Doc's Anything Goes
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Post by w650 on Jan 9, 2016 11:40:19 GMT -6
Just sit right back and you'll hear my tale. A tale of a fateful purchase. That started out in northern Pa.
Let me tell you my experience with "Brand Name". A few months ago I bought a 2010 Kymco Like 50, with 2000 miles on it to flip, for $300. The young lady selling it said it just quit one day and she was told it was an electrical problem. Yeah, Right.
After buying a starter motor for $85 shipped and a stator for $90, also shipped, I lost interest. I took it to a local small engine repair place. They installed the stator and it wouldn't start for them. It had a rocking 70 psi compression. I told them rip it open and find out why. Scoured piston, scoured barrel and a base gasket of silicon seal that blew open. It's getting redone with a 70cc barrel and I'm ditching it.
Bottom line. Do I think Kymcos are crap-NO. Do I think some Kymco owners are crap, note I said "Some". Uh, yes.
The Like was a $2200 scooter when new and the person before me screwed it up in 2,000 miles. Yet she smiled at me and said, "I took good care of it."
Guess what I think about people who say "All Chinese scooters are junk"?? I think they're all related to the Girl who sold me the Kymco.
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Doc's Anything Goes
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Post by w650 on Jan 4, 2016 17:08:44 GMT -6
Where do you start with something like that? Starter? Battery? Seized? Even the variator has the belt too high so it might be binding.
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Post by w650 on Jan 4, 2016 12:00:24 GMT -6
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Post by w650 on Jan 3, 2016 11:34:28 GMT -6
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Post by w650 on Dec 31, 2015 12:24:47 GMT -6
The Cops pile on a lot of miles in a short time and use the bike all day/every day. I know the bike is good but this is a major test. Many a company has had to some major mods to the line after the Police got their hands on their product. I would love to hear more later if they land a Police Department account.
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Doc's Anything Goes
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Post by w650 on Dec 31, 2015 12:21:18 GMT -6
I know there are guys who can drag their knees on scooters but I just can't muster up the confidence to fling one around like a bike. A few months ago I was riding the Fashion on a good sport bike road and hit one of those left-right curves you dream about. I almost ran across the road with the scooter and had to hit the brakes to slow it down. It might be the engine location behind me instead of in front, it could be the long wheelbase on the scooter or it could just be me. Whatever, It just didn't flick and I had to slow down. I want to do that road again on one of the bikes just to see. I'll bet the Nighthawk just eats it up.
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Post by w650 on Dec 30, 2015 19:40:31 GMT -6
It's why I bought the '83 Spectre. Even the "Standard" bikes today smack of crotch rocket with the plastics off. I like the Nighthawk for the same reason. I guess with the CB300F out Honda would have no reason to bring the 'Hawk back but it is a shame. It's a good, all around standard that can do a whole lot of tasks.
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Doc's Anything Goes
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Post by w650 on Dec 30, 2015 11:34:07 GMT -6
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Post by w650 on Dec 26, 2015 9:51:36 GMT -6
Six Months!! Something is wrong here. My rear shoes on the 150cc are original after 7 1/2 years and 9,500 miles. then again so are the front pads. Either you're riding the rear brakes or using them harder than you think. I just pulled the rear shoes out of the 1991 250 Nighthawk with 15,000. They look like the originals considering the age appearance and they weren't 1/4 worn. Unless you live in New York City and stop at every corner they should last longer.
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Post by w650 on Dec 25, 2015 18:12:34 GMT -6
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Post by w650 on Dec 18, 2015 7:43:34 GMT -6
They caught you on film Pete.
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Post by w650 on Dec 17, 2015 20:30:36 GMT -6
The problem here isn't the scooter, it's the guy selling it. Baccio sold some quality machines even during the Dark Ages. Patrick McClure, aka Automotoguy had a 150cc version of the Baccio and put 46,000 miles on it BEFORE SELLING IT. He had to replace the rear gears at around 36,000 miles as I recall.
So the answer is Baccio makes a good scooter but the person selling it is a jerk. Or he's trying to palm off 80 kph as 80 mph. A lightly modded 50cc two stroke could hit 50 mph (80 kph).
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Post by w650 on Dec 15, 2015 7:49:37 GMT -6
If it isn't a little voice in my head, it's me talking to myself out loud. Working on these darn things will have you doing that.
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Post by w650 on Dec 14, 2015 18:48:06 GMT -6
The tail light on the 250 Nighthawk hasn't worked since I got it. Headlight-yes, horn-yes, directional signals-No. I was getting set to attack it with my multimeter when I had a moment of total clarity. "Maybe it's just the bulb" a little voice said. I had a spare 1157 bulb squirreled away so I pulled the socket out of the tail section and removed the bulb. Sure enough the filament was gone. New bulb in and I have the tail light glowing. I'm going to see if the directionals even have bulbs in the sockets. It's amazing how stupid some former owners can be.
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Post by w650 on Dec 14, 2015 18:42:19 GMT -6
Oh contraire. BMW, Triumph and Ducati consider the US market a key element to their worldwide success. The Big Four didn't get big by ignoring the US. Genuine and SYM are making bikes for one simple reason. Not all new scooter owners dream of owning a Silver Wing or Burgman. The allure of a bike is pretty powerful and CF Moto could have cashed in big time with the NK 650 and TR 650 Sport Tourer. The US guys may make a lot of money with ATVs but they will regret this decision when everyone else cashes in. Bikes are making a slow recovery and SYM has the power to build bigger and better yet. www.motorcycle-usa.com/2015/11/article/mic-report-motorcycle-sales-up-through-september-2015/ |
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