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Post by lonestarcruzer on Dec 14, 2016 12:55:31 GMT -5
Pleasure to meet y'all.
I recently purchased a Roma 150 'super hornet' with an LK157QMJ (a 157QMJ with bottom mount). She's got less than 1k miles on it, and picked it up for $300. I'm just south of Dallas Texas and frequently fix and flip motorcycles. My daily driver right now is a Kawasaki ZG1000. I had a Grom for about a year, and I started missing it, so I picked up the Roma.
What I know is wrong with the scoot right now; it cranks but gets no spark, new CDI plug and wire on the way. The ignition switch is a bit finicky, going to get it running before messing with that. Cheap Chinese fuel and vacuum lines are cracking and need replacing. Some lines are just flat out disconnected from where they should be.
Plans for the scoot; black and metallic deep orange paint (unless I just don't like the scoot, then it's getting pink and green and going to my friend), 30mm flat-side carb, rear brake relocate, BBK if I can find a reputable machine shop near me, velocity stack pod filter, custom exhaust. I'd love to get rid of the CVT and get a gearbox but that doesn't seem realistic for the cost/benefit.
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Post by tortoise on Dec 14, 2016 13:21:08 GMT -5
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Post by 4950cycle on Dec 14, 2016 18:57:52 GMT -5
JCL MP250A Lihai 257cc powered / The CVT is why I went to scooters. I'm 53 , I'm done doing burn outs and wheelies. And I believe a CVT will accellerate just as fast as a gearbox barring and all out holeshot.
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Post by oldchopperguy on Dec 14, 2016 19:04:10 GMT -5
Lonestarcruzer,
Welcome to the site! Sounds like you got a good deal for $300!
No spark often means a bad CDI or coil, or both... I'm an old-time biker from the 1960's chopper era, and old age and arthritis got me off the big bikes and onto scooters... My first scoot, a Chinese Xingyue 150 taught me ALL about the "Chinese bugs" these things offer... LOL!
The first year, my CDI and coil both went bad at the same time. You'll get yours running and have fun with it. And you are right about too much involved with any attempt to change the drive-train to clutch-n'-gears... These scoots are designed with a CVT setup from the get-go. I've never even seen one converted to a manual tranny... First, you'd have to find one... The CVT tranny is fine with these scoots, and simple.
Please do post some pix of the project!
And, ride safe!
Leo in Grapevine, Texas
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Post by 4950cycle on Dec 14, 2016 21:01:46 GMT -5
JCL MP250A Lihai 257cc powered / This is Funny ! I keep trying to think of a way to covert my gearbox bikes to CVT without makeing them 10 feet long.
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Post by 4950cycle on Dec 14, 2016 21:15:15 GMT -5
Lonestarcruzer, Welcome to the site! Sounds like you got a good deal for $300! No spark often means a bad CDI or coil, or both... I'm an old-time biker from the 1960's chopper era, and old age and arthritis got me off the big bikes and onto scooters... My first scoot, a Chinese Xingyue 150 taught me ALL about the "Chinese bugs" these things offer... LOL! The first year, my CDI and coil both went bad at the same time. You'll get yours running and have fun with it. And you are right about too much involved with any attempt to change the drive-train to clutch-n'-gears... These scoots are designed with a CVT setup from the get-go. I've never even seen one converted to a manual tranny... First, you'd have to find one... The CVT tranny is fine with these scoots, and simple. Please do post some pix of the project! I agree with Oldchopperguy, My JCL 250 has an ignition system just like a 150 , same parts even. Both my coil and my CDI must have went at the same time. Thats why it took me a week to figure out what the heck was wrong. Didn't help that I got a bad CDI off Fleabay that put a fly in the ointment to say the least. BTW Ditto on the good buy at $300 And, ride safe! Leo in Grapevine, Texas JCL MP250A Lihai 257cc powered |
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Post by oldchopperguy on Dec 15, 2016 21:45:01 GMT -5
Lonestarcruzer,
Boy, if you'd have told me a coil AND CDI would both go south at the same time, I probably would have said "no way". But it happened to me... Duh...
