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Scooters - Big Bore => Xciting 500 => Topic started by: hinz on September 15, 2011, 03:42:19 PM

Title: my Xciting 500 as a mini touring bike
Post by: hinz on September 15, 2011, 03:42:19 PM: I'm leaving this Friday for a ride from NJ to Charlotte and I figure I would post some pics of the bike all loaded up.

(https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-1l4P7Z11GDw/TnFYPmNwGsI/AAAAAAAAA30/HGp_OENHajc/s800/2011-09-14_21-41-35_39.jpg)
(https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-pXPO0qg2b84/TnFX_4UAdwI/AAAAAAAAA3w/hO9i6mKUFDs/s800/2011-09-14_21-41-02_687.jpg)
(https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-V79ZzQVgAuI/TnFXwHyDSuI/AAAAAAAAA3o/8mXt_D6kfVY/s800/2011-09-14_21-40-50_189.jpg)
Title: Re: my Xciting 500 as a mini touring bike
Post by: fshfindr on September 15, 2011, 04:54:35 PM: Neat!!! Have a safe ride.
Title: Re: my Xciting 500 as a mini touring bike
Post by: ChandlerScoot on September 16, 2011, 12:17:35 AM: Looks like a well thought out set up! Enjoy the ride =)
Title: Re: my Xciting 500 as a mini touring bike
Post by: kymcorider on September 16, 2011, 04:08:16 AM: Looks like a good setup. I just bought an X500 (2007) with 3900miles. So far i'm loving it.
How new is your scooter and what problems am i probably going to experience first. You have good trip and let us know how it went. Ride safe, Kymcorider.
Title: Re: my Xciting 500 as a mini touring bike
Post by: ts1 on September 16, 2011, 08:15:59 AM: Quote from: kymcorider on September 16, 2011, 04:08:16 AM
How new is your scooter and what problems am i probably going to experience first.
Tires rubbed off. ::) Seriously: that was my first problem.

I won't consider the X500 a mini touring bike. It's a real touring bike!
Although it should have a larger fuel tank (->range) and more inside storage.
Title: Re: my Xciting 500 as a mini touring bike
Post by: winginman on September 16, 2011, 01:52:19 PM: Nice... Is that RAM mount mounted to the mirror or to the brake reservoir? Which one is it?
Title: Re: my Xciting 500 as a mini touring bike
Post by: hinz on September 16, 2011, 03:47:03 PM: There are RAM mounts under both mirrors and one of their 2-bolt flanges bolted to the handlebar cover to mount the cup holder.
Title: Re: my Xciting 500 as a mini touring bike
Post by: hinz on September 16, 2011, 03:49:16 PM: Quote from: kymcorider on September 16, 2011, 04:08:16 AM
Looks like a good setup. I just bought an X500 (2007) with 3900miles. So far i'm loving it.
How new is your scooter and what problems am i probably going to experience first. You have good trip and let us know how it went. Ride safe, Kymcorider.

Just normal maintenance stuff. I've replaced the battery, oil and just recently the tires. Hopefully this doesn't jinx me. hahah
Title: Re: my Xciting 500 as a mini touring bike
Post by: adri on September 17, 2011, 02:33:36 PM: I think you have a little room left for more stuff ;D
Title: Re: my Xciting 500 as a mini touring bike
Post by: jan.strydom on September 19, 2011, 09:47:59 AM: ;D my, my - well stacked - enjoy and let us know how it went!!
Title: Re: my Xciting 500 as a mini touring bike
Post by: racewalker on September 20, 2011, 01:25:13 AM: Helmet cam to record the trip? I am planning a trip next summer with my dt300i and am planning to record the trip.
Title: Re: my Xciting 500 as a mini touring bike
Post by: hinz on September 23, 2011, 12:00:41 PM: Here are some pics from the ride.
(https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-zhjM1tlmUKA/TnShTG3vC2I/AAAAAAAAA4w/PHWvgcmkcFg/s800/2011-09-17_09-30-33_357.jpg)
(https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-9JgPLNbYd40/Tnd2FubT2qI/AAAAAAAAA6Q/GSO7EF6M3d4/s800/2011-09-19_10-59-34_18.jpg)
(https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-7lIwMn6mYU4/TneKbUAEkvI/AAAAAAAAA6c/Aj3cr1TlIiY/s800/2011-09-19_14-29-02_22.jpg)
(https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-mzlnxGmC52A/TnetCyDqqCI/AAAAAAAAA6w/3aAAqD1Qz-c/s800/2011-09-19_16-55-25_828.jpg)
(https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-2GLbR0eOFlM/Tnip9x7omfI/AAAAAAAAA7c/QTkNtNovKj0/s800/2011-09-20_10-54-38_427.jpg)
(https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-PFouEPajMv8/TnjxRhVhR7I/AAAAAAAAA8E/_ppupJxOrGk/s800/2011-09-20_15-55-22_350.jpg)
Title: Re: my Xciting 500 as a mini touring bike
Post by: kymcorider on September 29, 2011, 06:00:33 AM: Loved the pics. Still loving my X500. I have to agree that the fuel tank should be 3 or 4 gal. Can't go more than a 100 miles without knowing where the next station is. That's okay i guess. Keeps us riders on our toes. youall ride safe, Kymcorider
Title: Re: my Xciting 500 as a mini touring bike
Post by: hinz on September 30, 2011, 11:14:36 AM: There was one spot on the Blue Ridge Parkway where I had ridden about 120 miles and started panicking since there wasn't any gas for at least another 20-30 miles. Somehow, I eventually coasted into an Exxon and all I could think about was a certain Seinfeld eppisode where they see how far they can drive with the gas light on. Needless to say, I'll be buying a 2.5 gallon fuel tank and strapping it to the back for future long distance trips.
Title: Re: my Xciting 500 as a mini touring bike
Post by: ChandlerScoot on October 07, 2011, 02:16:58 AM: How was the weather during the ride?
Good to hear you made it safely.
Title: Re: my Xciting 500 as a mini touring bike
Post by: winginman on October 07, 2011, 01:16:46 PM: 150 miles and you are on fumes... I have a small 1.5 gal plastic "spare tank" that I picked up at Walmart that I take on long trips. Make sure you do not fill it completely to leave room for expansion. Shaking it around in warm weather can build up a bit of pressure and it can leak a bit. Bit of advice it takes forever to get rid of the gas smell on stuff. :( But it can be a life saver when you need an extra 50 miles or so.
Title: Re: my Xciting 500 as a mini touring bike
Post by: hinz on October 07, 2011, 02:04:35 PM: Quote from: ChandlerScoot on October 07, 2011, 02:16:58 AM
How was the weather during the ride?
Good to hear you made it safely.

It was mostly overcast until we got high up in the BRP. Once you're ABOVE the weather, things are actually pretty nice. lol.
It rained a little bit in Frederick, MD but not enough to warrant breaking out my 1pc. rain suit which is nice because I hate stopping to put that thing on.
On Monday during the ride down the BRP from Meadows of Dan to Asheville it got really cold and overcast. I stopped at a few gas stations looking for pocket hand warmers or thin glove liners that I could wear under my riding gloves. I eventually put on my snowboarding gloves that I remembered to bring. Since I was wearing them over my riding gloves, they made controlling the throttle and brakes awkward so I only really used them until it got a little warmer out. Otherwise I had sufficient gear to deal.
Title: Re: my Xciting 500 as a mini touring bike
Post by: BikerDude on November 06, 2011, 12:04:46 AM: Great photos and interesting ride!

Is the tank fairly small on this bike then?
Title: Re: my Xciting 500 as a mini touring bike
Post by: roboscoot on November 07, 2011, 02:34:38 AM: you know this really is a great looking scooter....i ride a 300dt...but when i move up it will be the x500.....looks like you planned everything ,,and need nothing except that extra tank (i hope they redesign it to hold more fuel in the future...i am kind of spoiled with the 300)......yes your planning ability is related to your focus on detail (i can tell from the picture with your scooter and all those screw drivers aligned and in place in your garage).....on the other hand my garage looks like a bomb hit it...enjoy the trip....
Title: Re: my Xciting 500 as a mini touring bike
Post by: sissy mary on November 07, 2011, 06:26:10 PM: Who makes those saddle bags? And where did you get them? I need more space for the long trips when we head out two up!.
Title: Re: my Xciting 500 as a mini touring bike
Post by: hinz on November 17, 2011, 04:40:00 PM: The saddle bags are Nelson Rigg CL-850 and the bag behind the back rest is also a Nelson Rigg, CL-750.
Title: Re: my Xciting 500 as a mini touring bike
Post by: sissy mary on November 18, 2011, 08:51:12 PM: Thanks, those are nice huge bags. I have a box on mine similar to yours. My x500 is an orange 2007 also. I call it the O hog. (owe hog) as in Orange Hog. The Harley honnies love it. ;D
Title: Re: my Xciting 500 as a mini touring bike
Post by: sissy mary on December 08, 2011, 07:53:58 PM: I'm looking into those bags. Do they mount under the seat with straps that go across between them, or do they mount on the side hand grips/hand rails? :-*
Title: Re: my Xciting 500 as a mini touring bike
Post by: hinz on December 12, 2011, 01:39:07 PM: The bags are connected with two, wide velcro straps. I have them run under the seat. You just have to remember to leave some slack in the straps because when the seat is latched, the straps are sandwiched between the bottom of the seat and the top of the storage compartment. If you make them too tight, the seat is tough to latch.
Title: Re: my Xciting 500 as a mini touring bike
Post by: sissy mary on December 12, 2011, 02:47:27 PM: Thanks. I checked them out. Their not cheap! Around $145.00 :-*
Title: Re: my Xciting 500 as a mini touring bike
Post by: hinz on December 14, 2011, 12:39:56 PM: Check the clearance sales on all the popular online motorcycle accessory sites. I think I got mine a year ago for $90 on newenough.com
Title: Re: my Xciting 500 as a mini touring bike
Post by: bongoman on December 16, 2011, 02:47:19 AM: Nelson Rigg makes several different sizes of throw-over saddlebags; the kind that have a connecting strap that goes under the seat. I have a pair of motorcycle saddlebags made like that with a wide leather strap holding them together. Originally it was not long enough so I added a leather piece and they work fine. I like the way I can pack them like a suitcase and carry them.
Title: Re: my Xciting 500 as a mini touring bike
Post by: sissy mary on December 16, 2011, 02:34:05 PM: I wish someone in America would sell those black hard cases that are for sale at Kymco Germany? I guess they would not be cheap, but man would those be nice to have! They look great on the bike also. Lockable, no one could steel anything. NICE. :-*