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http://www.amazon.com/Haynes-Techbook-Scooters-Automatic-Transmission/dp/B000GHJKJE I just got this and it covers a hell of a lot, with some good model-specific info for 50-250cc scooters. I definitely recommend one of these Haynes techbooks if you're someone that wants to maintain your own scooter or get a project fixer-upper. Even if you don't have one of the models listed, it's got plenty of good general-purpose stuff in there.
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Oct 7, 2011 01:04
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I picked up an 86 Elite 150d a while back. Day I brought it home - The ride home was interesting. No blinkers, terrible tires and more than one of the panels was held on with duct tape. Duct tape spray painted blue of course, because nothing shows your determination never to fix something than painting over the tape you half-assed it together with. Starts on occasion at this point. Brake lights work but the housing is destroyed. Deconstruction begins -  The starting problem couldn't have been easier to fix. There's a little cylinder with a rear brake switch under the floor boards. If that switch is adjusted too loose it wont make contact and the starter circuit won't complete. Twisted the cylinder a little tighter and boom, starts right up. Did some basic maintenance at this point but mechanically its been taken care of really well. Stuff starts going back on -  I put some halogens on, but they're pretty overkill, the pop up headlight works fine. They jiggle like a motherfucker too.  Took the rear turn signals off, fixed the wiring, flipped them left to right and upside down and bolted them back on. I couldn't salvage the brake light so some trailer lights will have to do for now. New tires just got here but I have to find someone willing to put them on. So far it's been a blast. It moves around pretty well, it's super comfortable and it gets about 80mpg. I've actually been riding my Ninja less since I got the Elite. The only big thing that's been bugging me is the exhaust. There's a hole in the muffler and it sounds ridiculous. I might just have a patch welded in, but does anyone make aftermarket exhausts for these things?
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Oct 10, 2011 04:10
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Every now and then a scooter will get attention from a stranger in a parking lot. That's cool. What annoys me though, is the occasional closing comment along the lines of "it's good for around he block." Your damned feet are good for around the block. Scooters are good for commuting when all you gotta carry is you and a few small things. "Scooter" apparently means toy to not take seriously regardless of your traveling requirements, size or displacement of the scooter, whereas even a 125cc Motorcycle is series bidniss. Granted it is a toy, but a useful as hell toy. :P I'd call inner-city travel on a 50cc or suburban commuting on a 125+cc smart, but wtf do I know. Friggin Joe fucked around with this message at 20:20 on Oct 10, 2011 |
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Oct 10, 2011 20:08
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In the U.S. at least, all two-wheeled vehicles are considered toys. Scooters just get the brunt of that generalization. Motorcycles in general just are not taken seriously as transportation, which is sad.
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Oct 10, 2011 21:59
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Friggin Joe posted:Every now and then a scooter will get attention from a stranger in a parking lot. That's cool. This is honestly the most frustrating thing about scooter ownership.
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Oct 10, 2011 23:46
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Friggin Joe posted:Every now and then a scooter will get attention from a stranger in a parking lot. That's cool. That's a pretty silly thing to get bitter over. Stop caring if people in parking lots take you seriously and enjoy your scooter.
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Oct 11, 2011 00:23
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Blinken posted:That's a pretty silly thing to get bitter over. Stop caring if people in parking lots take you seriously and enjoy your scooter. I didn't say I was bitter. Nor do I care what they think of me. Annoyance is only that, and it's mores that more people aren't open to the idea that it's a pretty sensible means of transportation. I'll admit to bitterness over issues with gas, oil, ethanol and the like when I was driving my car though  Edit: I do not overlook that scootering is also a fun as hell hobby even if you don't make it your primary means of commuting. It's ~versatile~ :P
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Oct 11, 2011 03:11
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Friggin Joe posted:Every now and then a scooter will get attention from a stranger in a parking lot. That's cool. I have discovered a useful solution to this. Step 1: buy scooter. Step 2: take it on a goddamn road trip. Step 3: gently caress you buddy, this scoot has seen the world. Also useful for when some weekend biker dentist on a Harley alludes to one of my Japanese bikes not being a "real bike".
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Oct 11, 2011 03:51
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Phat_Albert posted:In the U.S. at least, all two-wheeled vehicles are considered toys. Scooters just get the brunt of that generalization. Yeah I hate this attitude so much
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Oct 12, 2011 18:34
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Gay Nudist Dad posted:This is honestly the most frustrating thing about scooter ownership. This too http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=azKh0pO08-g&feature=youtube_gdata_player
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Oct 12, 2011 19:06
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I dont want to live in a world where a Honda Cub (or its clones) are not awesome.
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Oct 12, 2011 19:51
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I went to the scooter shop in town and one of the female techs there freaked out because I have a C70. gently caress the haters (and the slow speed of them, if I don't get rid of it I'm dropping a 140cc Lifan into it).
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Oct 13, 2011 04:55
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That commercial is as good as the beer it is advertising.
