Sophomore Rider
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2008 Roketa MC54B 257 (10,000 miles and climbing)
Posts: 103
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Joined: Feb 26, 2013 19:32:19 GMT -5
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Post by bhinch on Jul 19, 2013 13:21:51 GMT -5
I have a 2008 Roketa MC54B-250 (257) purchased new in '08. It now has almost 10,000 miles and 5 yrs of great riding. I have added HID's, Manual choke, LED's, recovered seat (My work). I look forward everyday on riding my scoot to work and enjoying the ride. It was dropped shipped to me and the forums have been a great help in keeping it safe and ready to ride. We are here to help in any way to solve any probs you may have.
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Post by spandi on Jul 19, 2013 13:33:42 GMT -5
Okay, I got the windshield installed and oil changed last night. First issue: the scooter was shipped without the aluminum floorboards installed; they were included in the truck. Unfortunately, the screws to attach them to the bike were not included. I checked all boxes and storage compartments and couldn't locate them. There aren't any holes drilled in the body to mount these; I assume they are just fastened with screws into the plastic. Does anyone have any ideas for a source of the low-profile chrome screws that could be used to attach the floorboards? I'm planning to stop by Lowes here locally to look through their specialty fastener selection to see what they have... Another question: Do the headlights run from the battery or the stator? I haven' t cranked the bike yet, but all lights are working (brake and turn signal) but the headlights aren't coming on... Finally, draining the radiator fluid: I pulled the drain plug and opened the the overflow tank and radiator cap but only a small amount of fluid drained out. Any thoughts on getting the fluid properly drained so I can flush and refill the system? Hiya Keltex. I know a link for the screws you may need (got some to replace lost screws on my scoot.) I'll have to dig it up and post it here. Hmmm, seems to me if the headlights only come on if the motor is running, then I'm thinkin' stator and AC. (mine does the same) When I drained my system I found the only way to do it was by loosening the hose clamps, (gotta remove body panels first) and pulling the hoses off at there lowest point to drain. Hope this helps! ![;)](http://www.itistheride.com/smiley/smile/02.gif)
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Post by spandi on Jul 19, 2013 13:49:17 GMT -5
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Post by earlwb on Jul 19, 2013 14:00:49 GMT -5
gitsum, If you buy a Japanese scooter from the dealer, you pay extra for things like warranty coverage and support, the dealer preps and prepares the scooter for you. Plus fixes things that may need repairing if it needs it. the dealer also takes care of doing all the paperwork for title, registration, state inspections too. It is always fun to hang around the store and see them uncrate the motorcycles and scooters too. They have all the same problems with the crates getting damaged in shipping. But they have the benefit of having special truck deliveries made by their brands own trucks though, so damage is usually less of a problem.
When you buy from a online store, you do not get any of these niceties and you have to do it all yourself.
The same thing happens with automobiles too. I remember when I worked at a car dealership a long time ago, all the problems that came with a new car that needed to be taken car of before the car was even put on the lot. Then after the sale was going though all the things that needed to be done to make the car presentable to the new owner too. Plus having to once or twice a week take all the car registration paperwork down to the county courthouse to get the cars titled and registered too. Some of those cars were a mess and needed to be run past the body shop and the repair shop before they even got to the lot for display.
But when you buy online you do everything yourself.
What I don't like is the online stores misrepresenting what they sell, such as selling a Jonway as a Roketa and so on. Unfortunately this seems to happen a lot nowadays. I guess the online stores can get away with it, as it is pretty difficult to crate it back up and return it after it has been delivered and uncrated. Some states cracked down on the online stores pretty hard a few years ago, but it looks like it hasn't changed them from their shady operating practices.
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Sophomore Rider
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Post by keltex78 on Jul 19, 2013 14:01:39 GMT -5
This is the style I had in mind: ![](http://img.diytrade.com/cdimg/189414/2015029/0/1145795358/modified_truss_self_tapping_screw.jpg) Called a Truss Head... Lower profile, should work better on the floorboards, and cheap enough at Lowes...
