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Post by RetroAJ on May 12, 2007 15:24:17 GMT -5
Just a few days ago, I took delivery of my first 150cc scooter. Scootersfactory in CA shipped me a nice white Lance Motorsports Vintage 150. I have to give them a big golf clap for the easy transaction, and picking a freight company that got it to me in one piece with no damage. I am still waiting on the MCO papers, but I haven't had time to call them yet. The crate was shipped on a lift gate truck, just as the website said it would be. The driver hauled it right into my garage, I didn't even have to help push. The cardboard and packing came off quickly for inspection, and the driver was on his way. It was shipped in the usual steel frame crate, wired down at four different places on the bottom. All I had to install was the handle bar, mirrors and battery, the wheels and everything else were already installed. It came out of the crate bottom very easily with both wheels on it. Then I did all the preride improvements. It ate up about two feet of fuel line and seven feet of vacuum line. Changed the oil and gear lube. After filling the tank, it took forever to get it started. I turned the idle screw about 3/4 of a turn and it fired right up. It ran nice and smooth once it warmed up. I took it for a good ride around and got it up to about 50mph. Nice and quiet with good torque. Changed oil again at 20 miles, no shavings yet. Installed the iridium spark plug, hi output coil, and red CDI. The red CDI will not work on this scooter. My problems so far, I did not have any front brakes out of the crate. The system was full of fluid, but no pressure. So, since I had enough brake hose, I removed the evil ABS valve from the caliper. Then I bled the heck out of it with some good dot4 synthetic fluid. Pumped it up with the reservior cap off, now it works great. The other problem was it would not start this morning. It would only spark one time when I cranked it over or kicked it. I put the old coil back on and it did the same thing. Checked all the ground wires. Finally I got so mad it whacked the flywheel a few times with my ratchet. Tryed again and it started right up. Go figure.  I did some good hard runs in the first 20 miles to help break in the rings. The ride is nice and smooth, even over all the speed bumps in my subdivision. The fit and finish seem very good for a $1300 scooter. Of course that was shipping included, so it's more like a $1000 scooter. I am 5'9", 160#, and I can put both feet on the ground easily. Plenty of leg room for me. Not much storage under the seat though. Can't even get a half helmet in there. But it did come with a big cargo box for those who want it. I just put it up in the garage with the rear rack. I have more mods on the way once it gets a good break in.      |
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Post by demon on May 12, 2007 16:53:51 GMT -5
Good job, best of luck with it
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Post by fulltimerart on May 12, 2007 17:20:19 GMT -5
 Nice looking scoot, retroaj. Good luck with it and keep us dawgs posted . Art
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Post by jontam on May 12, 2007 18:54:21 GMT -5
Looks great! Very nice in white. Have you considered getting a windshield. We are thinking about one for our RC which is very similiar.
Jon
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Post by Aaron on May 12, 2007 21:59:14 GMT -5
Nice looking scoot! I hope the spark problem doesn't rear it's ugly head again!
Aaron
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Post by RetroAJ on May 12, 2007 22:09:02 GMT -5
No windshield in the future. I have ridden a few more time today. It started right up the first time, every time since then. I hope it will stay that way.
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Post by whodunnit on May 13, 2007 21:33:42 GMT -5
Very Nice! I Might get one of these. Does it have disc or drum brake on the rear? Is it a GY6 engine? Keep us posted.
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Post by RetroAJ on May 13, 2007 22:25:06 GMT -5
It has drum brakes on the rear. It does stop very hard with the disc front and drum rear. I'm sure taking the evil ABS valve off of the front brake makes a big difference there. I can lock up the front brake if I really try to.
It is a GY6 engine. It is rated at 9.5hp on the Scootersfactory web site. I did the Motoman break in for the first 20 miles, then changed the oil. With less than 50 miles on it, it pulls nice and hard to 50 mph, and wants to keep on going. I'll let it break in some more before I do any top speed runs. The speedo seems accurate to 1-2 mph at 50 mph. That's with 35 psi in the front tire. It still rides very well around town and on the 45 mph roads. I really enjoy it so far.
