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Messages - Buck40

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1
General Discussion / Re: Bell question
« on: April 20, 2012, 07:06:12 AM »
A bell is supposed to be mounted low on the motorcycle/scooter to drive the road gremlins crazy so they don't infest your bike.  I always thought it was more of a Harley supersticion because most of the two wheelers I see broken down on the roadside are Harleys.  Ha!

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Technical | How To / Re: What oil for Grand Vista 250?
« on: April 13, 2012, 07:30:05 AM »
I tried a synthetic oil that is purple but I forgot what it is called.  The engine didn't start as easily, especially in cold weather so I went back to Shell Rotella T.  It works great for me.

3
Grandvista 250 / white givi v46
« on: April 13, 2012, 06:53:15 AM »
I have been looking for a white givi v46 to match my scooter.  The only places I can find that sell these are European companies and they are out of stock.  Does anyone know if these are discontinued or why givi doesn't sell these in the states?  I need luggage but I am really bumming that I can't find something that looks as nice as the white v46.

4
Grandvista 250 / Re: Tire recommendations for GV?
« on: March 28, 2012, 05:28:40 PM »
Thanks for the tip on the Kendas, gregspeople250.  I put on some Michelin Pilot Sports about 3k miles ago and the rear is showing wear.  the front looks good yet.  I will probably get these again unless I hear of something better.  These tires really stick to the road.  I had a couple of slippery moments with the stock tires but those were already five years old when I got the scooter.  I worry more about performance than longevity.

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Grandvista 250 / Re: Grand Vista Maintenance
« on: August 01, 2011, 05:15:06 PM »
I removed the seat and the storage compartment as one piece then the black plastic cover in front of the engine right behind where my feet rest when I am riding.  The cylinder head cover was on the front of the engine.  That's all I had to take off to get to the valves.  It seems like a lot of the pictures in the service manual are close up which isn't very helpful to someone like me who doesn't really know engines well.  Proceed at your own risk.

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Grandvista 250 / Re: Grand Vista Maintenance
« on: July 26, 2011, 04:47:07 PM »
My brother-in-law just helped me adjust the valves on my Grand Vista. :)  It was easier than I thought it would be.  The intake valve didn't need adjusting which was nice and the exhaust valve wasn't too difficult.  I was overdue for the valve adjustment but didn't know what to do.  The shop manual gave the gap but I didn't have any idea where the gap was that I was supposed to adjust until I was shown.  From there it was fairly easy.

All the power is back in the low end acceleration and between 40 and 60 mph and the scooter runs great.  I also put in a new spark plug in while I was at it.

Next time I can do it myself.  I just need to buy a couple of tools if I want to do it at my house.

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Grandvista 250 / Re: Set up my Grand Vista with touring seat and new tires.
« on: May 04, 2011, 05:18:22 PM »
Sorry, I don't have a camera.  I live in the digital stone age, my one concession being a computer.

If you look on the TwistedThrottle.com web site and find the Givi windshield for the Grand Vista, they have a picture of a blue Grand Vista with a leather covered touring seat.  The scooter also has a bunch of other accessories on it that I don't have but you can get an idea what it looks like.  My Grand Vista is white, also.

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Grandvista 250 / Re: Set up my Grand Vista with touring seat and new tires.
« on: May 03, 2011, 04:37:44 PM »
The touring seat looks really weird from the back but looks OK from the front or side.  From the back it looks like the seat bulges up in the middle.  From the side you can see that it is the ten inch tall back rest for main rider.

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Grandvista 250 / Set up my Grand Vista with touring seat and new tires.
« on: April 27, 2011, 04:32:52 PM »
Hi

I bought a 2005 Grand Vista in August 2010.  It only had 1588 miles on it!  Since then I have put on the touring seat and some Michelin Pilot Sport SC tires.

The touring seat works great.  My GV came with the standard seat minus the front back rest and recovered in leather.  I thought I liked that because I could sit back further but I found I need the lower back support on longer rides.  The touring seat works great because it is slightly taller and my knees don't seem to be bent as much while riding.  Also, the scooter handles much better when I sit further forward.  I think the seats are designed to keep the rider forward because of this.  The trade-off is that I can only stand flat footed if I tilt my hips forward on the seat.  I have a 30 inch inseam.  This isn't really a problem, though.

I had some issues with the stock tires, mostly in colder weather.  I live in Michigan.  The tires slipped a few times when I didn't think they should have and I never felt comfortable leaning into corners.  I just had the Michelin tires installed so I have only ridden a few times but they handle much better.  It feels like the scooter leans more naturally when I turn at slow speeds.  Also, these tires grip the road well on the highway.  I used to get some side-slip with the original tires when hit by strong, gusty winds.  The new tires track well and I feel like I can take the wind from the side better.

This is my first scooter and I love it.  It is a lot of fun to ride and will be my main transportation when the roads are not wet or snowy/icy.  I had intended to get only a 125cc scooter because I live next to a business route highway and wanted to be highway legal.  I always tell people I had a good salesman, though, and he sold me the scooter I didn't know I wanted.  It was a better price than the new (smaller) one I was interested in and has turned out to be the perfect scooter for me.  The salesman had no idea Kymco sold a touring seat and told me to bring it down when I get it installed so he can check it out.  Also, I bought the scooter two towns away so it is nice having the only Kymco in my town.
 
Have fun and ride safe.
Buck40

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