KymcoForum.com
Scooters - 125 to 300 => LIKE 200i => Topic started by: Lucasan on August 10, 2012, 03:15:38 AM
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Hi all! My girlfriend and I just ordered the 200i LX model. Not my first choice in color, but she'll be riding it mostly so it's more or less "hers". I've never owned a scooter before and she's never even ridden anything motorized so she will of course be taking the motorcycle safety course. I'm wondering if there is anything I need to do to this bike upon delivery. I have combed through some other forums and people have mentioned doing all sorts of checks on the bike before it is driven. Seems to be for the Chinese brands, but I thought I'd ask.
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Shake everything. Touch every part. twist, pull, push, everything, and tell your girl there is something wrong, and it's not safe for her to use. Come back with some grease on your forehead (borrowed from a Harley), and just say Whew... That was a close one.
Welcome to the forum.
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Welcome to the forum!!! Look her with a sad face and when she asks, tell her you need to have one for yourself too..
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Ha thanks for the responses guys. I'm actually much more interested in a mid-range motorcycle. Something like a 500 or 650. I like the idea of scooters, I just want something I can take on the highway if need be. Although I will ride this occasionally to the grocery store and other errands, it will definitely be more for her.
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Makes sense...
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Suzuki ER6n, good average bike.. ;)
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Just follow to break in advice on this forum. Don't ride it too much it could become addictive!
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speaking of breaking in, how many miles do you guys feel is an acceptable break in period? The guy at the dealer said that it was best to ride very easy during that period. Thanks again!
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Primarily till the first oil change. I would ride it like you stole it, just don't run a constant speed for a long time. If you go to easy the brake in will take a long time and the rings may not ever seat properly. On my DT300I I drove the first 100K at about 90KM but varied the throttle. After that I drove it as tho it was a couple of years old. It broke in great and I have had no problems except for a belt which I fine out was just about time to change anyway.
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Welcome to the forum and good luck with the scoot and the GF. Like Zombie said, push, pull, and shake everything you can reach. The idea is to find loose bolts. When my Yager was new I found a couple loose bolts including the axel bolt.
Richard L.
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So the new scooter gets here next Tuesday or Wednesday. My girlfriend and I both passed the permit test in our 2nd try. Since she has no experience, I've advised her that the Motorcycle safety course would greatly benefit her. I will take it sometime down the line but for both of us to take the course would be $500. I'm wondering if any insurance companies give discounts for people who have taken the course. The lowest quote I've gotten is $380 and that's with minimal coverage. (full on the scooter but only 10k on anyone injured) Anybody have any suggestions for insurance in CA?
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So I drove our new 200i LX about 20 miles today and loved it. I thought it handled very well and despite others reports about it not handling great with the stock tires, I wasn't bothered a bit. I will upgrade the tires soon though. One thing that was a tad troublesome was that after riding for about 10 miles stopping, and then restarting it about 10 minutes later, it wouldn't start until about 10 tries later. Wonder if this is part of the break in period trials and tribulations.
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and then restarting it about 10 minutes later, it wouldn't start until about 10 tries later. Wonder if this is part of the break in period trials and tribulations.
It's not part of it. Maybe just nothin'. Post if it happens again...
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So I drove our new 200i LX about 20 miles today and loved it. I thought it handled very well and despite others reports about it not handling great with the stock tires, I wasn't bothered a bit. I will upgrade the tires soon though. One thing that was a tad troublesome was that after riding for about 10 miles stopping, and then restarting it about 10 minutes later, it wouldn't start until about 10 tries later. Wonder if this is part of the break in period trials and tribulations.
Check out this thread from the second page http://www.kymcoforum.com/index.php?topic=6537.0 (http://www.kymcoforum.com/index.php?topic=6537.0)
Seems the connections on the solenoid are often loose, mine had the same problem, checked them, they seemed snug but I never had that problem after. Take off your seat bucket and snug down the connections, it's on the right hand side near the body panel. Hope this helps.
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Yes, the insurance companies do give discounts for taking the MSF training.
Also, Kawasaki used to give $50 in-store dollars if you took the training.
Scoot safely..... wear safety gear.
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Today it started on the 1st try every time so that's good news. I won't be able to track my mileage until we get the new instrument cluster put in but we're down to a half tank so I'm guessing that we've put around 35-40 miles on it. At one point I drove around 50 mph for about 30 seconds. Felt fine, no issues with stability or anything. I'm avoiding driving it hard during the break in period, as the overwhelming majority of what I've heard is that taking it a little easier during this period will ensure better performance in the future.
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Sounds like it's going to be a love affair for the ages. Once you get the bugs out, and get used to the quirks it will be a great joy in your life. I've cursed mine a few times but will never look back. I love scooters. It's sort of like flying feet first.
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So during the break-in period my girlfriend has to drive to work. Her commute includes stretches where she has to go at least 50mph to stay with traffic. I'm wondering how much of a detriment this will be to the engine. I guess if worse came to worse, I could just have her take our car to work while the scoot is properly broken in. What do you guys think?
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After about the first 100 miles, I would not have a problem with 5 minute stretches at those speeds.
Just be sure that the engine oil level is good.
It is the full-throttle for 15 minutes that should be avoided.
scoot safely,
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Agreed. It's long hi rpm runs that ruin the seal of the rings. If she has made this commute a few times already I would extend the break in to around 200-250 miles. If the rings do not seat right they will leak, and the scoot will always perform poorly.
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Thanks for the responses guys. I didn't know that about the rings. Zombie, do you mean 200-250 on top of the recommended 600? I've already decided to have her hold off on commuting with the bike until it's broken in. Went for a very long 35 mile ride today going no faster than 40mph. Varied the throttle. Stopped at a lot of lights so I felt it went well. Zombie's explanation of the rings was the only technical info I've gotten so far and that has been from here and the Modern Buddy forums. I wish this forum was as active as the MB one. Seems there should be just as many Kymco enthusiasts as Buddy.
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How many miles do you have on it? It took about 500 miles to break mine in.
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How many miles do you have on it? It took about 500 miles to break mine in.
Ha funny you should ask that because ours was delivered with a broken odometer! We are having it replaced next week. I would estimate that we've used just over a full tank so maybe 80 miles? Does it ride much differently when you hit that mileage marker?
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600 miles is a real safe zone for break in on a scooter. It really only takes a short while to properly seat the rings. The idea is to wear the outer ring edge into the bore. There are micro scratches in the bore (cross hatch) and the purpose is to wear the rings into an air tight seal. Gases go BEHIND the ring, and force it out onto the cylinder wall making that seal. If you just hammer the bike from new the gases will force over the seal side preventing "break in" and causing "blow by" for the life of the ring set. This causes carbon to build on the sides of the piston slowing down the rpm, and creating excess heat in the jug. I use 250 as my "target" break in. around 100 miles the rings will get quiet, and the rest is really just polishing.
Further down the road if you need fresh rings the seating is almost immediate. A fresh hone, new rings, and 50-100 miles is done.
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It seems to be getting smother all the time. Riding to work on it now. It's a blast. Just got the plate for it today. I was surprised when it was over $90.