|
|
Post by rockynv on Jan 17, 2017 4:52:17 GMT -5
More on topic Sophia did ride:  |
|
|
|
Post by rockynv on Jan 16, 2017 7:00:45 GMT -5
|
|
|
|
Post by rockynv on Jan 16, 2017 3:45:36 GMT -5
Still pretty good at 82 on Sept 20, 2016:  |
|
|
|
Post by rockynv on Jan 15, 2017 11:48:14 GMT -5
|
|
|
|
Post by rockynv on Jan 15, 2017 11:29:37 GMT -5
|
|
|
|
Post by rockynv on Jan 15, 2017 10:58:05 GMT -5
The 2015 BV350 should be about $4,200 adding for the top case and "Custom Paint" if it was purchased from a dealer with a warranty. Mileage is right where it should be for a 2015 in good to excellent condition. However this being a Private Sale you have to consider that the trade-in value is $2,765 so tops on a private sale with no warranty would be about $3,500 for this bike.. $4,700 would be more than what you would pay for a leftover 2015 BV350 new off the showroom floor. Here are some more realistic offerings on a BV: 2013 BV350 - 11,354 Miles - $2,600 By Owner: fortmyers.craigslist.org/lee/mcy/5904913314.html2014 BV350 - 14,341 Miles - $3,000 From Dealer: tampa.craigslist.org/pnl/mcd/5929684574.html2010 BV500 - 4,900 Miles - $3,200 By Owner (yes he is asking dealer price but mileage is less than half of what a 2010 should have): sarasota.craigslist.org/mcy/5912339205.htmlSome deals out there on the Sport City 250: 2009 Sport City 250 - 2,800 Miles - $1,900 By Owner: tampa.craigslist.org/pnl/mcy/5870264936.html2009 Sport City 250 - 5,400 Miles - $2,350 By Owner (basing his price on the old $4,699 MSRP (not the actual $2,999 they were selling for the last few years they were available. The 2009 sold new until about 2014) and has been dropping the price every few months. I would offer $1,600 and walk away if he insists on more than $1,700): tampa.craigslist.org/pnl/mcy/5953011792.html |
|
|
|
Post by rockynv on Jan 12, 2017 12:55:13 GMT -5
Don't know where you are getting this since most of an electric vehicle is made of recyclable materials including the upholstery and the batteries as we already have covered are not trashed but put into service on the power grid in a controlled environment that promotes very long life. The traction batteries unlike automotive 12 volt batteries are modular made up of individual cells so that as individual cells fail you pull the cluster that the failed cell is in and replace the one or two cells that are problematic. One local Hybrid dealer does a lot of work renovating the traction batteries in the original Prius models so that many of those sold 20 years ago in 1997 are still functioning as intended on the mostly original batteries with just a few cells replaced so they are not the massive issue that sensationalists have falsely presented them to be. Many come back to useful life simply by pulling the traction battery and putting them on a grid or balancing charger to even all the cells off. In other parts of the world the Hybrid Electric Car (especially the Prius) is one of the most popular taxi cabs out there due to their longevity and economy. In some parts of Europe Electric Cars are charged by the roofs of their carports where they are in rental service and when not in use are part of the power grid providing electric power when the sun is not shining. German and Danish engineers are working on a number of systems to help leverage existing electric cars on the road putting them on systems to take advantage of the 24/30/60 kWh stored in their batteries to prevent brownouts and reduce the number of generators powering the electrical grid. It is getting very interesting for sure. Just by transporting the thing and/or the materials needed to build it pollutes more than your good ol' SUV. www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-1229857/How-16-ships-create-pollution-cars-world.htmlHowever if you count in the pollution from the refineries along with the super tankers that transport the crude to the refineries that provide the fuels to run that old SUV the old SUV is still a worse polluter. We could put some containers on the super ships with parts to convert the old SUV's to a cleaner fuel however that would also create another dirty trip by the super ship. The electric car I drive was built in Tennesee with parts mostly made in this country and the super ship pollution stops with those few non-US parts however the SUV just continues the cycle of super tanker trips to fuel it every day it stays in service burning gasoline along with creating pollution on its own. You have to look at the full cycle of use on both. |
