Review and technical characteristics of stels gt 400

Enduro in Chinese

The most popular cubic capacity in this class is 250 cubic meters.
see, since 125 “cubes” are not much cheaper, and they don’t ride as fun, even if a bike with such an engine wins in some ways due to its lower mass. But 400cc enduros are usually much heavier, which is an important factor when riding off-road, especially if the rider is not very strong and does not have long legs. But the Stealth 400 Enduro motorcycle relies on power, albeit sacrificing a bit of ease of control. Bikes of this class are used in harsh conditions, often falling and often plunging into the mud up to the cylinders, so the main criterion for them is reliability, which is directly related to the simplicity of the design. It’s not for nothing that many motorcyclists value old and technically primitive models like the Suzuki DR 250 and Honda XR 400 much - their unprecedented reliability and the ability to be repaired “on the knee” have made them the favorites of domestic off-road conquerors. When designing the Stels Enduro 400, the technical characteristics of which are close to those of the 400 cc Japanese competitors, the Chinese followed the same path - they offered the public a simple and unpretentious motorcycle, in terms of technical equipment, which is approximately on the same level as Japanese bikes of the same class, but 20 years ago .

Stels 400 Enduro: we're not afraid of off-roading!

It must be admitted that the designers from the Middle Kingdom have come up with a good bike that perfectly suits its purpose. Simple as a brick, it is assembled from the simplest possible components, diligently copied from old Japanese motorcycles. And in the case of the Stels 400 Enduro, this is only a plus - there is practically nothing to break in it, and direct hands eliminate minor assembly flaws in a couple of days.

In the steel tubular frame of the Stealth 400 Enduro motorcycle, the Chinese placed a 1-cylinder 386 cc air-cooled engine , which, by the way, is very high-torque. Peak power ( 19 hp ) occurs at 7000 rpm , and peak torque ( 20 Nm ) occurs at 5500 rpm . Considering the off-road nature of the bike, this is quite good. There are traditionally five gears, and fuel is supplied by a carburetor, and the Stealth 400 Enduro engine is “tailored” for AI-92 . The first 3 gears are quite short, and the gearbox works clearly, not at all as some expect from a Chinese bike.

It is worth noting that for motorcycles of this class 400 cc. cm - already quite a serious volume. The 650 cc models, represented mainly by the seasoned Japanese, are much heavier and are not easy to handle, especially somewhere in the mud. Many enduro fans consider 400cc as the golden mean in the matter of choosing a cubic capacity, and the logic in this decision can be traced. Stels 400 Enduro is a fairly light motorcycle ( only 132 kg ), albeit with a high center of gravity. However, any beginner can cope with it, especially if he does not try to set records for conquering off-road terrain in the very first days.

The bike handles well, both on and off the pavement. Beginning motorcyclists should pay attention to the significant saddle height, and even better, try the bike on before purchasing. In reviews of Stealth 400 Enduro owners, there is information that a high saddle creates certain inconveniences for short bikers, especially off-road. This can be easily understood by anyone who has dropped a motorcycle due to the fact that his legs did not reach the ground confidently enough. On the other hand, for any more or less experienced biker this parameter is not critical. There are also fragile, short girls who can easily cope with heavy Harley-Davidsons thanks to their experience, and experience is a gain .

It should be noted that the technical characteristics of the Stels 400 Enduro turn it into a good “rogue”, capable of driving even where a prepared SUV gets stuck. On the highway, you can feel the lack of dynamics, especially after 80-90 km/h, although the motorcycle slowly but surely picks up 130 km/h But let's not forget that asphalt is not his element .

Engine Stels 400 Enduro

The Chinese do not very often equip enduro equipment with such engines, often using half the cubic capacity. But the design of the Stealth 400 power unit cannot fail to impress: 4 valves, 4 strokes, liquid cooling. Add to this the 6-speed gearbox to get the full picture of the bike's capabilities.

Upon visual inspection, it immediately becomes noticeable that the dimensions of the engine are quite compact; you can’t even believe that it holds 400 cubic meters. This is due to the short stroke of the T-shaped piston and minimal clearances between the balancer and crankshaft. This is how the manufacturer took care of compactness.

For someone who decides to disassemble the engine, the following may be an unpleasant surprise: a plastic tensioner and a plastic thermostat in the head.

The carburetor, by modern standards, is quite modest, and therefore the unit with a 30-horsepower engine produces rather mediocre dynamics. True, the manufacturer announced some modernization. But the motor is perfectly balanced, so there is practically no vibration.

The gears are long, but the absence of a tachometer is noticeable, especially at first. Owners note that the neutral switching mechanism is very convenient.

