Well it is anticipated to be short lived, about 2 weeks roughly, but dealers stateside are running out of the Qlink XF200. The demand for this awesome, priced right, extra fun (that is what the XF in XF200 stands for) 200cc supermoto has exceeded expectations. Although there is no official posting of the shortage here is the official Qlink website.
Quite honestly they really don't have there act together as far as accessibility and updating the website. They have a section for news but it has not been updated in the 6 months I have been following it. They don't even mention the XF200 in that section. To me that is surprising. Although they did add a new dual sport model, the XP200 and updated the prices in that timeframe. I am not sure if they understand the importance of the website. I have contacted them about aftermarket parts via email. It took them about a week to respond in broken English and very abruptly said do not call them call the dealer. I got the same response when I called them. A secretary who also spoke broken English and referred me to my dealer. I believe I called Texas as that is where one of the 2 main warehouse are in the United States.I don't have anything against broken English, just passing on my experiences. The lady seemed quite surprised when she asked me If I was a dealer when I replied no. Like they have not had any calls from individuals.
Now when a piece of body plastic broke when it fell over in the truck when being delivered to my house it only took a few days to get it replaced. My dealership JP Motorsports has been great.They are very interested I feel in a strong commitment to the XF200 and some other Qlink products. Don't get me wrong they sell all the Japanese stuff too!
So anyways, this shortage should just be a little blip in the new budding North American expansion For Qlink.
Sunday, May 18, 2008
Wednesday, May 14, 2008
Chapter 6: Reflective Black Numbers
What do you guys think of the new look? I could not wait any longer to get those stock graphics off the motorcycle. I would have left them if they were the same as the Qingqi or the Sundown (they have the same graphic kit). Something about the graphics on them I really like. I added some black reflect white numbers from Reflectively Yours. I worked out an arrangement with the owner for everyone who mentions me, volksjagger, and my blog Qlink XF200 Supermoto Blog'd will get a free extra bonus gift with your order. I love mine. They are made from high quaility 3M materials.
I also want to point anyone interested to this thread at supermotojunkie. The thread has a lot of different posts about the XF200. There are plenty of haters there. Those of use interested in the bike just ignore them. People seem to be a little more rude Online. None of them have riden the Qlink. SuperMotoJunkie. Hope you enjoy it.
While I am posting links to different websites, I want to include the site to the my dealership where I bought my Qlink XF200. It is JP Motorsports. Be sure to see Smitty and tell him volksjagger sent you!
I also want to point anyone interested to this thread at supermotojunkie. The thread has a lot of different posts about the XF200. There are plenty of haters there. Those of use interested in the bike just ignore them. People seem to be a little more rude Online. None of them have riden the Qlink. SuperMotoJunkie. Hope you enjoy it.
While I am posting links to different websites, I want to include the site to the my dealership where I bought my Qlink XF200. It is JP Motorsports. Be sure to see Smitty and tell him volksjagger sent you!
Saturday, May 10, 2008
Chapter 5: Qlink XF200 Exhaust Upgrades and Modifications
Someone has showcased this muffler on a Sundown in Brazil. The Qlink is known as a Sundown STX in Brazil. I have searched with Portuguese translations and even posted on the You Tube site as "flybywifi" where the posting was made with no luck finding where to by that "Storm" exhaust. If you look really close in the video the logo says "Storm".
If any Brazilians out there could shed some light on this it would be much appreciated. I look forward to it.
I do know of an exhaust that has been used on the XF200 successfully. It is the Pro Circuit 496 slip on muffler. It goes for around $400. I will go that route if need be, but that Storm exhaust has to have a better price! I guess we will all have wait and see.
I also know of 2 different people modifying the stock exhaust. One guy tytnpwr just took a long drill bit and stuck it into the exhaust port and drilled into the end of the muffler all the way to the pipe. He claims it made a big difference in the sound and performance. I might have him do it to mine before buying an aftermarket. The second modification is a bit more elaborate and requires more tools than the average joe would have handy. Here is what gdavis2265 did in his own words, "Ditched the airbox and installed a K&N, cut the back end of the pipe off, gutted two baffles and pop riveted the stainless end cap back on.". After asking him to elaborate on this here is what he said "You have to slice the end of the can (angle grinder with a cutoff wheel, my fav tool) - that's the easy part. Then you have to work a screw driver around the edges of the baffle, prying the edge away from the inside of the pipe. Then use a chisel to cut the welds. Lots of work. Might be worth buying a slip on. I just like to make life hard for myself."!
If any Brazilians out there could shed some light on this it would be much appreciated. I look forward to it.
I do know of an exhaust that has been used on the XF200 successfully. It is the Pro Circuit 496 slip on muffler. It goes for around $400. I will go that route if need be, but that Storm exhaust has to have a better price! I guess we will all have wait and see.
