Stels 400 Cruiser: characteristics, service, reviews

Chinese designers, accustomed to blindly copying the solutions of their more successful Western colleagues, sometimes produce surprisingly decent motorcycles like the Stels 400 Cruiser. The motorcycle turned out to be truly successful, perhaps precisely due to the fact that this time the engineers from the Middle Kingdom decided not to make their own changes to the sample they already had, and almost completely copied the Yamaha XV400 Virago, proudly calling their creation “Stealth 400 Cruiser” . The bike is produced in the Middle Kingdom, but in Russia only large-unit assembly is carried out. And, looking ahead, we note that the Stels 400 Cruiser motorcycle can cause a real break in the pattern for a biker full of stereotypical beliefs like “everything Chinese is bad,” because this bike is really good, and also inexpensive.

Technical characteristics of Stels 400 Cruiser

However, experienced motorcyclists are not confused by the sparkle of chrome; they are interested in finding out what is hidden inside! And this is a very interesting question, because, judging by the information provided by the manufacturer, the Stealth 400 Cruiser is inferior in power to the original Japanese Viraga. But where did the horsepower and Newton meters go if the engine was copied without any changes at all? It's simple - the Chinese indicate an underestimated power on paper in order to simplify the bureaucracy and save on taxes. For example, Stels 400GT is also much more powerful than stated. So there is no need to worry, the technical characteristics of the Stels 400 Cruiser correspond to the original ones.

So, the stated power of the air-cooled V-twin is 30 hp. , but in practice the Stealth 400 Cruiser has as many as 40 “horses” , and from 0 to 100 km/h it accelerates in about 6 seconds , which is very, very good. The maximum speed is 140 km/h , but you should be careful, since this motorcycle does not have an automatic rev limiter (but it does have a tachometer), and there is a risk of killing the engine if you constantly keep the speed in the red zone. The gearbox is standard, 5-speed , and torque is transmitted to the drive wheel by a cardan , and not by a chain, as on most other 400s. At the same time, the Stels 400 Cruiser motorcycle weighs less than 160 kg , and thanks to the center of mass shifted downwards, it subjectively seems quite light. The handling has its own nuances - the bike’s wheelbase is short and the rear wheel is narrow, so it maneuvers well at almost any speed, but directional stability leaves much to be desired.

The gas tank of the Stealth 400 Cruiser holds about 13 liters of fuel (the manufacturer recommends using AI-92). This reserve is easily enough for 300 km , taking into account consumption not exceeding 5-6 liters even with aggressive driving. On the highway, if you calmly roll at 110 km/h, the consumption is completely within 4 liters. As they say, whoever understands life chooses a chopper, so what's the rush? Moreover, the brakes of the Stels 400 Cruiser are rather mediocre, with a single disc and 2-piston caliper on the front wheel and a drum brake on the rear.

The Stels 400 Cruiser motorcycle is the fruit of Russian-Chinese cooperation. Like other Stels products, it is assembled in Russia from Chinese spare parts. Well, if we dig a little deeper, we will see that this bike is an almost complete copy of the Yamaha XV 400 Virago. True, a copy in the good sense of the word - the hardworking Chinese carefully copied the once mega-popular Japanese chopper down to the last screw. A serious bid for victory, in fact, due to the fact that the original was discontinued in Japan back in 1996. By the way, previously the same motorcycle, but purely Chinese assembled, was sold in Russia under the name Lifan LF400. After changing the assembly location, it also changed its name.

Being a copy and ideological successor of the Yamaha Virago, the Stels 400 Cruiser adopted its main advantages from it, namely, good technical characteristics for a 400 cc chopper. The air-cooled V-engine produces 30 hp. “Viraga” produced 40 hp, but there is an opinion that the number “30” is indicated in the Stels 400 Cruiser title due to the peculiarities of Chinese tax legislation. The motorcycle really quickly picks up speed, the maximum speed of which is 140 kilometers per hour. The Stels 400 Cruiser accelerates from 0 to 100 km/h in about 6 seconds, which is an excellent indicator for a cruiser of this size. However, for this we probably have to thank the Japanese engineers who designed this motorcycle several decades ago.

