AllanB

What you have to remember about top boxes is they tend to overhang the rack at the back. That increases the leverage and bending moment on the frame. The 5kg weight limit will be a conservative figure, but even so, rough riding together with this additional leverage will push this limit. Work hardening over time is also the issue here.

Unless you are carrying a pilion, strap everything to the rear seat, it is designed to take up to 100kg and good for fuel consumption too.

As for the rest of the frame, you cannot count direct impact damage, that is called a "crash" and and outside the design remit. Riding the bike without direct impact, 95% of the shock load is absorbed by tyres and shocks. That is why shock absorbers, often ignorred, are so important.

Many of the 4 wheel off-roaders ignor this at their peril, when the go to places like Africa without OME shocks, some don't think to carry spares. Result, the entire vehicle falls apart. Then they blame the vehicle.

I assume there is an OME (Old Man Emu) equivilent for bikes?

14 hours ago, Kwasaki said:

And where does that come from quality always outweighs quantity.

A number of reasons:-

1. The material costs, look at any high grade alloy product and everything is expensive, including re-engineering everything, If you don't get the alloy right and the shape, the frame will crack.

Low carbon steel is inherently strong and very cheap.

2. Don't think you can change the frame material and keep eveything the same, it doesn't work that way. Engineering costs have to be recovered.

3. The 250L is made and sold in Thailand, which keeps this prices down, but has to be sold in large quatities, or it won't be made here at all. Example, why did the entire Australian car industry die, because the home market was too small to warrant the addition manufacturing costs. In Europe the local market is to a half billion people, in Australia, even if you add NZ (3,000km away) it is only 30 million.

Thais will not pay B240k for this sort of bike, so the market potential is just one then.....you.

Using an alluminium alloy for the frame has nothing to do with quality, it is about saving weight. The CRF has no frame quality issues..AFAIK.

8 hours ago, Kwasaki said:

 

@NickymasterI stand corrected but thought the weight difference was a mistake until a good report told of the ali frame.

Roll on ali frame for 250L. 

The price will go up too, not sure how many they will sell for the performance increase on a cheapo 250.

The CRF250L at B140k beats everything in sight on price, add B100k to that for an alloy frame, where does that leave it? So you have to up the power/torque and that leaves you with a CRF450...??

On 17/04/2018 at 1:28 PM, jackdd said:

A windscreen makes riding more relaxed because it takes pressure from your helmet, of course not really important if you drive just an hour or two or just at low speed, but if you try to cover a longer distance on the highway you will notice the difference.

And it deflects dirt, insects and so on. Once i was going from Ayuthaya to BKK in the evening. There were just so many insects, i had to make a stop every 15 minutes to clean the visor of my helmet because it was plastered with insects and i couldn't see anymore. In this situation a windscreen would have been nice.

That is absolutely correct if the screen is high enough, although I guess you can scrunch down (for a while) and would be very good when the mayflies are out in force.

Knowing we were going to tour and in all weathers, we bought combination helmets and they do the job, since the screen on the vespa is only a 3/4 height.

These combo helmets are quite lightweight (and inexpensive) now and work well in both modes, never riden 500km in one day before and the set up of the Vespa was very good. Also they are easy to get on and off and are less clostaphobic.

But all this is Europe..haven't seen any reasonably priced combo helmets here.

On a different subject these "galvanised dustbins", they make a big difference to fuel consumption and the last guy we met had bugga all in them. Soft luggage behind the rider is the way to go and a tank bag to spread the load, also these big boxes act like a kite in crosswinds. 

1 minute ago, Chrisdoc said:

I question Thai tradition. I ask my overweight thai wife why no one walks anywhere and she says it is Thai tradition to take a motorcycle or car . I say "well how did your mother and father get anywhere before motorcycles and cars were everywhere?" They had to walk or ride a bike so there is no tradition. It is just the recent generations have become so lazy and used to bikes and cars and they use tradition as an excuse.

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Maichai...  Before motorcycles/cars and today, people without either, walk very slowly, or don't go out at all. Reason "it's too darn hot".

You should read the lyrics from Noel Coward's "Mad dogs and Englishmen"

https://www.google.co.th/search?q=mad+dogs+and+englishmen+lyrics&rlz=1C1EKKP_en-gbGB702TH702&oq=Mad+dogs+and&aqs=chrome.1.69i57j0l5.9707j0j8&sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8

What is the definition of the word "legal" in the Thai language?   

Answers on a postcard please, a free peanut for the most amusing answer.... which incidentally will be the correct one.

If a woman could get the baby to steer the bike while giving birth, that would be the minimum age.

22 hours ago, cornishcarlos said:

 

Allah is watching you...

Why did you have to say that, I thought he was busy in the middle east?

