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Post by phssthpok on Dec 7, 2013 19:49:36 GMT -5
For reasons other than just S-n-G's, I'm pondering the feasibility of riding the 150cc Roketa across the country next spring...Eastern Washington to Central Florida. I've put some thought into it already, but I'm nowhere near done planning (I just started in fact). Google maps has a nifty feature that will give you directions between to points, and has the options of 'Avoid Freeways', and 'Avoid Tolls'...it figured the trip at a touch under 3100 miles. So far the rough plan calls for 10 hours seat time/day averaging 40mph (400mi/day) with a total travel time of approximately 8 days. Fuel stops would be minimized through the use of an additional tank. Specifically one of the 'suitcase' 6.5 gallon marine fuel tanks, strapped to the back (either bridging the pillion portion of the seat and the rear package rack, or sideways on the package rack). This would be plumbed with a standard motorcycle petcock (Off/Main/Reserve). Primary fuel draw would be from the 'large' tank with the factory 1.3 under-seat tank as the 'reserve'. If I average 60mpg, and use a maximum 7gal/day of the available fuel load, then I should have a range of 420 miles between fill-ups...well within my intended 400mi/day. Which of course means only tanking up ONCE per day. Minimal fuel stops will go a long way toward achieving a full 10 hours of 'seat time'/day. This would also be something of an extended camping trip as funds would/will be tight and hotels not an option. So at a minimum I'd be packing a decent sized tarp to 'tent' over the scoot, a sleeping bag or 'heavy' blanket, toiletries, and a few changes of clothes. As a backpacker of the Cascades in years past I have lots of lightweight packs and camping gear for amenities, though my camelbak type drinking bladders will probably need replacing. Additionally I'd be packing tools, spare parts (belt, spark plug, coil, CDI, and probably some jets for elevation changes), oil, and a tire plug kit. So far that's about the extent of my 'external' plans (though bear in mind I'm just in the beginning stages of planning). Next comes the 'internals'...namely, CVT upgrades for longevity/increased fuel efficiency. For the mountainous areas, I was thinking of a stiffer contra-spring on the clutch to keep it in a 'lower' gear longer. Once up to full cruising speed the CVT should reach it's maximum ratio-change regardless of the spring tension, but a stiffer spring sure would help reduce strain on the engine when taking off from a stop with all that load on. I'm wondering though if I should combine lighter variator weights with the stiffer contra spring, to further lengthen the amount of time the CVT remains in lower 'gears' since I was also thinking about swapping out the final drive gear set for something with a little more 'legs' (to reduce RPM at cruising). With the exception of the occasional stoplights in podunk towns I'll be going through (as a result of avoiding freeways, and sticking to secondary highways), most of the ride will be spent at 3/4+ throttle cruising speeds. So what do you folks think? Doable? cheers/jeers? picks/pans? Anything you can think of that I haven't mentioned planning for? |
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Post by tvnacman on Dec 7, 2013 20:08:04 GMT -5
I would think you would be doing oil changes 2nd or 3rd day , gear oil change by the second oil change . I would pick up oil on the road where you intend to change it . Take an extra oil filter plug with you . This will be interesting to follow .
John
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Post by larry001964 on Dec 7, 2013 21:26:19 GMT -5
Hummm well it has been done before, I forget the guy that attempted it's name..It's in the old scootdawg somewhere. Any way he broke down several times, even required a new engine at some point, he was constantly badmouthing Chinese scooter's and really made quit a few people angry...
My suggestion if you are serious are, get a trailer that you can tow behind you, include two top end rebuild kits, A spare carb and fuel filter, a spare variator, drive belt, switch to Dr. Pulley sliders, ( to my knowledge last the longest ) extra plastic guides, enough oil for at least two oil changes.. And have your AAA membership paid in full.. Install a 12 volt outlet so your cell phone can charge while your driving, spare CDI, spark plug, and coil and all the necessary tools to perform a full top end rebuild along side the road..
Also let the air out of your tires, put some slime in them, and air them back up. I know it sounds like a lot, but this will increase your chances of making it a lot... Good Luck
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Post by DaveC on Dec 7, 2013 21:31:38 GMT -5
Nice idea, but me thinks it's a little too aggressive.
I've done plenty of cross countries, but on a friggin Goldwing, and even still, it was a challenge after day 2.
