As if the Corvette weren’t proof enough, here’s some additional evidence that I’m desperately clinging to youth: A dirt bike.
Actually, it shouldn’t be so surprising. Ever since we moved about four years ago, I’ve felt that little dirt bike itch. Our home is basically in the middle of pine forests, and they’re crisscrossed with trails. Driving through the subdivision on any given weekend you’re likely to see any number of kids and adults emerging from holes in the forest on two and four wheel off road conveyances. It was really only a matter of time. And now that my sizeable girth is not really sizeable enough anymore to seriously stress the frame of a smaller bike, I deceded to finally take the plunge.
After shopping used Hondas, Suzukis and Kawis, I decided to go a different direction: Chinese. Yes, Chinese. Chine is now the world’s largest manufacturer of motorcycles, with literally hundreds of companies producing more bikes than the rest of the world combined. And, in true Chinese industrial fashion, they’re basically cheap clones of “real” bikes. As the legend goes, Honda sold off some of their patents a few years ago. Chinese companies bought them, and now produce virtual clones of small Honda off-road bikes. My particular model was manufactured by Zongshen, who, along with Lifan, is one of the larger and more established Chinese manufacturers. While the quality is at Honda levels, it’s not bad, either. It’s comprable to a good Harbor Freight tool, honestly. And the price—brand new it was about a third of what a USED Honda CR230 would cost—met my stingy budget quite well. Apparently Honda parts will bolt right on as well, meaning if I should fry a swingarm pivot or something I can replace them with genuine Honda parts.
The engine is a 200cc four-stroke pushrod affair, as opposed to the OHC Honda, but it bolts into the same hole. Apparently a complete replacement engine is about $250: Cheap enough that many Honda riders buy them to replace blown CR230 motors.
After a quick nut-and-bolt, my first ride was uneventful, even if I hadn’t been on a knobby-tire bike since Reagan was President. I dumped it a couple times in soft sand—mostly because I didn’t have a feel for powerband—but managed to stay on my feet. Once it got 20 minutes or so of run time the engine seemed to loosen up a little and moved the little Chinaman pretty nicely. Once I got my “sea legs” a little I could even slide it through corners a little with some degree of confidence. Jeremy McGrath I’m not, but for my first hour on a dirtbike in 25 years I managed.
Overall, it seems like a pretty cool little machine. Disc brakes on both ends, inverted front forks, remote reservoir rear adjustable coil-over, and other “real looking” dirt bike stuff. It’s no Honda, but I’m no Jeremy McGrath, which I think I may have mentioned in a previous paragraph.
So wish me luck with my midlife crisis. Apparently it will be full of bruised ribs and sore thumbs. Don’t worry, though: I have no plans for a pony tail.
