|
|
Post by oldchopperguy on May 28, 2016 17:16:30 GMT -5
Hmmm...
I'm a major Kymco fan, but this one just is not my "cup of tea". Just me... To my eye, it's too much "dirt-bike" in appearance, and too small an engine. Still, just me... There is likely a big market for such bikes. They ARE "real" motorcycles, yet handy, like the small Hondas of my youth fifty years back. You couldn't order Hondas like this fast enough to keep up with demand! And Kymco makes terrific products.
I'm a poor reference for the current market because my FAVORITE Kymco bikes are those that never sold well. Cheesh!
If I was in the market for a big touring bike, I'd definitely put the "My Road" high on my list, right up there with Harley and Indian baggers, but SO much more affordable AND easier to ride. Guess I'm just old and curmudgeonly enough to stay stuck on out-of-date rides... LOL!
I surely do wish you the best with your business though! For the record, I do LOVE the SYM scoots. They just aren't seen much in my area.
Have a great one!
Leo in Texas
|
|
|
|
Post by oldchopperguy on May 28, 2016 17:05:20 GMT -5
OUCH! Have a bone, my friend! Wish it could replace some of your broken ones!
Unfortunately, these things do happen. When I was 16 I had the same thing happen in my Dad's car. Pushed the engine right into the front seat beside me... The offending driver was a senator, and basically immune from prosecution. He had so many DWI's they'd lost count, and his drivers license was revoked decades before, but... No prosecution. My tough luck. I remember at the time I was broken-hearted abut totaling my Dad's new Chevy, and at the same time SO glad I was NOT riding "Old Blue" my pet chopper.
You may, or may not want to get back to riding. You probably will, but it may take some time. Just heal up and do whatever you feel comfortable with. We're all with you, and you can count on many prayers for a quick recovery! The good Lord is the best healer ever, and can do what doctors sometimes can't.
Heal fast, enjoy the rest and thank God it wasn't worse...
Most sincerely,
Leo (and Betty) in Texas
|
|
|
|
Post by oldchopperguy on May 25, 2016 20:42:38 GMT -5
You can purchase a waterproof cigarette lighter adapter for about $10-$15, run the wires along the existing battery wires through the floor up to your seat storage area for safe easy access (doesn't even need to be waterproof if installed in the seat bucket).
Good tip! Have a bone on the Old Chopper Guy!I did that same trick on my old Chinese 150, AND on my "new" old Kymco 250. I used a quality weatherproof lighter adapter with 12 ga. wires to the battery terminals. Now, I can hook up a charger, OR plug in a 12v accessory.
I now keep a teensy 12v air-compressor from Wally World (in a zippered pouch and only about 4" x6" x2" so it fits easily under the seat). With that, I can keep filling a slow-leaking tire and get home. I also keep under the seat, a set of unique "miniature" jumper cables I found at a dollar store. They are about 8 ga. wire, with mini-alligator clamps and have their own little pouch. Just right for jump-starting a bike!... NO kick-starter on the Kymco.
My Kymco 250 has the battery behind the seat-pan so the lighter adaptor just stays in the pan. However, my old Xingyue 150 had the battery buried under the floor like the VIP scoot in the original post. I simply drilled a hole in the dull-black plastic below the seat and put the adapter there for convenience. I used it often to charge the battery, air up the tires, and to run an electric-starter for model airplane engines which I test run under the car-port... Very handy!Ride safe!Leo in Texas |
|
|
|
Post by oldchopperguy on May 24, 2016 9:04:26 GMT -5
I have seen pictures of some heaves that look like they are 3 to 5 feet tall on some Texas Interstates during the dog days of summer. Those seem like they would be unrecoverable in anything except for the General Lee. Those pix are usually taken with a long telephoto lens, making them REALLY look dramatic (like photos of stretches of railroad track that look like a bad worm-fence) and in fact ARE probably 3 to 5 feet tall, but are spread over hundreds of yards. In reality, just gentle "ocean-wave" rolling ups and downs. Now, those rare (thankfully) sink-holes that swallow whole cars, bridges and houses are another story... Somehow, they seem to always appear in the middle of a busy highway, or under some poor soul's house, killing whomever is unlucky enough to be there when the hole opens up. EEEWWW! Seems there are many "holes" in the earth lurking just below a thin crust of dirt. When the building, road or whatever finally fatigues that thin crust, it all falls into an "underground canyon" of emptiness. You just never know just what kind of mischief is lurking UNDER your seemingly "solid" ground! Ride safe!Leo |
|
|
|
Post by oldchopperguy on May 22, 2016 15:23:17 GMT -5
Don't you kiddo's also get some pretty horrific heaves and ripples in the road too?
