Are Thumpstar Pit Bikes Reliable?

There was a time when the only small sized motorcycles also now known as pit bikes were made by Japanese companies such as Honda and Kawasaki. In the past few years these pit bikes have become more and more popular, which has created quite a demand for them. Well now the Chinese manufacturers and others are stepping in to fill the void. So called knock offs Thumpstar pit bikes such as Sikk pit bikes and bikes are built with Chinese engines and frames. The big question is can these bikes stand up to the old faithful Honda and Kawasaki models?

Are Thumpstar Pit Bikes Reliable?

Are Thumpstar Pit Bikes Reliable?

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Are Thumpstar Pit Bikes Reliable?

Are Thumpstar Pit Bikes Reliable?

Honda, Kawasaki, Yamaha, and Suzuki have been the staple when it comes to dirt bikes for years, and banned in so. These motorcycles are very competent and reliable. Recently a host of Chinese made motorcycles have entered the scene inthe form of mini bikes or pit bikes. Why would people buy a motorcycle from China when they can't be sure on the reliability? The reason is simple, they are much cheaper than their Japanese counterparts.

You can buy a completely tricked out Thumpstar pit bike for around $ 1500 brand new. When it comes to the new CRF100 tricked out by BBR you are looking at around 00. This is quite a difference in price. There are many other brand names of so called knock off pit bikes such as Pittster, Sikk, Thunder Pro, and the list goes on and on. All of them are priced similarly and the quality is about the same depending on who you ask. I currently own 2 Thumpstar pit bikes, and I know some people who have the other so called knock off brands such as Sikk so I can speak personally on thequality of these motorcycles.

Are they as good as Honda or Kawasaki? The simple answer is no. These bikes still have quite a way to go to stand up to the quality and performance of the Japanese brands when they are all tricked out. There is only one problem. When you buy a Honda 50cc, it comes bone stock. You need to upgrade everything from suspension, exhaust, tune the motor and this will add up to thousands of Dollars. Well I don't know about you, but I am not spending 00 on pitbike to tiny. This is the reason why bikes made with Chinese parts Thumpstar pit bikes such as have become so popular. They come stock with a nice race exhaust, the suspension is better than stock Honda, some even now as standard with Japanese Mikuni carburetor logo. I personally thinkmost of the knock off bikes look much nicer than the Honda or Kawasaki as well. As time has gone by these motorcycles have become better and better.

Isn't it impossible to find parts for pit bikes with Chinese parts? Surprisingly not. There are many suppliers now supporting these motorcycles, and with the internet it has become easier to find parts for nearly anything. There are many places to find aftermarket parts and upgrades for Thumpstar pit bikes and many others.

I know how 2 have my Thumpstar pit bikes stood up to the punishMent of hard riding season? Well I have to say that they have been just great. The engine was a pleasant surprise "delivering smooth power through all 4 gears. The suspension although quite stiff was still better than stock so I was happy with that. Theframes have been durable, and overall the bikes have been very reliable. The only problems I can say I had were that the chain dug the swingarm pivot in the back of one of my Thumpstars, some bolts rattled off, replaced the levers, and some plastic cosmetic damage. The engines run a little hot so I am currently looking into getting oil coolers for my Thumpstar pit bikes, I have seen a number of them for sale online.

If you are currently in the market for a pit bike it is up to you. Do you want to pay 00 for the very best or would you rather pay around $ 1500 for a comparable motorcycle? It was a no-brainer for me. I'm sure the shelf life for my Thumpstar pit bike is less than a Honda, but who cares I'll just get another one in a few years and still have spent less money!

Are Thumpstar Pit Bikes Reliable?

How to Improve Your Motorcycle's Start and Warm Up, Idling and Acceleration

After years of listening to customer complaints about their inability to cope with poor Gold Wing performance symptoms and the ruthless exploitation by many repAir shops back in the Eighties, we were compelled to study the problem. In 1990, a solution was presented in writing that was handed out to my customers without any obligation on the part of the reader to buy anything. We received hundreds of thank yous from customers and those who never purchased parts from us but took time to write. Those who made the replaceMent based on our solution and tuned up their engines, eliminated a whole series of problems, including the burning out of head gaskets and, over the years, we received many declarations of greatly improved gas mileage and overall performance.

