AllanB

9 hours ago, 12Gon said:

With those questions I think he is a beginner and a 650 is a huge difference from the 500. I can recommend it as I have had 3 different 650's and now have a 500, which might lack some punch sometimes, but is still quite funny to ride and can be plenty for a beginner in bkk. I prefer the 500 in bkk because it doesnt get even near as hot as the 650 and is lighter (more important if he is a new rider)  

 

For city riding CB 500 F

for touring Cb 500 X  

For wane be racing star CBR 500

For cruising Rebel 500 

 

If u are tall I recon the seating position wouldn't be so nice with the CBR 

 

Good luck

The Vulcan's 650 engine is de-tuned compared to the ER6N and is by all accounts an easy bike to ride, it is adjustable to fit the rider, making it a comfortable low speed cruiser. That's what I have heard, but sitting on the bike I can believe that.

I am pretty certain that this failure was simply down to a poor fitting key.

In the old days you had to make a key fit in the manner I described, these bikes are assembled here, where training is poor. I had to put a spanner over may Lifan when I got it and now it is fine. I worried about wheel bearing quality, no evidence, but they were cheap and easy to change so I did it. I thought a Honda chain would last longer, so changed that too, to save replacing the sprockets early. A good chain can last 10 times longer than a cheap one.

My Thai assembled Honda CRF had issues too, the headlight was pointing to the heavens and the clutch was out of wack. All assembly issues. The Jap companies probably do have better training courses than the Chinese, but the Thais don't have basic engineering skills to begin with. You can't learn these from a book, they need apprenticeships here..IMO.

Anyway if the OP fits the key properly to the two new parts I think the problem will be solved.

18 hours ago, thaiguzzi said:

And an 8mm bolt fits in a 5/16" hole... And a 3/8" bolt fits in a 10mm hole. But not vise versa....

Just buy what you can get. Every decent mom'n'pop corner m/c shop and auto factors stock a good selection of fasteners, metric and imperial. Bare steel and BZP. I can get everything I need in my local market town. If I want stainless I have to go to Udon.

Oh, and HD still use UNC/UNF. Everyone else, inc Triumph use Metric.

A 5/16" hole is 7.9mm, so I don't think so. A 3/8" drill is 9.5mm, so wrong again.

Just odd they sell imperial drills at all, a range of 5mm, 5.5mm, 6mm..and so makes much more sense.

The key should be a nice tight fit the two new parts and can be assembled with just a little lube.

If the key is a little oversized, first gently de-burr the two keyways, then try the key using the other two faces, still won't fit? Diligently spend 1/2 hour with a fine file on the key ("fitting") and a little lube and you will get a nice tight fit. Job done for good. 

Tip:- Keys are normally square section, so get a permanent maker pen and paint three faces, then leave them alone, just work one face. If you do overdo it, pick and adjacent face and start again.

An easy hour of your time.......

......or just do what Guzy suggests... fill it up with putty.

51 minutes ago, VocalNeal said:

3mm bolt fits in a 1/8in hole

6mm bolt fits in a 1/4in hole

12mm bolt fits in 1/2in hole

 

you tink too mus.

.....and the most popular 8mm? Not exactly great engineering and what about tapping sizes?

I know TIT.

48 minutes ago, thaiguzzi said:

No. This is in the middle of one of my rubber plantations.

Around here there are no trials bikes, nor trials riders/enthusiasts. Only fast-as-you-can-go motocrossers, which are hugely popular in these parts.

The 3 disciplines of motocross, enduro, and trials are COMPLETELY different. The first 2 wreck land. The latter has very little footprint and hence very little damage to the soil/land, creeks/river beds and environment.

I will be trying to build a 1000 sq m ish section around this area in the next year. Bring in some rocks and hire a Macro (excavator-expensive) for half a day for some serious landscaping. Anybody with a trials bike welcome. Dual Sport/Motocross - F##k off!

I am thinking of starting something like an ITA -Isaan Trials Association - where like minded people with trials bikes can meet up and play. Drive for 2-3 hours to people's property or known nice places to ride. CM already has something similar, and probably 30-40 riders, mainly Thai. They've certainly got the natural terrain up there, but that is a helluva drive for me, just to have day's play on my trials bikes...

Just kidding.........

...actually I was just name dropping, that I went off-roading in Africa with a famous actor.

35 minutes ago, thaiguzzi said:

JB Weld....

Absolutely not, do the job properly.

4 minutes ago, VocalNeal said:

Allan,

 

This is to placate all the Americans that come here and complain about everything.

In Aus. they used to call them Whenwees. 