Longest trip without stopping o'nite, was 950 miles, Minneapolis to Denver.
I did a Run for the Wall, LA to DC, I just did the Denver, to LA, then LA back to Denver, camping, 400 - 500 miles a day, and I was beat.
Think of stopping for a day or so along the way to recover.
Keep us informed
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Post by scootnwinn on Dec 7, 2013 23:08:56 GMT -5
10 hours solid in the seat for 8 days will wreck you I have done some iron butt tours and they aren't for everyone I wouldn't do it on a Chinese scooter, but I'm not you. Personally taking off on a machine that you need to bring an extra engine for to be sure you'll make it is kind of crazy. I would happily eat my words if you do make it though...
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Post by spandi on Dec 7, 2013 23:31:28 GMT -5
Hummm well it has been done before, I forget the guy that attempted it's name..It's in the old scootdawg somewhere. Any way he broke down several times, even required a new engine at some point, he was constantly badmouthing Chinese scooter's and really made quit a few people angry... My suggestion if you are serious are, get a trailer that you can tow behind you, include two top end rebuild kits, A spare carb and fuel filter, a spare variator, switch to Dr. Pulley sliders, ( to my knowledge last the longest ) extra plastic guides, enough oil for at least two oil changes.. And have your AAA membership paid in full.. Install a 12 volt outlet so your cell phone can charge while your driving, spare CDI, spark plug, and coil and all the necessary tools to perform a full top end rebuild along side the road.. Also let the air out of your tires, put some slime in them, and air them back up. I know it sounds like a lot, but this will increase your chances of making it a lot... Good Luck I remember that one. Not only did he bad mouth Chinese scoots, but drove for the longest time with NO OIL in it! (Obviously if he had been riding a Honda or Vespa he would not have needed oil at all  ) |
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Post by skyrider on Dec 8, 2013 1:06:40 GMT -5
I like the idea myself. Sounds like a lot of fun. For myself I'd choose a 250. The 150 that I had previously was good for an honest cruise of 45-50. When we went full time RV I upgraded to a 250 because I knew that there would be times I had to go on freeways just to get where I wanted to go.
Last June/July I did a 5319 mile cross country to Arkansas from SW Oregon and back and did as much as 550 miles in a day. I ran mostly 55-60. I did have to take I 80 from Winnamucca NV to east of Salt Lake City--there is no other road through that area. I carried camping gear and camped along the way.
(After a bad experience with a Refex clone I bought a used Honda Reflex. They are fairly bullet proof.)
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Post by phssthpok on Dec 8, 2013 9:45:50 GMT -5
I hadn't thought about the oil change intervals. Didn't realize they were so short! The oil I intended to pack along was just one quart of 'emergency' oil...any oil changes en route would in fact be done with locally sourced oil . I guess I'll have to add a small funnel to the list of tools. BTW...last engine/trans oil change I did, I glued some small neodymium magnets to the tops of the plugs. presuming this succeeds in trapping metallic particles, would that increase the oil change intervals, or is the interval set more by the blow-by from the piston? Also...why the extra filter plug? It doesn't seem like it would be a wear item. I'd like to avoid a trailer if possible, though having a small one DOES increase capacity. I could even make it just big enough for the extra tank and switch to an actual fuel PUMP (such as those used on the floor-tank-equipped Ruckus). that would greatly lower the center of gravity vs. having a full tank up on the package rack. Money *IS* a factor in all this so springing for a couple of top end rebuild kits is probably not in the offing. The same goes for a complete spare carb and (sadly) most likely the AAA membership. 12vdc outlet is a good idea. One that I had already thought of, but forgot to list.  As for tools, I plan to have a small 'pocket' socket set, a selection of box end wrenches, a 'multiple 16th's wrench', and a specific pair of screwdrivers I have that allow me to make idle speed and mixture adjustments without removing ANY body parts. Oh I have zero delusions about it being anywhere *near* fun, but money constraints force time constraints. However, I fully intend to limit myself to no more than 10 hours of actual seat time each day (or 400 miles...whichever comes first  ) and then get off and stay off the bike for the remainder of the day, even if I feel like I'm wasting perfectly good ride time. If I could afford to get another platform, I'd just step up to an actual motorcycle. Lately I've been giving the Yamaha V-Star 650 a good, HARD looking at. I've seen several in the $2500-3500 range around here. Unfortunately, the fact that I am stuck with what I have (the Roketa 150) is the whole reason this thread was even worth creating. Going cross country on a 650cc cruiser isn't anything special (in the MC world that is)...doing it on a 'cheap' Chinese gy6 clone on the other hand... |
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Post by larry001964 on Dec 8, 2013 11:28:00 GMT -5
I know the trailer sounds like a lot, but i have seen some pretty light ones that would do the job... They were just two wheels, an aluminum frame and cloth... My recommendations are based on what the other guy went thru, and my own personal experiences, been riding two wheeled vehicles since i was 10, and I'm almost 50 now.. I really do understand money being a big issue... But you get out there 1 or 2 hundred miles from home and go down, it will become an even bigger issue...