How to Improve Your Motorcycle's Start and Warm Up, Idling and Acceleration

How to Improve Your Motorcycle's Start and Warm Up, Idling and Acceleration

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How to Improve Your Motorcycle's Start and Warm Up, Idling and Acceleration

How to Improve Your Motorcycle's Start and Warm Up, Idling and Acceleration

AirCUT-OFF VALVE

The Air cut-off Valve is an extremely important part of the fuel/air intake system that is frequently missed even by competent mechanics, most of whom are not even aware of its existence or how it functions. Over time, air cutoff valves will harden up, punched and/or disintegrate leaving your motorcycle in a permanently lean, low RPM range (0-2200).

Most early model Honda, Kawasaki, Suzuki and Yamaha motorcycles use air cut-off valves. Every Honda CB650, CB900 GL1000 own CB750, and has one, located in the air intake tube between the air cleaner box and the manifold. The GL1100 has four, located in the top air intake passage of each carburetor logo, and every GL1200 has one located in the plenum box below the air cleaner box similar to the GL1000.

Thesevalves are "air blockers", along with the carburetor logo o-rings, serving to restrict air flow, increasing the fuel-air mixture ratio when the carb slides are in the lower RPM range, up to closed so that the machine will start and idle smoothly with virtually no choking and accelerated rapidly, with no stumble or hesitation.

When typical starting requires heavy and prolonged choking to keep the bike running, when stalling and hesitation occurs even while "warmed up" and when backfiring pops while the throttle is shut off while cruising, most people will start fooling with the air screws to try to overcome the problem, only making it worse along with reducing their gas mileage.

Running with dysfunctional air cut-off valves can cause severe engine damage or failure. When the valvesare dysfunctional, the engine pulls air into the nearly total low RPM range through the carbs and on to the combustion chamber. The fuel-air ratio is extremely poor with pre-ignition long before the normal 38 to 40 degree firing point, generating an enormous amount of heat, with no power, which is trapped in the longer period of time in the cylinder before the exhaust valve opens.

This heat goes mostly up through the cylinder head, incinerating the head gaskets gradually and allowing engine coolant (antifreeze) to seep into the engine. You can easily spot when you are in trouble by a puff of bluish-white or white smoke on first starting the engine. Don't leave it alone. Change the head gaskets immediately or you could take out your bottom end bearings, ruining theengine.

For those of you installing new exhaust systems, you will discolor your head pipes, either blue (lean) or gold (rich state) if the signs are ignored. You an destain your pipes using Blueway or Blue-Off but be careful not to rub the chrome, just dab gently. These method protocol compounds are usually found at a dealer or Harley Harley-oriented aftermarket shop.

Honda genuine pipes, like many Yamaha pipes, have a double wall for a portion of the head pipe which masks discoloration-but also masks in bad state of tune. Even if your pipes are original and still in good shape, don't think you're safe if your motorcycle has any or all of the dysfunctional air cut-off valve running and performingcharacteristics.

If your Gold Wing 1975 to 1987 is not getting 50 to 58 miles per gallon (20-23 kiloMeters per liter), you have one of the most obvious signs of trouble. It is likely your air screws have been backed out to try to overcome the effects of the poor running, stumbling, starting, stalling and quitting.

INSTALLATION GUIDELINES

Refer to your Haynes or Clymer Honda Workshop manual for location and installation procedures.

Replace your air cut-off valve/s then attempts to resynchronize all four carburetors to the # 3 carburetor logo vacuum level using a mercury carb sync tool (carb stick) or vacuum gauge synchronizer tool. The number 3 is the constant carb fixed flow carburetor logo set at the factory.

DO NOT attempt to set by ear or just by guessing as the results can beanywhere from pathetic to disastrous.

DO NOT deviate from the book settings of your Honda, Clymer or Haynes manual. Wiser people than all of us designed this very effective and efficient intake and carburetion system.

To further insure against any additional vacuum loss, replace your inexpensive manifold carburetor logo o-rings. Vacuum loss can occur there and mimic the effect of a bad air cut-off valve. Paste a new set with vaseline and make sure they are sealed with an ether check.

© Saber Cycle ®

How to Improve Your Motorcycle's Start and Warm Up, Idling and Acceleration