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Post by oldchopperguy on Jan 20, 2017 11:22:08 GMT -5
VERY sharp scooter... Sounds like it's got a really advanced engine, and has a great cosmetic look too. Should be a scooter that appeals to a wide audience who is on a budget but wants a ride they can feel good about riding.
It really would sell well here, I'd think. Maybe if it sells well in Asia, it might get over here one day... Probably a couple of years after it's outdated... LOL!
Thanks for the post!
Leo in Texas
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Post by oldchopperguy on Jan 16, 2017 21:50:04 GMT -5
Dart is done...last year of production is 2017. What IS this old world coming to?  Leo (still riding the old Grandvista, and they don't make THEM anymore either) in Texas  |
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Post by oldchopperguy on Jan 16, 2017 21:40:18 GMT -5
Still pretty good at 82 on Sept 20, 2016:  30-something "Barbie-Dolls" look great, but can't equal THIS eye-candy "aged-to-perfection" class... As the old TV commercial said: "...now THAT'S Italian!".Have a bone on the Old Chopper Guy! |
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Post by oldchopperguy on Jan 15, 2017 21:43:54 GMT -5
Top Sophia Loren.... Let's see you do it, HA !(How's that for "performance"  )  I have an Italian daughter-in-law who with no exaggeration, has Sophia Loren's face, and Audrey Hepburn's body. Nope, no bike looks quite THAT good...
Think I'll go get a pizza...Leo in Texas |
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Post by oldchopperguy on Jan 15, 2017 1:04:42 GMT -5
Cool little car!
I've always liked Dodges and was happy to see the "Dart" marque revived. They look like swell cars, about the size of my old Honda Accord. A while back I met a guy at Wally World with one that I figured must be a "tuner" car. Had exotic rims and tires about a foot wide and all fitting neatly under the sheetmetal... Two giant coffee-can pipes exiting the rear and a full roll-cage inside. Well, the guy said it's FACTORY... At least "dealer-built" optioned: supposed to be a police-optioned car for Texas, and available to the public if you pony-up about $35K... Supposed to have some kind of Star Wars motor pushing near to a thousand ponies (I'm impressed...) and all-out suspension, brakes, etc. I could see a PAIR of 4-piston calipers on about a 19" carbon disc on the front wheel... I do buy the police-option story... It had twin spotlights and a shotgun rack built into the console... with the guy's personal AR-15 locked in it. Sweet! One thing: most ANY car (or bike) purpose-built in Texas for police interceptor duty will find its way to the over-the-counter dealers stores... right down to the "muffler-delete" option. All-in-all, a nifty little 4-door grocery getter that will probably do 0-60 in 3 seconds and do something around 200 top-end! Old sixties' sedan with fins, or the new one like yours, I still like the Dart!  Drive safe...Leo in Texas
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Post by oldchopperguy on Jan 14, 2017 1:03:31 GMT -5
It's not the cosmetics I like so well... It's the quality and performance!!!  |
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Post by oldchopperguy on Jan 10, 2017 21:29:03 GMT -5
I admire the visual appeal of the Victories. They were beautiful (with a few exceptions). I think part of their problem was that they did not offer any sub-liter bikes. You need a smaller bike to bring in new and younger riders. -The other problem, in my opinion, was the pure mass of the bikes. I know a young, strong guy that injured his hip without his Victory falling. He stuck his leg out to hold up the bike in a low speed, panic stop and the stress damaged his hip. You need to be a durable guy to ride those things. Here is a nice Vegas.  When I got a Honda Accord, going from my old Mercury wagon which I could just walk into like my living room, I severely injured my leg just getting into the small car... Cheesh! Had to have rehab and could barely walk for three months. Fortunately, I could still ride my flat-floor scooter! It's just like sitting on a kitchen chair... even with a game leg.
