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Post by oldchopperguy on Apr 25, 2014 0:15:20 GMT -5
Today, I took "Minnie Mouse" to MOXIE SCOOTERS to mount new tires. I want 92mph "P" rated, but with WHITEWALLS.
Shinko makes a 120/70/12 P-rated whitewall for the front, but I could not find ANY maker producing a 140/70/12 P-whitewall for the rear... So, John Raimondi of MOXIE SCOOTERS (where I got "Minnie") got me a Shinko front, and was so kind as to research what other tire would be a good handling match in the larger rear size. Turned out to be a Michelin 140/70/12. I got the tires and "painted" whitewalls on the Michelin with "Dr. Whitewall" paint. There are several products like Dr. Whitewall, including Gledi and Ranger. Not IDEAL, but ACCEPTABLE.
Here's a pic of the "new shoes" bungee-corded to Minnie for their only scooter trip NOT touching pavement...
Now, for the thread title explanation! Since my Wife cannot drive well due to health issues, and cannot follow me in the car, John generously offered to lend me a scooter to use while Moxie changes the tires, balances the wheels and flushes/re-fills my radiator for summer. VERY NICE!
The scoot he lent me is a 2008 Kymco People 200S. A tall-wheel scooter resembling those from Italy. Powered by a GY6 200cc, I am MORE than impressed! THIS is a scooter ANYBODY could love! Except maybe the fake radiator... The REAL ones look bad enough... LOL!
THIS is a whole new type of scooter to me. Mechanically, it's your basic 150 class GY6. But THERE is where the similarities end. THIS is what we all WISH our Chinese 150's could be, but never are, no matter HOW much tweaking and wrenching we do.
The large wheels (17 and 16-inch) ride VERY nicely. The suspension is spot-on. And... twist the throttle and it takes off with REAL authority. And I mean REAL fast! Right on up to an indicated 70 mph. Back off on the throttle a little and she purrs along at an indicated 65, effortlessly.
You can thrash her over into turns, ROAR up steep hills, and buck 40 mph headwinds with little effort. The brakes would stop a 747! For a carbureted, air-cooled standard GY6, THIS is as good as it's likely to get. Period! DANG! This scooter is FUN!
I don't know what she weighs, but pushing her around into tight places is as easy as doing so with a fat-tire BICYCLE! Putting her on the center-stand only requires STEPPING ON THE STAND! No gorilla-jerk lifting, just step on the stand! SWEET!
She's a 2008 with low miles, and shows plenty of TLC by the previous owner. Goes to show you what enjoyable rides are out there without paying NEW scooter prices! This scooter handles so easily, and is so steady that it's IDEAL for anyone who might be intimidated by any ride that is the least bit heavy, or at all cumbersome. One could go from a BICYCLE to THIS scooter and transition in only a few minutes!
I've never ridden a motorized 2-wheeler that inspires rider confidence to this extent. It's truly a scooter for those who might be "thinking twice" about riding on 2 wheels. This "People 200" is a REAL convincer!
Chalk up another big "two-thumbs-up" from me for Kymco, and for Moxie Scooters! I'm now understanding how the similar Italian models (like Sylvrekat's) have such a loyal following! This little wheezer is like the Chinese 150's black-sheep cousin with an attitude! But still a flat-floor, step-through design! LOL! Yup... CANDY BLUE and WICKED-FAST TOO! And, sold, and backed up by as fine a dealership as you'll find anywhere! And, John now has a full selection of the brand-new Stella 4-stroke, CVT tranny scoots in the great Italian-inspired colors! And SIDECARS too! VERY sharp! Worth a trip to his store if you're in the neighborhood.
The way I brag on Moxie, one might think I have stock in the place... But no! I'm just THAT enthusiastic about such nice folks to deal with, and who offers such a variety of great scoots, both NEW and USED!
Ride safe, and try out one of these simple, air-cooled hotrods! You're bound to like it!
