Post by fireflyfarm on Aug 8, 2013 10:28:21 GMT -5
Aftewr many years of big-bore riding, I decided to get a scooter. My 2001 Triumph Sprint RS met with an unhappy end (It went off the side of the loading ramp, then someone backed into it. It's trashed) and I've been itching to ride two wheels. I've owned 2 mopeds, but never a scooter. In 2 days, I got two! I ordered a Ruckus clone from Power Ride Outlet. It was $974, delivered, for a 150cc in a small-bodied scoot. This is the first brand-new vehicle I've ever bought. I chose the Ruck because it was the smallest, lightest scoot with a 150 engine that I could find.
I service firefighting equipment, and have been taking my work truck home for years. The company decided that the service guys at our main shop couldn't do that any more, but they haven't told me to stop...yet. I live 19 miles from our shop, and have been driving my rusty '
Astro van, leaving it at the shop when I take the truck home. If I need the van, it's at work. The idea with the scoot is, I can ride it to/from work, but can pick it up and put it in the service truck or Astro and bring it home. (The scoot will fit in the Astro after bending the mirror stems an inch.) I can store it indoors at the shop, insead of outside in a questionable neighborhood. My wife and I have a small motor home (Google "Ultra Van 276"- the Imgur album is our little weirdo!), and this scoot is small and light enough to take with us, so if we want to go to the store (VERY short distances), we don't have to take our house with us.
While awaiting delivery, I found this 2008 Shanghai 150 for $275. It needed a stator, according to the seller. It was on my way home from a work trip, so I stopped and checked it out. It was all there, and seemed to be in good condition. I bought it and took it home.
The next day, the Ruckus arrived. I was working at home, and met the delivery. My first new ride EVER! I uncrated it, and...wow. I was expecting it to be a piece of crap, but not that BIG of a piece of crap. All the plastics are very poor, even compared to the Shanghai, whichis supposed to be a "Chinese pile of junk". it was missing a bolt (which I found later), and had a hole in the fan cover. The body welds and metal parts are rough and low-quality.
I did a PDI on it, and replaced the engine and gear oil, main fuse holder, spark plug (It had an NGK, but I swapped it after 18 miles, just because), fuel lines and filter, and some bolts that stripped/broke. I checked all the electrical connecters (the fuel gauge conn had one bent pin) and taped or zip-tied some of them for security. I checked all the vac lines, but they seem OK for now. I drained the gas tank, and refilled with fresh gas with a little SeaFoam.
The Ruckus rides pretty well. I've put 35 miles on it, just around the farm, since it's been 3 weeks since I ordered it and haven't gotten my MCO yet. I'm going to adjust the carb, because it makes a "Hollow" sound and is probably running lean, and check the valves. It's black and white, so I might makes some Generic "SCOOTER" decals for it.
I ordered a stator from Amazon, and got it in 2 days. I installed it, cranked it, and the ground wire overheated. The seller had done the same thing, and melted the ground trying to crank it, then gave up on it. One of the tech tips was to shorten the ground, so I cut the wire, and reconnected it to a screw much closer to the engine. Now when it cranks, the wire doesn't heat up. I needed a new battery, too, so I got one, charged, and installed. The Shanghai was pretty well dismantled, so I wasn't sure which hoses went where, but after some fiddling, I got it to run. I replaced the fuel lines, and removed the fuel pump temporarily, until I could figure out the hoses. It rides pretty well also, except the cut-off windshield redirects the air right into my face. The previous owner had printed his name on the wrong line on the title, and didn't get it notarized, so I hope it doesn't get kicked back- PA is weird about their small vehicle laws.
I'll post photos when I get home, but I'm happy with my scoots! The new one is SOOO CHEAP, but if I'm careful with it, it should be OK. The used one was inexpensive, and is a decent machine.
I service firefighting equipment, and have been taking my work truck home for years. The company decided that the service guys at our main shop couldn't do that any more, but they haven't told me to stop...yet. I live 19 miles from our shop, and have been driving my rusty '
Astro van, leaving it at the shop when I take the truck home. If I need the van, it's at work. The idea with the scoot is, I can ride it to/from work, but can pick it up and put it in the service truck or Astro and bring it home. (The scoot will fit in the Astro after bending the mirror stems an inch.) I can store it indoors at the shop, insead of outside in a questionable neighborhood. My wife and I have a small motor home (Google "Ultra Van 276"- the Imgur album is our little weirdo!), and this scoot is small and light enough to take with us, so if we want to go to the store (VERY short distances), we don't have to take our house with us.While awaiting delivery, I found this 2008 Shanghai 150 for $275. It needed a stator, according to the seller. It was on my way home from a work trip, so I stopped and checked it out. It was all there, and seemed to be in good condition. I bought it and took it home.
The next day, the Ruckus arrived. I was working at home, and met the delivery. My first new ride EVER! I uncrated it, and...wow. I was expecting it to be a piece of crap, but not that BIG of a piece of crap. All the plastics are very poor, even compared to the Shanghai, whichis supposed to be a "Chinese pile of junk". it was missing a bolt (which I found later), and had a hole in the fan cover. The body welds and metal parts are rough and low-quality.
I did a PDI on it, and replaced the engine and gear oil, main fuse holder, spark plug (It had an NGK, but I swapped it after 18 miles, just because), fuel lines and filter, and some bolts that stripped/broke. I checked all the electrical connecters (the fuel gauge conn had one bent pin) and taped or zip-tied some of them for security. I checked all the vac lines, but they seem OK for now. I drained the gas tank, and refilled with fresh gas with a little SeaFoam.
The Ruckus rides pretty well. I've put 35 miles on it, just around the farm, since it's been 3 weeks since I ordered it and haven't gotten my MCO yet. I'm going to adjust the carb, because it makes a "Hollow" sound and is probably running lean, and check the valves. It's black and white, so I might makes some Generic "SCOOTER" decals for it.
I ordered a stator from Amazon, and got it in 2 days. I installed it, cranked it, and the ground wire overheated. The seller had done the same thing, and melted the ground trying to crank it, then gave up on it. One of the tech tips was to shorten the ground, so I cut the wire, and reconnected it to a screw much closer to the engine. Now when it cranks, the wire doesn't heat up. I needed a new battery, too, so I got one, charged, and installed. The Shanghai was pretty well dismantled, so I wasn't sure which hoses went where, but after some fiddling, I got it to run. I replaced the fuel lines, and removed the fuel pump temporarily, until I could figure out the hoses. It rides pretty well also, except the cut-off windshield redirects the air right into my face. The previous owner had printed his name on the wrong line on the title, and didn't get it notarized, so I hope it doesn't get kicked back- PA is weird about their small vehicle laws.
I'll post photos when I get home, but I'm happy with my scoots! The new one is SOOO CHEAP, but if I'm careful with it, it should be OK. The used one was inexpensive, and is a decent machine.
from atl, ga
