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SDG Relieablity

1K views 6 replies 7 participants last post by  04yfzkid  
#1 ·
Can some one help me?



im thinking of picking up an sdg 107 but i dont know how reliable the frame and motor are if some one could help me out?



Thanks Tyler
 
#3 ·
Tlong80 said:
Can some one help me?



im thinking of picking up an sdg 107 but i dont know how reliable the frame and motor are if some one could help me out?



Thanks Tyler


I had an 2005 sdg and broke the frame in about 20min; on A really easy track no jumps were real big; I weigh 160; same day my friend broke one to he weigh's about 140 or 145; called sdg and they told me they would sell me A better frame; not replace my frame sell me A better one; the frame I had was suppost to be the good one I thought. So that's my history with sdg. Plus there is an shifting problem also.
 
#4 ·
Early motors had a flawed counter shaft and crankcase half design that led to transmission failure very early on in most bikes. The fix kit and later motors corrected that flaw, and are about as reliable as any other Lifan 120 / 125 ilk motor (same bottom end, just a shorter stroke setup.). Occasionally you will see an early motor that holds up just fine with the flawed setup, but it's pretty rare. Any repair that does not include an updated crankcase half and counter shaft is going to fail in short order in the same way, so verify what was done if a seller mentions they fixed the tranny.



There are a few ways of dealing with shifting problems if you do experience the dreaded false neutral issue. SDG has a shift star update kit that I'm using in my Pro Mini with good luck so far, or Dr ATV offers an all up shift drum conversion kit.



The motor is a bit tough to build at the moment, because of the 3v head. Cams are available, but bore kits are hard to find. You can drop a Lifan big valve head on however as the stud spacing is the same, which will allow you to take advantage of 54m and 56mm pistons with ease.



Supposedly the later frames are made from better grade metal, and gussetted better, but I don't know when those changes went into effect.
 
#5 ·
I have a 3nd gen SDG, the 1st gen had 2 cap screws on the lower bottom triple clamp, 2nd has 3... I had to do the tranny upgrade with the case half, shift star, detent arm, and kick start gear...



The orig fram would bend behind under the gas tank where the "short gusset" ended. The new frame has a long gusset that overlaps the underside bracing thus eliminating the fulcrum effect. You can tell if it is a newer frame by looking at the chain tentioner, the old ones had a spring loaded bheel on doggie arm, new ones are hard mounted...



I've done all the upgrades and now it runs great!



So as Kurlon stated, find out how new it is, and/or if the problems have been taken care of...

I still have mine and I'm gonna keep it only because of all the $$$ and work it took to get it where it is now.



My SDG is pretty fast, I've pulled a few holeshots with it and ride the snot out of it and it is pretty bullet proof now!



But I still wish I would have bought a HONDA!!!!
 
#7 ·
My sdg held up good. I got rid of the motor because I felt like but just after I did the stock sdg motor's tranny broke. It was just a starting gear. I have cased my sdg and landed on the back tire so hard it blew up the tube, but I think a little spoke popped through. It has held up excelent and I beat it hard but do not abuse it.