I really appreciate your videos, I’m gonna get the Honda after twenty five years of Ducatis. Retirement. I have to say, coming from western North Carolina, those rain drops vs the sky , why not go for it ? ✌️
I changed my mind about keeping this one and selling the Kawasaki Versys 300X. I kept the 300 and sold the 500X Honda. Even with the better mpg and more hp and better/softer ride, and more power, the 300X won out in the end. It's just more fun to ride. I traded the 500X to a guy with a Honda CB300R and that's my new favorite bike. 80-100 mpg and a lot more power than the Kawasaki. But both have a hard saddle and stiff suspension so they ride a little hard on bad blacktop roads. My next bike will be either a Triumph 400 or the KTM 390 Duke. But that will be next year. I'm going to ride the CB300R for a year and see which bike I'll get rid of next to move into a new one. I'm inclined to keep the Honda Monkey and the Honda XR150 so only the CB300R or the Versys 300X are on the chopping block. After a lot of trading you'll find that you end up with a lot of inexpensive bikes that aren't worth much for trading or selling so moving up is going to start costing cash.
Hello again Ian, Did the adjustment. Tight squeeze. Your homemade tool idea came in handy. Needed to adjust the intake value BUT NOT the exhaust valve. Still need to start her up since In need to first finish installing some accessories (electrical) so the gas tank will go on first. Thanks again for the CLEAR LOGICAL walk-thru of the process. Cheers!
Thank you for your support. I'm glad I could help. Bikes come and go. I no longer have the Guzzi and I've had half a dozen different ones since I sold it. Right now I'm on number 66. I took a 2019 Honda CB300R with 4800 miles on trade for my Honda CB500X. I have a Honda Monkey, XR150 and a Kawasaki Versys 300X in the stable right now with the CB300R. Lon
Incredible sturdy and simple rack. Love the way you could take it on and off for trips. I see you sold the bike but I wish you had made some of these racks for sale! Liked and subscribed.
Thank you for your support. I have made racks for the Kawasaki Versys 300X, Moto Guzzi V7 and my latest Honda CB300R. They just keep getting better and better. The pannier mounts on this (my first attempt) were very crude compared to what I'm doing today. Now I start with metal from Dirt Racks in Canada with the pannier being made from formed/rounded square 3/4" steel. They look very professional now. If I had your email address I'd send you some pictures. you can email me at wailer-07-magnate@icloud.com
Your absolutely right about the gun and Charters Arms quality control. My Pitbull came with an additional problem where the firing pin would penetrate the primer , which would lockup the cylinder. I sent it back, and in a week they returned it with everything now functioning close to perfect.But the sights still sucked. I removed the front sight and installed a Hiviz barrel sight for a Mark IV, took a little gunsmithing. Then I took off the junk rear sight, and replaced it with the rear sight from my S&W686. Had to cut it down , Curved it where the cut was made driled and tapped a second screw to prevent the movement. S&W sights are different in the way they adjust. I was able to line up the front and rear sights so the S&W sight was adjusted upon attachment. It took a few trys to get it right. The sights now nail it. I replaced the grip with the Hogue Black rubber grips which were longer, then I installed lead weights in the grips to balance the uneven weight distribution from barrel to the frame. The gun shoots bullseyes as long as I keep my grip high up on the gun. I did notice that the barrel gets hot. not sure if that effects accuracy as it does in a rifle barrel. I'm shooting in a club competion so it needs to go at least 30 rounds. But it is shooting well. It does not compare to my 686, But 38 specials cost 3 1/2 times more than 9mm. If nothing eles it makes for a good pratice gun.
I'm thinking about replacing the open sights with a red dot sight, but first I have to manufacture a mount, since there aren't any on the market that I can find that will fit this gun. It's on my to-do list.
@@spydie They have a Bull Mastiff which is nothing more than a pitbull 6"barrel with a reddot already mounted. Not suggesting you buy it, but maybe they will sell you the attachment if you contact Charter Arms.
that's a good question. One that no one has ever explored that I know of. I haven't owned this for years so I couldn't tell you. I have a Honda XR150 that's a much better bike in many ways, including the price of $2971... the least expensive bike in America.
I was disappointed with the cylinder's release as well. They test fire each revolver (according to CA) and are supposed to clean them prior to shipment, but mine arrived dirty. As you stated: where's the pride in craftsmanship? I don't know, but they need better quality control.
Nice and clear. Thank you very much for the detailed explanation. Is it necessary to drain the oil? Also, what does the exhaust compression stroke timing mark look like?
Glad you uploaded this video. I was going to get the Charter Arms 9mm Pitbull specifically because it was the only 9mm revolver that did not require moonclips. Almost all the video reviews claim it is a well made and reliable firearm. On all the positive video reviews there is inevitably a commenter stating the problems you mentioned. Some how the negative comments get buried or dismissed. It's really got me wondering about Charter Arms quality and all the positive video reviews. There are plenty of 9mm revolvers that will fire just fine without moon clips. Bullet extraction without moon clips can be inconvenient but by no means difficult. Thank you sir for this video. You have helped me narrow down my choices to either the Taurus 905 or RIA 9.0. Both alternative 9mm revolvers work flawlessly without moon clips and bullet extraction without moon clips is relatively effortless. I'm willing to give the Charter Arms Pitbull consideration only if they address these common issues. Until then I will avoid this company completely. I hope you will keep us updated.
It could be helpful too if people uploaded video of the problems first. The vids like this one show everything working great, and it's always "when I got it...couldn't hit anything with it...barrel fell off...cylinder was binding...pistol called the IRS and I got audited...etc." I'd like to see more footage of the problems.
