Takin a trip on the scooter By Smorkle (Read 1,048 times)

[Smorkle]

This weekend is my girlfriend's birthday and we're gonna take a road trip on the scooter. Roughly 250 miles one way. I've never done this before.

I think the thing is running rather well with all the recent stuff I have done to it. Today I changed the gear oil, motor oil, spark plug, fuel filter, aired up the tires and just generally checked everything over.

I have my general tools I carry with me, flat & phillips screw drivers, sockets & a ratchet, the tool kit that came with the scooter, extra fuses, extra CVT belt, extra oil, some electrical tape and some duct tape. Anything else I should bring along for just in case?

Space is really tight and we're packing light but I think we have enough room for a few more items if we needed to have some.

[Bashan]

I personally would take in order of importance until your space is gone (and then you go to another dimension ):

• Extra coil (saved a day trip once)
  
• Extra CDI
  
• Zip ties
  
• A notebook PC to check Scooter Doc
  

Where are you going by the way? Rich

[kczukiman]

Wow sounds like a great venture.Be safe and enjoy.

[Smorkle]

I don't have an extra coil or CDI. JR has his own scooter and not enough space to carry a notebook.

What would i need zip ties for?

Going to Eureka Springs, AR. About 250 miles one way.

[Smorkle]

Well we made it to Monett, MO. The scooter is acting up a little because its 105 degrees. Been trying to keep it around 55mph but a lot of the roads I chose are marked 60-70.

Right off the bat I lost a bolt out of the muffler but was able to find one and some locktite at a farm store. The carb is getting stuck because of running nearly WOT but I think when it cools off I think it'll be ok.

We stopped at the bass pro in springfield and looked around. Tomorrow we'll get down to Eureka Springs and spend the night there just to go back on sunday. Planning on taking a more direct route home then. I know those roads better.

All in all, it's been friggin hot!

[kczukiman]

Good to see you made it as far as you did with little issues.Yea I think you picked the hotest day of the year.It will be much nicer for your trip back.Stay safe.

[ccprof]

Have fun and a safe ride!

[Smorkle]

We left Monett this morning and went through cassville and down 86 to Eureka Springs. It rained overnight so the ride was much cooler. We shopped for a couple hours and had lunch and decided to head part of the way back today so as to split up tomorrows drive. We let the scooter rest a lot more today and it ran better. Also was only 95ish which helped too.

We're in Carthage, MO tonight and then we'll get an early start tomorrow back to KC while its cooler to ride.

[Bashan]

Zip ties help with the heat, but now it's a little late for that isn't it Mr. Smarty? Glad you had a safe trip. Rich

[Smorkle]

It's not the cooling system thats the problem. The carb is getting over heated and not opperating properly. It runs ok until I have to stop then it dies. Runs rough when idling, but works just fine after it sets for 30mins and cools off. Also the variator seems to be getting hot too. I'll take it all apart when I get home and see what I can see.

One thing I know for sure: if I wanna continue taking trips like this (and I do) I need a more powerful, more reliable machine. This thing is good for around town and easier trips but I need something bigger that I'm not worried about the whole time. Granted I haven't been stranded but I've been babying it as much as I can. It has survived but I need more.

[Smorkle]

Well we made it home. 575 miles on the chinometer. Had a great trip.

Today it rained until 9am and the temp never got above 80° and the scooter ran like a champ all the way home. I'll check out the valve clearances either this week or next weekend.

A couple of things to add. Yes the scooter made it ok and no we didn't break down, but I was still worried about it the entire time. Also, there were quite a few times when I wish I could have gone just a little faster but the machine just didn't have it in her. It WAS a good ride and we had a blast, but I'd like to be able to get on 70MPH roads and actually go 70MPH for an extended period of time if necessary. Going 55MPH on a 70MPH road just doesn't cut it all the time.

I just think that perhaps it's time for me to start looking into something in the 400-600 range. Not necessarily a burgman, but something bigger. Not gonna get anything right away either. My 250B is perfect for around town but long road trips are just not what it was ever designed for. It's just too small.

All in all, I was very happy that I didn't pull into the driveway and have the thing fall apart like the Blues Brother's police car when they got to the cook county assessor's office. The thing worked even though I asked more of it than I should have.

[kz1000st]

I think you have to keep in mind what you were asking the scooter to do. It has an 18 horse motor, maybe, and you were two up on it trying to do 70 mph. It might do that with just you alone, but with two people? I've chased my wife on her Rebel at 70 mph but I know if I climbed aboard it wouldn't be doing 70 with the two of us on it. I know it's heresy but if you plan on doing 500 mile trips with two people you might want to look into a used 750cc bike. A nice used Nighthawk with bags and a shield would work just fine.

[Smorkle]

It DID need a valve adjustment. it was .006 on top (not too bad really) but .018 on bottom! Usually I thought when these things were out they seized up rather than get more gap.