QLINK MOTOR BLOG

QLINK named official sponsor of AMA Dragbike

 
 GRAPEVINE, TX (February 23, 2010) – QLINK MOTOR announced today that they will partner with AMA Dragbike. As part of the agreement, QLINK MOTOR will become the Official Scooter and UTV of the AMA Dragbike Championship Series through 2012.

QLINK MOTOR will provide AMA Dragbike with scooters and UTV vehicles for use at the AMA Dragbike Championship Series events.

As an AMA Dragbike official sponsor, QLINK MOTOR will receive visibility at AMA Dragbike Series events as well as exposure throughout AMA Dragbike’s various media platforms.

“We are delighted to welcome QLINK MOTOR into the AMA Dragbike family of sponsors,” said Scott Valetti, president of AMA Dragbike. “The quality and style of the scooters and UTVs that QLINK MOTOR provides AMA Dragbike will help our trackside services as well as our on track officials do their jobs in a more efficient manner. We feel the partnership will offer outstanding exposure opportunities to generate awareness and recognition for QLINK MOTOR.”

“We’re extremely excited to be partnering with the AMA Dragbike Championship Series,” stated QLINK MOTOR vice president Allan Lai. “They’re a first-class organization that provides tremendous entertainment for all members of the family. This partnership falls directly in line with our strategy of partnering with great organizations to build national awareness of the QLINK brand. We look forward to a long and mutually beneficial relationship.”

QLINK also announced the launch of their contingency program that will parallel their official status. Any rider who makes it to the finals and owns a 2009 or later QLINK vehicle is eligible for cash rewards.

Happy Halloween From QLINK

  Can you believe that October is already here? 2009 is flying by so fast; we are already hitting the big Holiday Season; starting with Halloween! October 31 this year falls on a Saturday and is sure to be even bigger than its previous celebrations.

 

Descendent from many traditions and beliefs, Halloween is a celebration of harvest season, a new year, past Saints, and late loved ones. It is a time filled with laughter, games, hay rides, candy eating, pumpkin carving, and even dressing up. Whether you celebrate the day as a sacred holiday or consider it purely secular make sure you make the most of it!

 

Don’t forget to let your QLINK in on your Halloween fun too! From hayrides with your UTV or ATV, bringing along your scooter as a great Trick-or-Treating companion, or accessorizing your “The Fonz” costume by pulling up on your QLINK Motorcycle, your QLINK can be the ultimate accessory!

 

Happy Halloween from QLINK MOTOR. Get scared, play pranks, have fun, and stay safe!

High Octane Fuel Makes Engine Last Longer and Perform Better

QLINK recommends that all of our units be run on high octane fuel (93 octane). We recommend this because all of our power sports units run on engines with high-compression ratios that are more prone to pre-ignition and detonation than average car motor. Using the incorrect fuel for your motor can cause serious damage to your unit that will turn into a costly non-warranty situation. 

 

The first thing to know is the definition of an Octane Rating in terms of fuel; the Fuel Octane Level is the measure of resistance of gasoline to pre-ignition and detonation (commonly referred to as “engine knocking”) in internal combustion engines (like the one on your QLINK unit). The Octane Rating of fuel does not measure the quality of the fuel or necessarily guarantee increased performance should you use it; it measures the fuel’s ability to resist pre-ignition and detonation, which would cause serious engine damage.

 

Detonation is when the fuel in an engine ignites at too low of a temperature.  This sends powerful shock waves through the combustion chamber before the piston reaches top dead center, causing force on the piston that works against the connecting rods and crankshaft. This force is converted into dangerous strain and heat that is absorbed by the engine. These premature shockwaves also force the unburned, boundary, lubricating layer of fuel/air mixture off of the walls of the combustion chamber, causing distinct rings of carbon build up on the piston and cylinder wall. These rings are only distinct when burning low octane fuel.

 

So how does a higher octane fuel prevent pre-ignition and detonation? The higher Octane Rating the fuel has, the more Activation Energy it has, and since Activation Energy is the energy required to start a chemical reaction, a Higher Octane Fuel will take more heat and pressure before it ignites, which will translate into more time for the piston to reach top dead center before the fuel will ignite and send shockwaves through the chamber.  With this correct timing the piston can properly absorb the shock, and turn it into useful power by working with (not against) the other movable engine parts!

