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Post by jwalz1 on Apr 15, 2013 15:23:37 GMT -5
These Chinese scooters and other scooters have the worst fuel filters out there. The ethanol eats them away so your getting full gumming of the carb and other objects into the engine. This mr gasket fuel filter is a micro fuel filter that goes directly into the electric fuel pump and its made for CARS so it can handle the ethanol additives and what not gumming up your engine. Seafoam costs about 20 bucks a bottle then you taking off your carb to deal with sticking of jets or damages of sticking due to the carb while riding long term sucks. You can keep pouring seafoam at 20 bucks a bottle in each month if you want. Okey dokey, an upgrade to a better part is an upgrade to a better part, but unless the Chinese fuel filter is made out of rubber the ethanol is not going to eat it. The varnish that occurs when fuel dries in the carb is from the ethanol itself and not from something getting through the filter. In other words, even if you use this filter, you are going to need something to deal with the varnish issue eventually, and that would be a fuel additive. A squirt of techron per tank once a season, and running the tank completely dry for winter storage will do more to fight gumming than the filter will do, but I grant you, it is a better filter. I run a supercharged Honda S2000 and as super reliable as Honda's are, the car comes with no fuel filter from the factory outside of a piece of metal screen inside the tank at the fuel pickup. It is not carbed, but ethanol could still produce the same gum on the injectors as it would in a carb and Honda did not seem to think any filter would help because it is detergents is gas or additives that will address gum and varnish. If you like the upgrade, fantastic, but it is overkill on a scooter and won't prevent gum and varnish. If it helps the scooter idle better, great. |
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Post by jwalz1 on Apr 15, 2013 13:19:48 GMT -5
I have no problem with upgrading anything, but how will a fuel filter pull 10% of the ethanol in a gallon of gas out? Where does it go?
The ethanol is NOT a dissolved solid, it is a liquid that will pass right through the filter.
Ethanol can dissolve certain kinds of rubber not manufactured to be compatible with it, but the filter will do nothing to pull 10% of your fuel out. You just wasted $40 if removing ethanol was your goal.
Any gumming issues can be dealt with by using an additive, but a filter has no effect on ethanol.
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Post by jwalz1 on Apr 15, 2013 10:15:27 GMT -5
Same in MN. One brake.
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Post by jwalz1 on Apr 14, 2013 17:01:10 GMT -5
Nulldevice,
I know beans about motorcycle tires, but if those are OEM on a TMAX which is the sportbike of scooters, I am guessing they went with some very sticky soft compound. It is going to be a tradeoff for longer wear, but I guess I'd be a little upset about only 4500 miles too. Woowilly is right though, try a harder compound and it will probably last longer and see how upset you are with any tradeoff in handling.
The tires of yesteryear you compare to would not hold the road anywhere near what they do today, both in terms of rubber compounds and tread design. I will take the added safety for a little more expense, but at maybe a couple thousand miles a year for me, I can get three years or so out of a set.
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Post by jwalz1 on Apr 14, 2013 10:32:48 GMT -5
Well, if you have not pulled the trigger I would highly suggest a look at the Nolan N103. I have the N104 which is a slightly newer model, but the N103 come highly rated for safety, is modular and considered one of Italy's "premium" brands. I love the N104 and have heard nothing but positive reviews from N103 owners. The new model I have is pretty close but has a larger viewing port and a couple other small changes. www.solomotoparts.com/Nolan-N103-N-Com-Modular-Metallic-Helmet-Black-Graphite/?utm_source=GoogleShopping&utm_medium=organic&zmam=92312807&zmas=1&zmac=1&zmap=39821_227031&gclid=CPGXvIy9yrYCFc1DMgod33cAGQ The Sharp site is a good source for some unbiased testing but not all helmets are covered and some are only available in Europe. You can find some really expensive helmets give you a much greater level of protection than others, but also find some very inexpensive helmets performed very well in their testing. It is my personal feeling to stay away from any model that does poorly, no matter how cheap it is. My first helmet does OK in the testing, a Scorpion EXO 700 is my full face, gets a 4 star rating and can now be found easily for $100. |
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Post by jwalz1 on Apr 11, 2013 18:39:22 GMT -5
howdy, i may be mistaken, isn't that a fuel injected engine. that could change the equation to where we are looking for air getting in the fuel or filter problems? lotsa miles and smiles to ya ken I think they Kymco 250's went fuel injection in 2009. The 2008's are still carbed. You will be able to tell if the badging has an 'i' in it. I think the Xciting 250ri was the first FI and that was 09. |
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Post by jwalz1 on Apr 9, 2013 15:54:12 GMT -5
Skip to the three minute mark. Unless you have your bike locked to something solid with a real solid chain/cable, it takes about 25 seconds to make off with it.
