18000 miles in a year on a Chinese 125

[jetski]

it seems the only legitimate argument for not getting a brand new Chinese is that you can get a second hand Japanese for the same price. I never had that option so I bought a second hand Chinese. a kaisar xtr, also known as a lexmoto. it's a cbr copy. it's 2 years old and I have had it for about 6 months. I use it every day and obviously it's still young but I have never once had any problems. it starts perfectly every time, I really couldn't be happier with it

[Matt-]

[flumpy7]

[Bigond]

[ruck bodgers2]

[STONEY!]

I deal in chinese bikes all the time and I had one of these not long ago, it had 957 miles on the clock and it was hanging so your already beating that!

Having said that I bought a Chituma cg125 clone from a courier in london with 58,000miles on the clock, still on its original engine, the guy had changed the oil every 2000miles from new and covered it in thick grease from new, it was minging and tatty as hell but still rode pretty well.

Things I would sort out from my experience of chinese bikes:

If its chrome protect it, fork gaiters are good and grease everything.

the paintwork will also need similar looking after although tank and panels usually survive fine.

Take every electrical connector apart, grease and waterproof them.

take every bolt out and copperslip it.

replace anything rubber as and when it fails with something better quality.

change the spark plug and cap for NGK, do regular oil changes.

whenever you replace consumables ie chain/sprockets/tyres/brake pads use better quality jap parts!

[bladerunner]

Some of these engines ain't bad to be fair and can run with the jap equivalent bikes whilst in good nick. I've yet to see a set of clocks last on chinese bikes last more than 10,000 miles so interesting to see if you do better! Keep posting
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Current bikes...cbr929, KDX200's, Rd125lc mk2, RGV250's

[UnspeedySam]

Just spotted this. Good on you for trying it. I'm not going to debate the choice of bike because you've got it already...so it's all academic and been discussed 100 times before on BCF.

Maybe consider a set of Tucano Urbano muffs. I never got on with heated grips last winter as my finger tips still froze. I'm getting myself a set imminently.

I live in Southampton myself (Bitterne) and can't help wondering what route you take to Windsor to avoid the M3? Passing your test just to be able to take that route seems like a very good investment to me.

Good luck and let me know if you need a mechanical hand. If I can't work it out I have a couple of mates who probably can.
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Riding: Does an Audi estate count?
Fixing: Honda VFR750 RC36 '94 and MZ ETZ 251 '90
Gone: ZZR600 '00, TRX850 '97, RXS100 '93, JS125-6B '07, BMW R1100RS '93, Kawasaki ZX-6R-J2 '01,Honda Bros NT400 NC25 '88

[garth]

[SamWise72]

Thanks guys! I'm at around 1700 miles, not completely sure as the speedo cable wants replacing. I ACF50'ed the thing to within an inch of its life this weekend. I also binned it on a roundabout entry, minimal damage, but mullered the screen. New tyres are on the menu after that.

As far as route, through Chandler's Ford to Winchester, then from there, up the A31 to Farnborough, then across to Camberley, and across to Windsor from there. After my off today, my boss is very keen for me to take a few days off and do my test I've got Hein Gericke Pathan gloves now, which seem good, but fluffy muffs, heated grips and HiD are on the menu.

[c_dug]

Interesting thread, please keep it up
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I am a bellend, I am a man of constant sorrow, I am a gummy bear, I am a rock.

[UnspeedySam]

[SamWise72]

Screen was cheap as chips, only £35. Bike is due in for a service anyhow, so I've asked them to put a new one on, and a pair of Michelin Pilot Sporty, since it was a slipping front wheel where I REALLY don't feel it should have happened that caused the crash. Gonna stay off it til then.

The M3 ought to take an hour or more out of the journey, which will be bloody lovely.

[Hobgoblin]

I'd be interested on a cost total as you go on.
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Plodding along on my CG

[mattsprattuk]

Yes, it was clearly the tyres that caused the crash...

Also bare in mind that these speedos over read by about 20%, so bare that in mind when you're totting up the 18k.

Mine lasted around 18k in my first year and I stopped riding it because the monkey metal frame snapped in half on an A road. Never crashed into anything, lowsided it once at low speeds and a couple of drops, but that's it.
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Blue_SV650S wrote: it was a sh1te wheelie, but it proves that he can get it up in 3rd and can do angles. In summery, mattsprattuk is a gobby little sh1tebag, dopehead tw4t, but sadly for all of us, he probably isn't THAT full of sh1te!!
Kickstart wrote: Hi I tend to agree with Matt. All the best Keith

[UnspeedySam]

[mattsprattuk]

[SamWise72]

[jetski]

my Speedo on my kaisar xtr125 is spot on accurate... up to 30mph lol. when it says 40 it's actually doing 35. when my GPS says its doing 50 the Chinese speedo says all kinds of figures. I was hoping to use my GPS once and mark using a white paint pen on 10mph increments on the black plastic of the clock. but it wasn't as simple as that. riding steadily at 50mph the needs just keeps rising and doesn't really settle until it says 70. then when I punch it to 60 it says 80. that's it maxed then. bloody pain but as it is accurate up to 30 its not too bad.

the tyres are god awful and the back wheel has tide up many times, luckily I have been able to keep it up, it's never been dropped. I was going to buy some real tyres but I would rather spend the money on the test instead and buy a bigger bike. I'm very happy with this one mind, nothing has died on it, starts first time everytime, although I guess it should as it's only 2 years old

[SamWise72]

For the record, I'm well aware that my off was caused by a combination of the tyres, the conditions, and my inexperience, but guess which one of those I can address instantly?

