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Post by pistonguy on Jan 31, 2016 19:07:56 GMT -5
Oh I forgot it's a 2013 genuine Stella,,,150cc ,,weak ,,,no power,,,but not for long,,,as for the bike in my avatar that's a 02 Ducati s4 monster with a 916 desmoquatro engine I put together a couple years ago,,,a serious bike indeed ,,,I did quite a bit of work on that one,,,extensive Ti parts list ,,0-100 times in the sub 6 second range even with my fat on it,,,I could go on for a few hours on that bike,,,just the exhaust was more expensive than the Stella ,,,but I got off the hyper exotic roller coaster ,,too hard to get parts,,,too expensive,,,crappy mileage,,,couldn't keep rear tires on it,,,, I Gotts some Cheese for the Wine your dishin. Waaaa, I can't keep rear tire on it  what are you in Iowa? Millage? Uhhh dont that have all that Corn Ethanol stuff in Iowa? I fully support the Fuel and Rubber Mfg's  |
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Post by nulldevice on Jan 31, 2016 19:28:32 GMT -5
Machine -- 2012 Yamaha Majesty 400  Likes: Legendary Japanese reliability and build quality Two piece seat pan allowing me to save the stock seat while rolling my own seat. Ease of tupperware removal and replacement. Yes, really. I had a TMAX and I know what hard to deal with tupperware is like. Love the thumper sound. It reminds me of my first B&S powered home made scooter. Truly effortless 70 MPH (per GPS) cruising on Interstates up hill and up wind as well as down hill and down wind without the motor sounding busy. With the trailer it's 60 to 65 MPH. Dislikes: The clutch doesn't lock in below 5000 RPM on take-off and obliterates the slow speed torque of a thumper. The seat! The God awful stock seat the scooter has. The back shocks! Dive hard into a corner, hit the least bump, and the scooter becomes a hobby horse. Frightening. The windshield! I don't believe Japanese riders are THAT small! What I have done / am doing about: The windshield -- a 32 inch high Cee Bailey windshield is in the mail. The Seat -- The upper seat pan is off and a piece of plywood, a thick waffle/gel cushion, and an Air Hawk cushion have replaced it. That made it possible to ride for over an hour with absolutely no pain and stiffness when I get off. After the Cee Paily arrives I will fine tune the ride height with layers of Walmart sleeping pad foam on the bottom of the stack. I hope to make it pretty but won't give it up if I can't, even if I have to use duct tape to hold things together. In the works: The clutch -- I'm saving up for a Dr Pulley HiT clutch. Other suggestions are welcome. The back shocks -- Help! Sources of shocks with adjustable rebound control that don't cost a fortune are needed. |
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Post by onewheeldrive on Jan 31, 2016 20:26:03 GMT -5
LIKES:
The gas mileage is great, of course.
The sporty look.
The color yellow-- it really grew on me, plus it's visible on the road.
It's easy to work on and easy to access most places quickly (body panels)
Cheap parts (double-edged sword)
Pretty quick for town riding. Easy to get around.
53k on odometer
DISLIKES:
The seat bucket hinge is awful. I don't think it lasted a year. I rigged it up to work.
The body panel tabs are awful in spots.
Easy to strip screw/bolt holes.
The 3 variator "v" guides.
The gas tank is a bit small--- about 3/4 of a gallon. Not a big deal for a 50 but I ride it a lot plus it's a 72cc now.
Needs a bit more storage room.
Never-ending part variations.
The headlights. My scoot states on the headlight assembly that it can handle 12v 25/25w bulbs (with rim), only 1 or 2 sites carry them at a reasonable price (but for how long?). Most have 12v 18/18w.
Cheap parts (double-edged sword)
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Post by dollartwentyfive on Jan 31, 2016 22:22:39 GMT -5
[/p] What I DISLIKE about it...
1. Difficult to access the engine. The seat pan and seat are one unit which must be removed to get to the engine. Once removed, it is still difficult to change the spark-plug. To test-ride engine work, you have to do it without the seat... Unhandy.
