New KPX250 experience

[bradbusa]

Hello all! I recently took delivery of my new KPX250. It showed up over the weekend and I got it all put together on Sunday. The bike looks really nice and I am excited to get some seat time in with it in the coming months.

I think there is an issue with my model and I'm hoping other owners can chime in and make some comparisons. I assembled my bike on a stand, so it was upright, and not leaning over on the kickstand. When standing behind the bike, my rear tire seems to be off center with the bike. It appears to shifted over to the right - brake caliper side. Of course mine does suffer from the muffler clearance issue, but I believe the tire being off centered is the main cause and was hoping other owners could compare their bikes (whether the muffler rubs on theirs or not) and let me know if yours are the same. It is clearly noticeable that the tire is kicked to the right of the fender/mudflap.
I also took some measurements of the distance between the front of the rear wheel and swingarm on both sides, and the wheel hub and swingarm on both sides and it is even more obvious that my wheel is not centered with the swingarm. It looks like it's about half an inch closer to the right.
This has nothing to do with the chain adjusters, I checked those and all is correct there.

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1Lf-...usp=share_link

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1doR...usp=share_link

https://drive.google.com/file/d/17KQ...usp=share_link

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1rHl...usp=share_link

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1VR8...usp=share_link

More pictures here in my drive folder
https://drive.google.com/drive/folde...7U?usp=sharing

[bradbusa]

Finally figured out how to attach photos!

[bradbusa]

last photo

[IdahoRider]

@Jay93 had this same issue last October and Venom.

Originally Posted by Jay93

Hey guys just wanted to give you all an update on the rear wheel/muffler clearance issue.
1. I talked to venom and they contacted lifan on my behalf and I was sent a new tire and spacer kit free of charge. (Venom rocks!)
2. I suggested to venom they include the spacer kit on future kpx’s sent out, and they agreed so hopefully this problem is a thing of the past!

https://www.chinariders.net/showthre...=31083&page=25

[bradbusa]

I was able to get a few more pictures to better illustrate what I’m trying to say.
I set up a laser level and lined it up with the center line of the tail. Or at least pretty damn close to the center. It should be pretty obvious now that the tire/wheel is not on center. The problem is not the muffler being positioned incorrectly or needing to be spaced out a little.
I have been in contact with venom and they are working with American Lifan to find a solution.
I’m wondering if this is the real root cause of some people reporting their tires are rubbing on the muffler

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1fEo...w?usp=drivesdk

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1DaZ...w?usp=drivesdk

[JerryHawk250]

Those pictures really show the issue.

[JerryHawk250]

Looking at the pictures again. It looks like the swing arm itself is kicked over to the right. Could be a fabrication issue on the swing arm. I would request another swing arm. The assembly of the rear wheel all looks the same as mine.

[TominMO]

Question. When you say the chain adjusters are correct, how are you measuring this? Recommend not using the marks on the swingarm, if that is what you are relying on. Instead measure the middle of the swingarm pivot to the middle of the rear axle. You should have the exact same number on both sides.

[JerryHawk250]

Originally Posted by TominMO

Question. When you say the chain adjusters are correct, how are you measuring this? Recommend not using the marks on the swingarm, if that is what you are relying on. Instead measure the middle of the swingarm pivot to the middle of the rear axle. You should have the exact same number on both sides.

That's not his issue. We went over that already. It's in the swingarm itself.

[joefj1200]

I'd suggest checking / setting the chain adjusters as described, and then check to see how far offset the rear wheel is from the front wheel. You can use a straightedge or string method. Maybe the rear wheel spacers are swapped? I don't have my bike in front of me so I don't know how likely that is...

Originally Posted by TominMO

Question. When you say the chain adjusters are correct, how are you measuring this? Recommend not using the marks on the swingarm, if that is what you are relying on. Instead measure the middle of the swingarm pivot to the middle of the rear axle. You should have the exact same number on both sides.

[bradbusa]

Originally Posted by JerryHawk250

Looking at the pictures again. It looks like the swing arm itself is kicked over to the right. Could be a fabrication issue on the swing arm. I would request another swing arm. The assembly of the rear wheel all looks the same as mine.

i'm really hoping that's all it is. Would you mind taking a few quick measurements when you're able to? I'm still waiting to hear from Venom, who is waiting to hear from American Lifan, but I have a feeling you're right.
If possible could you take similar measurements as the ones in these photos?

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1doR...usp=share_link
https://drive.google.com/file/d/17KQ...usp=share_link
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1rHl...usp=share_link
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1VR8...usp=share_link

[TominMO]

Originally Posted by bradbusa

i'm really hoping that's all it is. Would you mind taking a few quick measurements when you're able to? I'm still waiting to hear from Venom, who is waiting to hear from American Lifan, but I have a feeling you're right.

Can you tell just by visual inspection? If you have a short spacer on the left and a long one on the right, swap 'em.

EDIT: Went and looked at my KPX rear axle. No right side spacer, just the brake mount. Left side spacer only. Your axle pics look the same, so yeah, maybe Lifan let a tweaked swingarm out into the wild. Surprising.

[JerryHawk250]

Originally Posted by TominMO

Can you tell just by visual inspection? If you have a short spacer on the left and a long one on the right, swap 'em.

There is no spacer on the right side. It's built into the brake caliper bracket. All the right side has is a small bushing which i can se in the pictures.

[JerryHawk250]

Originally Posted by bradbusa

i'm really hoping that's all it is. Would you mind taking a few quick measurements when you're able to? I'm still waiting to hear from Venom, who is waiting to hear from American Lifan, but I have a feeling you're right.
If possible could you take similar measurements as the ones in these photos?

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1doR...usp=share_link
https://drive.google.com/file/d/17KQ...usp=share_link
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1rHl...usp=share_link
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1VR8...usp=share_link

If it's not pouring down rain by the time i get off work i will. I'll have to pull my bike out the shed. Not enough room in the shed to get a good picture. I really need to sell a bike. lol

[TominMO]

Went back out and measured the same four places you did in the pics in post #11. I got the exact same measurements, and my bike rides fine at 70 mph. I think this is just how they build the wheel, and it is perfectly fine. Recommend you just ride it, first at city speeds; then if that seems fine, try highway speeds.

The offset with respect to the fender probably has to do with the fender not being properly mounted. We have seen this happen before. Pull the seat and check the bolts mounting the fender.