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Post by averageguy on Jun 27, 2013 17:06:55 GMT -5
I have three trips back and forth to work on mine... up to 180KM... racking up the fuel savings and keeping mileage off my car  ...It might be my imagination but it does seem to be loosening up a bit. I am finding it easier to shift as the mileage increases. Probably the clutch getting worn in a bit. This might also have something to do with the fact that I am more used to where she likes to be shifted. It's always important to find the right spot  ... I can still hear the tick but it has not gotten any worse. It might actually be a little less. I seem to not notice it as much maybe I have just become desensitized to it. I had some guy at a stop light today yelling out his car window asking me what kind of bike it was... I just told him $800 Chinese Bike (Hard to get into too much of a conversation with a full helmet on). His comment to me was "nice bike" ;D ... Made me feel all warm and fuzzy inside Hahahaha. I took the lower side plastics off my bike and I think it looks just fine without them. They just get in the way monitoring stuff under there and block the oil dipstick anyway. Poor design. I figure it probably helps a bit with airflow around the engine for cooling purposes. No sense holding that heat in there. Some of my co-workers have started calling me "Easy Rider" at work now... with a heavy dose of sarcasm of course... they think they are sooo funny  |
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Post by averageguy on Jun 27, 2013 16:49:17 GMT -5
[replyingto=prodigit]prodigit[/replyingto]>I will have to learn how to downshift.
>By rotating the left foot outward (to the left) and using the heel to >hit the shift down, is the easiest way to downshift.
Just put your toes under the front lever and pull it up... I don't even use the rear lever at all... no problem works great. I pull my leg up rather than pivoting at the ankle. The rear one seems useless to me. It might work alright if the angle between the two levers was different. As it comes stock the rear lever is too low and can't really push it with the heel enough to make a shift. Its probably a generic part and doesn't work too well on this bike's tranny 'coz there is too much throw in it. I though maybe attaching some sort of block onto it might work to raise it up a bit to give it more throw when pressing it with the heel. Most other semi-autos don't even have that rear lever contraption on them.
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Post by averageguy on Jun 25, 2013 15:13:04 GMT -5
[replyingto=prodigit]prodigit[/replyingto]Well I have 126 on the odometer and I have already changed oil 3 times... probably overkill but trying to keep it clean from metal. I just changed it again today and it was looking much cleaner. I did not see any metal flakes this time as in previous oil changes. There was no oil on the ground under the bike where I parked it so maybe I am just paranoid about there being an oil leak. The jury is still out on that one. I tested out the kick starter today to see how it worked and it started right up first try with very little force needed to kick it. Works nice. Reassuring to know its there in case of a starter or battery problem. I also changed out the spark plug with a NGK. I received the new sprocket in the mail yesterday (thanks for that prodigit) and might try to get it on next week. I will ride to work today on the bike if the rain stays away coz it's time to start saving gas and make this thing pay for itself  |
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Post by averageguy on Jun 24, 2013 3:09:48 GMT -5
[replyingto=prodigit]prodigit[/replyingto]>Where did the oil come out of?
I'm not 100% sure to be honest I think where the two pieces of the housing goes together on the bottom I saw some oil... all I know is when I pulled over the first thing I noticed was black oil on the tip kickstand with like a spray pattern so I checked the oil and it was off the dipstick. I am not sure that is what caused it to die out but may have just been coincidence. I had been running it almost wide open for a bit. I was on a stretch of 2 lane highway.
>Did you make sure you did not overfill it?
Yeah I had it filled correctly... if it was overfilled it was not by much at all. It was where it should be on the dipstick. Much less than 1 quart... maybe like 2/3 quart?? Definitely not a whole quart in there.
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Post by averageguy on Jun 24, 2013 1:53:05 GMT -5
I went for my first longer distance ride and almost didn't make it home. I was cruising along when suddenly the motor cut out. I pulled off to the side of the road. I was about 30 minutes from my house kind of in the country. When I was inspecting the engine I noticed oil all over the kickstand. Apparently oil was coming from the motor?? The bike after cooling down a bit did restart and I just slowly rode until I came upon a small engine repair shop. The owner came out and was laughing at me basically saying "what kind of engine is THAT?" Really giving me the business. What could I say... there I sat with my Chinese bike broken down in his parking lot. I just ate crow and bought oil and drove off. Luckily I made it home ok. But I am fairly certain now this bike is leaking oil from one of the gaskets. I am about ready to chuck this into the scrap metal bin at work and call it a lesson learned. It's a shame because it rides nice. I just don't trust it now.
