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Post by oldchopperguy on May 18, 2013 1:32:01 GMT -5
This is the Lifan 250cc engine I was thinking of... Same one the Kikker was supposed to be available with. Picture from an old eBay listing.Here's the "proposed" Kikker twin with the Lifan motor, which I don't think ever happened. Should have!Here's a production Chinese trike with the engine from an old eBay listing...These are all Lifan copies of the Yamaha 250cc V-twin, simple, with single carb. Should give a lightweight bobber a top-end of near 100 mph and a 75 mph cruise... The engines were all over eBay a year ago for around $250. If they're still available, they make absolutely PERFECT bobber/chopper builds of approx. 3/4 Harley size. VERY sweet! A manufacturer should be able to make these for no more than $500 more retail than the single-cylinder versions, and they'd be TWICE as appealing. Food for thought anyway. I wonder how difficult it would be to convert an existing single-cylinder 200-250cc mini-chopper to one of these twins? They are a unit-construction motor with tranny included. It would be NICE!Leo in Texas UPDATE... Well, I just checked eBay and there are only 2 of these motors listed new, BOTH at a whopping $1,100... I suppose they are no longer made, and the seller is going to milk these for all he can. Oh well, it WAS a good idea when they were around cheap!
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Post by prodigit on May 18, 2013 2:38:17 GMT -5
I seriously doubt about the 100MPH, unless they are twin 250cc, meaning 500cc total. My 750 goes upto 105MPH, only AFTER the sprocket change. If the engine uses twin 125cc cylinders, resulting in 250cc, you can get , perhaps 90MPH realistically I think. Either that, or my shadow V750 is super lazy.
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Post by oldchopperguy on May 18, 2013 11:26:21 GMT -5
Prodigit,
You may well be right... I have no experience with these little 250 V-twins; only what listings say. My only small cycle experience was back in the late 1960's with a Honda 305cc Super Hawk which would do an honest mph and cruise all day at 80+... and a Suzuki X-6 "Hustler" 6-speed 250cc 2-stroke which would break 115 mph and turn a 13-second quarter-mile (of course THAT 2-stroke wasn't even close to "apples-to-apples" compared with a 4-cycle V-twin). It was of the genre of the so-called "Widowmakers" like the Kawasaki triples. Crude, zero-handling and Fred Flintstone brakes, but -fire-fast ancestors of today's "crotch-rockets"... LOL! It doesn't matter much nowadays, since searching the net last night turned up only a scant handful of the Lifan 250cc twins (either in finished bikes, OR as separate engines). Looks like they never caught on and supplies have dried up. Same with the single-cylinder 200-250cc bobbers. There are (or were) numerous on-line sellers offering singles similar to the Cleveland versions, but most are listing them as closeouts, and discontinued. At least the few left are being marked down near the $2-grand price range. For those who like the idea of a vintage-style bobber, and can live with a single-cylinder version, they are still around, and getting more affordable. Good news, I guess?The Renegade/Scorpion exotic mini-choppers seem to still be available in numbers, and around the $2,000 -$2,500 price range. While admittedly somewhat "off-the-chart" they DO make interesting "raw material" while remaining at least "potentially" street-legal rides. There just ain't no free lunch, is there? HeHeHe...Leo (stickin' with my generic GY6 for now) in Texas
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Post by prodigit on May 18, 2013 13:39:46 GMT -5
Chinese markets go with ups and downs. Give them some time, and they will re-supply those things. They usually have a cycle of 1-3 years to restock. When they have a warehouse of scoots ready, they start selling them, and they start appearing everywhere again.
I think the chinese will enter their second phase, where it'll be more common to get chinese fuel injected bikes. Something I expect for the coming scoot generation. They probably will aim 1/2 to 3/4 the price of regular vespa's or japanese scoots, while having fuel injection.
That, and more attractive scooter designs. I believe that's where the chinese are right now, and you're right, v-twins are not popular in China, where people prefer budget and fuel economy over power. It's their mentality. The V-twins are made for USA mostly, but where not hugely popular for the simple reason that if you want a V-twin in USA, you will want something that's reliable, and can do 200 mile trips without complaining. SO most go with Jap bikes (or harleys). Chinese bikes are still considered budget, so for city rides. No one I know (except myself), is crazy enough to take a small (unknown in reliability) scooter out on a 200+ mile trip. And that was a 50cc.
For doing groceries, or city travel that's less of an issue. If your bike breaks down 15 minutes from home, the walk will be a long one, but usually in an hour to 1,5 hrs you're home. If your bike breaks down 100 mile from home, the towing costs could cover the price of a new scoot.
I have no problems with single cylinder engines. It's just that the chinese ones are vibrating too much, unlike eg: Suzuki's S40, or TU250x, both single cylinders run pretty vibration free (compared to the chinese 250's).
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