Yes, indeed we DO have some washboard ripples that would make a Chinese laundry envious... LOL!The much brighter LED's DO make them obvious by creating dark shadows at each ripple, which does help a lot. So far, even the worst of them have not made my scoot act dangerously. Even my old Chinese 150 negotiated them OK. Of course, spread out over enough distance, at any speed, they certainly COULD set up a "high-speed-wobble" (even at low speed). Those are killers even on a high-end crotch-rocket.
Always best to avoid them altogether if possible, or at least slow down!Ride safe! Leo
PS: I can't help but think how much fun you could have with about 4, or 6 of these LED's mounted in the rear window of your car or truck, aiming backwards at windshield-level, when some cretin is tailgating you with his brights on...  I know, I'm SO rotten... |
|
|
|
Post by oldchopperguy on May 18, 2016 22:02:28 GMT -5
wow u have gone through A LOT to get them Installed, Mine came with 1 single LED High beam focus on mine, would have liked 2 but the 1 is amazing!
Got 'em done! There's a post with pix and they are great!Yes, even ONE is a MAJOR upgrade... Have a bone on the Old Chopper Guy, and, as always... Ride safe!Leo in Texas |
|
|
|
Post by oldchopperguy on May 17, 2016 11:09:50 GMT -5
Gotta go with the Mammoth...
Tusks don't look as practical, but his overall "demeanor" just looks "macho"... You wanna piece of ME? Let's dance! Then I'll pick ya' out from between my toes... LOL!
|
|
|
|
Post by oldchopperguy on May 16, 2016 20:10:58 GMT -5
Nicely done, where did you get the led light from? Mine is flickering and not as bright as yours, that's what happen when you get cheap stuff out of Ebay, lol 
If your LED's are connected to an AC circuit (which many Chinese scoots are) you'll need a bridge-rectifier to convert the AC to DC current for the LED's to settle-down and work properly (unless they connect directly to the battery). The sellers of LED's say they will work with AC, but they do NOT like AC.
Mine indeed ARE cheap ones off eBay... The seller CLAIMS they use genuine CREE LED's. Maybe so, probably not... LOL! My Kymco does use DC current for the headlights, but, I actually connected directly to the BATTERY, with only the SWITCH spliced into the headlight wiring (so the LED's cannot be accidentally turned on with the headlights off).
If your scoot uses AC, I'd recommend simply hooking the LED's directly to the battery (FUSED, please...) and that would eliminate the need for the bridge-rectifier altogether. Most likely, a heavy-duty SWITCH is all that's really needed. I used a RELAY because my factory brights use one... Just overly cautious.It's likely that DC current will cure the flickering. Worth a try! Ride safe,Leo |
|
|
|
Post by oldchopperguy on May 15, 2016 15:54:36 GMT -5
Those unpainted curbs that stick out can be a problem at night. I rode over one a while ago on a moonless night but the 15" wheels on the Aprilia just soaked it up and made for an easy recovery. Low focused lighting is what you need to see those things. Some aim their aux lighting to hit street signs and such which is really bad in a fog or mist and when other drivers may be present.
Rockynv,
You're absolutely right! Have a bone!With super-bright auxiliary lights, aiming is critical not to blind traffic, or reflect back, blinding yourself. I believe I have these about right, really lighting the pavement (not the sky and trees...) and not bothering oncoming traffic (at least so far...).
You REALLY dodged the bullet, hitting a curb and not wrecking out. Some of the "camouflaged" curbs around here are 10" high and must be "leftovers" from previous left-turn lanes. One of the worst is the one I mentioned that totaled my neighbors big Jeep. That Jeep had much bigger wheels/tires than any bike, and the front wheels were simply obliterated, tires and all, and the Jeep rolled. All the undercarriage was wiped out. Most scooters would have stopped dead against that curb. Big-wheel scoots might catapult over, leaving the front fork in the gutter but Heaven help the rider... EEEEWWWW! Those are the truly AWFUL ones I REALLY want to SEE before a "close encounter of the worst kind"... LOL! Keep watch, and ride safe!Leo |
|
|
|
Post by oldchopperguy on May 14, 2016 12:30:03 GMT -5
That's a big improvement, Leo. Looks like a locomotive coming with the LEDs burning. I worry about hitting the median curb during left turns because they aren't painted around here.
THAT is the MAIN reason for my use of the driving lights... Have a bone! Far too many unpainted curbs protruding into the traffic lanes you're in while crossing an intersection around here. My neighbor just TOTALED his Jeep SUV on one which didn't even define a turn-lane. It just protruded three feet into the traffic lane he was going straight in. It wiped out his entire front suspension, and rolled the tall Jeep. Several motorcycles have hit the same curb, seriously injuring the riders. And, added to the "plethora of junk" laying in traffic lanes, there are genuine concerns when riding at night. Only time will tell, but my "goal" was to add driving lights which could be used on poorly lit, or totally-dark roads without blinding oncoming traffic. We did the same 50 years ago with Harley baggers. Most came equipped with dual driving lights which were police-style spotlights on a crossbar. They were good, but used ENORMOUS amounts of juice and were still not as bright as these LED's.
