He didn't take my advice :-(

[kingsknight]

My cousin just brought a 60 plate SKYJET SJ-23 with 200miles on the clock for £650

How long till I get a call telling me he has broken down? I told the prick to go no way near it! I feel bad because I kinda told him to get himself a bike to get to work on!

https://www.car-advise.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2010/08/9793581428-1001.jpg

Looks alright but I just know there are going to be nothing but problems with it! I'm just praying he is a ultra mega lucky one and it is fine! He is going to be travelling 20miles a day on it!

I got a knot in my tummy because he hasn't got much money and I just know he is going to waste £650 on a bike which will let him down!
____________________
TS50 (sold) NS125F (sold) NSR125R-K (write off after 2 crashes) CG125 (nicked) XR125L-3 (Sold )-: ) DR125SM '11 (sold yay) XL125V '12 (In love with this bike) XT600E '04 (fun on the dirt)

[Ingah]

Isn't Skyjet one of the "better" (for want of a more suitable word) chinese makes?

*Watching this space*
____________________
-- Ingah

[Dazbo666]

Hoping he'll be one of the lucky ones, but I think I'll pull up a chair and wait for the inevitable...
____________________
1st bike (Sept'06 - May'10) : 1991 GPZ500S / Current bike (since Nov 2009) : 2003 Suzuki Bandit 600N
Word of the day : DILLIGAF

[c_dug]

Certainly one of the more common/popular makes. I reckon Kymaco is probably the best of the worst, no idea how Skyjet compare.
____________________
I am a bellend, I am a man of constant sorrow, I am a gummy bear, I am a rock.

[Ichy]

It not inevitable, just likely. A lot of the problem is that they do require the owner to stay on top of the maintenance but this rarely happens since they are brought by cheapskates or new riders

The two at the training school are getting on for 4-5 years old. Used and abused regularly for CBT and DAS training. Rarely any problem with them.

[kingsknight]

I know I'm going to get the call
____________________
TS50 (sold) NS125F (sold) NSR125R-K (write off after 2 crashes) CG125 (nicked) XR125L-3 (Sold )-: ) DR125SM '11 (sold yay) XL125V '12 (In love with this bike) XT600E '04 (fun on the dirt)

[tvr321]

They're fine if you look after them and don't "tune" them or anything.

In short, just tell him to be sensible and keep on top of maintenance.

[panrider_uk]

[photoscubaman]

sugest you invest in a large bottle of locktight and some nilock nutts.

if uk models are anything like the chinese ones we bought in egypt! then i sugest you apply locktight to all the nutts and change the important ones to ones with a nilock core.

and sugest your cousin is prepared to stop to go back and collect parts that have fallen off.

[Rogerborg]

Kymco are fine, then I'd go for Dihao bikes - branded as Huoniao or Haotian and some Lifan/Skygo models. Skyjet, well, cross your fingers.

The engines - the standard 156/167FMI pushrod based on the CG125 engine - are robust, if low powered, and the carbs tend to be fine - Japanese designed Deni or Mikuni. However, the exhaust studs are prone to shearing.

Other than that, there's just the usual issues: loose fasteners, rust and erratic electrics. The actual parts are OK, but the looms tend to work loose or get pinched.

Try to persuade him to go over it carefully and LocTite / spring washer / nyloc nut any connector that's not secure. Expect to have to fix a few loose connectors in the loom, for the chain to go slacker than a welfare cockholster's babytube, and for at least one bearing or bush to die prematurely.

You can keep on top of the maintenance, and end up with a decent, reliable, bike after replacing any bad bits, but you need to go in with open eyes, or else you'll end up as just another "CHINESE BIKES SUUUUUUUUCK!" poster on ReviewCentre..

[Ingah]

[colin1]

I think these are great little bikes. I hired a 180 cc pulsar which is like this skyjet see below
https://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=180589851808&ssPageName=STRK:MESINDXX:IT#ht_534wt_930

I hired the pulsar in south africa and used it for about a week. It was a great little thing. Bit basic but I liked it, and build quality seemed good to me.

If you could get 180cc ones here I might get one.
____________________
colin1 is officially faster than god

[fiveus]

a mate of mine has had a sky jet now for 2yrs with no probs at all.the only thing he did was remove nuts and bolts and apply a bit of thread lock.they are one of the good chinese bikes.goods spares supply on e-bay as well....

[Seb]

Given the mileage theres every chance it's still got the original pisswater they try to pass off as oil in it. I'd be doing oil/filters pronto as a precaution
____________________
2010 Triumph 1050 Sprint ST

[Frost]

The chinease bikes aren't terrible designs, but the materials used are of highly variable quality, and quality control doesn't seem to exist for financial reasons. So it's a near certainty something is going to fall of it in the next few months, odds are that it'll be bodgeable. Just make sure he doesnt keep throwing money at it or try making it go faster.

[Redoko]

I'm sorry for your loss.
____________________
"Let's face it, this is not the worst thing you've caught me doing."
Sudika Sportsman SK50QT > Gilera DNA50 > Honda CBR125 RW7 > Kawasaki Zephyr750 > Suzuki GSXR600 > Honda Hornet CB600F '51

[Astridax]

Surprisingly I know somebody with one of these bikes, and as far as I know it hasn't broken down in the two years he's had it.