Leo (ridin' "Lil Blue" until Minnie gets her new shoes) in Texas
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Post by spandi on Apr 25, 2014 1:26:13 GMT -5
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Post by oldchopperguy on Apr 25, 2014 2:06:49 GMT -5
Spandi,
I'm still up! Closing down now... Yeah, I more than agree with those posts! This People 200 is the golly-dangest, two-steppinest, easiest-to-ride 2-wheeler I ever got hold of! And it goes like stink!!! I'm NOT exaggerating when I say it almost feels like a BICYCLE when stopped, riding slow, walking it backwards into a tight place, OR putting it on the center-stand! A teensy child could easily handle it. Yet, it's nearly as fast from 0 to 50 as my 250, with only a few mph slower top-speed! It climbs hills like a mountain goat, and cuts the wind like a jet fighter... It is the kind of "universal" scoot that would be an EXCELLENT choice for the first-time rider, yet is capable enough that one might never feel the need to go any bigger down the road. THAT is amazing! And while I don't particularly like the looks of big wheels on scooters, I do admit they ride much better than the small wheels. This class of scooter probably originated with the Italian models. Even if you don't go for the cosmetics, the form-follows-function, no-nonsense design is a major winner in the performance department! I find the performance to be nearly unbelievable for a basic, carbureted, air-cooled GY6 150-class scooter! With THIS one, China could learn something from their Taiwanese cousins. Cheesh, just stick THIS engine and tranny in ANY Chinese 150 platform and you couldn't keep them on the floor! They'd sell like ice-water in that "hot-place"... LOL!
Ride safe, Leo in Texas
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Post by SylvreKat on Apr 25, 2014 6:33:46 GMT -5
Oh, Leo you be careful. Don't you be two-timing' Minnie....
Just curious, how much bigger are Wicked Blue's tires than Minnies?
>'Kat (wagging my tail 'cause Leo mentioned me!)
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Post by PCBGY6 on Apr 25, 2014 9:44:48 GMT -5
That's one great looking scooter.
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Post by Skunk Shampoo on Apr 25, 2014 12:54:46 GMT -5
Hey, cool. I might have to pick up some of that Dr. Whitewall... And keep a lookout on craigslist for a Kymco People 200s ;-)
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Post by oldchopperguy on Apr 25, 2014 13:22:53 GMT -5
Oh, Leo you be careful. Don't you be two-timing' Minnie.... Just curious, how much bigger are Wicked Blue's tires than Minnies? >'Kat (wagging my tail 'cause Leo mentioned me!)
Kat,
Gotta love the tail-wagging! Nah, I still prefer Minnie for my needs, but this 200 is more than amazing. The wheels are full-size motorcycle size, 17" in front, and 16" rear. My 250 uses only 12" wheels at both ends. Wheel size makes a HUGE difference in feel. My old Chinese 150 had 13" wheels front and rear, and I can actually feel a little more "bump" with the 12's, even though only one-inch smaller. The big wheels on this 200 do make a major difference. The most notable "factoid" about this scoot is that the smoothness is like a big motorcycle, but the light weight is like a tiny scooter, or even a bicycle. Yes... a BICYCLE!!!
But... its acceleration and top speed are not far off my much heavier 250! I've never ridden a cycle of ANY kind that feels SO light... or one that will go onto the center-stand by merely stepping on the stand, with no lifting! This ride could be the perfect choice for riders with limited mobility, or little strength.
It strongly resembles your Italian ride, and I suspect it's somewhat of a copy of your original. If yours is similar to this one, no wonder you love her!
Keep ringin' them bells!
Leo in Texas
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Post by oldchopperguy on Apr 25, 2014 13:48:15 GMT -5
Hey, cool. I might have to pick up some of that Dr. Whitewall... And keep a lookout on craigslist for a Kymco People 200s ;-)
Hey, Skunkshampoo,
I love your "handle"... LOL! The whitewall paint DOES work, but it is FAR from the perfect answer. I did some research, and I think the major brands, "Gledi" "Ranger" and "Dr. Whitewall" along with some "no-name" versions probably all come from one original source. The stuff is super-thick, but not as opaque as I would like. It took six full coats to make a solid white over the black tire, and the stuff dries with EVERY brush-mark there. It has NO self-leveling tendency like enamel. And I am good with paint, and used a good, soft brush hoping for a smoother job (to NO avail...). And it cannot be sprayed. I spent a month just painting and letting the tire dry on both sides.
The paint itself, is very durable, drying much like white rubber. The biggest problem is making sure it STICKS to the tire. Instructions tell you to grind off all lettering on the sidewall, leaving a "blank" sidewall, good and rough from disk-grinding. THAT would help insure paint adhesion, but this was a brand-new tire and I wanted to retain the factory markings on the sidewalls.