|
|
|
Post by rockynv on Jan 12, 2017 5:17:58 GMT -5
Planned obsolescence is the biggest polluter of them all, a fully electric vehicle pollutes more than a 30+ years old carbureted SUV, electric cars are intended to last as long as the warranty expires, then you are left with a vehicle too expensive to fix and/or with no available spare parts, if you junk it, half the thing is not recyclable. And if you go out and buy a new one, you are contributing to the pollution caused by the manufacturing facilities, as well as the environmental damages caused by the extraction of raw materials to make it, and the HUGE pollution caused by freight ships to transport all the materials and the final products to their destination. Instead you could keep your old carbureted SUV and make it run on alcohol or natural gas, a lot more environmentally friendly. Don't know where you are getting this since most of an electric vehicle is made of recyclable materials including the upholstery and the batteries as we already have covered are not trashed but put into service on the power grid in a controlled environment that promotes very long life. The traction batteries unlike automotive 12 volt batteries are modular made up of individual cells so that as individual cells fail you pull the cluster that the failed cell is in and replace the one or two cells that are problematic. One local Hybrid dealer does a lot of work renovating the traction batteries in the original Prius models so that many of those sold 20 years ago in 1997 are still functioning as intended on the mostly original batteries with just a few cells replaced so they are not the massive issue that sensationalists have falsely presented them to be. Many come back to useful life simply by pulling the traction battery and putting them on a grid or balancing charger to even all the cells off. In other parts of the world the Hybrid Electric Car (especially the Prius) is one of the most popular taxi cabs out there due to their longevity and economy. In some parts of Europe Electric Cars are charged by the roofs of their carports where they are in rental service and when not in use are part of the power grid providing electric power when the sun is not shining. German and Danish engineers are working on a number of systems to help leverage existing electric cars on the road putting them on systems to take advantage of the 24/30/60 kWh stored in their batteries to prevent brownouts and reduce the number of generators powering the electrical grid. It is getting very interesting for sure. |
|
|
|
Post by rockynv on Jan 12, 2017 4:51:15 GMT -5
I'm not familiar with the essence of Euro 4 but it doesn't seem to me it should be a big deal. Victorys all have the same engine and chassis. Now it might be the cost of going through it for each model so I'm betting Polaris just picked representations of each class. Euro4 is hitting a number of motorcycle manufacturer pretty hard and a good number of them are simply dropping the older engines such as the older V-Twins. MotoGuzzi, Ducati and BWM all were impacted to some degree and had to cull their engine lineups plus Euro4 is just the tip of the proverbial Iceburg as Euro4 was released for cars 12 years ago so in a few years motorcycles will likely have to meet the 2009 Euro5 and eventually 2014 Euro6 however by that time they will probably have Euro8 or 9 implemented for cars and light trucks which may be a Zero Emissions Standard. Euro4 added a new wrinkle besides air quality in that all motorcycles over a certain hp/displacement have to have ABS and can not make more than a certain amount of noise. |
|
|
|
Post by rockynv on Jan 11, 2017 13:02:55 GMT -5
It is understood that unrefined oil does not present as large an environmental impact as does ultra refined petrolium products. Tire treads are composites of natural tree rubber and petroleum based rubber and vinyl mixed with carbon black and other organic compounds which enhances their biodegradability. Plastic bottles and bags have organics such as corn starch added to them to allow them to more quickly break down too. Not quite the same as allowing raw fuel or partially burnt fuel to vent to atmosphere as soot and acids.
