Are all Chinese scooters junk?? By stevenbich (Read 16,934 times)

[royldoc]

Just my .02 cents. I bought my first Chinese scooter knowing that I probably would have to work on it. When I got it I did a complete p.d.i.. Then rode it like I stole it. I put almost 1k miles on it and didn't have to touch it with another tool. I set the valves cleaned it up and sold it. The guy that has it now is very happy with it. I bought my second one. A 50cc trike and did the same p.d.i. I had some trouble And had to repair the rear axle. It had a few other minor problems. I got them worked out. It has 2200 miles on it now. I bought my third one A magnum 300 used with less than 100 miles on it. I have not had any mechanical problems with it yet. I have put almost 2000 miles on it. I can start either one with the push of a button and will ride them all day without fear of getting stranded.
Buying a scooter is like buying any vehicle. You will need to do the proper maintenance to keep it running. And just like any other product you buy, sometimes you get a lemon and sometimes you don't.

Roy

[bcgreatness]

was just wondering, i seen on jays spectacular journey thread ( didnt dare post on it lol ) i seen somebody posting how there were more spectacular journeys then jays on different types of scoots, like a 49cc ruck clone and sombody else on a roketa. wasnt sure if it was supposed to be amazing for sombody to put 20k+ miles on a ruk or roketa. was just wondering, whats the rep on the street for roketas? bad? good? i own one, ive been doing some minor repairs, besides the recent exhaust issue ( which was self inflicted ), i dog the hell out of it. got it at 600 miles, its sitting on 2400 miles now. i want to do a complete carb rebuild and a valve adjustment ( it doesnt need it but i want to make sure it runs great) only other problems ive had with my roketa is repeatedly telling my friends that its not called a " rocket A" but a "row-ket-ah"

[kz1000st]

Read the last comment in this review. Izzy and his 30,000 mile Roketa.

www.motor-scooters-guide.com/kymco-super-8-150-scooter-review.html

Unlike a certain pair from Maine there are Chinese scooters that work fine for some people.

[buford1488]

if you take care of them they will take care of you...............

[bcgreatness]

wow. once i get a set of feeler gauges i will be doing my own valve adjustments, just dont have the money for a good set just yet. hopefully i get that many trouble free miles on mine.

[jct842]

also you will probably need a 9mm box/combo wrench if your scooter is like mine for the valve adjusting. 9mm doesn't usually come with a cheap set of wrenchs, I had 2 sets of metrics and no 9mm. you can't use a socket as there is no way to hold the center screw while snugging the nut. I went to the local auto parts store where such are usually expensive when you just buy one wrench, it was on sale because manufacture had gone to a high shine chrome finish.....was around $1.00 then I spray painted it so it would not get lost or miss laid when in the same drawer as the rest of metrics. take your time on adjusting the first few times. Mine is so hard to get at that I found if I lay scooter on left side the exaust valve is not as hard to do. the intake isn't bad though. john

[sprocket]

bcgreatness

No gauge ...use a strip cut from a Coke can.. works well...cheap too...it is just over .003" perfect for a 50cc.

On a 150cc I use it for the intake valve and set it loose and double it over for the exhaust...and set it tight

[bcgreatness]

sprocket, is that trick a tried and true method? ive never though of using a can, how creative! @ jct, thanks for the advice about the tools. i used to be a diesel mechanic for about 4 years, a back yard dirtbike mechanic, and at the moment i do any repair to any vehicle. im in the middle of an engine swap for a neighbor on his 96 gmc sanoma with the 6 cyl vortec. ( i mention the engine type because people who know anything about that engine know they are a pain lol ) so after about 7 years give or take ive accumulated alot of tools so i should have a 9mm, if not i know where i will be going lol dont know about painting it though but its always good to keep tabs on your tools. i LOVE to work on anything with wheels and i enjoy learning new things about scoots as i have just recently stepped into the world of scoots. sproket when you double over the strip from the can, do you fold it over and squeeze it tight with a pair of pliers or maybe a table vice? or do you just fold and go?

[sprocket]

Yup...I have done it for years... mind you the cans are thinner now, but I checked a Coke can a few months ago, here in Canada and it was just over .003" in thickness using a digital micrometer.

The general setting are .004" intake valve gap and .005" exhaust...

I just fold it over and and use the two open ends together...put it between the valve and the adjuster and screw the adjuster down on it and then tighten the nut...

I also prefer to use a roll over adjusting method.. more accurate and accounts for wear...

COLD ENGINE

1. Remove the spark plug or back it off so it leaks compression
2. Remove the valve cover. Remove the fan cover
3. Using the cooling fan with a wrench or turn with your hand, rotate the engine CLOCKWISE
4. Watch the valves.
5. When the INTAKE valve, the top one, is all the way open (the rocker arm is pressed all the way down) stop rotating the engine
6. Loosen the locking nut (9mm) on the EXHAUST valve, the bottom one, and using a feeler gauge with oil on it, turn the adjuster screw until it is .005 inch...
7. Tighten the locking nut and re-check the gap to .005"

Then

8. Rotate the engine again, CLOCKWISE until the EXHAUST valve is fully open (the rocker arm is pressed all the way down)
9. Now adjust the INTAKE valve, the top one, and set it to .004 inch
10. Tighten the locking nut and re-check the gap to .004"
11. Replace the valve cover
12. Screw in the plug, replace the plug boot and start up the engine...

