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Post by ltdhpp on Sept 10, 2013 17:12:57 GMT -5
I haven't done much to it yet, and hopefully won't need to. First off, here's an FYI list of things it has that the many 250cc clones don't, on top of the quality you expect from a Japanese machine - A parking brake A split braking system - applying the rear brake also put pressure on the middle piston of the 3-piston Nissin front caliper. Adjustable rear shocks Storage bucket light Electric fuel pump Domestic lighting bulbs you can get at any store - it uses H7 headlight bulbs which do not dim in the slightest at idle with the brake applied. I'm sure I'm forgetting a few... Things of quality that impressed me over my China scooters include sharp looking gauges with a lens that's still crystal clear and absence of any rattles over bumps. I have not broken myself or found any broken tupperware mounts - no stripped out plastic or bolt holes... and the pieces almost suck themselves back together on reassembly. I found no broken/re-welded exhaust mounts... I'm sure these lists will grow as I get to know it better! So far its gotten the car horns, a cupholder, a 12v outlet in the factory hole, some LEDs in the instrument cluster and a new front Avon tire. Soon will come the Big Ruckus replacement variator face to get rid of the silly 2-stage Reflex variator (they numbed the low 'gear' for the old folks...) then possibly headlight/brakelight modulators. I'm sure by next season I'll be eyeballing exhaust systems...       |
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Post by earlylight160 on Sept 10, 2013 17:52:47 GMT -5
Wow, Nice looking machine !  Enjoy, have fun and ride safely.  |
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Post by tarkus on Sept 10, 2013 18:16:07 GMT -5
The Reflex is IMO one on the best all around mid-sized scoots ever made.
All the best.
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Post by domindart on Sept 10, 2013 20:28:09 GMT -5
Nice ride. love blue  |
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Post by oldchopperguy on Sept 20, 2013 23:37:26 GMT -5
VERY nice!
Just the sort of ride I'm looking at right now! I really did want a flat-floor 250 because of arthritis making it mighty uncomfortable to climb over the "hump"... Sounds ridiculous unless you have the problem yourself. Hard to explain, but it sucks... LOL!
HOWEVER, after looking at the Honda Reflex, and Kymco "Exciting" I think I can live with a hump... Unless I can find a nice used Kymco Grand Vista. You just can't go wrong with a Honda.
What I finally end up with will depend on how much I can generate from sales of some firearms. I like guns, but I do believe I'd like a nice 250 scooter more. You only need one scooter, so I think I can survive with only a gun or two... LOL!
I've climbed on and off, and test-ridden just about ANYTHING in my used-scoot price range. I'm FINALLY fairly knowledgeable about most of the 250's, and most likely I'll end up with a Honda Reflex, or a Kymco Exciting. Both are very similar scoots in most areas.
I really like the overall Honda features and quality, and I really like the Kymco 15" front, and 14" rear rims and the Kymco dual-disk front brakes. I rode a Honda Reflex, and it was great (didn't notice the 2-step variator) and I rode a Kymco Grand Vista. It also rode great, and has the flat floor I like. Both were used, with roughly 15K miles on the clock. I rode a NOS 2010 Kymco Exciting, and must admit it was sweet. That fuel-injection DOES make a difference! Combined with the larger wheels, it runs VERY solidly at 70 mph+ BUT so do the Reflex and Grand Vista. Any of them would be fine. It all depends on the budget.
You got a VERY nice ride there. Most likely I'll be riding a similar one next spring too... There are a lot more good used Honda Reflexes out there than Kymcos. You are absolutely right about the enormous gap in quality between Chinese and Japanese scoots. The Chinese rides offer a LOT for the money, but after nearly 6 years of constant wrenching, I'm ready for some laid-back riding, at highway speeds, which seems to be realistic even with used scoots with 20K miles on them.
In the mean time, I've got my 150 running as well as it's EVER going to... So I can still enjoy 2-wheels until I find your scoot's "brother"...
Enjoy!
Leo in Texas
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Post by ltdhpp on Sept 21, 2013 8:59:13 GMT -5
Thanks all! And good luck on your search for something similar OCG! The Reflex you rode may have already had something done with the variator... about how high did it rev in 'low' gear? On mine it just feels like 0-30mph is about like my 150cc was stock. Then it kinda lulls at 30-35 for a moment, but then whhoooo boy! she takes off like something fierce! Cruising around on 45mph roads, I usually forget I have what seems like an extra 1/2 throttle to use!!! And when you twist it she takes off!! I have already put together my variator holder tool - I figure I should do this one the proper way instead of wailing on it with an impact gun. I'm just waiting for a few more paychecks before I buy more parts, so I can pay off the last bit of the purchase price I put on my credit card first! I have a couple slick LED lamps I plan to add, none of which will involve drilling holes in the beautiful body panels like I did the 150... I also switched the dash cluster bulbs from blue to red. Blue light doesn't light up the red markings on the instruments very well, especially since it is 'shine-around' instead of 'shine-through' illumination. The red works great though!  |
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Post by spandi on Sept 21, 2013 9:51:52 GMT -5
How many miles did you get on the '08 Titan before parting out?
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Post by ltdhpp on Sept 21, 2013 10:24:43 GMT -5
Taking a wild guess of how many miles I went with a broken speedo cable, probably around 10,000 miles including what the previous owner put on it (2,000). It was not unusual for me to put 100 miles on it on a Saturday, and I rode it everywhere 11 months out of the year.
I wish i could get it running and into someone else's hands, but I even had my buddy that has worked on many thumper motorcycles come check it out with me and he was at a loss too. There were plenty of things to 'try', we did all the cheap ones, but the rest involved significant work and time. I don't want to risk loosing any more...
