Chang Jiang F.A.Q.

Q: Are Chang Jiang 750 motorcycles (with or without sidecars) high maintenance?

A: YES, YES, YES, they are! Do not buy one if you live outside China and do not have the "know how", or do not enjoy tinkering with tools. Chang Jiang 750 sidecars require a basic understanding of engines and respect for old technology. If you are in China there are many places that can fix your bike cheaply, if you are in a western country you will definitely need to be able to your own maintenance, understand how motorcycles work, or it will end up costing you lots of money to keep a Chang running. If you do buy one, do note that they all have a bit of oil leaking and all require loving tender care, just like a girlfriend you would want to keep forever. A well built, and maintained Chang Jiang 750 sidecar will provide you endless fun and a poorly put together Chang Jiang 750 sidecar will be your worst nightmare. This is really a motorcycle for the enthusiast / tinkerer. If you are in Beijing, then you are in Chang Jiang 750 sidecar heaven. There are repair shops in every district, labor is cheap, there are many local clubs, and importantly you can use your Chang Jiang 750 sidecar as daily transportation with not much worry.

If you are outside China and buying one please consider the cost of labor and parts before making your purchase. Also be aware that many motorcycle shops in your area will not want to work on this bike. They will be afraid it will need parts they won't have, that it will require knowledge they don't have, etc. You may want to talk to your local motorcycle shops before ordering one to make sure you can find one that will be able to help you. See our listing of service shops near you as well as our Shop Manual which should have all the info they will need to fix your bike.

Make sure the bike dealer you buy your bike from has a good record for maintenance.

Q: What are the differences between an old Chang Jiang 750 and a new Chang Jiang 750?

Some of the older Chang Jiang 750 sidecars are made of a heavier metal and in some parts may also be made of thicker metal. Examples of this are new fenders and hinges, older fenders are thicker and heavier and the back fender use large hinges. There are even some old Chang Jiang 750 sidecar that have different frames sizes. In terms of performance, most of the parts are the similar so really depends on the part you get and importantly who puts it together. The Chang Jiang 750 sidecars and their parts vary somewhat on quality and variances due to the different times periods it was made. Many of the parts old or new require some small amount of work such to make it fit perfectly. Chang Jiang 750 sidecars are high maintenance motorcycles thus it requires some tolerance, patience and very regular maintenance to keep it in good running condition, new or old.

Many of the new Chang Jiang 750 sidecars, actually almost all are now being refurbished and put together from old and used Chang Jiang 750 sidecars. It is best to see the new Chang Jiang 750 before buying it unless you specifically know what you are getting and plan on customizing it.

Q: Are there many fake Chang Jiang 750 sidecar motorcycles and fake parts in China?

There are very few fake CJ 750 motorcycles or parts in China, but there are some poor quality real parts, and this is generally what people are referring to and thinking of when they say fake.

Also there are variances of how well parts fit because every production run is different and also there are different sizes of Chang Jiang 750 frames from different years. Many of the moldings for these parts are extremely old and worn so the parts that are produced are not exactly precision parts.

There may occasionally be fake parts on the market, but it is not common. The substandard and poorly made parts can often be made to fit and work properly with some effort and modification. Like in most developing countries where labor is cheap, and there is not much of a consumer warranty, the quality of products sold on the market varies greatly. It just depends on where you get your parts and Chang Jiang.

Also pertaining to the fake Chang Jiang 750 sidecars question, there are CJ 750s made with inferior parts, but there do not appear to be many (if any) fake CJ 750s.

Pertaining to fake parts, some dealers get there parts from Nan Chang and some from distributors in Beijing. In Beijing there are two main distributors of Chang Jiang 750 parts. All the dealers from time to time will get parts from them, or get them directly from dealers in Nan Chang. Most of the parts now are not made by the Chang Jiang factory, but put together by other manufacturers that use to OEM for the Chang Jiang factory. Those manufacturers will also sell the parts directly to the market. The Chang Jiang factory is no longer operating unless an extremely large order comes in. Even then they rely on outside OEM because they sold much of their moldings to pay off their debt. Chang Jiang 750 sidecars are very popular and there are hundreds of them in PLA storage and coming into the market all year round along with parts that have been in storage for many years.