However he, scoffs when I tell him I'm getting an RXS. Old 2 stokes are unreliable he says. What would he know, he loves Chinese bikes .
____________________
beechbone: Oh crap...I'm turning into 27cows
Walloper: And giving up one's leg to save a falling motorbike is the stuff of leg-ends....

[Rogerborg]

[kingsknight]

Thanks guys, reading your stories has made me feel better in some way! I thought he would ride it for a few weeks and the bike be so fucked he would have to bin it!

I'm going to update you guys in a few months to see how it gone on or I will be updating to tell you it has blown up!


I'm going to give it a good going over replacing any bolts I think are likely to be falling out that's for sure!

Thanks again chaps!
____________________
TS50 (sold) NS125F (sold) NSR125R-K (write off after 2 crashes) CG125 (nicked) XR125L-3 (Sold )-: ) DR125SM '11 (sold yay) XL125V '12 (In love with this bike) XT600E '04 (fun on the dirt)

[lonie]

moast chinese bikes use the 156fmi engine the newer skyjets use the 156fm2 engines althogh it is generaly the same engine unfortunately you lose a lot of midrange due to the carb setup you want it changeing to a mikuni 30mm as the one thatsa on it is rediculously small

go to mypurerush.com and get the mikuni 30mm for something like 20 quid well worth it also the inlets are made of crappy ruber so i sugest investing in an ally one

if looked after properly a chinese bike will last a lifetime the 156fmi or evan the fm2 engine's are sound however be wary of the electricals
also if your feeling slow all the chinese bikes use the same engine well some use slightly differnt but the main thing is that the 150 or evan 200cc cylinder's and heads fit perfectly onto the 125cc bottom end if he does happen to have any issuse's though hit me up with a pm i have a spare engine and a shedloads of other spares he can take a pick at for the price of a pack of fags also i fully agree with going round and checking every nut and bolt thourghly these bike like to vibrate and not in the good way

cheers lonie
____________________
1995-ZX6R F1
how fast is too fast?

[kingsknight]

Thanks for that mate! I know where to come for parts now
____________________
TS50 (sold) NS125F (sold) NSR125R-K (write off after 2 crashes) CG125 (nicked) XR125L-3 (Sold )-: ) DR125SM '11 (sold yay) XL125V '12 (In love with this bike) XT600E '04 (fun on the dirt)

[nightshaddow]

i had one for over 3 years now and to be honest it is a honest little motor, rarely lets me down though other than what lonie said i would advise putting tubes in the tyres they are prone to bead leaking, keep an eye on them fix any problems promptly and you should never have a problem,

on another note these chinese bikes are quite tuneable if you know how and though you will never get anywhere near 2 smoke speeds mine will hit 75-80 mph on a good day
____________________
"WHAT DO YOU MEAN 100 MPH THATS IMPOSSIBLE Its chinese OFFICER."
Current rides CB 125 TDE(the next project) NS125RK ( now on the road ) CB125TDC (soon to be project 17) melody ( the nephews )

[theopj]

Probably be a good idea to invest in a can of ACF50 or FS365 it alot to try and ward off the corrosion, and give it a good service and check and replace the bolts as said. £650 isn't that much at the end of the day to write off, and could probably break it for parts if it does fail.

Maybe some good breakdown cover as well might be a plan.
____________________
Suzuki Bandit SA 1250 & Honda CB750F2T

[Ditto]

I like the effort that went into designing the logo.

What is it, 'Times New Roman' or something?
____________________
CG 125 > Bandit 600 > CBR 600 FY > Street Triple R

[huskie69]

Aside from the terrible font choice it's a nice looking bike. However, I wish I'd have found this forum before buying mine last month - but I'm stuck with it for a while now!

A few of the problems I've had in the last 4 weeks:

Nuts worked themselves loose from the exhaust gasket
Bolts which hold the exhaust to the frame disappeared!

Sometimes a real bastard to start (from warm), can spend a while trying to kick-start, electric start and twiddling with the switches to make it look like I know what I'm doing and then 2 mins later it'll spring into life - VERY frustrating!

Cut out a few days ago (probably water in carb) but got going again after about 40 mins

Key got jammed in petrol cap while filling up - MASS PANIC as I couldn't ride off without the key! Through sheer luck I was actually carrying the spare key in bag (don't normally ride with my bag so was very lucky to have it on me!). Tried to get key out but it had mis-shapen due to the ultra-soft metal the chinks use for their keys. Ended up having to fork out £60 for a full replacement locking cap, ignition switch and under seat lock - first thing I did was to get a decent set of keys cut at timpsons.

Chain came loose and jammed the rear wheel - this was an area I'd neglected so it's completely my fault - I'd ridden for about 2500 miles without glancing at the chain except to spray a bit of GT85 on it every now and then. Didn't realise it needed checking at least every 300 miles. The tension was way out - it had about 4 inches of slack! Adjusted on the swing arm as far as it would go so may have to get a bigger sprocket if it needs re-tensioning next time. Again, probably something to do with the soft metal the chinks use - it expands a hell of a lot!

Other than those problems, not much else to report on my own Skyjet!!! (til next time!) Heheh

On a plus, I get about 90mpg from Shell V-power, 82mpg on Tesco Momentum stuff (compared to 20mpg in the Volvo I got rid of) so provided I don't have to constantly fork out for spare parts I should save myself a shit load of notes which will be going in the big bike fund