These LED's replicate that early system of auxiliary lighting, but are brighter, and use only 15 watts each. Now, scooters do NOT have the huge batteries and alternators of the Harley Davidson, so wattage IS a real concern. I don't want to drain the battery while riding, and I don't think I will. The factory high-beam is 55 watts, and this pair of LED's is 60 watts. And, these lights are no bigger than a small flashlight, and, together with the aluminum crossbar mount weigh less than 3 pounds. Those old Hog lights and crossbar were about 15 pounds... Can't hang THAT off plastic! Well, you could, but I wouldn't... LOL! Only time will tell, but with just one short ride last night, it looks like I did apparently achieve my goal... I can spot a curb, pothole, muffler or hubcap in the road a hundred yards off. Close up, the peripheral illumination is fantastic, providing extra confidence when turning into pitch-dark alleys, etc. A .45 Colt on your hip also provides extra confidence in those dark alleys, but that's a 'nuther story... LOL! On a black 2-lane with NO street-lighting, I can see a cat or dog... coyote, deer, drunk pedestrian, etc. crossing the road 500 feet ahead! My old eyes are NOT what they once were, and neither are my reflexes, but now I have an extra second or more to react to what I see on the highway at night (even more reaction time at city speeds) and THAT can be a life-saver! And no oncoming traffic has flashed their brights at me yet, so it seems the LED's don't blind oncoming traffic... That depends a lot on how they're aimed. I made sure the pencil-beams do NOT cross the center-line, only lighting from the right-hand gutter to the left side of the lane. I'm already running 10 watts of extra LED's on my trunk, but I'll only use the new lights when necessary. I'll post any problems of battery-drain if they show up, but I don't think they will. Ride safe!Leo in Texas |
|
|
|
Post by oldchopperguy on May 14, 2016 1:43:51 GMT -5
Between family problems and weather, it took me a couple of months to finally get old "Minnie Mouse" buttoned back up and on the road, but I think the results may be worth the effort!
I did spend more time than really necessary insulating and protecting the wiring since it runs (fused) directly off the battery and runs close to HOT cooling pipes and the radiator. The switch runs off the factory running lights lead, to the relay. And I probably spent even more time making sure the lights and mounts were VERY solid, and shock-resistant mounted. It must have worked, since the LED's beams don't bounce at all...
They are SCARY bright, but I did aim them down and slightly to the right. I rode a half-hour tonight, and no oncoming traffic flashed their lights, so I think I have them about as "long-range" as possible without blinding oncoming vehicles. I am MORE than pleased with their performance. They are BETTER than my family Honda car lights! The only thing left to see is whether they are too much drain on the battery. They are only 30 watts total, little more than the factory bright-beam (55 watts). This old scoot has a SOLID charging system, so hopefully they will be OK.  Here are some shots from the rider's seat... Not great, but the best my old camera will do...
 This is the factory low-beam. It's not bad for a scooter.
 Here's the same view with the LED lights on. The close-up and peripheral lighting is phenomenal, and the pencil beams wipe out the factory light, and reach out more than a football field!
 Here's looking at the factory low-beam from50 feet away. Notice NO ground illumination close up.
 With the LED driving lights on, you can see how the ground gets fully lit-up... Hopefully, no more close calls with those pesky unpainted curbs that jump out in the left-turn lanes... LOL!
  And... The infamous "Illuminated Swan"... No telling HOW many old-school high-school kids' cars THIS piece of history has adorned... Maybe even my own first car, a 1950 Chevy... The old goose is wired into the factory running-lights circuit (like the LED switch) but has a hidden weatherproof toggle-switch under the scooter nose, so I can turn it on or off separate from the other lights).