Depending on where you get your Chang Jiang 750, it is possible you might end up with a Chang Jiang 750 with very poor quality parts, or put together sloppily, Basically a lemon. However China has thousands of Chang Jiang 750 sidecars, actually so many of them that they are frequently sold as scrap metal and many junk yards around Beijing have them. Thus, it does not make sense to make a fake Chang Jiang 750. You can actually buy a Chang Jiang 750 by weight of scrap iron from some Beijing junk yards. It would be curious to know why would anyone fake something that is sold by weight and even by the container load as scrap metal? There are all sorts of parts available in Beijing and most local dealers will not use poor quality parts because they serve the local community and cannot run away especially when they have an actual shop and it is their livelihood to keep their customers happy. What does usually happen is that some dealers may sloppily assemble a Chang Jiang 750.

We have seen many parts that need to be modified to fit each Chang Jiang 750 sidecar because the frames are different in length.

Q: Why are there lots of rumors of fake parts from Chinese dealers?

Parts are made at different times thus varying in quality and specifications, also there was a transition period in the 60s, 70s, and 80s with the machinery from the Chang Jiang factory using Russian parts to Chinese parts and changes in engine design. Because of the variance on many of the parts, some parts may need slight modifications in order to fit. Some parts are hand milled, some are machined milled, some are pressed, so it all depends on when and where the parts are made; there are some variances in size and quality. We have seen frames that are from the same year that are two inches different from front to end. Chang Jiang frames are hand welded and the frame jigs are different in size. Quality control is not very important for many of the guys that OEM parts. There is not much in the way of consumer protection, nor laws concerning this, so some of these poorly made parts do end up in the market. Actually most of the parts currently used on the market today are NOS PLA parts and again, most all Beijing dealers get their parts from the same sources.

An interesting note is that due to the differences in size of frames on old Chang Jiang 750s, some parts from different years have to be modified so that they will fit properly. This does not indicate that the bikes or parts are fake.

Best thing to do is check the quality of the parts. You should not have to pay extra for parts because most Chang Jiang 750 parts easily accessible, unless it is extremely old and even old parts are cheap. Most Chang Jiang 750 shops will use PLA, old, parts new parts as normal parts. The majority of the local dealers seldom uses poorly made parts because they have to deal with actual clients that live in the neighborhood. In China it is customary to bring their Chang Jiang 750 sidecars in and wait while the repairs are going on. It is far better business to use good quality parts to start with.

The qualities of some parts are hard to tell unless it is actually road tested. Thus it is wise to insist on the builder driving the motorcycle for a certain distance after building it. And do not be surprised when you get a new bike, or one that is rebuilt, that may have problems. This is especially true for bikes shipped overseas, unless your builder has test rode the motorcycle.

Q: Are Hong Yang’s, Chang Hong, or Dong Tians fakes?

No, Hong Yang’s, Chang Hongs, Dong Tians, are Chang Jiang 750 sidecars registered under a different name. Most of the Chang Jiang 750 sidecars that they put together are from PLA inventory. Some of the parts might also be OEM from Nan Chang factories where they have the molds, tools and dies. Dong Tian is an agent that brokers Chang Jiang 750 sidecars and also motorcycles and parts. They do not make it themselves but run an import export company and also represent many OEM factories that sell motorcycles and Chang Jiang 750 is one of the products that they sell.

It is recommended that you buy a Chang Jiang 750 from a shop that customizes bikes or one that does considerable business in repair & maintenance, rather than a shop that just brokers Chang Jiang 750 sidecars as a third party.

Q: Do "Chinese" shops have low quality workmanship?

This question is often meant in two subtly different ways: one meaning refers to the ethnicity of the mechanics/shop owners (as a supposed criteria for quality) and the other meaning suggests that economic pressures/etc. related to a shop being physically located in China impact quality. And the answer to both meanings is more or less the same. Quality depends on the individuals and their shop and not the ethnicity or geography of the shop; some are good, many are bad. Look to the experience of other CJ owners both local and foreign whose continuing business with particular shops speaks volumes about their commitment to quality work.

Q: Does "Chinese" chrome rust?

We have received many e-mails about Chinese chrome. All chrome parts have to be maintained to keep its shine. Normally there are three grades of chrome parts available, depending on the prices customers are willing pay. In the past only poor chrome was available. Recent developments have provided a quantum leap in chrome quality. So yes, until recently Chinese chrome did rust.

Now, better chrome parts may be used. A good chrome shock cover will cost about 30 USD where as a lower grade chrome shock cover might cost 5 USD. Most dealers use the lower grade chrome due to the price constraints, so choose your dealer carefully. Keeping your chrome polished should keep it from rusting.

