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Post by oldchopperguy on Dec 21, 2014 16:18:15 GMT -5
Holy moley! That's one heckuva mod. I'm pretty good at tinkering, but I think all that is beyond my skill level. Wow! Your scoot looks cool though. I love the monster scoot look. That exhaust looks fricken awesome! Man I need to learn how to dig in deeper to my scoot and really trick it out like that. Make a real road warrior scooter. Zhan,
The fan-scoop is VERY easy to do. All you need is hand-tools. The scoops are available on eBay, but they don't extend into the air-stream. The extension is just a piece cut from a PVC pipe fitting. The knitting-needle standoffs are quickly cut in a hobby miter-box. Maybe not absolutely necessary, but I think that without them, the fan-shroud and/or the scoop will crack from stress of the weight of the scoop straining the plastic. That is doubly true if you use a chrome fan shroud like I did. They are brittle, crack-prone styrene, unlike the pliable black factory shrouds.
My exhaust was a "chamber" style, for a 50cc 2-stroke. I made a header to attach it to the engine using a stationary generator header and flex-tubing. The big thing is to have your header as large as the exhaust port. Most factory headers are smaller, causing restriction right at the head.
With a full size header, my engine became livelier, and easier to tune. The 2-stroke chamber is an old trick from the 1960's when I raced go-karts. The 2-stroke pipe won't "supercharge" a 4-stroke like it will a 2-stroke, BUT... The venturi effect helps scavenge the exhaust BETTER than a straight-pipe. They run VERY well on 4-strokes. And they look pretty neat, too! Even though there is no muffler, they are not all that loud.
I rode that Xingyue for nearly 7 years, and really did like it. Finally, changes to local roads prompted me to go up to a 250 for better acceleration and highway capability. I just needed more power than I could get from a 150.
Part of the enjoyment of this site is being able to share things we learn, and pass on the "how-to" info for others. I'm an old Harley guy, and scooters were totally foreign (pun intended...) to me. But I really do like them.
Ride safe!
Leo
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Post by zhan on Dec 21, 2014 17:04:23 GMT -5
After I read your post, I went out into the garage and took a close look at my scooter. The air intake looks like it's tucked away in a small, complicated looking black box that's tucked just under the left side body panel. One of the screws holding it on is located just high enough under the body panel that it looks like I would need to remove the entire panel to get to it. WEIRD. Maybe what I'm looking at isn't the air intake. Everything is so tucked away and self contained on this scooter. It's a Sym scooter that's really similar to the Fiddle II. It's more of a retro/vespa/50's looking scooter that doesn't look like it's going to be modified easily. I think what I need to do is pick up a good Chinese scoot that's going to be just for mods and actually can be made to look like a monster. I haven't really seen any cool mods aside from stickers and paint stuff on the Fiddle II or the Cali Classic.
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Post by oldchopperguy on Dec 22, 2014 1:27:48 GMT -5
After I read your post, I went out into the garage and took a close look at my scooter. The air intake looks like it's tucked away in a small, complicated looking black box that's tucked just under the left side body panel. One of the screws holding it on is located just high enough under the body panel that it looks like I would need to remove the entire panel to get to it. WEIRD. Maybe what I'm looking at isn't the air intake. Everything is so tucked away and self contained on this scooter. It's a Sym scooter that's really similar to the Fiddle II. It's more of a retro/vespa/50's looking scooter that doesn't look like it's going to be modified easily. I think what I need to do is pick up a good Chinese scoot that's going to be just for mods and actually can be made to look like a monster. I haven't really seen any cool mods aside from stickers and paint stuff on the Fiddle II or the Cali Classic. Whoa, pardner...
I think you already HAVE the ideal scoot to mod. It's not too hard, once you get started. Very few custom accessories are "brand-specific" especially to Asian scooters. The best and most eye-catching mods are done by hand, from "rattle-can" paint, to complex metalwork, all done to your individual preference.
