Motorcycle manufacturers release new bikes almost every six months. Some motorcycles are sold out even before pre-order sales begin, while others have been looking for their owners for a very long time. This motorcycle was talked about even before it went on sale. Motorcycle enthusiasts from all over the world discussed the new product and eagerly awaited the start of sales. This is the Stels 400 GT motorcycle - a reliable enduro from the Middle Kingdom, which has gained great popularity both in Russia and in Europe.
Briefly about Stels 400 GT
The motorcycle was released and went on sale in 2013. A few months later it appeared in Russia, where it is sold quite successfully to this day. It's worth talking about why the 400 GT was so anticipated. After all, Stels is not as popular as, for example, Ducati or Yamaha, so that every new product is discussed almost everywhere. In fact, the Stels 400 GT motorcycle has its predecessor, the Stels 400 Enduro, which was released two years before this model. The Enduro version was quite loved by endurists, which is why it was decided to expand the model range. Actually, this is what happened - two years later the GT, GS and Cruiser versions were released. The abbreviation GT stands for Grand Turismo, which means “Great Journey”. This characterizes this model, since it is made specifically for travel, trips along serpentine roads, and rough terrain with poor road surfaces.
Stels 400 GS - budget off-road bike
May 7, 2013
The new touring motorcycle Stels 400 GS, produced in Russia with the assistance of Chinese developers from the Qianjiang Group, entered the market, debuting in an unusual quality. From now on, this line of Stealth 400 motorcycles, imitating German bikes from BMW, acquired the abbreviation GS in its name, hinting at the excellent “all-terrain capability” of the new product.
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Domestic, based in Zhukovsky and collaborating with a leading Chinese motorcycle manufacturer, has once again pleased its fans. The appearance of the new Stels 400 GS attracts attention at first glance and meets the most modern standards. The new bike is based on a compact welded tubular frame made of high-strength steel. The length of the motorcycle is 2210 mm, the overall height is 1360 mm, the seat height is 850 mm, and the width is 860 mm. The wheelbase of the Stealth 400 GS is 1520 mm. The curb weight of the new product does not exceed 163 kg, the permissible maximum gross weight is 311 kg, and the upper limit of the load on the rear wheel should not exceed 191 kg. The motorcycle is equipped with a stylish ergonomic two-seater seat, a special windproof body kit from the GT version model and a sports fuel tank that holds 22 liters. Buyers will be offered a choice of three colors: red, yellow and gray.
Specifications . The new product is equipped with a four-stroke gasoline engine XY191MQ-2 with one cylinder having a displacement of 387 cm3. The engine uses a carburetor power system, contactless CDI ignition with electronic control, an electric starter, NGK DCPR8E spark plugs, and a liquid cooling system. The maximum power produced by this engine is 19 hp. at 7000 rpm. In this case, the peak torque occurs at around 20 Nm at 6000 rpm, providing acceleration to a maximum of 120 km/h. Although the engine does not have outstanding torque, it is quite worthy of a budget motorcycle, and also provides very good fuel economy - the average consumption of AI-92 gasoline should not exceed 5 liters per 100 km.
The exhaust system of the Stels 400 GS motorcycle uses one muffler, which has two built-in three-component neutralizers, which guarantees a smooth, slightly daring sound that can appeal primarily to young people. The XY191MQ-2 engine is mated to a six-speed manual transmission with foot shift and a multi-plate wet clutch. Torque is transmitted to the driven rear wheel through a chain drive with a gear ratio of 2.727.
The suspension of the new bike is borrowed from its brother in the line - STELS 400 Enduro. The front uses an inverted telescopic fork with two spring-hydraulic shock absorbers, and the rear uses a pendulum-type linkage suspension with a hydraulic monoshock absorber. The brakes on both wheels are single disc, petal. At the front, the designers preferred a manual hydraulic drive, and the rear wheel was equipped with a foot-operated hydraulic drive. The wheels themselves are spoked, with a steel rim. The front is 21 inches and the rear is 18 inches.
Price . In Russia, the new touring motorcycle Stels 400 GS is offered to buyers for a minimum of 135,000 rubles. Compared to its main competitors, the new product looks more affordable, but at the same time, there is currently no data on the reliability of this bike, as well as on the quality of its build. As for the equipment, in the basic version the Stealth 400 GS is equipped with rear-view mirrors, a trunk, a windproof body kit, lensed headlights, a wide-based step, aluminum crankcase protection and a set of tools in a stylish handbag. The manufacturer's recommended service mileage for Russian operating conditions is 2000 km.
Online publication Moto.Ironhorse.ru
Specifications
The Stels 400 GT motorcycle received a four-stroke single-cylinder engine with a volume of 386.8 cm3 and a power of 19 hp. The maximum speed of the motorcycle is 140 km/h. I'd like more, but it's worth considering that the 400 GT wasn't made for high speeds. The motorcycle has a carburetor fuel supply system, which can be adjusted if desired. I was also pleased with the presence of a liquid cooling system. In principle, the dropsy on the Stealth 400 GT copes with its tasks perfectly. According to the owners' reviews, you can ride the motorcycle in active mode for more than an hour without any problems and not be afraid of overheating, even in hot weather. The engine can only be started using an electric starter, since a kickstarter is not provided here. This is due to the large engine volume, so trying to start a power unit of such power using a kickstarter is simply useless.
