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Post by gitsum on Jun 4, 2013 19:21:02 GMT -5
Well, if you read up on the article of a vespa rider doing cross continent, riding on a 90cc scooter, you'd believe everything is possible. Sure it's possible, but you're just increasing the risk unnecessarily by lowering cc's. Risk of what? Wouldn't this depend on where and how you ride? Let me enlighten you based on actual experience  My wife and I ride all over southern Arizona and New Mexico on a scooter. We have ridden on dozens of trips 250-350 miles in a day. We hate the interstate, if we wanna drone along at 75 mph flashing by everything, might as well be more comfortable in a car. We were riding a SYM HD200 that was fully capable of holding 75 mph with both of us, and did a few times. But we much preferred riding two land highways with posted speed limits of 55-65 mph. We maintained the posted speed limits and always had cars passing us. We tried an experiment one time and limited our top speed to 50 mph. The same amount of cars passed us, but we noticed a lot less tailgating. That's right, when cruising a two lane roads at 65 mph, cagers would impatiently wait for an opportunity to pass us. At 50 mph, the could easily overtake us and not spend a lot if time crowding us from behind. So for this type of riding, slower is actually safer and less stressful. Consequently we sold the HD200 and got a smaller 150cc air-cooled (made by SYM) scooter. We still take the same long rides, exploring the southwest desert and mountains, at a slightly slower pace that allows us to take in the scenery even better. That's anywhere up to 300+ miles in a day, cruising 50-55 mph for hours on end. And no, we don't have to try to keep the mileage down so the scooter lasts longer like certain Chinese scooter owners mentioned  |
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Post by gitsum on Jun 4, 2013 18:03:34 GMT -5
For instance, a 300cc sports bike won't keep up all day neither at wot, or near wot. For that reason, the dino bikers that use cruisers, and have years of experience, unlike some teenagers on this forum that bought their 50cc scoots yesterday; bikers tell you that you'll really need a 500+cc to ride all day, unless you won't mind riding at 40MPH or below all day, or don't mind riding in syberia. Keep up with what? A Kymco People GT 300i, Piaggio Beverly 350 or my Honda CBR250R will cruise over the posted speed limit with some throttle in reserve. This means when you go up a steep grade or against a strong headwind, you are still maintaining or exceeding the speed limit if that's what you want. I guess if you want to ride at  + mph all day you may need something bigger. If you're basing this theory on a 250 - 300cc Chinese scooter that tops out at an actual 75 mph on a good day, then you're probably right. And no, when the China speedo reads 80+ mph, you aren't going that fast. And yes, if you insist on riding a Chinese scooter close to the performance limits it isn't going to be reliable or dependable by anyone's definition. And yes, if you ride a Taiwanese or Japanese machine close to the limits all the time, it will just keep running forever, provided you change the oil and adjust the valves when needed. And no, that isn't every 1000 - 1500 miles for a valve job like a Chinese motor made out of pot metal. And no, proper maintenance on a Taiwanese or Japanese machine does not mean having to replace a lot of basic parts first. I have taken my Honda Elite 110 and Yamaha C3 scooters on longer trips, WOT 100% of the time. They were bulletproof and reliable, not one mechanical failure of any kind. And yes, the little 49cc four-stroke water-cooled Yamaha could hold 40-47 mph forever. So I'm not sure where the 40 mph or below everyday is coming from? Perhaps your experiences with 50 and 150cc Chinese scooters? And no, it wasn't expensive, I bought a used 2007 model with 750 miles in 2010 for $1000. And yes, I have owned two Chinese scooters. A $1000 cheapo and a "better" $1500 QJ. And yes, they both stranded me more than once. And no, I will never ride one again. I have no problems with people riding and enjoying (let's not forget fixing) Chinese made scooters. I have a problem with people saying the are as good, or better for the money spent than a Taiwanese or Japanese scooter, that's total bullsh!t! I also have a problem with people saying a small displacement Taiwanese or Japanese machine can't get the job done, basing it on their experiences with