Now you’re just letting your fantasies run away with you.[/quote]
I’m far too much of a gent to refer to a ladyfriend as “it.”
Yes. It’s a reflection on the industry that you can still buy shiny new plastic body panels, but most essential engine parts are unobtainium.
Yea, DT’s…
Crappy brakes, fork seals that lasted 3 months at a time, refuses to start with even the slightest bit of moisture, weak swing arm, carrying a dozen sets of work gloves to help with the exhuast smoke…Yipee!
On a smooth dirt track they were ok, but when the going actually got tough, the DT’s performance was mediocre at best.
On out first trip over He-huan Shan, we had 2 DT’s in the group. Both zipped by me on the last 9k section with their shorter gearing, but by the time they reached the top one of them had blown the piston. I ended up towing him all the way to Puli for a rebuild. I never met anyone who owned a DT that could get more than 5,000K on a piston.
Back in a day though, it was either the DT, a Vespa or a Sanyang. I rode all three, hated them all, and finally shelled out the cash for a spanking new RZR in 1990. Best move for 2-wheel transportation I ever made in Taiwan.
The “cool” factor and tall frame made the DT attractive for many Lau-wai’s, but the DT was at best a pretty poor performer for daily transportion. I know many people who will disagree heartily with what I’ve just written, but seriously, think back to when you owned one…Especially trying to start it on a rainy winter day.
The DT piston was of so-so quality, but the cylinder bore was really soft. You’d see more wear on the cylinder sleeve than the piston skirt or rings, mostly because the porting was really mild. So, when they only had about 4 overbore pistons available, and then two big-bore sizes, you could easily consign your cylinder to the scrapheap in 30,000km, most of which was spent running in new pistons :fume:. A new cylinder was really expensive then, and of course unobtainium now.
I didn’t have too much trouble with the fork seals on any of mine. I think I replaced them once. The swingarm bushes died young, but they were easy to replace if you caught them before the bearing sleeve was worn too. The brakes were indeed absolutely atrocious! 
The stock suspension isn’t any better either. My trick for wet weather was to tape up the top four slots in the front mudguard, and wrap the coil in a plastic bag (remember to pull a ground wire somewhere). They go through spark plugs very quickly, so usually a wet start problem would the first sign it needed a new one.
I gave up on them eventually and went to a Wangpai, then an NSR, then a 750 Virago. Because I missed an off-roader I built one out of suspension and chassis parts from YZ125s of 80s vintage, an RZR motor and ignition, NSR brakes, IT175 pipe, MX knoblies, Keihin carb and some DT leftovers. So I got the best of both worlds 
It doesn’t make too much smoke (like a stock RZR) but it’s really freakin’ loud 
I’d love to see this… 
[quote=“Michael J Botti”]
I’d love to see this… [/quote]PM me your email address, and I’ll mail some.
I won’t be too surprised if two-strokes get outright banned someday soon (if they aren’t already). Just too difficult to meet the emissions requirements. I don’t suppose Taiwan has very stringent noise regulations, but if the EPA decides to crack down on that, two-strokes will have a problem with that too.
Actually, I haven’t seen any new two-strokes bikes for sale in the shops for some time now. Does anyone know if they’re banned?
There is already a new regulation in force in Taipei City concerning 2-strokes. I think it only covers bikes over 50cc, and I don’t think it’s an outright ban. Nobody has satisfactorily explained it to me yet, though, so I’m afraid I can’t give any more details.
Whatever regulations may eventually be put in force over the whole of Taiwan, I don’t imagine that there’ll be a ban on 2-strokes up to 50cc. Selling, maybe, but not using. There are just so many. I think the only 4-stroke 50s are the step-throughs.
[quote=“joesax”]There is already a new regulation in force in Taipei City concerning 2-strokes. I think it only covers bikes over 50cc, and I don’t think it’s an outright ban. Nobody has satisfactorily explained it to me yet, though, so I’m afraid I can’t give any more details.
Whatever regulations may eventually be put in force over the whole of Taiwan, I don’t imagine that there’ll be a ban on 2-strokes up to 50cc. Selling, maybe, but not using. There are just so many. I think the only 4-stroke 50s are the step-throughs.[/quote]There aren’t going to be any ‘clunker laws’, you’d have a revolt on your hands. Older vehicles only have to pass the emissions regs that were in force when they were manufactured. Of course the new regs are so stringent (they’re based on CARB regs) that conventional 2-strokes cannot possibly pass. 4-stroke 50cc scooters are so gutless they do not sell. There were a few made, but no-one would buy them. Expect to see 50cc 2-strokes around for a while longer.
I am in the process of trying to buy my first proper motorbike and have seen a Yamaha RZR 135cc 2-stroke advertised for NT$14000. Would this be a stupid choice for a first bike, especially as I know less than most about mechanical things?
Butcher Boy, this RZR could be fun for a while but I think it wouldn’t be long before you’d be having to fix a number of things. That would be difficult as new parts are no longer available and good secondhand ones extremely difficult to come by. I think that in the end your experience would be a frustrating one.
Do you really need a ‘real’ motorbike? 14,000NT won’t get you much, at least not much that won’t require time and money to fix up to a decent level.
I can attest to the fact that Jeremy at Bike Farm can do wonders to an older RZR. It might double the bike’s price, though. Also, I don’t know if this is a good starter bike for Taiwan (if that is the case; I don’t know).
joesax, poagao
thanks for the advice. I think you are right, so I will keep looking. When I say ‘proper motorbike’ I basically mean not a scooter. I live out in the countryside and commute into the city and have had enough of bouncing around on scooters. I just figured bigger wheels might be nicer and more comfortable. Now would also be a good time to learn how to use a motorbike, which I probably wouldn’t do when I go back to blighty. BTW NT$14000 isn’t my budget, just what was advertised. However I don’t want to spend a huge amount (ie majesties etc are a little out of my price range).
Thanks again
BB