Until recently, Asian off-road motorcycles were an inexpensive and not always high-quality country toy for most users. The financial passions raging in the country have forced many lovers of two-wheeled SUVs to look at Chinese technology through the prism of a completely “adult”, full-fledged use. With all the traditional Chinese diversity, the choice of motorcycles that are more or less suitable for serious use is not so great. Among the brands represented on the Russian market we can note Racer, BSE, Irbis and our guest today - the best-selling model on the Russian market Kayo T4.
Simplicity of design
It would seem that outwardly the T4 is practically no different from its colleagues in the East Asian workshop. But upon closer examination, it turns out that the difference between the usual Chinese two-wheeled products by name and this motorcycle is simply huge. Let's start with the fact that the T4 is manufactured by the largest Chinese company Jinyun Kayo Motor Machinery Co. Ltd., which has been manufacturing motorcycles since 1999. Its technological assets include 25 models and more than 30,000 motorcycle units produced per year, the quality of which compares favorably with most Asian classmates. Although the T4 has the most ordinary duplex frame made of steel pipes and a simple Zongshen ZS 250 engine with a volume of 250 cm3 and air-cooling with a POWER of 20.4 liters. With. The gearbox is five-speed, with the usual motorcycle shift algorithm (first down, the rest up). The power system is equipped with a reliable and simple Japanese Mikuni carburetor, which ensures reliable engine starting in almost any conditions. The motorcycle has fully functional disc brakes and, unlike many other “Asians,” an aluminum rear swingarm with a lever system to ensure progressive performance. As on the “top” TB model, the damping system uses shock absorbers from the Taiwanese company Fast Ace. The front fork has a feather diameter of 43 mm and a stroke of 245 mm; the rear gas-oil monoshock absorber has a remote reservoir and a working stroke of 100 mm. In general, no technical innovations or progressive engineering solutions. The motorcycle also does not shine with outstanding driving characteristics. The power of the puny “air” is barely enough for relatively full-fledged off-road driving. For more or less adequate acceleration, you have to actively work with the gear lever, and if in the lower speed range the power plant somehow copes with its responsibilities, then at the “tops” it falls into a lethargic sleep. Fast Ace suspensions, despite their widely advertised characteristics, are characterized by excessive rigidity. Overhauling them and changing the oil help a little, but these procedures are not a panacea for the teeth-crushing and “arm-twisting” reactions of the suspension to obstacles encountered under the wheels.
Kayo T4 - a reliable and budget enduro motorcycle originally from China
Until recently, Asian off-road motorcycles were an inexpensive and not always high-quality country toy for most users.
The financial passions raging in the country have forced many lovers of two-wheeled SUVs to look at Chinese technology through the prism of a completely “adult”, full-fledged use. With all the traditional Chinese diversity, the choice of motorcycles that are more or less suitable for serious use is not so great. Among the brands represented on the Russian market, we can note Racer, BSE, Irbis and our guest today - the best-selling model on the Russian market, Kayo T4.
CONSTRUCTION SIMPLICITY
It would seem that outwardly the T4 is practically no different from its colleagues in the East Asian workshop. But upon closer examination, it turns out that the difference between the usual Chinese two-wheeled no name products and this motorcycle is simply huge. Let's start with the fact that the T4 is manufactured by the largest Chinese company Jinyun Kayo Motor Machinery Co. Ltd., which has been manufacturing motorcycles since 1999. Its technological assets include 25 models and more than 30,000 motorcycle units produced per year, the quality of which compares favorably with most Asian classmates. Although the T4 has the most ordinary duplex frame made of steel pipes and a simple Zongshen ZS 250 250 cc engine. cm air-cooled with a capacity of 20.4 l. With.