I've had marvelous luck with CDI's off eBay. Fortunately, since they may be "suspect" but definitely better than factory Chinese. I used a "red" "Racing" CDI and a "blue" one. The second one was necessary when I learned the hard way that these are NOT waterproof... I washed the scoot at the spray-wash (carefully, too...) but killed the "red" CDI. Had to push "Lil' Bubba" home a mile...
I replaced it with a "blue" one and it was still running fine 5 years later when I traded the 150 on my current used '07 250. NOTHING on Chinese scoots can safely be considered "waterproof:"... including the CDI, coil AND all the wiring under the dash-plastics. You do need to be careful with too aggressive "scooter hygiene"... LOL!
When I replaced the CDI the first time, that did not cure the problem, so, I got a Japanese Bando (orange) coil. THAT, plus the new CDI fixed the scoot permanently.
One UNUSUAL problem I encountered with my 150 was it would not run right with the factory "tuba" style air-box and filter. It took me a full year to figure that out.... After MONTHS of re-jetting, adjusting and cussing at the carb, I tried running with NO air-filter. BINGO! It tuned fine. Put on any type of hoses or filters and it would not tune.
I finally got it running OK with a UNI "sock" filter DIRECTLY on the carb mouth. Even a short hose to locate the filter elsewhere ruined the tune. Any rider experiencing this phenomenon, I recommend running sans filter with NOTHING on the carb. If it can be tuned that way, it will usually be OK with the low-restriction sock filter on the carb. This is not common, but SOME Chinese 150's just will NOT run right with ANYTHING on the carb but a low-restriction filter DIRECTLY on the carb.
For an old Harley geezer, these "simple" Chinese scooters can be VERY frustrating... Cheesh, no points or condenser, no timing to adjust... A guy from the sixties has to "retrain" for these... LOL!
Anyway, enjoy the scoot!
Leo
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Post by lonestarcruzer on Dec 16, 2016 13:13:14 GMT -5
Yea, I got a 'kit' off amazon with an orange CDI and wire and plug, but the plug didn't fit either the stock or aftermarket wire and the wire was broken at the spark plug boot. The CDI DID allow the old wire and plug to make spark, but it still didn't fire up. I'm going to be changing out all the fuel lines and putting new gas in next... hmm, now that I'm typing this, maybe the fact that I removed the stock air box and haven't hooked any vacuum lines back up could be causing an issue too.
So now that I know it's the CDI, has anyone had any experience with the adjustable CDI? Seems like it would be nice for tuning, but it could just be a gimmick.
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Post by dollartwentyfive on Dec 17, 2016 4:17:16 GMT -5
I'd love to get rid of the CVT and get a gearbox but that doesn't seem realistic for the cost/benefit. this is one of the major advantages of getting a twist and go bike in the first place. another advantage is that both brake levers are on the handlebars. getting a gearbox would negate both of those. the CVT is really simple to service, the only piece that is difficult to service is the clutch, and it can be replaced as a unit. |
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Post by lonestarcruzer on Dec 17, 2016 11:23:35 GMT -5
this is one of the major advantages of getting a twist and go bike in the first place. another advantage is that both brake levers are on the handlebars. getting a gearbox would negate both of those. the CVT is really simple to service, the only piece that is difficult to service is the clutch, and it can be replaced as a unit. It's a habit thing for me. I've been riding motorcycles for 13 years, and everything is muscle memory when I'm in that riding position (my scoot is the super hornet, which is a motorcycle profile). I haven't been able to ride it yet, still getting the gremlins from sitting 2 years out of it and upgrading to 11 pole stator and 12V lighting (LED) before I go cruise around on it. It could be a non-issue, or I could mangle my right leg when I need to hard brake. I'll probably do a rear brake conversion at some point just to keep from developing bad habits (if I keep it). |
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Post by dollartwentyfive on Dec 18, 2016 3:09:33 GMT -5
I'll probably do a rear brake conversion at some point just to keep from developing bad habits (if I keep it). yes, it's important to get a good grip on how you use your brakes. i found out the hard way to NEVER EVER use your front brake on mud. talk about doing a sprawled face plant . . . maybe someone should start a thread on the perils and pitfalls of incorrect braking. |
