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2 Attachment(s)
Asiawing LX450S / 亚翔LD450 Rider Review
Hello.
My name's Steve. I live in China, Jiangsu, Nanjing.
October 2011 I decided to finally go legal and bought this Asiawing LX450X for daily city commuting.
Dealer: 南京曹记车行 (萨家湾)
Bike price: 28000 yuan
Plates price: 12000 yuan
Previous bike: Yamaha FZ6N '06
Here will be the review of the bike and experiences I'm having with it.
Link: http://www.asiawing.com/english/lx450s.html
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Re: Asiawing LX450S / 亚翔LD450 Rider Review
28,000! Holy cow, they priced up that thing. I went to the factory a few years ago, they told me under 20,000, plate doesn't even look real either.
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Re: Asiawing LX450S / 亚翔LD450 Rider Review
Plate's on the back. The one on the front fender is 停车证 for our office building parking lot.
Yeah, the thing's overpriced.
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Re: Asiawing LX450X / 亚翔LD450 Rider Review
Now in terms of what went wrong with the thing:
1. The carb. Wouldn't idle at all. Better now, still not ideal. Plan to change it for an 41 FCR one. Read on moto8 forum they fit.
2. The original battery (Yuasa 12V; 5A) was dead the first week. Had to replace it with a bigger one (12V; 7A). For that half of air filter had to be cut off. Battery placed under the seat.
3. Stock blinkers got busted after the first rain. Had to replace them. Ordered a set from taobao.
4. The rear stoplight/ license plate assembly fell off, since it's not anyhow attached to the rear fender. 2 screws did the trick.
5. Clutch line snapped twice. Both times got the new one from taobao.com. Both clutch lines were different length. Got an original Honda CRF 450X one. Waiting for the clutch line I have now to snap again to have it replaced.
6. Exhaust burned the right side plastic cover through. Replaced it with the stock one from taobao.
7. Both left/right controls (light switches, etc.) had to be replaced, since they malfunctioned in about 2 months after I bought the bike.
8. The headlight can hardly be called light at all. Had to replace it with the Honda CB400 light. Put that CB400 windscreen on it as well. Got both from taobao.
9. Rear shock somehow came in contact with the carburetor-air filter hose and practically tore the carb-engine hose off from the engine. No jumps done on the bike ever. Street use only. Tha mystery!!!
10. Regulator-rectifier unit (稳压器) "burned" twice. Have one spare at home just in case, 'cause don't believe that the one I have on now will last long.
11. Seat's shitty quality. The first rain got it drenched through and every time you sit on it the water just sponges out. Wet pants, you know. Had to buy a huge piece of leather like material and have the local laoban help me upholster it.
12. Took it to car wash. Once. Wouldn't start after the wash. Took it about 5 hours to dry up completely. What exactly had to be dried up remains yet another mystery. That's actually pretty strange, 'cause they position it as a dirt bike. Dirt bike that's afraid of water???
13. Yesterday learned a new Chinese word: 启动继电器. Seems to be starter relay assembly. That's the thing that houses the fuse (the only fuse that the bike has). The fuse just popped put of the box, the bike went dead. Again, that's supposed to be a dirt bike, for jumps and all.
14. Put Kawasaki ER6-N mirrors on it, because stock mirrors were flimsy and shaky and rusted through in a week.
Notice: them salespeople at the shop got no idea what aftersales service is. They used to be a Yamaha motor scooter shop and all this Asiawing things is a new venture for them. They DO NOT know where to find spares and they DO NOT know how to fit them on.
Had to do everything myself with the help of one local bike mechanic dude who's crazy enough to help laowai work on his bike.
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Re: Asiawing LX450X / 亚翔LD450 Rider Review
ok so thats the list of things gone wrong
any positives ?
like power and wheelstanding potential?
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Re: Asiawing LX450X / 亚翔LD450 Rider Review
Quote:
Originally Posted by
zhu
ok so thats the list of things gone wrong
any positives ?
like power and wheelstanding potential?
Positives:
1. Those problems are all minor things and one can easily fix those. Diagnosing them took us longer than fixing them.
2. Once everything's done the bike works. I mean, it works: it doesn't splutter, doesn't over rev, starts every time (kickstart+electric start is required in winter)
3. I care about the road conditions no more. Potholes, road fixing, curbs, steps, whatever - I don't have to brake 50 meters ahead every single crack in the tarmac any more.
