Well I was going down the highway at approximately 65-70 mph when the engine blew up. I was stuck on the side of the highway looking for a way to get it to the dealership. It would have been nice if my dealer provided me with the free roadside assistance phone number (http://www.qlinkmotor.com/riders.php) Qlink offers for the first year but that never happened. Not the end of the world as I understand this is a newer company and I am sort of a guinea pig.
Now for the good news. The dealer took the bike, contacted Qlink, pulled the engine, looked at it and sent them the pictures of the damage. Qlink is now sending a new engine. I should have the bike back in 10 days.
I still have 18 months left on the warranty. The best warranty available today (that I have found) from any manufacturer. Now we know Qlink is fulfilling their obligations of the warranty. The dealer is doing the work without a fuss. So once again I am happy with them. They have updated me with the communications from Qlink and assured me the engine would be installed the day it is received. I did sign an invoice with an hourly labor fee on it but I should not have to pay labor on warranty work. The order was created before the problem was officially determined.
I have roughly 6,500 km on the odometer which converts to 4,039 miles. I have heard from a few sources that this engine has an expected lifespan of roughly 20,000 miles and even though I was pushing it pretty hard I was keeping up on the maintenance with regular oil changes and a valve clearance adjustment so it appears the engine may have been defective. I only redlined it once (I think as I did not get a chance to look at the tachometer) when I missed second gear and shifted into neutral.
So we will see if the rest of this ordeal plays out hassle free as planned and I will surely update. I know that most of you will be most interested in the results of this warranty issue as the warranty issue has always been a top concern of anyone considering a purchase of this machine or any other china bike for good reason. So far Qlink the North American importer of Quigqi machines has separated itself from other Chinese importers/manufacturers.
Sunday, September 28, 2008
Saturday, September 6, 2008
Sputtering
My sputtering and lurching at highway speed took 3 trips to the dealer and 4 mechanics to resolve. Turns out it was just a vacuum lock in the gas tank. Now my machine is blazing down the highway.
Damn I am glad it is fixed. I did not talk about it much because I was still riding it everyday to work and having fun since it was only happening at top speeds. I was having troubles getting to 70 miles per hour but now back to 80 if I want it.
I did go down on the jet while diagnosing the problem and it only made things worse until the vacuum problem was fixed. My dealer thought I was full of it. I had to race out of there to get to work and did not have time to talk about the resolution and jet size when I was there.
If you have not been following the story I went from a 122.5 jet to a 135 jet. it ran fine but I was wasting fuel. I knew that the problem was not the jet because it ran fine for months before the stuttering problem began. So I got the valves adjusted and put a better suited jet in. I am not too upset as those things are were necessary and now they are out of the way.
It is just a little frustrating having someone look at you like your nuts and you can tell they just want you to get the hell out of their store. In their defense they did one more pow wow and came up with the vacuum lock scenario and thank goodness because now like I said before, it is fixed and running better than ever. I can appreciate all the modifications now.
Damn I am glad it is fixed. I did not talk about it much because I was still riding it everyday to work and having fun since it was only happening at top speeds. I was having troubles getting to 70 miles per hour but now back to 80 if I want it.
I did go down on the jet while diagnosing the problem and it only made things worse until the vacuum problem was fixed. My dealer thought I was full of it. I had to race out of there to get to work and did not have time to talk about the resolution and jet size when I was there.
If you have not been following the story I went from a 122.5 jet to a 135 jet. it ran fine but I was wasting fuel. I knew that the problem was not the jet because it ran fine for months before the stuttering problem began. So I got the valves adjusted and put a better suited jet in. I am not too upset as those things are were necessary and now they are out of the way.
It is just a little frustrating having someone look at you like your nuts and you can tell they just want you to get the hell out of their store. In their defense they did one more pow wow and came up with the vacuum lock scenario and thank goodness because now like I said before, it is fixed and running better than ever. I can appreciate all the modifications now.
Monday, August 18, 2008
44 Tooth Rear Sprocket Installed
Wow. I just had the 44 tooth rear sprocket installed. That is 4 teeth down from stock. I was worried about loosing power but it has werked out great. no notable power loss.
I really like it. I now have a long 4th gear. That is great for around town. I actually sometimes do not realize I am still in 4th gear and anyone who has ridden this machine knows that you are in fifth gear before you can say "God bless America"!
The new custom 44 tooth XF200 rear sprocket brought the rpms at 75 mph down a full 500 rpms to 7,000. not bad for $29.95!!!
I got the valves adjusted and it was needed bad. The high speed stuttering is gone. The mechanics eliminated a fuel issue as the cause and quickly determined the valves needed adjusting. I am definetly going to go back down on the jet as I am dumping too much gas on the plug. It was really black.
I noticed that I am having more fun on the XF200 with the new sprocket. It acts a lot different. Some of the characteristics take a little while to realize. I have had it on for about a week now.
Get one for yourself from JP Motorsports. They have them in stock now!!!
I really like it. I now have a long 4th gear. That is great for around town. I actually sometimes do not realize I am still in 4th gear and anyone who has ridden this machine knows that you are in fifth gear before you can say "God bless America"!
The new custom 44 tooth XF200 rear sprocket brought the rpms at 75 mph down a full 500 rpms to 7,000. not bad for $29.95!!!
