Yet another newb! By scottls (Read 1,113 times)

[scottls]

Hey all! Just bought my first scooter and I'm not sure if it'd help if I told you the make and model because it's just one of those china clones with Rakatak stickers slapped on it.

For the most part it looks like a Rocketa MC-13 250 touring style bike with the Linhai motor in it. I jumped on it because the guy here in Ohio was clearing them out for just under $1000 with tax and title. Can't beat that for a 257cc!

Mine was a showroom bike that is actually a late 8/2007 model year with less than 500 mi/km and I'm eager to know how much tinkering I'm gonna need to do to make this as reliable as I hope it will be.

I'm mechanically inclined but this is my first bike period, so please understand if I ask something that has been asked 200 times already. Just a slight nudge to those post and I'll get there, if I didn't see it before.

I am kinda curious of the trouble points to watch out for on the Linhai motors. I was pleased to find it was a liquid cooled motor but the retiring mechanic at the store I bought it from said he took out the thermostat because it wasn't needed? He also removed the center stand because he said they always scrape if you take corners to sharp, but that I did ask and got it to keep in case. It's just missing the spring.

Here is a pic of the bike when it was still in their shop. I'll post it on the correct place in the forum as well.

No new pics yet because it's in my storage unit the weather is nice enough to bring it home. Otherwise I might be fool enough to try to ride it too soon. hehe

I am ready to do a little work on it to make sure it will last a while but I probably won't be looking to 'soup it up' too much. After all, I am just a newb!

[madcollie]

Welcome scottls, your in a great place to ask question. Don't worry about weather they've been asked before.
JR has 2 of those engines and I know he'll be along soon to chime in with his what to do's.

M/C

[zugzug]

Welcome! dont worry, we were all noobs at one time. I like your Gir avatar btw.

[ccprof]

Welcome to ya!

[Alleyoop]

Welcome Scootls,
Yes with a 250 you are in goods hands on this forum, there are a few that eat and drink 250s:) And do not hesistate to ask questions even if it has been asked before. Just open up a New Thread with your question or problem and suggestions and how fix will start to fill it up.
Again welcome glad your on board.
Alleyoop

[jhbietz]

What a awesome deal! I paid $1000 for a Tank 150cc and will have anouther $500 in it upgrading it to a 250. I would be hesitant
to run without a thermostat. Even if it runs the same temp eather way warm up will be much slower without one. As far as a center stand goes its kind of personal preference. I use mine quite a bit as I live in a windy state and don't want it blown over.

[scottls]

Thanks for the warm welcome all! I didn't know I had such a rare monster here. hehehe

I am afraid I can't answer all your Q's yet. I have it in storage less than 20 miles away from me until the weather gets better and the tags and title are all squared away.

I'm not sure if there is a fuse box in it yet (there will be if I can help it) but I do know the radiator is behind the gas tank. (that's what I was told)

I looked up the VIN number and it says it was made in china by Taizhou City Kaitong MC Manufacture Co. yet they don't list a 250 or 260cc scooter in their line up.

The wheel sizes are (front) 120/70-12 and 130/60-13 (rear).

I noticed it never did warn up when I got it but I only had it started for less than an hour with it being quite cold out still. Though running a little cold I noticed a tiny bit of dripage (coolant) under it just before I locked it up that day I got it. I'll address that right away when I get it out because I plan to change the oils, and give it a good once over to make sure everything seems ok.

I am a novice rider and hope to change that starting with this, the easiest thing I could learn on! (that doesn't have training wheels)

P.S. oh yeah and the manual that came with it says the motor size is a 257cc, engine model 172MM if that means anything. The bore and stroke is 72.5X66.8.

[ccprof]

Did you look at the listed specs on that thing? It says that it's fan cooled.

* 4 STROKE 250CC
* Starting Method: Electric & Kick
* Transmission: Automatic
* Engine Type: Fan Cooled, Single-Cylinder, 4-Stroke
* Ignition System: CDI
* Speed: 65-70 MPH
* Gas Yield: 85 MPG
* Dry Weight 275 lbs
* Front Brakes Disc Hand Control
* Back brakes Disc/ Hand control
* Front Wheel Size: 19 inches
* Rear Wheel Size: 19" outer diameter
* Max. Rider Weight: 295 lbs
* Seat Height 28 INCHES(LOWER SEAT), 34 INCHES BACK PART OF SEAT
* wheel base in back: 30". (this is the measurement from one tire on the back to the other)
* Suspension (FRONT): Hydraulic
* Suspension (REAR): Hydraulic /SPRINGS
* Dimensions: 84" LONG BY 25" BY 55"

[Cruiser]

Looks like a water cooled Linhai engine to me. They took the ad description for their 150cc and just changed the displacement from a 1 to a 2 for the 250cc ad. They forgot to update the rest of the info. Nice buy, scottls. These scoots are going for $950 shipped and assembled. Unless this is a bait and switch, it is a super deal. Jury is still out on the water cooling system layout.

[ccprof]

I wish people would be more careful when they post specs. Kick start? 85 mpg? I think some people would be really upset.

[Cruiser]

Mar 7, 2011 13:51:45 GMT -6 ccprof said:

I wish people would be more careful when they post specs. Kick start? 85 mpg? I think some people would be really upset.

I agree with you 100%, Larry. You have to be a configuration analyst (one of my former job titles) in order to make sense of what should be a simple ad. One thing that makes me curious is that this has the radiator behind the gas tank with a Linhai engine?

[scottls]

They are clearing them out and that's it. No new stock is to be ordered for any for-seen future because this store is selling so many other items with fast year around turn around. That's what I was told. That plus the mechanic is retiring. hehe

The only two 250's they have left are both black (the color I actually preferred) but the one with no trunk has a title issue, and the other one had no windshield and broken plastics up by the right hand grip. (you can't see it in the pics to well)

And they're still selling the 150's for a few bucks more?!? I didn't even consider them. I got the last one that was pretty much complete. (trunk and windshield included along with most everything else that's suppose to be included...except the thermostat!)

[kz1000st]

Everybody seems to get hung up on the radiator behind the gas tank but don't you know that's where it is on my Honda Big Ruckus. Plus it's a tiny sucker at that. I can't help but wonder if a properly burped, good quality anti-freeze system would work just fine on a Bali.

[Cruiser]

Mar 8, 2011 18:06:40 GMT -6 kz1000st said:

Everybody seems to get hung up on the radiator behind the gas tank but don't you know that's where it is on my Honda Big Ruckus. Plus it's a tiny sucker at that. I can't help but wonder if a properly burped, good quality anti-freeze system would work just fine on a Bali.

I agree, kz. The Honda Reflex, which is the body style that the MC-54-250 and YY250T are based on, also has the radiator behind the gas tank with no problems. The body design is like a wind tunnel. Once air enters the area in front of the gas tank, it has to go around the tank to exit out the area in back of the tank. The tank area is surrounded by the body plastic so air can exit only behind the gas tank. That is one reason why the Hondas work well with the radiator in back. Whatever air flows into the front has to exit by the back.

[scottls]

The only thing that concerns me about the radiator being behind the gas tank is whether or not it is getting enough air flow throw it.

I know the radiator can't get hot enough to ignite gas even if there were a leak and the gas came in contact with the radiator, but for something so large to obstruct the flow of air seems counterproductive to what the radiator needs to do.

I know I am spouting off too soon because I have yet got the bike in front of me and taken it apart to give it a through once over yet but just noting my concerns out loud.

Oh and by the way, here is the only pic I have of any I.D. tag so far. There is another one but that pic was not usable.

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