Those Victory bikes are for the most part great-looking (and great V-twin performers too). To me they seem to have a lot of "Arlen Ness" DNA in their cosmetics, especially the baggers. I think Polaris should maybe keep the best few designs and re-badge them as Indian models... Names like the "Brave", "Warrior", "Tomahawk", and/or any well-known Native American tribes like "Apache" "Mohawk" etc. I sort of lean toward the "Flathead" tribe myself... A mini, or scooter named the "Papoose" might be cool, too... LOL!
Ride safe... Leo in Texas |
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Post by oldchopperguy on Jan 9, 2017 18:02:05 GMT -5
This IS sad.
Several years back, I test rode a Victory and loved it. I was spry and able to handle the big bikes easily then, but could not afford one. The Victory seemed to have the "grunt" of a Harley and revs of a Japanese bike... not unlike a big Desmo-head Ducati... a truly refreshing twist to the stodgy V-twins of that era. The quality seemed top-notch too.
Since introducing the new Indian brand however, it does make sense to concentrate on them. All the various wonderful Victory bikes can certainly live on using the Indian power-train and brand. It's still the same company, same engineering and reputation in an all-new rendition of the oldest marque in American motorcycle history, preceding Harley Davidson by a couple of years.
Die-hard Victory riders will mourn the loss of the brand, but the DNA will live on in the new Indians. Back in the day, the original Indian offered small V-twins, big V-twins, inline fours and later on, vertical twins. I expect as the new Indian company matures, such variety may return, and we'll se more than just the big twin and Scout models. I could easily envision a high-performance model named the Indian "Victory" to honor the parent company marque.
Ever notice how the Victory "Octane" motor looks suspiciously like engine in the Indian Scout? Hmmm... VERSATILITY in action... Wouldn't it be COOL if Polaris would put one of their red-hot snow-machine motor/tranny units in an Indian branded hot-rod scooter? There MUST be a way to make a screaming 200hp two-smoker pass emissions... Maybe? Ah, probably not... LOL!
Only time will tell if the new Indian can really compete with Harley Davidson. Things look good so far, with the Indian bikes seemingly having excellent quality, performance and looks... all a fraction of the price of a Harley.
You'll never get old-school geriatric Hog riders to switch brands, but for newer riders wanting classic bikes, Indian should be able to create their own "niche" as HD did.
I'm a loyal Harley rider from fifty years ago, and if I had the physical ability and budget, rather than switching brands, I'd likely have BOTH a Hog AND a new Indian... That being said, with arthritis and short budget, I'm mighty glad to have an old Kymco... LOL!
And, I've noticed Kymco even has some nice MOTORCYCLES in its product line... Not Hogs, or Indians for sure, and you seldom see them, but they are nice small bikes!
With long term support available, it might be a GREAT time to snag that Victory bike you've been wanting!
Ride it safe...
Leo in Texas
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Post by oldchopperguy on Jan 7, 2017 0:31:06 GMT -5
Rocynv,
You are absolutely right... My dealer charges $50.00 per hour for labor (his techs ARE expert, and FAST) and they get around $30 per hour. The rest goes for all the insurance, and other shop expenses as you say.
Times HAVE changed... Back "in the day" in the seventies I made around $40K per year as VP/Creative Director of an ad agency. I easily afforded an 8,000 square-foot custom home, two new Cadillacs and a three nice bikes. The house cost $56K. Today it's valued at $950K. My $40K yearly pay today would be over $500K. However... We somehow get by on my Wife's and my Social Security of $1,500 a month... Cheesh! It sucks, but I'm in good company.
I could do a Jeff Foxworthy routine... "You may be poor, if... You don't have to even file a tax return..."
I'd hate to try to run a business today with the crushing cost of doing business...
Ride safe!
Leo
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Post by oldchopperguy on Jan 6, 2017 20:59:02 GMT -5
GREAT news!
I still can't figure how the engine could rev without the wheel turning, but it must not have revved enough to engage the clutch... I know $75 seems like a lot, but for everything done, it's not out of line. Just the air-filters on these are EXPENSIVE! And it takes some time to change the fluids.
Ride safe, and enjoy that Kymco!