Now what Spandi said was true, the other guy did run without oil, but i don't remember why, if he developed an oil leak in route or what, but it totally trashed his engine and he required a new one.. But he did have several break downs prior to that... I don't really know his mechanical ability or yours, I don't know the condition of your current engine or how many miles you have on it already. So forgive me if i error on the side of caution. It's your safety and your completing the trip I'm most concerned with...
Believe it or not, I would love to see you do it and make it, on the same engine you started with, many bash Chinese scoots, but I believe it can be done, I just don't want you to get out there and find yourself in trouble with no way out.. The AAA was more if your not mechanically inclined..
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Post by phssthpok on Dec 8, 2013 12:37:15 GMT -5
Having had the trailer seed planted, I've spent the last couple of hours perusing YouTube for examples and ideas (in addition to finding this helpful forum thread). My CDO */Asperger's kicked in and I've already gone out and attacked the scooter with a tape measure! In my mind I'm now envisioning the suitcase in an 'underslung' orientation and a 'flip-flop' deck arrangement that I can convert into a quasi-tent sleeping platform via PVC arches and a tarp. Add a rolled up foam sleeping pad, and a blanket or sleeping bag, and I'm set for a decent night's sleep! I even planned for removable 'feet' to stabilize the platform when extended. Which of course got me to thinking about an even larger aux fuel tank.  As for mechanical abilities...I once salvaged a three day fishing trip out in the hinter-boonies when the high pressure side power steering hose blew out *just* as we arrived, using nothing more than some duct tape and a hose-clamp! The main chunk of hose that 'blew out' (about the size of a small popcorn kernel) was still attached by a small bit of rubber, so I used a rag and some gasoline to thoroughly degrease the entire hose, stuffed the chunk back into place, wrapped the ever-living snot out of the hose, and backed that up with the hose clamp reefed down as tight as I could manage right over said blow-out point. that patch held for a week and a half before the special order 'one-model-year-only-so-we-don't-stock-it' replacement hose arrived at the parts store. It still leaked...but at less than a small drip every ten seconds or so...slow enough that it checking/topping it at every fuel stop was sufficient to keep from getting dangerously low. *It's like OCD, only alphabetized... As. It. Should. Be. |
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Post by nulldevice on Dec 8, 2013 13:53:42 GMT -5
I do think your 40 MPH average speed over several days is a bit aggressive for a 150. I suggest a three day round trip over a long weekend averaging 40 MPH. Make sure those are real miles, not chinometer miles. If after you return home on the third day you are ready to climb on the scooter the next day and do the three day trip again then the trip is feasible.
Watch the weight, it adds up fast. For example a six gallon marine tank full of fuel, assuming you stop at six gallons and don't fill the expansion space as well, is going to weigh -- 6 gallons times 6 pounds per gallon plus the 20? pound tank is about 55 pounds, plus plumbing. The trailer to haul it is another 20 to 60 pounds that will have to be hauled up hill by the motor and stopped going down hill by the brakes.
Good luck.