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2005 Honda Reflex and 2006 Yamaha Majesty
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Post by bobshaw on Sept 21, 2013 11:16:52 GMT -5
I've got an '05 Reflex Sport, and I love it. I've put close to 2,000 miles on it since I bought it this winter, and I've never had the plastic off of it. Big difference from my TaoTao. I wish the Sport model had the taller windshield and anti-lock brakes like yours. A problem I have is running down the road thinking, "Wow, that's a lot of wind" and then noticing I'm doing 70 mph. I don't know what top-end is on this bike, but it is not even breathing hard at 70.
I'm ok with the variator. It's not a rocket on take-off, but, still gets out ahead of traffic. I have to remember, but, I think it goes to 4500 - 5000 rpms before it picks up at about 45 mph.
Good luck with your new scoot. Just don't drop it like I did mine.
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Post by oldchopperguy on Sept 21, 2013 12:59:01 GMT -5
Thanks all! And good luck on your search for something similar OCG! The Reflex you rode may have already had something done with the variator... about how high did it rev in 'low' gear? On mine it just feels like 0-30mph is about like my 150cc was stock. Then it kinda lulls at 30-35 for a moment, but then whhoooo boy! she takes off like something fierce! Cruising around on 45mph roads, I usually forget I have what seems like an extra 1/2 throttle to use!!! And when you twist it she takes off!! I have already put together my variator holder tool - I figure I should do this one the proper way instead of wailing on it with an impact gun. I'm just waiting for a few more paychecks before I buy more parts, so I can pay off the last bit of the purchase price I put on my credit card first! I have a couple slick LED lamps I plan to add, none of which will involve drilling holes in the beautiful body panels like I did the 150... I also switched the dash cluster bulbs from blue to red. Blue light doesn't light up the red markings on the instruments very well, especially since it is 'shine-around' instead of 'shine-through' illumination. The red works great though! Not being familiar with the Honda scooters (had Honda cycles and have a Honda car...) I didn't notice any actual 2-speed effect. It just rode like my 150, only a lot faster... LOL! Could be the variator WAS modded. I'm really digging around, and what I'm finding are Honda Reflexes, and, Kymco " Excitings"... Cheesh, I don't like Kymco's NAMES, but I do like their SCOOTERS... LOL! I taped a plastic waste-basket on the floor of my old Xingue, simulating a frame-hump, to see if I can realistically "live with" a scoot with a "hump". Seems I've found a way to sort of sit on the seat and swing the old arthritic knees over the hump. Not ideal, but it opens my options up a lot. My most promising "target of opportunity" at the moment, is a 2009 Kymco "Exciting" 500cc. I looked at them, and they seem to be about the same scoot as the "Exciting" 250cc, EXCEPT for a double-sized engine... Hmmm... I could live with THAT... I haven't had a 500cc "thumper" since I was a kid! At my age, I doubt the larger engine would make much difference in the cost of insurance. But it would make a difference in the little highway cruising I might do! The 500 is kind of neat, still being a pretty "nimble" scooter in city traffic, but also a pretty "road-capable" maxi for the occasional 70 mph run to the next town. One thing for sure: There are a LOT of choices out there in used scoots (some of the very BEST not even made anymore). These scooters are fascinating... As much fun to mess with as the motorcycles of my youth, but more versatile, and, with even MORE variety! As soon as I latch onto one, I'll make a post. I believe MANY riders have enjoyed their 50's and 150's but are now considering getting into a larger, faster ride, without losing the agility of their small scoot, OR breaking the bank. The adventure continues... LOL! Leo in Texas |
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Post by spandi on Sept 21, 2013 13:08:47 GMT -5
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Post by oldchopperguy on Sept 21, 2013 23:04:10 GMT -5
OH YEAH!
The "Grand Dink"... In America it was changed to "Grand Vista". Not so bad... The origin of the "DINK" actually came from America! A while back there were "Yuppies" (Young Upwardly-Mobile Professionals) "Yuppie Puppies" (their kids) and "Dinks" (Double-Income No Kids)... There were other equally irritating sub-culture acronyms for the young and money-grubbing... LOL! The rest of the world (back before everybody began hating Americans) jumped onto those nicknames "to be more Western"... So much so that the "Grand Dink" came to be on the other side of the pond. Of course, Kymco's Dink, People, Exciting and Agility can't compare to the REAL weird ones from Japan, from my teenage years... Unforgettable (LOL!) classics like "Silver Pigeon" "Combat Wombat" "Benevolent Sparrow" and some I really HAVE forgotten... But China is never to be outdone! Timeless classics like "Future Champion" "Go-Fast Boy" "Boy Racer" and the all-time best, "WUSSY". If I was scripting a comedy show, I'd HAVE to get in one sketch of a computer nerd bumbling into an outlaw biker-bar on a Wussy scooter... Now these are all fine scooters, no offense meant, just not the greatest model names. Now, if I do end up getting that Kymco "Exciting" I just may have to remove that part of the name, and replace it with chrome letters spelling out, maybe, "HELLO KITTY" 500. I've always been partial to those cute Japanese good-luck "waving" cats... HeHeHe... Oh well, it's NOT the name on the fender, it's what's under the plastic! Leo (ridin' nameless) in Texas
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Post by spandi on Sept 22, 2013 0:36:28 GMT -5
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Post by ltdhpp on Oct 1, 2013 20:41:06 GMT -5
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Post by skyrider on Oct 1, 2013 21:27:28 GMT -5
I bought a '07 Reflex in March of this year with 15,250 miles on it. Since then I have put almost 9000 more including a 5300 mile cross country trip. Zero problems, just a set of new tires and oil changes.
That is SO different from the yy250T that I had before!!!
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