It is possible to chrome engines, aluminum, and even plastic parts. Depending on your bike's budget it is possible to get (low quality) chrome from Nan Chang to good quality chrome from local factories (Yung Le) and excellent quality chrome from the best chroming factories (Fu Hao) in Beijing. Fu Hao is the factory that provides chroming service for all the top end CJs built in Beijing.

Q: Are polished engines not as good as the original textured finish?

Polished aluminum engines look much nicer, and they do require maintenance to keep their shine. Technically the reduction of surface area does slow down the rate of heat dissipation of the motor. The surface of the engine block is only a small component to the dissipation of heat. Most of the heat in the engine is at the end of the pistons where the combustion happens and the fins there dissipate much of the heat. Neither polished nor chromed engines will overheat solely as a result of their finish. How well the engine keeps its polished shine depends on the workmanship of the polishing and also the metallurgy of the engine.

A very important point about high grade polishing: If any chemical or water is used to clean the engine after a high grade polish it will immediately start to tarnish. High grade polish engine requires maintenance to keep its shine.

Q: Are old parts better than new parts?

No, the quality depends on the parts you get. There is much nostalgia to old parts however lets not forget the cottage industry of the 50s, 60s, 70s, and the Russian writer and economist Lysanko’s influence in revolutionizing the planned economy. Take aside the nostalgia; in reality there are good quality and poor quality PLA NOS parts, and the same goes for new parts. Actually with many of the parts you never really know what is old or not unless you actually bought the part first hand. Importantly in Beijing is that prices are the same for new or PLA NOS parts.

What is important is that your shop uses good quality parts. Most of the parts in Beijing are from PLA military storage and there are loads of new old stock parts around and they cost the same or in many times even cheaper than new parts. Old parts (NOS) are very common and is available in all the local Chang Jiang 750 shops, it is so common most people don’t even take notice of it or differentiate so the prices are all the same.

Q: Are their many old Chang Jiang 750 sidecars and parts in China?

Yes there are, especially at the end of the year when the military unloads their storage of Chang Jiang 750 sidecar. The military unloads these Chang Jiang 750 sidecars as junk, depending on who you buy from and when you buy them, they normally cost a few hundred U.S. dollars to purchase. There are many old Chang Jiang 750 sidecars around and every year we put together about a dozen of the 1960s Chang Jiangs M72. Chang Jiang 750 sidecar are not going to be extinct and as a matter of fact, every year there are more old Chang Jiang 750 sidecar coming on to the market. If someone tells you that PLA stock is hard to find, or that they are the only ones to have something, or that they are they have rights to PLA stock, it is not true.

Q: Are PLA bike stronger?

It depends on how does one measure stronger. PLA Chang Jiang 750 sidecars have some differences in some aspects than civilian Chang Jiang 750 such as 6v engine and no reverse gear, bucket made with thicker metal, fenders made with thicker metal. However there are also many military sidecars that have been converted for civilian use so the quality of those civilian Chang Jiang 750 sidecar are the same quality of the PLA Chang Jiang 750 sidecar. The PLA Chang Jiang 750 sidecar will have a battery holder behind the transmission, 6V engine, no reverse gear transmission, and a few other small differences. Many civilian Chang Jiang 750s have the same type of frame and the same details. Overall, both civilian and military Chang Jiang 750 sidecars are almost identical. Almost all exported CJ 750 sidecars are PLA issued Chang Jiang 750 sidecars because civilian Chang Jiang 750 sidecars have documentation and plates which have a residual value and PLA Chang Jiang 750 sidecar are much less expensive to purchase.

Q: What is the major difference between a new Chang Jiang 750 and a rebuilt Chang Jiang 750?

The differences on a Chang Jiang 750 depend on who you buy your Chang Jiang 750 from. There is no such thing as a totally new Chang Jiang 750. The Chang Jiang factory is no longer in operations however there are aftermarket manufacturers that put new Chang Jiang 750 sidecars together. Most of the new Hong Yang's are rebuilt military Chang Jiang 750 sidecars. For buyers in Beijing new Chang Jiang 750 sidecars from Nan Chang and also Hong Yangs which are rebuilt from PLA stock are available and include Beijing Jing A licenses.