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Post by jwalz1 on Apr 4, 2013 15:48:57 GMT -5
Harleys never looked cool to me. Just don't care for them, even though if that is what somebody wants, fine with me. Went over to Rome one summer and watched all these guys shooting through traffic in Italian suits and Italian sunglasses on big scooters with top cases.
I thought that was cool, so here I am.
Now, I also thought the Ducati's looked awesome, but the wife said "no".
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Post by jwalz1 on Apr 4, 2013 13:56:50 GMT -5
COngrats on the purchase, umm, I think? Give it some time, it may grow on you. There are some pics on the web of people riding them in turns at surprising lean angles so even though it feels soft, it is capable of some performance in the turns. Maybe when you get more comfortable with it and throw it into some corners it will be more fun.
My bike has a sporty ride and I consider it fun, but the seat is hard and when you hit a bump the rear end goes WHAM!!!!!. I could do with less "wham".
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Post by jwalz1 on Apr 4, 2013 12:43:34 GMT -5
Pro: where would you put a Kymco Grandvista 250? It is a decent but funky looking bike. Not fuel injected and fits smaller rider best. It is made very well, but with the same engine, I like the People 250s better if you can find one. And even as a Kymco owner, I would not take either 250 over a Burgman 400. Nice bikes, but not Burgmans. |
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Post by jwalz1 on Apr 3, 2013 9:13:28 GMT -5
Yes, that is EXACTLY what I am saying! I need a scoot that can handle highway driving...hence looking at the 250's & the Burgman. Note: my mother's starter bike (still has it) was and is a 650cc Suzuki Savage! There is another factor nobody has mentioned that is a benefit of the Burgman, and this is not universal, more anecdotal. When you have a smaller scooter some drivers, no matter how fast you are going will feel the need to crowd and pass you. Something about the size that makes people feel you are holding them up, even when you are not holding them up. I have a friend with a 50cc and a 400cc and he says some people feel the need to practically run him off the road on a 50cc even if he is ten miles over the speed limit. I have had a couple over anxious people when I am riding even though mine is the size of a motorcycle, but I think it happens to the bigger ones less. Not to mention easier for other drivers to see. |
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Post by jwalz1 on Apr 2, 2013 16:37:55 GMT -5
Hm do bigger bikes handle bumpy roads better? That is a question of a few factors, wheel size, bike weight and suspension. It is going to vary. A small bike like a CFMoto Glory with big wheels might do better than a larger 250 with smaller wheels and different shocks. Most people seem to say larger wheel size goes over bumps better. But a Burgman, as far as I have heard is known for a softer suspension. The heavy swing arms on the back of a scooter tend to make it more bumpy in the back than a motorcycle. I know my scooter's back wheel can make a pretty decent thud when hitting a good bump or pothole. Not enough to upset the scooter, but enough to rattle the riders teeth. |
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Post by jwalz1 on Apr 2, 2013 9:10:54 GMT -5
Jwalz - How long has it been since you took the MSF course? Did you discuss with your instructors based on how you well did on the course and by their observations what they would recommend as your first bike? I bought the scooter, took the course, and picked up the scooter and rode it home two weeks later. I had to hit a short stint of freeway (which I was pretty much alone due to low traffic) on the way home. They did not suggest anything they just asked everyone what they planned to ride, I said I bought a 300cc scooter and the instructor said "cool". I will say that I am not a fearful person so I was not intimdated by the scooter. I did well in the course. There was one kid that did not do well at all and was pretty scared even in the parking lot speeds. I hoped they failed him because he was not ready and he fell during the course. I was a little sketchy for the first couple miles getting used to it out of the dealer but I was on residential roads with no traffic. After a few miles I was decent, and after a couple