Chinese made machines that aren't unreliable and can't. And yes, I'm basing this opinion on the almost 20 motorcycles and scooters I have owned and ridden for more than 30 years. Not on research or someone else's opinion. It's amazing how people on the internet can give an educated opinion and become a self proclaimed expert on things they read about without ever having experienced it firsthand. Why don't we all just stay home and cruise the internet and become knowledgeable based on other people that are doing the exact same thing? , why bother with the hassle of experiencing it yourself? You can become all knowing by sitting in your underwear in front of your computer, laptop or tablet... |
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Post by gitsum on Jun 4, 2013 13:00:54 GMT -5
I had originally typed something quite a bit different... You're teasing me, I sure wish you would have ;D |
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Post by gitsum on Jun 4, 2013 12:32:36 GMT -5
I hope anyone reading posts like this see them for the uninformed drivel that they are... You sir, are much too kind |
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Post by gitsum on Jun 4, 2013 12:13:37 GMT -5
The 300's are not made for long distances though. I've had a friend who broke one down on a 1000 mile tour; while a 500+cc bike is much more suited for long distances. I've never tried a TU250x for long distances, but usually 30-60 minutes trips are ok on these bikes. When they say 'does this all day long' it doesn't mean all day long. It means it can ride 70MPH just fine, but no one actually tried it all day long. They just estimate it like that. My BMS260 could also do 75MPH 'all day long'; yet after 2k miles it started rambling apart. Absolutely friggin' amazing! I can't believe the crap I am reading! Someone I know took a quick trip to the grocery store on his 1200cc cruiser and it broke down. So according to your logic, we now know a bike with a 1200cc engine is not made for short trips in town. I've traveled 350 miles in one day on a 170cc scooter. That's riding two up with gear, taking a lot of little stops to enjoy the scenery and rest our behinds, but most of that was at WOT. There are tons of stories online about people driving around the world, to the arctic circle and back, across Canada, across the USA, and many more long rides on 125cc or less (and no, none of these were Chinese made). And yes, I did take a longer trip on the Suzuki TU250x and did ride it all day long at 70 mph+. It is ludicrous that you can say " It means it can ride 70MPH just fine, but no one actually tried it all day long. They just estimate it like that.". I think your experiences with Chinese made machines is totally screwing up your perception of a two-wheel vehicles capability. How could you possibly know that most people prefer the "brown-golden" color? Did you take a poll? I've seen a dozen or so TU2050x's on the road, and only one or two of them were brown. Get a Chinese bike or a Ninja 300? What the heck kind of logic is that? Those machines have absolutely nothing in common besides two-wheels. Online research can only tell you so much about a motorcycle or scooter. To base an opinion or even a buying decision on that alone is completely retarded. I apologize to everyone about my negative response in this thread. But someone had to say something about this incredibly outrageous and inaccurate information that was posted. |
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Post by gitsum on Jun 4, 2013 2:50:27 GMT -5
Maybe Gitsum can comment about one particular aspect of the bike. I only rode one for a couple days as they were the supplied bikes for my Motorcycle safety course. I was probably a ham footed driver but the particular bike I was on locked the rear wheel fairly easily during panic stops. It was not that dramatic and it did not go down but nearly every time we had to do hard stops I would lock it. Otherwise, outside of being retro no-frills, it seemed nice with a very smooth EFI engine. Simple nut adjustment on the rear drum brake |
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Post by gitsum on Jun 3, 2013 11:16:18 GMT -5