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Post by spandi on Jul 19, 2013 14:43:46 GMT -5
Regardless of where you buy them, you'll want to get those screws in stainless steel. (Especially if it's going to be for a floorboard. )
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Sophomore Rider
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Post by keltex78 on Jul 19, 2013 15:29:05 GMT -5
Regardless of where you buy them, you'll want to get those screws in stainless steel. (Especially if it's going to be for a floorboard. ) Absolutely! IIRC, zinc and aluminum combine to create a galvanic cell that will corrode rapidly... Don't want that on my ride!
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Post by JR on Jul 19, 2013 17:04:02 GMT -5
The lights only come on with the scooter running.
JR
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Sophomore Rider
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Post by gitsum on Jul 19, 2013 17:53:55 GMT -5
The first part of my post complimented the OP's new scooter and the very thorough PDI link, before I added my 2 cents worth. I gotta mention one thing though... You are comparing a Chinese clone to a expensive Japanese original like that is the only option. Not true! This very incorrect attitude permeates this forum. There are several Taiwanese options that cost the same or less as the Rocketa MC-54B. That is what my crusade is about. To educate a very twisted and one-sided comprehension of value on this forum. I guess if I get banned, then so be it. I'm not trying to bash all Chinese scooters as pieces of crap, just pointing out some alternatives which are a better value. Correct me if I'm wrong, but don't most people buy Chinese to save money and be thrifty? Yeah, I understand about "hijacking" a thread. But this forum is so biased that starting a thread on "better alternatives" to Chinese scooters isn't going to get much attention, if any. And I still don't understand the value of buying something new and having to replace and double check all parts. When did people start accepting this? Is this going to be the future of automobiles too? I don't think people would ever tolerate that, why do they with a Chinese scooter? If people quit buying them until they got better, they probably would... Sorry to be upsetting everyone ![:(](http://www.itistheride.com/smiley/smile/12.gif)
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Post by spandi on Jul 19, 2013 18:39:16 GMT -5
Again (as I have pointed out) If you don't wish to get your hands dirty and have zero mechanical ability then by all means buy the brand name bike, and luxuriate in not having to lift a finger until the warranty expires. But if you possess a degree of mechanical genius, manual dexterity, and good old American ingenuity, you won't find anything daunting about keeping you Chinese scoot rolling down the road mile after mile. (BTW, I think I had a "permeate" once but Pepto-Bismol cleared it right up ![:)](http://www.itistheride.com/smiley/smile/01.gif) )
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Sophomore Rider
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Post by gitsum on Jul 20, 2013 11:05:17 GMT -5
Again (as I have pointed out) If you don't wish to get your hands dirty and have zero mechanical ability then by all means buy the brand name bike, and luxuriate in not having to lift a finger until the warranty expires. But if you possess a degree of mechanical genius, manual dexterity, and good old American ingenuity, you won't find anything daunting about keeping you Chinese scoot rolling down the road mile after mile. (BTW, I think I had a "permeate" once but Pepto-Bismol cleared it right up ![:)](http://www.itistheride.com/smiley/smile/01.gif) ) I have said this before, you can do all of the work on a "name brand". My Yamaha C3, Suzuki TU250X, Honda Elite 110, CPI Oliver City 50, or my three SYM's have never been to the dealer for anything and they all had warranties. I modded all of them from the very start and totally disregarded the warranty. This goes for my Tomos Nitro 150. I never needed any warranty repairs on any of them, that's my point. Valve adjustments, carb tuning, CVT belts and weights, intake and exhaust mods, custom windshields, CHT gauges, brake pads, flat or worn tires, air filters, chain adjustments, sprocket changes, suspension mods, cylinder kits, handle bars, seat mods, smog equipment removal, body modifications, foot pegs, engine cooling mods, the list goes on and on for things you can work on. It's a lot of fun for a tinkerer like me. The best part is that it also satisfies the rider in me. Besides basic maintenance, you don't have to work on anything if you don't feel like it, you can just ride ;D You can load up and ride hundreds of miles away without worrying about mechanical issues. I go places a cell phone won't work and sometimes I can ride 30 or 40 miles without seeing a single vehicle. I carry an extra gallon of gas, extra layers of clothes, some water and a few snacks. I always have a full toolkit just in case, but in tens of thousands of miles of adventures, I have yet to need it. You don't have to spend $4000+ for a machine that is capable of this. There are several Taiwanese "budget" models that are under $2000 new. And yes, you can get some of them shipped directly to your door.