[UnspeedySam]

[Teflon-Mike]

On the tyres, I'd vouch for Mitch M45's as opposed to the pilots.
Its a more 'all-round' tread pattern & possibly a bit better in the wet.

Cheaper, and longer lasting, but still more than grippy enough for a commuter. Run them on the 125 super-dream and they were confidence inspiring enough for me to deck the pegs, when I get the devil in me. Seems more than 'adequate', hence suggestions pilots might be a tad 'over-kill' and not give same 'value'.

As for three factors in crash; tyres; skill; conditions; good idea... BUT... yes weather conditions we have no control over, other than not going out in it. Tyres? Yeah, quick easy 'upgrade' improving your riding? Yes harder and takes longer...... but track mechanic joke....want a quicker bike? Fit a better rider!

£120 for a pair of tyres; how long they going to last? 10K miles? And what they going to do for you? How many 'offs' MIGHT they save in that time?

Same money, could (round here) buy you a complete rider training course to test standard; 12 two hours lessons, once a week.....

Makes you that better rider; fits any bike; never wears out; gets better the more you use it; more likely to save you more 'offs' in the same time you might have a set of decent tyres, and more still in all the years to come. And does more than a pair of tyres helping you go round corners; helps every aspect of your riding, for ever.

Very hard to put value on, the accidents we DONT have, but think about it; it IS something you can have almost straight away; and it is something that will do FAR more, FAR more often, and long term deliver SO much more value, and so much more confidence, and so much more safety.

Get on a bike with hoirrible bakerlite tyres? Those skills will let you get the most from them and help avoid having an off becouse of them.

Upgrade to good rubber? THEN that training delivers double whammy; tyres aren't a quick fix problem patch; and you can use those skills to either ride with even more margin for error and safety or exploit them to the max and for the same margins get so much more from the bike.

Think about it; if you can have BOTH great, but if you can only have one, or have one before the other..... my cash goes on SKILLS.... sooner you have them, sooner you can put them to work, more value you get from them.

On topic of speedo vs mileage.... we had this debate a little while ago, and G I think came up with some accuracy data, as to whether 10% over on the speedo meant that oddo readings would also be 10% up on 'true' mileage.

Speedo and odometer are both driven off the cable from the front wheel.

Basic answer was, that the oddo is direct drive click counter counting wheel revs, and as such, provided the tyre is the right size and the right pressure, the accuracy of them tends to be pretty high, as in +/- 3%.

Speedometer needle however records speed by having two magnets on a metal disc on the end of the speedo cable, and another disc with a couple of magnets on the end of the speedo needle shaft, and a big watch-spring. As driven disc rotates, magnets try and drag the needle dis round, but that winds up the watch spring. So faster the driven plate turns more often it passes the needle plate, harder it drags it round against the spring, so higher the needle moves up the scale. And its no where near as accurate as the oddo.

Lore says speed accuracy is about 10%+2 towards over reading; and they have to be within limit at 30, so true 30 could be reading 35..... but take that to true 120, and spedo likely to be showing around 135.

But basically speedo accuracy tends to be poor, oddometer accuracy actually not so bad.
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My Webby'Tef's-tQ, loads of stuff about my bikes, my Land-Rovers, and the stuff I do with them!
Current Bikes:'Honda VF1000F' ;'CB750F2N' ;'CB125TD ( 6 3 of em!)'; 'Montesa Cota 248'. Learner FAQ's:= 'U want to Ride a Motorbike! Where Do U start?'

[SamWise72]

My problem with training is finding the time, not the money; very hard to find anyone who will do 2 hour lessons here, never mind for £120. However, me coming off has encouraged my boss to offer me unpaid extra time off to do an intensive course, so that's now the plan.

As far as speedo readings vs distance, I ignored that because I don't care. My intention here is to show how a chinese bike copes with around that sort of distance; the precise distance isn't important; it'll be about 120 miles a day, 3 days a week, all year, and that's the important part - it's hard use compared to what most 125s get.

[SamWise72]

New boots and panties!

https://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a322/Samuelw72/20121012_093820.jpg

Conti-go tyres, which just from touch feel grippier than the Shingko ones. Had a new screen fitted too, plus the service done, and it turned out that my clutch lever was flapping around due to a sheared bolt from the crash. They couldn't drill out the bolt end, but the nice thing about a Chinese bike; the replacement was only £22. So, all shipshape and Bristol fashion again, uncomfortable bill, but such is life. (oh, no argument about the warranty replacement of the speedo drive)

In other news, definitely taking the time off to do an intensive course; having driven up the motorway (I drive my tiny Daihatsu HiJet at about the same speeds my 125 will do), I am now certain that I'll save 2 hours a day commuting time, plus have much better lighting and generally a more pleasant ride to do in the rain and cold when I can ride the bike on the motorway. At that time of day, 60 mph is plenty fast enough without holding ANYONE up, so I want my license ASAP!

[BigJoe78]

how long does your journey currently take on the 125?
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2013 ZX6R 636