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Post by oldchopperguy on Dec 15, 2016 22:10:11 GMT -5
Carvets,
Welcome to the site!I ride a Kymco Grandvista 250 which uses much different size tires (120-70-12 front, and 140-70-12 rear) so my experience isn't comparable to yours... But, after riding big bikes for 50 years, I honestly did not know there were "front" and "rear" versions of tires. I guess it makes sense with the incredible performance of superbikes today...
I suppose a dedicated front tire might be designed only for stopping stress, and a dedicated rear tire might be designed for stopping AND accelerating, but on a sub-400 pound scooter with 10hp I can't imagine any problem using a "front" tire on the rear. There's just not that much stress under acceleration.
I looked on eBay, and found some 100-80-16 tires, some "front" but some "universal". Shipping to Australia might be expensive, but worth it. For the record, because I really want whitewalls, my Kymco wears a mix of tires that most people wouldn't recommend, but they perform marvelously up to max speed of about  -mph. My front is a Shinko 120-70-12 "P" rated (92-mph) whitewall bias-ply and the rear is a Michelin 140-70-12 Power Pure radial, with a whitewall painted on... Yeah, sounds ridiculous, but nobody makes a whitewall to fit the rear. My dealer researched what would be the best rear tire to use with the Shinko front, and the tire distributor recommended the Michelin. I can't argue: it rides great! The mix of brands and radial and bias-ply tires with RADICALLY different tread-patterns has caused NO handling problems at all, dry, wet, dirt, pavement, etc. The scoot rides great at any speed. These scoots are not 200-mph crotch-rockets, and I think sometimes we tend to get too "technical" with bits and pieces that work fine on 300-pound scooters that don't exceed  -mph. Just me... I did find that the "P" rated (92-mph) tires handle noticeably better at all speeds, even slow in-city than "J" rated (62-mph) tires. Enough so that I'd even put them on a slower scoot for the improved handling. Any members out there with more scooter tire expertise, PLEASE chime in to help our new member from Down Under.
Ride safe!Leo in Texas
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Post by oldchopperguy on Dec 15, 2016 21:45:01 GMT -5
Lonestarcruzer,
Boy, if you'd have told me a coil AND CDI would both go south at the same time, I probably would have said "no way". But it happened to me... Duh...
I've had marvelous luck with CDI's off eBay. Fortunately, since they may be "suspect" but definitely better than factory Chinese. I used a "red" "Racing" CDI and a "blue" one. The second one was necessary when I learned the hard way that these are NOT waterproof... I washed the scoot at the spray-wash (carefully, too...) but killed the "red" CDI. Had to push "Lil' Bubba" home a mile...
I replaced it with a "blue" one and it was still running fine 5 years later when I traded the 150 on my current used '07 250. NOTHING on Chinese scoots can safely be considered "waterproof:"... including the CDI, coil AND all the wiring under the dash-plastics. You do need to be careful with too aggressive "scooter hygiene"... LOL!
When I replaced the CDI the first time, that did not cure the problem, so, I got a Japanese Bando (orange) coil. THAT, plus the new CDI fixed the scoot permanently.
One UNUSUAL problem I encountered with my 150 was it would not run right with the factory "tuba" style air-box and filter. It took me a full year to figure that out.... After MONTHS of re-jetting, adjusting and cussing at the carb, I tried running with NO air-filter. BINGO! It tuned fine. Put on any type of hoses or filters and it would not tune.
I finally got it running OK with a UNI "sock" filter DIRECTLY on the carb mouth. Even a short hose to locate the filter elsewhere ruined the tune. Any rider experiencing this phenomenon, I recommend running sans filter with NOTHING on the carb. If it can be tuned that way, it will usually be OK with the low-restriction sock filter on the carb. This is not common, but SOME Chinese 150's just will NOT run right with ANYTHING on the carb but a low-restriction filter DIRECTLY on the carb.
For an old Harley geezer, these "simple" Chinese scooters can be VERY frustrating... Cheesh, no points or condenser, no timing to adjust... A guy from the sixties has to "retrain" for these... LOL!
Anyway, enjoy the scoot!
Leo
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Post by oldchopperguy on Dec 14, 2016 19:14:38 GMT -5
Wow, that CB 1100 is sweet! Hope it finds a market here... May be a bit pricey but it is SHARP!
Ride safe...
Leo in Texas
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Post by oldchopperguy on Dec 14, 2016 19:04:10 GMT -5
Lonestarcruzer,
Welcome to the site! Sounds like you got a good deal for $300!