Wow, that's the first Tomos Nitro 150 I've heard of that's had this kind of problem. Overheating, not changing the oil/running low, or valves way out of spec can cause this type of failure... You want a 157QMJ GY6b engine head. The Tomos Nitro is a generic design, but I would spend a few extra bucks and get a Taiwanese made one, not a Chinese! If you get a non-EGR head, you can simply rip out the extra hoses, valve and canister without blocking off the EGR port like I had to. Not as easy to find as a standard GY6, but GY6b heads are available. here's one: get2itparts.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=115150_1025_108150_108250&products_id=634422ScrappyDogScooters.com has a 4-valve version, and Tomos USA has a replacement head |
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Post by gitsum on Jun 3, 2013 2:50:18 GMT -5
I Sat on one, tried it a bit, and looked at that motorcycle for a while. Personally I'd say the good is that it's a chain drive, so you can adjust the sprockets. The bad is that it's a motorcycle, not as easy hump on or off, as a scooter. It's heavy and about 3-4x as expensive as chinese sportsbikes that also get great gas mileage! I've done some threads about sprocket changes on the TU forums, but they all laughed at me (because they could not understand it). So over there, are perhaps 2 knowledgeable people on the whole forum, that are not online most of the time. Because the Suzuki was too expensive (new you usually need to add $500 dealerfee, and taxes, so your price is usually closer to $5000-5500), I went for a cheaper chinese bike, which I regret buying, however, it's been a great learning experience that bike! My personal opinion, if you need something small, get a 150cc scooter, or get a 300-500cc motorcycle. Sure the suzuki is great on gas, a great machine overall, but it's always at the edge on the highway. ~72-79MPH top speed, with a little wind against it drops to 65MPH, uphill 60. It's flimsy made for a Japanese bike, though good enough for most people. Small, if you're tall. The handlebars are way to much forward, for me they have to be upped by at least 5 in, though the cables do not allow the handlebars to be extended for more than 2 in. It sits comfy, good seat, fun to work on, simple, it's a good bike. Why not go with the chinese bikes? They're cheaper, and about the same in power/speed? Did you get all that info from sitting on one? Wow! I owned one and my son and I rode it 5000 miles. Where to start? That's hard, because you got just about everything wrong! I bought a new leftover 2009 model (1 mile) in 2011 for $3500 cash. That's less than twice the price of a crappy Chinese 250cc motorcycle for something that will last way longer, no contest. It has a rev-limiter set at 10,500 rpm's and feels happy bouncing off of it. If you hug the gas tank it will hit  + mph, it will cruise at 75 forever. The Suzuki air-cooled engine doesn't care if it's a 100 degrees out, you can it ride it WOT all day long. It's 328 lbs ready to ride with a full tank of gas, still lighter than a SYM Citycom 300i or a Kymco People GT 300i, the same as a cheap Chinese 250 motorcycle. It's built like a tank, the frame is very stout and it handles light off roading like a champ, with twice the suspension travel of a scooter. It's a blast, fun, and feels like small and light motorcycle, because it is. The handlebars compliment the seating position, and that seat is good for all day riding and then some. A few valve jobs, oil changes, and chain adjustments, it was absolutely bulletproof. We rode the living h@ll out of that little motorcycle and it just ran better and better. And yes, we went one tooth larger on the front sprocket, as did many other people at the TU250 Riders forum. A lot of people there also tried rear sprocket changes too. Eventually my son wanted a Honda CBR250R, and we sold the TU250X and put the money towards the new motorcycle. I get to ride the Honda whenever I want to, but I really miss the TU250X, one of the sweetest, most durable and simple motorcycles ever made. I gotta ask though, how could you recommend a Chinese motorcycle when you said you regretted buying one? |
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jerky ride
by: gitsum - Jun 2, 2013 11:28:09 GMT -5
Post by gitsum on Jun 2, 2013 11:28:09 GMT -5
If you are using a 50cc stock carb with the stock jetting on an 80cc BBK, you are running way too lean!
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jerky ride
by: gitsum - Jun 1, 2013 22:51:32 GMT -5
Post by gitsum on Jun 1, 2013 22:51:32 GMT -5
If the engine died and the kick starter was frozen, but after a few minutes it moved and worked, it sounds like your BBK might have had a soft seize. Your belt issue may not be related, or maybe it's something else entirely different...
