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Post by oldchopperguy on Oct 7, 2013 22:24:15 GMT -5
Well Guys and Gals, I got the "new" used 250 on the road. I managed to snap a few pix before the sun went all the way down! Here's how the old gal looks; VERY similar in size and appearance to all of our familiar good old GY6 air-cooled 150's...       So far, I'm mighty happy with the 2007 Grand Vista 250. She's only slightly larger than the Xingyue 150, and a little heavier. So riding is quite similar. But WHAT a DIFFERENCE in performance! I have been riding only in-town, which is very much like similar rides on the 150. Tonight however, I ran 10 miles down the freeway to do some shopping. Entering the freeway, I chose a STEEP uphill entrance ramp. I hit it at 35 mph, rolled on the throttle to about 2/3 and I happily shot up the ramp, with nearly as fast acceleration as on the flat. Nice! I blended with the 65 mph speed-limit slow-lane traffic effortlessly, and checked the speedo: it read 71 mph (it reads 4 mph fast) so that was a true 68 mph. I moved over one lane left, opened it up to WOT and for the first time ever, I was able to run with the left-lane traffic at an indicated 83 mph. THAT is a true 79 mph, and all she wrote. I pulled back into the right lane, backed off and was able to cruise at an indicated 75 mph (or a true 71...). FINALLY, I'm able to run safely on the freeway (slow lane, at least) on a true "scooter" with small wheels, light weight and easy in-town maneuverability. What a PLEASURE!I started this new thread to have one only pertaining to the 250 experience. As time and miles accumulate, I'll update. This Kymco is out of date, and is a somewhat unique product, being a small-wheel, lightweight scooter with 70 mph+ capability. Most of the faster scoots are in the "maxi-scooter" genre with LONG wheelbase and HEAVY weight. The new Kymco GTi300 is a much-modernized version of this oldie (but with 16" wheels) and 30 hp and  mph+ speed. At this point, I have found a major difference between 250cc class scooters, and 250cc class MAXI-scooters. Anyone wanting freeway capable speed should try BOTH types of scoots to be sure WHICH one is best for his or her needs. Whatever you ride, RIDE SAFE!Leo in Texas
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2008 Roketa MC54B 257 (10,000 miles and climbing)
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Post by bhinch on Oct 8, 2013 1:47:35 GMT -5
Excellent scoot...a great deal...enjoy.....
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Post by SylvreKat on Oct 8, 2013 5:35:07 GMT -5
First off, congrats again, Leo. She's a beauty! Guess we won't be seeing you here so much, at least not for a while 'til the shiny wears off that "new" scoot! How many miles have you gone already?
Second, about the four miles off. Are you sure your speedo really is consistent throughout? My wagon is high when we're slow and low when we're fast and pretty spot-on in the middle. I don't know with my scooter, 'cause I'm not holding my Garmin and watching it while driving two wheels.
I'd tell you to keep smiling, but I've a feeling that isn't hard for now.
>'Kat
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Post by urbanmadness on Oct 8, 2013 6:27:43 GMT -5
Nice scoot... quick question, are the Kyco's clones engine wise or do they use their own design. I know they are high quality but engine wise I was just wondering if they used a high quality clone motor or did there own thing.
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Post by Jarlaxle on Oct 8, 2013 8:03:42 GMT -5
I suggest checking the speed rating on the tires before you make another highway run. Many of the smaller tires only good to about 60 miles per hour. (Thats a "J" rating.)
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Post by fugaziiv on Oct 8, 2013 8:36:34 GMT -5
urbanmadness - Older KYMCO scooters were "close to a clone", in that many but not all of the parts are interchangeable with a standard clone GY6 or CN250. Newer KYMCO scooters are moving towards proprietary engine designs.
Matt
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Post by spandi on Oct 8, 2013 9:11:36 GMT -5
Leo where are your marketing skills? "Snow Bunny" isn't out of date, she's "Vintage"  |
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Post by novaraptor on Oct 8, 2013 9:39:24 GMT -5
Welcome back to the freeway.. I don't take my 250 onto the freeway very often, but it is nice to be able to. I've had the chinometer reading 80, some throttle left, not redlined, and kept up with nearly all the freeway traffic. I figure I'm around 10 mph over on the speedometer, but haven't gps'd it. Just being able to run with the traffic is fine for me. Enjoy the ride.
