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Post by oldchopperguy on Mar 18, 2018 20:13:46 GMT -5
Inspired by Leo I just stopped by the garage to see if the '83 Kawasaki would start. I haven't fired it up since November. I had to crank and crank but it finally fired up. The new battery maintainer did its job and the battery held up until it coughed to life. Not bad for a 35 year old bike with four carbs.
I know modern fuel-injection is great, but nothing looks sweeter than a carb on every cylinder! And, at least you can wrench on them without an electronics degree... LOL! Four-cylinder Japanese bikes totally re-wrote the book on performance rides! I was still young when the Honda 750 came on the scene, and my pals and I were more impressed by that 4-banger (with front disk-brake to boot!) than by space travel! Never did much like the SOUND of the fours, but doggone, they were (and still ARE) great! Ride safe!Leo |
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Post by oldchopperguy on Mar 17, 2018 21:48:36 GMT -5
Floridagull,
I checked over all the pix of the Yager on the listing and am AMAZED at how much it reminds me of my Grandvista, only very modern styling, and with a totally different motor. The front end, wheels, brakes, seat, bars, overall proportions look VERY familiar! Looking it up on the Internet, it seems to have nearly identical performance spec's. to my Grandvista which makes sense. Top speed is listed at 70-mph, which should be doable with the 175cc injected motor. My guess would be a realistic cruise of 65 up/down-hill and some wind, riding solo, and 60 with passenger. The motor probably has more rpm than my 250 but a tad less torque. So... about the same general performance.I must say the Yager "looks like my scoot 'should have' after some modern styling ques"... LOL! You could certainly get away with a huge trunk, and saddlebags if you want plenty of cargo capacity. However, my light-up goose would NOT look quite right on her nose... LOL! 
If you don't require more than 65-mph solo cruising, it might be just the ride for you! The liquid-cooled, fuel-injected 175cc motor should be equal to my old 2-valve, carbureted 250.
Definitely one to keep on your short list!
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Post by oldchopperguy on Mar 17, 2018 21:31:55 GMT -5
Speaking of old Kymcos, I just found a 2012 Kymco Yager GT 200i locally that I am considering...I've even made a thread about it... 
The "Yager" is one Kymco you don't see often. As a "200i" I'm guessing it's that good 160 with fuel-injection. Should perform about as well as my old carbureted 250! Not too shabby! Like I say, "ya jus' gotta love them old Kymco's"...  ____________________________________________________________ OK, I just checked your thread. Neat bike! I was totally wrong about the motor... 175cc liquid-cooled. Should have VERY similar performance to my old 250. Much of the Yager looks VERY familiar to me. Looks like a very contemporary ride with decent performance for an affordable price. The only factor I'd be second-guessing would be "is it actually fast enough to suit your needs". If so, it might be a great choice! I'd definitely try to test-ride it, and head for the nearest freeway to see if it will cruise fast enough for your needs. Ride safe!
Leo |
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Post by oldchopperguy on Mar 17, 2018 21:24:46 GMT -5
I hope my 2016 Kymco Super 8 150 provides the same service for me... I'm not all that familiar with the Kymco air-cooled 150's. But some, like the "People 200" are actually their own GY6 based 160 cc motors which are AMAZING! I think Kymco used that same engine in different models, calling it anywhere from 150 to 200 cc.
I got a People 200 as a loaner when my dealer changed out my tires, and I absolutely LOVED it!
I liked it SO much I took this old pic... THAT bike was what most of us WISH our Chinese 150's were. It had great acceleration, topped out well over 60 and handled great. It felt light as a bicycle, and you could really "thrash it" around with confidence.
If your 150 has any of THIS DNA in her blood, she's a GOOD one!I'm getting excited about the new season, and getting some "wind on my knuckles" as the "American Pickers" would say! Ride safe!Leo |
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Post by oldchopperguy on Mar 16, 2018 23:08:06 GMT -5
Well boyz n' gurlz...
This is my fourth season on old "Minnie Mouse". 2007 Kymco Grandvista 250 with 19K miles on the clock.
Both the missus and myself have been VERY ill this winter, and I haven't been able to ride for some time. The old scoot has sat idle and neglected for over three months now, which normally I would not have let happen. But... things "are what they are" and yesterday I finally felt up to riding to do errands.
I pulled off the tarps, coaxed my feral-cat pals off their winter home on the floorboard, poked around under the plastics with a stick to encourage the snakes to move elsewhere (EEEEWWWW!)... and checked the oil and tires. I actually expected the battery to be flat, but... SURPRISE! I hit the starter and she fired up like she'd been ridden yesterday.
I rode 20 miles and not a pop, hesitation, backfire or miss. She'd run right up to 75 smooth as a fieldmouse backing into a pussy willow!
The whitewalls are yellow, the whole scoot is covered with a funky film of "kitty schmootz" and does NOT smell her best... and she's filthy but she'll clean right up. The important point is that after sitting all winter the old bike is still as reliable as the family car... Heck, I'm not sure the family Honda would start and run perfectly after sitting that long!
