Newbie Needs Advice By Scrappyamazon (Read 1,468 times)

[Scrappyamazon]

I'm new to being a scooter owner. So new that I don't even have one or a motorcycle endorsement yet. I'm looking into the IceBear brand.

1. Is this a good brand?

2. I want a 300cc of the three I mentioned in the other thread (magnum, tornado, zodiac), anyone know what the differences are? From what I can see the main differences are style and size.

3. I'd rather deal with someone local when I buy. Anyone know if there's a dealer in Arizona? I've talked to most of my local shops they've never even heard of IceBear.

Any and all help would be appreciated.

[Alleyoop]

Yes they are mostly the same just the style you like. size of the tank, size wheels, how much they weigh and weight they can carry as for speed they are all pretty much the same. They are not speed demons they are for cruising around nice and easy.

Yea that is a problem most dealers that have a shop only deal with BRAND scoots and bikes. Like YAMAHA, VESPA, SUZUKI etc.. You will have to find one that sells CHINESE SCOOTS. The Brand dealers will NOT TOUCH a chinese scoot. And the reason is not so much the mechanics and or electricals they are all pretty much the same it is the PARTS for them. There are so many different Chinese Scoots of different size and manufactuers that some parts are not interchangeable so you have to order the parts for that type of scoot.

But if they were smart they would do the work and have the customer order the part and they would just do the work of putting the part on.
What they do not want is a scoot taking up room waiting for the part to come in which could take some time also finding the right part for that scoot.

So if you want a GOOD BRICK & MOTOR dealer that handles ICE BEAR SCOOTS that knows how to work on them and can get information and parts I know of only one. And that BRICK & MOTOR dealer is JIM(RAPIDREPAIR) in Wisconsin. Just about all others that sell ICE BEAR are just an OFFICE with phones they just take orders and then call ICE BEAR and ICE BEAR ships it out to you BUT then you have NO SERVICE for the TRIKE unless you can do some work yourself and just order any parts you want.

And you can always come on here for help with any problems.
Alleyoop

[kalee]

Amen,, to just an office with phones, maybe I shouldnt complain, the dealer I traded with has repaired my trike so far. But they sure didnt do any PDI I have done most of that so far with great help from this forum, my hat's off to these scooter doc's cause they sure know what there talking about. Thanks guy's for all your help I'm sure I'm not thru yet.
kalee

[mike6736]

I have a 300cc Magnum and just use it around town any more. If I were to do it again I would have got a 150cc Trike. They get a lot of service out of them 150s in Florida and it is hot here.

Magoo - Silver Wing Triker now....

[Scrappyamazon]

Ok.....so is there a comparable trike that I might be able to get no problem? I've Googled the crap out of this subject and have found NO other scooters with three wheels that get the reported gas mileage (this will be my 60 mile round trip work vehicle). Or at the affordable price I'm looking at brand new.

[Alleyoop]

Your ICE BEARS are your best TRIKES OUT THERE FOR THE PRICE that has a good importer that has them upgraded as the need arises. You can go big time then you can go many ways. Just like MAGGO just did he got a HONDA SILVERWING 600ccs with the TRIKE KIT ON IT. Or you can go for a BURGMAN with a TRIKE KIT. Or you can go with a 250 or 300cc SCOOT and then get a TRIKE KIT put on it.
But a TRIKE setup as a TRIKE the ICE BEAR is your best choice. DO NOT GO for any of the REVERSE TRIKES the ones with the 2 wheels in front.

Just remember anything you get if you CANNOT do some simple things will cost you labor and labor is not cheap at most Brick & Motor shops. Also any brand scoot will cost you more on parts.
But that is ok if you are not mechanical at all and do not want to bother fixing it yourself.

So if you are not afraid to get your hands dirty and it does not require tearing down the motor you can get all the help on the forum if something is not working right. Things like adjusting the VALVES and or taking the carb off and cleaning it as well as replaceing the weights and or belt and or clutch, oil changes, air filter, gas filter etc..
can be handled by you if you are not afraid of getting your hands on it yourself. We here on the forum can tell you what to do and how. You will be our hands and eyes a usually what helps is a VIDEO of a problem and or pictures of the area in question.

Just like a car, but now a days with the new cars the only thing one can usually do is check the oil put oil in if low, fill the radiator if low, windshield wiper fluid, air in the tires and just about anything else you have to take it to a mechanic or dealer.

But on a scoot they are simple and most things are PLUG AND PLAY, just need to first test for which part is causing a problem then order the new part and replace the old one. Also the most common things that happen is the VALVES get tight after so many miles and need to be adjusted symptoms are hard starting and dieing when coming to a stop after the motor is hot. Also the carb may need to be adjusted when TEMPS change dramatically, from cold to hot but that is a minor tweak of a carb screw.

