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Post by dirkgently on Apr 13, 2019 15:55:21 GMT -5
Yep, that's what I'm currently working on! Hopefully tomorrow everything will be cured and I can see if it'll start up with the "new" intake.
Hopefully the rotted intake is the only issue!
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Post by dirkgently on Dec 30, 2014 8:43:01 GMT -5
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Post by dirkgently on Oct 25, 2013 12:57:16 GMT -5
I'm a Buell fan as well and have considered picking up their 1200cc thunderbolt model. Buell bikes, with their short trail and tight rake, tend to lean over quickly and are a hoot to ride.
The downside, parts wise, is that HD hated Buell. They bought a controlling interest in it to try and get the sports bike guys in the door on a Buell, then move them over to big money HD bikes later. Buell owners, my understanding is, have had universally poor experiences with HD dealers treating them like they don't ride "real" motorcycles - so I suppose coming from a Chinese scooter that feeling might be familiar. =)
Buell was struggling in sales (since HD reps wouldn't sell them much) and they actually had an offer to spin Buell off to Rotax. But HD wanted the tax write-off for the loss and shut down the company instead. Lots of bad blood between the 2 companies it always seemed like.
I think the Buell bikes are super fun (though air cooled and they can put out a good amount of heat on the ones which has a lot of plastic panels) and would have one. But, I don't think you'll find many dealers willing to help you out with it if you need it.
my 2c
EDIT - OH, and go 2006 or later. I think that's when they got transmission upgrades and supposedly "lifetime" belts.
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Post by dirkgently on Oct 24, 2013 14:55:07 GMT -5
How does one determine whether it's a DC or AC system?
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Post by dirkgently on Oct 24, 2013 14:54:16 GMT -5
Thanks to all for your help. I will tell my buddy to take it to AutoZone and see if they can revive it..  The AutoZone near me says scooter batteries are too small to test, though they can try and charge it at least. *shrug* |
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Post by dirkgently on Oct 23, 2013 10:13:55 GMT -5
The guy has a Chinese scooter that we now find out still had the Chinese "brake fluid" in it. 400 km is not long enough for real brake fluid to become full of dirt and black. Was it really the shop? I feel like this is going to become a theme, but what the heck. What I actually said was ~ "When I took scooter back with no brakes, the shop took it back and looked into what was wrong. They said they then flushed all the brakes to try and figure out if that was the problem. I then flushed them myself and pulled a great deal of black crap out of the rear cylinder especially." SO - I would say logic dictates they either A) Did flush my brakes and used dirty fluid or B) Did not flush my brakes and lied to get me to leave. Those are actually the only 2 options and either makes the shop a shady place. At this point there is no rational argument in favor of the shop being actually good.
I get it though. You're upset about anyone "running to the government" for help. A lack of self sufficiency or something like that bothers you. And that's fine. You're entirely entitled to be upset by that - or anything else obviously. I'd just like to point out that I said I'd probably just drop a note to the BBB with my concerns. They're a private organization and should, I expect, be more acceptable to you. Though I will acknowledge that I think it's probably not outside the realm of reasonable to warn other people that this particular shop seems to be populated by the liars, the incompetent, or both. Seems only fair other people should get a heads up, right?
