800 miles on Lifan powered little Hondas.

[MiniBike Mike’s Garage]

Myself, my son and a buddy of his are riding around the upper half of Lake Michigan this summer. These are the first two bikes finished, a Honda S65 and a Honda CT110. I still need to build out a Honda CL70K1. All three bikes will be powered by Lifan 125cc semi-autos. We’ll haul the bikes to Holland, MI, then ride to the ferry in Ludington. Cross Lake Michigan on the ferry, then start our trek around the lake clockwise. The trip will be later this summer, so we’re still working on route, but looks like it will be around 800 miles, back to our truck in Holland.

 

[Old Guy Too Many Bikes]

That should be a fun adventure. I would recommend checking the valve clearances on the new motors, fresh high zinc oil, as well as at least a 100 mile break-in and another oil change and valve adjustment to follow, before the excursion.

 

[MiniBike Mike’s Garage]

That should be a fun adventure. I would recommend checking the valve clearances on the new motors, fresh high zinc oil, as well as at least a 100 mile break-in and another oil change and valve adjustment to follow, before the excursion.

These aren’t new engines, I’m just giving the bikes a refresh. The S65 was built in 2013 and its engine has 7000+ miles on it. The CT110 was built in 2016 and it has a little over 1000 miles on its Lifan. The CL70 was built in 2014 and it has somewhere 3000 to 4000 miles on it. I just finished a ST90 with a Lifan. It’s the 70th bike I’ve built using Lifan engines.

 

[kirrbby]

That's awesome Mike! Are you going to try to hug the lake...Lakeshore drives all the way around? 800 miles, non-stop...right?? 🤪

 

[MiniBike Mike’s Garage]

That's awesome Mike! Are you going to try to hug the lake...Lakeshore drives all the way around? 800 miles, non-stop...right?? 🤪

I’m not sure of the route, that’s not my part of the adventure. My part is to make sure we have bikes that are ready. I believe the plan is 200 miles a day, so 4 days for the trip. I think there are lots of stops planned along the way, but yes, we’ll be hugging the shoreline for most of the trip.

 

[nightgrider]

Sounds like a fun trip!

 

[CT70Wizard]

This should be a great adventure, looking forward to the pictures and videos, also congratulations on the 24 Honda CT70 bike haul...

 

[MiniBike Mike’s Garage]

This should be a great adventure, looking forward to the pictures and videos, also congratulations on the 24 Honda CT70 bike haul...

Thanks! I see the guy in Michigan has posted the next set of CT70’s for sale. A bunch of 81/82’s in this new group.

 

[CT70Wizard]

Thanks! I see the guy in Michigan has posted the next set of CT70’s for sale. A bunch of 81/82’s in this new group.

Yeah He still has a few bikes.

 

[OLD CT]

Shame they were put away wet and left in the field to rot!

 

[OLD CT]

The one weak point of the Lifans or any China engine are the clutches. They flat out suck. They can't hang with OEM Honda clutches. Not even on a good day.

 

[MiniBike Mike’s Garage]

Shame they were put away wet and left in the field to rot!

Is this an assumption, or did you speak to the seller?

 

[MiniBike Mike’s Garage]

The one weak point of the Lifans or any China engine are the clutches. They flat out suck. They can't hang with OEM Honda clutches. Not even on a good day.

I guess I’ve been lucky with the 60+ Lifan’s I’ve had over the years. Many engines with thousands of miles and have never experienced the first clutch issue.