I realize to most folks this thread would mean little... Big deal, so your scooter runs. True, BUT to those of us who have rides that would require a day's work to get going after sitting like this, it IS a big deal... LOL!
The ONLY bike I ever had with THIS level of reliability was my 1967 Honda 305cc "Super Hawk". My chopper "Old Blue": super touchy... full-race drama-queen. My BSA 650: ZERO reliability... Numerous Brit 650's": not much better... My 1970 Harley Electra-Glide: Only "so-so"... My Chinese 150: Ah, NOT so hot... until after six years of "experimenting and perfecting". LOL!
This old Kymco is a real pleasure for an old geezer fast getting too old and tired for much wrenching!
So, it's off to the car wash, a little spit n' polish and looking forward to another great riding season, of RIDING, not WRENCHING! My hat's off to our Taiwanese scoot-manufacturing friends!
Ride safe, and check out under the seat for hibernating snakes... Not "crotch-rockets" but certainly nasty potential "crotch-surprises" as the motor warms up! LOL!
Leo (ridin' "vintage smooth" and reliable) in Texas
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Post by oldchopperguy on Mar 16, 2018 22:30:36 GMT -5
Cyborg55 is right about cash... You know the old adage: "Cash talks, BS walks..." Nothing like a handful of "dead Benjamins" to seal a good deal!I wouldn't worry about parts availability any time soon. My old 2007 Grandvista is a real dinosaur, and my dealer has no problem getting parts. Fortunately, I haven't needed any... LOL! The "People 300" is so current that I'd expect parts to be available for a long time yet! I know at least with my old Grandvista and the even older "Bet n' Win" they use a "workhorse" carbureted 250 and tranny which is still used in many ATV 's. The newer fuel-injected 300 will likely be another "standard" drivetrain with parts available for many years... About the only parts you are likely to need for many years would be clutch, muffler, brakes and battery. Those should be pretty "universal"... And, these Kymco scoots seem to "last forever".And, yeah... The flat floor is mighty nice, even if not so glamorous. But hey, you can carry a bag of kitty litter (dog food, cement, etc.) with your feet on top... LOL! One thing I would recommend just to be sure you get the one best for you is to test-ride both models one after the other at a dealer. They are quite different, and the way each one handles MIGHT make a difference in your final choice. Enjoy! Riding season is upon us! I got old "Minnie Mouse" out from under the tarps yesterday and ran errands... She's sat for 2 months and all I did was check the tires and oil, hit the starter and she fired up like she was ridden yesterday! LOVE them KYMCO'S!
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Post by oldchopperguy on Mar 15, 2018 23:41:23 GMT -5
I fully agree with Wheelbender6... I test-rode the People 300 and loved it. However, if you like "young and modern" the X-Town looks a lot more contemporary. I like the People as it's a sorta a modern, nicer, faster "upgrade" of my old Grandvista...
I love the "kitchen-chair" on/off of the flat floor. Since I use my scoot for hauling groceries, cat-litter, etc. I also think the People might look more "normal" with a huge trunk and saddlebags. than would the X-Town. The X-Town looks a little "crotch-rocket" while the People looks more "crotch-friendly"... I do realize I'm 71, and, I'm guessing you are NOT... LOL!So I'm also guessing you'd prefer the X-Town... But you'd most likely be pretty happy with either one! Whichever one you choose, enjoy, and ride safe! Leo in Texas
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Post by oldchopperguy on Mar 15, 2018 0:00:04 GMT -5
Like Onewheeldrive, I joined the original "Scootdawg" forum back in the dark ages... Heck, I even did their banner, featuring drooling, floppy-eared "Scooter" who still pops up here and there, even here! You know, "The new home for all the dawgs"... LOL! From there, to "Scooter Rebels", where I'm still active, and when Doug told me about his vision for a new site for more than just scooters, "ItIsTheRide" was born, and Doug had me do this banner too. My avatar here shows me joining in February of 2013... Old memory fails me, but I actually "joined" with Doug even before this site existed...I was a lot friskier back then, but I'm still breathing and still around. It's been quite a ride, sometimes mighty bumpy, but quite a ride! One day I'll be riding with Doug on those streets of gold, but that's probably a few seasons away. Only time will tell...