No spark often means a bad CDI or coil, or both... I'm an old-time biker from the 1960's chopper era, and old age and arthritis got me off the big bikes and onto scooters... My first scoot, a Chinese Xingyue 150 taught me ALL about the "Chinese bugs" these things offer... LOL!
The first year, my CDI and coil both went bad at the same time. You'll get yours running and have fun with it. And you are right about too much involved with any attempt to change the drive-train to clutch-n'-gears... These scoots are designed with a CVT setup from the get-go. I've never even seen one converted to a manual tranny... First, you'd have to find one... The CVT tranny is fine with these scoots, and simple.
Please do post some pix of the project!
And, ride safe!
Leo in Grapevine, Texas
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Post by oldchopperguy on Dec 13, 2016 23:01:46 GMT -5
Hey, great ride!
Love the gathering of crows... Around here, we get INUNDATED with Grackles... Sorta "poor-man's crows". They fill the trees and screech over 100 db of irritating chatter... Louder than a police siren! They seem to come and go quickly. If you park under trees (sans birdies) and they arrive while you are shopping, you will come out to a car wearing 50 pounds of their icky "gifts"... You'll almost need to use a shovel to get your windshield viewable...
In your other post, you answered my question about general performance of your Honda being on a par with some 250's. That is what I figured. Pretty nice!
The manual on my old Kymco 250 lists its top speed as 67 mph. That's pretty conservative; most Grandvistas will top 70, or even 75. Mine is stock except for a 1-tooth upping of the final drive and it will top well over 80 on a flat road and cruise 70 with typical hills and winds, but 65 is a "sweet-spot" on the road. Mine may also benefit from a break-in and life with the original owner of nearly 100% highway driving for 15K miles.
There really IS a big difference in performance between Chinese and Japanese/European scoots in both 150 and 250 sizes. Of course, there is also a HUGE difference in price, too. You see numerous really nice-looking new Chinese 250's in the $1,500 range. But posts indicate some are doing good to top 60-mph... I'd hope for much better performance from any 250, but $1,500 new is mighty "affordable"...
From watching your vids, the thing that stands out most to me about your bike is the headlight! Light-years ahead of typical scooter lights. It's better than my Kymco light, and mine is better than average. I am a fanatic on being able to see dangerous stuff at night, and added a pair of LED auxiliary lights to the old Mouse... What a difference!
Keep the vids coming... We like riding with you!
Leo in Texas
PS: HAPPY BIRTHDAY!
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Post by oldchopperguy on Dec 13, 2016 13:37:39 GMT -5
For hard work and "user-friendly" it's definitely the Indian Elephant... but for MACHO I think her African cousin has to take the prize...
Indian Elephant: "Gosh, wow, where DO you want me to put this big old log, boss...?"
African Elephant: "Ya wanna piece of me boy? I'll be pickin' chunks of yer' sorry butt outa my toenails."
Both critters big and cool, but Africa gets my vote for macho.
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Post by oldchopperguy on Dec 12, 2016 19:28:51 GMT -5
Taiwanese bike are pure lovejoy,,, the damed things just flat out work,,,,,had a Wheee moment myself yesterday as I got to get out and ride,,,, sure feels good
Ab-so-freakin'-lootley! LOL! Have a bone on the old Chopper Guy... This old scoot is built like a tank... 10 years old, 18K miles on her clock and all the important parts including electrics and hoses are ORIGINAL EQUIPMENT and supple, like-new and working perfectly... Even the electric-folding-mirrors! And she still gives 90mpg, navigates city traffic like a 150, and will settle down at 70-mph on the freeway as comfy as my Harley Electra-Glide did in 1970... Actually a tad better! And on itty-bitty 12-inch wheels at that! Will wonders never cease? Woo-HOO!
Now, if only, 70-mph was fast enough to keep from becoming road-kill...  Golly GEE! 70 actually WAS fast enough back in the day...
My beloved Harley-Davidsons from my youth should have been so dependable!  Since old age, arthritis and short budget have me on a step-through scooter instead of a big road-bike, I'm VERY happy that old "Minnie Mouse" is such a faithful pal! All our scoots are great of course, but... These days, I'm totally sold on Taiwanese rides!Ride safe!Leo in Texas |
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Post by oldchopperguy on Dec 12, 2016 19:06:02 GMT -5
Well now, boyz & gurlz...This is the time of year when the missus and I like to reflect on the year gone by, the year to come, and remember the "Reason for the Season".
So, from Betty, the Old Chopper Guy and the kitties, to ONE and ALL...A very MERRY CHRISTMAS!
and a BLESSED and PROSPEROUS NEW YEAR!