The gearbox is five-speed, with the usual motorcycle shift algorithm (first down, the rest up). The power system is equipped with a reliable and simple Japanese Mikuni carburetor, which ensures reliable engine starting in almost any conditions. The motorcycle has fully functional disc brakes and, unlike many other “Asians,” an aluminum rear swingarm with a lever system to ensure progressive performance. As on the “top” T6 model, the damping system uses shock absorbers from the Taiwanese company Fast Ace. The front fork has a stay diameter of 43 mm and a stroke of 245 mm, the rear gas-oil monoshock absorber has a remote reservoir and a working stroke of 100 mm. In general, no technical innovations or progressive engineering solutions.
The motorcycle also does not shine with outstanding driving characteristics. The power of the puny “air” is barely enough for relatively full-fledged off-road driving. For more or less adequate acceleration, you have to actively work with the gear lever, and if in the lower speed range the power plant somehow copes with its responsibilities, then at the “tops” it falls into a lethargic sleep. Fast Ace suspensions, despite their widely advertised characteristics, are excessively stiff. Overhauling them and changing the oil help a little, but these procedures are not a panacea for the teeth-crushing and “arm-twisting” reactions of the suspension to obstacles encountered under the wheels.
SIMPLE TRUTHS
So what is the charm of this generally very commonplace motorcycle? Oddly enough, first of all in reliability! Yes, yes, you heard right, it’s reliability! During long-term summer testing, the Kayo T4, as a journalistic experiment, drove several stages of the most popular amateur Russian cross-country race and was then used as a training tool to teach the basics of hard enduro. And during all the savage testing, absolutely no serious problems happened to the motorcycle. Broken brake and clutch levers, cracked plastic and worn-out tires, of course, don’t count. Interestingly, the phenomenal survivability of this model has led to increased demand for it among various off-road motorcycle schools. It was as a study desk for beginners that the T4 came in handy. The second positive factor was its price. Despite the fall in the ruble exchange rate and the tightening of customs rules, the motorcycle is quite inexpensive, especially compared to its branded off-road colleagues. Moreover, old versions of T4 are still found in showrooms at anti-crisis prices.
Of course, the Kayo T4 is unlikely to be a replacement for a full-fledged, real sports motorcycle, but its potential is quite enough for forest trail rides and amateur enduro. Having spent his hard-earned money, the owner receives a very reliable and time-tested off-road motorcycle, also equipped with an electric starter. And if the laurels of world enduro and motocross stars do not appeal to you, it can be an excellent choice in the segment of budget motorcycle SUVs.
We thank the RollingMoto motorcycle dealership for the provided motorcycle.
Simple truths
So what is the charm of this generally very commonplace motorcycle? Oddly enough, first of all in reliability! Yes, yes, you heard right, it’s reliability! During long-term summer testing, Kayo T4, as a journalistic experiment, drove several stages of the most popular amateur Russian cross-country race and was then used as a training tool to teach the basics of hard enduro. And during all the savage testing, absolutely no serious problems happened to the motorcycle. Broken brake and clutch levers, cracked plastic and worn-out tires, of course, don’t count. Interestingly, the phenomenal survivability of this model has led to increased demand for it among various off-road motorcycle schools. It was as a study desk for beginners that the T4 came in handy. The second positive factor was its price. Despite the fall in the ruble exchange rate and the tightening of customs rules, the motorcycle is quite inexpensive, especially compared to its branded off-road colleagues. Moreover, old versions of T4 are still found in showrooms at anti-crisis prices. Of course, Kayo T4 is unlikely to be a replacement for a full-fledged, real sports motorcycle, but its potential is quite enough for trail forest walks and amateur enduro. Having spent his hard-earned money, the owner receives a very reliable and time-tested off-road motorcycle, also equipped with an electric starter. And if the laurels of world enduro and motocross stars do not appeal to you, it can be an excellent choice in the segment of budget motorcycle SUVs.
- The Fast Ace front suspensions are equipped with compression and rebound adjustments - just like “adults”.
- The 21-inch front tire is the most common format for off-road tires.
- An hour gauge for an off-road motorcycle is a must-have. Otherwise, it is very difficult to track service intervals.
