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Post by surfpick on Oct 2, 2014 16:28:06 GMT -5
I've been stalking craigslist, ebay & the local online paper's classifieds & that's where I found it. About 3 scooters that interested me suddenly appeared at once. I almost went after a Taotao with 2000 miles for $700but I'm tall and I realized that a 250cc would be REALLY nice if I could find one so I elected to buy a 1995 CF Moto. It is a little crusty but it seems to run nicely. I got it from a cool old guy who is 94 and who still has another scooter & a Yamaha 650 I went to uhaul and rented a small enclosed trailer for only $15. I was worried that showing up with a trailer would hurt my bargaining power but I ended up getting it for only $500, so I won't mind investing a few hundred in this scooter.  |
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Sophomore Rider
Currently Offline
Commuting is the best part of my day!
Posts: 213
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Joined: Feb 26, 2013 7:56:23 GMT -5
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Post by trailheadmike on Oct 2, 2014 18:11:06 GMT -5
Be sure to give it a good going over and then enjoy!! Sounds like a great bargain.
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Post by surfpick on Oct 2, 2014 18:59:09 GMT -5
The scooter runs great right now & everything works, even the alarm... but it's got 12,000 miles on it.
It is gonna be a learning process and I'm selling my car, so I'm gonna have to make this scooter dependable.
I work from home so all I NEED to do, is make a 20 mile (round trip) grocery run every 2 weeks or so.
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Sophomore Rider
Currently Offline
Posts: 117
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Joined: Apr 5, 2013 0:43:47 GMT -5
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Post by bvance554 on Oct 2, 2014 23:09:33 GMT -5
Sounds like a good deal. But 94 huh? I hope I'm riding something when I'm 94.
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Post by SylvreKat on Oct 2, 2014 23:45:55 GMT -5
Congrats on the "new" scoot! And welcome to here!!
>'Kat
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Post by JerryScript on Oct 3, 2014 0:06:10 GMT -5
Sounds like you got a great deal there!
Treat it like a brand new scooter in a crate, and do a full PDI. At the least, you should:
-remove all the body panels
-check all bolts/screws/nuts
-check the brake pads and cylinders
-inspect all fuel lines and other hose
-give all wires a gently tug at the connector to be sure they are snug
-change and strain the oil through a coffee filter to check for metal particles
-change the tranny oil at the rear
-open the CVT and replace the belt, inspect the variator and weights, and check the clutch pads for glazing
After that, warm her up and tune her up, and then enjoy the ride!
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Post by surfpick on Oct 3, 2014 5:10:56 GMT -5
Thanks everybody. Thanks for the list Jerry. Where's the best place to order parts for this bike? Is this the best book to buy? Do you know a good place to find stainless screws & bolts that can replace the hardware on this bike? Also, since it has a screen instead of an oil filter, is synthetic oil a waste, or should I get the 15/40 synthetic Rotella and just change it every 500 miles, since it's about the same price as generic motorcycle oil? I'm currently using the Rotella 15/40 NON-synthetic in my diesel car, which will soon be sold. |
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Post by flyangler on Oct 3, 2014 5:27:10 GMT -5
You might want to check the production date on that scoot, Honda was still making the Helix in  so I'm betting this was manufactured in 06 or newer. |
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Post by JerryScript on Oct 3, 2014 12:37:05 GMT -5
The Rotella is fine, I also am a frequent oil changer, that is the best maintenance there is. Winter every 500 miles, summer 250-300 (I live in Vegas, so I burn oil easily in the summer).
For screws and bolts, we have a fastener store here in town, otherwise most hardware stores should have a decent supply.
I loved Haynes manuals as a kid wrenching on every thing my friends and I owned, but I haven't purchased on in over 25 years, so I can only hope they are still as good as they were back then. We have a tech section in these forums with several manuals you can download in PDF format as well.