Just trying to keep things accurate up in here. |
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Post by dirkgently on Oct 22, 2013 21:30:01 GMT -5
I wish I could find that post. I looked, but to no avail. It involves using a big syringe( like a turkey baster, and you force it in backwards through the bleeder screw. You need to open the master culinder, and remove the fluid with a paper towel- and force the fluid( a little at a time) through the system Periodically soaking up the dirty fluid from the master until it runs clean. It's a pretty neat way to replace all the fluid. This it? itistheride.boards.net/thread/470?page=1That's a clever solution. Looks like i'm making a trip to find a syringe |
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Post by dirkgently on Oct 22, 2013 19:46:11 GMT -5
Maybe the little hatchet we use for making ice cream? That might be the most hardcore thing I've ever heard... |
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Post by dirkgently on Oct 22, 2013 19:00:33 GMT -5
try replacing the fluid. There is a good thread on that somewhere in here along with a video. Alleyoop, where are you? I think I got it pretty well flushed out. Though, I wish I had an electric pump so I could push more fluid through to make sure it knocked all that crud out. It's much cleaner now. Sadly, it's 40 degrees and raining. Maybe tomorrow i can take it around the block and see if I have some more pressure now. |
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Post by dirkgently on Oct 22, 2013 18:36:48 GMT -5
Sailracer may be on to something in that disconnecting the brake line may have been the expedient way to remove the swing arm. Maybe the lines just need to be bled properly. Funny enough, when I brought the scoot back to the shop with the brake problem they took it back and claim to have bled the brakes in an attempt to solve the problem. I did actually give bleeding them myself a try when I got home today. Rear brake fluid was filled with dirt. So, who knows if they filled the lines with dirty fluid or if it was dirty from China. Couldn't pay me to go back there. Well... I suppose enough money would mean I could add a Ferrari to the garage....  |
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Post by dirkgently on Oct 22, 2013 15:13:18 GMT -5
I'm not generally one to be contradictory and I agree with some of your points, but just to clarify some things: If I receive poor service somewhere I let my friends and family know and won't return. I have no other obligations and no time deal with things like this. I would have never let those guys touch my bike I hope we all learned something here. Technically, only you said $200+ was a fair price. You said it was a good deal because $200 was the lowest price you had gotten for your scooter's tire change in your area. The other responses to my question fell into 2 categories: 1) That's crazy money. Go somewhere else 2) Yeah, changing tires can be hard if you don't have the right tools. You'll note that neither of those responses actually stated that 200 was fair money for a shop (who presumably has the proper tools) to do the work. I also commented that I checked the preferred installer list gave a maximum ride in price as ~$100 - less than half my original quote. It's not unreasonable to believe that $200 is a might bit high given that data. Hence, it sounded like $60 was probably not unreasonable for a small shop a few blocks from my house. I am in complete agreement with you that certified techs are important. If I was having an engine rebuilt, transmission work - something of that nature I would certainly insist on it. However, I considered a tire change to be well within the bounds of anyone with the appropriate tools and some experience. Much like I am not too fussed about getting an oil change from the Jiffy Lube guy during the winter - I wasn't worried about what I gather should be (with the right tools) a fairly simple process. I don't expect the guys who change my car tires to be certified mechanics and I suspect  % of the people at any given tire shop are not.
Though I will grant you that motorcycles may be a special case. I agree that it's a possibility that there was a catastrophic coincidental failure. Chinese stuff, you know? However, I tend to think that given: only 400 KM on the clock, excellent working dual disk brakes upon arrival and little to no brakes when picked up is probably not unrelated to the work done on the wheels. You could be right. It could just be bad luck. However, I think it's not unreasonable to suspect the shop did something. Now, I don't think it's worth spending money on the complaint. I don't think it's worth a ton of my time. I think it's certainly worth a quick note on the BBB an an occasional online review. After all, I had time to write this. I suppose I have time to write other things, right? Just felt like I wasn't being quite the naive child you making me out to be is all.
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Post by dirkgently on Oct 21, 2013 14:54:06 GMT -5
Interesting and thorough review!
Out of curiosity, what is the premium to that extra 100cc? I don't need to know what you paid obviously, but what (in general) is the extra cost difference between a 150 and 250 version of essentially the same bike? $500, $1,000....?
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Post by dirkgently on Oct 21, 2013 13:00:42 GMT -5
Performed admirably
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Post by dirkgently on Oct 21, 2013 10:05:44 GMT -5
Man, I'm going to have to use that digital tach solution. Not having one was one of my complaints about my scooter. Nice job!
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% of the people at any given tire shop are not.