- The Zongshen ZS 250 engine has established itself as a very reliable and unpretentious unit.
- The rear wheel is a classic “endurope” size - 18 inches.
- Air filter maintenance: the foam element is impregnated with special oil and stretched onto a plastic frame.
Motocross motorcycle KAYO T4 ENDURO 21/18 (2015)
Review of the KAYO T4 motocross motorcycle
We present to your attention the K4 model. The KAYO T4 motorcycle is equipped with a 1-cylinder four-stroke ZC engine with a volume of 250 cm3, water-cooled and a power of 16 hp. Cylinder compression ratio: 9.6:1. The cylinder diameter reaches 6.55 cm and the piston stroke is 6.62 cm.
The starting system of the “KAYO” T4 is an electric starter and a kickstarter. It also features CDI electronic ignition. The T4, like the T6, has a plunger carburetor with a diameter of 30 mm. The frame of the KAYO T6 motorcycle is made of high-strength steel pipe. The T6 is equipped with a 5-speed manual transmission and a multi-plate wet clutch. According to these indicators, T4 is in no way inferior to its older brother T6.
The KAYO T4 has a modern variable-section alloy steering wheel. The 520th KMS chain serves as the drive. Fuel tank volume – 4 l. It is intended for AI-92 gasoline and higher. A fully equipped KAYO T4 motorcycle weighs 180 kg, which is 13 kg lighter than the T6, but the carrying capacity of the KAYO T4 has not decreased and is 75 kg.
The suspensions here are slightly smaller than those of the T6 model, but also have double adjustments for both compression and rebound. The front shock absorbers in the KAYO T4 use an inverted adjustable telescopic fork with a blade diameter of 43 mm.
The wheels in the T4 are also cross-country, aluminum, equipped with additional brake shoes. The front brake of the “KAYO” T4 is disc with a diameter of 270 mm, hydraulic. The rear brake is equipped with a disc with a diameter of 240 mm. The control is also hydraulic. Cross alloy hubs with a diameter of 21" and 18" respectively. Self-cleaning discs. There is an hour meter. The front tire for “KAYO” T4 is 80 / 100 - R21, the rear tire is 100 / 90 - R18. Everything is similar to the T6 model.
The overall dimensions of the KAYO T4 motorcycle are slightly different than those of the T6: 2030x830x1205 mm. Its wheelbase reaches 136 cm. Plus, this motorcycle can be considered as a touring motorcycle. It has a slightly longer gear and is more suitable for indoor reels than for cross-country reels. Has shoulders and headlight for night driving.
Comparative review of KAYO cross-country motorcycles. Models T2, T4, T6
First, let's consider the validity of conducting the comparative review itself. Is a review of KAYO motorcycles needed at all, and if so, who needs it? This review is intended to help people taking their first steps in the world of motocross to choose the motorcycle model that will fully meet the capabilities and needs of the rider.
After analyzing our comparative review, a person will be able to consciously choose one or another model. Why should a person overpay for those functions of a motorcycle that are fundamentally not important to him? But it is quite possible that after our review, a novice athlete will think about purchasing a more expensive, but also more reliable, model.
So, we present 250 cm3 enduro-cross motorcycles. All models are intended primarily for sports use. All models are equipped with full suspensions. Different suspension configurations for T2, T4 and T6. Accordingly, the suspensions have been improved in ascending order.
The engines on models T2 and T4 are the same (250 cm3, air-cooled, 5-speed gearbox). The T6 model has a water-cooled engine and a 5-speed gearbox.
The main differences between the T2 and T4 models are the equipment. The T2 has cheaper suspensions, the steering wheel, wheels, and rear swingarm are made of steel. On the T4, the equipment is already more expensive: aluminum wheels and pendulum, suspension from the famous Tallinn company Best Ice.
Well, the top model T6 with a water-cooled engine, suspension from the same company Best Ice, but of higher quality, an aluminum swingarm and cross-country wheels.
