New 2012 Taotao Evo ATM150-A 150cc scooter

[saferider1]

This is my new (2012) Taotao Evo ATM150-A that I got in January. I got it from familygokarts.com for $930 out the door (incl. all shipping fees). The bike now has 620 km (385 miles) on it. This is my 2nd scooter. It's a lot zippier than my secret 80cc Taotao ATM50. It'll do 0-40 mph in 7 seconds. Good off the starting line at the stop light, comparable to a car so you can keep up with traffic at any speed up to 45 mph. Max speed so far is 55 mph (and I'm 250 lbs). The plastics are stylish. It's definitely a two man job putting this bike together, although with some sweat and cursing you can do it by yourself. The gas tank only holds a gallon, so the range is about 70 miles. I'm getting 68 mpg with this 150cc GY6. I don't have a lot of gripes yet, the only one being the seat is terraced into two levels, so I am forced to sit with knees close to the glove compartment. I'd like to be able to scooch back like on my ATM50. You really have to pay attention to the fasteners. The front brake caliper bolts were loose from the factory. Also the Taotao factory installed an oddball 17 mm nut on one of the rear shocks. I swapped that out for the proper nut. Speaking of fasteners, they come in a paper-thin plastic ziplock bag. Mine broke open in transit, spilled inside the underseat compartment, and some of the devils escaped through the hole used to access the idle adjustment! Now that's a big gripe (I guess I have two gripes). Missing fasteners sucks; I had to visit the specialty metric bolt store and find replacements.

I had Rolling Wrench (Denver) come out to do the PDI and help me with some recommended upgrades to prevent leaving me stranded on the roadside due to crappy factory-installed components. Upgrades before the engine was ever started:

- Iridium NGK spark plug (the original is a no-name brand and crap)
- Naraku CDI box NK390.24 (stock CDIs known to fail)
- High quality fuel filter, Helix vacuum line and Helix fuel line kit (original black hose dry rots in 4 months)
- Red ignition coil
- Engine oil magnetic drain plugs
- Gear oil magnetic drain plug
- Motor oil: Harley V-Twin Power 20W50 for 50 mi, then Valvoline 20W50 synthetic racing (OK, I've seen the heated arguments on this forum about synthetics in scooters, but those GY6s get hot!!)
- Gear oil: Valvoline GL-5 75W90 synthetic
- MotoBatt MBTZ10S (12V 8.6 Amp) 190CCA QuadFlex AGM Battery
- High quality TR 413 valve stems on front/rear wheels
- Bestem T-Box trunk

I am really happy with this scooter because I can get from A to B, it's reliable, and I can haul my groceries, purchases, etc. It's my main transportation now, and my car is parked unless the roads are icy. I'll probably avoid riding in the rain until I CorrosionX (is that a verb?) all the electrical connectors.

I documented the uncrating and assembly of my Taotao, so you can check out the (long-winded) amateur videos if you like:

youtu.be/3S1hsWShfSM (removal of bike from base of metal crate)
youtu.be/bmOdOrAupEU (rear wheel removal)
youtu.be/6N1Ekobyuq8 (uncrating, VIN# inspection)
youtu.be/LNpQUB4b7OQ (inspection, unpacking, tidbits)
youtu.be/QaO6P7yEkEc (front wheel installation)
youtu.be/Pd6vkqBcZaw (rear wheel installation)
youtu.be/W4TEC82ysbU (shock installation)
youtu.be/aFDeaj7myUU (steering column bolt installation)
youtu.be/Relbx_BXFM0 (speedo cable)
youtu.be/VnIRgk-2ZZ4 (Bestem trunk LED wiring - part 1)
youtu.be/-tJk23KRD7E (Bestem trunk LED wiring - part 2)
youtu.be/d0oPYtmOrqk (Garmin GPS mount)
youtu.be/gLtikzMQnTo (Rolling Wrench PDI and test ride)

[doomsday]

I saw all those videos the other day. I had a question. Why did you take off the rear wheel?

[saferider1]

Feb 16, 2013 20:19:00 GMT -5 doomsday said:

I saw all those videos the other day. I had a question. Why did you take off the rear wheel?

Valve stem change and balancing at the tire shop.

[youngboipsl]

Cute!

[Makarov]

Check my post from 9/9/2012. You got lucky......I got junk from familygokarts.com.