If I was going to do a "rat-bike" or Euro "hooligan-scooter" or hot custom, I'd probably CHOOSE the Vespa/Lambretta-style like yours. It already has the factory retro look, and performing custom mods on it is not much different from doing likewise on the more "open" models. But, those modern designs are sort of "crotch-rocket" in style, and I think the vintage style like yours generally makes a better-looking custom scoot. ANY style can be made into a sharp custom, but the Italian-styles have SO much going for them from the factory... You need to see what "Xyshannen" is doing with one similar to yours!
Your cooling fan-shroud is in the same place as on my old Xingyue, but you would have to carefully cut away some of the lower plastic to install a scoop. Here's a picture to show the location...
A custom exhaust (especially a 2-stroke chamber-style) looks right in place on these Italian-style scoots too! The ORIGINALS from MY day were usually 2-stroke, clutch n' gears versions. I can just envision yours with wide-whitewalls, red rims, maybe a set of driving lights next to the headlight, a little checkerboard trim... Whew! The retro-cool possibilities never end!
You've got a FAST one, and a GREAT-LOOKING one. Personally, I'd stick with it! Just me... LOL! 
Have fun "making it your own" personalized ride...
And RIDE SAFE!
Leo
PS: Here's me, back in 1962 on what I rode THEN... "Old Blue" is where my handle "TheOldChopperguy" came from... I was 16, 6' 2" and 375 pounds... NOW I'm 6'1" and 235 pounds... A few hundred-thousand miles on hard-tail Hogs compressed my spine an inch... And I do have the aches and pains to show for it... And, yes, now old and arthritic, I actually enjoy scooters as much as I enjoyed my ANIMAL chopper back then. As Clint Eastwood said: "...a man's gotta know his limitations..." LOLOLOL!
Whew, with 13:1 compression, over 150 cid, INSANE cam, and leg-breaking timing, you shoulda heard them straight-pipes bark! Yup. Sweet music to an old geezer's ears even today!
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Post by zhan on Dec 22, 2014 3:30:43 GMT -5
Wow! Okay cool! I can't believe I was looking in the wrong spot for the air intake. On my motorcycle the air intake is pretty obvious. It even has a donut air filter that's reminiscent of the old Chevy 350 V8 air filter that sat on top of the carburetor. Smaller of course. I've already done some minor altering of the scooter. I peeled off the "Cali Classic 125" decals on the sides of the body panels, and I peeled off the "Lance" sticker on the front. Minor of course, but it's a start. On my motorcycle I installed a jet kit on the dual carbs, put a high flow air filter on it, and put on some loud, barely baffled pipes to give it some growl and a bit more umph. That might be a place for me to start on the scooter. An upsized main jet in the carb, a high flow exhaust, and an intake mod that will make it breathe better. It tops out right now at about an indicated speed of 55mph with my 205 lbs on it. I think the actual speed is probably closer to 49 or 50 mph. I'd like to boost that to an actual max speed of 60 mph. I think on a 10 inch back wheel and a 12 inch front wheel the scoot would get a little squirrelly to go much faster. I love the idea of the driving lights around the headlight, and the white wall tires. These are all things I can handle. Like you said, a man's gotta know his limitations. LOL
By the way, Old Blue is an awesome chopper! I love it. I had no idea you could actually fit Chevy 409 pistons into a motorcycle block. Damn! That thing must have screamed down the road. I've never owned anything so hot. 25 years ago I had a 1973 El Camino with a 400 big block 4 bolt main, with high rise manifold, a holly carburetor, custom headers, a 4 inch lift, a Muncie 4 speed racing transmission, 4 inch chrome pipes protruding from the back, and a ford truck rear end. It was baby blue with a tight black tonneau cover over the bed with chrome snaps, and "Lil Tugger" custom painted on the tailgate. It had big brass cajones that dragged the ground behind it (so to speak). It was one of the last real American cars with an unapologetic 8 miles per gallon fuel economy, and a bad attitude. The cops used to pull me over just to get a closer look at it. Man that was my only claim to fame. I should have kept it. It'd be worth some real cash today.