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Post by averageguy on Jun 21, 2013 18:49:48 GMT -5
I've convinced myself that my motor "tick" is the valve clearance not being set right. It sounds like it is coming from the valve area anyway and the ticking does increase as the motor gets hot which seems to be a symptom of this problem from what I am reading. I ordered up a set of feeler gauges and will have a go at it when they arrive. I have been watching some youtube videos for some other similar bikes and I think I can figure it out. Doesn't look too bad... we'll see I guess. I'm trying to stay confident Shifting is a little clunky but manageable once you get the hang of it. A full manual transmission I think is a much better option and I miss having a clutch but the semi-auto is passable. Once up to speed and through all the shifting I am still impressed by the ride of this bike. I just adjust my riding to avoid shifting... so I roll a few stop signs  It really is a decent bike for the money and cruises nice. Very light and nimble. So far I have not experienced any problems with bolts coming loose or anything like that. The bike is holding together much better than I expected it would. I still check everything often just in case... My first time to the gas station it cost me a whopping $1.27 to top her off with premium. Now that I super mega like! If I can get this ticking issue cleared up and get the replacement sprocket on to stretch out the shift points and top speed a bit I will be one happy camper... ;D |
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Post by averageguy on Jun 21, 2013 18:19:23 GMT -5
My news mirrors came today and I put them on... Waaaaaay better. I've got a clear view of everything behind me now. No more cars sneaking up on me. Well worth the $23 dollars for some added safety! Bought the mirrors from Amazon... here is the link... I bought them from Orange Custom Cycle on there... at the time they were the cheapest seller. www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00411QIJG/ref=oh_details_o01_s00_i00?ie=UTF8&psc=1Attachments:
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Post by averageguy on Jun 21, 2013 12:39:11 GMT -5
[replyingto=prodigit]prodigit[/replyingto]Thanks! That one had me stumped. I think I'll just leave it as it is then and not even hook it up. I just wrapped it with some electrical tape so its not hanging down so much. Your right sounds like a pain in the butt and pretty useless.
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Post by averageguy on Jun 21, 2013 1:59:38 GMT -5
So what is this part anyway?? I never did connect this on my bike... it is just hanging there... I am at a loss as to what it is or where it goes. Anybody know??? Thanks! Attachments:
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Post by averageguy on Jun 19, 2013 22:11:27 GMT -5
[replyingto=averageguy]averageguy[/replyingto]I could add also that my engine "tick" is less pronounced when the engine is cold and becomes more pronounced as the engine heats up. It also "coughs" once in a while not very noticeable but I can hear it now and then.
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Post by averageguy on Jun 19, 2013 21:24:17 GMT -5
[replyingto=scootnwinn]scootnwinn[/replyingto]Yeah I don't have to have my choke on for it to run. In fact it will die if I put the choke on even a little. I only use the choke for cold starts. I'm really afraid I messed up my engine though. When I first ran it I did not have the proper amount of oil in the engine. I filled it up to where it should be but apparently I should have ran the engine and checked it again. Stupid me. I think I might have overheated it. The engine has a bit of a "tick" to it now that wasn't there when I first ran it. Runs and goes OK but doesn't sound so good. Maybe the valves need adjusting I don't know. It sounds like a valve clacking in there. I'm getting used to the shift points on the bike and have ordered new mirrors for it. I will say it sure starts right up with no problem. I have not had any problems with things coming loose so far but I left some of the plastics off of mine and secured some of them such as the headlight which arrived here slightly damaged with zip ties. Can't really tell looks fine to me. When I went to the License bureau here to get my plates a guy came up to me and was asking me about it. I believe he said " What the heck is that thing"... He asked me if I took it on the highway my reply was heck no... it is a glorified moped but suits my needs I rode it to work tonight,,, we'll see what kind of response I get here in the morning when everybody comes in... I am always amazed at your detailed analysis prodigit... you should be writing for a bike magazine!! |
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Post by averageguy on Jun 18, 2013 19:15:49 GMT -5
Well I took mine on road for the first real ride today. I drove it to the license branch and did the paperwork. Had a bit of a snafu with the bill of sale not matching the name on the title but was able to work it out with a fax from the company. My first impressions are it is rather pokey in traffic. I think a new sprocket is in my future also. Its true that first gear is pretty much useless.I found it much better to just take off in second gear too.Also the rear view mirrors really are useless also. I couldnt see at all behind me because they don't stick out enough. I will have to work on these issues for sure. Mine too is a kittle tricky to upshift. A little bit finicky for sure. But on the bright side I did make it there and back in one piece!
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Post by averageguy on Jun 16, 2013 0:54:00 GMT -5
[replyingto=prodigit]prodigit[/replyingto]Something like this might be a cheaper option. www.iheartscooters.com/scooters/sym-Wolf-Classic-150.phpThey sure look cool. Remind me of the old Honda XL's. I'd probably buy one of these if I had room in the garage ;D. I was all set to buy a TU250X but couldn't find one anywhere. All the dealers here were out of stock. |
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Post by averageguy on Jun 14, 2013 17:07:51 GMT -5
It's here! I can report that motobuys.com delivered what they promised! DX Attachments:
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Post by averageguy on Jun 12, 2013 19:00:40 GMT -5
I don't find "Jap bike" as offensive as you calling me "quite lazy" and accusing me of "knowingly offending" some as if you know what is in my brain or what my intent was. That term is used frequently referring to a group of motorcycles not a group of people. I'm not from the WWII era and quite frankly I have never even heard anybody use Jap as derogatory. Sorry I am not as enlightened as yourself. I stand corrected.
This coming from someone that has "Friends don't let friends ride Chinese scooters!" as his tag line stereotyping all Chinese scooters as being junk or dangerous . I guess something must be bad just because it is made by the Chinese people? What are you saying they don't posses the intellect to produce a good motorcycle? I think that might offend some Chinese.
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