get all the gear off, find the car keys - It hasn't been used in the last 2 weeks, and then drive to work. My glorious ride to work stuffed!

Has this happened to anyone else or am I losing all my skills already?

My first suggestion would be to clean and tighten your battery terminals. They have a tendency to come loose and cause weird symptoms. Check the battery voltage and hook up to a charger also, if need be, since it got cranked down low.

[jbfla]

As I recall, the first shipment of RX3s to the USA had a number of battery failures.

As a result, CSC, the US distributor specified an upgraded battery for following shipments.

When I received my RX3, the first thing I did was to give the battery a full charge.

Even on my new Triumph Bonneville that was set up and serviced by the dealer, the battery showed only a 25% state of charged when I brought it home.

jb

[Citroenjunkie]

Finally got the camera and a computer in the same room

[Citroenjunkie]

So $80 later the new battery arrived was set up and charged and installed.

Instant start even after a four day stand down, so all seems good

I was however interested by the small yellow spark, and humming noise when I reconnected the earth terminal? I disconnected and then reconnected, still a small spark but the second time no humming noise? When I turned the ignition on everything was great except that the rev counter swung up to centre position and stayed there and the digital display didn't do the whole 0-200 thing. I turned of waited a few seconds and tried again and we were back to normal

I know there's a small drain keeping the clock going etc, but I'm interested to see what the drain is. I suppose I'm going to have to plumb the depths of the shed in search of the multi meter.... picture a spacious double garage condensed into a 2.5 x 3 metre shed....

Anyway, now to plan this weekend's ride. South I think!

[Bruce's]

Isn't your bike fuel injected ? The computer is one source of a small drain .

[Sullybiker]

Was the new battery okay after a ride? I'm curious about this one.

[Citroenjunkie]

Originally Posted by Sullybiker

Was the new battery okay after a ride? I'm curious about this one.

Yes it seems to be all good again. I took the long way home as the weather was dry. My usual commute is about 3km through town, the long route about 60km through the country.
We are very lucky to live in such a beautiful country!

[Citroenjunkie]

So after I'd had a good look at all the cool links, thanks again, I had a bit of a think?
I visited our local hardware store and had a chat to the man and came home with the makings of a tool tube. My thought was for a little less money I could custom fit the tube for my bike. And so the fun began

I've just got to get another stirrup clamp and four worm drive hoseclips. I don't want to drill the frame if I don't have to, it will also be a lot more adjustable.

I tried the pannier on and it all fits.

I plan to paint it black once it all fits properly.

It's not quite as pretty as the agri ones but I'm chuffed with it anyway.
I've put the lid on the downhill end to make it easier to get things out. I know I'll need to make sure the contents don't instantly end up in the mud, but I think the logic is sound?

[Citroenjunkie]

Well four weeks in and 1400km later. I'm really starting to enjoy Zongie. I love the way the engine gets it's growl on from 6000 all the way to 9000! The gearbox is great the brakes are getting better and the handling is rock solid.

Apart from the high first gear it's perfect!

I found some more fun roads and great scenery.

[jbfla]

Excellent!, CJ.......

Where are the sheep?

jb

[Citroenjunkie]

Originally Posted by jbfla

Excellent!, CJ.......

Where are the sheep?

jb

They've all emigrated to Australia, they'd rather be shagged than eaten!

[Citroenjunkie]

Once in a blue moon all the variables click into place and there dawns a perfect day. The air was still, not a single cloud, crisp autumn morning after a great night's sleep and nothing other than a ride on the bike scheduled.
I'd planned a 120km loop mostly on back roads winding through the country, lots of unsealed, undiscovered interesting roads. I couldn't wait.

I got the sheep picture and after investigating a tiny village which boasted a one room school and a tiny church, the Tarmac ended....

The surface was hard packed earth, but with a thick loose layer of pea sized gravel. I slowed as quickly as I could as the bike started to twitch and pull and fight, trying, in my mind, to throw me on the ground in a bleeding heap. I gritted my teeth let battle commence! I had to do this! I must!

As I edged along the road slowly, feeling really useless, I pictured desert racers roaring across the soft sand in the Paris Dakar, not crashing but floating over the treacherous surface. Then it hit me, they all rode standing!

I stood and immediately everything came right, the bike was no longer trying to throw me off, it was asking for more. In seconds we'd found our happy place powering through corners, using all my weight to balance steer, and go where I wanted it to. I found I can change up and down perfectly while standing and the bars and pegs are exactly where I need them. The feeling was almost euphoric. The confidence and skill I had as an 18 year old was all still there
Needless to say the ride was far too short, I almost did a second lap!

What a fantastic day, bike, road, ride, life! I'm definitely one lucky man

[Ron B]

this makes a huge diffrence....dont know what shipping would be https://www.cscmotorcycles.com/Count...p/csc-1099.htm