Another distinctive feature of the Stels 400 Cruiser is the cardan drive, which was also transferred to it from the Viraga. On small motorcycles, the chain predominates, and of the old Japanese 400 cc choppers, only the Yamaha Virago and Suzuki Intuder can boast of a simple and reliable cardan. Other Chinese choppers, for example, the BM 200 Classic, have a traditional chain drive. And on other Chinese cruisers, there is also a chain everywhere and only a chain - Johnny Pag, Regal Raptor, OMAKS Chopper...

The motorcycle handles like a solid “A” - again we kindly remember the Japanese roots of the Stels 400 Cruiser. Yamaha Virago has always been famous for its excellent handling. The gearbox works smoothly and without any complaints. The suspension is at the level of Japanese motorcycle construction in the mid-80s, that is, comparable to a medieval carriage. This, however, is true for all older motorcycles. The brakes are also exactly what you'd expect to see on a bike like this - a drum brake on the rear wheel and a single disc brake on the front. As for gasoline consumption, it is approximately three and a half liters of AI-92 per hundred kilometers, which allows this motorcycle to travel almost three hundred kilometers on one tank without refueling.

The vast majority of consumables and spare parts for the Stealth come from its ancestor, Viraga, and for everything else there is an official dealer. Of course, there are some problems - on one of the forums a story surfaced about the engine jamming within the first thousand kilometers, but in general the reviews about the Stels 400 Cruiser are positive. Perhaps due to the fact that the design designed by the Japanese cannot be spoiled either by Chinese components or Japanese assembly.

At the moment, you can buy a brand new Stels 400 Cruiser from official dealers for about 130 thousand rubles. A very good price for a new motorcycle, which, by the way, is under warranty. In addition, Japanese roots and positive reviews from owners allow us to hope that the stereotype about the low quality of Chinese equipment does not apply to this motorcycle.

Similar articles:

• Review of Lifan LF400
• Chinese choppers
• 400cc motorcycles
• How much does a new motorcycle cost?
• Keeway Supershadow Review
• Yamaha Virago Review

LiveJournal

Pros and cons of Stealth 400 Cruiser

Advantages

• Very, very decent technical characteristics overall.
• Affordable price . A new Stealth 400 Cruiser costs less than most ancient Japanese 400s.
• Compatible with original Yamaha motorcycle. Most of the spare parts are suitable for the second generation 400 cc Viraga.
• Confident acceleration dynamics and powerful low-end traction.
• General survivability and unpretentiousness . On this bike you can safely go on the longest journey.

Flaws

• of small parts like cables or light bulbs is not always high To avoid problems in the future, it is advisable to replace them with original Japanese ones.
• A peculiar landing . The Stealth 400 Cruiser, like its prototype, is a kind of hybrid of a classic road bike and a chopper. From the first he got the fit, and from the second - the appearance. And lovers of choppers usually don’t really like driving with their legs in the “under themselves” position.
• An archaic braking system that migrated to the motorcycle straight from the 80s of the last century.
• No maximum engine speed limiter.

Reviews from Stels 400 Cruiser owners

Stylish iron motorcycle, a real chopper, a minimum of plastic, high-quality chrome. If you put a Yamaha sticker or nameplate on the tank instead of the Stealth, no one will be able to tell the difference from the Japanese)) It takes off vigorously, and in the city it moves away from traffic lights freely from cars. You can take a passenger on board, but there is not enough space for a second number; you have to lift your legs. Andrey, Moscow, Stels 400 Cruiser '2012.

