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Post by bluegoatwoods on May 30, 2016 12:58:35 GMT -5
They got you with an Italian sounding name, huh? Lucky for me that I've already learned enough to avoid that. But it's an error I certainly could have made.
And I'm beginning to like the notion of non-proprietary parts.
I'm much like you, niz, in that I'm not an auto mechanic. Not by a long shot. But I've done brake jobs. Including drums. I've replaced old style mechanical fuel pumps. Stuff like that. And I know how to use a torque wrench and a multi-meter.
The most complex job I've ever done was tearing down and re-building a Yamaha XS-850 engine. I wasn't a newb as far as riding is concerned. But I guess I had things to learn as far as looking after an engine goes. A dumb, dumb mistake on my part caused me to spill a little bit of road gravel into the middle cylinder.
I saw it happen and the consequences struck me at that very moment with the strength of a wrecking ball. "I've got to stop right now, learn how to open up this engine and start taking the darned bus to work!"
I could have cried. Maybe I did. I don't remember.
But re-building that engine was a great experience. After the headache went away.
But I'm starting to ramble. From what I've learned here, I don't fear those no-name Chinese scooters very much.
I'll probably start looking for distressed ones in the neighborhood, buy them cheap, fix them up and sell them. Not today or tomorrow. I'll try to learn a bit more first.
And I'll expect that a certain number of them won't be save-able no matter what I do. That's not exactly a good thing. But it goes with the territory and it's, sort of, part of the fun.
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Post by bluegoatwoods on May 30, 2016 10:56:45 GMT -5
Okay, folks. I think I'm getting the picture. Thanks.
I qualify as a 'hacker'. In the pre-computer sense. My definition; A guy who doesn't really, really know what he's doing. But he's going to go ahead and do it anyway. And he's willing to learn as he goes. And accept those occasional failures as the price he pays.
Working on these scoots is right up my alley.
And this is all good news since I had been thinking of these as something that I don't dare touch. Now that I have more perspective on it, I can see that this is within my grasp.
I won't be jumping in immediately. I still have things to learn with the Honda and the Kymco.
But further down the road.......oh yeah!
And I'll keep learning about them in the meantime.
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Post by bluegoatwoods on May 30, 2016 9:30:09 GMT -5
I've been watching the youtube tutorial vids that our admin, 90GTVert has posted. Excellent stuff! I've already got a much more clear picture of what's to be found underneath those body panels.
One of his series is the uncrating and post-delivery inspection (PDI) of a Tao Tao 50cc. This is something that I could do. If I had a crated-up Tao Tao waiting on me right now, then I could approach it with confidence. (Well.......after I finish the series of vids, anyway)
So that's just fine.
I have a vague notion of buying one more scoot sometime a bit further down the line. A spare. For the inevitable time that my scooter or my wife's scooter needs some repair. I'll be able to approach this repair with less anxiety if she, or I, have something to ride while the main scoot is being repaired.
I'll be more than happy to do a proper PDI if it means that I save somewhere in the neighborhood of $1000 on the purchase.
So now I'm thinking back to some window shopping I've done over the last few years. At sites like 'real cheap scooters dot com" --that's a made up name, but there are sites like that-- I'd see some very good looking scooters at very low prices. I got scared away by reviews that indicated that these were very bad scooters. I could also see that if I ever needed parts for such a scooter that the vendor who sold it to me would be of no help at all.
But I could view all of this differently if I had an understanding of the particular scoot and if parts were available from, say, one of the sponsors here.
I guess my question boils down to this. If I bought a real no-name from some outfit in Southern California would I find that a lot of those components are the same ones on, say, the Tao Tao?
Or am I more likely to find myself with a bunch of unique components which I stand no chance of ever finding replacements for?
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Post by bluegoatwoods on May 29, 2016 19:14:45 GMT -5
As a scooter newbie, I'm not qualified to suggest anything.
But I will mention that this is an interesting story. Hope it all works out well for you.
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Post by bluegoatwoods on May 29, 2016 17:24:11 GMT -5
I extended my mirrors. I haven't yet figured out why the manufacturers make mirrors that are just long enough to let you see your elbow. The hose clamps and padding look cheesy, I'll admit. But I'm less concerned about that than concerned about seeing the road behind my without leaning left and right all the time. Stupid OEM mirrors! I also pulled my seat and seat foundation. In order to get a photo of the inside to study at my leisure. The reason for that is that I'm tempted to get rid of that bench seat and go with a solo seat. Almost surely spring mounted and fastened to the frame. So I'll need to 'map out' the frame I'll build for the seat. Oh......plus cargo rack behind the seat.
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Post by bluegoatwoods on May 29, 2016 16:24:50 GMT -5
"Scoot tires are a really soft rubber compound. The tread grooves are very shallow which combined with the soft rubber makes the tires wear very quickly." --FrankenMech.
Also good info.
For that matter, I'm glad they're soft. I want that traction. And if quick wear is the price we pay, then I'm willing.
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Post by bluegoatwoods on May 29, 2016 16:21:14 GMT -5
when you have the time check out bikebandit.com they have decent choice of tyres for scooters. Good to know! Thanks.
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Post by bluegoatwoods on May 29, 2016 9:10:47 GMT -5
Thanks, folks!
I don't have time at the moment, tiny, to have a look at those links. But I'll make sure to do so this evening when I'm winding my day down.
There's something else that I'd like opinions on, please. I look at the tires that came with my wife's Honda Metro or my Kymco People 150 and I find myself thinking that those treads don't look very deep. That these look like semi-slick tires to me.