4. It's very lightweight. 100+ kg. Good in corners (would be cautious with stock tires, though)
5. All the spares are easily available from taobao.
6. Most of Honda CRF 450X ('05) parts fit. So if you're lucky enough to get those in China - way to go. Original supermoto conversion kit...
7. In rainy weather the fairing somehow manages to protect you from all that road dirt.
8. It's torquey = easy wheelies.
9. Fuel consumption is not that bad for a 450 carburetted single. Better fill it with #97, though.
10. Front forks/rear shock seem to be better than expected.
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Re: Asiawing LX450X / 亚翔LD450 Rider Review
I'm pretty sure they were selling these in Australia a couple of years ago price close to $7000.00 Aud = 42000rmb They got a good review from a local motorcycle magazine.
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1 Attachment(s)
Re: Asiawing LX450S / 亚翔LD450 Rider Review
Quote:
Originally Posted by
ZMC888
28,000! Holy cow, they priced up that thing. I went to the factory a few years ago, they told me under 20,000, plate doesn't even look real either.
A pic with the license plate visible:Attachment 6865
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Re: Asiawing LX450S / 亚翔LD450 Rider Review
Thanks for sharing with us Steve, a couple people reviewed the LX450 in the past, but we never heard much after their initial posts. What I find hard to believe is that this bike was introduced in 2009, and two years later you buy one with exactly the same problems as the early buyers experienced. Very disappointing that Asiawing did not improve their manufacturing processes. I read on some Chinese forum that all the LX450's made after Jan 2011 were supposed to be perfect with almost no issues.
28,000 is a lot for a China bike, but 12k for registration :eekers:... do you think you got hit with a "Lowai Tax", or is it just that expensive for a 450 in Nanjing?
Enjoy your ride :thumbsup:.
Cheers!
ChinaV
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Re: Asiawing LX450S / 亚翔LD450 Rider Review
yeah, I read that moto8 forum. They said it was going to be trouble free. Like hell it is.
Say, today the left mudguard just fell off. Unscrewed and fell off. Vibration or whatever, guess dirtbikes aren't supposed to be like that.
28,000 is a price with insurance included.
12,000 for registration is because everything over 250cc is illegal in Nanjing and those "big" bikes that somehow comply with the registration standard and have proper paperwork have additional "cc tax".
Say, my friend here paid 52,000 yuan to put Nanjing plates on his BMW GS 1200. He is Chinese.
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Re: Asiawing LX450X / 亚翔LD450 Rider Review
Sounds pretty normal for a China bike. the only surprise is the price.
My 2009 Regal Raptor DD250G-2
1. Rebuilt exhaust system because original wasn't properly attached and was heavily restricted, took about a month a a bunch of failed attempts.
2. Rear brake died, replaced rotor and master cylinder and caliper, re-bled whole system.
3. Engine bolts and engine onto frame bolts were too loose from new caused a crack in engine casing and frame, welded.
4. Electrical system always has something wrong with it, currently no brake lights or signals, probably only fuses, but who knows?
5. Rev counter and fuel gauge never work, speedo now works since I dumped oil down the cable, kilometers have been stuck on 17,000 for the last year.
6. Fork oil leak.
7. Suspension has no damping at all.
8. Ignition failed, replaced.
9. Regal Raptor spares non-existent, unless ordered from them for too much.
10. Original brake pads like wood replaced, but brakes are average anyhow.
11. Small engine oil leak from magneto side.
12. Original grips like marble, replaced with nice grippy grips.
13. Battery did a year, replaced.
14. Front and rear registration hangers fell of, rear taking mudguard with it.
To do now: Re-weld exhaust again, fix electrical system, clean carb, rebuild air system, buy new mirrors, get new tacho cluster, source brakes that stop me better or quit and get new machine.
What's OK: Wheels, carbs, seat, fuel tank, headlight, clip-ons, swing arm (but showing its age now), horn, tires. I paid 10,000 and 300 for registration. Bike will probably be a throw away junk heap by next year, even with lots of TLC, 4 years 40,000 kms. Never a China bike again, unless some joint venture bike with positive reports. I feel for you Steve, you shouldn't have paid over 14,000 for your bike.