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Post by rockynv on Dec 22, 2014 4:39:45 GMT -5
After I read your post, I went out into the garage and took a close look at my scooter. The air intake looks like it's tucked away in a small, complicated looking black box that's tucked just under the left side body panel. One of the screws holding it on is located just high enough under the body panel that it looks like I would need to remove the entire panel to get to it. WEIRD. Maybe what I'm looking at isn't the air intake. Everything is so tucked away and self contained on this scooter. It's a Sym scooter that's really similar to the Fiddle II. It's more of a retro/vespa/50's looking scooter that doesn't look like it's going to be modified easily. I think what I need to do is pick up a good Chinese scoot that's going to be just for mods and actually can be made to look like a monster. I haven't really seen any cool mods aside from stickers and paint stuff on the Fiddle II or the Cali Classic. That is you fuel/air intake, the engine cooling intake is on the other side and has a spinning fan visible behind it usually just behind the right floorboard near your foot. The way it is situated on most bikes the cooling fan fights against the Bernoulli effect from air being directed over and past it by the bodywork restricting airflow and causing the engine to be cooled less efficiently. |
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Post by oldchopperguy on Dec 22, 2014 21:19:35 GMT -5
Zhan,
I've always been a sucker for El Caminos too... Those and the Ford Ranchero were SO cool! You had a GOOD one!
Triangle Motorcycle of Chicago built "Old Blue's" motor. They sand-cast a crankcase to hold the monster stroker crank, and turned the cylinders from forgings, for the Chevy pistons. At Oswego Drag Strip, the old Hog would turn in the high tens, low elevens at 130-135 mph with my 275 pounds aboard. However... My gal-pal, who was as small as I was large (4' 6" and 75 EXTREMELY well-assembled pounds) could rip off a smoking 9.75 at 140-145 mph. Not impressive by today's crotch-rocket standards, but in 1962 that was nearly unheard of with a street-ridden bike... Heck, it was creeping into 1960's top-fuel territory! Japanese screamers were still many years off.
My gal, Jan, was a BEAST on a bike! Absolutely FEARLESS... She'd go wide-open, chin on the tank and reach down to the foot-shift and use her left hand, bangin' gears sans-clutch. (I ground off every other tooth on 2n, 3rd and 4th to shift without the clutch). Her wild riding earned her the nickname "Janice the Flying Squirrel"... She made a LOT of money riding other guys bikes at local drag-strips. Her negligible weight, and animal-riding style would shave a full second off most ANY bike's 1/4-mile time!
No helmets, no insurance, no mufflers... Wild and crazy days for us back then! Not all that safe, but 80 mph on "Minnie Mouse" on the freeway is almost as much fun as 140 on "Old Blue" at the strip... Almost... LOL!
Here's me and the missus TODAY... No, my sweet wife is not "The Squirrel"... LOL! She's Betty, and would rather ride a horse than a bike. A half-century really tames one down!
Ride safe!
Leo (and Betty) in Texas
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Post by onewheeldrive on Dec 22, 2014 21:45:18 GMT -5
Rain, snow or ice, cold, potholes, animals, and people that pass you way too close.
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Post by zhan on Dec 23, 2014 2:39:07 GMT -5
Chopper Guy,
That is so cool! Your wife was a maniac on those bikes! Way to go and good on her! Motorcycle babes are hard to come by. I can see she's a keeper. I love to see people that stick together over the years and have a lot of fun doing it. You're a lucky guy. I'd love to see her rip down the track on a beefed up bike on steroids! Must have been a sight to see. I'm jealous. If only we could all have such an adventurous life! You're a cool guy and I really enjoy the conversation! I really enjoy this forum.
