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Messages - stuo

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1
General Discussion / Re: Roadside assistance, do you have it or ??
« on: April 06, 2024, 07:39:02 PM »
The problem with AAA RV/motorcycle coverage is that the vehicle that comes to your aid is probably not equipped for motorcycles: it's going to be the flat bed rig designed for autos and you have to either push or ride your bike up a 30 degree oily, slippery steel surface only to have it slide back down on its side before the driver can get the bed horizontal because the tow truck driver has no experience with two wheeled vehicles, which was my situation both times I needed a tow.

The second tow went a bit better because I was able to tutor the puzzled driver on what I learned from the first debacle. We pushed it up the sloped bed just far enough to get both wheels off the ground, then he worked the controls to get the bed horizontal while I held the bike upright, then I moved it forward for him to secure it. He confessed that he wasn't supposed to allow me on the truck bed but he agreed there didn't seem to be a better plan.     

2
Xciting 500 / Re: Belt life
« on: March 31, 2024, 08:40:07 PM »
I learned the hard way not to buy cheap Chinese belts: it disintegrated at 1000 miles. 

3
General Discussion / Re: I remember lane splitting in California 1967 !@#$%
« on: March 07, 2024, 11:30:05 PM »
 Lane splitting is still legal in CA thanks to the CA Highway Patrol, which testified against a bill that would have made it illegal. Scooters are great at lane sharing: legs are tucked in and my GV 250 has retractable mirrors, making the bike a smidge over two feet wide. Traffic here is terrible and it often would take two traffic light cycles to clear an intersection in my car but I'm always at the front of the line on Sharkey.









 = 

4
Grandvista 250 / Re: GV250 charging light
« on: February 25, 2024, 11:53:06 PM »
Thanks Mr. R, for the advice.

 When the rain stops and my back stops hurting I will follow your instructions and report back the results. The charging light did not improperly come on in the two times I used the bike since it happened so I am thinking your and Iahawk's advice is on the money and it's fairly easy to pull the plugs and check the connections.

BTW: I got an email from a fellow rider saying there is an ad on facebook listing two identical Downtowns for $1100 total. I'm not on facebook so I don't know if this info is useful or where they are located but I thought I'd pass on what seems a bargain....

5
Grandvista 250 / Re: GV250 charging light
« on: February 19, 2024, 10:25:38 PM »
Thanks, Iahawk,

I ordered a rectifier/regulator and will check all the connections I can find in that circuit when I install the new part.

My shop manual is missing the circuit to the warning light on the dash. I'm curious how it works, considering it lights when the battery is NOT being charged, just the opposite of what a bulb needs to light: electricity.

6
Grandvista 250 / GV250 charging light
« on: February 18, 2024, 10:04:56 PM »
Here's a puzzler: While riding on a smooth road yesterday at a constant 25mph the red charging light came on, then went off after a few seconds and did not come on again.  After I got home and parked I restarted the bike and the light did its normal on and off after a couple of seconds of running. The motor was running perfectly when this occurred.

This has never happened before and I'm completely befuddled as to possible causes.

The bike is a 2009 with 12K miles on it and has given flawless service other than needing a starter relay at 9K miles. I just checked the battery after sitting for 24 hours: 12.76 volts. I then started it and the light went off seconds later as it normally does.

I welcome all ideas on what could have caused this (so far) one time event, and suggestions on what to check or replace. I'd rather replace all suspected parts now, or at least order them now to have them ready, and not have my only scooter disabled while I wait for the correct part to get here. There's always room in my spares box for more GV250 parts.

7
General Discussion / Re: NSR: Anti-Theft Clinic for Korean cars
« on: February 14, 2024, 10:14:52 PM »
I agree with Stig. There probably is an easy way to break in and start them. At one time Toyota Camry's were being stolen more than other brands; it turned out that a "bump key", an uncut blank, would open the door and start the ignition. There are even youtube vids that teach you how, which seems outrageous.

The only good news is that if you recover your stolen car there may not be any damage, as with my 88 Camry, which was found parked close to where it was stolen. I bought a sturdy steering wheel lock.


8
LIKE 200i / Re: some 1st generation LIKEs not avail in USA
« on: January 23, 2024, 02:55:50 AM »
Ah so...

9
LIKE 200i / Re: some 1st generation LIKEs not avail in USA
« on: January 22, 2024, 06:28:33 PM »
Does anyone know the function of the 1" pipe thingy mounted on the front of the floor of no. 4 down (red on red with gold spokes)?