While riding tonight, I came upon some guys on new Harley baggers. We rode together a while, and they were surprised I could keep up with them at 70+ mph. These LED lights compared very well to their Harley "Daymaker" LED headlights! So... for riders who ride their scoots on totally dark roads, LED auxiliary driving lights are small, inexpensive ways to get some SERIOUS light on that black pavement. They should be an excellent way to avoid animals, unpainted curbs, potholes, road-debris, etc. while pushing our scoots "into the unknown"... Yup!Ride safe!Leo (seeing things in a new light) in Texas
|
|
|
|
Post by oldchopperguy on May 13, 2016 3:52:25 GMT -5
IMHO, there is a need for a 3-wheeled vehicle somewhere in cost between the Scoot Coupe ($7000, 150cc engine, too slow) and the Slingshot ($20-$25K) - say, a 250cc-300cc, sized somewhere between the Scoot Coupe and the Slingshot, priced from $12k-$15k - and I like the side-by-side seating...  Floridagull, I'm not sure, but seems like I've seen some trikes like you describe. Worth researching, but I think there are some Chinese "Spyder" types with mid-sized engines. And, I know there is a VERY slick traditional "Harley chopper-trike" style ride from China with a Lifan 250cc clutch n' gears power-train. You never know just what the Workers' Paradise may come up with! Ride safe! Leo |
|
|
|
Post by oldchopperguy on May 13, 2016 3:48:19 GMT -5
For the money, I'd rather have the actual car instead. More seating, more cargo capacity, and dry when it rains. For way less money I'd buy Piggy's MP3 for trike-ing. But it does look really cool. >'Kat
Oh, Kat... YOU and my WIFE are in total agreement!$20K is definitely a lot of dead Benjamins... LOL! But still cheaper than a Spyder OR a Harley bagger. WAY above MY wheelhouse though. And, I still like my adventure on two wheels. It's really a modern Jag XK, Austin Healy or Morgan but FASTER and lower... And cheaper... But not for everyone. Like you or my missus... LOL! It's just a cool roadster without the high price and costly upkeep of a 'Vette... But for the aging baby-boomer with big bucks in the retirement account, and making a last-ditch attempt to feel young before health issues put him or her in the nursing-home, it's probably a lot of Woo-HOO for the money. With plenty of power, and all three wheels driven, it should smoke all three, and drift like a tuner car, and bounce your eyeballs off the back of your skull when you drop the hammer... NOT a motorcycle, but it's definitely a real dose of whoop-butt to "wild-mouse" the freeway warriors, and make a you real PIA at 130 mph... Just the ticket for the rebels in the geriatric crowd... LOL! Ride safe! Leo |
|
|
|
Post by oldchopperguy on May 12, 2016 0:25:43 GMT -5
This afternoon, I finally got "Minnie Mouse" back on the road, new lights, illuminated swan and all! Sure felt good! It's storming now, but I'll get night-pix of the lights as soon as weather permits. While heading to Wally World for the missus' meds I encountered a lady on (or in?) a brand new Polaris SLINGSHOT! She also was heading to Wal-Mart so I got to look over that 3-wheeled wonder and ask all about it. Here's a pic of one just like hers... First thing I noticed was that it's quite LARGE... And very sharp-styled. It also has ALL-WHEEL drive, with an auto engine/front-wheel transaxle up front, and belt-drive to the single rear wheel. According to the lady, Polaris bought up a factory and all left-over goodies when Pontiac went under. And, the Slingshot uses a Pontiac Solstice engine/power-train with a 5-speed manual tranny. It's quite fast, and to my eye, is more of a rebirth of the old-school sports car than a motorcycle, but with 3-wheels so it can be affordably insured as a trike. This has been a problem in Texas, as the TX DOT said the Slingshot was NOT a motorcycle because of its side-by-side seating, and it was not a car because of its 3-wheel configuration. So it could not be titled or licensed in Texas as ANYTHING.The owner said that has changed, and a category of vehicle has been created called "Auto-Cycle". So, the Slingshot is titled/licensed as such, and license and insurance are commensurate with a large sport-bike. Pretty appealing, but I think it will still appeal to the affordable performance car buyer more than to bikers.
The most expensive models run about $25K which is a LOT less than a Can Am Spyder. The Slingshot has MAJOR appeal and performance though, and the only thing I am not wild about is its size. It's similar in size to my old 1995 Honda Accord sedan... But, it puts your face in the wind, looks cool and goes like a scalded dog. It really IS a lot of metal, plastic and engineering for the money.
It also offers "car reliability" and costs less than a Spyder, or a loaded Harley for that matter.If you have a "Jones" for a 3-wheeler, want it really FAST, and don't mind it being second-cousin to a car, you might want to check out the new Slingshot! Worth a look-see!Leo in Texas
|
|
|
|
Post by oldchopperguy on May 11, 2016 23:48:59 GMT -5
Kat,
That was more than a few years ago... Hope you did see me though! It was around 1974, in Oak Brook, Illinois at Fred Harvey's "Shipwreck Kelly's" restaurant and bar. My Harley was black, with red/yellow flames all over including the saddlebags.
I still remember that AWFUL bunny-head... Two beady eyes about a foot apart. I had to look through one, or the other and it totally destroyed my sense of balance. Then stick four or five little nippers on the tank, seat, fender and on my back (all wiggling around) yelling faster! FASTER!
I was in my twenties, and would not even THINK of doing THAT nowadays... But it WAS fun. Somewhere, I must have some PR pix of that event. If I ever find them, I'll do a post.
Ride safe, and watch your tail!
Leo
|
|