For export a rebuilt Chang Jiang 750 sidecar is recommended over a factory Chang Jiang 750 sidecar. Most shops that rebuild Chang Jiang 750 sidecars will pay more attention to the details and also some will test ride the CJs before they send it out. Many of the new Chang Jiang 750 sidecars are assembled from refurbished used and old parts with little effort to control quality.

Q: Is a rebuilt Chang Jiang 750 better than a new Chang Jiang 750?

It depends on where you get your Chang Jiang 750 sidecar. The reason that some of the new Chang Jiang 750s are poorly put together is that the factory will never see the end user and they also leave the factory without being road tested.

The dealer that gets the new Chang Jiang 750 sidecar will most likely not take it apart again so some unfortunate buyer of a new Chang Jiang 750 sidecars might get a poorly slapped together lemon. If you get a locally assembled Chang Jiang 750 sidecar, the dealer will most likely spend some time ensuring that everything is put together properly.

Q: Why do most shops want to sell me stock Chang Jiang 750 sidecar or new Chang Jiang 750 sidecar?

Most dealers do not want to spend time rebuilding a Chang Jiang 750 sidecar and customizing them aside from the paint job. They can sell you a stock Chang Jiang 750 sidecar and make a few hundred U.S.D dollars with no work. Why buy an average bike that’s been slapped together from a second party when you can get one that has been put together with care and attention to detail?.

Q: Why do some shops want to sell me a Chang Jiang 750 with yellow Hebei plates?

Hebei plates are mostly fakes. A shop will sell you a reconditioned Chang Jiang 750 sidecar or a factory Chang Jiang 750 without proper documentations basically to make more money. Also, they save themselves the trouble of having to register the Chang Jiang 750 sidecar for you. It is illegal to buy and ride a Chang Jiang 750 with fake plates. A Chang Jiang 750 with legal plates in Beijing, suggested retail price is 17,000 with all documentation and insurance. There is absolutely no reason to buy a Chang Jiang 750 sidecar with fake Hebei plates. Read our OperatingOwningInBeijing for more information.

Also Chang Jiang 750 sidecar without legal plates are from unknown origins and may be quite questionable about how it was obtained. Stay away from them and get a legal Chang Jiang 750 sidecar. Protect yourself with insurance. Importantly check out the prices there is no reason you should have Hebei plates on your Chang Jiang 750 sidecar when there are fully legal Chang Jiang 750 sidecar available.

Q: Are "Chinese" bearings bad?

Almost none of the bearings made in China have problems. Cost is a major factor for not using imported bearings. The bearings for the triple tree mount are 5 USD for Chinese bearings, for a set of German tapered bearings, they are 70 USD. Most Chang Jiang 750 sidecar buyers will opt for the less expensive option. Engine bearings and wheel bearings are not as expensive, about 10 USD each so those are quite common on Chang Jiang 750 sidecar. Most of the Chang Jiang 750 sidecar riders we know say that they do not find a major performance difference after installing the German bearings. If you have a very hard impact with alloy wheels, whether it’s a Chinese, German or Japanese bearing, it is most likely going to be damaged. Bikes bound for export should have German FAG bearings for the engines, and on wheel bearings.

Q: Is it true that the local bikers in Beijing do not use 6v engines?

Basically yes, most bikers in Beijing prefer the 12v engines. Many of the local bikers ride their Chang Jiang 750 in very adverse conditions and find it troublesome to have to get on and off their Chang Jiang 750 sidecar to restart their engine, especially when going up hill or in wet muddy roads. Many of the 12v engines are converted from 6v by adding the front section on for the alternator and distributor. The starter goes on top where the 6v generator use to be and you get a 12v Chang Jiang 750.

To convert a 6v to a 12v normally cost about 1,500RMB.

Q: Are 6v engines better than 12v engines?

No, one cannot compare oranges to apples though it is still a fruit and that is a very broad and subjective statement. Actually, many of the older 12v engines are converted from 6v engines. Some dealers like to sell 6v engines because there are heaps of them lying around and thus.more profit. All the old PLA Chang Jiang 750 sidecar are 6v. There does not appear to be any solid, objective proof that 6v engine is better than a 12v engine; the choice of some people to have a 6v engine appears to be more about personal preference and nostalgia than it being better.

Q: Is there a difference in performance between 6v and 12v flathead engines?

Aside from nostalgic reasons there are no technological reasons the 6v is any better than the 12v or vice versa. They are two different styles of engines that are very similar and each has its own selling points.

Q: Are 6v engines more reliable?

