Honda CT/Trail 110; Chinese engine replacement | RTW

[@domenik8339]

Have to say, I have a lot of respect for you for just telling it how it is with the Chinese engines/bikes. I've had exclusively Honda bikes for 20 years, but in 2023 I finally just couldn't justify the price vs quality of what they were putting out anymore (especially regarding the Navi and the XR150L.) I bought a Lifan Xpect 200cc fuel injected Enduro bike and have been absolutely blown away by it's features, build quality and value. The bike is a quarter of the price of similar big 4 bikes, brand new. And I'm hearing that the new Lifan KPX 250 is not just equal to, but completely outclasses the big 4 250cc bikes in terms of build quality, despite being a 1/3rd of the price new. That's insane, and it truly shows that the times are changing regarding the Chinabikes. They really are the same, if not better.

[@SmallBikeStuff]

Thanks for watching first of all! Agreed - I have used a lot of Lifan products in the last 5 years and they hold their weight. Just like anything you need to use it within it's limits. But I always have a bit of a chuckle when people say a CT110 engine with 100,000KM on the clock is still better than a brand new Lifan 125. Cool to hear about your new purchase! I'm gonna have to research the model.

[@SmallBikeStuff]

Interview with the Honda Trail inventor/creator from USA: kzbin.info/www/bejne/gIuTeppuoN2LeLMsi=QQU3YIrzz1JnsGSc

[@batterybuilding]

CT110 chopper edition! Love seeing these things well-used and loved!

[@SmallBikeStuff]

It’s awesome fun with the longer forks!

[@aslkdfjhg]

If you plan on going flat out for a road trip might be worth looking at an oil cooler. I've melted a piston with the chinese motors the oiling system is quite basic. It won't make it go faster, but it may avoid the oil overheating.

[@SmallBikeStuff]

Oil coolers can be a good idea. Among my friend group we have them as a necessity on 140cc horizontal engines or bigger, the 125’s we’ve managed years of abuse as long as the oil is changed every couple of thousand kilometres. I have installed an oil cooler on my big bore kit Honda 125 motor also (now 143cc)

[@domenik8339]

What brand of motor was it?

[@carlatamanczyk3891]

I know Herb Uhl. I used to go mountain trail riding with his son Bill Uhl many years ago.

[@SmallBikeStuff]

Thats amazing! Thanks for commenting and I am glad you watched the video.

[@jululugz2893]

2:25 - There is also a CT 125 named bike sold here In Philippines, but it's Bajaj.

[@tomonabudget]

Great Video. You've really nailed the pacing. I still wonder about the reliability of these Lifan engines. I know some that ride CT110's with swapped engines around the world. While I'm not a fan of Chinese engines, these seem pretty solid, especially given that most original CT110 engines are pretty worn. I hope the owner enjoys his bike a lot and gets to do some touring on it too.

[@SmallBikeStuff]

Thanks mate! Quarter of the way to 100 bikes in this series and I’ve finally got the editing sorted. Haha. The reliability of Lifans can be dubious at times. But if you check them thoroughly before use and oil change more often than you think they seem to hang on okay. This is based on NZ temps and not a super hot environment though.

[@domenik8339]

I've got a bike with a Lifan engine and it seems to be really, really good, for what that's worth. It's a licensed Honda copy though, so it is probably much better than other similar Chinese engines, which are probably "close enough" copies instead of direct from the Honda blueprint.

[@tncpowell]

My wife and I rode a pair of Aussie CT110s from Alaska to Argentina and then east coast to west coast across Australia, both of our bikes were powered by the Lifan 125s, both were fitted with oil coolers, and we loved them. The Lifan 125 is a solid little motor so long as you keep up the oil changes to it. Cheap to fix, and as old mate in the video says, runs perfectly out of the box.

[@harveythehigh3023]

I love your content man. Watching here from the PH🇵🇭. I hope you can do a review on TVSXL100 India's no.1 moped🛵

[@SmallBikeStuff]

Thanks so much! I would love to but we don’t get them in New Zealand. Hopefully that changes some day.

[@UncannySense]

those forks and triple tree look to be out of a xl 185. I have and 1984 CT110 AG and a 1981 Xl185. Also I'm not sure how the lifan 125 engine is mounted but it is not a perfect bolt alignment to the original 110 honda engine...

[@SmallBikeStuff]

It’s only the single mount that doesn’t line up as you might know. Adapter kits are available on eBay or similar. Between myself and friends we’ve made our own with a few hours in the shed. I didn’t check exactly how this one was mounted though to be fair.

[@Billy-burner]

Where did you get that jerry can, amd seat cover? 😮

[@SmallBikeStuff]

They are both from Aliexpress I think...

[@Billy-burner]

@@SmallBikeStuff cheers bud! That seat cover looks Xtra comfy lmao

[@carlatamanczyk3891]

Do you ever have problems with the electrical system on those Chinese motors??

[@SmallBikeStuff]

If it's been inspected before use generally they are okay.

[@GenXoutofamerica]

I love your content and I'm a supscriber. My question is this. Why would anyone want to remove a perfectly good and extremely reliable honda engine and install a crap chinese engine?

[@SmallBikeStuff]

It's a common swap for lots of small Hondas. Reality is, in many countries a full rebuild of a genuine motor can cost upwards of $1000 USD and a quick bolt in replacement costs $250 USD and runs perfectly fine. I think all of us would love a fully rebuilt genuine article, but it's not always an easy thing to achieve.

[@batterybuilding]

The reality is that Lifan’s are getting better every day. Not all Chinese knockoff’s are terrible. In the US these things are getting old and worn and are rarely “perfectly good”. I say this as a fan of rebuilding the Honda engine versus replacing but some people want to bolt on and go.

[@domenik8339]

Given it's age, is possible that Lifan actually made the "Honda" branded engine. They have been business partners before.

[@sscbkr48]

Or you could put in a ATC125M with hi/lo range. 😆

[@cellanimation]

Are you from SA? You sound Aussie but it's an unusual accent lol

[@SmallBikeStuff]

New Zealand.

[@cellanimation]

@@SmallBikeStuff ope

[@ktkace]

You know honda is short charging you (rip u off royal) when a chinese engine outperforms the stock one easily.

[@SmallBikeStuff]

A 30+ year old 110cc engine with a hundred thousand km's doesn't quite stack up next to a brand new 125.

[@ktkace]

@@SmallBikeStuff the 125 chinese engines aint exactly cutting edge...

[@domenik8339]

After owing a Lifan chinabike, this is exactly how I feel. I have been ripped off by Honda my whole life apparently. Why is my $2000 fuel injected, Lifan Enduro bike better than a $4000 XR150L? It makes zero sense, but it's true.