I bet the owner of no2 down likes mustard.

Those are too pretty to do everyday errands on...unless you love cleaning it.

10
Grandvista 250 / Re: Need quick pic or at least your comment on exhaust for 250
« on: November 24, 2023, 09:51:38 PM »
The first GV250 I owned had what I thought was a bad muffler: loud and with baffles that rattled when I shook it or turned it end to end, so I replaced it with a good one and guess what? It still was as loud as the original muffler. Since then I've acquired two more GV250's and they were both the same: louder than I'd like. Since then I have lost about half my hearing so I guess getting old has its benefits...both bikes got quieter without my messing with them.

Maybe earplugs are your answer?

11
Grandvista 250 / Re: Grand vista 250 slow as a pig
« on: November 04, 2023, 06:27:56 PM »
Hey Van,

I'm in Seal Beach, next to Long Beach. I think you did good to get your money back. Could that pig of a bike have a burned out engine?

I had a Burgman 650 and it was a fine machine. Interestingly, that bike had retractable mirrors, too. It was too heavy for my bad back so I reluctantly sold it and got a Kymco Downtown 300i, which was OK when it ran but would die for no apparent reason, then start after a short wait. That scared me back to carbureted bikes because EFI is a mystery to me...hell, I learned to wrench on Model A Fords and repaired TV's when they had vacuum tubes. This newfangled high tech world is beyond my understanding.

Best wishes in your search for a new ride. All I know is...don't buy a Chinese bike, but you probably knew that already. Also, some so-called 200's are actually 160's. They love to round up, never down.The GV250 is 249cc's, which is forgivable. 






12
Grandvista 250 / Re: Grand vista 250 slow as a pig
« on: October 30, 2023, 09:51:44 PM »
Greetings, Mr.Vango,

I hope you solve the problem(s) with your GV because I find the GV250 the perfect all around bike. Mine top out at 75 mph and are light enough for my 86 year old back to easily push around. I also like the retractable mirrors that allow me to squeeze through traffic in California, which is legal here. Mine have 12K and 22K miles on them and don't show any signs of old age yet. I didn't see black belt dust when I changed the belts and rollers, so perhaps the venting is good and this is normal for this model? I, too, had to replace the muffler on one of mine (the baffles were rattling around inside) but it didn't make any difference to the performance, and very little to the loudness. My GV's have a slightly loud bark even with good mufflers. I removed the lumbar supports, added a loud horn and a rear box, otherwise they are stock.

In addition to Ruffus's comprehensive list of possible solutions I would ask the seller if the bike had this lack of performance before it was parked and if not, assuming he's honest, then I'd look to all things fuel related. The three carbureted bikes I've rehabilitated after sitting more than a few months all had major fuel issues: rusty tank, clogged filter, gummed up carbs. I've had to re-clean a gummed up carb after failing on the first attempt. Did you soak it in carb cleaner overnight? Use high pressure air on passage ways? That varnish is tough to remove.

Good luck. Please keep us posted on your progress.

Stu

13
Downtown 300 / Re: belt size DOES MATTER!
« on: October 17, 2023, 08:54:17 PM »
I installed a cheapo Chinese belt on my Grandvista 250 and it was OK for just over 1000 miles...then it disintegrated at 50 mph. Lesson learned.

I've been able to find GV250 Kymco belts for under $100 on ebay.

14
Grandvista 250 / Re: What gas is best to use
« on: September 28, 2023, 07:16:18 PM »
I own two GV 250's and they run fine on 87 (regular) here in California. At over six bucks a gallon I would hope so...

15
Agility 125 / Re: Loss of Power, Stall After Bumps
« on: August 02, 2023, 11:22:01 PM »
I vote "loose electrical".

Spark plugs rarely need changing. In the "old" days when we had leaded gasoline they would need cleaning due to the lead deposits on the electrodes, or fouling from an oil burning cylinder. Garages had sand blasting machines that cleaned plugs.

Iridium plugs last at least 50,000 miles due to the use of an iridium electrode, which has an extremely high melting point and doesn't burn away like the old steel electrodes did and which required periodic re-gapping. Platinum electrode plugs are long lasting, too, but apparently iridium is the latest winner in the high price spark plug market.

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