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So I've had my 2 scooters for several weeks now, and I haven't been able to ride them, other than around the country roads, because I didn't have plates. The Shanghai had a non-Notarized title that the previous seller had signed, but he printed his name on the seller's AND the buyer's lines. My Notary said they probably wouldn't reject it, since it's a cheap little scooter, but if it were a 2008 CAR, it would get kicked back. The Kingring (Ruckus Clone) that I bought new took an extra 2 weeks for the MCO to arrive, then AAA couldn't give me a plate, since it was not an actual title- I had to wait for the plate to be mailed from Harrisburg.

On Monday, the Shanghai's new title arrived! It went through, no problem. I immediately jumped back in the car, headed to AAA, and came home with a registered plate. I needed to use the work van yesterday, so today was my first chance to ride the scooter to work!

This morning, I geared up, pulled the scoot out of the barn, and headed off. It's a little over 20 miles to the shop, with 3 long, steep uphill runs. I hit the first at speed, and made it to the top at 42 MPH. Not bad. The second had a slowpoke waiting for me- she went 22 until halfway up, blowing my momentum, but I made it. The third I avoided, and went up a shorter hill. The Shanghai seemed to run pretty well! I got to the shop to discover I'd left my keys in my van, at home.

On the way home, the scoot didn't do as well. I put my GPS on it, and discovered it was lying about its speed- reading 61 MPH it was only going 49! It got louder and louder, and the slight shaking when pulling out got much worse. The tail cowling fell off about 5 miles from home, so I stuck it under the seat. Coming back down the first uphill, it suddenly lost all power. I coasted to a BP station, expecting to have to push the scoot the last 1.8 miles. Turns out, the spark plug cable had popped off. Put it on, and rode home.

I don't think I'll be riding the Shanghai very far, at least until I figure out the shaking. Could be a worn belt or sticking sliders- I haven't pulled the cover yet. I'm going to try the Rucklone tomorrow.

I just bought this one- -assembled-ruckus-clone.html" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">www.powerrideoutlet.com/scooters-mopeds/150cc-scooters-mopeds/pro-mcr-22-150-150cc-gas-scooter-12-aluminum-rims-light-weight-body-low-profile-seat--assembled-ruckus-clone.html I ride it through our mowed fields, and it would probably be OK on gravel roads, but it isn't a heavy-duty vehicle. There are two others on this same site that seem to be a bit beefier.

[replyingto=prodigit]prodigit[/replyingto]That's a nice one! I hadn't seen it. I chose the Ruckus clone because it's light (194 lbs) and small- I don't think I could put the Tao Tao in my Astro van, at least without removing the mirrors. My dad is looking at buying a scoot to take camping- I'm going to steer him towards that Tao Tao! Thanks!

EDIT- Crap. "Cannot be sold to people in Pennsylvania." I guess it doesn't meet the inspection requirements. www.provenpowersports.com/product/28/TaoTao-Adult-150cc-Gas-Moped-Scooter-ATM150-A

[replyingto=pmatulew]pmatulew[/replyingto]I took it to a Notary, and he did all the required paperwork and notarized the title, but he said it might come back. Since it's a tiny, cheap scooter they might let it through, but if it were a 2008 car it would get kicked back for sure. He does tons of title transfers for odd vehicles, and someone in Harrisburg knows him- she'll probably let it through. The guy had signed it, but he printed his name in both the buyers' and sellers' print boxes.

The notary also told me that, since man A had signed the title, man B didn't transfer it to himself, and man C (Me) bought it from B, technically man A could come and take the scooter- he legally still owns it. I wish I'd known that before- I may have passed on a good deal, but avoided a paperwork nightmare. We'll see what happens.

Aftewr many years of big-bore riding, I decided to get a scooter. My 2001 Triumph Sprint RS met with an unhappy end (It went off the side of the loading ramp, then someone backed into it. It's trashed) and I've been itching to ride two wheels. I've owned 2 mopeds, but never a scooter. In 2 days, I got two! I ordered a Ruckus clone from Power Ride Outlet. It was $974, delivered, for a 150cc in a small-bodied scoot. This is the first brand-new vehicle I've ever bought. I chose the Ruck because it was the smallest, lightest scoot with a 150 engine that I could find.

I service firefighting equipment, and have been taking my work truck home for years. The company decided that the service guys at our main shop couldn't do that any more, but they haven't told me to stop...yet. I live 19 miles from our shop, and have been driving my rusty ' Astro van, leaving it at the shop when I take the truck home. If I need the van, it's at work. The idea with the scoot is, I can ride it to/from work, but can pick it up and put it in the service truck or Astro and bring it home. (The scoot will fit in the Astro after bending the mirror stems an inch.) I can store it indoors at the shop, insead of outside in a questionable neighborhood. My wife and I have a small motor home (Google "Ultra Van 276"- the Imgur album is our little weirdo!), and this scoot is small and light enough to take with us, so if we want to go to the store (VERY short distances), we don't have to take our house with us.

While awaiting delivery, I found this 2008 Shanghai 150 for $275. It needed a stator, according to the seller. It was on my way home from a work trip, so I stopped and checked it out. It was all there, and seemed to be in good condition. I bought it and took it home.

The next day, the Ruckus arrived. I was working at home, and met the delivery. My first new ride EVER! I uncrated it, and...wow. I was expecting it to be a piece of crap, but not that BIG of a piece of crap. All the plastics are very poor, even compared to the Shanghai, whichis supposed to be a "Chinese pile of junk". it was missing a bolt (which I found later), and had a hole in the fan cover. The body welds and metal parts are rough and low-quality.

I did a PDI on it, and replaced the engine and gear oil, main fuse holder, spark plug (It had an NGK, but I swapped it after 18 miles, just because), fuel lines and filter, and some bolts that stripped/broke. I checked all the electrical connecters (the fuel gauge conn had one bent pin) and taped or zip-tied some of them for security. I checked all the vac lines, but they seem OK for now. I drained the gas tank, and refilled with fresh gas with a little SeaFoam.

The Ruckus rides pretty well. I've put 35 miles on it, just around the farm, since it's been 3 weeks since I ordered it and haven't gotten my MCO yet. I'm going to adjust the carb, because it makes a "Hollow" sound and is probably running lean, and check the valves. It's black and white, so I might makes some Generic "SCOOTER" decals for it.

I ordered a stator from Amazon, and got it in 2 days. I installed it, cranked it, and the ground wire overheated. The seller had done the same thing, and melted the ground trying to crank it, then gave up on it. One of the tech tips was to shorten the ground, so I cut the wire, and reconnected it to a screw much closer to the engine. Now when it cranks, the wire doesn't heat up. I needed a new battery, too, so I got one, charged, and installed. The Shanghai was pretty well dismantled, so I wasn't sure which hoses went where, but after some fiddling, I got it to run. I replaced the fuel lines, and removed the fuel pump temporarily, until I could figure out the hoses. It rides pretty well also, except the cut-off windshield redirects the air right into my face. The previous owner had printed his name on the wrong line on the title, and didn't get it notarized, so I hope it doesn't get kicked back- PA is weird about their small vehicle laws.
I'll post photos when I get home, but I'm happy with my scoots! The new one is SOOO CHEAP, but if I'm careful with it, it should be OK. The used one was inexpensive, and is a decent machine.