It is worth saying that the manufacturers did a good job on the chassis of the motorcycle. This is not to say that it performs as well as the suspension on some BMW or KTM. The suspension of this motorcycle copes with its tasks exactly as much as the bike costs. The Stealth 400 GT is equipped with an inverted telescopic fork and a swingarm with monoshock absorbers. Unfortunately, there is no option to customize the suspension. In general, you shouldn’t expect anything supernatural from the chassis. In order to have fun on not the most bumpy off-road conditions, it is quite enough.
But the braking system showed its best side. A hydraulic disc brake system with a piston caliper is installed here. Whether in the city or on the highway, you don't have to worry about not being able to stop in time. Even in active driving mode, there are enough brakes to spare, especially if when braking you use not only the rear, but also the front brake.
(the author’s style and spelling have been preserved) To make it clear, the region of the Republic of Belarus, the city of Ufa.
Choosing a motorcycle was quite difficult for me. There were doubts about the class, the budget, and the manufacturer. There was little experience - several trips in old Minsk, a couple of times on a 50cc scooter, IZH Jupiter 4 and YBR in a driving school. The budget with a huge tightness barely amounted to 120 tr. The search for a motorcycle began. From the beginning I looked closely at the CB400 / CB750, looked at several motorcycles for this amount and came to the conclusion that it is impossible to buy a live motorcycle for less than 150 tr, and in the budget of 100-130 tr they offer firewood that requires investments of serious amounts. Which will ultimately result in the same 150 tr. I was surprised to discover that 90% of Japanese motorcycles on the market are presented with a distorted year of manufacture, they are much older than reflected in the documents, but that’s okay, the motorcycle would be good, and the year is not so important. For the overall picture, I looked at a couple of Steeds and Dragas for 100-115 tr - Motorcycles with auction triples, unreliable mileage and an unclear year, requiring investments, again for 15-20 tr each. After thinking a little about “why do I need a motorcycle,” I came to the conclusion that I needed a motorcycle that could overcome light off-road conditions, and also move along the highway at a speed of at least 100 km/h. Since I like to go outdoors, I eventually decided to give up choppers and Japanese road builders, especially since the budget does not allow me to take a normal motorcycle. Switched to Transalp and Jebel200. the search did not yield any results. For Transalp the amount is small, Jebel can be taken, but it is very shabby. In normal condition, but with a look like after a nuclear war. Again, investments are needed, albeit not large, but still. Having studied the market for Japanese motorcycles, I also studied the market for spare parts and consumables for them, after which I came to the conclusion that I would not take an old motorcycle, I would not raise my hand to pay 120 tr for a motorcycle , who is 15 years old. according to the docks, but it’s really unclear how much. But you need a motorcycle. There is not enough money for a Japanese, and taking a Chinese one is scary. I came across the STELS400GT model on the Internet and realized that this was exactly what I needed. High ground clearance, 1 pot (the simpler the better) and a maximum speed of around 130 km/h. What you need, but it’s scary to buy from China. I thought about it for about a month, studied all the forums and the VK group and made up my mind.
I bought it in Moscow at the STEALTH company store. We had dealers in Ufa, but I didn’t want to contact them, because one of them didn’t inspire me with much confidence, and the other said that he would only work in the spring. In the end, I decided to take it in Moscow. I thought if I got it in Moscow, in a company store, it would be more reliable. As a result, I didn’t inspect the motorbike when purchasing, all communication was by phone and I overpaid 5 rubles on top of the delivery price. The motorcycle arrived normally, but without pre-sale, the plastic was uneven, the seat mount was broken, the tank was not screwed on, the oil level was at min. The item in the Store was not inspected and not prepared 100%. They just sent it as is in a box from the factory and that’s it. But these are all minor things. I corrected the plastic itself and adjusted the fastening. The engine starts and drives - everything seems fine, but I noticed one more thing. For some reason, the starter is not attached to the engine correctly; there is a gap between the starter and the engine frame. Those holes for mounting the starter are drilled incorrectly on the engine frame and this is why the gap is like this. I opened the lid and looked and the gear engagement was normal, in principle there was nothing wrong, but still unpleasant. (In the end it turned out that the entire batch had such a gap, there were no problems with it, no oil was coming out of there, everything was dry) But there are questions: first why the factory sent a motorbike with such defects to the salon, why the *branded salon* didn’t even bother to look under the polyethylene and sent the motorbike on without inspection. Conclusion: It is absolutely IMPOSSIBLE to take equipment from STEALTH without inspection!!! I bought the motorcycle in the winter, during the New Year, so I didn’t start it, I put it in the garage until spring. In the spring of March, the motor started up with half a kick and the first attempt, which made me very happy, but not for long. On the 2nd day it refused to start. It turned out that the key on the generator had been cut off after only 1.5 km of driving. The service repaired it free