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Oct 13, 2011 06:57
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M4rg4r1ne posted:That commercial is as good as the beer it is advertising. What beer? I see no beer in that clip.
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Oct 13, 2011 10:00
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I just got my first scooter, it's a 50cc Lifan 7, sort of a lovely vespa knock-off. It's Chinese, and also used, but it was cheaper than gently caress and it runs well. Lifan is a legitimate auto company in China, so it's a little different than a lot of other Chinese scooters, but I'm pretty sure it uses the same engine and poo poo as the rest of them. It can go about 45 mph, which is faster than I was expecting. Yeah the more I've been riding it the more I've noticed that both the speedo and the fuel gauge are anywhere between sort of and really inaccurate. VVVVVVVV Modern Day Hercules fucked around with this message at 22:08 on Oct 14, 2011 |
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Oct 14, 2011 20:43
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Modern Day Hercules posted:I just got my first scooter, it's a 50cc Lifan 7, sort of a lovely vespa knock-off. It's Chinese, and also used, but it was cheaper than gently caress and it runs well. Lifan is a legitimate auto company in China, so it's a little different than a lot of other Chinese scooters, but I'm pretty sure it uses the same engine and poo poo as the rest of them. Welcome to scooters! I would certainly expect Lifan to be better than most of the other Chinese import brands. The 50cc in there almost certainly is the same used in all of them, the 50cc variant of the ubiquitous GY6 engine (which is 150cc, the 50cc has a different code but I can't remember). The 45mph might be a little optimistic, I'd almost guarantee that speedo is off by 10%. It's like a rule with scooters, even nice ones.
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Oct 14, 2011 20:53
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With a Chinese scooter, used and runs well is a good sign. Lifan aren't your run of the mill drop-shipped, zero care or support affair. You probably won't have a carb that lasts 20 years and all that like some Honda but if the known issues with Chinese scoots as we've come to know them have been addressed by actual QC, you should do pretty well. In other news:  This is far removed from the stylish Stella/Vespa class, but if you're more the maxi scooterist or like both scooter and motorcycle, this is quite the interesting development. It's a 700cc scooter Honda is releasing, the 2012 Honda Integra. Google it. I require some freeway, but normally 700cc's = instant DQ for me, because I like my gas mileage, but this thing supposedly gets 77 MPG. Wow, look what happens when some engineering is involved in 2 wheeler engines. It's a twin cylinder, not the thumper and the damned thing gets a few mpg more than my 250. It'll probably cost as much as a car though. I somehow see this as appealing to... I don't know. Wanna-be bikers? Me? It's a cool machine, and I hope it works out so the industry knows there's a market for it. I would like to see what they could do in a 400-500cc variety hough. Friggin Joe fucked around with this message at 19:23 on Oct 15, 2011 |
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Oct 15, 2011 19:17
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Except for the quoted gas mileage - if it hits that, that would be awesome - it's not really anything that unique. It's got a similar shape to the Scarabeo 500, and displacement near the Burgman 650. Also: I love Hondas re-using of names. The Odyssey, now a minivan, was a gokart/buggy thing in the 1980s. Now the Integra, formerly an oft-stolen compact car, is a scooter.
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Oct 15, 2011 19:52
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Honda Passport Honda Passport  Yes that was taken in Seattle.
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Oct 16, 2011 01:30
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Friggin Joe posted:In other news: Honda's designers have really dropped the ball lately.
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Oct 16, 2011 01:40
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open24hours posted:Honda's designers have really dropped the ball lately. I wasn't referring to aesthetics and design, the unique aspect is a 700cc motor getting 70+ mpg. The mileage never really scaled conversely with displacement of motorcycle engines as compared to cars. Bigger bikes don't get any better milage than some cars. Also worth noting is they're also working on a 125cc motor with the same goal of increased efficiency. I'm glad to see attention being given to this. http://www.gizmag.com/honda-integra-700-twin-cylinder-superscooter/19945/
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Oct 16, 2011 02:39
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 Finally running again.
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Oct 16, 2011 04:30
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How do you pronounce that? "CHAY-ull-ee" or "CHAW-lee"?
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Oct 16, 2011 10:23
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Like シャリィ I guess. I say Cha(with a short A like in 'cat')-Lee but I don't know how it's supposed to be said.
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Oct 16, 2011 11:15
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open24hours posted:
HOT. AS. gently caress. that pipe.... 