On some engines if you find there is too much valve tap, you can back it off these settings by .001 INCH.

Some people set both valves at .004 INCH…

[bcgreatness]

i will set them to whatever is known to work, i do know that i would rather set at .004 and .005 instead of .004 / .004. i should first check to see if its at the correct measurement before i go through with it. THANKS a BUNCH for the adjusting tips as i would have found the TDC first and then adjusted.

[sprocket]

Yeah whatever works for you .. I set mine to .003 and .004...on the 'P' head because it works best with the cam...

Closer the gap more often you have to check and set the valves...cause they will close up again...

[scooterchromeparts]

Dec 31, 2011 11:45:47 GMT -6 straightbangin said:

I have had 2 chinese scooters. 2010 and now a 2011. New. About $1,000 from the dealership and I had problems with both of them right away starting at about 198 miles. It seems the Vespas and better ones are about $4,000+ and if im going to spend that much I may as well get a motorcyle. In my opinion, if you are going to buy a Chinese scooter, either have a friend that is a mechanic that knows about scooters OR be willing to buy tools and LEARN to diagnose and fix your scooter yourself if you don't want to pay more getting it fixed than you paid for the scooter itself. This website has been a MAJOR help with helping me with all my CCS ( cheap Chinese scooter) issues. I finally got mine fixed and running well yesterday. If a CCS is all you can afford, make sure you can invest an extra $100 or so for tools and learn patience ( as ive had to )

Sorry to hear your running into trouble with your scooters. For many of us, we buy a scooter for fun, but for others it's there main transportation to work. Not to mention that they're great on gas. It's very true, Vespas are great scooters, thats a fact. But Vespa scooters are in the $4,000 range. And some of us can't afford them. I normally encourage scooter riders, if they are going to purchase a scooter, but can't afford to spend over $1,500, then your stuck buying a Chinese scooter. These 50cc scooters are ok for riding around the block. But if your a heavy set person (over 200lbs), then that engine is going to take a pounding. Or maybe you want it as your main trasportation to work. Then I suggest getting a 150cc. Simply because you can make significant upgrade to them for a couple of extra dollars.

Many of us scooter riders don't know this but... keep in mind that most of these scooter that are assemble by factories in China also buy there parts from other Chinese manufactures as well. Such as: wheels, tires, headlights, engines, engine parts and components. But actually, it really depends on the demand of the importer in the US/Europe. If the importer in the US/Europe wants to offer a more superior/quality scooter to there customers. Then the importer has to pay more to add better components, and eventually you have to pay more. Specifications are given to the scooter factory (or factory assemblers) as what components to implement into these scooters.

You may already know this; but normally you don't have problems with your scooter body (that's rare), it's the engine that we run into problems. You normally get engine problems like for example: your scooter has a bad start (now you need to kick start it), engine oil leaks (now you find yourself with oil drips on your garage floor), etc. But one of the major problems we have with these chinese scooters are actually electrical problems, REALLY!

With Chinese scooters you are always going to run into some type of problem. That's because its a product rapidly moved on an assembly line for quick production. Many of these factories have extremely poor quality control anyway. So if your a consumer looking to buy your first scooter. I suggest to get a 150cc scooter; if Chinese, and if that's all you can afford at the moment. Simply because you are able to find parts for them.

And please, if you ever have problems with your scooter, don't give it to that guy around the corner whos always picking his nose and calls himself a mecahnic! He's going to run your scooter.... take it to a real mechanic. Ask around, stop a scooter rider on the street, and find out where you can get a serious mechanic. Someone that will do the job right the first time.

Bottom line, when someone ask me what scooter they should get, I tell them get a Vespa (if you can afford it). And if you can't afford a Vespa, then get a Chinese scooter, but get a 150cc, because you can find parts for them all over the internet to make signifant upgrades and have a great scooter.

So... find the best deal out there. Compare prices. Don't get suckered into that warranty bla bla bla, and use that extra cash you saved to make the necessary upgrades for your new scooter. Hope this can help you, or help some else looking to . Thanks ScooterChromeParts

[kz1000st]

Bottom line, when someone ask me what scooter they should get, I tell them get a Vespa

You should tell them to get a Kymco. All the Kymcos below 200cc cost less, last just as long (if not longer) and perform as well in the long run since they're based on Japanese technology. A 150cc Vespa sells for $4500, a Kymco Like 200 for $2600. Guess which is the much better deal.

[jct842]

I would like to get a vespa, but not a new one, nor for the reasons above. an old 50's-60's to rebuild. BUT.....THEY ARE SO OVER-PRICED I will never have one. just like hareys used to be ...... over rated, over priced, and more of a cult type purchase. I will probably just get a few more chinese. john

used to be you had to order a harley a year ahead of time and could ride it a year and then sell it for as much as you paid for it...talk about insanity............

[kailagomez]

Chinese scooters junk?? This is incredible. Now I know why a coalition of unions, Democratic lawmakers and industry groups is placing pressure on the White House to take action against China for alleged unfair trading practices in its car parts industry. The coalition states that the Chinese government is subsidizing its parts industry and is restricting the exportation of raw materials used by foreign auto parts producers. Article source:Group pressures White House over China auto parts . I guess we should be aware of this.