Pros and cons of Stels 400 Enduro

Advantages

• Very attractive combination of price and technical characteristics
• General reliability and ease of maintenance
• Availability of spare parts from a number of dealers, and at affordable prices
• Economy and fuel consumption within 4l/100 km (when driving on asphalt; off-road driving causes the gas tank to empty very quickly)
• Simplicity of design, thanks to which you can service and repair the Stealth 400 Enduro in the garage on your own using an inexpensive set of tools
• Quite modest weight for a 400 cc enduro
• Grippy disc brakes with 2-piston calipers on both wheels
• High-torque motor that easily pulls the motorcycle out of the mud
• Sufficiently energy-intensive suspensions, with an inverted fork installed at the front
• Flexible plastic that can survive a fall

Flaws

• Small gas tank with a volume of only 9 liters
• Weak light from the headlight (partially corrected by replacing the light bulb in the headlight with a more powerful one)
• Hard and uncomfortable seat
• The bike is too small for two people
• There are minor assembly defects such as loose nuts and carelessly insulated wires (correctable on your own)

Pros and cons of the model

The advantages of stels 400 gt include the following parameters:

• Good engine power.
• Great cross-country ability.
• Impressive dynamics.
• Relatively small weight and dimensions.
• Fuel tank capacity.
• Excellent appearance.
• Low cost justified by the build quality.

Despite the amazing technical characteristics of the stealth 400 gt, the model also has disadvantages, including:

• Lack of crankcase protection.
• In some cases, tire replacement is required.
• The motorcycle has great similarities with Chinese technology.
• There is no tachometer.

If you, as a novice motorcyclist, are faced with a rather difficult question: “Should I choose the old but reliable Honda CB400 or give preference to the new budget equipment from Stels?”, then you should take into account the pros and cons of both motorcycles, the availability of spare parts and technical characteristics.

Similar models

Honda XR 400. A long-discontinued model that still enjoys well-deserved popularity. Simple, reliable and durable, it has, perhaps, only one serious drawback - the advanced age of most specimens.

Suzuki DR-Z400. Produced in “enduro” (DR-Z400) and “motard” (DR-400SM) versions, this bike was once intended to compete with the aforementioned Honda. In terms of technical characteristics, it is almost no different from it.

Yamaha WR 400. Perhaps the most “off-road” bike of all those listed here. It also has its weaknesses, but in the hands of an experienced motorcyclist it is capable of very impressive feats.

Reviews from Stels 400 Enduro owners

• The bike is so-so overall, but for its price you can’t buy a Japanese one, even a damaged one, so there was no question of choice. It doesn’t fall apart on the go, doesn’t lose spare parts, but it does require attention periodically for small things. The standard tires are rubbish, the headlight shines like a Chinese lantern. The engine is torquey, the transmission is clear, the brakes are normal. Sergey, Syktyvkar, Stels 400 Enduro '2011
• There are no complaints about the quality of the motorcycle itself; I can’t say anything about the build quality, since I bought the bike second-hand with a mileage of 12,000 km. It drives briskly, tosses and turns easily, and rushes off-road like a tank. There were no breakdowns (the mileage is now 26,000 km and growing). Among the design flaws is the short front fender, the engine gets covered in mud, and I would like a larger gas tank, especially since there is no fuel level sensor. Dmitry, Orel, Stels 400 Enduro '2013
• An excellent motorcycle for the money, I don’t understand why it was discontinued. It's good that there are spare parts in stores. Although they don’t seem to be needed, the moped doesn’t break down, and you can pick up consumables from other Chinese if you want. It eats and rushes vigorously, both in the city and in the countryside – it’s a pleasure. Marat, Pushkino, Stels 400 Enduro '2014

Owner reviews

Speaking about the opinions of those who managed to test this motorcycle, it makes sense to start with the packaging. If you order the Stels 400 Enduro through the official dealer network, you will receive your purchase in a wooden frame. But many people complain about the reliability of the fasteners. Be prepared to find a cracked mirror or dented fender immediately after purchase.

Many complain about an insufficiently developed network and weak after-sales support. It’s easier to personally go to China for some spare parts than to find them for sale in the Russian Federation. Luckily, many parts from Honda and KTM also fit the Stels 400 Enduro.

Reviews often mention an integrated lock, which can be used to protect the bike from theft or to fasten a helmet.

The maximum speed of the motorcycle is relatively low, only 120 km/h. But for bikes of this class, greater acceleration is not required.

Pay due attention to running in the engine after purchase. If you do not take this process responsibly enough, you risk having a lot of problems.

Summary

You shouldn’t expect anything supernatural from the Stealth 400 Enduro, and then it won’t disappoint. This motorcycle is a vivid example of the embodiment of the “price/quality” . It is undoubtedly worth the money, which again becomes the cause of debate on the Internet on the topic “new Chinese or old Japanese.” The truth, as always, is somewhere in the middle.

Specifications