RantMachine

Most Chinese bikes are carbed, I think. Certainly most of the Lexmoto ones. Although I guess that might have to change for any new models... But the Arizona has been around for a while.

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Awesome, glad to hear the engine is going strong! My track record with front brakes is a tad colourful... Might be best to get advice from one of the others on that one

Good stuff! Now you've got it behaving, we should still quickly check that there isn't any issue with the idle. After all, you don't want it to die the first time you stop at a red light! If you start it with the choke on and let it run for a couple of minutes, does it cut out immediately when you take the choke off? Or does it run ok without choke after warming up? Fingers crossed it'll be fine, I'm hoping it was just cold starting that was the issue rather than the idle. Good thing you've got the kick start! I always kick start my CG... but then, it doesn't have an electric starter I'm not so good on electrics, someone else will have to help with sorting the starter button. What's up with the front brake?

Ah, righto - well that's good, wouldn't want to have any electrical gremlins to sort out! Few questions so that we can work out what the problem is, ready for you to ride it after your CBT: - Did you give the choke a try? Did it make a difference? Did the bike maintain its revs once you applied the choke? - As I asked last time, are you actually warming up the engine properly before adjusting the idle screw? I realise it's boring having to stand there working the throttle until it heats up a bit, you don't need to go absolutely nuts but you at least want it to be at the lower end of a happy operating temperature otherwise you're just firing shots in the dark. I'm not trying to be a broken record here, these are important questions; if you aren't using the choke or warming it up by any other means, then you'd expect it to cut out when you take your hand off the throttle! My CG runs perfectly but would still cut out if I did the same! And if you have tried the choke and can tell us what difference it made, we can do a better job of helping you work out the problem. Final thought: On my Lexmoto, they used really cheap shitty materials for the inlet rubber (bit connecting the carb to the cyclinder head, see pic below). As a result it split after a few months, and this let the bike suck in extra air. Bad for two reasons; firstly because it's sucking in who knows what dust and crap from outside the engine, and secondly because it made the bike run hella lean, and cut out whenever I took my hand off the throttle. So who knows, could be the same issue that you're having! Inspect that bit carefully, look for any splits. If you can't see any, run the engine and hold you hand around it and see if you can feel air sucking in. Don't burn yourself, mind

We have an Xbox 360, have talked about getting a PS4 but it never ends up being a priority. Xbox only really gets used for playing the odd bit of Diablo 3 together, and my occasional cross-country two wheeled rampages on GTA V when I have the house to myself.

No worries Neil, wasn't trying to shoot you down or say there's a right or wrong way - just presenting the other side of the coin.

And the down side to rushing onto a bike that's too big for your ability is scaring yourself shitless or getting smeared across a wall Swings and roundabouts, I say do it at your own pace and see what works for you. No need to feel that you should take any more or less time than seems natural to you.

Does it still cut out even after warming it up properly? And I don't just mean once around the block, I mean 10 minutes or so and at least a couple of stretches of >30mph road for good measure. In fact, I'm hazarding a guess that if you've not done the CBT yet, you're just starting it on the driveway? I still think it's a bit soon to be recommending that you dive in and start mucking with the carb. Also, on another note; when you say that you've killed the battery while trying to adjust the idle, what exactly is happening? Sounds a little odd for the battery to be giving up the ghost while the engine is actually running, could be something else causing it? Better safe than sorry, I figure. If I lived a bit nearer by I'd offer to run over tomorrow and take a look at it with you, but Nuneaton is a bit of a long haul for "just dropping by"

Huh, I always figured they were much bigger than that Interesting to see!

In all honesty mate I wouldn't know what the "choke" is, i'm new to the motorbiking world so I apologize for my lack of knowledge on the subject. Unfortunately the bike didn't come with a manual, only the V5 from the previous owner. I've looked online but a PDF format is £10... No worries, we all start somewhere I wouldn't bother with the manual in that case... Lexmoto manuals are a bit crap! If it was free then it'd be worth a quick look, but not worth paying for. Might be worth grabbing a copy of this instead at some point: http://www.amazon.co.uk/Chinese-Motorcycles-Service-Repair-manuals/dp/1844258718 But anyway, Google tells me this is what your carburettor looks like... http://i.ebayimg.com/00/s/MTU5OVgxMTcx/z/s38AAOSw37tV-XwU/$_57.JPG See that black lever half way up it? That's your choke. The simplified explanation is that it restricts the flow of air into your engine, making for a richer fuel-air mix. Put even simpler, the bike will rev higher when you use the choke, which will help it warm up before you ride it without you having the work the throttle constantly. Don't necessarily whack it up all the way, just start the bike and give it just enough choke that the engine keeps running without you having to stay on the throttle, and let the engine warm up for a little while. Once it warms up you can ease off the choke (because you don't want to be using it unnecessarily, running rich all the time isn't a smart move) and it should keep running without cutting out, assuming you don't have any other problems that want sorting! And then you're ready to ride (My old Lexmoto needed a bit of choke to start properly on anything but the warmest days, you quickly get into a habit of starting the bike and letting it warm up while you stick your gloves and helmet on) Oh, and +1 what Hoggs said - if you're riding a geared bike, you definitely want to be doing a geared CBT.

Are you using the choke? Are you letting it warm up? Did you read any of the owners manual?

Had to wait until I got to work... I hate typing up the same response every darn time someone asks about Chinese bikes so I keep my response saved as a word document on my work computer On the height front, I'm 6'5" and have the problem that I look rather daft on smaller bikes. Look at things like a Yamaha WR125 or a Honda Varadero 125, or if you want to spend a bit less aim for an Yamaha XT125 or Honda XR125L; they're your best chance of not dwarfing the bike. If that sort of bike isn't to your tastes, a Suzuki Intruder 125 or Honda Shadow 125 might not be too bad, but the low seat with legs forward still isn't the most flattering for a taller rider, especially if you're on the slimmer side. Not sure if there are many on the sports-styled front, but I would imagine the Yamaha YZF-R125 isn't a bad option as it certainly looks like a bigger bike than a normal 125. The NEW (2011 onwards) Honda CBR125 might be a cheaper option. Avoid the older one, it's downright anorexic.

I can vouch for WD40 chain lube not flinging any worse than the Muc Off stuff... I just switched and the Muc Off gets EVERYWHERE.

Ditto!

Dang it, they aren't doing the £12 tank bag this year...

I didn't even realise these things COULD be clean... But then, I've only Intruder 125 I've seen until now is the one that belongs to Tiggie

I must admit that I directly associate helmet cameras with all those idiot YouTube warriors that spend 90% of their time doing an amazing job of making everyone else on the road hate bikers.

Bloody hell, that's stunning! You did good, damn good!

If it didn't work, I'll FedEx you a bag of 1000 pennies.

Ok, so I just tried a second time using my debit card instead of my bank account as the payment method, and it still isn't appearing as a completed transfer. So you'll either get my money twice, or not at all! Sounds fair to me

Oh wait, looks like Paypal may have shat up on me once again...

Only just did it, maybe it didn't go through yet? Did use the [email protected] email from the other thread :S

Finally got my act together and paid!

About time!