Does Blade still have a 250?

[BuggyMaster]

I read elsewhere that you couldn't get 250's from them any more. Anyone know if this is a fact?

[bige]

that is correct, they are no longer bringing in any 250. the epa certificate has expired and has not or will not be reniewed

[BuggyMaster]

So they are simply a 150cc machine brand now? What about the smaller buggies? seems to be they used to have a 90 or a 110 or something.

[bige]

they are and have been kinroads with a blade decal on them, Stu told me he is selling what buggys he has in stock then will just sell parts. all his dealers went stright to kinroad for buggys last year.

[24evanwilson]

where do you guys get this info??

[bige]

I talk to Stu a good bit. he is a great guy and all of us dealers are feeling the economic pinch.

[24evanwilson]

yah
=)

[ChuckC]

OK, so I have a Blade XTX and while it is most probably built by Kinroad, it looks like none I've seen in the Kinroad brand. Mine is CF Moto 250 with IRS - not seeing anything like that.

So, which one would it most be like?

[BuggyMaster]

Likely XTX and Kinroad import thier's from the same factory.

[bige]

the xt and the xtx were built by sonic. they are not kinroads,

[ChuckC]

That would make a whole lot of sense, but also concerns me -

I have this feeling I'll be replacing the rear spool and CV joints from time to time and I wonder if it's the same parts...

Also, this buggy seems a lot better built than the typical 250/150 sized Kinroad (double A-frames, IRS etc.) But there are similarities.

[24evanwilson]

wow O_o

[bige]

they are not bad, dont know how long parts will be around

[ChuckC]

I'm sorry if I gave the wrong impression - the Blade XTX is a fantastic buggy - with a few mod's it has really exceeded my expectations and the only thing I've broken is a belt and a throttle cable. Belt was probably my fault since I'm running really tall tires and had a modified belt in it. It has climbed everything I've put in front of it to the point of scarry.

The expectation to replace those rear end parts comes from expecting to change the motor to a 750 motorcycle engine in the next year or so (after hunting season). The back end arrangement really lends itself to a drop-in fit of a motorcycle engine, provided you can get the gearing tall enough-I think I'd have to bump up to a 60 tooth+ sprocket and drop down a tire size to make it work. At that point, the weak end becomes the spool assembly and cv joints.

[bige]

going to a bigger sprocket will make a difference. I have a 54 tooth and a 42 tooth that will probably fit it

[ChuckC]

Yup-I believe it will also. I already went up to a 45 tooth and that's when it shreded, but that may have been due to my not cutting an equal angle on the belt when I cut it down in width to fit. The belt was a kevlar/carbon fiber Gatorback. Was working great and was absolutely driving the snot out of the buggy until the belt literally exploded into bits inside the CVT. Un-pretty, but no damage. 30 minutes later and I had the stock belt back on.

I'm going to put the 50 tooth sprocket on this weekend. One thing I have noticed about the pillow-block bearings is the lack of grease in them and the inability to grease them effectively. They need grease fittings. This is probably true of the Joyners as well, since it's the same rear end design - maybe not.

[ChuckC]

Now that I think about it, I don't think the Joyner's are the exact same spool peice becuse the spools are a mm or two different size for some reason.

Sure would like to see a close-up of a joyner spool set up.