What you fail to recognise is that "God is watching us.......from a distance"

"Rules are for the guidance of wise men and the obedience of fools." Kenneth More, playing Douglas Bader, from the film "Reach for the Sky". If I remember rightly that was what he said just before he crashed and lost his legs....so what are you getting at???

Trouble is TIP (This is Portugal) and not even the Algarve....and there lies the rub!

..yes I can weld, though will need practice arc welding and will have a huge workshop and a cooler climate.

I will have this Royal Enfield, I do have the long 1 acre plot and I don't have deep pockets....plus no one can see me if I screw it up.

11 minutes ago, canthai55 said:

Could never figure why guys put screens or windshields on bikes here.

I want as much air flow as possible thru my mesh gear.

Even rain is OK 'cause it is warm.

When I was buying my CRF I looked at the Rally and it had everything I didn't want, a full screen and as you say why? It had a higher seat, I am 6 foot daddylonglegs and it was not comfortable, especially after I added foam and cost a shit load more Bahts.

Have a screen on the Vespa, but that is used in Europe and does work, especially in the UK, Thailand never.

Looking for some ideas on my favourite site for the spring/summer. 

1. In Portugal we have a 4000m2 garden and need to cultivate it grow some stuff, but my I am old and frail, so need to cheat.

2. This summer I am getting a free Enfield Bullet 500 kit to assemble and will take it back in a small trailer purchased in the UK.

3. I was contemplating an Honda cultivator of some sort which would stretch my megre funds and then I saw this:-

The ground is pretty flat, so....in the words or Clarkson..."how hard can it be?"

Showing my age I used to watch this on Saturday Grandstand, halcyon days.... now it's all leaping 10 metres into the air. Yawn...It me, I know.

20 minutes ago, CMKiwi said:

Come on Honda...give us a CRF 450x for Thailand

I would second that, although too late for me.

This Bulgarian guy in the first video seems to really know his stuff, despite being a real tough guy, still uses common sense to keep safe and make sucessful tripes.

Here is the opposite..... wrong bike and overloaded.

Then you are relying on luck, another location or with her leg under the bike, a possible fatality.

Big bike large carrying capacity encourages you to carry too much.

Our last 4 day trip we had 6 kilos for 2 people, excluding food we picked up en-route. This was easily possible with lightweight, quick dry clothing and small electronics.

We are going to pick up some camping gear in the UK/France and that is looking good too, I figure a tent and two sleeping bags under 5kg.

1 hour ago, papa al said:

algorithm ≠ a measurement

algorithm = formular.

19 hours ago, guzzi850m2 said:

Thanks eisfeld, you got it man, no I was talking it easy but some idiot in a lorry changed lane without looking and I was emergency braking and I missed him by centimetres. If no ABS, I would likely have locked the wheels and perhaps ended on my ass.

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I wasn't suggesting you rode on the ragged edge, just that you MAY have riden a little differently, knowing you had a safety system in place. It is certainly the case that I drive a lot differently to the way and speed that I ride bikes, knowing I am safer with a tonne+ of steel surrounding me, compare with a thin skid lid.

The same point is often made about modern cars, where the drivers give little regard for others like bikers, knowing they are safe, cocooned and strapped into the big safe cars.

With the winter in Thailand gone and only the Mae Hong Song Loop to show for it, thanks to family commitments, I am looking to Europe for a few adventure trips. A banger rally in May, shortly followed by a trip to Gibralta (from central Portugal) in early June on the Vespa and so on. That is until the Enfield is up and running.... and then on that...hopefully.

Both these bikes, along with my dirt bike here are not that big/powerful and I think there is a case for small is better and this guy puts it very well.

On 11/04/2018 at 1:23 AM, guzzi850m2 said:

ABS saved me a couple of times on my Versys but okay I am only an average rider so for me it's beneficial.
Never felt I needed it on my PCX but it mostly used for city duty.

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Would you have taken the chance in the first place without ABS? Maybe you take more chances when you know technology will come to your rescue?

"ABS can save your ass in a corner too."

That is a foolhardy assumption, hitting sand or gravel on a bend, what is ABS going to do for you? 

But if you guys are happy to ride on the edge, go for it, I have ABS on my 4 wheeled vehicles, but I forget about it when I drive and never think it will save me.

5 hours ago, Kwasaki said:

Don't like ABS personally or the use of that ancient YouTube vid. 

You don'y like old Youtube videos.........why? They are copies of old films...

When I renwed my licence a few years back they gave me an eye test (both eyes at once), along with a reaction test, so if you can see okay that should be fine. As for the doctors certificate I needed one just today to get my Internation licence to ride my bikes in Europe and he just ask me a couple of questions. There again, if you your problem is not obvious and is not noticeable there shouldn't be a problem.

