New Member Lowell/Boston Massachusetts Area

[saajanpatel1]

Hello All,


I am new to 49ccScoot. I am not new to forums though, i belong to My.IS. 


On Saturday, 6.13.15, my father gifted me a TAOTAO ATM50-A1 for graduating college. I always wanted something like that since i already have a car and a bicycle and i am not ready for a motorcycle yet. I work 5 miles from home so it is easy for me to take the TAOTAO to work. I just had some questions and concerns that i hope members can help me out. 


1) I am looking for Accessories for my TAOTAO, specifically i am looking for (I am having trouble finding sources of where to buy for specifically ATM50)
        a) Foot Peg for Passenger since i will be picking up my wife from work on my way home
        b) Iphone holder maybe with a bluetooth or wired speaker or just a holder itself
        c) Way to add power outlet on the TAOTAO so i can connect a phone charger
        d) I need a helmet for my wife and i am not sure where is best to buy one. My TAOTAO came with a DOT helmet.
        e) Any other fun or useful accessories for ATM50-A1

2) Is insurance required? I am registering it today and i will eventually find out but i looked at Massachusetts moped registration and it does not ask for one but the RMV-1 form does so i have got insurance "Just in case" for registration.


3) What are some maintenance requirements and recommendations. I was told by the dealer to change the oil at 300km (he says the odo is in km) and then change it every 1000km. Anything i should change while the scooter is fresh that someone recommends or something down the line?


4) What are the common issues people find in this little scooter?


5) Anyone in Massachusetts actually know the laws for this? I talked to a police officer yesterday and he said i can carry a passenger, i can drive it night or day and no speed limit for scooter, just follow flow of traffic. All of this is opposite from what i read in the drivers manual. 


I appreciate that this forum exist and hope that everyone can help me out and after some experience i can help others. 


Thank you,
SAAJ
    

[90GTVert]

Welcome to the forum!

1a) You would need to do something custom if you wish to add footpegs. I believe most options would require welding unless you can find a free threaded spot on the frame to bolt on a peg or bracket. Whatever you do you want to be sure it's sturdy and can support the weight of an adult rider. There's a small cutaway on the floorboard intended for passenger feet, though it prob isn't very comfortable or practical.

1c) I picked up a marine 12V outlet on eBay and wired it in so it is supplied with ignition switched power. It's just a positive and negative connection, so the wiring isn't too tough. Mounting is basically finding a spot where you have sufficient clearance and then drilling a hole, at least with the style I used. The outlet is threaded and pushes through the hole, then it came with a plastic nut to secure it on the opposite side of the panel.



1d) Some of our members have had good luck with affordable helmets on eBay and posted threads about them on the forum. A search may bring some up for you or perhaps they'll share their experience or links.


3)Here's a PDI playlist with all sorts of checks and things that I did to my ATM50 when I got it, including oil and gear oil info :
www.youtube.com/watch?v=0VkNHOAOyK8&list=PLm3-Rt5jsolvEQcIl1CMZGW5Yj_kP4Wjc

Here's a basic maintenance schedule :
49ccscoot.proboards.com/thread/344/periodic-checks-maintenance

I changed my oil very frequently at first. Before startup. After the first ride. And a couple more times before 500 miles on the odo. I change it every 500 miles (800km) afterward.

4) Some are covered in the PDI link above. Leaking oil seals appears to be pretty common, especially the one behind the variator for engine oil. If you notice oil coming out of your CVT at some point, this may be why. Hopefully you won't experience this.

[saajanpatel1]

Thank you for the quick welcome! I appreciate you going through to find information for me. It was helpful. The videos are very helpful and it is good that this is a common scooter to actually do maintenance will be a problem. I just wish there was more accessories available since this has become more common even though i love how it looks stock in red.

[walleye1963]

look on eBay or amazon the motor you have is a gy6 qmb139.there's a ton of after market stuff out there.

[saajanpatel1]

Thanks for the heads up! $$ spending about to commence.

[scooterpimp]

at least you wont have to buy any flipflops.

[Florida Antique]

As far as a helmet is concerned, if it is not DOT approved, then it is a hat not a helmet. There is a Cycle Gear store near you in Woburn. Their private label helmets (named Bilt) are pretty decent for a good price. I have also had a good deal on closeout name brand helmets (Bell, HJC) from Motorcycle-superstore.com via mail order. DOT is the minimum you want for a helmet, It is better if it is also Snell approved because that is a higher standard then DOT.

