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Post by rockynv on Dec 1, 2015 23:04:05 GMT -5
Yeah... But the *intention* of the law doesn't matter, it is what the law actually says is what matters. Not when it comes to revealing who you really are and your personal ethics. How far will you bend things to get what you want regardless of the propriety of things? You keep pushing the boundaries of right and wrong and you will eventually lose the ability to discern between the two. Your intentions as revealed in a court of law can mean the difference between a warning or slap on the wrists and a substantial judgement against you. To intentionally manufacture a hardship in order to sidestep the law is not really ethical or moral behavior. If you actually do this in the future and brag on it here or on any other board all it takes is one person to drop the dime on you to cause you grief. Its not a path I will recommend anyone to tread. |
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Post by rockynv on Dec 1, 2015 12:55:18 GMT -5
A U-Turn on the scooter is easy. You have to feather the rear brake while upping the throttle controlling your speed more with the rear brake than the throttle. People get into trouble using too little throttle and not enough rear brake. You will get into even more trouble in a U-Turn if you panic and use the front brake. You will usually drop the bike if you hit the front brake in a hard turn. Many folks drop their bikes walking them back out of a parking space by hitting the front brake while the handle bars are turned fully to one side.
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Post by rockynv on Dec 1, 2015 12:48:38 GMT -5
howdy, y'all yup, these are interesting but like some have mentioned, when you can't swing the leg over the saddle without going down in spasms{flames}it's a little redundant to think about it. I was intrigued by paladins answer to getting it registered in California. ---- ken Deception is a tangled web to weave. We are talking about intentionally taking a worthless clunker and destroying it out of state to circumvent the law in California. The law was really intended as an aid to those stranded through no fault of their own. |
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Post by rockynv on Dec 1, 2015 12:39:43 GMT -5
I had a 500cc Aprillia that was absolutely awesome on the interstates. It just wasn't a great slow speed bike, it was very top heavy (my 1500cc gold wing is easier to deal with in parking lots and stop and go traffic, even with the clutch) That said, it was an absolute joy on the open road only second to the gold wings I've ridden, and that's saying a ton. That is why they returned it to its roots in 2006 coming out with the Scarabeo 500ie (Light) giving the best of both worlds with better city manners and great interstate performance. Scarabeo 500 GT(Heavy)/Atlantic 500:  Scarabeo 500ie(Light)  Sport City 250:  |
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Post by rockynv on Nov 30, 2015 13:15:45 GMT -5
Unfortunately there is no 100% guaranty that a plug is going to hold even long enough to get to a tire shop to get it replaced. Yes some people will have good results however too many will have them fail to make them a reccommended repair. Would you fly with an Airline that brags that 50% of the time their planes do not crash? How about 75%? Even  % would not be good enough yet we take chances on running temporary tire patches with a higher rate of failure and deem it acceptable. |
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Post by rockynv on Nov 28, 2015 10:59:31 GMT -5
Are Gates belts made of Aramid? I've had several, and they are not much different than the crappy ones that come on the scooter. I ordered a Kevlar one from Scrappy's, and the quality difference was remarkable. There is no comparison between the Gates, and the Kevlar one. Performance was very noticeably better, also Unfortunately there are a lot of fake Gates products out there. If I still have the box of variators that died prematurely from Kevlar belts I'll take a picture and post the damage. You will get a clue of the extent of this from the posts about exhausts failing, header studs breaking and rear body work breaking apart. You will many times find a scored/grooved variator was the root cause and a Kevlar belt had been used on it. |
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Post by rockynv on Nov 28, 2015 10:51:40 GMT -5
Many station here still have full service and self service pumps however the price of gas is higher at the full service pumps.
Those that are self service only still need to have a call box to accommodate disabled drivers who should not be pumping gas from an electric wheel chair or while using an oxygen concentrator. They press the call button and the attendant has to respond and pump the gas for them.
