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Post by docmackinnon on Mar 16, 2011 22:36:47 GMT -6
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Post by docmackinnon on Mar 16, 2011 18:18:04 GMT -6
The Peirspeed Delivery is available here (It's the TGB bike, "Taiwan Golden Bee") being imported by the same folks who bring us the Sach's "MadAss" bikes! Maplewood Scooter Company here carries them- nice bike, gives me lots of ideas!
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Post by docmackinnon on Mar 16, 2011 18:02:53 GMT -6
As always, the idiots in California show us normal folks what NOT to do on a scooter!
And what to wear- YES! That full-face helmet and armored jacket really are worth the trouble & expense!
Finally- the benefits of proper riding gear.
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Post by docmackinnon on Mar 16, 2011 17:54:36 GMT -6
As I have to kick-start the DiBlasi R7E, take some time to get the feel for your bike. You'll probably feel the engine compression, just before it kicks. (Or at least this is what I get with the DiBlasi.)
And please wear solid sole shoes- it makes it so much easier on your feet! Leave the Crocs and flip-flops to those lame idiots who race their scoots on Mulholland Drive and slide under the guardrails!
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Post by docmackinnon on Mar 16, 2011 17:50:40 GMT -6
I would never drive that thing in Florida with all the old people. Cool scooter, but not very safe. Oh Geez Louise! It's a dangerous as any other motorbike! As the Navy tells anyone on an aircraft carrier: "Keep your head on a 360 degree swivel!", and as any sane rider knows- wear your helmet, visible clothing, solid shoes, and don't do stupid stuff! I've ridden my "company car" in St. Louis during: "Friday & Saturday night traffic on Washington Avenue (lots of clubs, drunks and taxis driven by people from the 3rd World), suburban areas where you can get nailed by deer (worse in the fog), to rural roads traveling to a pick-up point (deer and other wildlife- including drunks in 4x4 cages!) and it is still a blast and an adrenaline rush. Like anything else- know your machine and it's handling. I've actually hit railroad tracks in a sudden torrential downpour at 1am traveling close to 30mph! First time I've ever went airborne on a bike! And came down on 2 wheels- still heading in a straight line! (The rain started as a light mist- and when it hit, I could barely see infront of me- and it was just a "pop-up". After that- the rain slowed to a nice drizzle. But boy- was THAT a rush!) The DiBlasi is a rather tough little machine- in spite of it's odd belt-system, it has shown to be a fun bike to ride! My only complaint is that our bikes never really got proper preventive maintenance, much less proper repairs. My boss took them to some place that treated them like Chinese 4-stroke, and never fixed anything. (I had one that had been with that sho for 2 months- I had it going properly in less that 2 days- it's our best bike right now. ) The biggest pain? Remembering what I did to that bike so I can do the same thing to my other garage queen! Doc Mac
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Post by docmackinnon on Mar 14, 2011 19:18:09 GMT -6
Or course, there's always the LAST RESORT...
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Post by docmackinnon on Mar 14, 2011 0:09:52 GMT -6
This summer, I actually got mine to between 28.5 and 32.5 mph. Granted, the innane Chinese computer kept switching between readings, and I can't figure out a way to mount a proper speedometer.
As for the sidewalks- what the hell have you been smoking?
Now handling is something you need to practice with. As our riders with ScooterGuy (www.goscooterguy.com) find themselves in suburbs with deer running around at night, to the occasional rural road where we have to ride to a pick-up point, to the busy Friday & Saturday nights in the club districts here- each rider MUST wear hard shoes, long pants, proper gloves, proper helmet (full-face/modular is preferred) and a reflective vest; and I take each rider on a checkride before he or she gets that bike.
I cover unfolding/folding, how to drain the carb before you stow it in the bag to go ina client's car, kick starting, operator safety checks (pre & post ride) how to do simple maintenance, and these are MY Rules- the company just says ride with vest & helmet.
I take these bikes personally- if it's not good enough for me to ride, it sure as hell ain't good enough for you!
The DiBlasi is a unique bike, and in spite of the price, it is a rugged and durable machine. Considering all the abuse these bikes have gone through before I took over, they are really not that hard to maintain. Add to this you can carry a spare vehicle in your car, SUV, that is street legal, and a helluva lot of fn to ride- go for it!
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Post by docmackinnon on Mar 13, 2011 22:43:42 GMT -6
Since you have this same post listed in 3 different sections- it gets a bit confusing.
Have you checked under "my Nina" yet?
Mac
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Post by docmackinnon on Mar 11, 2011 19:03:23 GMT -6
I have a Harbor Freight 12 volt impact wrench that I have had for at least 6 years now! It has handled every nut and bot from a 1995 Nissan Sentra, a 1995 Chevy Suburban, a 1994 Ford Explorer, a 2000 Ford F-150, a 1995 Isuzu Trooper- and the toughest? A 1954 ex-British Army Humber "Pig"- a 14,000 lb armored vehicle. So working on a little motorscooter? No worries! But watch what bolts you are reinstalling- as you don't want to over-torgue them!