 

That is the nice thing about Thailand one can buy metric or Imperial everything. Drills, nuts and bolts, steel etc.  so everyone can be happy. 

Here in the big B one can buy drills sized every 0.1 of a mm or by the 64th. I think the smallest drill I have is 1/64. 

 

My point is that DoHome sell only metric nuts and bolts and only imperial drills. Seems odd.....not a bit like in the UK where we buy 3 metres of 4x2....No no.....

17 hours ago, thaiguzzi said:

Got them too, on my other bit of land. This bit of land is behind my house, i'm having some "false logs" put in - concrete drainage rolls...

Rent it out.........

An American guy called Randal Paul (actor in 3 weddings and a funeral) had a place in the UK called "High Frontier" people in their 4x4s would pay to play. 

2 hours ago, VocalNeal said:

Allan is  correct. You may need to make a stepped key with each half matched to its corresponding mating part.

 

 

It is why mechanical craftsmen the world over are called fitters  They "fit" the parts together.

Yes.......Are you not buying both parts? I would suggest you do.....

My guess is that the assembly guy got a bit too handy with the file when he thought things were a bit tight.

Check the other side for play too, by quickly rotating the wheel in alternate directions and if you get a "click", disassemble. You may be able to save it by fitting a tighter key.

Use a little grease during assembly.

48 minutes ago, papa al said:

Dunno.

Your post,

not mine.

You mean "feet and inches", I was looking for the correct term for you Yanks, we call it imperial.

Anyway are HD and others now using metric threads? 

20 hours ago, Avrock said:

As a beginner I’m not looking for speed..My preference is a reliable safe bike that is good for daily commute as well as weekend rides from Bangkok to the neighboring cities or national parks for camping..so naturally the bike must have the ability to handle weight of bag packs & camping gear plus a passenger


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What is your height and build?

Have you considered the Kawasaki Vulcan 650, a nice sized bike built for two, I think you would be really cramped on the Rebel 2 up? Tried both bikes with my missus, 140kg the two of us, the Vulcan was perfect, Rebel didn't work for us at all.

Camping in Thailand, really?

9 minutes ago, VocalNeal said:

Why is the other wheel OK?

Looks as if the tapers were not machined or matched properly. Buy the new bits and use emery paper and grinding compound to get the tapers to fit properly. The drum should "ring" onto the shaft without the key in place. You may need to add some washers if the drum sits further onto the shaft.

 

Looks to me like a straight shaft and that the key was too small. The resultant hammering has lead to the breakage. The key must be a tight fit in both halves of the keyway, If not get one made that does, otherwise it will do the same again.

.....oh and don't waste you time with warranty. In Thailand the word "warranty" is the same as "hello".

Good luck.

16 hours ago, papa al said:

HSS drill bits are in "bloody feet."?

 

Jeez, how did you do that, did it hurt?

I have a question, how popular are metric nuts and bolts in the USA now, do HD still use UNC/UNF, in the UK imperial fittings are all but gone. Don't know who else are not metrified??

The reason I ask is that I have just been down to buy a couple of HSS drills to replace the mild steel ones in a set I bought and everything is bloody feet and inches (and probably not high speed steel either TBN).

You cannot find a 5/16th nut or bolt anywhere so what are these drills for? 3 different brands all the same. 

1 hour ago, Avrock said:

Ya the 500 is here..has a twin cam engine..everything is the same except the engine


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In that case pretty useless I would thought, a half scale HD, what's the point unless you at a really short guy? It is supposed to be a chopper/cruiser, crazy size?

The law here can be a bit strange here, if not downright unfair.

A friend of mine's 20 year old daughter was raped after accepting a lift from a work mate, aged about 50, married with 3 kids. They spent 3 hours at the police station and eventually held an interview with the rapist, his family and her family. He admitted his guilt and the cops ordered him to pay the girl 50,000 baht. That was it, no prison, or any form of punishment and in the end she got nothing.

I guess thing are different here. 

Haven't heard of the 500 Rebel, is it available in Thailand and is it the same frame size? The 300 feels like a small bike.

If they have scaled it up should be good....look good too.

27 minutes ago, VocalNeal said:

Alan,

 

The only way to resolve this is for you to ride another CRF and see if yours is different. 

 

Dig? I ride a 2-stroke. Nothing below 4000? How about not much below 6000. But yes depends on the type of bike /porting etc. I can potter along in traffic at low rpm but nothing will happen if I wish to accelerate.

My main beef is the rough feel of the engine, I didn't expect that after what I read. It has improved ever so slightly at now 380km, but I need to get it run in first. I have ridden two strokes too and they are very different and they sound even high revving because they are firing every cycle. anyway if the CRF needs 5,000 rpm, so be it. Also I have no tacho on the Lifan so don't know for sure what's going on, especially with the noisier exhaust.

