At last

Finally received the V5C for the Hongdou this week. I now have it
plated, taxed and insured and have just been out for a quick blat.

It did 65mph on the bypass.

It was a bit fluffy at low revs, but this seems to be clearning itself
as a result of both warming up the lump and stuff bedding in.

It's quite loud, it's quite torquey, it's a laugh to ride.

Insurance was a PITA, ended up cancelling the VFR policy and taking out
a new multi-bike policy. CN gave me a cracking quote - £301 FC for both
bikes incl. Euro breakdown cover. Can't fault 'em - girl on the phone
was really helpful in trying to find out the best and cheapest way for
me to cover both bikes.

Best 700 quid I've ever spent? - quite possibly. Time will tell.

 

Auntie Carole is the best insco I have ever dealt with. The chap on
the phone was so helpful when I was renewing he found a deal for me
that they hadn't even suggested when they sent the renewals notice,
cheaper than all 4 options with much more cover (inc. CIHAGM insurance)

 

65mph on the clocks. It did feel as if it would do more, but I wanted to
treat the first run as a 'shake down' test and get it back in the garage
to check everything was holding together properly.

You forget how much fun a small bike is to ride sometimes.

Next project is to get a lump to sling into the ETZ frame....

Now I have a multi-bike policy it almost seems worth the effort.

Yeah, oil changes are no problem. I'm not sure I know what I'm doing
with valve clearance checks. Only one way to learn, I suppose.

 

Should'nt you be running it in Steve? I'd guess 65 is towards the top of its
rev range?

 

There's no rev counter, so I have no bloody idea what revs it was
pulling.

Running-in is over-rated anyway.

 

Um, if it gets too low, the top end doesn't get *any*.

The real danger is running it low, but not to the point where it simply
fails to have enough oil in it to pump, because the small amount of oil
remaining degrades very fast. And then wears out the top end, yes.

Plus these small engines - this one's OHC, btw - carry about a teacupful
of oil anyway. I always change the oil every 1000 miles in 100-125cc
bikes.

 

If you want a bike engine to last, it's still the best policy, whatever
the pointy-heads say.

Without a rev counter, I'd be tempted to keep the thing to 50 and below
for 500 miles, then change the oil and filter (if it has one - many of
these small lumps just have a washable screen), and then up the speed by
roughly 5mph every 100 miles.

Don't 'lug' the engine when running in - better to change down and go up
a hill at 40 in 4th than 50 if 5th, with the throttle wide open.

 

Sounds like a good idea.

But I just couldn't resist trying to top it out. It's human nature.

 

Having seen the insides of some Japanese engines that have been caned from
new by the press [1] I'd have to conclude you're talking bollocks here. The
tighter the clearances the more need to bed them in.

[1] and the reason I'd never buy a "demonstrator" model.

 

Steve Parry wrote:
I'd have to conclude you're talking bollocks here

Plus ça change, et plus c'est la même chose.

 

Only quoting what I've seen with my own eyes so why the insult?

 

He's part troll and part fucktard.

HTH.

 

aahh

 

aka Chris 'dogger' Stevens, ISTR.

He's picked a battle with Steve Firth in another place. It's quite
amusing to watch a retarded fuckwit arguing with someone as educated as
Firth.

 

Steve Parry wrote

Read the ffaq have you?

 

(SteveH) wrote in message

Firth doesn't seem that educated to be honest.

 

Total shite.

For once, the muppet actually says something true.

 

Warranty is as good as non-existent and longevity isn't something that
worries me in a toy bike.

 

You should consider learning about money management. Or possibly getting a
job.

Either way, you should snip sigs. Asshat.

 

Compared to this dogging **** he is...