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Post by oldchopperguy on Oct 8, 2013 13:18:08 GMT -5
I suggest checking the speed rating on the tires before you make another highway run. Many of the smaller tires only good to about 60 miles per hour. (Thats a "J" rating.) The original owner replaced both tires a couple thousand miles ago, and the dealer replaced the rear tire last month, but I will double-check the speed-rating. Speed does weird things to wheels and tires... Just ask any of the "Alpha-Dog" crotch-rocket jockeys. Something truly awful begins to take place after the "magic" 200 mph threshold. (Back in MY day, it was 150 mph). I guess with scooters it's something over "walking-speed"... LOL! Around 1975, one of my pals bought a new Ducati Darmah (one of the Grand-Daddies of today's rockets). It was fast even by today's standards, and absolutely super-sonic back then. He'd play with us on the freeway, letting us get a mile ahead and then coming by us at about 160 mph. About the tenth time he played that game, his front wheel (top-quality for the time Boriani alloy) simply "flew apart" from the centrifugal force. The wheel, then the tire exploded into hundreds of pieces. The front fork dug into the asphalt, and my pal and the Duke did probably 20 end-over-end flips before face-planting in the pea-gravel shoulder (where he slid for over 1,000 feet). He was wearing nothing but shorts and shoes... Rider-safety was NOT prioritized in those days. The story DID have a happy ending. He lived (although at 68, he's STILL picking gravel out of his hide... LOL!). And he even bought a helmet. The Duke got straightened, tweaked and rebuilt and he's STILL riding it. Yup... I'll check the speed-rating on those itty-bitty tires...Thanks! Leo |
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Commuting is the best part of my day!
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Post by trailheadmike on Oct 8, 2013 13:31:44 GMT -5
Beautiful scoot! Many happy and safe miles to you.
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Post by oldchopperguy on Oct 8, 2013 13:47:54 GMT -5
First off, congrats again, Leo. She's a beauty! Guess we won't be seeing you here so much, at least not for a while 'til the shiny wears off that "new" scoot! How many miles have you gone already? Second, about the four miles off. Are you sure your speedo really is consistent throughout? My wagon is high when we're slow and low when we're fast and pretty spot-on in the middle. I don't know with my scooter, 'cause I'm not holding my Garmin and watching it while driving two wheels. I'd tell you to keep smiling, but I've a feeling that isn't hard for now. >'Kat That of course, remains to be seen... Did I do well paying the price of a new Chinese 250 for a 8-year-old Taiwanese scoot? Only time will tell. I must admit that everything I've been able to inspect is much, MUCH better-made than similar parts on my old Xingyue. But the Kymco definitely has some age. However, I don't see the peeling chrome, cracks, chips and crumbling and corrosion of electrical parts and body panels that were evident on my 150 even when it was brand-new. The original owner checked the speed by GPS, and it varied from about 2 1/2 mph high at indicated 20 mph, to 4 mph high at indicated 80 mph. He weighed less than me... LOL! Being at night, I could also easily see inside cars by me, and at an indicated 75 mph, the cars' speedos were showing just over 70, so the 4 mph-over is mighty close. Oh... Almost FORGOT! The headlight is "almost adequate" too! The old 150 was making me wonder if I needed a seeing-eye dog... LOL! As for miles ridden, I've only had the 250 since last Friday, but I've put about 200 miles on her digital clock... And folded and un-folded those magnificent electric "mouse-ear-mirrors" dozens of times just to watch 'em flap! I'm hoping to get many miles, and years out of this one...And, thanks one and all to everyone congratulating and encouraging me! I've had a LOT of useful and enjoyable transportation with my old 150, and I think this one will be even better!Ride safe! Leo |
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Post by Deleted on Oct 8, 2013 14:14:38 GMT -5
Very cool and edgy looking bike.  |
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Post by spandi on Oct 8, 2013 15:51:08 GMT -5
First off, congrats again, Leo. She's a beauty! Guess we won't be seeing you here so much, at least not for a while 'til the shiny wears off that "new" scoot! How many miles have you gone already? Second, about the four miles off. Are you sure your speedo really is consistent throughout? My wagon is high when we're slow and low when we're fast and pretty spot-on in the middle. I don't know with my scooter, 'cause I'm not holding my Garmin and watching it while driving two wheels. I'd tell you to keep smiling, but I've a feeling that isn't hard for now. >'Kat IDK about this Kat (Hope not anyways) We had a guy at the old site named Gary who would post a lot, until he got something like an RV250? and then basically just disappeared. |
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Post by ltdhpp on Oct 8, 2013 17:57:03 GMT -5
Nice!!!
Did you encounter any wind while you were on the freeway?? I've had my reflex up to 65ish and I get tossed around by the wind a bit... the bit of time I spent in a big-rig's tail wind was NOT fun!! lol...
I wonder how my wheelbase compares to yours...
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Post by scootnwinn on Oct 8, 2013 18:03:43 GMT -5
I didn't have any issues with wind on the Burgman. If your having trouble shift your weight forward a bit and push evenly forward on both bars see if that helps. A scooter with all the weight at the bottom like yours should be stable...
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mph+ speed. At this point, I have found a major difference between 250cc class scooters, and 250cc class MAXI-scooters. Anyone wanting freeway capable speed should try BOTH types of scoots to be sure WHICH one is best for his or her needs.