On the other hand a scooter is a new sort of vehicle to me. Different handling characteristics than a car, a bicycle, motorcycle, and so on. And for that matter, perhaps the tire companies have come up with rubber "alloys" that have different characteristics than my last motorcycle days. Which was some time ago.
So I don't want to be too quick to decide that I simply must have some tire that was designed for use in Siberia.
So picture a rider who is willing to ride in rain. Even mildly heavy rain. Even in fairly cold temps. Even in temps a bit below freezing. (I'll stay off the roads when there's clearly a good deal of ice out there, yes. But I'm willing to do some low-level scooting even in winter as long as the roads are pretty clear).
I guess I'm answering my own question here. Obviously I want something a bit more aggressive than stock tires. I suppose that's settled. But I'll welcome input and, particularly, specific tire brand/model recommendations.
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Post by bluegoatwoods on May 28, 2016 21:26:38 GMT -5
Just within the last hour I ordered three new things for my scoot.
A service manual for my model.
Two new helmets identical to the ones that my wife and I have now. I'll make one of each a summer helmet with ventilation and such. Theo others will be winter helmets. Warm and rainproof.
And I ordered a solo seat. I'm going to convert away from the bench and put a good luggage rack right behind me.
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Post by bluegoatwoods on May 28, 2016 21:21:23 GMT -5
My mother Is very very Ill, and fighting for her life as I type,She has always called me her MacGyver, Or her handyMan,It has been a nickname she gave me years ago, so for her, and for keeping her in my mind, always, I have used It, as far back as I can remember. God Bless My Mom. This is one of those "What can I say?" moments. But, of course, best wishes for you both. My screen name doesn't have any meaning. I just picked three words almost out of thin air in order to avoid underscores or large numeral chains and such. And I use it pretty much everywhere I go on the net. My avatar is merely a copy of a joke photo I put together for my youngest daughter when she graduated from Junior High School. it's the family dog, who's still with us and a genuine best friend. It's not easy to see in this avatar, but I used MS Paint to give him beady little eyes and crooked, ugly front teeth. It's a parody of the dreaded 'bad school picture'.
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Post by bluegoatwoods on May 28, 2016 21:06:40 GMT -5
Something else comes to mind.
Can someone like me change these tires with a decent set of tire irons? Or should I spring for one of those jigs that holds the wheel and 'shoehorns' the tire on and off?
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Post by bluegoatwoods on May 28, 2016 21:03:13 GMT -5
I have a vague notion of how to read tire sizes. The first number will tell me the distance from the rim out to the tread. The second number gives the width of the sidewall as a percentage of the first number.
No doubt I can learn more from googling. And no doubt I will. But I'd also value the opinions and experiences of those around here who have experimented with different sizes and brands and so on.
I'm the sort who will ride in bad weather. So I'm inclined to get tires that are a bit wide and have an aggressive tread. And I suppose I want to do it before summer is out.
So....my front tire, for instance, is an 80/80-16. Suppose I wanted something a bit wider. I might go with an 80/90-16. Or maybe an 80/100. How do I determine just how wide I can go with my existing rim? I suppose there must be some limit.
I was browsing tires on Amazon the other day. I spotted a Metzeler that ought to fit my wife's bike.
Now I remember Metzelers from my motorcycle days. Some 30 years ago now. They were my tire of choice and I bought several. The way I recall, they were pricey and wore a bit quickly. But I loved them because they felt just great. It felt like there was a nice layer of some sticky glue between your tread and the road.
I remember once settling for a Dunlop on my front. I was scared to death of that tire. It probably wasn't Dunlop's fault and maybe I'd become a bit spoiled by those Metzelers. But it felt to me as though there was a giant billiard ball where my front wheel should be.
So how about today's Metzelers in scooter sizes? Are they like I remember? Do they stick to the road as though they're nailed down?
And does anyone have any other insights or recommendations for tires that are maybe wider and more aggressive than these city/summer tires that we have on our scoots?
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Post by bluegoatwoods on May 27, 2016 21:16:09 GMT -5
Hello, thxcuz. I think I know you from another forum, don't I?
I don't have anything to offer concerning your question. But one day I might. I've been thinking about making my own body panels (rear sides and splash guards) in order to give my Kymco more of a Vespa look.
And if I do it at all, I'll get the project started before summer gets very old.
If so, I'll come looking for this thread.
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Post by bluegoatwoods on May 27, 2016 21:03:48 GMT -5
Indeed I have, aeroxbud.
When it comes right down to it, the bug bit me a long time ago. I've always liked scooters. It just took me a long time to get around to buying one. Plus, as a child of the 60's, I'm able to look up to the Mods of that time. Also to the greasers who looked like Brando but rode around on ratty Triumphs and BSAs and such.
So a scooter fits me just fine. I'm already looking at my bike and figuring out patterns for body panels and wider leg splash guards to give it more of a boiler-plate look. Or maybe I'll just take good care of it and use it as a trade-in in a year or so and upgrade to a Genuine Stella.
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Post by bluegoatwoods on May 27, 2016 20:43:20 GMT -5
Well.....if you've verified air, fuel and spark then I have to wonder if your timing isn't way off.
But I gotta tell ya......I'm only a little bit knowledgeable about engines in general and I'm really, really new to scooters.
Still, timing sounds like something that's worth looking into. And others will come along with better info than I can give, I'm sure.
Best of luck.
edit: One other possibility comes to mind. I've heard that a bad spark plug can sometimes fire in the open air, yet not fire under compression. So why not try another spark plug? It won't cost hardly anything and it'll either confirm or deny this particular guess.
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