Ice Bear 3-Wheel Scooter Review

[bsoder]

First post, so be nice to me I just took delivery of a scooter for my wife, a PST150-9 trike from icebearatv.com - icebearatv.com/TRIKE--PST150-9-250-9-,China.htm

Truck freight to the house, I uncrated it and put it all together with pretty much no problems, although I managed to torque one of the wheel studs in half, replaced all eight with known quality hardware from Ace.

I do have one issue that seems a little strange. The scooter will not start if either brake lever is pressed - they both have to be released before starting. No impact once the scooter is running. I am guessing that something is reversed, the lockout switch? I have no idea where this switch is located or what I need to do to resolve this, although I hope that it's as simple as reversing a couple wires.


The only other item I need to do something about is the headlight. It is VERY dim, although when I press the "passing" switch it is plenty bright. Is the solution to just replace the bulb?

Thanks in advance.

[tortoise]

Would like to hear more about the operational and maintenance aspects of this 3-wheel configuration as you experience them. Additional posts to this thread (as compared to starting multiple threads) will keep the information all in one place.

I have read where others have had to give up motorcycle-scooter riding after developing balance related impairments, or loosing a leg. These 3-wheel models might be an option for them.

[bsoder]

Jun 24, 2009 14:12:45 GMT -5 tortoise said:

Would like to hear more about the operational and maintenance aspects of this 3-wheel configuration as you experience them. Consider changing the thread title to "3-Wheel Scooter Review", and continue adding posts to this thread (as compared to starting multiple threads).

I have read where others have had to give up motorcycle-scooter riding after developing balance related impairments, or loosing a leg. These 3-wheel models might be an option for them.

I've changed the thread title, although it's not really a review as such. Perhaps someone else who picks one of these up will add more info. I am brand new to the world of scooters so I expect to be asking a lot more questions than I'm answering

We picked out this scooter because my wife has a torn ACL (surgery sometime soon) and this seems to be a good way for her to still get to ride. I can tell you that the ride is fairly different from our other scooter, a Kymco 200. It's a fairly basic swingarm in the rear, so it doesn't lean in the turns at all - you don't push&lean to steer, you have to turn it more like a car. Can't really say if that's better or worse, just different.

At the moment we have all of about two miles total on it, so the motor & cvt are still really rough. I'm expecting it to get smoother as it breaks in a bit.

I have a call in to Ice Bear about the brake/start issue. They agreed right away that something is screwy, they are supposed to call me back after talking to their shop guy - apparently he doesn't speak English and I don't speak Chinese, so my info is going to be translated.

I'll follow up with what I learn as I go.

[summersmoon]

Please do keep us up to date with how this scooter does. I am going to order one of theses. Last year I bought a retro 150 off the internet. When it arrived and we couldn't start it. We found out all the wiring was wrong.Well it did finally start with some help from this forum. The day came I finally got to test ride it I crashed in the driveway and broke my arm. Sold the scooter. Now a year later I still have a love for scooters but my arm didn't heal all the way so now I need a trike. So how is the trike doing?

[summersmoon]

PS This is the friendliest forum I have found yet. Good job

[trbigfoot]

Good luck with the new scooter. I have been looking at those myself, just becuase I like to be different.

[als01seville]

Hi there, yes the trikes are good for people that may have problems with two wheelers Like myself. Me and my brother-in law bought the Ice Bear PST150H Trike this year. We have had them for 3 months now. My brother-in law had a stroke 5 years ago and his left side is about 75%. As for me I got messed up in Vietnam I have a fussed left hip and three inchs short cause I have no ball and socket. Last year we got MOPEDS thinking we could get on them because of the step through. But the step through was a little higher than we thought. We sold them within 2 months of getting them and then we found the Trikes but last year they were out of stock so we had to wait until this year. We ordered them in March and got them
this June. We had them put together by a Scooter Mechanic which is 5 minutes from my house. They are fun to ride and safe you just sit on them like sitting on a chair. We have taken ours up to 52 mph at 8100 rpms they say it can do 55+ but around 50 is fast enough. We also looked at the The PST150-9 but it said the top speed was 47mph. Around here the speed limits run 25-45 and as you know if the speed limit is 45 they are doing 50 and so on.

Now for some things to watch for on your trike:
1. The Reverse Handle can pop off when going over bumps. Drill a hole about 1/4 down were it goes in and Tap it and put a set screw. Right now you probably can move the Handle left and right. I lost mine but found it on the street and fixed it so it will not come off again.
2. Watch for metal noises coming from the CVT Cover by the Rope Pull Start. It means that the Nut came loose holding the Variator Fan and Pully Cup. This will eat the ends of the Variator Fan if Not caught in time. Actually to make sure take the CVT Cover off and Tighten the NUT really good, use an Impact Wrench if you have one.
3. Watch for scraping or grinding noise coming from your AXLE. It sounds like the chain is hitting something but you should be able to tell if its coming from your AXLE by the wheels. This means that the Actual Axle moved out a little you can verify this by hand, try moving the AXLE Nut with your hand. It has the Cotter Pin but if the Axle moved out you will be able to move the Nut back and forth. Or you can jack up the Rear and grab the wheels and try rocking them. They should not ROCK at all. If you leave it like that it will damage your bearings and the HUB. To fix add washers behind the Axle Nut tighten and make sure you can put a Cotter pin in. The Half Axles are held in by each Pinion Gear which have a KEY that fits into one of the Slots on your AXLE. If you look at your AXLE you will notice Two Screws about 3 inchs from each end of your AXLE. One on top and one on the bottom. Apparently they ran into the axles moveing out and to try and fix it they added a Floating Piece and tapped it and the screws hold the Floating piece which is about 1/2 inch in width. Then they welded a piece of pipe onto the AXLE about 1/2 inch to the right of the Screws so that the AXLE will not come out any further than that. Its basically a stopper. But at the wheel sides you have the Bearing a "C" Clip and a thick washer for a spacer and the rubber Dusk cover. So if the axle starts to move out you have about 1/16 or more of play and that will cause the wheel to wobble.
I have Emailed them that they must RE-DESIGN the AXLE so it will not move out at all and I also told them how it could be fixed as well as telling them to put a set screw on the Reverse Handle so people will not loose them. I found mine when it flew off but my Brother-in Law also flew off and we could not find it. I have one ordered for him and its being shipped this week.

By the way the Tech Guy is JEFF. He knows me pretty well by now:)
If you have any questions ask me, maybe we have run into the problem already and may have an answer.

TRIKE ON
Alleyoop