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OK, so I have a new mechanical question to those with a better understanding than myself.

After a year of owning my super 8, startups are a little slower than they used to be.  When I hit the ignition button it sometimes whines for a few seconds (electrical noise) before it catches into actually revving.  Does Anyone know what the cause of this is or how to fix it?  I'm assuming something is sticking somewhere, not moving as freely as it should, but for all I know its a sign of being underpowered?  It does have a new battery tho, so it doesn't seem like it should be that.

If something is sticking more than it should be, what should I be looking at?  I'd like to get it back to where hitting the starter kicks it into motion as instantly as it used to.

Thanks very much for suggestions.

To check for a spark, remove the spark plug from the cylinder, hold the tip of the plug against the cylinder head and crank the engine. You should see a spark across the gap.

OK, yeah...  I don't think its sparking.  Good to know where to start looking now, thanks for that.

I've taken the entire Carb apart and sprayed all the openings with Carb cleaner and let it dry.

Have two batteries and charger, so I've made sure it has full power.

Cleaned the spark plug off and also tried switching it out with a different one.

Put some Heet in the tank and swirled it around to hopefully absorb any water.

Checked the fuses in the battery compartment, all are good.

The scooter makes the "juh, juh, juh" sound continually as if wants to start but never catches.  Any last recommendations on where I can look for the problem before I take it to someone else to look at?  Thanks for all suggestions thus far.

OK, so here's where I'm at.

I tried the Carb cleaner in the vent, but no luck.  I added some Heet to the tank and swished it around for a bit, emptied the Carb of whatever fluids were still inside through the little drain tube, tried again but still no luck.  Took out the spark plug which was a little greasy, wiped it off best I could, tried again but still no.

I'm also killing my two batteries with all this attempted starting which brings me to another question.

I *did* happen to buy that battery tender that was recommended at the same time I bought the new battery, however when I hook either battery up to it it gives me a green light no matter what which according to the charger is the "storage" light.  It never goes red to 'charging' although I know very well at least one of the batteries is nearing death.  The old battery has trouble with even one startup attempt and the display dims when I try, so I know its got practically nothing.  Anyone know why the charger doesn't go to charging, or is the green light indicitive of the trickle charge in action? 

Anyway, not quite sure where to go from here except to have someone who knows more look at it.  Thanks for the suggestions all!

Hey all, I just wanted to get some info from those who know more about this kind of stuff.  I put my scoot away for the winter, took out the battery and had it in the house, and let it run for a bit with some fuel stabilizer.  When I brought it back out this spring its not starting now.  I thought it might be the battery which wasn't on a tender and which I've found to be kinda weak even before now (it sometimes takes a second to start and dims the console display as it struggles.)  So I got a new battery (which works much better) but even now the engine just won't catch, so I assume that means gunk in the Carb despite the stabilizer? (Maybe I didn't let it run through enough)

I do get some gasoline smell after trying to start it a bit unsuccessfully so its not like it isn't flowing at all.  And yes, my engine switch is turned on.

So can someone offer me a suggestion as to the first thing I should check?  If its opening up to the carberator would cleaning it up be something that can be done without taking it apart completely or does it really just have to come all the way apart and I should probably just hand it to a mechanic?

Any helpful input is very welcome.

I'd like to know people's thoughts on the comfort level and feeling secure in your seat for 2up riding on the downtown.  My only frame of reference is my Super 8 (150cc,) and while it works fine for 2up I don't find it particularly secure feeling.  The seats are built in such a way that they slide you forward at every downhill or stopping a little abruptly which is awkward for both the driver who has to keep arranging himself backwards into the passenger, and the passenger who feels they have to anchor themselves so as not to slide onto the driver.  Also not the most comfortable setup for the passenger anyway.

So can people give me thoughts from both driver and passenger perspective if the downtown 300 would be a nice comfortable upgrade for 2up compared to my super 8?

Thanks.

Cool, thanks for that find Vino, lots of places to look to fix the problem and may not have to buy new parts for it.  Also, I just changed the oil yesterday to a 10w-40 full synthetic, and interestingly the backfires seem to have gone 90% away...  All I got leaving work was one barely audible "puh."

Thanks for the info!  I'm planning on checking valve clearances sometime soon too, so that'll be a good chance to look around inside the scoot a little more and get a little familiar.