of charge, under warranty, but it took 3 weeks. That's how long the dealer looked for the cause of the problem. In general, dealing with dealers is a separate issue. It's just some kind of p... ts. I have no words. I definitely decided to tell everyone to hell and not go to the MOT. I don't need that kind of guarantee. Customer service is at the 0th level, with rudeness and unwillingness to answer for anything. Well, then... everything got better. I ran it in, tightened it where necessary, and adjusted the valves. The motorcycle drove normally, fulfilled its task and made me happy for 2 months, when suddenly, at 4000 km, the switch failed. Luckily it was near the garage and I didn’t have to push it. I ordered a new one from the dealer, waited 7 days, and installed it. The motorcycle started up with half a kick and continued to drive without problems. so far the mileage has been around 5500 per season. Of the investments, 1500 rubles per komut, although it was possible to buy a 150cc scooter for 600-700 rubles, but I didn’t find such ones and had to order the original for 1500 rubles. Nothing else broke or fell off. I didn't touch the carb. Chain and sprockets are in excellent condition. The tires are normal. Cheap Magsport, but there are no complaints about it. The problem was with oil leaks from under the valve cover, which was easily solved by ABRO seals. One day the contact on the temperature gauge sensor came loose and the device went out. I tightened it up and everything is OK. In short, little things. Overall, the spendthrift worked the season honestly and, most importantly, without any hassle. After downtime, it starts easily and right away! attempts. Of the minuses 1. the exhaust sound is not serious (there are a lot of forward flows, you can fix it) so far I’m happy with it. 2. cruiser in the region of 100. further uncomfortable. (I would like 120) 3. poor access to the ACC (you need to remove the seat) 4 fragile plastic 5 poor access to the lamps 6. oil change after 2000 km (although the drained oil looked normal and it would be advisable to frequently replacement is doubtful. Crankcase is about 1.3 liters)
Among the advantages: 1. 1 year warranty 2. ease of maintenance and adjustments 3. adjustable rear shock absorber for rebound and preload 4. high-torque engine, 28 hp, consumption 5 l/100 in the city 5. Sturdy frame, excellent paint 6. availability and low cost of spare parts Dealer 7. It may hurt the ears of Japanese drivers, but the motorcycle is quite reliable.
What can be concluded? Yes, none yet. 5500 is not an indicator and an indicator at the same time) Everything will depend on the resource of the box and the engine, since everything else costs a penny, there’s no point in even discussing it. You can get a whole new carb for 2100 rubles, but there’s nothing else to repair. I don’t regret even once that I didn’t take Jebel 200, since for a mileage of 5500 the investment in it was no less than 1500 rubles, and probably much more. And I’m reluctant to pay serious sums for junk. I don’t want to and that’s all...
Appearance of Stels 400 GT
Appearance is the first thing that attracts most people to buy Chinese equipment. It is worth saying that the manufacturer paid a lot of attention to it, because the motorcycle looks quite impressive. Alloy wheels, voluminous front with very beautiful optics and a high wing. If desired, you can additionally install a rear glove compartment on the motorcycle, which will be located behind the passenger’s back. For city driving, the motorcycle is equipped with all the necessary things: brake light, turn signals, low and high beams, side mirrors.
The bike also has a very informative panel that displays all the data necessary for the motorcyclist. Here you can see fuel consumption, how much gas is left in the tank, time, mileage, and so on. The tachometer is ordinary, but the speed, like other data, can be seen on the electronic display.
Advantages and disadvantages of a motorcycle
Overall, the Stels 400 GT is a good road motorcycle that performs well both in the city and off-road. However, like any other equipment, a motorcycle has its pros and cons, which I would like to talk about a little.
- The motorcycle has a fairly good engine. Considering the weight and dimensions of the motorcycle, it pulls well. But it's only good as long as you ride without a passenger. As soon as another person sits in the back seat, you begin to realize that power is a little lacking. If you don’t plan to travel often together, then you can safely buy it. But if you often have to carry a passenger with you, then it is better to consider more powerful options.
- As for the cross-country ability of the motorcycle, it can be called quite confident. Of course, there is no ABS system, as in advanced enduros, but in not the worst conditions the motorcycle feels good. The factory comes with a road tire, so if you want to use the motorcycle primarily off-road, it is better to immediately purchase heavier tires.
- It cannot be said that the cost of a motorcycle is its advantage, but it cannot be called a disadvantage either. The price for the Stels 400 GT is quite reasonable. The only question is whether it is worth buying, because for this money you can buy a used Honda or Yamaha.
- A disadvantage that really cannot be ignored is the lack of crankcase protection. The motorcycle has all the prerequisites to operate it off-road, where protection plays an important role. However, the manufacturer did not consider it necessary to install a protective pan on the motorcycle.
In conclusion, it is worth saying that Chinese technology is always a compromise between price and quality. However, Stels has proven itself to be the best and has been producing good quality equipment for several years now. All that remains is to decide whether you can make friends with her.
