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Post by anarchyx34 on Apr 30, 2015 12:57:05 GMT -5
So first of all I'm new here. Hello and nice to meet all of you. I'm in the market for a beater scooter and I'm very close to ordering a Chinese scooter. From what I gather TaoTao isn't as bad as the rest. Just to be clear I'm not (completely) delusional. I know that the quality on these bikes leaves a lot to be desired. I plan on using it for a 2 mile commute at low speeds in NYC. I won't get a nicer bike because what ever I get will be trashed, and I can't find anything used on Craigslist for less than $1000. I'm also a GM, Hino, and Volvo factory trained technician and have been working on cars for over 15 years. I'm confident I can figure out a scooter. It can't any worse than my current bike, a Tomos Sprint moped. Anyway this is what I'm thinking of getting www.scootermadness.com/TaoTao-CY50-T3-Gas-Scooter.10000166I called them and spoke to a friendly guy who answered a few of my questions. The fact that they answered the phone at all gives me a bit more confidence. In fact the only misgivings I have right now are the 2 week+ wait for the MCO paperwork after I receive the bike, which by itself will take two weeks. That's assuming it doesn't end up running into months. I've read horror stories. Any reason I shouldn't order this? |
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Post by ricardoguitars on Apr 30, 2015 14:36:14 GMT -5
Welcome to the forum! Chinese scooters are all almost the same, don't worry too much about the brand, they have a GY6 engine and CVT transmission, displacements usually go from 50cc to 200cc, most are carburated, just a few of the fancy ones are fuel injected; if you already know your way working on cars and/or trucks, you won't have troubles figuring out a scooter, piece of cake. When it comes to maintenance, the basics are engine oil change, gear oil change, valve adjustment, and replace the drive belt every few 1000s of miles; as long as you have a spark and fuel flow, you are ready to hit the road; the most problematic thing is the body panels, they keep braking no matter how careful you are, they are not expensive to replace though, or just save yourself the trouble and get rid of them. When it comes to parts quality, there are Chinese parts and Taiwanese parts, the last ones are usually of better quality, Taiwan makes parts for some Japanese brands. When you get a new scooter, make sure to replace the oil FIRST THING, OUT OF THE BOX!, then replace the drive belt for a genuine Gates Power Link (if not already on), then replace the tires for a good quality set. When it comes to modifications, there are lots of things you can do, just ask here.  |
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Post by anarchyx34 on Apr 30, 2015 16:21:46 GMT -5
Thanks for the reply. I don't mind doing some preventative labor and part replacement to work out the weak points. Nor do I mind rigging some body panels back on. I don't really care about esthetics as all I really want is a beater, and I'm assuming that a brand new Chinese beater is better than a 10 year old name brand bike with several thousand miles and probably neglected maintainance. What will get on my nerves is if I have to do repairs on it constantly just to make it usable for my limited purpose, but i can't imagine it being quite that bad. They're such simple machines. Even all the crap I've bought from Harbor Freight hasn't given me too much trouble because my expectations were realistic.
If I end up really liking the thing I might put some money into mods. Probably would go straight for a 100cc kit.
My insistence on a cheap, crappy scooter is also partly due to the danger of theft. This is NYC. Scooters getting stolen here isn't unheard of. I would go out tomorrow and drop $3k on an Aprilla SR50 but comprehensive insurance would cost almost as much as it costs to insure my BMW, whereas basic liability coverage is only $99/year. Can't have anything nice basically.
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Post by anarchyx34 on May 2, 2015 6:15:27 GMT -5
Well I ended up visiting a local scooter/motorcycle dealer and walked out with a brand new 2012 leftover Kymco Super 8 50 2t. It ended up costing $2k after registration and taxes, which is a pretty good deal on this bike. It's defininitely more than I wanted to spend, but I think I'll be happier in the long run. It's a better quality bike and has a 2 year bumper to bumper warranty.
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Post by SylvreKat on May 2, 2015 7:14:21 GMT -5
Congrats on the new scoot! Next step is invest in a good lock and chain. Nothing will stop thieves determined to get your bike. But a chain will slow them if only slightly, which makes the bike next to yours that isn't chained look way more appealing. Have fun, enjoy the ride, and keep posting. And give us a pic so we can ooo and ahh  ! >'Kat |
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Post by wheelbender6 on May 2, 2015 8:33:58 GMT -5
Like 'Kat said. Always lock your scoot to something - sign post, bicycle rack or tree. It doesn't take long for a couple of goons to toss your scoot into the back of a truck and haul it away.
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Post by anarchyx34 on May 2, 2015 8:53:41 GMT -5
Hah, already on it. I have a massive Kryptonite lock/chain that weighs over 10 lbs. In addition to that I have a fork lock. I was using it to secure my Tomos moped. If all else fails, I did make sure to get full coverage insurance. I hope I won't end up needing it.
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Post by SylvreKat on May 3, 2015 7:18:40 GMT -5
Smart fellow!
Sad that we must put out so much effort and money to stop someone from taking what isn't his. Sigh.
>'Kat
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Post by ricardoguitars on May 3, 2015 11:19:09 GMT -5
Congratulations, Kymco's are on top of the list on scooter quality, you won't regret it |
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Post by steve on May 5, 2015 14:17:08 GMT -5
Hope you enjoy.
The Chinese scooters are relatively cheap, but I don't think they are crap, at all. They require maintenance, but are simple, sensible modes of transportation that are easy to learn to work on, and parts are easy to get, and inexpensive. Pretty dang smart way to get around.
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"I ain't rich, but Lord I'm free!"
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Post by rbjones328 on May 5, 2015 16:23:59 GMT -5
Hey, man! I'm a new scooter owner. I just got a Taotao Powermax 150cc. Go to YouTube and check out 90GTVert. He has a series of videos of in rating and the PDI of a Taotao 50cc scooter. I learned a great deal from watching those videos. I think he has a dozen or so. Anyway, good luck. I've been pretty happy with mine. I did have to replace the connectors on my front signal lights to get my blinkers to work, but that didn't take long at all.
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New Rider
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"I ain't rich, but Lord I'm free!"
Posts: 7
Likes: 2
Joined: May 4, 2015 18:31:18 GMT -5
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Post by rbjones328 on May 5, 2015 16:25:45 GMT -5
In rating should have read uncrating. I didn't look at my auto correct!
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