Dave
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Post by oldchopperguy on Dec 23, 2014 3:50:28 GMT -5
Chopper Guy, That is so cool! Your wife was a maniac on those bikes! Way to go and good on her! Motorcycle babes are hard to come by. I can see she's a keeper. I love to see people that stick together over the years and have a lot of fun doing it. You're a lucky guy. I'd love to see her rip down the track on a beefed up bike on steroids! Must have been a sight to see. I'm jealous. If only we could all have such an adventurous life! You're a cool guy and I really enjoy the conversation! I really enjoy this forum. Dave Dave,
Cool indeed, but my Wife isn't "Janice the Flying Squirrel"... LOL! My Wife, Betty is a different but wonderful gal... Jan was a 16-year-old school pal who happened to be a bike NUT! But I doubt if she EVER got married... TOO WILD... LOL! With her crazy riding habits, I only hope she's still alive out there somewhere. Probably now, "Granny the Flying Squirrel" on a walker powered by a 502 Chevy...
Betty and I have been married for 32 years, and all have been VERY happy. She now has worse back trouble than I do, and can't get on a bike, or ride very well anymore, but she'd STILL ride a HORSE if the city would allow it. She rode a horse all through grade-school and high-school. She lived in rural Maine. The roads were impassible to motor vehicles in winter back in the 1930's. Her first "modern" car was a used Model A Ford. She didn't "update" to anything newer until 1976 with a used Monte Carlo.
Dang, I wish she STILL had that Model A!
She's an old-fashioned gal, and that's fine by me!
She's 82, but still hot!
With better health, I think we'd both be riding new Indians today... We WISH... LOL!
I have had an "adventurous" life... Sometimes probably a little TOO adventurous. God looks out for fools, but I finally grew up about 40 years ago!
It warmed up to 63 today, and I snuck old "Minnie Mouse" out for a romp down the freeway for last minute Christmas stuff. Sure did feel good to open her up and wild-mouse the rush-hour commandos... Ah, well, I sorta grew up anyway... Maybe? HeHeHe!
Yeah, 80 on the Mouse in heavy traffic, really IS about as much fun as 140 on the old chopper at the strip...
Ride safe!
Leo
PS: No worries about small wheels at high speed... Vespas run the limited-access OK on 10 and 11" wheels. My little "Minnie" has thin 12-inchers and runs true as John Wayne at 80+mph. Just be sure to upgrade the J-rated meats to P-rated tires for over 60 mph or so. Not just for safety, but they REALLY do handle better even at lower speeds. I'd put them even on a slower scoot because of the way they handle on my Kymco. Only a few dollars more, but a noticeable improvement over the J-rated tires at ALL speeds.
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Post by zhan on Dec 23, 2014 18:19:52 GMT -5
Oh woops! I misread your last post. Well Betty it is! I love the Indian bikes too. I wish I had the money Jay Leno has and I'd have a whole warehouse full of awesome bikes and cars. There's nothing more enjoyable to me than playing with horsepower. It's a wealthy man's hobby for the most part. Ah well, I can dream can't I. =)
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Post by oldchopperguy on Dec 23, 2014 20:55:03 GMT -5
Oh woops! I misread your last post. Well Betty it is! I love the Indian bikes too. I wish I had the money Jay Leno has and I'd have a whole warehouse full of awesome bikes and cars. There's nothing more enjoyable to me than playing with horsepower. It's a wealthy man's hobby for the most part. Ah well, I can dream can't I. =) Yup, we ALL like to dream!
If only I had less arthritis, and more money... These new Indians ARE sweet! And, VERY affordable (by today's standards) but like most, I live on 1970's financial standards... LOLOLOL!
And, if I was 40 years younger...
NOT a whole lot of GROUND-CLEARANCE with those pipes, and, that DRIVE CHAIN is MIGHTY close to one's left "bun"... LOL! But the Billy Lane-style no-hub wheels really get to me!
The "Flying Squirrel" would have looked GOOD straddling THIS one! She was quite the exhibitionist...
Yes, we CAN dream...
Leo
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