£700 all up to get a bike licence in the UK, so 505 baht is a bargain for the years I have left riding, unless I am still riding at 125. 

17 hours ago, Thian said:

Well done Thai police! I hope this movie goes viral abroad.

 

This is what the police wants, other people doing their work...did the poster of the video get the reward for filming this? That's what the police asked for some weeks ago...and the poster would get a few thousand baht for it.

 

I also don't step aside for motocy's on the sidewalk but to me they won't start a fight. so strange.

 

Also i'm very tired of motocy taxi's driving against traffic...when will the lazy police finally stop that? I see it every 20 seconds.

 

 

You should go home, you obviously can't adapt. You think Thais don't/can't fight, a farang gets killed or injured every day with the same thought?

On 16/03/2018 at 11:05 AM, thaiguzzi said:

No. It's gearing. Lower the gearing and get back to me.

I've ridden both bikes.

My ty250 monos (2 stroke) are designed for instant throttle response at any revs but especially low down. This is state of the engine tune, ie CR, the size and positioning of the exhaust ports and transfer ports, the internal gearing (6 speed) and the final drive gearing (10 tooth g/box sprkt anyone?). They will pull away in 3rd just off idle, handle a walking pace in 4th and effortlessly pull a wheelie in 3rd/4th at a walking pace. No clutch req'd.

I'm not getting in a pissing contest again, Allan, but saying the CRF has "nothing down low" is not how i would describe it.

 Change some f###ing sprockets and get back to us...

Oh, and as it's a world market model , with all that implies ie emission crap, running lean from stock etc etc, spend the money on an air filter and fuel controller (200 odd $), cut open the silencer and de restrict, and then get back to us. Again.

I rode both bikes yesterday, the actual bikes in question, warts and all and the CRF has nothing (but labour) under 4000rpm. Gearing is a multiplier and zero times anthing = zero.

I think the lean running on the CRF doesn't help and remapping will be first on the list for when I get back in the autumn. No way am I going to be chopping bits off a brand new bike.

I will have word with a bike shop I know in the UK, who offered me a demo last year, will have a go on that to see if I have a lemon here. If it weren't for the power above 5000rpm I would have said yes.

But back on subject, my Lifan is brilliant off-road....anyone could ride this bike with confidence.

One thing I didn't mention was that when I bought the bike I changed the chain and wheel bearings to Jap ones, just to be on the safe side. Didn't cost much at all.

On 14/03/2018 at 9:13 PM, thaiguzzi said:

I think you are confusing torque (lbs ft / nm) with gearing.

The 200cc OHV (5 speed) China trail bikes have very low gearing hence they run out of breath at 80 kmph. This also why they pull well from down low.

The CRF 250cc DOHC (6 speed) bikes have approx 50% more bhp and more torque, but they are geared way different. They run out of puff around 120 kmph, but acceleration is very linear.

For off road use, experienced riders drop the tall CRF gearing with a smaller front sprocket or larger rear sprocket or a combination of both.

This will wake the bike up off road, and negate your above statement.

 

True the peak power and torque figures are much higher on the CRF, but riding the Lifan, the engine pulls at almost any rpm. The (my) CRF is "ugly" below 4500rpm and appears to labour, after that the power eventually "kicks in" and the bike takes off.

Riding off-road I can ride the Lifan in 2nd at 3/5mph, guessing 2000rpm max, at that speed the Honda's clutch needs slipping, even in 1st. 

So, nothing to do with gearing in this instance, however, the Lifan is geared for 80kph tops and the CRF will probably do 120+

I already made the comment that the CRF has a "sports bike" engine and stick by that. The Lifan is a dirt bike, I can get off one bike and on the other and it is obvious.

15 hours ago, Sumarianson said:

I am glad you poninted that out about how you solved the gear shift problem. I cant say I will be doing the same as it is not much of a problem. However how it managed to solve the problem I cannot see. I find it hard to get the balance between hard to put into gear but it pulls ok and easy to put into gear but not pulling well in gear. It has been like that from new. I have it where it is a little difficult to get out of gear when running but easy if the engine is turned off.
I dont know if anyone has found a place to get a sissy bar made or baught one over the counter. I would also like a back box which may solve two problems. Any ideas please post.

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It solved my problem because it there is more control from pushing with the heel than lifting with the toe. My problem was getting neutral after the engine was hot, maybe different for you... I had the same problem with my Honda Pahntom.

Be warned that fitting a Sissibar with inhibit getting your leg over, I fitted one to my Shadow, took it straight off, suggest you mock one up out of cardboard before you buy one.

IMO you understand....

7 hours ago, Damrongsak said:

I prefer a roomy helmet.

 

 

 

Wow, now that's cool where can I get one!!!?

That's a big DOT.