Let’s start by saying that this document will change over time, especially as the bike changes. The 2021 is slightly different from the 2020 and so on and so forth. Currently, this site is based around the 2021 bike but everything referenced, with the exception of a few very small parts (IE: different chain, I’ll make notes on those) are basically the same.
If you aren’t here to learn, but just to get the parts recommended for a starter, check the parts we recommend: Starters Package
If you’re good with the basics and want to take it a step further, check the Upgrades page.
If you’re just wondering if this bike is street legal for you, then the answer is probably yes, but check the Registration Concerns page to see what hoops you have to jump through.
Just looking for assembly help? Check the Assembly page.
If you’re reading this, then I’m going to assume you’re interested in, or have already purchased a TBR7.
1st question: What do you actually expect out of this motorcycle? This is not a $10,000 dual sport bike that’ll do 100MPH and dominate every trail out there.
2nd question: Do you want to deal with it? This bike will shake things loose, break simple parts, and need the chain tightened often.
The TBR7 is basically a clone of a Yamaha Body/frame, with a Chinese 229CC single cylinder carbureted ‘thumper’ engine shoved in. From cheaper forks, cheaper swing arm, mediocre plastics, to weaker handlebars and a ill-tuned fuel system, the bike is built sub-par. Upon buying this bike, many things should be fixed immediately. Refer to our assembly guides for that
If you’re still interested, let me explain what to expect. (This is a good time to go watch some youtube videos of TBR7 delivery and assembly).
- Your bike (assuming you don’t pay additional for a dealer to assemble), will come delivered, via a lift truck, in a crate.
- You will spend hours putting it together, which is not just installing the parts, but before you ever ride, at a minimum,
- Deciphering the box of random bolts/washers/nuts/cotter pins that comes with the bike
- Changing the oil (this does not ship with break-in oil, it ships with ‘shipping’ oil)
- Installing the front wheel
- Loctite on everything… literally everything. Red loctite on the really important stuff.
- Tightening/loosening the chain (remember, it came across the ocean in a box!)
- Adjusting clutch, front brakes, rear brakes
You will enjoy the bike at this point, but only for a short period of time before you realize the jetting on the bike was setup for 6000 ft above seal level and it falls on its face at anything more than half throttle and doesn’t idle well.
- You’ll install a carburetor or re-jet the stock carburetor
The story from there can go anywhere. Plenty of guys just ride these bikes. Some never adjust anything the bikes are still going, some got unlucky with a bike from the factory with valves too tight and burn up their engine after a few hundred miles.
Some guys take the modifications off the deep-end: replacing swing arms, forks, cams, and even engines. We’re lookin at you Jaysso!
So why all the doom and gloom and negativity? Because if you’ve made it this far down the page, you’re probably in anyway, and now I can tell you the good things:
- This is an amazing starter bike. It has a cushy suspension, and is slow enough to not get you into too much trouble quickly.
- It’s road legal! Where else are you going to find a bike that could drive the trails it does, while being road legal, and have it on the road for under $1,500 and it not be a friggin’ scooter?!
- Ya.. you read that right. If you shop a little, you can get this bike on the road for under $1,500 (not including your states possibly registrations fees). My bike landed on my door step for $1,400, and I spent 10$ on the jet kit to make it rideable, and about 10$ more on Loctite. The entry fee here is unbeatable for the motorcycle world.
- “A known set of problems”. I forget the youtuber that said it, but basically, you know exactly what is wrong with this bike as tons of us have already tested it. If you went and spent the same amount of money on a used bike, you’d inherit an ‘unknown set of problems,’ We can help you with a known set of problems, telling you exactly what to do, and you won’t need many mechanical skills.
- You simply need a metric set of tools, an allen key set, and a milk crate and you can put this thing together. I’m not over exaggerating, as I’ve never worked on bikes before and took this on without buying any tools.
- Bonus tools: Oil drain pan, torque wrench, floor jack or bike lift, spring puller.
- I had as much fun putting this thing together as I did riding it. Having a cheap bike that I’m not afraid to break, and not afraid to wrench on is a lot of fun.
- Honestly, it’s just a cheap hobby. With guys getting into racing bike, racing cars, guns, 4×4 vehicles.. this falls pretty low on the cost spectrum. Baring any crazy circumstances, you can basically get out on the trails for $1,600 including an Amazon helmet and some cheap gloves.
I hope this helped. I’ll make it a living document and update where I see fit. If you think this is for you, do us a favor and buy through Buy a TBR7 page so we get a kickback. If you’re able to find cheaper, check reviews first to make sure you’ll get some level of customer service (repair of broken pieces during shipping, etc). You can check the facebook group for feedback on other companies.
Contact us with any questions and we’ll do our best to help you.
Good luck and happy riding,
-Kyle
If you still want to know more and the pages here don’t suffice, feel free to check out the multiple groups (where much of this was compiled from):
What can you expect? A little bit of on and off road fun! Videos below are on multiple 2021 TBR7s built recently with only carb and sprocket modifications with low skilled older overweight men driving who have little experience with dual sport motorcycles: