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My LSS - local scooter shop - really wanted to sell a 2014 My Road after a year of waiting. So much so, it was discounted to $7100 with a decent trade-in allowance for my 09 Xciting 500. Which is a really sweet machine. I have it set up to fit myself.

I rode the My Road. Twice. It's smooth and has more torgue at hiway speed, of course. However, I like the Xciting more. It has better ergonomics. And it nice and nimble around town, and owns the ability to ride across the country. A good touring machine that I do prefer over my Honda Magna motorcycle.

The Magna has lots of power from the V4, and that same power plant generates a lot of heat in the good old summer time. Heat that's real close to sensitive parts. And it does not have a gas gauge, nor cell phone charger. And I can actually pack more on my scooter, what with saddlebags, topbox and trunk. I have s'camped - scooter camping - for up to 5 days on my scooter.

That My Road is sweet in its own way, however, it felt big and bulky compared to the Xciting.

After a month and a week, the package from MalossiUSA finally arrived. Minus the most important part, the Multivar variator. That was being shipped separately is what the note said. I said no thanks, and returned it.

I did not receive a reply from them until I lodged a complaint with Paypal. Then, the emails came fast and furious. I still returned it. What if I - make that when - my scooter needed a new belt, how long would that take them?

So, before you order from them, be aware that they do not have parts in stock for the Xciting 500, they are slow, if at all, in replying, and cannot even ship correctly. I got one email from a guy who said, he was getting old and had a senior moment; that's why he did not ship the package correctly.

Once again, Sissy Mary's cry of, go with OEM, remains good advice.

I have added a custom seat for more leg room. The first one is before the new handlebars and a few other things.
https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/M-8GcNYdXiHxafu4c5jFd9MTjNZETYmyPJy0liipFm0?feat=directlink

https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/M-8GcNYdXiHxafu4c5jFd9MTjNZETYmyPJy0liipFm0?feat=directlink

This one is after changing to motorcycle style handlebars, a Dragon Custom riser, and a GPR muffler.

https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/6f_a2aq0hFG5o-knNbdj-9MTjNZETYmyPJy0liipFm0?feat=directlink

It would be magic to me, and almost a miracle if this works. The key is the flat key with a black side and a shiny metal side, it's magnetized, and slides into the slot on the side of the ignition switch. There are two and only two versions of this key made by Kymco.

The tricky part is that both will lock, or close any shutter over the ignition switch. But only the model specific one will unlock, or open, the shutter. I found this out because I closed the shutter on my '09 using my '07 key. I don't have an '09 key. The way to fix it is either find someone with the other version of the key, or purchase the outer ring of the ignition switch from Kymco, and then have dealer install it because it requires special tools.

Anyone  in Austin willing to meet up and experiment with the thin flat key with the metal strip, give me a shout, please.

Someone somewhere posted a tip about cold starting: wait a few sconds after turning on the ignition before engaging the starter. That way fuel pump and electronics have a chance to warm up before the starter sucks all the juice. Nice tip. Helped my cold start problems.

Too many threads to chase to find out who posted it, so: here's a group hug for sharing info, and a special thanks for that tip, or to that person. Yeah, you know what I mean.

My '07 500 has about 36k miles. Mostly stock parts. The few aftermarket such as Dr. Pulley sliders and one aftermarket belt, I am convinced OEM is better overall. Unless, you are racing, or something similar, and are willing to perform extra maintenance.

All the OEM parts have lasted longer. The most recent failure involved the D.P. sliders. The scooter was still running when I pulled into the Austin dealership. One slider was broken in two, another chipped, all worn to the point where the ramps were leveled, and a couple of rivets were rattling around for good measure. The scooter arrived under its own power saving $75 in tow costs.

I have my own theory as to why so much damage was done - more than I was aware of - which is a topic for another thread.

I think the OEM is good, long lasting stuff. The seat's too hard, but the cover will probably last forever. Now I have a custom seat with ortho foam and a good lookkng two toned color scheme. Other than that, OEM is my preference.

What about yours?

"Happy Birthday!", says my darling wife with the cutest dimpled smile you've ever seen light up a morning. "Let's go get your new seat."

I want to tell you folks, it looks nice. And is very comfy. Here's a link to some pics. What do you think? http://picasaweb.google.com/bongo420/PuffSNewSeat#

It came from www.carservicesinc.com run by a craftsman named Tony. He had a lot of different colors and materials to choose from, with this foam from Germany that is good stuff. Not as hot as memory foam, does not compress as much, yet it does provide comfort. He can layer it so that there's density without thickness, that seems about the best way to describe it.

The new seat is about an inch lower, and narrower, which is good and bad. It's easier to control the scoot at flat footed stops, but the width of the OEM seat added a measure of comfort.

At first I was discomfited by the new position. When I voiced this to Tony, he offered to take the seat apart and rarrange the foam to my satisfaction. "You want to be comfortable, right?" is what he said.

Now the new seat has some fancy stitching details and for him to make this offer speaks to the quality of his work.

I've made a couple of short tripps, and one of a couple of hundred miles, and after getting adjusted to the new position, I like it.

This guy, Tony, also worked with me comming in from out of town by setting up an appointment. I deropped the seat off, and picked up later that afternoon.

So that was my birthday present. Nice hunh.