I got the valves adjusted and it was needed bad. The high speed stuttering is gone. The mechanics eliminated a fuel issue as the cause and quickly determined the valves needed adjusting. I am definetly going to go back down on the jet as I am dumping too much gas on the plug. It was really black.
I noticed that I am having more fun on the XF200 with the new sprocket. It acts a lot different. Some of the characteristics take a little while to realize. I have had it on for about a week now.
Get one for yourself from JP Motorsports. They have them in stock now!!!
Wednesday, August 13, 2008
4000 km update
That’s right 4000 km update. I have now discovered that this odometer is reading in kilometers and not miles!!! It only took me 3,999 kilometers to figure this out!!! So at this point 4,000 kilometers = 2,485.48477 miles. So now that we have that straight the bike needs some maintenance.
I am experience pretty significant sputtering when 65 mph or above on the highway. I noticed the hose from the emissions unit going into the air box was disconnected from the air box so I reattached it and it amplified the problem. So I am going to take it in and have the regular scheduled maintenance done.
The problem has started to present itself about 1 month ago. It is getting worse so I have no choice. I have determined that a valve adjustment will be in order.
I am getting some light popping at speed as well from the exhaust. Nothing too severe at all. So I may need to re-jet the carb back down. I went too big when I went from a 122.5 to a 135 jet. Also there is no fuel filter so that will be added as well.
Even with the issues I am still riding it everyday to and from werk. 40 miles = 64.37376 kilometers!! I trust the bike enough to get me there and back.
I am experience pretty significant sputtering when 65 mph or above on the highway. I noticed the hose from the emissions unit going into the air box was disconnected from the air box so I reattached it and it amplified the problem. So I am going to take it in and have the regular scheduled maintenance done.
The problem has started to present itself about 1 month ago. It is getting worse so I have no choice. I have determined that a valve adjustment will be in order.
I am getting some light popping at speed as well from the exhaust. Nothing too severe at all. So I may need to re-jet the carb back down. I went too big when I went from a 122.5 to a 135 jet. Also there is no fuel filter so that will be added as well.
Even with the issues I am still riding it everyday to and from werk. 40 miles = 64.37376 kilometers!! I trust the bike enough to get me there and back.
Tuesday, June 24, 2008
Free Shipping on the JP/FMF Pipe.
Fantastic news for anyone with a Qlink XF200 or even a Suzuki DR200SE (I think) in the continental United States. Free shipping in the continental U.S. JP Motorsports will ship it out free. So $199.00 plus tax ships it to you free.
The pipe adds a lot of power in my opinion. Of course this is just the "seat of my pants" dyno but its fairly fool proof, just no LCD display! If you have this bike you need this pipe. I am sure you have been looking for one anyways.
I talk more about it below. Just wanted to update the shipping news.
The pipe adds a lot of power in my opinion. Of course this is just the "seat of my pants" dyno but its fairly fool proof, just no LCD display! If you have this bike you need this pipe. I am sure you have been looking for one anyways.
I talk more about it below. Just wanted to update the shipping news.
Tuesday, June 10, 2008
Chapter 9: XF200 JP/FMF Custom Pipe
XF200 custom JP/FMF muffler! This XF200 JP/FMF muffler is specially fabricated by JP Motorsports with permission from FMF! The only place this XF200 JP/FMF slip on exhaust can be purchased is from JP Motorsports. The original Turbine Core 2
pipe that is welded to the the muffler does not mirror up to the stock header pipe. The JP/FMF Turbine Core 2 is two different pipes/mufflers fabricated into one. The XF200 JP/FMF muffler is now available for $199.00.
This specially fabricated XF200 JP/FMF Turbine Core 2 muffler adds a nice power increase! It is a DOT approved silencer with spark arrester. Although not the newest muffler FMF makes, it just so happens it's exactly what a XF200 200cc powerplant needs. In addition to help keep the price down.
Here are the main talking points for the muffler / silencer;
Maintains peak power while retaining spark arrester capabilities
TDS (Turbine Dampening Separator) is a unique baffle design that eliminates the exhaust restriction associated with conventional spark arresters
Originally used by Team Suzuki Off-Road and Team KTM
U.S. Forest Service approved
The only thing you will have to do to get this JP/FMF Turbine Core 2 installed on your XF200 (aside from removing your existing stock muffler) is drill a hole in the provided bracket used to bolt up to your XF200. Then bolt it on. A perfect fit.
Right now, there is no link on the JP Motorsports website to order. You will have to manually pick up the phone and speak to a real live person at 619-564-4935 or toll free at 800-720-1829! You could also email them @ Sales@JPMotorSports.net. I am sure Online ordering will be available as soon as the webmaster for the website can design the webpage!
Monday, June 9, 2008
More XF200 Qlinks In Stock.
The XF200 demand was surpassed in the United States. Now US Qlink dealers have been restocked with the XF200. The shortage lasted only 2 weeks. I was at my dealership this weekend and they had 10 XF200 Qlinks ready to go in all three colors; orange, silver and flat black on the showroom floor and lined up outside on display. Again there were plenty around the world but the demand was surpassed for the American market. So as anticipated this shortage was short lived. Go get yourself one now!
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