The electric I chose has a battery life of 8 years/100,000 miles as a traction battery at which point they are not recycled but put into use as backups for communications towers and to provide surge capacity to the power grid during peak hours so additional power stations don't have to be activated. This makes it more difficult for individuals to get them for use in home made electric vehicles and solar electric projects. The batteries are still at 60% to 70% capacity when they are deemed unsuitable for use as traction batteries unless they have been damaged. Yes you do have to be careful when choosing.
|
|
|
|
Post by rockynv on Jan 11, 2017 12:34:49 GMT -5
|
|
|
|
Post by rockynv on Jan 11, 2017 5:11:57 GMT -5
The problem is that Victory has a global problem with only 4 of their 12 models now meeting the air quality regulations in Europe which will cost too much to overcome without new engines or by dumping Indian engines into them. That on top of competing with oneself was a killer situation. Indians sell better too especially the Scout Variants which are up to something like 4 (Scout, Scout  , Scout 66 and Scout Two Tone [or something like that]) Hopefully they will not kill the Empulse electric motorcycle that they picked up from Brammo and will continue it on its own as a Polaris product. Victory's were harder for me to hold up than the Chiefs so there is that too. All told though, to me the Royal Enfield Bullet 500 is better balanced than the Scouts. I actually find a fully loaded Chief easier at a stop than the Scouts. |
|
|
|
Post by rockynv on Jan 10, 2017 5:18:02 GMT -5
For a daily ride rain or shine and a long term investment its a Piaggio that you can hand down to your grandchildren but to test the waters short term at low cost yes its Chinese. Many of the Chinese bikes are sold in short time after purchase because the owners get tired of them quickly however you more often see Piaggio riders hanging on to them for many years or trading up. The BV350 according to those that ride them is more powerful than most 500cc bikes and smoother too being less of a thumper due to its box stroke.
When I tested out the waters to see if I could ride again despite my injuries I purchased a Chinese bike because the low initial cost had the potential to keep my financial risk low. Unfortunately the costs of riding it 1,000 miles per month were greater than the cost of going with a Piaggio. When I look at how few miles I put on the Lance/Znen Vintage compared to the costs for all the repairs despite doing most of the work myself the Piaggio bikes start looking much more economical over the long run.
Business Guru John Maxwells Law of the Price Tag still holds true that sooner or later you are going to have to pay and the sooner you get it over with the less its going to cost you in the long run. If you end up trashing your bikes every year or so regardless of the quality then yes go with the cheapest you can get however if you are one that keeps vehicles for 10, 20 or more years like me then you are usually better off paying the extra up front for something better.
Each person has to judge their own needs/situation and thankfully there is something out there for every one.
|
|
|
|
Post by rockynv on Jan 9, 2017 12:44:14 GMT -5
It appears that Stuart Motorsports charges a $99/hour labor rate - I paid $49.50 for a half-hour...  I don't begrudge the dealer for his charges, but the "Scooter Genie", who works out of his home/garage now, charges $10 to change the gear oil, $15 to change the engine oil, and his labor rate is $50/hour...  Old Chopper Guy said "I still can't figure how the engine could rev without the wheel turning ." That's the thing - it started, but when throttle was applied it would stumble and stall - thus, it would NOT "rev"... How does the rear brake disk look? Any sign of heating as if it was dragging? Also if the variator jammed closed then you would get bogging when you applied the throttle. Sometimes if the belt stays jammed in the bottom of the clutch it can partially wrap around the variator and stall the engine too. |
|
|
|
Post by rockynv on Jan 9, 2017 12:34:01 GMT -5
The numbers appear to be 1.4 to 1.6 million per year dying with the danger being for entire areas to become unlivable so more than a few thousand. They waited way too long to change their ways and are paying the price to catch up however they are now making the effort and the problem now has their full attention. A tough daily situation to be living with. Yes it almost happened here yet you still see naysayers wanting to delete systems designed to protect the air from their bikes patting themselves on the back for their ingenuity. Have you ever modified a bike, mechanically? If so, you're a hypocrite. Different tire, better spark plug, more aerodynamic fairing, more efficient variator - Yes. Defeat pollution or air quality systems - BIG NO! My other car is a Zero Emmisions Plug In Electric with the less volitile air cooled batteries. Trying to be part of the cure and not a perpetuator of the problem. Won't resort to name calling of those trying to make a difference either and will leave that to the Internet Bullies. |
|
, Scout 66 and Scout Two Tone [or something like that]) Hopefully they will not kill the Empulse electric motorcycle that they picked up from Brammo and will continue it on its own as a Polaris product.