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Oct 16, 2011 14:54
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That is cool as hell. Congrats on getting it running again, looks fun as hell. Check this out. http://future-motorcycles.com/2012-honda-motocompo/ This looks ridiculous at first glance then very cool if you read up on it or know the history of the thing. This is probably what Honda's going to put a new 125cc engine into, which makes for a hilarious (means I must own one) visual as it can probably get on highways. I'm not sure if those are spots where lights are embedded on the front and rear. Maybe it's just too small to pass as a street legal vehicle in many places. This is a bike meant to be picked up like a big suitcase and can be put into the back of even a smaller car. The newer prototype is in the link above, but to give an idea, here's the original one:  If they're putting a 125cc engine in, I'm sure the newer model is going to be a bit larger, ultimately. The concept is still very appealing. You could lift one up briefcase style and bring it into an apartment or workplace. edit: Found a video of an older one on youtube. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0wTnhyBBb_A Friggin Joe fucked around with this message at 22:17 on Oct 16, 2011 |
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Oct 16, 2011 22:12
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I would be really surprised if they released that, and if they actually do I'd be surprised if it gets out of Japan. Honda seem to have some sort of aversion to releasing any of their cool bikes in the West. The Motocompo is a pretty cool bike though  
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Oct 17, 2011 07:18
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open24hours posted:Honda's designers have really dropped the ball lately. I dunno man, are there any big-engine scooters that don't look like tacky poo poo? open24hours posted:That is fly as gently caress
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Oct 21, 2011 16:01
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Little Blue Couch posted:I dunno man, are there any big-engine scooters that don't look like tacky poo poo? Yeah, plenty, but I guess that's in the eye of the beholder. I've always liked the Scarabeo and People scooters of larger displacement. I can see thinking Maxi scooters or the 'motorcycle' look-alikes being tacky. I don't agree, but I can see how one might consider them such. I'd rather ride around on a Stella or Vespa if my location and requirements allowed for it, but I find the larger displacement scooters unique looking in their own right and a really nice middle ground for highway commuting on two wheels. Sure, the term maxi scooter is like jumbo shrimp, but maybe I'm not stylish enough to consider that.
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Oct 21, 2011 16:36
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Friggin Joe posted:Yeah, plenty, but I guess that's in the eye of the beholder. You're actually right about those Scarabeos, but I think the Peoples have that same plasticky toy-motorcycle look that I just don't get.
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Oct 21, 2011 17:30
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Well there you have it. If I could ride a 1/8th scale Tonka Truck to work I would for the sheer novelty. Toy doesn't lose points for me :P
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Oct 21, 2011 19:10
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Little Blue Couch posted:I dunno man, are there any big-engine scooters that don't look like tacky poo poo? There are plenty of 250's that look good (imo), Honda Forza, Yamaha Maxam, Suzuki Gemma...
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Oct 21, 2011 23:00
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open24hours posted:There are plenty of 250's that look good (imo), Honda Forza, Yamaha Maxam, Suzuki Gemma... ... none of which we get in the USA.  The Gemma looks awesome, and the Maxam looks like a cartoon edition of the Morphous, which is awesome.We used to get the Morphous and the Big Ruckus, both 250cc, both unique-looking and rad. The Piaggio MP3 500 is probably the coolest looking maxi we get - in an ugly, Mad Max sort of way - followed by the TMAX. 
Gay Nudist Dad fucked around with this message at 23:13 on Oct 21, 2011 |
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Oct 21, 2011 23:07
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I actually rather like the way the MP3 500 looks, though I'm not a fan of the smaller MP3 styles. The 500 isn't as nimble as I'd like, but it is a lot of fun. I've seen a Helix or two around here over the years, but have never been in a position to buy one. The Big Ruckus, though, that one I dream of owning. I dream.
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Oct 22, 2011 05:35
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Mushika posted:I actually rather like the way the MP3 500 looks, though I'm not a fan of the smaller MP3 styles. The 500 isn't as nimble as I'd like, but it is a lot of fun. I've seen a Helix or two around here over the years, but have never been in a position to buy one. The Big Ruckus, though, that one I dream of owning. I dream. Old men ove the styling of my mp3 400. I've been followed home 5 times, eveytime ET want to know where to get a grandpa-mobile like mine.
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Oct 23, 2011 02:29
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Are low/high sides still something that ever happens on the MP3s? It seems like going through a corner full tilt in the rain could still cause it to lose grip and slide out from under you.
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Oct 23, 2011 02:52
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hayden. posted:Are low/high sides still something that ever happens on the MP3s? It seems like going through a corner full tilt in the rain could still cause it to lose grip and slide out from under you. While you're probably less likely to lose the front (especially since lean angle is limited by the parallelogram front suspension, but mostly the extra weight + 2x traction) I bet you're still just as likely to lose the rear.
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Oct 23, 2011 03:53
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Anyone see that Kymco has a 700 cc scooter coming out?
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Oct 28, 2011 01:22
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What happens if you lean an mp3 over far enough to lift the outside wheel? Is that even possible?
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Oct 28, 2011 15:29
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| # ? May 18, 2024 14:47 |
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Phat_Albert posted:What happens if you lean an mp3 over far enough to lift the outside wheel? Is that even possible? My guess is it starts understeering/pushing the front as the scoot doesn't enough traction once the second wheel goes away, so it pushes until the second wheel touches down again, regains traction, and basically just understeers like crazy.
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Oct 28, 2011 17:18
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