 

An Octane Rating of 87 means that the fuel is made up of 87% hydro-carbons with a very high resistance to detonation, or very high detonating temperature; and 13% of the fuel is made of hydro-carbons with a very low resistance to detonation, they are very reactive to temperature and pressure. As the Octane Rating of a fuel goes up, so does the percent of the fuel made up of resistant hydro-carbons, translating to proper ignition timing and resistance to detonation.

 

As you can see, since all QLINK units have high-compression ratios, meaning they work with high amounts of pressure and heat, QLINK must insist that you spend the extra dollar to fill up your tank with the highest rated gas at your local station in order to prevent pre-ignition and detonation; this is the only way to prevent serious engine damage that would be deemed non-warranty due to the use of improper fuel.

QLINK UTV/ATV TIMING INSTRUCTION

Many dealers asked us how to time cylinder head if they ever need to repair cylinder head. The tricky part of replacing cylinder head is to make sure it is timed correctly. There are some marks on the cylinder parts that you have to match in order to let it run smoothly. Fail to match those spots will cause noise when the engine is on. QLINK technical team has made the video to show you how to time UTV/ATV correctly. The video used Rodeo 500 as an example, but it will be almost same procedure when you do FrontRunner 500/700. However, this repair should only be performed by skilled repair shops or dealership. QLINK does not recommend consumers doing it by themselves. Below please see the video for instruction.

Sneak Peek For Rave 50/150

QLINK just received our shipment of the brand new 2010 Rave 50 and Rave150! This new model is aggressive, modern, and built for the road.

The Rave has a 4-stroke, single cylinder, air-cooled engine that is sure to meet your scooting needs! Its extreme fuel efficiency and broad power-band make the Rave not only fun and exhilarating to ride, but affordable and economical as well. The fuel efficiency for Rave 50 is around 120 MPG, and for Rave 150 is around 85 MPG based on data from testing lab. This eco-friendly engine is also automatic, creating a smooth and easy ride. Just twist and go!

 The Rave rider, and even a passenger, will feel confident and stable going down the road on this sturdy scooter equipped with 13-inch wheels that have the efficient stopping power of a front disc brake on the Rave 50 and both front and rear disc brakes on the Rave 150. Whether riding down the road on a bright blue, flashy gold, smooth burgundy, or clean white Rave, others will be envious of the owner sitting atop the large comfortable seat while still riding in such style.  The sporty exhaust really brings together the overall aggressive look of the Rave and the built-in LED lights and turn signals look sleek and fiercely designed, while leaving nothing to be desired by way of power! The top speed for Rave 50 is close to 30 MPH due to DOT requirement, but you can get around 65 MPH on Rave 150.

Both sizes of the Rave come stock with a large under-seat storage compartment, as well as a matching trunk. You will be able to put a full size helmet in the compartment. They are EPA, CARB, and DOT approved, and come with a 2 year limited warranty. The Rave 50 has MSRP of $1399, while the Rave 150 has MSRP $1849. Some people said Rave 50/150 looks like scooter version of Transformer. What do you think?

New Product Updates

As you may know, QLINK Motor has many anticipated new units on the horizon; many of you are asking us daily for an update on the progress of production and when they will be released. QLINK is just as, if not more, anxious than all of you to get these bikes out on the road. However, we want to get them out with good quality and great performance and if that means pushing back the date a little, we’ll do it!

 

Rave 50/150

The Rave, one of QLINK’s new and exclusive scooters, became available for purchase now! This scooter comes in two engine sizes, has plenty of storage, and is very sturdy on its 13-inch wheels! All Raves are year 2010.

 

Megelli 250s

The three Megelli models are the most anticipated products. Finally we have got 2010 EPA certificate. It means we are legal to import them now. However, our R & D team in China is working on the improvement of engine to make sure it has enough speed and durability. For sure Megelli will be available in early next year, but we may be able to make it happen earlier.

 

Matador 50/150 and Zip 150

The Matador and Zip are also QLINK two of QLINK's exclusive scooters. Right now the body plastics are still under final modification to ensure they fit seamlessly. The estimated time to make them available will be next Spring.

 

Splendor 400

This super-scooter has been in the cards for QLINK for quite a while now. It was difficult to get the EPA approval for this scooter, but once QLINK decided to take control of that process and handle it ourselves, it finally got done! That is correct, the Splendor is EPA approved for 2010; this unit however, was also stopped by our QLINK Quality Control for some simple issues with a few outside plastic panels.  New molds are being made and tested, and the perfected Splendor 400s are expected to be available to consumers in 2010.