Leo in Texas
PS: Here in the Dallas area, we can usually ride almost all year long... But... Right now it's 22 degrees and snow on the roads. EEEEWWWW! Not common here, but it happens.
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Post by oldchopperguy on Jan 5, 2017 18:12:24 GMT -5
OK - I contacted the guy my son and I use for oil changes - the "Scooter Genie" - and he said he can't get parts for Kymco. Told me if I could get a belt he could do the work. He can also come and get it - for a fee, of course. I am not even certain it is the belt - although it does sound as if it is. I'm going to call dealer later and see what he says - and I haven't taken CVT cover off or anything, as I don't want dealer to think I was in there... Definitely contact the dealer. It's a new scooter, under warranty, and the scooter not being drivable is HIS problem, NOT YOURS. At least in theory... LOL! I'd exhaust all attempts to have the dealer do the fix under warranty before ANY other methods... particularly since you don't want to do any work of your own which might void the warranty. It's probably a broken belt, but if it's something more difficult or expensive to fix, you REALLY want it covered by the warranty. Kymcos are great-quality scoots, and to have a new one act up so soon is not common. I'll bet the dealer will be glad to help you get back running, since it will be good PR for his shop. Ride safe, Leo in Texas |
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Post by oldchopperguy on Jan 4, 2017 19:05:57 GMT -5
Three seasons back, my resolution was to get a bigger, better scooter... Did it!
Two seasons back, it was to rig up rig up better lights... Did that too!
This season, it's to get healthy enough to enjoy my scooter more often... Still workin' on that... LOL!
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Post by oldchopperguy on Jan 4, 2017 19:00:52 GMT -5
If it's under warranty don't even think about it. Take it to the Dealer. That's why you paid the money instead of buying something online. If it's a defect they'll fix it under the terms of the warranty. If not, you're just doing what you have to do to maintain that warranty against a possible bigger future problem. If you have to take it back later for something and they see a non-standard belt you could run into a problem. I've been riding used stuff so long I forgot about the benefits of new stuff! My dealer will come and pick up a scooter with his truck and deliver it back to the owner if it's under warranty. You pay a premium for a new ride, and that premium entitles you to some extra service on a warranted bike.
Git 'er fixed quick, and enjoy the ride!Leo in Texas |
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Post by oldchopperguy on Jan 4, 2017 1:21:15 GMT -5
Kat...
I totally agree that Chris Reeves WAS the "perfect" Superman... right down to the curl... But like you and Ron Ely, us war-babies grew up with George; trampoline takeoffs, fake, stuffed muscles and all... It really IS the one you grew up with that "sticks"... LOL!
Interestingly, Ron Ely WAS the more "correct" Tarzan. College-educated, Oxford English and all. Followed the Edgar Rice Burroughs character very well... But a Tarzan that went back to the bush after becoming "civilized" and educated seems to me to be a tad "unbelievable"...
I think the film-makers got it better than the novel with Johnny Weissmuller's rendition.. "Me TARZAN, you JANE"... Now THAT is my idea of a proper ape-man!
Ride safe, that spaghetti-burner ain't no elephant... UNGAWA, TIMBA!
Leo
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Post by oldchopperguy on Jan 4, 2017 1:05:44 GMT -5
Whew, it DOES sound like your belt broke, but you need to pull the cover to see what's up. Could be something amiss in the clutch or variator. Whatever it is, on a new scoot your dealer should be willing to help out. Most Kymco scoots are highly reliable for many years. My old Grandvista 250 had 15K miles on her by the original owner who rode  % highway, WOT, 2-up and loaded with luggage. My dealer replaced the belt before putting "Minnie Mouse" on the lot, but the original belt still looked pretty good. Whatever the fix you need, it shouldn't be too difficult. Any problems, there are plenty of members here to help out with advice. Ride safe! Leo in Texas |
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% highway, WOT, 2-up and loaded with luggage. My dealer replaced the belt before putting "Minnie Mouse" on the lot, but the original belt still looked pretty good.