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Post by rockynv on Nov 28, 2015 10:33:39 GMT -5
Hey!  What about the 200cc Italian with 16" wheels?! Just 'cause I won't go interstate doesn't mean Peej isn't capable of it. At least that's what Piggy tells me.... >'Kat The more current 200's I am not on-board with since they are not Master or Legend powered so the reliability factor may not be quite there. However the Fuel Injected 250/300's from 2008 forward will be better lot suited than the Carbureted 200 engines from the mid 2000's since the computer will be less likely allow it to lean out and burn the valves or piston tops when run close to wide open making it a more realistic ride for the interstate. On State Highways with 60 mph limits the 200 will run all day long at 65 mph but not really going to work out on a 70 mph interstate trying to deal with 75/  mph traffic. To jump on the Interstate occasionally to jump 1 or maybe 2 exits the older Carbureted 200 was passable but it is really not going to hold up being pushed for long distances. They also made some Rotax 150cc engines that Aprilia used that were capable of hitting 70+ mph however they would not do it for a long time and those that pushed them usually ended up throwing a rod and destroying the engines. You stand a much better chance of getting 50,000+ miles of service from the Fuel Injected 250cc and above Piaggios if you ride the Interstates. |
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Post by rockynv on Nov 27, 2015 16:42:56 GMT -5
How old is the bike, how long have you had it and what climate are we talking about?
Be mindful that the Lifan Laguna 250 has a water cooled engine which requires that the coolant be flushed and replaced with fresh at a minimum of every 2 years or it will to corrode internally and overheat. Also if its running lean due to clogged carb jets or any vacuum leaks it can also overheat. If the valves need adjustment that too can lead to overheating.
If the coolant has not been regularly flushed every 2 years you might want to start off with a white vinegar flush to clean out the cooling system thoroughly rinsing it out with distilled water and then filling it with a mixed metal coolant. I use a shop vac to help clean out the block when doing this.
Higher octane helps protect valves, heads and pistons in higher compression engines and can extend the period between valve adjustments however at 10:1 then 91 octane should be fine unless we are talking 10.9:1. The basic rule of thumb for compression is 8:1 takes regular, 9:1 to 10:1 takes mid grade and 11:1 or higher needs premium however with the tendency for the valve seats to be soft in these engines jumping a grade higher than required to extend time between valve adjustments and reduce wear to the valve seats is a good practice.
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Post by rockynv on Nov 27, 2015 11:46:09 GMT -5
Well its patched and got slime in it now. I didnt have the time to change tire and buy new one.. No tools and work two jobs.. Gotta make it move til i save up... Whats normal cost for parts and labor for one tire? $20 to $30 for a tubeless 10" tire and depending on the shop $0 to $35 if you take the wheel off the bike so they do not have to remove it themselves. I have an Aprilia Sport City that sees a lot of interstate use at 75+ mph and has some pretty expensive 15" Italian rims so I have the dealer do the tire changing since they charge less than internet prices for the tires and beat most of the bargain shops on the mounting and high speed balancing along with return the bike freshly washed. If the nick the rims they have them refinished. Due to the potential of the bike I run Michelin Power Pure tires which are a bit more pricey but with a bike that can carry 465 lbs at close to 100 mph its not worth taking chances on bargain tires. |
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Post by rockynv on Nov 27, 2015 11:31:58 GMT -5
I suppose that I am spoiled here as most any motorcycle shop here will do a scooter tire as that is just too much business to turn away. Even the hard core Vespa Shops will do a tire change on a Chinese or Japanese scooter along with the local Cycle Gear. Do not discount small equipment dealers either and lawn mowers also have small hubs however they do not spin balance the wheels like a motorcycle tire shop or Cycle Gear will.
Many of the bike dealerships do this so you will be cooling your heals in the bike showrooms and be tempted.
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Post by rockynv on Nov 27, 2015 11:07:19 GMT -5
Beautiful work however helmets can get very brittle from paint solvents and loose their ability to do their jobs especially the bargain varieties. We see this especially with folks who paint construction hard hats to make them custom only to have then shatter in a light incident. The metallic paints some have used also present an issue being conductive.