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Post by oldchopperguy on Dec 12, 2016 18:40:40 GMT -5
I agree, Leo. Tiny had to've been the machoiest horse ever! Did the other kids ride horses too? Didn't the school provide any sort of "parking lot" for the horses? >'Kat
She has an older sister who also rode "Tiny"... They rode double. The school had a hitching rail to tie the horses to, and some hay and water kept indoors from freezing... What a COLD wait those horses had. The school had an OUTHOUSE too... THAT must have been mighty cold too! Betty assured me that "convenience" was "state-of-the-art" ala 1940, having a comfy WOODEN seat... thankfully NOT brass... EEWWW!
The kiddies stacked their rifles in the corner of the one-room schoolhouse... THAT was grizzly-bear country and the big brownies could, and would eat you, horse and all... And we angst over careless drivers?
That primitive winter lifestyle isn't dead yet, either! Only a few years ago, I bought some model airplane parts from an eBay vendor in the far north of British Columbia. They are "off-the-grid" as they say. Their mail (including packages) gets dropped in from a bush-plane monthly... Better pack stuff well, and do NOT stand under the delivery area... To mail OUT, or get supplies, groceries, see a doctor, etc. in the nearest town many miles away, they use a snowmobile in warmer weather, but in winter they won't chance a mechanical breakdown which would be fatal... They STILL use a dog-sled. There are no navigable roads to their deep-woods cabin for even a 4x4 to negotiate.
There are no cell-phone towers within range. To make a phone call, they must "mush" out 10 miles to access a tower... For electricity they have a generator, and for internet access, they have some kind of satellite setup. In an emergency they can use the net to call for help... hopefully... LOL!THAT is TOO far off the grid for me... And too macho a life even when I was young and limber! Stay warm!Leo |
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Post by oldchopperguy on Dec 12, 2016 0:09:27 GMT -5
Welcome to the site!
Even though these GY6-powered scoots are pretty much alike, I'm amazed at how different the exhaust systems are from one to another. It's often difficult to get a "bolt-on" direct replacement. You may find one by looking at pix of the muffler, but if not, it's not hard to rig up some kind of mounting. I've found the actual muffler doesn't make a great difference in running. Even stock muffs are not all that restrictive. It's the HEADER that needs attention for optimum running. The stock headers are usually SMALLER inside diameter than the EXHAUST PORT in the head... Duh...When the muffler on my Chinese 150 went south, I made a header from a John Deere generator header and flex-tubing. Here's an old photo showing the difference in inside diameter...
You can buy full-diameter headers and use most any muffler. Or, for simplicity you could use a grinder and open up or "Chamfer" the stock header at the port to ease the exhaust flow. That simple mod should actually make a noticeable improvement in running.
For a new muffler, I used a "chamber" pipe from a 50cc which ran great. Here's a pic of the setup, mainly to show you can make a mount to attach just about any muffler with just hand-tools... 
I'd go with the least-expensive muffler, and make a simple attachment mount from strap-steel, or aluminum bar-stock if necessary. But while it's apart, I do recommend at least smoothing out the header where it meets the head, or, if feasible in the budget, replace the header with a full 1" inside diameter performance pipe. Hope this may help...Ride safe!Leo in Texas
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Post by oldchopperguy on Dec 11, 2016 23:36:05 GMT -5
For the last several weeks we've had New England weather here in Texas. EEEWWWW! Last week, lots of temps in the 20's with 40-mph winds and driving rain. Double EEEWWWW!In addition, other things came up causing me to use the car for errands so "Minnie Mouse" has sat dormant for nearly 6 weeks. Well, the weather-man told the truth and we had a Sunday of sunshine and 72-degrees today! So, I dug the mouse out from under her tarps, coaxed my feral cat pals off the scooter floor, chased the snakes from under the seat and checked oil and tires. Hit the starter and she fired up like she'd been run yesterday! Made me remember my Chinese 150 in the winter... If "Lil' Bubba" sat for 6 weeks it would take an afternoon of tinkering, priming, prayer and some old Texas cussin' and kicking with a dead battery, to get a fire in the GY6...
What a GREAT experience to have this aging, raggedy old Kmyco be as reliable as the family car!Sooo... I did get to Wally World to replenish the cat food, and then snuck onto the freeway for a 75-mph romp to charge the battery and blow out the cobwebs... So, as the snail said when he got a ride on the turtle's back...
WHEEEEE!     Put me on two wheels, and I'm good to go! I've been that way since my first Schwinn fat-tire bike in the 1950's... I'll be mighty sad if the day ever comes when I'm too old and unsteady to ride... There are 3-wheelers, and they are swell, but I'd miss that leaning into those sweeping turns, feeling like one with the bike.
