Need advice on Scooter Trike By jimmybob479 (Read 8,699 times)

[Alleyoop]

You can take it to a mechanic to do a PDI and go over the major things and make sure nothing is loose and needs tightening. Or you can do it yourself, most folks do their own PDI's and in doing so learn a few things about the ride they just bought .
Well here are all of the Trikes ICE BEAR sells, don't go by the names go by the style you bought and let us know which one you bought. Either that or put up a good link of the one you bought at killermotorsports.
Alleyoop
www.icebearatv.com/150CC-Trike13

[jimmybob479]

First Question: Aleyoop, it's PST-150-12, so in the link you posted its the "ACE" model on the second row. This will be my first trike, do you know if regular mechanics can look at them or should I drive it an hour away to the mechanic that can work on IceBear's (I contacted ice bear's to get a location of a mechanic if i ever need one).

Second question: Also, killermotorsports seemed to say it wouldn't come with a maintenance manual of any kind, is there a guide anyone has put together for regular maintenance and what to look at for a PDI?

I was *hoping* these things are reliable enough to sell my mazda for? I only go a mile or so a day and hated paying the car note, insurance, etc for it then discovered trikes. I understand stuff breaks down, but icebear rep said they can last up to 200,000 like a car can. Ive read a few horror stories of constant icebear breakdowns..for the most part are they reliable and a a primary means of transportation for short drives?

[richardv]

If the seller want proof of a "licensed mechanic" doing the PDI, I would strongly suggest you do just that or you will void the warranty. There are very few shops that will work on scooter, especially Chinese scooters. If you can get it registered before that do drive it there as soon as possible but expect to have to leave it for a few days.
If it were me I would do that and then after 500 miles do your own PDA following the suggestions given by these knowledgeable folks.
Best wishes I'm looking at that or similar model but not for another year.

[cyborg]

There are some guys on this forum and others that have gotten huge mileage out of their Chinese scooters,,,, but be ready to service it

[Alleyoop]

There are no service manuals for the trikes, what you get is the user manual and HERE the manual is actually for the 2 wheel scooter the TRIKE was made from. You see what they do is take a 2 wheel scooter take the back tire and swingarm off and put on the TRIKE swingarm which is held on to the front frame on both sides.

And yes there are hardly any scooter dealers that will work on chinese anything unless they also sell chinese scooters. The Trike part of the trikes are pretty simple and any good mechanic worth anything can work and figure out the rear ends on these trikes.

But you will find that the forum is your best bet when something goes wrong to find out what is wrong. A scooter dealer will charge you labor of at least 60+ dollars an hour and most of them SORRY to say do not know enough to diagnose a problem. What they are good at is REPLACING parts and hope to swap out the part that is causing the problem and handing you a big arse bill. Most are NOT into detail so they are very sloppy in putting things back as they were.
Alleyoop

[cyborg]

I am not in Alleys pocket,,,, I have never met a more knowledgable online " mechanic " than Alley,,, I've built dozens of motorcycles,, and I ask Alley ,,,, for anything scooter,,, the guy is a walking library,,, Alley , Jr, Jim at rapid repair,,, if these guys can't get it done,, no one can

[jimmybob479]

Sounds like I should keep it as a second "for fun" vehicle then, right? And hold on to my mazda as well.

[Alleyoop]

Apr 5, 2015 12:53:30 GMT -6 jimmybob479 said:

Sounds like I should keep it as a second "for fun" vehicle then, right? And hold on to my mazda as well.

Yes I would, unless you can use town or city transportation to get to your work and or shops.

[jimmybob479]

I indeed do have access to public transportation. I would ride the trike daily but not long distances. I looked at rapid repair/jims comments on the reliability and it seemed with a good pdi they can be fairly reliable? Would you think for daily, short distance use? I'll be basing returning it or not (I take a 20% hit) on if yall think it can be reliable :/

[Alleyoop]

For the way your going to use it I would get one, just for your peace of mind I Bought my trike the one you see in my Signature back in March of 2009 when they first came into the country. It had a few problems that I fixed the first year but ever since then it runs like a top. You can go into my garage anytime 24/7 365 days out of the year and turn the key on and hit the start button and away you go. Back in 2010 I hauled the trike up to Wisconsin to Jims(RapidRepair) and had him bore out the case and slap in a 62mm Big Bore Kit and a 60mm 2+2 Stroker Crank to get some real low end power and it's the fastest 150trike around the sucker hauls butt.

So for your use it will not be abused and should give you longevity and be reliable. Just remember if you have any problems and or questions COME here first before you go and take it to a shop. They are easy to work on and not complicated at all, the hardest are electrical problems but if you have a cheap or not so cheap Mulit Meter we can find which part is acting up that needs attention. Just so you know TO DATE I have NOT HAD ANY ELECTRICAL problems(ACTULLY IT IS BORING--NOTHING TO FIX for the last 4 years)..LOL

I change the crank case oil when the odometer hits 999 then it rolls over starting at 001 and in the Spring when I start to ride. I fill the Differential with grease for the summer and every 2 years I Drain the Tranny oil and put some new gear oil.

In over 5 years now I HAVE YET to take the carb off and clean it, I just adjust the Fuel Ratio Mixture LEANER for hot summer weather then again RICHER for the fall cooler weather. The secret I think is I have a 5 gallon can for gas and I pour 4 /12 ozs of Seafoam in the 5 gallon before i fill it up with gas. Seafoam keeps the carbs jets and passages nice and clean.
Alleyoop

[jimmybob479]

thanls alleyoop. Where can i get a multimeter? is it similar to the readers that you see autozone use to test and see what parts don't work? Definitely sounds like i'll be leaning towards selling the mazda once i get the icebear in.

[Alleyoop]

Here you go at harbor freight they are cheap and is all you need.
Alleyoop
www.harborfreight.com/catalogsearch/result?q=multi+meter

Also I would get a 12V light Tester, they are indespensible to find wires that are supposed to have juice.

[kalee]

Hi Alley, I have a chance to buy a 2010 Ice Bear trike 300cc with reverse probably In another month . It hasn't been started in about four months and I'm thinking it will start but what should be one of the first things I should do to it ?
kalee

[Alleyoop]

May 6, 2015 15:43:34 GMT -6 kalee said:

Hi Alley, I have a chance to buy a 2010 Ice Bear trike 300cc with reverse probably In another month . It hasn't been started in about four months and I'm thinking it will start but what should be one of the first things I should do to it ?
kalee

How many miles on it? WHICH MODEL IS IT, what do they call it?
Also does it have a straight axle or independant axle. If independant I would stay away from it the first independant axles had their problems. Also the reverse is it on the right side by the foot board or on the Left handlebars. The Reverse on the early ones also caused trouble and most stop using it and just push it around and not use the reverse. So as not to cause trouble inside the tranny with the gears. I have reverse on my 2009 and I never use it after having trouble with it right after I got it.
Alleyoop

[kalee]

If I remember right it has about 2000 miles on it and I'm guessing its what they call the Tornado model.It has a differential like an automobile, I was the last person that rode this bike and it had a noise in the right rear wheel and I quit riding it to keep from causing anymore damage.The reverse Is under the left handle bar and seems to work okay I was thinking that this person had some one to adjust the reverse cable. That was one of the things she liked about this trike. I'm guessing the first thing I need to do is make sure it will turn over then drain the gas or put some conditioner in the tank an see if it will run.Any Info would be greatly appreciated
kalee