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Post by gitsum on Jun 1, 2013 11:02:10 GMT -5
check for a vacuum or air leak
change the air filter, fuel filter and spark plug.
thoroughly clean the carb and check the float level (this will require removal)
adjust the valve clearances
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Post by gitsum on May 30, 2013 12:24:05 GMT -5
totalruckus.com/phpBB3/viewtopic.php?f=35&t=34470You can open the front access panel to reach the head, but if you remove the four bolts that hold the seat bucket you will have more room. Make sure you eyeball the orientation of the two bolts on the valve cover. They pass through two holes in the cover and actually thread underneath and out of sight into the head. It takes a bit of patience to "feel around" and get the bolts started into the threads properly. Once you get the "feel" of it, it's easy to reassemble. I've checked my valves twice, and the second time took 15 minutes. Instead of using a wrench to turn the engine to TDC, it's easier to remove the spark plug and simply use the kick starter. Three bolt holes on the cam sprocket should line up horizontally with the engine case. There is also a small rubber plug you can remove to line up the "T" mark on the flywheel, either way or both will work fine. Make sure the cam lobe is not pushing the rocker arms depressing the valves to open them. You should be able to "wiggle" the rocker arms a little bit up and down at TDC. 10mm socket or wrench for the valve cover bolts and seat bucket, 9mm for the valve adjustment nut. I got the best results with the intake set at .004" and the exhaust at .005".
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Post by gitsum on May 29, 2013 16:04:06 GMT -5
The Tomos Nitro is assembled in a mainland China based factory. This is to bring down the price using cheap labor. Quality control follows the same strict guidelines that SYM scooters assembled in Taiwan use. The mechanical and electrical components are Taiwanese made, including small things like fasteners, bearings, hoses and rubber components. The finish/paint on the plastics seems a bit cheaper, but still decent.
Is it as good as a Honda made in Japan (not all Honda's are exclusively made in Japan these days)? Probably not, but it's as close as one can get and cut the price down almost 50% without significantly degrading durability and reliability.
Almost a Chinese price without cutting corners on lower quality metals and mechanical components that always lower durability and reliability.
I have owned and wrenched on Chinese scooters as well as Taiwanese and Japanese scooters/motorcycles. The Taiwanese machines assembled in China are not like typical Chinese manufactured products!
I probably sound like a broken record by now... But spending a few extra hundred bucks on a budget Taiwanese scooter assembled in China (Kymco Agility 125, Lance Cali Classic 125, Tomos Nitro 150 and a few others) is a much better deal than the best Chinese scooter at any price and saves you money!
Getting back to the topic at hand. There are instructional videos for valve adjustments on a GY6 engine that will make it possible for an inexperienced scooter owner to handle the job themselves.
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Post by gitsum on May 27, 2013 22:31:21 GMT -5
For $799 it looks like you got exactly what you paid for.
If you get it running properly, I hope you take extra care in making sure a critical piece of hardware isn't about to fail...
Good luck and please ride safe!
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Post by gitsum on May 27, 2013 20:13:07 GMT -5
Two-up on a Tomos Nitro 150 through Garden Canyon, which is just south of Ft. Huachuca on the eastern slopes of the Huachuca Mts. The scenery is fantastic, rising up from the high desert to a lush forested canyon with flowing water. At higher elevations the vegetation gives way to a beautiful pine forest that dominates the mountain tops and sheer rock cliffs made of ancient stratified rock. A narrow paved road winds upward from the military base, eventually turning into a decently maintained dirt and gravel road about 10 miles long, that ends at a cabled off roadblock. A few parts got pretty steep and rough, but the made by SYM Tomos Nitro soldiered onward without complaint. This scooter handles off pavement at least as good as a Yamaha Zuma 125, but it weighs 33 lbs less and has an extra horsepower. The suspension and frame on the Tomos Nitro is quite robust, decent suspension travel, twin adjustable rear shocks, and fork gaiters included. Not a true dual sport by any measure, but surprisingly capable for a scooter. This is the third time we taken it off pavement, and this scooter just keeps asking for more!       |
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+ mph all day you may need something bigger.
+ mph, it will cruise at 75 forever. The Suzuki air-cooled engine doesn't care if it's a 100 degrees out, you can it ride it WOT all day long.