[/quote] i had the same problem with my ride when i first got it. i got so fed up with it that i removed it altogether. this had the added bonus of not having to lock the seat, so i removed that too. the downside was that the seat pan provided support for the seat. my frame was made in such a way that i was able to use 2 lengths of swing set chain strung along the upper sides of the seat opening to provide the missing support. after i got done with that mod, all i had to do was swing the seat up to access the engine. i even eventually got rid of the front pivot, and was able to just lift the seat completely off the bike. this is part of the "i did it my way" bit. |
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Post by floridagull on Feb 1, 2016 11:03:25 GMT -5
I Love: The fact that I have a scooter...  It runs well, starts well, rides well... Carries my wife and I easily... Riding is fun!  I Hate: Headlights still out - not concerned right now, as it is chilly at night and I have no windshield (yet)... Chinese reputation (my scoot is, essentially, a Tao Tao Lancer 150)...  ...a 2008 model with 8455 km on it... Would like a bit more power - I have my eye on a 2009 Kymco People S200 that I have posted about before - it is still in the showroom at Tropical Scooters in Vero Beach...    Would like larger wheels (I have 13", but the 16" on the People S200 would be nice...)  |
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Post by oldchopperguy on Feb 1, 2016 20:06:09 GMT -5
Floridagull,
I happen to have had a brief but very happy experience with the Kymco People 200.
My dealer lent me one while he changed out my tires. I rode it for two days and was absolutely amazed! They're actually a 163cc air-cooled GY6, technically similar to your present 150... BUT... If the one I borrowed was typical, there is NO comparison. The Kymco seemed to have at least 40% more useable power and torque than my Xingyue 150 (which was a very good one). The little Kymco performed like a REALLY hopped-up, tranny-tweaked and "dialed-in" 150 might be expected... Probably much better even.
I liked it so well I took a pic for posterity...
Acceleration was better, and strong right up to indicated 65 mph (actual 62 or so), and with a level street and no wind, she'd haul my 230 pound butt to a verified 69 mph (verified by a local friendly officer's radar). I've been told that over 60-65 mph is better than usual on these, but even an easy-running 60+ still ain't bad for the small scooter! This one may have been broken-in HARD, and a tad quicker than average. It was a trade-in and its history was not known.
I also was amazed at how lightweight it seemed. Spec's show it well over 200 pounds, but it actually felt like a BICYCLE when walking it into tight parking. It went up on the center-stand almost "by itself" with NO effort. Not sure just how that was engineered... LOL! But I liked it!
I don't like the looks of the Kymco nearly as well as the Chinese 150, but WOW! The performance was amazing! I'd call it downright snappy! It was a couple years old, like new and asking price was only $1,500 if I recall.
After my "glowing report" my dealer thought he might just keep it as a shop-errand bike...
The large wheels do handle well, and between the People 150 and 200 (which I suspect are the same scooter...) I've seen a couple different wheel sizes: 16 and 17-inch, sometimes mixed on the same bike. This blue one had a 17" front, and a 16" rear. With scooters, I'm just a "small-wheel" guy, and prefer the Chinese styling to the Italian styling of the People, but doggone, the PERFORMANCE of the little 163cc Kymco is an eye-opener.
If you like the Italian look, the People is a no-brainer... Simple, air-cooled, durable Taiwan-made with familiar Chinese-style innards and phenomenal performance for a small engine.
I actually considered trading back my 250 on the little blue high-wheeler, but even though I did ride the freeway a little at 65mph, the 200 still is not really a freeway-capable bike. So I kept heavy old Minnie Mouse... And I am still happy! If I ever have the desire to go back to a smaller, lighter, air-cooled scoot however, the People would be a first choice!
Ride safe,
Leo (a BIG fan of "things Kymco") in Texas
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Post by JerryScript on Feb 1, 2016 21:03:11 GMT -5
I love the ride! I enjoy it every day, each ride is a mini adventure. I love the money I save(d), I have 5500 miles on my 150cc, and have spent a total of less than $2500, purchase + tax + 2 years registration + 2 years insurance + master cylinder + oil changes + gas. I love twist & go simplicity. I love being able to fix anything cheap and easy.
I hate the vulnerability inherent in riding a motor on two wheels. Always having to be hyper aware isn't the issue, I hate the idiots that require my vigilance. The idiots who pull out in front of me, the jerks who floor their accelerator to catch up and pass me just because a scooter took off faster than them, the peripherally impaired who never check their blindspots before cutting me off.
My SSR 150 with 16" wheels is based on the People design. I ride it a short 6 miles on the freeway on my commute with no problems keeping up with the slow lane, and the 16" wheels have eliminated my fear of manhole covers and small bumps, and my back side appreciates it! Best $1500 I ever spent!