Note that some helmets get gummy not because of the finish but because of the leaching out of the plasticizers inside them while the shell becomes brittle. You may have bought a helmet that sat on a shelve past its useful lifespan and was bleeding out. The foam inside will also be deteriorating more rapidly from this which can be further accelerated by the fumes from the paint solvents used to prep and refinish them.
Remember that helmets are only good for 2 to 5 years with the bargain helmets only good for 2. A helmet that has already been sitting on a shelf for a few years especially out of the box and having been tried on by a number of folks is really just a decoration and no longer going to protect you like an new unused helmet fresh off the assembly line.
A Shoei top of the line model for example expires 7 years from date of manufacture or 5 years after first use however if its been sitting on a shelf and only been tried on a few times over that period of 5 years its already past its useful lifespan. A bargain helmet that's been sitting on a store shelf over a year even if it was only tried on a few times can already be past its useful lifespan.
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Post by rockynv on Nov 27, 2015 10:43:31 GMT -5
I keep test sitting and riding bigger motorcycles and scooters and once you get past 20 hp and 80 mph its hard to justify more especially for a single rider. The Commando 850 was fun back in the day but it did not get 70+ mpg and was not that much fun to move around to pull out of the garage. The 250/300/350cc fuel injected sport scooters with 15" or 16" wheels are the ideal all around bikes for daily use and weekend trips/touring. Light, economical, quiet and efficient yet interstate capable.
It is comical at work to see guys fussing with 1+ liter bikes that get fewer mpg than my Fiat Spider trying to back them out of parking spaces when they leave or fussing to turn them around and back them in every morning when they ride them into the office so they won't have to walk them backwards out of a parking space afterwards. Not much fun especially when its over 100 degrees in the parking area.
Having to stop in traffic on a banked curve balancing an 800 cruiser is not that great either especially with the heat coming straight up at you from the cylinder heads and the hot air from the cooling system and radiant heat from the header pipes roasting your thighs and calfs.
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Post by rockynv on Nov 24, 2015 16:39:07 GMT -5
I run a fanless drive face and have never had an issue with heat destroying the belt. I later cut the CVT cover to let heat escape but even when it wasn't cut , it was fine. I don't think the heat from the engine along with the heat from normal belt running would cause a gates Kevlar belt to break. Something has to be out of wack to cause that much heat. Bad for ranny bearings , a variator which is stuck fully compressing the belt , or a stuck clutch pulley that will not open will cause of excess tension , belt slippage and high heat hot enough to destroy the belt. Big difference between a Summer Ride in PA and South Florida. Here roadway temps can hover around 120 degrees when its only in the high 's out with the CVT case getting too hot to touch without getting a burn. With the sugar sand and other dust blowing around CVT filters clog and overheat belts regularly here. You need to clean CVT filters every 1,000 to 3,000 miles to help prevent this if you ride in a Semi-Tropical area. Won't use a Kevlar belt myself as they shorten the life of the drive faces too much and accelerate the rate of grooving. I get 12,000 miles or better from an OEM belt on my bike and at 30,000 miles have no signs of belt damage to my original variator or clutch while I have seen Kevlar belts eat out drive faces in 4,000 miles a number of times. |
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Post by rockynv on Nov 24, 2015 16:21:28 GMT -5
That is why Kevlar is known for destroying or prematurely wearing out drive faces. I have seen a number of deeply cut drive faces from the use of Cheap Kevlar Belts that were just left too raw on the sides so that the overly harsh Kevlar cut deep grooves into the faces destroying them in a relatively short time. With the correct belt one should expect to get 50,000 miles or better from a decent variator.
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% would not be good enough yet we take chances on running temporary tire patches with a higher rate of failure and deem it acceptable.
mph traffic. To jump on the Interstate occasionally to jump 1 or maybe 2 exits the older Carbureted 200 was passable but it is really not going to hold up being pushed for long distances.