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Post by seamus26 on Dec 18, 2016 6:15:55 GMT -5
I'll probably do a rear brake conversion at some point just to keep from developing bad habits (if I keep it). yes, it's important to get a good grip on how you use your brakes. i found out the hard way to NEVER EVER use your front brake on mud. talk about doing a sprawled face plant . . . maybe someone should start a thread on the perils and pitfalls of incorrect braking. So, here's what you do ... Love the CVT for what it is. I love my ZNEN 150 and have found that there's all sorts of "tuning" that you can do by adjusting the roller weights. I just went to a Dr. Pulley this past fall with 15g rollers. I will probably lighten them up a little in the spring and try staggering the weights, just to see the difference it makes. Then ... buy an old Vespa. I have a '79 P200E. It's a 2-stroke, 4 speed, drum brake, steel beast that will easily top 60 very quickly. Clutch and shifter are on the left grip, front brake is on the right and the rear brake is on the floor on the right. And it sounds incredibly cool. It will satisfy your desire for a clutch, give you carpal tunnel, make you smell like oil and put a huge bug-riddled smile on your face. I love both bikes for different reasons, but love them I do. Happy riding.!   |
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Post by oldchopperguy on Dec 20, 2016 17:59:05 GMT -5
seamus26,
Great post! Have a bone on the Old Chopper Guy!
I'm an old big-bike guy from the sixties who, due to arthritis and short budget, have gone to scooters... You're absolutely right about the new CVT trannies, AND the old Vespa. I got MAJOR improvements with my first Chinese 150 by roller experimentation. I found 11 grams were too light, giving great acceleration but a top speed of only 45-mph at 10K rpm!
Then, going to 12 grams, I got a top speed of 65-mph on the flat, at 8K rpm... but ZERO acceleration and no hill-climbing ability...
So... I staggered 3 each 11 gram, and 3 each 12 gram, effectively giving me "11/5 gram". BINGO! Good acceleration, good hill-climbing AND a top-speed of 62-mph at 8,500 rpm.
Now, for the old-school VESPA! I had forgotten how cool they were! All the fun of clutch n' gears AND over 60-mph on a sturdy steel scoot... So long as you don't mind the clutch and gears all being on the twist-grip... LOL!
You CAN find professionally restored vintage Vespas in the $2K to $4K price range. And, you MIGHT find a left-over NOS Stella 2-stroke with gears clone squirreled away at some obscure dealer. Neat rides, but not exactly cheap.
Thanks for the post, I really enjoyed it! Even as an old-school Harley chopper and bagger guy, I must admit NOTHING shouts "cool, Euro-hooligan scoot" like a vintage steel, 2-stroke Vespa with some checkerboard graphics and speed-parts decals... Lots of class on 10" wheels!!!
Ride safe,
Leo in Texas
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Post by seamus26 on Dec 21, 2016 3:25:34 GMT -5
This was me just playing around with a GoPro last summer. Enjoy. I did.  |
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Post by lonestarcruzer on Jan 14, 2017 15:44:43 GMT -5
So, my friend saw the bike and wanted it for his first bike. I'd rather have him learn to ride on it than make it share ride time with 2 or 3 other bikes in my garage. He's getting it as kind of a present after he gets his class M endorsement, and I'm gussying her up something fierce.  So far, I've eliminated the unnecessary emissions parts, restored and painted the engine, 11-pole stator upgrade, new CDI, new battery, new coil+wire+plug, new hoses/lines, plastic engine shroud delete, replaced all rusted bolts with grade 8 american steel, every piece cleaned, and oh yea, probably  % of the bike got repainted black/orange. I still need to wire in the new rectifier/regulator and finish up the plastics. Also thinking about changing out the exhaust, but I don't want to drop much more money on the bike, after everything is said and done I'll only have $500 into the bike (and about 60 hours) including the purchase price. |
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% of the bike got repainted black/orange. I still need to wire in the new rectifier/regulator and finish up the plastics. Also thinking about changing out the exhaust, but I don't want to drop much more money on the bike, after everything is said and done I'll only have $500 into the bike (and about 60 hours) including the purchase price.