So, I cleaned the devil out of the sidewalls with solvent and detergent, then went at it with a "green-pad" to open up the pores as much as possible. A used, sun-baked tire would work much better, since the new tire is always going to have some residual "stuff" to undermine the paint. During the process, I had one area NOT stick, and the white paint peeled off in a big piece. I had to clean that up again, and re-paint.
Only time will tell how the stuff holds up. Users who used it on old, dried tires which they pre-sanded thoroughly seem to be very pleased. And, the hundreds of brush-marks don't actually show up except under close examination. My thoughts on it are that I'd still attempt to find factory whitewalls, and only resort to this paint if there is no other alternative. And modern, high-performance tires just don't usually come in whitewall format...
If I ever do this again, I may try a good flat-white latex stain-covering primer. It might work better than the actual whitewall paint.
It's worth a try, but don't expect "perfection"... LOL!
Hope this may help,
Leo in Texas
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Post by spandi on Apr 25, 2014 19:40:51 GMT -5
I find the performance to be nearly unbelievable for a basic, carbureted, air-cooled GY6 150-class scooter! With THIS one, China could learn something from their Taiwanese cousins. Cheesh, just stick THIS engine and tranny in ANY Chinese 150 platform and you couldn't keep them on the floor! They'd sell like ice-water in that "hot-place"... LOL!
Ride safe, Leo in Texas Well Leo I can see you're VERY impressed (and rightly so) with this machine. Which brings to mind something I've been thinking for years, if the Chinese would put about 20% more in Q/C and fit they would outsell and bury the competition just the same way the Japanese did to US and British motorcycle manufacturers back in the 60's. 
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Post by tarkus on Apr 25, 2014 21:13:29 GMT -5
The people s200 is a fine scoot and I put over 5k miles on mine before I sold it to buy the RV200.
That said the top speed of the 163cc air cooled motor was 58 mph GPS. I'm only 130 lbs and the bike was bought new and in tune.
Great scoot but no way will it go faster than 60.
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Post by SylvreKat on Apr 25, 2014 22:58:32 GMT -5
... The wheels are full-size motorcycle size, 17" in front, and 16" rear. My 250 uses only 12" wheels at both ends. Wheel size makes a HUGE difference in feel. My old Chinese 150 had 13" wheels front and rear, and I can actually feel a little more "bump" with the 12's, even though only one-inch smaller. The big wheels on this 200 do make a major difference. I've posted this before, but will again to reinforce Leo's comment. Wheel size makes a HUGE diff indeed! When I drove the small-wheeled Vespa, I struggled to control it, felt like a drunk driver probably does, and thought I'd made an awful mistake wanting to buy a scooter. Then the dealer put me on a bike like mine, with 16" wheels. Rode smooth and controlled, and convinced me I was right. And that's all it took to get me on 2-wheels. ... The most notable "factoid" about this scoot is that the smoothness is like a big motorcycle, but the light weight is like a tiny scooter, or even a bicycle. Yes... a BICYCLE!!! I've never ridden a cycle of ANY kind that feels SO light... [/em] or one that will go onto the center-stand by merely stepping on the stand, with no lifting! This ride could be the perfect choice for riders with limited mobility, or little strength.[/p]
It strongly resembles your Italian ride, and I suspect it's somewhat of a copy of your original. If yours is similar to this one, no wonder you love her! [/quote] I will say I'm envious of the lighter weight. My fat boy's 300-something pounds. Took Mom pushing on the front and me standing on the peg to get him up on the center stand. (and yes, I know it's supposed to be in the technique. That that to 200+ pounds of heavier than me) But then, mine is liquid-cooled which is better in stop and more-stop traffic. And he's that cool orangey-red metallicky colour, which hopefully makes him more noticeable (along with my pretty pink jacket). So I think I'll keep my Italian Stallion, and let you enjoy that Wicked Blue 'til Minnie comes home and whacks you with her ear! >'Kat, ringing them bells for a couple more weeks.... |
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Post by oldchopperguy on Apr 26, 2014 0:25:24 GMT -5
Now I got curious about the WEIGHT of the Kymco 200. So I looked it up, and the spec's. show it to be 260 pounds. My old Chinese 150 weighed 230... Hmmm... In all honesty, this 200 feels like it weighs about HALF of what my old Xyngue 150 weighed, but it actually weighs 30 pounds MORE. The Kymco MUST carry its weight WAY down low below the axles, or something, because I can lean it over almost on the ground, and right it again with just a gentle tug. If I did that with the old 150, I'd drop it. And with my 250... FORGET IT! It would pull me over!