[saferider1]

Feb 16, 2013 20:56:39 GMT -5 Makarov said:

Check my post from 9/9/2012. You got lucky......I got junk from familygokarts.com.

Hey makarov, sorry to hear about your Taotao ATM150A. How's it holding up? I think it's luck of the draw on the scooters that get drop-shipped from Taotao in Dallas. I guess I got lucky...so far so good anyway.

[prodigit]

I'm not sure why you say that the gas tank only holds a gallon.
I put $5.50 in it on gas (@4.09/gal), after I poured in half a can of gas @ 1.25 gal, which leads me to believe it's at least a 1,5gal, if not 2gal tank.

I read someone saying the front brake calipers where loose; checked mine, they where ok!

Make sure you check the horn, underneath the headlight plastics.
If it ever falls off, it'll jam your handlebars, and you'll be ready to slide!
I got lucky I was only going 22MPH in a corner, and could bounce the bike with my foot, otherwise I'd have seen the pavement already.

I had a terrible experience with mine. Problem is that bolts can appear to be locked, but when riding falling out.

I also see you haven't mounted the stickers, I thought of pasting 2 or 4 on the bike, but the 'TaoTao' stickers kinda suck, so I won't be putting them on.

[saferider1]

Feb 17, 2013 11:28:00 GMT -5 prodigit said:

I'm not sure why you say that the gas tank only holds a gallon.
I put $5.50 in it on gas (@4.09/gal), after I poured in half a can of gas @ 1.25 gal, which leads me to believe it's at least a 1,5gal, if not 2gal tank.

I read someone saying the front brake calipers where loose; checked mine, they where ok!

Make sure you check the horn, underneath the headlight plastics.
If it ever falls off, it'll jam your handlebars, and you'll be ready to slide!
I got lucky I was only going 22MPH in a corner, and could bounce the bike with my foot, otherwise I'd have seen the pavement already.

I had a terrible experience with mine. Problem is that bolts can appear to be locked, but when riding falling out.

I also see you haven't mounted the stickers, I thought of pasting 2 or 4 on the bike, but the 'TaoTao' stickers kinda suck, so I won't be putting them on.

Hey prodigit, yeah mine tank is a gallon to a tee. If the gauge reads half full, half a gallon fills it. 1/4 full, 3/4 gallon fills it. Weird huh? So, I figure it's about a gallon, maybe a little more. I overfilled it the first time and gas leaked out that hose that normally goes to the carbon filter (which I had removed). Now I always fill the tank according to the gauge, so I don't overfill it. It's hard to check the fuel level by looking into the tank until it's too late and the gas comes up to that metal bar across the middle. If I hit that, it's overfilled and it leaks.

Thanks for the tip on the horn. I found it dangling loose when I inspected the forks, frame and wiring up front. Saw that there's a place to bolt it down with 2 bolts that come in the fastener bag. You'll see the bolt holes when you have a look with the headlight assembly off. Glad to hear you didn't have an accident!

Which bolts came loose for you? I'm going to do an inspection soon, so it would be good to know.

[prodigit]

Problem is that I poured in half a gallon and the meter was still close to empty.
So I think it's a gallon, and half reserve.

[Makarov]

Feb 16, 2013 21:03:41 GMT -5 saferider1 said:

Feb 16, 2013 20:56:39 GMT -5 Makarov said:

Check my post from 9/9/2012. You got lucky......I got junk from familygokarts.com.

Hey makarov, sorry to hear about your Taotao ATM150A. How's it holding up? I think it's luck of the draw on the scooters that get drop-shipped from Taotao in Dallas. I guess I got lucky...so far so good anyway.

Still a couple of issues but most of the bugs are worked out.
Your post is excellent. Very informative to any new Tao buyers.
PS. I just learner that Tao opened a distribution center in Indianapolis; Indiana.

Looking at the craiglist ads from there they are selling them at some low prices.
Cheaper shipping than from Texas.

[saferider1]

Feb 17, 2013 18:16:21 GMT -5 prodigit said:

Problem is that I poured in half a gallon and the meter was still close to empty.
So I think it's a gallon, and half reserve.

That makes sense. The spec in the manual says 7 liters, which is 1.8 gallons.

[prodigit]

1.8 sounds right.
At 70MPG that would turn out to be ~126 miles. Not that far if you ask me.
Most cars and motorcycles have a 150-250 mile range, with an occasional one going over 300 miles.