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Post by whodunnit on May 13, 2007 23:51:58 GMT -5
I know what you mean about the so called ABS, took mine off as well, now it feels like a real brake, instead of one that feels all spongy with air in it.
Looking at the pics, it looks like the front has the actual small shocks like the old Vespas, if so, I bet it rides pretty smooth even with the smaller tires.
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Post by RetroAJ on May 14, 2007 12:33:31 GMT -5
It does have the link suspension with good shocks. I have to say it is the best riding scooter I have been on. Out of 8 or 9 different scooters.
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Post by RetroAJ on May 15, 2007 14:23:06 GMT -5
One more thing to add to the pre-ride prep. Replace the crappy chinese bus fuse used for the main fuse. This scooter used a 15amp bus fuse. I turned the key on last night, 2 seconds later it went dead. No power. Main fuse was gone. Replaced it with the spare. Still no power. The spare fuse looked fine. Ran down to Advance a got some new ones. Put in the new fuse and was back on the road. Still no big deal.
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Post by oldscooterguy on May 15, 2007 21:11:16 GMT -5
I looked at the site and liked the looks of the "Mama Bear" ruckus knock off.
Glad you like. It's a handsome scoot.
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Post by RetroAJ on May 17, 2007 13:20:06 GMT -5
Gas mileage report for my first fill up. 76.6 mpg. No complaints from me. ;D
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Post by beaugator on May 17, 2007 20:27:44 GMT -5
Is that a Vmax I spy under the cover in the garage? hehe!
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Post by RetroAJ on May 18, 2007 9:39:15 GMT -5
No V-Max, that's 2000 Honda Super Hawk 996. It was a wreck I picked up as a project for $500. I put another $1900 in it to get it back together and ready to run. It's just waiting on a paint job. I like my vintage so much though, I think I will just sell the Hawk and pocket the profits.
*A J*
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Post by doylegirl on May 18, 2007 16:13:23 GMT -5
Great looking scooter! I just got a pink one from Ricardo Motors yesterday. I really like it, as you said, quiet, and pretty good torque. Plus it is so comfortable! My biggest problem is getting the back rest to fit with the bottom bolts. I haven't changed the fluids yet. Are the iridium spark plug, coil, and bus fuse imperative to change/upgrade right away? Also where is the bus fuse located on the scoot? And where did you purchase the hi out putput coil and new fuse? Thanks for any responses!
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Post by RetroAJ on May 18, 2007 16:38:36 GMT -5
My backrest was already installed when I got it. The coil and spark plug are not imperative to change out right away. But I did notice that it ran much smoother when I put them on. I would change out the fuse right away though. If it blows like mine did, and the spare is garbage also, it will leave you stranded. The main bus fuse is located in the plastic that is on the small wire attached to the positive battery terminal. You can get new fuses at any auto parts store. Mine took 15 amp fuses. A pack of 5 was a buck and change.
I got the coil from Moto Gino's web site. The Bando coil is shaped differently than the stock coil, but works the same way. Green terminal to power, black terminal to ground on the frame. I tried the red performance CDI from Moto Gino also, it did not work on my scooter.
Get those fluids and hoses changed.
*A J*
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Post by doylegirl on May 18, 2007 21:02:25 GMT -5
Another question, what is the id and od of the fuel and vacuum hoses? Thank you so much!
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Post by RetroAJ on May 19, 2007 16:03:34 GMT -5
ID of the fuel line is 3/16". ID of the vacuum line is 5/32". OD does not matter. Just make sure you get a good vac. line, and a good meshed fuel line. Your scoot may be different, but mine used just over 7' of vacuum line, and 2' of fuel line. All of the vac. lines on the scooter had good compression clamps on them that I reused on the new lines. The new fuel line was too thick for the stock clamps. It was tight enough it didn't need them anyway.
*A J*
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Post by RetroAJ on May 23, 2007 16:43:17 GMT -5
With almost 150 miles on the clock, I did my first all out speed run. Just a short one, down the parkway on the way back to work. 59 mph, not bad. I have some jets coming with the spare parts I ordered. When they get here, on goes the carbon pipe. I need to get my tach installed also.
