Your kit reliability experience needed!!! chinese or name brand motors

Egor · #31 (**permalink**) 08-30-2008, 12:08 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by starrunner

I bought a Chinese 4 stroke kit. The engine's not the problem. The el-cheapo Chinese gearbox on it stripped out on my first ride. I'd avoid any Chinese kit and go with whatever kits have either a Honda or Robin-Subaru engine. But be aware that some of the small Honda engines are made in (I think) Thailand. Robin-Subaru and Tanaka are by far the most reliable engines. But these kits are always rack mount, no center frame mount, which would be ideal, but not available.

There are two gearboxes a GruBee and one that has the shape of the figure 8. I understand the the GruBee is the only one to buy. Sorry to hear that you had a bad experience this is supposed to be a just fun hobby. It is true that the china frame mount is not the most reliable but as a general rule it works pretty well for the money. Out of five I have built only one went south and I was not riding so it was new and it could have been pushed too far. He called me out on the road and said he could not figure out what could be the problem and had just kept trying to start. When I got it apart all the rollers from the big end were jammed into everything, I will never understand anyone that will just keep trying when there has to be that much bad noise coming from down there. Oh well, Have fun, Dave

starrunner · #32 (**permalink**) 08-30-2008, 12:24 AM

Yes, it's definitely the figure-8 shaped gearbox that's bad. It's the one included in the kit called JL Hoot, so if you actually see the name JL Hoot, you'll be guaranteed to have a problem. In my case, the name never came up and it wasn't what I ordered, but it's what I got. Took me some checking around and investigating to figure out all this, but now I know.

Easy Rider · #33 (**permalink**) 08-30-2008, 01:21 AM

Okay I missed this thread so I need to throw my motor into the mix. I have a little over 1000 miles on my motor and it gets stronger everytime I take it out. It has the power to climb hills or you can gear it for some good top speed. I think with a 44 tooth it could hit 50mph. I have a 5.8hp 50cc 2 cycle Morini. It's been bulletproof except for a few snapped spokes due to some rough terrain riding.

thatsdax · #34 (**permalink**) 08-30-2008, 01:41 AM

Star.. I would feel your pain..But..I keep telling and will continue to keep telling those that wish to buy a 4 stroke in frame kit that currently the Gear boxes are not good. Yet people keep buying them. I do not get it !!! The HS engines are very good and bullet proof. The gear boxes are poor. The only Bullet proof engine and gear box setup that I know of is the Titan which I sell and that is why I sell it. That is the reason I do not sell the in frame 4 stroke setup. Not yet. I have an in Frame 4 stroke In Beta Test with Gear box set up similar to the Titan and it is an inline setup with direction the same as the engine. It too is bullet proof but is still in Beta test. It will not become available until next year spring some time. Until then.. I do not know what to tell you except this. If the in frame 4 stroke engines with gear boxes were a good setup, we would be selling them. You can go to my website and see that we are not selling them. Axiomatic. There may be a guy or two out there for what ever reason has lucked out and got a setup that works. But again.. We do not sell them. That should tell you a lot. Thanks..Enjoy the ride...

starrunner · #35 (**permalink**) 08-30-2008, 02:08 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Easy Rider

Okay I missed this thread so I need to throw my motor into the mix. I have a little over 1000 miles on my motor and it gets stronger everytime I take it out. It has the power to climb hills or you can gear it for some good top speed. I think with a 44 tooth it could hit 50mph. I have a 5.8hp 50cc 2 cycle Morini. It's been bulletproof except for a few snapped spokes due to some rough terrain riding.

You're the second Morini powered bike I've seen on Youtube. Absolutely great way to go. A superior alternative to the clone engines.
YouTube - Motorized bicycle with Italian moped engine

Easy Rider · #36 (**permalink**) 08-30-2008, 02:25 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by starrunner

You're the second Morini powered bike I've seen on Youtube. Absolutely great way to go. A superior alternative to the clone engines.
YouTube - Motorized bicycle with Italian moped engine

There's at least 3 more people I know that use the Morini motors. Two with the 3 hp and Lean Dean and I with the 5.8 hp motors.

starrunner · #37 (**permalink**) 08-30-2008, 02:27 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by thatsdax

Star.. I would feel your pain..But..I keep telling and will continue to keep telling those that wish to buy a 4 stroke in frame kit that currently the Gear boxes are not good. Yet people keep buying them. I do not get it !!! The HS engines are very good and bullet proof. The gear boxes are poor. The only Bullet proof engine and gear box setup that I know of is the Titan which I sell and that is why I sell it. That is the reason I do not sell the in frame 4 stroke setup. Not yet. I have an in Frame 4 stroke In Beta Test with Gear box set up similar to the Titan and it is an inline setup with direction the same as the engine. It too is bullet proof but is still in Beta test. It will not become available until next year spring some time. Until then.. I do not know what to tell you except this. If the in frame 4 stroke engines with gear boxes were a good setup, we would be selling them. You can go to my website and see that we are not selling them. Axiomatic. There may be a guy or two out there for what ever reason has lucked out and got a setup that works. But again.. We do not sell them. That should tell you a lot. Thanks..Enjoy the ride...

Dax, I'm aware that the so-called Grubee gearbox is a step above the Hoot one that I got, but the Grubee gearbox was the one I was SUPPOSED to get, but that's an old story. I'm sure the Grubee would have failed too. I'm fairly certain the only truly dependable gearboxes are strictly American-made ones like you and Staton have. If I could simply buy one of those good quality gearboxes and bolt on my engine, I'd be doing great, but the way you guys are set up, it's an entire kit or nothing, so there's that big gray zone. Staton's might bolt on to the engine I have, but probably wouldn't fit in with my frame mount setup. Since the Chinese are actually making decent engines, it would be nice to be able to have a source for a good gearbox to go with them. In my case, I'm out over $300 for a kit, but if you don't have all the parts, it's worthless. I can't go fork out another $400 for an entirely new kit and buy another engine just like what I have. All those $$$ add up quickly.

starrunner · #38 (**permalink**) 08-30-2008, 02:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Easy Rider

There's at least 3 more people I know that use the Morini motors. Two with the 3 hp and Lean Dean and I with the 5.8 hp motors.

The one I gave a link to (RayKelley) said the Morini sprocket matched up perfectly with the Chinese sprocket and chain that came with the original bike kit he bought. He said the original 2 stroke blew up.

beachbikeron · #39 (**permalink**) 08-30-2008, 08:38 PM

I have a Staton GXH 50 Honda friction drive kit on a stretch Kustom Cruiser Slick Daddy, and this baby go's!!!!! 40+ mph! I just heard about the hybrid David has. Gotta check it out. Here's my new ride.

Sorry, I have to resize my pictures to show. Gotta go!

thatsdax · #40 (**permalink**) 08-31-2008, 03:39 PM

Yes.. You have heard right.. 500-6000 miles. Depends on how you treat the motor. I know guys that can tear a motor up in 100 miles, does not matter who makes it. Bench test rotation for Dax 2 stroke motors is 10,000 km. If you get 6000 miles or more out of a 200usd engine, that is great for sure !! And this is common with the dax 2 strokes. I do have some customers with 8000 miles or more. I have over 4000 miles on mine. It is smooth and fast... You can buy a Titan for twice as much. It is a 4 stroke and very durable. But again, more expensive. The Titan is a Caddy, the GT or good times 2 stroke is the Chevy. So..It depends on what you want.. A Chevy or a Caddy.. Enjoy the ride...