So enjoy the ride while you can!Leo (WHEEE!) in Texas
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Post by oldchopperguy on Dec 11, 2016 23:17:37 GMT -5
Kat,
The Missus DID get her memory jogged about her horse's name from 70-years ago... I mentioned my giant riding pal, "Tiny" and she suddenly remembered... Her horse was named "TINY".
So, my helmet's off to old Tiny for getting my then school-age Missus to school and back through the back woods of Maine, with no roads, through nose-deep snow and 40-below zero winters with 50-mph winds... then stand for hours in that weather until school let out... What a pal old Tiny must have been. Now THAT horse was MACHO!
Ride safe!
Leo
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Post by oldchopperguy on Dec 11, 2016 23:06:16 GMT -5
biteme,
Welcome to the site!
I understand what you mean... I am 70 and don't walk all that well either. I too have fallen more times than I like to admit. I'm also on Social Security for my only income, but my Wife has hers too, so we just make it with no financial "surprises".
If you are VERY unstable on your feet, you MIGHT want to consider a 3-wheeler. With your financial situation it will be a challenge to get any ride you can afford, but with patience it can be done. You might find a "fixer-upper" or even someone willing to donate a bike they don't use much
I'd get on the Internet and research every possible source of financial help to meet your basic "survival" needs. Depending on the state, you may find some government help with housing, food, utilities, etc. It IS tough, but lots of others are in your same situation.
Lots of guys and gals of all ages here, and any questions you may have on scooters should come under SOME member's expertise.
All my best wishes to you, and hopes for the answers you need.
Sincerely,
Leo in Texas
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Post by oldchopperguy on Dec 11, 2016 15:06:40 GMT -5
It AMAZES me how many different scooters there are in the 150-300cc range. They seem to have filled the void in smaller motorcycles. I have a sorta "unique" perspective on scooters, since I grew up in the era of flathead Cushman and 2-stroke Vespa and Lambretta clutch n' gears scoots... I opted for a Harley... LOL!
Those 1950's scooters were very cool, but TOTALLY stone-age in construction and performance. (But SO were CARS...). They really were designed for those who absolutely could not afford anything else: a "legacy" from post WWII Europe where citizens needed transportation at the lowest possible cost.
Today, scooters still fill that void in many countries, but here in the USA they also suffice as fun-vehicles as well as low-cost transportation.
When it's all said and done, to me at least, it looks like a new Italian scooter still offers the most "bang for the buck"... but all the great Asian rides add SO much to the equation. And nowadays, scooters even LOOK good!
All that variety of style, performance and cost make for a lengthy process in deciding what an individual rider wants to spend his/her hard-earned money on!
These upscale 150's DO cost well over $3K so they are not cheap. I must admit I lean toward the $1,500 to $3,000 used 250 or larger when spending more than a Chinese 150 costs, but that's just me... A good example was a nice, low-miles Kymco 500cc "Exciting" I found when searching. It was fast, great-looking and well made for an asking price of $2,300. I could have had it for 2-grand. But, I just couldn't comfortably climb over the semi-hump design.
In my old age, I'm finding scooters as much fun and with as many choices as motorcycles... THAT is COOL!
Leo in Texas
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Post by oldchopperguy on Dec 10, 2016 16:38:19 GMT -5
Kat,
Yeah, the missus will remember her horse one day... Getting old is no fun. The other day I want to Wally World and almost panicked when my scooter wasn't in its normal parking place... Then, I remembered I drove my old Honda car... Duh... Then, I got home and saw my old Merc wagon was GONE! Now what happened? Then, I remembered I gave it to the park two months back. Double duh...
Those old-time kid's show actors really DID take their role-model persona seriously. They were good ambassadors for decent morals and traditional American values. Today, it's more like anarchy is a normal form of government, decent morals are something to shun and stupidity is a virtue.
I haven't enjoyed riding for a few weeks... Seems Texas got a ration of New England weather! 20's and 30's with RAIN and 40-mph winds... It's supposed to warm up to 70 tomorrow, so maybe I can make a pilgrimage to Wally World on the old mouse!
Ride safe!
Leo
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-mph. My front is a Shinko 120-70-12 "P" rated (92-mph) whitewall bias-ply and the rear is a Michelin 140-70-12 Power Pure radial, with a whitewall painted on... Yeah, sounds ridiculous, but nobody makes a whitewall to fit the rear. My dealer researched what would be the best rear tire to use with the Shinko front, and the tire distributor recommended the Michelin. I can't argue: it rides great!
-mph. Just me...