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Post by floridagull on Feb 2, 2016 15:08:20 GMT -5
I had to do the sample-collection route again today, and stopped at Tropical Scooters in Vero Beach - they sold the 2009 People S200 about a week or 2 ago...  However - they have a 2006 Vespa GTS 250 - 3000 miles, great shape, asking $2199 - a scooter on consignment. Apparently, the owner has already turned down $2000 offers - twice. He's set on his $2199... It has 12" wheels - which concerns me. Anyone know much about this scoot - and the asking price?  |
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Post by oldchopperguy on Feb 4, 2016 22:28:51 GMT -5
I had to do the sample-collection route again today, and stopped at Tropical Scooters in Vero Beach - they sold the 2009 People S200 about a week or 2 ago... However - they have a 2006 Vespa GTS 250 - 3000 miles, great shape, asking $2199 - a scooter on consignment. Apparently, the owner has already turned down $2000 offers - twice. He's set on his $2199... It has 12" wheels - which concerns me. Anyone know much about this scoot - and the asking price? I've ridden the older Vespa 250 and was VERY impressed! My Wife's chiropractor had one (and also a Vespa 150) and a church member also had one (pearl-white with tan, GENUINE full-quill-ostrich leather seat no less... LOL!) which I rode. We traded rides, mine being my old Chinese 150. EEWWW... my pal was really glad to get his Vespa back... LOLOLOL!
I found the Vespa to be VERY quick, rock-solid, light-weight and nimble. The aluminum one-piece construction, with no steel frame is a Vespa "trademark" feature which cuts a LOT of weight off, and makes the step-through scoot as rigid as a sport-bike. HARD combination to beat!
My old Kymco 250 has 12" wheels and they are no problem at any speed. Proper balance is probably more critical, but so long as you're running good P-rated tires, they are fine at any speed.
You DO have to like the very old-school Vespa styling (which I do) and maybe the BEST feature is the single-side suspension front and rear, allowing "car-style" lug-nuts so either wheel can be removed in minutes with the scoot on the center stand, using only a wrench!
The Vespa felt a little small to me, but that would probably become a plus in most riding situations. That may be just symptomatic of the light weight.
There's just not much to not like about a Vespa... Especially the larger-displacement models! I almost bought one myself from a private party before deciding on the Kymco with a B&M dealer backup.
My 2-cents worth...
Leo in Texas
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Post by rockynv on Feb 4, 2016 23:09:56 GMT -5
Leo - The 300 GTS is even more fun as is the BV350 however the BV500 and Scarabeo 500 are probably the better bargains when you can find them used. The Sport City 250 is like the People 200 but on steroids especially with the Sliders and even though I found the BV500 tempting it still did not have that sharp low end punch that you get from the Sport City tooling around but once you hit the 39 HP and Sweet Spot in the 500's power curve it gets interesting.
The still new 59HP DOHC 2014 Kymco MyRoad 700i is being sold at sharply reduced prices right now near to FloridaGull and I am sorely tempted to go give it a look-e-see! The 608 lbs dry weight though does make me take pause compared to the BV500's 430 lbs.
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Post by oldchopperguy on Feb 5, 2016 11:00:14 GMT -5
Leo - The 300 GTS is even more fun as is the BV350 however the BV500 and Scarabeo 500 are probably the better bargains when you can find them used. The Sport City 250 is like the People 200 but on steroids especially with the Sliders and even though I found the BV500 tempting it still did not have that sharp low end punch that you get from the Sport City tooling around but once you hit the 39 HP and Sweet Spot in the 500's power curve it gets interesting. The still new 59HP DOHC 2014 Kymco MyRoad 700i is being sold at sharply reduced prices right now near to FloridaGull and I am sorely tempted to go give it a look-e-see! The 608 lbs dry weight though does make me take pause compared to the BV500's 430 lbs.
Rockynv,
I'll bet the 300 is more fun! But if the price is right, the old 250 would do mighty well... LOL!
And I'm with you on some of these getting just too heavy for "typical scooter use". I really checked out that Kymco My Road 700 at the dealer. It's a beautiful ride, but definitely NOT "scooter-like". It's a viable option to a big cruiser motorcycle. Perfect for the rider who wants a comfortable long-distance cruiser for himself and a passenger to run the fast freeway for hundreds of miles a day.
I'm not what I used to be nowadays at near 70, and I found the huge size and heavy weight of the 700 to be not too much handier than the old Harley baggers. It's truly a full-sized touring MOTORCYCLE with automatic tranny and easier mounting with no tank between your knees.
If I was a lot younger, richer, and had time to go touring, it WOULD be a top-choice though!
Ride safe!
