Top Tips

[Neil955i]

Come on guys please share!  I'll start this off with one from the story I've shared before on here* about my embarrassing attempt to ride off with the disc lock still in situ!  I'll share my cheap and cheerful tip which was a learning point after that red face event.

Take a 2 cm length of fuel pipe and slip it onto your ignition key to remind you to remove the disc lock then after you've done that, park the pipe on the disc lock key.  Simples.  (And yes, I know this won't work with keyless ignition modern bikes!)



* https://www.kymcoforum.com/index.php?topic=33192.msg233105#msg233105

[Neil955i]

And here's one off a fb Group I belong to:

Just a little tip for you Beautiful souls , certainly helps me when doing maintenance and need to remove the battery . Ear plugs hold the nut in place for you .
You're welcome 😉

[Iahawk]

saw something similar to your earplug under the battery terminal nut trick...but this person would hot glue the nut up in the top position for a more permanent hold.

The only tip I can offer right now is a way to determine oil usage...my Nighthawk burns some oil...ok, a lot of oil...but I always top it off a little bit at a time and I have no idea how much it burns per x miles. So at the end of the season I finally wrote the bike mileage on the oil container and put a line at the oil level. This way I can continue to add oil and finally get an idea of how much oil it uses.

[Neil955i]

Nice one Hawk.

[Ruffus]

There is an KYMCO item which is to be mounted at models without parking brake (restitutes Stigs asparagus bands).

It comes with an INOX bolt and two different brass distancers.

Fixed instead of the original brake levers bolt, it holds spring activated the lever in back position, you touch the lever, spring releases, brake is off.

EDIT: Mounted today, works fine, even its visually not a pleasing solution (pls see pics).
@Neil, have to wait, was a promo until series.

[randyo]

I use a zip tie under the battery nut, works ok, but looks like an ear plug might work better

[Stig / Major Tom]

Losing air from the valve stem?
R&R the wheel, or wrestle the tire open in place  and replace the stem....

Or try a COLBY tire valve stem installed from outside the rim.

I removed the wheel from my Piaggio and took it along with my new Pirelli Angel rear tire to the dealer for the tire R&R.
A new experience - and as always with a new task - not without some frustration.
Returned home - installed the wheel w/new tire - and began to check the PSI -  found that the dealer tech had nearly ripped the new valve stem off while pulling it through the rim!

I did not want to R&R that rear wheel again and go back and P.O. the service tech with my accusation. Embarrassing for both of us - because I had tipped the kid - $$

Researched - and found the COLBY system. Amazoned a couple and fitted it.

Clean the hole in the rim thoroughly (Q-tip and alcohol for me)


PRESS the new stem firmly against the rim as you tighten the nut (7/16"

Air it up - check for leaks.
4 yrs on now, and no leaks!





Stig


https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0793Y3J4S/?_encoding=UTF8&pd_rd_i=B0793Y3J4S&ref_=sbx_be_s_sparkle_ssd_img&qid=1769090792&pd_rd_w=q1ipq&content-id=amzn1.sym.9f2b2b9e-47e9-4764-a4dc-2be2f6fca36d%3Aamzn1.sym.9f2b2b9e-47e9-4764-a4dc-2be2f6fca36d&pf_rd_p=9f2b2b9e-47e9-4764-a4dc-2be2f6fca36d&pf_rd_r=6QK0Z9T6Q76RXSCBD2RT&pd_rd_wg=Go12G&pd_rd_r=771a2128-cc50-4914-91c5-91a4336f5cf6&pd_rd_plhdr=t&th=1

COLBY also makes an emergency valve stem which can be installed by hand, w/o tools.

[Neil955i]

There is an KYMCO item which is to be mounted at models without parking brake (restitutes Stigs asparagus bands).

It comes with an INOX bolt and two different brass distancers.
Fixed instead of the original brake levers bolt, it holds spring activated the lever in back position, you touch the lever, spring releases, brake is off.
Second pic shows in NON-brake position.

Have still to mount it, will report.

Hey Ruffus, that looks neat.  Do you have a link to the website selling?

[Neil955i]

Losing air from the valve stem?
R&R the wheel, or wrestle the tire open in place  and replace the stem....

Or try a COLBY tire valve stem installed from outside the rim.

I removed the wheel from my Piaggio and took it along with my new Pirelli Angel rear tire to the dealer for the tire R&R.
A new experience - and as always with a new task - not without some frustration.
Returned home - installed the wheel w/new tire - and began to check the PSI -  found that the dealer tech had nearly ripped the new valve stem off while pulling it through the rim!

I did not want to R&R that rear wheel again and go back and P.O. the service tech with my accusation. Embarrassing for both of us - because I had tipped the kid - $$

Researched - and found the COLBY system. Amazoned a couple and fitted it.

Clean the hole in the rim thoroughly (Q-tip and alcohol for me)


PRESS the new stem firmly against the rim as you tighten the nut (7/16"

Air it up - check for leaks.
4 yrs on now, and no leaks!



Stig



COLBY even makes an emergency valve stem which can be installed by hand, w/o tools!

Looks good Stig and I see £24 for a pair here in the UK!

[Iahawk]

not sure how much of a 'tip'...but it seems not everyone knows that you don't need to pull out an air compressor to fill up your tires on your scoot or bike. A regular bicycle hand pump works great. Mine works out to about 1 or 1.5 full pumps per 1 psi increase. Much easier and quicker than pulling out the compressor and hose.

An alternative is the newer style battery operated little pumps (they make very compact ones, as well). I have one that I've started using. Too big to carry on the bike but works just fine in the garage.

[Neil955i]

not sure how much of a 'tip'...but it seems not everyone knows that you don't need to pull out an air compressor to fill up your tires on your scoot or bike. A regular bicycle hand pump works great. Mine works out to about 1 or 1.5 full pumps per 1 psi increase. Much easier and quicker than pulling out the compressor and hose.

An alternative is the newer style battery operated little pumps (they make very compact ones, as well). I have one that I've started using. Too big to carry on the bike but works just fine in the garage.

Good tips Hawk, thanks.

[Iahawk]

thanks for the clarification, Ruffus. I couldn't picture how that that brake lock worked!