There is no basis for that statement though a small amount of people claim it, actually many 12v engines are converted from a 6v engine. How reliable your engine is depends on who put it together, if it is broken in properly and how well you maintain it. It basically comes down to nostalgia for those wanting an old 6V engine and perhaps influenced by some dealers hyping the nostalgia or debatable reliability to benefit from the greater profit margin they have on the 6v engine.

Q: Are 32 hp engines better?

In terms of performance, YES
In terms of acceleration, YES
In terms of top speed, YES
In terms of hauling weight, YES
In terms of gas efficiency, YES
In terms of less overheating, YES
In terms of aesthetics, that is subjective and depends on the owner preference.

Q: What are the disadvantages of a 32hp engine?

The engine is much larger thus there is much less foot room on the right side. To properly install a 32 hp engine in a sidecar motorcycle, the cooling need to be filed down next to the sidecar frame. If you already own one, make sure the cooling fins are not touching the frame, this is all too common. A 32hp engine is bit more complex to fix, however it is still a very basic engine. Overall there are not any real disadvantages to going with a 32 hp engine. For long distance trips, many recommend 32hp engines. When performance and power are needed, to accelerate pass trucks, going up hills, better power you will be much happier with the 32 hp. Also, 32 hp engines tend to run much cooler.

Q: I have seen some 32 hp OHV 6v engines, are they any good?

This is relatively rare. There were a few of those engines made by the factory as samples, however it was never sold on the market. Some that have been sold as 32 hp OHV 6v engines are in fact normal 12v engines modified to appear to be these rare engines; this is done by removing the front part of the engine, some welding to the front of the crank shaft to install the distributor, remove the starter and install a generator on top. If someone is offering you one of these engines, our recommendation is to double check with a good CJ shop.

Q: Are new engines poorly made?

No, all Chang Jiang 750 sidecar motorcycles are high maintenance and do not have the precision of a new German or Japanese motorcycle. If you get your Chang Jiang 750 from a reputable dealer that actually works on the Chang Jiang 750 themselves there should be no problems that can't be fixed. Some of the new engines are pressed and molded; the older engines are machine milled and even some much older engines that are hand milled. Some people have nostalgic preferences to old things and for some reason people mix intrinsic values with instrumental values. We have seen both good and poor quality in new and old engines. If you live in Beijing, it is easy to have an engine rebuilt. It should cost no more than 1,000 RMB to have everything replaced in the engine (pistons, rings, crankshaft, bearings, valves, sleeves). In many cases it may be better to buy a well broken in engine from someone you know than a new one. Then you really know what you will get.

What really is important is patience in breaking in your new engine.

Q: There are four (4) different color engine plates on the side of engines?

The red tag engine for Lehe Machine Factory are now extinct because the factory no longer exist and are only found on 6v engines. Most of the shops in Beijing say that the light blue tag engines from Nan Fang is usually better built.

Q: What is the performance of a Chang Jiang 750 sidecar motorcycle like?

The Chang Jiang 750 is a very old design. It is to be ridden at a leisurely pace. Every Chang Jiang 750 is different. Even the same Chang Jiang 750, can feel different on different days. And even on the same day, during the first five minutes of a ride, and after an hour riding the CJ. Chang Jiang 750 riders need to get to know and understand their CJ, as they all have different personalities. Treat the Chang Jiang 750 as you would a girlfriend, it needs to be understood, pampered and taken care of.

Q: How do I get the best performance from my Chang Jiang 750?

Break it in properly. Keep it well oiled, timing correct, valves adjusted properly, points set and spark plugs all checked. Get the new CV carbs and 3 ring pistons and you will find your bike performing much better, more responsive and faster.

Q: Can I take the sidecar off and ride it as a solo?

Yes, for Chang Jiang 750 owners that want to take their sidecar off it is recommended that you keep the battery on the side, use racing tires (not sidecar tires), and use quick release electrical plugs for sidecar connections. It takes about 10 minutes to remove the sidecar. Do note that solo Chang Jiang 750 is head heavy and the frame flexes a lot. It is a plunger frame, and they take some getting used to. Remember that the Chang Jiang 750 is 1930s technology and treat it accordingly and you will enjoy your ride. It is advisable to not lean too deep into turns and also to use alloy wheels.

• Zhang's Motor Works, this adocument began from theirs.

Copyright 2006. All Rights Reserved. Chang Jiang Collective / Besiex / B. 'Quincy' Cabell