 

 

Engine Break-In Procedure

The most important time in an engine’s life is the first 600-1000 miles (950-1600 kilometers), or the break-in period. How the bike is driven in this period will determine how the engine will run for the rest of its life and how long it will last. New engines have not had time to seat the compression rings to the cylinder walls, this is the main purpose of the Break-In Period. There is a lot of controversy out there about the proper break in method for a new bike and, as is the case, we decided to do some research and get with our QLINK technicians as well to see what they recommend as the best Break-In Procedure. We have outlined what we have deemed the best way below!

 

In general, with any unit, it is important that you vary the speed and RPM (take them up and down) that the engine is driven at for the first 600 miles (950 km) without pushing the unit too hard by red lining it or driving with the throttle wide open. Do not attempt to reach top speed within the break-in period. Below is a chart of the speed/RPM that QLINK recommends you should not exceed during this time:

 

Engine CC	Break-In Limit
50 cc	25 mph
150 cc	40 mph
200-250 cc	50 mph
400 cc +	4,000 RPM

 

To avoid possible damage to the engine, QLINK also recommends that you do not put your new unit through any long term highway use within the first 600 miles (950 km).  Remember, this break-in period is allowing your engine to set perfectly within itself; this will result in small metal shavings in your engine oil as its continuous motion creates a smooth path for the movable parts. For this reason, we require an oil change at least 600 miles (950 km) into your engine’s life; however, many enthusiasts feel that changing the oil within the first 200-300 miles (350-500 km) is ideal since the bulk of the Break-In should be done at that point and running that metal filled oil through your engine could lead to serious issues.

 

While many people feel that the Break-In Period is bothersome and want to just get out on the open road, you must remember those first miles on your bike are the most crucial. Taking it slow and breaking the engine in properly will provide optimal performance and the biggest reward for the bike, and for you, in the long run!

2009 QLINK XF200 Review

Motorcycle.com just released the product review for 2009 QLINK XF200 Supermoto on its website. This product review was setup almost two months ago by motorcycle.com. After reading this review, we would like to respond to some points not revealed in this article.

First of all, we are so grateful that Mr. Brisette and his team made such insightful review on QLINK XF200. QLINK will continue to push XF200 to another higher level based on all comments from this review and readers' feedback.  

A lot of people are still confused about who is QLINK. QLINK actually is established in 1988 in Taipei, Taiwan, and now QLINK has become a multinational group having companies in USA, Mexico, Brazil, Nigeria, Hungary, and China. Technically speaking, QLINK does not produce any vehicles. What QLINK does is to search the best products from different manufacturers to make up its product line. So far none of a single Chinese manufacturer can make all powersports products. Some are specialized in scooter, and some are focusing on off-road bikes. As a result, QLINK has made commitment to becoming a platform providing the best value products from different manufacturers. Yes, you may see same product that QLINK has and someone else has also, but QLINK is rearranging its product line to be all exclusive, such as Megelli series.

So, what is the relationship between QLINK and Jinan Qingqi? Just like what I have mentioned above, Jiana Qingqi is one of QLINK's manufacturers in China and QLINK has exclusivity to sell XF200 and XP200in USA. QLINK was told by Qingqi that it has joint venture with Suzuli in China to produce engines for Suzuki. In fact, it's very common for Chinese manufacturers to have some sort of cooperation with foreign companies in China. The major reasons for this kind of cooperation. One is that foreign companies can take advantage of lower labor cost in China for production. Second is that those foreign companies can sell technology to Chinese manufacturers and open Chinese market via those Chinese manufacturers they work with.

Last but not least, QLINK is trying to providethe best value products in the market. In this review, it mentioned about some parts are not highest quality compared with Japanese bikes. However, we need to know our strategy is not to cope with Japanese manufacturers but to fill in the gap that people want more affordable price but still acceptable quality and warranty. Most of QLINK products are at least 30% less than Japanese brands but double length of period for warranty. Moreover, all QLINK street bikes come with one year free roadside assistance. I have to say that it is your business if you decide to pay more, but it is QLINK's business if you want to pay less!

Lucky Man Won a Hawk 50 From Hooters Event

QLINK MOTOR recently teamed up with Hooters and our local radio stations including multiple popular ones in DFW area. Those radio stations are The Eagle FM97.1, Kiss FM106.1, Mix FM102.9, and Lone Star FM92.5.

Hooters was hosting 5 separate events at different locations on Sundays where different stations would be on site broadcasting and promoting free giveaways including anything from T-Shirts, CDs, and concert tickets to a Grill, Wakeboard, and finally an orange QLINK Hawk 50 scooter! 