13 hours ago, thaiguzzi said:

IMHO the thing wants 8-10-12 cms cutting out the middle and weld it back together. You only need an inch (2.5cms in new money) clearance each side.

The thing is FAR TOO WIDE. Look at it from behind with the rucksacks attached compared to h/bar width - too wide.

Was'nt it Allan (and I agree) going on about BMW GS Bohemoths and their ridiculous width?

 I doubt you will have heat problems and if you do, it's only the R/H side - easily fixed with alloy heat protective sheet (lofts, u'neath car bonnets etc).

Well it is only the nearside that I can alter, then it will look very lopsided. This bag system is designed purely for touring (2up) and the whole thing is removable in 60 seconds. So we could leave the whole thing in the hotel room when we arrive.

I will see how it goes on a trip and modify if needs be, this is all a bit experimental.

If I was travelling alone it would be easy, just strap everything to the seat, with no increase in width, ....and I agree the Beama guys do look a little foolish. It's a macho thing, I am sure they buy these massive boxes ("galvanised garbage cans") and try to find things to fill them up. They have a shit load of horses, so think it all looks impressive. Copying the two Scottish/English celeb tossers, their money their choice, I guess.

10 hours ago, taninthai said:

just what have you complained to honda about..

too little torque from a 18bhp engine??????

cannot pull away in 3rd gear at 2,000rpm?????

the engine makes noises?????

 

 

personally i don't think any of these things are issues with your bike or any other crf thats just how they are.....maybe try a ktm 690 if your looking for torque......

 

the other poster is right you do moan to much and possibly dissect and think about things to much

 

1. The engine won't pull below 4000 rpm, unless the tacho is out.

2. The engine is just feels rough.

3. The CRF i supposed to be 26bhp.

I am giving an honest appraisal of my findings having gone form one bike to another. I would add that this is changing situation as the km increase.

If you see that a "moan" perhaps you are following the wrong thread, or maybe you are upset that I am criticising a Honda.

You are right that the two engines do have different characteristics, it demonstrates to me that the current rough engine issue aside, statistics like peak bhp and torque don't mean very much. These two bikes perform very differently. The Lifan has a fairly linear power/torque band, but everything bottoms out at 80kph. The CRF is not at all linear and in complete contrast, not much low down, but has a big punch in the back when the revs increase. So along with the gear pattern, I have to learn to live with this. 

One thing that is clear is that this bike could/can be ridden on the highway, two up the Lifan really struggles and has to stay on the hard shoulder. Even when I truck the bike to my playground, there will be some main road riding, where this power will be handy.

On 01/11/2017 at 3:15 PM, thaiguzzi said:

A happy, smiley TG junior.... a couple of weeks before his 12th birthday....

This is an ideal way for a kid to learn, low speed, quite technical and great for balance and control. Much better than blasting through towns.

2 hours ago, thaiguzzi said:

.... shoulda got that Enfield......

Doesn't work here, sure as hell won't fit on my pickup, will need a crane to load and unload, plus they are way too expensive with no nationwide mechanical backup like in India. Plus I know the bars vibrate like a jackhammer.

Anyway I still have the Honda Shadow for rides from home....like an Enfield but supersmooth.

Getting my RE for Europe free of charge, so we shall see what is like on the road.

I think it is 60/40 the CRF will be okay. Going for a long run next week.

This thread is supposed to be an honest appraisal of both bikes, warts and all. I am not saying Jap is crap and Chinese is good, it is just the way I am finding the two bikes so far. Chinese stuff gets a bad press on this and many other forums from many. So it's what B48k buys compared to B130k.

21 hours ago, Randell said:

Nice job Allen. Looks very professional job and light but functional. Although what about heat from exhaust  and  nylon back pack I know you have some space there you might need to add a bit of shielding to that side but only time will tell. Great job enjoy your trip. And thanks for sharing.

Randell

As I mentioned I did think of making it asymmetric and with this problem, thought a simple solution would be to move it across by one hole.

Looks okay I think, gives me now 6cm from the silencer, perhaps at a simple heat shield too.

Can see any issues with it protruding out more one side???

29 minutes ago, Randell said:

Nice job Allen. Looks very professional job and light but functional. Although what about heat from exhaust  and  nylon back pack I know you have some space there you might need to add a bit of shielding to that side but only time will tell. Great job enjoy your trip. And thanks for sharing.

Randell

Yes, only 3cm, that may not be enough.

Have to look to see what I can use......