Also when filling up with gas 1 oz of SEAFOAM PER GALLON that you can buy at any auto parts store helps keep the carb and passages clean so they do not get clogged. If they do get clogged the carb has to come off and cleaned. But there again it is no big deal, a shop would probably tell you a new carb is needed when it is not required.

I have had my TRIKE for over 4 years now it is a 2009 one of the first to come into the US and I have YET to take the carb off to clean it. What I do is I have a 5 gallon gas can and when empty I pour in 5 ozs of SEAFOAM and go and fill the 5 gallon with 4/12 gallons of Shell 89 octane and fill my tank using that. I also use VISU fuel filters they trap everything and does not allow bits of inside the fuel hose to get to my carb. When I see it getting black I either change it or clean it out.

Hope some of this info helps you. If you have any SPECIFIC questions do NOT hesistate to ask.
Alleyoop

[Scrappyamazon]

Must be reading my mind. I was just checking out some of the ones with the wheels on the front. Thanks for the heads up. Is there a reason why they aren't as good?

[Alleyoop]

They stir by leaning and the front mechanism is not up to grade if the front is not perfectly aligned they will shake you arms off your sockets. That is only one problem and a major one in my opinion the front has to be strong and steady I mean it is your directional means.
Some had the problem where they went to turn into their driveway and it tipped over and the guy was trapped under the trike.
Also WHO is going to align it for you I do not believe you will find any dealer that will align it for you. The guys on here and other forums are mechanically inclined and they had a heck of a time also how long will it last. The front is not put together to last, the welds are pretty bad just to mention a couple of items. ICE BEAR sold them when they came out AND TOOK THEM OFF THE MARKET within 6 months with so many complaints, they will not sell them.
Alleyoop

[Scrappyamazon]

Ok so no front loaders. I don't mind getting my hands dirty but rereading your earlier post that you added to, I'm wondering if the heat where I live will kill the machine. In the summer it frequently gerts and stays above 100 degrees. Will that be a problem?

[4tb]

Try KYMCO Downtown 300i

Sent from my Thrill using proboards

[Alleyoop]

Well MIKE (MAGGO) lives in Florida and he has a ICE BEAR MAGNUM 300cc TRIKE and never has had a problem with the heat.
Alleyoop

[Scrappyamazon]

4tb i'm definitely looking for a trike.

[Alleyoop]

Well MIKE(MAGGO ) is selling his ICE BEAR TRIKE, he just bought a HONDA SILVER WING with a Trike kit on it. He wanted something he can go cross country on. You can pm him if your interested.
Alleyoop

THE HONDA SILVER WING with Voyager Trike Kit.



And this is his ICE BEAR MAGNUM"

[royldoc]

Looks like Alley has answered your questions.

1) Yes this is a good brand for chinese made scooters, but still not the quality of higher priced name brand scooters. With a little TLC they will give you years of riding.

2) Like Alley stated they are all pretty much the same except for some minor differences. The Zodiac is the newest model and has a few more upgrades than the others.

3) When I decided to buy my first trike in 2010 I found that there are very few brick and mortar dealers that sell ice bear scooters. I was surprised that even in the KC metro area there was not one.

I live in Missouri, although it doesn't get as hot here is routinely gets to the upper 90's and can get into the low 100's, but generally in the lower 90's. I have not had any trouble with heat issues.

Alley covered just about everything, so no sense in my typing it over. Like he said if you need more info, just ask.

Oh, I forgot in the other post you asked what where the pro's and cons of a trike. I'll start with the cons.

They are not as agile as a two wheeler. For the same sized motor two wheeler they will be a little slower, as they are heavier. They are wider so you can't zip between lines of slow cars like you can on a two wheeler. I'm probably forgetting some, but you may get the idea. Now for the pros.

You don't have to worry about balance. When you stop you don't have to put your feet down and hold it up. You don't have to lean to turn it. You don't have to remember to put a kick stand down or try to put it up on a center stand when you get off of them.

They do steer different than a two wheeler, You actually drive a trike rather than ride one. To turn you have to turn the handle bars in the direction you want to turn rather than leaning. You do have to slow down more for a turn and take turns a little wider. I have rode motorcycles most of my life and find myself still trying to lean in the turns.

I hope all this helped.

Roy

[Scrappyamazon]

Thanks everyone for the advice. Can anyone tell me what a CDI ignition is? And anyone know if these things can tow or even if there are wagons for them?