I like their concept of a target model - glad you got up up to a point where it finally matches the name. But like you said, someone should not have to be a gunsmith to get a new arm up to a decent standard. - Geezerwheels (Bayfield)
First of all thanks for your honest review on these 2 bikes. Because of your personal experience and knowing that you kept Versys 300 I would like to ask for your opinion and advice. Short introduction - I used to ride V Stroms 650. In fact I’ve had 11 of them in 8 years or so. On my last (2017XT) even managed to brake my personal record (42000km or about 27000miles in one year). And used to take them of road but at some point I decided to try Yamaha FJ09. Right now on Tracer 900GT which is great bike but not the same as V Strom when it comes to going off road. So I started to look for second bike. Something that is better for this purpose. Something lighter and with 19” front wheel. Versys 300 checks more or less all boxes but I’m also considering CB500X. Right now I’m looking at 2022 Versys 300X (in fact exactly as yours) with 16000km (10000miles) fully serviced including first valve adjustment, that comes with tall windscreen with extension (original as well) engine guards, rear top case rack and 33l top case , tall Kawasaki seat as well as OEM customized to tall seat. Honda CB500X is a 2019 with 11000km (7000 miles) completely stock. Both bikes are in the same price range of 5000 CAD 3500-3600 USD). In your opinion which one represents better value and why? Keep in mind that I already have a long distance bike and second one I would only use in the city and some backeroads to get me to gravel, fire roads and off road. Your input will be highly appreciated.
For what you described as your usage, I'd say get the Kawasaki. The Honda 500 is about 38 pounds heavier and it's very noticeable. It's more of a road bike for longer distances in more comfort. The 300X is not as pleasurable on long rides but it's a lot of fun to ride and it's a lot easier to ride off-road because of the lighter weight, and it actually fits me better than the Honda.
Thanks for this information very helpful. I replaced the entire exhaust system on the Kawasaki, and got a far bit of bit put on when I got it. Mine in a 2024 and my 2nd. I do a lot of off road and touring and for the money the Kawasaki just wins by a fraction and I can change it out every few years. I also use a Dunlop 50/50 and it helps a lot. The Honda is way more expensive here 10K AUD.
Yes, it's about $3000 more than the 300 here in the US. I bought a used one and had to pay the price of a new one because there weren't any other used ones nor new ones available. There are things I like about both of them and things I dislike about both of them. I'm thinking about a Triumph 400X scrambler next.
Interesting comparison, thanks. Everything is on a spectrum of compromises, as usual. I’m heavier than you and am interested in some highway riding and would likely prefer the Honda. I’m 57 but just started riding last summer occasionally. Picked up a mint ‘82 CM200T to putt around town on.
that's a 2018 Vespa 300GT, a CT70 chinese clone with 125cc engine, and a 2013 KLR (last year of the soft suspension). I have none of those bikes today. I have been through a lot bikes in the last three years since I made that video. All four of those are gone. I got a 2021 Kawasaki W800 (now gone) and, a 2021 Moto Guzzi V7 (now gone), 2021 Yamaha XT250 (now gone), 2021 Honda Monkey, 2022 Kawasaki Versys X 300, 2022 Honda CB500X and a 2023 Honda XR150, so I have four different bikes in the garage now than I had 3 years ago. My next one will probably be a Triumph X400 Scrambler or maybe the new Honda CBR300R.
At 04.05 you picked up a 6mm bolt from Barkbusters single point kit. Should have removed the Honda exterior counterweights, and used those bolts with the Barkbusters hardware to mount the handguards on the original 6 mm threaded handlebar inserts. For that you only had to grind the Barkbusters silver bushings, to mimic the original weights cut.
You missed the point at about 2:30. If you used the original threaded handlebar inserts, they spin around in the bar and the bark busters keep falling down because you can't tighten them to be held in one place like the expanding inserts. Trust me. I did it the correct way. Your welcome to do it the other way, then tell us how you overcome the spinning inserts in your video.
Thank you for posting this video. Exactly what I was looking for. But I have a question: Why did you rotate the bottom mounts 180 degrees? Just wondering what the purpose was. Thanks.
That should be pretty obvious if you think about it. it's to get the handlebars farther from you so they are more comfortable when you stand on the pegs and also more comfortable for taller guys with longer arms.
That's why I bought the Honda cb500x. Fuel consumption and the fairly accurate gas gauge. If they can get that right im sure the rest of the bike is really well built. My previous Honda cb300r was super accurate to in that department as well Nice review
30:37 You don't notice the dual/single rotor difference on a single stop, but when you're riding aggressively on fast country roads where you're repeatedly having to brake hard for corners etc, for quite a while. In that case the single rotor or smaller rotors get hot too easily and then the brakes get very spongy. I think you mentioned riding it on trails or something, sounds like you're mostly using an adventure bike for what they're designed for, but adventure bikes have become very popular these days with people who's bikes will never see anything except tarmac (here in the UK at least), so for those people the single/dual rotor could be significant. The type of people buying the adventure bikes for on-road, are usually not the type of people to push them that hard anyway, but some may do.
Actually it would only make a difference in off-road riding if you were riding very aggressively, like young kid might do, trying to be a crazy racer! LOL. Mild off-road, trail riding isn't any harder on the brakes than a guy that rides them only on the road. I have never noticed much difference in stopping power of a larger singe disk or two smaller disks. It's the rear brakes that I notice when they aren't very good, and I've had few of those, like my Moto-Guzzi and my Kawasaki W800.
17:50 haha exactly, i always say that about mpg indicators. Cars or motorbike. What they should do is have an averaged MPG over the last 30 seconds or something, that could actually be useful. How many seconds would work best i'm not sure, i'd have to experiment with it to see which would be most useful. Might be difficult to imagine but i think that could really work.
