Chinese Scooters in general By scooter12 (Read 1,573 times)

[scooter12]

;D I bought my Roketa MC-13-250 scooter in February of 2008- roughly 5 years ago. Since than, my scooter has went through 2 windshields, 1 front tire, 2 rear tires, one rear rim, 2 starters, 3 headlights, one rectifier, a new waterpump, 2 boots on front shocks, 3 batteries, 3 spark plugs. The reclifier was good still and was battery, the rim was bent by Goodyear and not the Chinese fault, one windshield broke when wind knock it over. These type of things occure sometimes. But mainly I put $500 into this scooter to last 5 years.

In this 5 year period, I have riden my scooter 6150 miles. Not alot but can be explained. First year gas prices were nearly $4 per gallon and I put 1450 miles on scooter but saved gas for wife to get back and forth to doctors, second year was at 1500 miles and recession hit, third year moved to Belle MO and did 800 miles, fourth year done another 700 miles and was down having foot operated on, 5th year 1500 miles and moved to Holts Summit MO.. Hot in the summer time 100+ is too hot to ride out of town.

I believe that people ride scooters anytime they want in the summer time, whether hot or not. I don't like riding in the heat unless going to store to get cola or milkshakes. lol.. But I don't ride far in the heat, because if the engine becomes to hot it could do irreversable damage to the engine. So I am more of a early Spring and Fall rider with some Winter riding too. Which would ruin a engine faster- too run mildly in the summer and take distant trips in the Spring, Fall and Winter or too run during summer months and take a chance of overheating this Chinese scooter and destroying engine?

Most of you could ride further than me, but my problems are due to not having alot of money for gasoline, a operation, moving to new areas, ect.. I should have tried to put 3000 miles per year instead of 1500.. My engine is still running perfect thought. Great condition..

See, I am still not convinced that a person could not get 20,000 to 30,000 miles out of a Chinese 250cc scooter if well maintained. Most things done maintenance wise would have occured if were a Suzuki, Yamaha, Honda, Kymco, ect.. What are your thoughts?

My belt and clutch are in good shape... cleaned dust out with rubbing alcohol due to fast drying.. We use it on electronics to clean too.

[Bashan]

Chinese scooter negatives:

• They usually require more than a few repairs
  
• Resale value is low
  
• Long trips are problematic due to reliability issues
  
• Brand name dealers often refuse to work on them
  
• Warranties from online dealers are usually worthless

Chinese scooter positives:

• They're dirt cheap
  
• Repairs are doable with a basic mechanical skill set
  
• Most parts are cheap and readily available
  
• Did I say they're dirt cheap?
  

You get what you pay for. A Chinese scooter does OK if you can work on them. With such a small initial investment you can afford to put a little money in them and still come out way ahead.

20K to 30K miles can be done and we have had quite a few guys on the forum hit those marks. They did have to do some repair work to get there. I agree, the engines are sound, it's the peripheral components that are sketchy.

[kz1000st]

Mileage is one of those things that surprise you. At 1500 miles a year you'll hit 10,000 in a little over six years. I just sold a bike that I felt I hardly used and owned for 10 years. It had 21,000 miles on it. I met a guy with a 1996 Harley that he bought new and had 49,000 miles on it. My wife uses her bike sparingly, yet has 8,100 miles on it after four years.

The point is that mileage comes with time if you keep something. Do I believe that a Chinese scooter will last forever? Yes, if you keep it. People just stop using bikes and scooters for one reason or another, that's why there are so many old bikes out there with low mileage. Not because they broke, but because former owners lost interest and dumped them.

You've done alot of work and chased the bugs. If you keep it up you'll hit 50,000 miles one day and wonder what all the fuss was about.

[ridecheap]

Take a look 25,000 miles on a roketa mc 54 250b - Someone posted it on another forum.

[scooter12]

Well, this is good.. For along time, I have heard of chinese scoots 250s getting 10,000 miles, since a 10,000 mile club was started. But it is good that people like you, on a MC54B have made it last to 25,000 miles. This was all I was referring too. That others needed to post miles on Chinese scooters. I was out riding 70 mph again, on Expressway 54.. But like the guy said above you, Chinese scooter engines may last 50,000 miles if taken care of. I think also, some may abuse their scooters, push it to the extreme to often that it ruins parts that would normally stay good.

[scooter12]

;D Ya, it was me that started it on that other forum.. I joined the St Louis Scooter Club too, since from central Missouri- 6 miles from Jeff City.. This is Sassy- Yellow Shouldered Amazon parrot from Venezuala.

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[nova1970]

Love my China Scoot, have 4457 mi. on it. Had a few bugs in the beginning ( coolant leak, fuel line leak, battery, upgraded all lights and added third brake-tail light (most LED bulbs) added aux. power outlet, upgraded stock speakers with larger marine speakers and 4mb MP3 player.

Also broke a windshield, went to Lowe's and got plexiglas and cut out my own, made it a little higher, looks great. U-TUBE can teach you do just about anything!

Never got into the engine yet, but will once the snow starts flying and occassional rides are over. Still hoping for a few more nice days to get out.

P.S. Scoooter12 --- Where did you get front shock boots? Mine need to be replaced. How hard is it to do?

[scoot12]

Well, it is a story. I bought them at www.roketa.com ... They were not costly.. My first front shock boots tore up within 1 year. Cheap Chinaman rubber.lol... Well, I ordered them with the intention, of putting them on correctly. Well, this was a mistake.. I wanted to take the forks off to get them on and it was a no go.. I broke a screw driver and did not budge the forks.

I went in my house and thought about it. The rubber is on your forks to simply hold the dust out. On the roketa site they are referred to as Dusters.. So I said, I can simply cut each duster along one side and tape it back together with electrical tape.. So that was what I done. But I cut a peice of tape 12 inches long and would rap around the duster. It has lasted 4 years. Almost time for a new set..lol

I don't like taking things apart, unless they are broke. The forks were not broke so I could not see breaking them trying to put rubber on them. It really is simply to cut them and rap with tape..

[scoot12]

It is me...