Cheap Chinese - update

I posted a while back about my X-stream 200cc which I won on ebay for £530
inc VAT and registration/tax . See here
http://www.europainternational.co.uk/on road/X-Dirt 200 std web.html
(mine is black). I haven't put many miles on it because the weather has
been so crap but it is coming up to 500 miles. I did an oil change at 300
miles and I am happy to report that nothing nasty came out with the old oil.
It has started OK although it usually takes 2 or 3 goes on the electric
start. It runs very well although it vibrates a bit at high revs. I found
that it wouldn't do more than about 67 mph with the sprockets supplied so I
swapped the front sprocket for one with 1 extra tooth. That made all the
difference - it will now do 75 (and I am sure that is pretty accurate)
whilst not losing out too much on torque at lower revs. I also replaced the
stock mirrors for a couple of pattern parts with a black finish as the
originals were a bit flimsy and seemed a bit short.

So far nothing has dropped off despite the vibration. The only problem that
it has had has been a bit of clutch judder when pulling away. However, that
seems to be improving and it hasn't really bothered me. I must say that so
far I am very pleased - it is an ideal spare bike for nipping around in town
traffic and if I need to venture on to a dual carriageway I can keep up. I
have acquired a spare exhaust and at some point I will get round to removing
the ristrictor pipe at the end as this is supposed to increase power a bit.
Mind ewe - the stock pipe is pretty loud already so the adapted one may
prove to be a bit OTT noise wise - we shall see!

 

Apparently these things (Chinese bikes, well the under 125 cc versions) now
account for 25% of the 125cc market. I'd guess that Japan will be starting
to get a bit nervous shortly.