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Post by surfpick on Oct 3, 2014 12:59:04 GMT -5
You might want to check the production date on that scoot, Honda was still making the Helix in so I'm betting this was manufactured in 06 or newer. You called it. I went to the DMV today. I noticed on the old title that it says '06. I can't really blame the seller for his mixups. For 94 years old, he's still pretty sharp. I was worried as I waited 10 minutes for my turn. (It used to take HOURS in NY) The old gent was insistent that there would be no trouble registering the scooter but the title was in the name of another person who bought the bike, seized the motor and then sold it back to my seller. I filled in the blank title, noticing the fine print that said the person who signed was supposed to have filled in my info. It didn't help that my ink color was different. When I got to the counter, I even learned that the old title said that the scooter was maroon. In my experience, the DMV can be sticklers but this wonderful lady just breezed through it all and handed me a new plate & will mail me a title. I think it cost me close to $160 and it bankrupted me for the moment but I was thrilled to walk out of there with a plate & a registration. I bought oil, gear oil and locktite, for starters. |
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Post by surfpick on Oct 3, 2014 13:06:12 GMT -5
The Rotella is fine... We have a tech section in these forums with several manuals you can download in PDF format Thanks, I just picked some up. I only saw 3 posts and no pdf's in the 250 help file area but one of those posts was a video on how to adjust the valves on a CF Moto! It sure looks simple. Do you know what motor is in these? It can't be the same GY6 motor that's in all the 150's, can it? In any case, the drive train was yanked out and replaced. I saw the old assembly sitting next to the seller's fence. The old rear wheel was still attached. The old man must be a decent mechanic. The scooter is very quiet. |
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Post by oldchopperguy on Oct 3, 2014 13:20:11 GMT -5
Surfpick,
Welcome to the site!
THAT looks like a GREAT buy! Looks like the old-school big Honda scooter that pretty much started the whole trend toward highway-capable scoots! When you are sure you have any little bugs worked out, it should be fine daily transportation. I'm always a sucker for "old-school"...
I've never seen one of these in white... SHARP! It makes the old scoot look almost "modern"... How cool is THAT? And you will be VERY glad you got a 250, especially since it's your only transportation. I happily rode a Chinese 150 for nearly seven years, and recently traded it on a well-used '07 Kymco 250. The difference is AMAZING! The 150 got me around suburban streets OK, but was still "marginal".
I rode big bikes all my life, and never thought about a cycle NOT being able to safely keep up with traffic. Recently, local roads were major-updated, raising speeds to more than the 150 could handle. So being on a tight budget, I searched out a used 250 and I'm SO glad I did! Now, I can keep up with all but the "friskiest" traffic from a red-light, and also can cruise 65-70mph. VERY handy! Much more like riding the big bikes of my youth.
You'll surely enjoy that "new" old scoot, AND the site... Any questions, there's always somebody here to help.
Ride safe!
Leo in Texas
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Post by surfpick on Oct 3, 2014 15:15:43 GMT -5
oldchopperguy "I've never seen one of these in white" Thanks. The old guy I bought it from had another CF Moto Fashion, also in white & he had a white Yamaha 650. White was my first choice, so I lucked out.
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Post by Jarlaxle on Oct 5, 2014 11:10:59 GMT -5
Thanks everybody. Thanks for the list Jerry. Where's the best place to order parts for this bike? Is this the best book to buy? Do you know a good place to find stainless screws & bolts that can replace the hardware on this bike? Also, since it has a screen instead of an oil filter, is synthetic oil a waste, or should I get the 15/40 synthetic Rotella and just change it every 500 miles, since it's about the same price as generic motorcycle oil? I'm currently using the Rotella 15/40 NON-synthetic in my diesel car, which will soon be sold. 15W-40 diesel oil every 1000 miles. Synthetic is, in fact, a waste of money. You probably know this, but the CF Moto Fashion 250 is a bolt-for-bolt clone of a Honda CN250 Helix. |
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Post by surfpick on Oct 5, 2014 13:44:05 GMT -5
15W-40 diesel oil every 1000 miles. Synthetic is, in fact, a waste of money. You probably know this, but the CF Moto Fashion 250 is a bolt-for-bolt clone of a Honda CN250 Helix. The synthetic Rotella is only about $2 per quart more than the fossil Rotella when you buy a gallon. I only bought 1 quart, just to see how my scooter reacts. I know that the main advantage of synthetic is lost without an oil filter. I may switch back, I don't know. I also poured some STP oil treatment on the funnel and washed it in with the Rotella. I'm very glad that I thought to buy a $1 mini-long funnel. Made it easy. I was reading an old forum where a young lady was pointing out a few parts of these clones that match up with the Reflex and not the Helix. I don't know which parts they are? Thanks for the help. |
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so I'm betting this was manufactured in 06 or newer. 