I also know of 2 different people modifying the stock exhaust. One guy tytnpwr just took a long drill bit and stuck it into the exhaust port and drilled into the end of the muffler all the way to the pipe. He claims it made a big difference in the sound and performance. I might have him do it to mine before buying an aftermarket. The second modification is a bit more elaborate and requires more tools than the average joe would have handy. Here is what gdavis2265 did in his own words, "Ditched the airbox and installed a K&N, cut the back end of the pipe off, gutted two baffles and pop riveted the stainless end cap back on.". After asking him to elaborate on this here is what he said "You have to slice the end of the can (angle grinder with a cutoff wheel, my fav tool) - that's the easy part. Then you have to work a screw driver around the edges of the baffle, prying the edge away from the inside of the pipe. Then use a chisel to cut the welds. Lots of work. Might be worth buying a slip on. I just like to make life hard for myself."!
Saturday, May 3, 2008
Chapter 4: New 135 Jet
I now have my carb re-jetted. My buddy tytnpwr put in my new 135 jet from a stock 122.5 jet. He made some other adjustments to the float and also to a pin in the carburetor. I will consider this post a rough draft until I talk to him to get the details.
Instead of drilling holes in or removing the airbox, I took off the airbox cover. That has made the bike sound really aggressive. It is much, much louder and compliments the new jet perfectly. The supermoto has changed it's tune!
We attempted to swap out the front sprocket but it was not possible. I was given some bad information by the dealer. They claimed the front sprocket was a 13 tooth, which they upgraded to a 14 tooth on the salesman's XF200 to give it better top end. Come to find out there is already a 15 tooth sprocket stock! So I will have to return the 14 tooth sprocket I ordered to get a 16 tooth front sprocket. So needless to say, disregard the sprocket part number previously mentioned in an earlier post.
I now have over 725 miles on the Qlink XF200 supermoto. To get the work done today I rode 60 miles round trip. All but 3 or 4 miles were highway. 70 mph at 8000 rpms all the way. One really, really big hill and several other hills at highway speed and it was not a problem. Someone (a very well traveled 200cc rider in China) mentioned to me that some big hills may be an issue with this 200cc powerplant. Glad to see they were wrong (in his defense, in China, motorcycles are prohibited on most of the highways).
I still want to get that front sprocket done. This is one of the downsides of a new bike. Things are trial and error. More research is in order. I am eventually going to do the rear sprocket as well but that will need to be special ordered. Tytnpwr has already done his but it was more of an ordeal than I originally understood. I will be tackling that in the next month or two. Tytnpwr rode my bike today and said that with the new 135 jet my bike was faster than his with stock sprockets! I bought 2 135 jets so he will be putting one in his next week. Although it is unclear whether top end is better since he just took it down the street and back.
Instead of drilling holes in or removing the airbox, I took off the airbox cover. That has made the bike sound really aggressive. It is much, much louder and compliments the new jet perfectly. The supermoto has changed it's tune!
We attempted to swap out the front sprocket but it was not possible. I was given some bad information by the dealer. They claimed the front sprocket was a 13 tooth, which they upgraded to a 14 tooth on the salesman's XF200 to give it better top end. Come to find out there is already a 15 tooth sprocket stock! So I will have to return the 14 tooth sprocket I ordered to get a 16 tooth front sprocket. So needless to say, disregard the sprocket part number previously mentioned in an earlier post.
I now have over 725 miles on the Qlink XF200 supermoto. To get the work done today I rode 60 miles round trip. All but 3 or 4 miles were highway. 70 mph at 8000 rpms all the way. One really, really big hill and several other hills at highway speed and it was not a problem. Someone (a very well traveled 200cc rider in China) mentioned to me that some big hills may be an issue with this 200cc powerplant. Glad to see they were wrong (in his defense, in China, motorcycles are prohibited on most of the highways).
I still want to get that front sprocket done. This is one of the downsides of a new bike. Things are trial and error. More research is in order. I am eventually going to do the rear sprocket as well but that will need to be special ordered. Tytnpwr has already done his but it was more of an ordeal than I originally understood. I will be tackling that in the next month or two. Tytnpwr rode my bike today and said that with the new 135 jet my bike was faster than his with stock sprockets! I bought 2 135 jets so he will be putting one in his next week. Although it is unclear whether top end is better since he just took it down the street and back.
Tuesday, April 29, 2008
Chapter 3: 500 Mile Evaluation of the Qlink XF200
I now have 530 miles on the motorcycle. Hit the reserve tank for the second time tonight. The big 2.8 gallon tank means after 530 miles I will only be filling up for the 3rd time. Probably could get another 30-40 miles before need to fill up but we all know a fill up will be the first thing I do next time I fire up the XF200.