weeks was really comfortable. I took a couple hundred mile riding day with a friend on some back highways away from traffic with a friend that helped immensly for confidence. But again it was the size and heft of the bike and not the power that gave me any issue at all. My bike has about the same power to weight as the Burgman, the speed is all up to me though. The burgman is heavier so I think it would have given ME much more trouble but I am small. I think you can tell alot about your ability during the course. Are you scared by some of it? Do you panic and make mistakes? I am pretty even keel. I won't have the bars turned and grab the front brake, but I saw people do it. I also took the course in an all day rain which bothered some people but I thought was even more valuable. I think it is wise to wonder if a 400 is too big, I only offer that the size of the bike will be more of a factor, especially if you are not 6'2" and 200 pounds, but the added power is no big deal if you have a head on your shoulders and don't act like a 16 year old with a new crotch rocket. Because it still will get to 60 in about the same as your average 4 cylinder car, it won't be neck snapping acceleration, and he controls the power. Sure you gotta be careful on dirt and gravel, but you need to do that with any size bike. I am very saftey conscious believe it or not, but while a 400cc scooter is big for a scooter, they are about as fast and heavy as what are considered 250cc "starter bikes" but with less for the pilot to worry about because no shifting. If he were asking "Is a VSTAR 250 too big?" we would probably say "no, that is a good place to start" but it will weigh and perform about the same as the Burgman. The original poster should take the course first, and if he is comfortable with the safety course bikes, a Burgman will probably be fine IMO. |
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Post by jwalz1 on Apr 1, 2013 20:33:05 GMT -5
this will be my first bike, I have NEVER ridden before. All Burgman 400's are EFI, right? I had never ridden before ever either, but I grew up on bicycles. I took the course first so I guess you could say I had about 6 hours on a motorcycle in the class, but the 300 was the first ownership. The power was nothing to be scared of because you control it with your right hand. If you don't want too go fast, don't. It is that simple. The power won't be too much if you use your brain and stay within your limits. It can be fast enough to be fun, but it is not a crotch rocket, just act responsibly. But if you practice around the neighborhood you should be fine. Just get used to counter steering before you take it into some curves. Your natural reaction coming from bicycle riding is going to make you want to turn the wheel into the turn when you should turn it away, and that will make you go wide and you dont want to then have to panic brake. Practice counter steering, get used to it and comfortable and you should be fine. I took mine out onto a deserted road and did not counter steer and went wide before correcting myself, with traffic that would have been a huge mistake. I rode this curvy deserted road over and over and going into every turn I said to myself in my head "opposite", "opposite" , "opposite" until it just became second nature and unlearned bicycle behavior. No problems after that. If the size and weight are not too much for you, the power wont be, and once you get real comfortable you will be glad to have enough to run the highway when you want. |
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Post by jwalz1 on Apr 1, 2013 11:19:03 GMT -5
My first bike was/is a Kymco Downtown 300i, which because of its lower weight and relative higher power performs nearly identical to the Burgman 400.
It took a little getting used to but was certainly not too much power to handle and is a great deal of fun. The Burgman might have been a little tougher for me to handle, not in the power department but in the size department because it is 100 pounds heavier than my bike and I am on 5'6" 155 pounds. The heft is what took getting used to for me, and that was with 100 pounds less than the Burgman.
But if you are not a hobbit like myself, take the bike on some easy rides around the neighborhood, then ease into some slower traffic for a couple days, then let it rip.
You should be fine. Always wear your protective gear.
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