Ride safe while you're still travelling on asphalt... LOL!  Leo (gettin' older) in Texas
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Post by oldchopperguy on Mar 13, 2018 23:54:19 GMT -5
Here are "Inky and PT"...  My little Inky does her best to improve the "image" of black cats... She's a sweetheart... The missus' big guy "PT" sadly passed away a few months ago at 17. We really miss him! I'm always amazed at how little animals can show us the unconditional love that people seldom will... They ARE a gift from God. Treasure your time with furry friends, they don't live forever... Leo in Texas |
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Post by oldchopperguy on Mar 13, 2018 23:38:47 GMT -5
VERY sweet! I like it! Of course, I'm a "charter member of the Kymco fan club"... I test-rode the Kymco "People 300" when it came out and was impressed, and this one is no doubt much more sophisticated. I would try to find one if I were you. I do wonder about the performance. The ONLY facet of the 300's I found disappointing was that they seemed not too much friskier than my ancient Grandvista 250... However, they DO seem to have that "magic 5-mph" increase that makes them a 70+ cruiser instead of a 65+ cruiser. That might be enough, but around here, you honestly must be able to "cruise" 80+ to be safe in freeway traffic. I can attest to the tank-like durability of the old Kymco scoots... near 20K miles on "Minnie Mouse's" old clock and absolutely ZERO issues with me, or the previous owner. The old "Mouse" is as reliable as the family Honda sedan, and I'll bet these new designs are much better yet. I'd "gopher it" for sure! Ride safe! Leo (getting ready for riding season) in Texas |
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Post by oldchopperguy on Mar 12, 2018 10:27:44 GMT -5
I dunno... I'm calling this one a tie! Both REALLY macho... One uses iron, one uses steel... NO bull about either one, except the kind you barbeque after it's been skewered... EEEWWW Awful pun but I couldn't resist... LOL!
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Post by oldchopperguy on Mar 10, 2018 23:01:40 GMT -5
I agree with chopper 100%,,,(,did I say that out loud?),,,,yep Hey, we CAN agree most of the time! Thanks, and have a bone! |
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Post by oldchopperguy on Mar 10, 2018 1:43:54 GMT -5
I've been riding now for over 50 years, and must agree with "Ricardoguitars" and "Cyborg 55". At 71, I ride a scooter for the step-through frame since arthritis keeps me from climbing onto a big bike without a LOT of pain.
Today's scooters are great, and I like the "twist-n' go" no-shifting controls. Easier to ride than clutch n' gears motorcycles.
For safety, a full-size motorcycle likely has a slight edge over a scooter, if for no other reason than larger wheels. Now my aging Kymco 250 scooter has small 12" wheels, and with good tires and properly balanced wheels, I do ride 70-mph in relative comfort but larger wheels are better.
I live in the Dallas/Fort Worth TX area, and bikes of all types are available at decent prices. $1,000 is a VERY tight budget, but decent rides can be found, especially if you shop before the new riding season.
A used (or even new) Chinese scooter is likely to need some fiddling with to get it reliable. That's just the way it is. Sometimes you get lucky, but you must be ready to do some minor work.
Japanese, Taiwanese and Italian scooters really ARE more likely to be trouble-free, and around here, they can be found in the $1,000 to $2,000 range. You really have to search them out.
My first scooter was a Chinese 150 bought new for $700. THAT however, was 8 years ago. I suppose a new one like it today might be well over $1,000 but NEW Chinese scoots are better than mine was.
I would definitely keep an open mind on motorcycles like an older but well-maintained Honda Rebel 250 or something similar.
My scooter is a 2007 Kymco Grandvista 250 with 18K miles on the clock. I bought it 4 seasons ago for $2,500 but today it's worth only around $1,000. A scoot like it would be a very good choice. Kymco scoots are extremely well-made. I've had ZERO maintenance issues with the old girl, and she's as reliable as the family sedan.
Long story short, I'd try to find EITHER a scooter OR motorcycle in the 150 to 400cc range, made in Japan, Taiwan or Italy. Just me, but I've been around the block... Heck, I've been around the world!
Don't worry about getting one a little larger than 150. I'm about the same weight as your husband, and I'm much happier on the 250 than I was on the 150. Nothing under 700cc is going to be so fast that it's "scary" or dangerous.
Keep us posted on your quest for wheels... And if you run into maintenance problems, there are plenty of members here to give advice.
I've ridden over a million miles on every kind of bike, and if I get too old and feeble for 2 wheels, I'll get a 3-wheeler... or a sidecar... LOL!
If your husband is new to riding, please DO get some good instruction. Little things like wet leaves, oil on the road and such CAN be a miserable surprise... But if careful, bikes are relatively safe, affordable to use and a WHOLE lot of fun!
Buy well and ride safe!
Leo in Texas
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Post by oldchopperguy on Mar 10, 2018 1:10:17 GMT -5
You can't say I didn't try to get along. We could be friends. Please think on it.
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Post by oldchopperguy on Mar 10, 2018 1:05:42 GMT -5
Pistonguy...
Do you realize we're arguing about things that took place over a half-century ago?
Honestly, I'm one of THE friendliest members on this forum. Why not just quit this endless trashing, and get along. I'm willing if you are.
Nothing good comes from constant arguing. I take you at your word about things you've accomplished, and honestly, everything I've posted has been truthful, and only for the enjoyment of my forum friends who get a kick out the stuff we did decades ago.
Life is TOO short (especially at our ages) to give each other high blood-pressure. If you're willing to stop attacking my posts, I'd be happy to be your friend here.
That is the best I can do... I'd really like to get along. We could probably enjoy sharing our experiences a lot more than trashing each other.
Sincerely,
Leo in Texas
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