The events attracted many enthusiastic members of the DFW community whom were excited to play games and share a laugh over the famous Hooters wings and beer.  The beautiful women weren’t a bad incentive either. Of course, everyone who showed up and got to see the beautifully displayed Hawk 50 couldn’t resist sitting on it, taking pictures with it and their waitresses, and finally placing their name in the drawing anxious to win the prize!

On the final day of the promotion, held at the Grapevine, TX Hooters location, names were drawn and the new owner of the QLINK Hawk 50 was announced; Brandon Blankenship of Forth Worth, Texas. Brandon came by QLINK the next week excited to pick up his scooter and ready to turn heads on his new orange QLINK Hawk 50 and we are sure he’s having fun!

Congratulations to Brandon who gets to go out on the open road any day he pleases and feel the wind in his hair and the bugs in his teeth! Brandon is living his dreams today, what about you?

Buy QLINK and Get Tax Deduction

If you are thinking about shopping QLINK for a new motorcycle or scooter, then you are not only in the market for a reliable, quality product, but you are looking for a good value that won’t hurt your pocket book as well! It is also no surprise that you have done your research; with the most competitive pricing in the marker for vehicles of such quality and reliability and with such great manufacturer’s warranties, QLINK products already fit well within your pocket book’s limit! The government, however, has put an act into play that will ease your financial burden even more!

The “American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009” is a large piece of legislature that deals with helping everyone from individuals to industries as a whole and it was signed into effect on February 17, 2009! This act offers a tax deduction that applies to all of QLINK’s 2-wheeled products purchased in “New” condition between February 17, 2009 and December 31, 2009. To qualify, the bike must weigh less than 8,500 lbs and cost less than $49,500. The income of the purchaser must be under $125,000 annually or under $250,000 for joint filers.

This deduction will come into play when paying your taxes at the end of the 2009 tax year. This covers state, local, or excise tax and you do not need to itemize to receive the benefits. All you will need to do is subtract the amount of tax that you paid on the bike from your Federal Income before paying your Income Tax. For more information or help with this process, make sure you contact the IRS or consult with your Income Tax Preparation Professionals!

QLINK knows that every little bit helps and we can only hope that you take advantage of this fantastic opportunity; Define your own way!

Oil Changes Keep Your Vehicle Up and Running

Changing the oil is one of the most fundamental steps in caring for all motor vehicles.  Often times, small problems due to old, sludgy oil or the use of improper oil will snowball into much large issues that could have been easily avoided. The first step in oil maintenance is getting to know about your vehicle. Does your QLINK unit have a screen or an oil filter? Does it have a separate compartment for gear oil or does it share its engine oil with its gears? 

The four main types of engine oil to use on your unit are 10W-30, 10W-40, 20W-40 and 20W-50. 10W-40 is the most recommended by our QLINK technicians. However, you must also take the temperature of your area and how it affects the oil into consideration. In warmer areas you may want to move to a thicker oil, such as 10W-40, and in very hot climates it is good to move to an even thicker oil such as 20W-(40 or 50).  You can look to your owner’s manuall for a detailed chart on this.

 

QLINK recommends performing the first oil change at 600 miles and then the rest should be done at about 1,800 mile intervals. For that first oil change your engine should take about 1.0 L of oil and then only 0.8 L consecutively after that.  You also need to know if your unit has an oil screen or an oil filter. For QLINK units, only the XF 200, XP 200, FrontRunner 700/500, and Rodeo 700/500/400 have an oil filter, which should be changed each time the oil is changed. All other QLINK models have an oil screen, which can be cleaned out in solution and replaced until about every third oil change, then it should be replaced with a new one.

The other thing that you should change regularly is the gear oil. This is usually separate from the engine oil and oil labeled “Gear Oil” should be used. The only QLINK units that share engine oil with the gears are the XF 200, XP 200, Legend 250, and the Rodeo 90; these units do not have separate compartments and you should not worry about changing the gear oil on them. For all other units, QLINK recommends that you change the gear oil whenever you change the engine oil, however, many people find it okay to only change the gear oil every other time (we recommend doing this when the oil is slightly warm, but not hot, to allow for complete draining).

 

Remember, every engine is slightly different and your climate can have an effect the engine and the type of oil it needs.  Always check with your owner’s manual or dealership if you have any questions at all in reference to your oil.  QLINK always recommends that you have dealership or repair shop to perform any maintenance or repair for your vehicle. Without correct procedure, you could damage your vehicle and void warranty. It will also be a good idea to keep record of all your maintenance just in case we need for warranty purpose.