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Post by larry001964 on Dec 8, 2013 14:44:44 GMT -5
I do think your 40 MPH average speed over several days is a bit aggressive for a 150. I suggest a three day round trip over a long weekend averaging 40 MPH. Make sure those are real miles, not chinometer miles. If after you return home on the third day you are ready to climb on the scooter the next day and do the three day trip again then the trip is feasible. Watch the weight, it adds up fast. For example a six gallon marine tank full of fuel, assuming you stop at six gallons and don't fill the expansion space as well, is going to weigh -- 6 gallons times 6 pounds per gallon plus the 20? pound tank is about 55 pounds, plus plumbing. The trailer to haul it is another 20 to 60 pounds that will have to be hauled up hill by the motor and stopped going down hill by the brakes. Good luck. Id have to agree about the weight... The trailer i was looking at i doubt weight 10 pounds, the parts I suggested and tools, maybe 20 pounds, I would think with the mpg's these scooters get he would not need 6 gallons of fuel, I em thinking more like a 2 or three gallons would be a sufficient backup supply.. |
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Post by skyrider on Dec 8, 2013 15:43:28 GMT -5
My feelings are keep the weight down. I don't know what your fuel tank capacity is but most of the time gas stations are not that far apart. I would not carry much extra gas along. My Reflex is 3.2 gal. and I get mid 60s mpg, I don't carry any extra.
The 150 Znen that I had never needed anything but valve adjustment. It would maintain 45-50 easily. Even 40 on six percent grades. So 40 mph average is easily doable. I use a small dome tent, folding camp chair, good air mattress and battery powered blower to inflate it plus good sleeping bag (all stuff I already had).
In 1961 I rode a Harley Davidson Topper from NW AR to NE KY about 700 miles each way (engine let go about 50 miles from home) . I believe today's Chinese scoots are far superior to the Topper.
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Post by shalomdawg on Dec 8, 2013 17:10:15 GMT -5
howdy, whereabouts in eastern Washington are you? I was raised in the tri-cities and just moved here to Oregon a year ago. I have been eying an 1100 gold wing interstate for 1750 nearby to do some major moving about like a trip to Alaska up the alkan. I would discourage using the 150 for that especially since a neighbor just bought one and is having nothing but problems.
lotsa miles and smiles to ya
ken
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Post by phssthpok on Dec 8, 2013 18:51:22 GMT -5
The trailer idea I have formulating in my mind would be constructed of 3/4"(id) steel electrical conduit, and utilize mountain bike wheels. Something akin to this, only without the angle iron. I still don't understand why, if they had a tubing bender, they didn't take the time to do the maths and make the perimeter of the frame a single piece of tube.  As a welder/fabricator by trade I can tell you it's not *that* hard... and I SUCK at math!  I imagine the whole thing would weigh maybe 15lbs 'empty'. Those 6.5 gal tanks weigh in around 5 lbs (I went out in the garage and hefted an empty one...I have three), so..20 lbs tops combined. 6 gallons of gas at 6.25lbs/gal nets 37.5 lbs...call it 40 lbs for fudge sake, and the total is now 60lbs for trailer, tank, and fuel. Add another 10 lbs for the decking/sleeping platform, tarp, and bedding. 70 lbs. is getting 'up there', but that's everything I imagined hauling on it, and depending on how much room I have on the pillion seat, I may relocate some of the bedding up there for a 'backrest'. In my mind's eye I'm envisioning a 'deck' 24'' long x 24" wide, with three layers of decking hinged in 'accordion' style to fold out to a flat sleeping surface 60"l x 24"w (I'm roughly 5'7" so an even 6 feet of deck is plenty). Holes will be drilled in the deck in six locations to accommodate 'pockets' in which light-weight 1/2" PVC slip-together 'square' arches will be fit. Throw a tarp over the top and you have a dry sleeping place for the night. The fuel tank would be fit under, and suspended from, the deck rails to lower the CG. The braking thing *might* be an issue, but given that the scoot is designed to accommodate two-up riding (with an advertised 'max load' of 385lbs), and myself clocking in at under 200lbs, it seems that total braking load is well withing engineered specifications.. However it did make me think, so prior to finding out the max load I went out to the garage to look the scoot over a bit, and found that the rear brake is cable operated. Working the hand lever I watched just how much 'throw' the drum lever had, and determined that I could rig a bicycle brake cable to the drum lever and give the trailer it's own brakes. I could even make them adjustable for varying loads! The primary reason for going with a 6gal. marine tank is partly the fact that all the fuel pick-up engineering has been done (as opposed to figuring out how to do it on a smaller Jerry can), and partly the 6 gal capacity completely eliminating the need for any mid-day fuel stops. I'll either top up as I wind up my riding day, or first thing the next morning...and short of any mechanical breakdowns or biological needs, I'll be set for a day of non-stop seat time. I'm hoping I can offset any 'time lost' to slower speeds through towns by holding a 'cruise' speed between 45-50 in order to average out/achieve the overall 40mph average goal. |
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