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Re: Asiawing LX450X / 亚翔LD450 Rider Review
Funny thing is - it's not my first Chinese bike.
Had Jialing JH-250 (They call them 大白菜). No problems. The bike was straight and simple. Never failed. Bought for 5000 yuan. Sold for 5000 yuan.
My friend still rides one of those - never wants to part with it.
My wife has been riding a copy of Yamaha Jog - that thing you get for under 2000 yuan new, with 125cc GY-6 engine. The only thing that ever failed was the battery - replaced at once and never caused trouble again.
This one is a different story.
As for your bike, I saw a couple of those here in Nanjing, but never talked to anyone who has actually purchased one. Sounds more like major material quality problems. Better sell it fast or trade it in. BTW, do they have this trade-in practice here in China? I never asked, actually.
Oh, and speaking of electrical systems on Chinese bikes - that's like mystery or something. In case of failing blinkers/brake signal I'd be looking for the respective relay(闪光器 in Chinese)
Also would try taobao.com for the parts - but I've checked it right now and you seem not to have lots of stuff for it on taobao...
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Re: Asiawing LX450X / 亚翔LD450 Rider Review
Actually, I should probably write a brief overview of my wife's scooter somewhere in Scooter/Moped part of the forum.
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Re: Asiawing LX450S / 亚翔LD450 Rider Review
Now just when I thought I had everything sorted out, summer has accidentally started and the bike overheats as hell. I'm running some Japanese coolant in the system, 100%. Probably should mix it with distilled water, 50-50 or 80-20, don't know, really.
Have ordered two CB400 fans from taobao, hope to fit those on left/right radiators and see what next.
At present the temperature is somewhat around 100 degrees Centigrade on the head. The frame heats up as well making intone hell of an uncomfortable ride.
I know 450 SM isn't for stop'n'go traffic, but still...
The most frustrating thing is that after a heavy rain yesterday it won't even start. It spluttered a couple of times and that was about it.
Had to ride my wife's bike to work.
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Re: Asiawing LX450S / 亚翔LD450 Rider Review
Overheating and hard starting
You might have a blown head gasket there
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Re: Asiawing LX450S / 亚翔LD450 Rider Review
Quote:
Originally Posted by
zhu
Overheating and hard starting
You might have a blown head gasket there
Starts OK, just overheats.
Might be a head gasket. Still, nerves rode her sport-wise. Daily commute, not more.
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Re: Asiawing LX450S / 亚翔LD450 Rider Review
Put it on tdc and pressurise the cylinder with a bicycle pump
If you see bubbles in the coolant
The news is bad
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Re: Asiawing LX450S / 亚翔LD450 Rider Review
Quote:
Originally Posted by
zhu
Put it on tdc and pressurise the cylinder with a bicycle pump
If you see bubbles in the coolant
The news is bad
Gotta get down to it, busy at work now. Probably in a week or so.
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Re: Asiawing LX450S / 亚翔LD450 Rider Review
OK, so it wasn't a gasket.
Couldn't wait to check.
1. Distilled water instead of coolant.
2. Mounted a CB 400 fan on the right radiator. Left one had no mounting place whatsoever. The fins of the fan had to be cut just so they don't scratch the plastic. The fan is wired to the power cord with a switch in-line. Mounted the switch on the speedo side.
Result: still heats up, but doesn't overheat.
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Re: Asiawing LX450S / 亚翔LD450 Rider Review
Happy to hear its not a gasket
There are no fans fitted as standard?
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Re: Asiawing LX450S / 亚翔LD450 Rider Review
Quote:
Originally Posted by
zhu
Happy to hear its not a gasket
There are no fans fitted as standard?
Nope. It's a '05 CRF copy, I guess that doesn't have fans in stock either
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Re: Asiawing LX450S / 亚翔LD450 Rider Review
Yesterday went for a brief ride just to test how the fan worked and everything. Went to the ZiJin Mountain just so that I had some space revving it up a bit. Impressions are as follows:
1. The fan does work. High speed, low speed, 30 km/h drone - it's all good. Like I said before: the bike heats but doesn't overheat. Probably the fact that I changed coolant to water also has its part in it.