[saajanpatel1]

I just bought one from amazon.

www.amazon.com/gp/product/B008KO79Z2?psc=1&redirect=true&ref_=oh_aui_detailpage_o00_s00

scooterpimp, i did not understand your reference.

Florida Antique, thanks for that but i needed it sooner but i just did a search on amazon for DOT helmets and thought this would be best that can fit my wife and also other people if she is not riding.

walleye1963, i understand there are engine mods readily available, i was hoping more of scooter upgrades and accessories availability. Please see my original thread post above to get a glimpse of what i am looking for.

[scooterpimp]

I was celebrating you being a new non florida member here.

[Elektrey]

Welcome

[thatcrazyguy]

I grew up going to Lowell multiple times a year good luck finding what you are interested in!!! Post links to the stuff you buy!

[katastroff]

[walleye1963]

That might be all your looking at right nowthats how it starts.but give it awhile and you'll get the madness.you'll be looking to but on a bbk on.and you'll love it when you do.the thing is to have fun with whatever you do.

[saajanpatel1]

So i took my first ride to work today. I got it registered yesterday. Anyone in Massachusetts should know they do not need insurance for this (my insurance agent said i did).

Few things i would like to improve on my ride (and i am hoping there are things out there i can get to improve it)

1) My phones (Personal and Company) was in the front storage area in front of my knee. I kept it there just incase it starts to ring but what i noticed it with some of the bumpy ride, it just flew around in the area. I just need a phone holder so i can also listen to music. Hopefully, someone has something they highly recommend. I want it to be stealth like so not so obvious that it is there. My ultimate goal is to keep this as stock looking as much as possible.

2) At times i felt like i wanted to let go and even if i did a loose grip, felt that i was going to fall off. Does anyone use gloves or recommends them? Or any different grips for the handle bars.

3) It is going to rain today afternoon and my ATM50 is outside. How does this thing do in weather? Regardless, anyone there is something to protect it, not like a full blown cover time but something small and fast to put on.

4) I am looking at the speedometer and i know for a fact that i am not going that fast because it said i was going 45mph and the speed limit was 35 but people were still flying by me.

5) My commute is 5 miles and music would be nice. I do not want Helmet speaker/headphones nor do i want wires all over the scooter. What are some options other people have come up with? For now, i have my Bluetooth headphones my LG HBS-750 which should do the job even though with the helmet it will be uncomfortable.

I appreciate everyone's reply and thank you for the wall welcomes.

Thanks

[90GTVert]

1) I've seen some of the motovloggers say these work well. Seen vids with wheelies, stoppies, and other hard riding without issues :
www.youtube.com/watch?v=mbq-broqIzs

2) I always wear gloves. Leather palm mesh gloves in hot weather, more protective and thicker stuff in cooler and cold weather. They're a necessity when it's cold. There are tons of options for motorcycle gloves out there so check some sites like Motorcylce Superstore for example or a local moto shop and see what you like. If you go down you will most likely try to catch yourself with your hands, so at least having leather palms is a good idea. Some offer all sorts of knuckle and wrist protection and padding. You could get grips too. Usually grips for 7/8" bicycle bars will work or you can get specialty grips for scoots or motorcycles.

3) It will prob be alright in the rain, but mine rusts in spots even sitting in the garage. Still, if it's left outside it would be a good idea to get a cover. They really don't take that long to put on. Get one with grommets so you can secure it to the scoot or around the scoot that way you don't have to worry about it in the wind or you can even use a lock and cable on it if you feel it necessary to prevent theft of the cover.

4) Very common for speedometers to be optimistically inaccurate. If you get a cell phone mount you could use a GPS speedometer app for accurate speeds.

5) I had this setup and it worked well. As long as you spend the time to route wires there's no need for wires to be everywhere. The speakers are pretty large though and ruin any sort of streamlined look. They have setups that mount to mirrors, but I used bar ends. I think there are systems like it available now that have much smaller speakers or some that use speakers built into mirrors.
49ccscoot.proboards.com/thread/1416/shark-100w-stereo-installation-info