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Post by docmackinnon on Aug 12, 2010 13:12:29 GMT -6
Sixity has some really nice LEDs, with good prices and fast shipping! I have already installed a number of their LEDs on the 2 DiBlasi bikes for ScooterGuy St. Louis.
Another source for the 1157 LEDs is SuperBrightLEDs.com. I run one on my DiBlasi (after all, I am the Moped Doctor & Chief Fleet Fixer) as the stock 1157 drained juice from my headlight when I'd put on the brakes.
I replaced the stock CEV tail/brake light 2-bulb unit with a single round metal one from AutoZone that uses a 1157 bulb. A new CEV unit is over $52.00 from the importer...yet the Metal one was $6.99 and uses 1 bulb instead of 2 differnet sizes. And the LED is much better at handling vibration and voltage spikes! The stock units were eating bulbs- and with LEDs I don't have that problem.
From a long-term cost for maintenance & replacements, LEDs are the way to go!
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Post by docmackinnon on Aug 7, 2010 9:13:51 GMT -6
One thing that sets this apart is the PULL STARTER on the left side, just forward of the carrier.
A perfect companion for the rider!
Doc Mac
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Post by docmackinnon on Aug 7, 2010 1:08:44 GMT -6
Check your exhaust manifold/pipe fitting. I can't diagnose this properly as you didn't tell the admitting nurse at triage if you have a 2-stroker or a 4-stroker.
Bit if your's is 2 good old 2-stroke smoker...then this should be the fix! Take a proper size wrench (amazing how many people bollocks up this bit) and check the fitting(s) for tightness.
On the DiBlasi, it is a large male retention nut that encircles the exhaust pipe direct from the cylinder. If it's loose, remove it and check for the copper ring gasket. Sometimes these will vibrate loose, and the ring falls out- and sometimes it is assumed it it still there. The bike I had to fix tonight had that problem- the guy it was assigned to had put the exhaust pipe back, yet failed to stick his finger inside to check for the ring. It was gone--as was his horsepower.
So..a quick rummage thru the "Bike In A Box" bits and I had the ring I took off mine when I replaced the entire header & muffler unit- stuck it in and wrenched the nut back into the jug.
Purrs like a big hungry kitty..but has some serious improvement in the "OOmph"- vital to a small scoot like a DiBlasi R7!
BTW- Some tools to carry: Trust me...you might find them handy! - Big crescent wrench (it also doubles as a hammer) - Vise-grips - LED flashlight (the 3 AAA ones are great, with extra batteries) - a multibit screwdriver (the 6-way ones are perfect! Get 2!) - some nitrile gloves and carry them in a ziplock bag - Needle-nose and slip-joint pliers
Doc MacKinnon MD Mopedium Doctorus
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My Scooter.
by: docmackinnon - Aug 7, 2010 0:46:17 GMT -6
Post by docmackinnon on Aug 7, 2010 0:46:17 GMT -6
This is one of our company bikes- I had this one a bit over 2 weeks ago, just installed LED lamps in the tail light unit as the vibration & voltage spikes kept eating bulbs. It ran great, all electrical items working perfectly!
Then my boss brings it back today...the guy who has had it for 2 weeks was riding it all over St. Louis- he removed both of the the "ScooterGuy" strips I had applied on each side (it is a Company bike after all), lost (?) both new LED lamps, and broke the real lens and housing (these are over $56 USD to replace!) and had some "goo" on the remaining tail light buld...that didn't work. In fact, none of the ial lights work now, nor do the turn signals.
And it was missing a main engine mount nut, the bolt- almost fully worked out; the exhaust pipe was missing the copper ring that worked as the gasket and when he pulled the kick starter out to monkey with the spring, he put the half-moon gear on upside down. And he did something with the variator clutch..when he replaced it, he put it on wrong and it is totally useless.
Oh..and the loose carb that I repaired? He did something to it...and it's loose again- and it's missing the inner sleeve that fits it to the intake manifold. AAARRGH!!! I HATE THIS GUY!
Luckily, I was able to replace the damaged bits with stuff from the "bike in a box" I get to reassemble next week. But I cannot let anyone run this without running lights and turn signals.
At least I get paid to do this stuff now... ;D
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no power
by: docmackinnon - Aug 2, 2010 16:54:31 GMT -6
Post by docmackinnon on Aug 2, 2010 16:54:31 GMT -6
Hmm...have you checked your exhaust pipe?
I just put a new exhaust pipe & muffler on my R7E a few weeks ago, and noticed great improvement in performance as well as sound...fewer cops glaring at me at 3am.
But...last weekend, I was on a country road and suddenly fund myself with some weird vibration and sudden loss of forward speed. And sure enough, the exhaust bolt had loosened.
On a DiBlasi, there is a copper ring that fits into the cylinder exhaust port, and you then tighten the nut that encircles the pipe and I used some Blue Loc-Tite. And that nut was loose!
Luckily I carry a crescent wrench in my backpack tool pouch as well as a pair of pliers- once snugged down the power returned and the vibration dissapated.
Doc
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