I actually, honestly expected the 200's weight to be around 135 pounds! WRONG! Amazing how it balances! This IS the scooter for riders who didn't want to ride a scooter! LOL!
At least NOW I know that if (God forbid) I get so old and feeble that I can't man-handle even "Minnie" there ARE decent scooters out there that require no strength at all, and STILL will nudge 70 mph! Most encouraging... I think...
I'm AMAZED at how many compliments I've had in just a few miles of riding (to Wally World and the gas station)... I may even have this one sold to a neighbor! Like me, he's getting older and his big V-twin cruiser is getting to be a handful. He caught me at the community mail "cluster-box" getting the bills... And he had to feel the weight. He was impressed! He kept asking: "You're SURE it will go better than 65?" "Just doesn't seem possible!" "OK, I've got to get to the dealer and see what all he has!" I believe he will be visiting Moxie over the weekend!
I do admit I can't lean back and fully relax at highway speed on the little 200 like I can on old "Minnie" but for what it is, that 200 does MORE things well than any other scooter I've ridden. It lends a whole new credibility to air-cooled GY6 class scoots!
Ride safe and enjoy!
Leo
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Post by oldchopperguy on Apr 26, 2014 0:50:46 GMT -5
The people s200 is a fine scoot and I put over 5k miles on mine before I sold it to buy the RV200. That said the top speed of the 163cc air cooled motor was 58 mph GPS. I'm only 130 lbs and the bike was bought new and in tune. Great scoot but no way will it go faster than 60.
Tarkus,
You may well be right. Kymco speedos are notoriously "optimistic". I had no way to accurately check the speed, only experience with surrounding traffic in known, familiar areas. I snuck onto the freeway for a few miles, and the speed-limit was 55. Traffic usually runs over 70, but I did get it opened up entering the freeway, and paced a few cars in the slow lane. Looking into a Toyota convertible next to me, its speedometer showed a clear 65+, and glancing at the Kymco speedo, it showed about 72. I backed off a little on the gas and ran at an indicated 65 for a few miles, and was not holding any slow-lane traffic back, so this one is definitely a strong runner. Not much slower than my water-cooled 250. It's not my scooter, I didn't want to abuse it, and I have only a day's riding experience, but it's no slouch... Marginal, but still freeway-capable.
Just my own observations...
Leo in Texas
Quick update... Midnight... You got me thinking about actual speed... Got thirsty, went to the convenience store, ran into a friendly officer... We went to an empty stretch of road (level asphalt, slight headwind) and he hit me with radar at WOT... actual speed: 69 mph. The Kymco speedo showed 75. Yes the speedo IS optimistic, BUT... Nope, "Baby Blue" ain't no slouch!
I also checked the factory spec's. and indeed you're right, it's only 163cc! I once test-rode a Kymco "Like" 200 with probably the same engine, and it did NOT go like this one! Topped out at around 60. And I weigh 235 pounds. Would I have LOVED to have THAT frisky motor in my old Xingyue 150?... Oh, YEAH! I'm not at all familiar with this scooter, and have no explanation for the serious giddyup. It's just one that's strong as goat's breath... a loaner, and I'm simply enjoying the ride! Sorta hate to have to give it back... It might stay in my "hood"... I may have it pre-sold to a neighbor anyway... LOL!
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Post by tarkus on Apr 26, 2014 5:35:26 GMT -5
Leo you can't go wrong with the S200. Like I said I had it for 5000 trouble free, rattle free miles.
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Post by SylvreKat on Apr 26, 2014 6:54:04 GMT -5
I hear poor Minnie crying, even now.  Her driver's wandering, he's found a new love in her absence. Will he return for her? Or will he decide to keep the shiny SQUIRREL! that's caught his eye? Oh, POOR poor Minnie! ***** Seriously, I wonder if someone tinkered with Wicked Blue's engine. Only other explanation is it's just extremely well-put together. I've a silver picc that plays better than what should be better models. We figured out its craftsman just really took extra care putting it together, and thus made it a better horn than its fellows of the same model. >'Kat |
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