No new problems have surfaced. No vibrations or annoying rattles. She starts right up the first time. All is well.
*A J*
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Post by doylegirl on May 24, 2007 2:14:04 GMT -5
Please keep updating. I changed the oil yesterday, but have yet to do the tubing. I have went to a couple diff. places to get the hoses (sizes) you suggested, but they don't have the...Kragen, AutoZone. Should I just order them off the internet? Did you get your iridium plug from Gino too? Keep adding pics/text too please (of jets/ tach), because I am not familiar with a lot of the parts on these scoots, but love learning. Thanks for all your help AJ!
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Post by RetroAJ on May 24, 2007 10:36:07 GMT -5
You're kidding right? Autozone should have these hoses. They are standard size. I bought the hoses at Advance auto, along with the iridium plug. The plug was $7 there. There is an Autozone right next door the Advance here. They have the same size hoses. Make sure they are checking in their bulk hose stock. I'll post more pics when I get the tach and pipe installed.
*A J*
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Post by doylegirl on May 24, 2007 20:51:48 GMT -5
Actually they did have the 3/16, but said they didn't have 5/32, and said good luck finding it. What? I just wanted to buy them together. Would you suggest clear or black? I thought clear would be better. The guy said black is best, and the fuel would eat up what was available in clear...? I can't remember what he said it was made out of.
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Post by RetroAJ on May 25, 2007 12:04:08 GMT -5
Clear tube is made of neoprene. Don't use it. Neoprene hose has a thin wall and will collapse with vacuum on it. Go with the black vacuum line. It has a good thick wall. If they don't have it by ID size, just pull a vacuum line off of your scoot and take it in with you. They will match it up. If they are competent enough.
*A J*
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Post by johngg on May 27, 2007 1:48:07 GMT -5
That's a learning curve...The guys at these places CLAIM to know it all...They washed dishes
under the local 7-11 store before they sold auto parts If nothing else have them order it.
Maybe they can handle that. Try a differnt sales guy/gal. Sometimes you will get someone
who cares & knows his stuff. I hate going to napa auto parts because of people who don't
know what they are doing. Sorry for the RANT!!! Best of Luck
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Post by johngg on May 27, 2007 1:48:47 GMT -5
That's a learning curve...The guys at these places CLAIM to know it all...They washed dishes
under the local 7-11 store before they sold auto parts If nothing else have them order it.
Maybe they can handle that. Try a differnt sales guy/gal. Sometimes you will get someone
who cares & knows his stuff. I hate going to napa auto parts because of people who don't
know what they are doing. Sorry for the RANT!!! Best of Luck
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Post by RetroAJ on May 28, 2007 21:38:05 GMT -5
Finally got my Koso digital tach installed today. Works great and the chrome mount fits right in with the whole scheme of things  Now that I think of it, I guess I could have started it up so the tach wouldn't read 0. Oh well. *A J* |
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Post by dchme on May 29, 2007 8:07:48 GMT -5
That tach is sweet. Did you order that direct from Koso?
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Post by RetroAJ on May 29, 2007 9:43:49 GMT -5
No, I got it 4 years ago from a guy on Ebay, I haven't seen one since then. It has been on two different 03 Vinos. It will read over 12.5k rpm, so it's good for the GY6 rpm range. It's universal for 2t or 4t, inductive pick up, so it doesn't matter how many cylinders you have. And since the GY6 sparks on every stroke, I didn't even have to reset it. I did pay like $87 for it, but it was worth it for the quality of build and accuracy of reading rpm. It's always right on.
*A J*
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xof
Junior Dawg
Posts: 14
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Post by xof on May 29, 2007 17:30:09 GMT -5
I just ordered this scoot as well. I was just wondering what size jets you were planning on putting in? This might save me some time. I am planning on keeping the stock Exhaust for the time being, but was planning on a K&N type air filter. Any thoughts?
I would love to see the top speed more like 65+ rather than 59.
How are the 10 inch wheels? Does the bike feel ok at 60mph?
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Nice looking scoot, retroaj. Good luck with it and keep us dawgs posted . Art