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Post by spandi on Jul 20, 2013 12:21:20 GMT -5
Taiwanese "budget" models? Less than Chinese scoots? ![:o](http://www.itistheride.com/smiley/smile/07.gif) and just where are these mythical dealers located... Oz? Shangri-La? Beachfront property in Arizona? If you really think you're good at turning a wrench, quit being so conservative. (where is the sport in "fixing" something that isn't broke, and doesn't "need"it? ) Go for the gusto! Go Chinese! ![:D](http://www.itistheride.com/smiley/smile/04.gif)
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Post by JR on Jul 20, 2013 13:13:21 GMT -5
The first part of my post complimented the OP's new scooter and the very thorough PDI link, before I added my 2 cents worth. I gotta mention one thing though... You are comparing a Chinese clone to a expensive Japanese original like that is the only option. Not true! This very incorrect attitude permeates this forum. There are several Taiwanese options that cost the same or less as the Rocketa MC-54B. That is what my crusade is about. To educate a very twisted and one-sided comprehension of value on this forum. I guess if I get banned, then so be it. I'm not trying to bash all Chinese scooters as pieces of crap, just pointing out some alternatives which are a better value. Correct me if I'm wrong, but don't most people buy Chinese to save money and be thrifty? Yeah, I understand about "hijacking" a thread. But this forum is so biased that starting a thread on "better alternatives" to Chinese scooters isn't going to get much attention, if any. And I still don't understand the value of buying something new and having to replace and double check all parts. When did people start accepting this? Is this going to be the future of automobiles too? I don't think people would ever tolerate that, why do they with a Chinese scooter? If people quit buying them until they got better, they probably would... Sorry to be upsetting everyone ![:(](http://www.itistheride.com/smiley/smile/12.gif) Thread Title: My "Roketa" MC-54 scooter The first part of my post complimented the OP's new scooter and the very thorough PDI link before I added my 2 cents worth. That is what my crusade is about. To educate a very twisted and one-sided comprehension of value on this forum. Yeah, I understand about hijacking a thread. But this forum is so biased that starting a thread on better alternatives to Chinese scooters isn't going to get much attention, if any. Your attitude toward Chinese scooters isn't biased? isn't going to get much attention, if anyYou got my attention. I politely told you that this thread wasn't about the who's scooter is better than my scooter subject and you continue to want to disrupt the OP thread and intent. I guess if I get banned, then so be it.Your choice and this isn't the only thread that you ask the same question of why not buy this or that? If asked for this choice by the poster then great and we all know how you feel about the brand of scooter you prefer and there are places you can feel right at home where they are biased against Chinese scooters: symforum.com/www.kymcoforum.com/Or you can go here where they love discussions like these; scooterdoc.proboards.com/index.cgiTell KZ hi. JR
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Post by JR on Jul 20, 2013 13:18:43 GMT -5
Back to the OP topic. The older model 250 clone with the helix clone engine had the radiator mounted behind the gas tank and this caused over heating in real hot areas but it's my understanding that the newer models have put the radiator up in front of the tank? Is this so, I have not seen one of the new models?
JR
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Post by rollbar57 on Jul 20, 2013 16:02:21 GMT -5
mine came already installed they are just 5/16 chrome screws that just go into the plastic floor board
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