The Qlink XF200 is still bone stock. No modifications at all yet. I have ordered and received my 135 jet to replace the 122 OEM jet and a 14 tooth front sprocket to replace the 13 tooth OEM front sprocket. I ordered them from Dennis Kirk. They will be installed as soon as I can get it done.
My overall impression of the motorcycle is, it is exactly what I expected and hoped for. The most affordable street supermoto available anywhere, from any manufacturer, period. The little 200cc thumper chugs right along. In stock form I can feel the bike is being held back by the conservative sprocket gearing, jetting and exhaust. As anticipated somewhat lacking in top end it will do 70 mph with the tachometer just below the redline at 8000 rpms in 5th gear. The Qlinks bulletproof Suzuki technology powerplant does not miss a beat along with the Mikuni carburetor. The clutch, front disc and rear drum break all work flawlessly.
The seat on the XF200 is rock hard. Am considering finding someone to redo the seat altogether. After about 40 miles or less I need to take a break, but then after a few minute break I can enjoy riding again. I really do not like the OEM graphics and stickers at all. I will be removing those OEM graphics and stickers and replacing them with new graphics and stickers.
I am slightly concerned about the tires. They are 17" Kingstone OEM tires. Now they are working fine up to this point but I am having trouble finding a speed rating on them. At this point I am going to get some use out of them but I will be changing them out for a better quality higher speed rated tire.
I will try to document the partnership between Quinqui and Suzuki in a later post. Believe me when I say this is not some fly by night, eBay mail order, pep boys sidewalk sale pit bike crap. The bike is Chinese, however it is not my job or my place to defend crappy Chinese bikes, prove anything or convince anyone of anything. More on this interesting topic later.
The Qlink XF200 is still bone stock. No modifications at all yet. I have ordered and received my 135 jet to replace the 122 OEM jet and a 14 tooth front sprocket to replace the 13 tooth OEM front sprocket. I ordered them from Dennis Kirk. They will be installed as soon as I can get it done.
My overall impression of the motorcycle is, it is exactly what I expected and hoped for. The most affordable street supermoto available anywhere, from any manufacturer, period. The little 200cc thumper chugs right along. In stock form I can feel the bike is being held back by the conservative sprocket gearing, jetting and exhaust. As anticipated somewhat lacking in top end it will do 70 mph with the tachometer just below the redline at 8000 rpms in 5th gear. The Qlinks bulletproof Suzuki technology powerplant does not miss a beat along with the Mikuni carburetor. The clutch, front disc and rear drum break all work flawlessly.
The seat on the XF200 is rock hard. Am considering finding someone to redo the seat altogether. After about 40 miles or less I need to take a break, but then after a few minute break I can enjoy riding again. I really do not like the OEM graphics and stickers at all. I will be removing those OEM graphics and stickers and replacing them with new graphics and stickers.
I am slightly concerned about the tires. They are 17" Kingstone OEM tires. Now they are working fine up to this point but I am having trouble finding a speed rating on them. At this point I am going to get some use out of them but I will be changing them out for a better quality higher speed rated tire.
I will try to document the partnership between Quinqui and Suzuki in a later post. Believe me when I say this is not some fly by night, eBay mail order, pep boys sidewalk sale pit bike crap. The bike is Chinese, however it is not my job or my place to defend crappy Chinese bikes, prove anything or convince anyone of anything. More on this interesting topic later.
Monday, April 21, 2008
Chapter 2: Qlink XF200 Picture Slideshow
black 2008 qlink xf200 supermoto
A few fuzzy, a few blurry, a few sun spotted pictures of my Qlink XF200. The pictures were taken with a two year old Rite Aid disposable camera that was laying around unused so it was put to work. I will be sure to have better in the future.
Some of the pictures are at Sunset Cliffs. Others are are at Fiesta Island.
The first few nights I had the bike I did not have a cover so I shrink wrapped it until my motorcycle cover came from JC Whitney. They had the best price around, $25. It fits the motorcycle perfectly. I am curious about how long it lasts. So far so good. I will update that as well down the line for people who are interested.
The XF200 looks much cooler in person than the pictures show and am always being asked about it.
Wednesday, April 16, 2008
Chapter 1: The Qlink XF200 Break In Period
I have had my Qlink XF200 for 3 weeks now. I am following the recommended break in procedure very closely. Qlink recommends keeping the revs low but not consistently low and not to max out the speed for 500 miles.
I now have 441 miles on it and today got it up to 70 mph. A little early but it was only for a short while. It is bone stock with no modifications. I was pleased that the Qlink's 200cc engine was able to attain that speed as my goal is to make this motorcycle cruise at 65 mph comfortably for a 38 mile round trip commute. So far the XF200 runs like a top.
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