I don’t know, maybe I was just unlucky, but after buying a new motorcycle, my engine died after 700-odd kilometers. The engine was replaced under warranty without any questions, but it took almost 3 months, half the season passed by. There were no more breakdowns, I drove it for three seasons and sold it, with the exception of the defect described above, the overall impression was good, there’s nothing else to complain about. Alexander, Tyumen, Stels 400 Cruiser '2011.

I spent a long time choosing a motorcycle with a friend, both were looking for their first motorcycle, I ended up taking the new Stealth, and he took the old Intruder. In the first season, I drove calmly all the time while he tinkered with the clutch, then the fork, then the gearbox, then something else. I can’t say anything about the resource, I skated it myself for two years, covered a little more than 25 thousand km, without any complaints at all. I don’t know what’s wrong with the motorcycle now, but while it was new, there were exactly zero problems with it, only maintenance. Denis, Vologda, Stels 400 Cruiser 2013.

Similar models

• Lifan LF400 . Twin brother of the Stealth, only made in China. Now it is no longer officially sold in Russia, but you can find used copies on the secondary market.
• Yamaha XV400 Virago. The same motorcycle from which the Stealth 400 Cruiser was copied.
• Honda Steed 400. A very popular Japanese chopper, inexpensive and proven by thousands of bikers. Like the Viraga, the Steed has long been out of production, but you can still find a well-preserved motorcycle.

Total

The Stealth 400 Cruiser can easily be called a worthy alternative to the old Japanese 400 cc choppers . Its main advantage, perhaps, is that the Chinese simply copied a successful model without introducing practically anything new, so the result was quite a Chinese-assembled Japanese motorcycle. It is inexpensive , and spare parts and tuning are suitable from the original Viraga. The Stels 400 Cruiser is a motorcycle that is free of the shortcomings typical of most Chinese motorcycles, and for its price it is really very good, as confirmed by numerous reviews from owners.

To buy or not to buy

With all its advantages, the Stels 400 Cruiser, according to reviews, has a low cost for a new motorcycle. It is only 130,000 rubles. This is the price for a new motorcycle, which is also under warranty. Of course, most people have the idea that everything Chinese is of poor quality. But is this really so?

If you go outside and look around, you can see a lot of Chinese cars. Although you don't have to go far. Almost everything that is in everyone's home, be it a ballpoint pen or a television, is made in China.

There are reviews from the owners of this motorcycle that, even though it had not traveled 700 km, the engine jammed. But, most likely, there are already claims against the owner of the chopper. With proper care and operation, such troubles do not happen.

The presented model, according to customer reviews, is of high quality at a fairly affordable price. This is a reliable motorcycle that can often be found on Russian roads today. High performance characteristics for a model of this class make it popular.

Still, most reviews are positive, so the Stels 400 Cruiser can be considered a worthy model. A motorcycle can take a place in the garage of a two-wheeled enthusiast who does not have a large budget for purchasing a vehicle.

Having examined the features of the new model of Russian-Chinese production, we can note its decent quality and reasonable cost. This explains the high demand for the Stealth motorcycle.

Video Review

Specifications

Gearbox and suspension

An important difference between the Stels 400 Cruiser and its counterparts is the presence of a driveshaft instead of a chain. As a result, increased reliability of the drive is determined, since the chain tends to stretch, especially under heavy loads. Quite often you have to completely change this part, which takes time and money.

The motorcycle is equipped with a fairly reliable five-speed gearbox. Shifts are smooth and precise, making it a pleasure to drive.

The front suspension is a telescopic fork, the rear suspension is a pendulum with two shock absorbers. Unfortunately, riding a motorcycle is a bit rough. But there is no time for excesses here. Still, the chopper belongs to the budget models.

The brakes are nothing unusual for this type of two-wheeled vehicle. There is a drum brake at the rear and one disc brake at the front. Since the maximum speed is only 140 km/h, the braking system copes with its tasks perfectly. But still, you should not neglect the rules of the road.

The motorcycle is easy and flexible to control. It can be used even in the tightest turns.