OK, OK! I have been called out!
The Chang Jian is one of the best looking old motorcycles I have ever seen. Looks like it rolled right out of the 1930s. Based on the BMW R71 military bike with sidecar.
A flathead, sidevalve 750cc engine pumping out a rocking 22 horsepower. Top speed of about 60 mph, but you better not exceed 40 mph for long or the engine will overheat.
The military model carrried a machine gun mounted on the sidecar. It also could carry three people, two on the bike and one in the sidecar. Built to ALSO carry over 200 pounds payload. Battlefield workhorse.
The bikes, parts and tooling were sold to the Russians in the 1930s. The Russians opened a factory in Kiev manufacturing them as Dnepers and Urals.
The Russians upgraded to an overhead valve model and sold the flathead bikes parts, tools, manufacturing equipment to the Chinese who began making "Chang Jiang" meaning "Long River" named after the longest river in China.
Still making them. Apparently there are a huge number of these still in China. Used by police and the People's Liberation Army, the PLA. They tell me that many parts ordered from China will have a saying by Mao enclosed, kind of like a fortune cookie.
Changs/Urals/Dnepers are being imported as "kit bikes" for $3000 up, new. However there are many horror stories about very poor quality parts, bad assemblies, welds that come loose, trash in the engines and gas tanks.
Sometimes it is a nightmare getting these kit bikes registered and meeting US qualifications.
But back to the Chang I have.
Pro --- it looks fantastic! Like it rolled off a showroom floor in the 1930s. Parts are comparatively (to a BMW) cheap. You can get a whole new engine and tranny for about $1,000 USD. New carbs are about $90 per set. Online manuals are easily availaible.
Ride this sucker anywhere and it is an absloute show stopper! I had a sidecar on my BMW many years ago when I was single and was amazed by the number of women who wanted a ride. Many more than a solo bike.
Since the Chang will carry a sidecar passenger and someone on the passenger seat, it would be good for "threesomes" or "get some on the side!"
My wife loves the sidecar and any time I start the Chang, my two spaniels run and jump in the sidecar. When we ride, Anne holds them by their collars so they don't jump or fall out.
The technology is so damn simple that you can easily work on it and you will have to keep tinkering to keep it running. These are NOWHERE near Japanese quality, well maybe Japanese quality when it was really BAD.
Anyone remember when "Made in Japan" was a super put down? Like before the 1970s when they changed and began beating the crap out of us with better copiers than Xerox?
On the "con" side, while parts are cheap, many parts according to Chang forums, are nearly worthless junk. Chang forums are full of "your parts are crap, mine are the best." Changs are certainly nowhere near BMW quality. Most parts dealers are located in China so pre-inspection of the parts is not an option.
Even with quality issues aside, they are not built for modern American streets. with 22 hp (the overhead valve models only have 32 hp), you will not keep up with traffic and with a cruising speed of no more than 40 mph you will never get on an expressway unless you want a mechanical enema!
Even if you could get over 40 mph cruising speed. and downhill with a tailwind you might get it up to 60 mph, the brakes are a joke, it just plain won't stop. This is not a matter of better brake shoes, the size of the brakes is waaaaay too small. A rolling deathtrap.
Hard to start and concerns about getting quality parts and reliability even then are giving me second thoughts. SO.
I am beginning the project of restoring my 1959 BMW R69. I have a line on a 1958 Steib sidecar that needs some restoration also. This would give me horsepower, brakes, reliability (better than Chang/Ural/Dneper) and almost the looks of the Chang. About everything but that marvelous looking flathead engine.
And I really love my old BMW. Have had it for about 40 years. Have not even tried to start it since 1985. Man, how time passes!
But, I pulled the plugs and kicked it over. Turns nicely. Have removed the tank, exhaust system and seat. Beginning a frame-off restoration. Should have it ready by spring 2006, maybe sooner.
Satori, I can not recommend the Chang. If you really want a Ural or Dneper I strongly suggest that you do not get a kit bike. This is one of the rare occaisions when something used is better than new. Get a bike with a few thousand miles on it at least so that the originally defective parts and loose bolts will have to have been fixed. And from what I read, there WILL be defective parts on a new kit bike.
If I did not have the BMW, I would be looking at a 650cc Ural. (I have heard that there is something wrong with the 800cc engines). You can get them with electric start and a reverse gear, good for sidecars. Also have a two wheel drive so that the sidecar drives as well.
Am thinking about mounting a Lantaka cannon on the Chang since I don't have a machine gun...... will post pictures soon.