Leo in Texas
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Post by rockynv on Feb 7, 2016 10:43:02 GMT -5
Leo - Problem with the My Road is that despite its ponderous size it appears to be designed for a rider of diminutive proportions. Rider 5' 11" and taller note that their knees are in the way of the handle bars in turns and almost touching the front panel all the time making things very cramped. That is one of the things that keeps me staying with my Sport City since even in tight u-turns there is no need to shift about to make room for the handle bars to pass over my knees.
A co-worker the first day he road the 300 GTS to work learned the hard way how much more fun he now had compared to his Vespa ET4. He got a $280 ticket for coming around the corner to the office and laying on the throttle the same as he always had in the past on his old bike when going into the 25 mph zone. The officer said he was giving him a break rounding down to 20 over the posted instead of putting it more accurately at 25 as going double the posted speed limit would have resulted in a substantially higher fine.
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Post by oldchopperguy on Feb 7, 2016 20:04:02 GMT -5
Leo - Problem with the My Road is that despite its ponderous size it appears to be designed for a rider of diminutive proportions. Rider 5' 11" and taller note that their knees are in the way of the handle bars in turns and almost touching the front panel all the time making things very cramped. That is one of the things that keeps me staying with my Sport City since even in tight u-turns there is no need to shift about to make room for the handle bars to pass over my knees. A co-worker the first day he road the 300 GTS to work learned the hard way how much more fun he now had compared to his Vespa ET4. He got a $280 ticket for coming around the corner to the office and laying on the throttle the same as he always had in the past on his old bike when going into the 25 mph zone. The officer said he was giving him a break rounding down to 20 over the posted instead of putting it more accurately at 25 as going double the posted speed limit would have resulted in a substantially higher fine.
Oh YESSS! Speed IS addictive and brings "consequences"... LOL!
You're absolutely right about the Kymco seating position. Most of the Kymco scooters I've ridden seem to be that way. Many riders don't like them for that reason. I'm fortunate, being over six feet tall, but having very short legs. Must have some ape DNA somewhere... or maybe it's the years riding choppers with the seat 2-feet off the ground, and 2-foot ape-hanger bars... LOL! So the Kymcos fit me fine...
Kymco scooters do seem to be designed for shorter riders. Gals, and orangutans love 'em!
Ride safe, and enjoy that hot spaghetti-burner!
Leo in Texas
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Post by rockynv on Feb 8, 2016 1:13:33 GMT -5
Leo - You sure you don't have a Sicilian hanging in your family tree somewhere? I'm 6' even with a 29" pant leg but need a 37" sleeve and wear a size 50 jacket. Yes I get the Ape DNA comments thrown at me from time to time along with "at least you don't have to lean to scratch your kneecaps" whatever value that adds to the conversation I never understood but folks still say it from time to time.
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Post by oldchopperguy on Feb 9, 2016 12:10:09 GMT -5
Leo - You sure you don't have a Sicilian hanging in your family tree somewhere? I'm 6' even with a 29" pant leg but need a 37" sleeve and wear a size 50 jacket. Yes I get the Ape DNA comments thrown at me from time to time along with "at least you don't have to lean to scratch your kneecaps" whatever value that adds to the conversation I never understood but folks still say it from time to time.
Rockynv,
We are pretty much similar in our "Planet of the Apes" proportions... While pregnant, my Mom may have been scared by a monkey my Dad had... LOL!
Not sure about the Sicilian in the woodpile... I did grow up around "family" members of some made Wise-Guys... LOL! They sorta took to me as a fat little nipper... Taught me to handle a 1911 (yeah, at 12 I was truly DANGEROUS with a .45... Still am... LOL!) and gave me my long-term, honorary "Cosa Nostra" nickname of "Big Daddy". And I do love ALL Italian food... and Ducati bikes, Piaggio scoots, Ferraris and most "things Italian". I have a VERY much beloved daughter-in-law, a real knockout Sophia Loren lookalike, Cyndi "Pretty Bonz" Scialino"...
Yeah, must be a Sicilian somewhere in my English/Irish background!
Ah, I think the "not having to bend over to scratch your kneecaps" remark is somewhat akin to "Bet you bump yer' butt stepping off curbs..." Don't ya just love that stuff? Duh... LOL!
As for the somewhat "different" Kymco seating position... I wonder: ARE Taiwanese riders REALLY six-feet tall, with two-foot legs? Naahh... They just ran out of frame-tubing before they could get the scooters long enough for humans... HeHeHe... I love 'em anyway.
Ride safe, and watch that pasta-intake!
Leo
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