2. The bike's absolutely not a city bike. It's geared way up high. I'm in my 2-nd/3-rd in the city start-stop traffic and feel the bike doesn't really like that. Turns out it has enormous pull in the 4-th and the 5-th close to the redline. It's a narrow powerband but once you master it, it's a pleasure to ride. Throttle response is instant and amazing. Bike easily does 130 km/h on a straight line and can do more, but that's an unnecessary risk. 80-100 km/h is a comfortable speed. I think riding it on a dirt track with dirt tires must be an amazing experience.
Actually, it was very surprising for me when at the moment that I thought the bike'd be out of breath I gave it a bit more gas and it suddenly jumped (!!!) forward.
3. Suspension is good. I have it tuned for tarmac, which means it's lower and harder than what the cross bike would have. Behaves well, very predictable. Stock tires not half bad. Allows for aggressive cornering. Still can ride over most of the curbs and stairs without any problem.
4. The bike is light. I mean, very light. Just a 100+ kg (130 fully loaded if I'm not mistaken). Means it has the maneuverability of a 250 + all the power of a 450. Can just flick it around. But at the same time going over 130 km/h would be a suicide since the frond end starts twitching and trembling at around that speed. It's not poor quality forks build or anything, I checked it on supermotojunkie.com - figures out most of SuMos would have this problem. Reason is: not enough weight down there to have the front wheel firmly planted. There are different suggestions on the aforementioned website, from adding a Honda's steering damper to just plain sitting on the tank :) I won't be doing any of that since I don't usually go faster than 70 km/h. Downtown traffic is 20-30 km/h anyway. No need for steering damper there.
In a word, had a very revealing (albeit brief) ride. Need to post more bike pics I guess.
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Re: Asiawing LX450S / 亚翔LD450 Rider Review
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Steve_Halt
...4. The bike is light. I mean, very light. Just a 100+ kg (130 fully loaded if I'm not mistaken)....
better check that - I was sitting once on it and it felt much heavier - more like 150-170kg.
My Shineray was also advertised as around 120kg - once weighted it and it was more like 150kg! Never believe Chinese specs!
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Re: Asiawing LX450S / 亚翔LD450 Rider Review
Quote:
Originally Posted by
andre555
better check that - I was sitting once on it and it felt much heavier - more like 150-170kg.
My Shineray was also advertised as around 120kg - once weighted it and it was more liuke 150kg! Never believe Chinese specs!
Could be heavier, that is the spec sheet data indeed. Anyway, doesn't feel so heavy on the road :)
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Re: Asiawing LX450S / 亚翔LD450 Rider Review
Quote:
Originally Posted by
andre555
better check that - I was sitting once on it and it felt much heavier - more like 150-170kg.
My Shineray was also advertised as around 120kg - once weighted it and it was more like 150kg! Never believe Chinese specs!
That's my shineray now Andre
which btw has just clocked up 1000km
The long way to Shanghai
Steve the way to get more stability
raise the front and lower the rear to rake it out a bit
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Re: Asiawing LX450S / 亚翔LD450 Rider Review
Quote:
Originally Posted by
zhu
Steve the way to get more stability
raise the front and lower the rear to rake it out a bit
Will try.
Still, I'm not often riding at 100+ so no big trouble there.
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Re: Asiawing LX450S / 亚翔LD450 Rider Review
Quote:
Originally Posted by
zhu
That's my shineray now Andre
which btw has just clocked up 1000km
The long way to Shanghai
enjoy :dirtbike: the bike and let us know where you get with it.
I found some small bits and pieces you may want...
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Re: Asiawing LX450S / 亚翔LD450 Rider Review
Just found out that my front wheel is off balance. Really egg-shaped. Wobbles as hell when riding at low speed. Strange. Yesterday was OK.
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Re: Asiawing LX450S / 亚翔LD450 Rider Review
I went to the factory last weekend. They offered the bike rmb 24.800 for. But I guess the real price can be lower after some some negotiation.
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Re: Asiawing LX450S / 亚翔LD450 Rider Review
Quote:
Originally Posted by
blackened
I went to the factory last weekend. They offered the bike rmb 24.800 for. But I guess the real price can be lower after some some negotiation.
Heard here in nanjing the price dropped from 28.000 yuan to 22.000 yuan still there aren't many people willing to buy it.