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Post by bobwood on Sept 27, 2007 10:06:13 GMT -5
I've run across another reflex clone from JM Star. It's distributed by FMS (Family MotorSports in PA) who used to carry Viva, but claims that the JM Star is better quality than the Viva. It has the CF Moto 244 engine with 13 inch wheels, trunk and stereo system. It looks identical to the Viva/Reflex except for the antenna placement. I Googled JMStar and found a few articles placing them as one of the top Chinese manufactures.
Does anyone have any experience/information about the FMS Roadster 250?
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Post by Gary on Sept 27, 2007 12:08:16 GMT -5
Don't know about the JMStar, but see my post on the new 2007 Tank Roadster. Probably similar quality to the Viva.
I wonder what aspects of the JMStar FMS feels are better quality than the Viva. I did have some initial problems with my Viva, but now that these are resolved, its turning into one reliable little scooting machine. The fundamental parts (engine, brakes, etc) for all these Chinascoots seem to be the same (copies of the Honda parts), so I don't see much quality difference there. The fit and finish of the Viva body parts is fine. Maybe JMStar does a little better testing at the factory to make sure everything is good to go before they ship the scoot. My Viva could have used a bit more of that.
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Post by bobwood on Sept 28, 2007 16:36:33 GMT -5
Does anyone know exactly who is the Manufacturer of the Viva Roadster 250? Is it a reputable manufacturer? There are a lot of junk chinese scooter companies (i.e. SunL, etc.).
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Post by bobwood on Sept 29, 2007 0:24:00 GMT -5
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Post by mch4fishing on May 23, 2008 16:44:58 GMT -5
Hello all, I have around 2500 miles on the Viva now and have only had three real problems. #1 riding on freeway every day to and from work anything over 70/75 mph scooter stalls till gas flow returns around 50 mph ( just like all of the other 250cc Viva's that I have read about) Electric fuel pump seems to be the answer here. #2 the charging system is weak/underpowered (but it works) Just keep it over 3k RP M's to charge. If at long lights or in traffic shut it off save the battery and the gas Also Wally world sells a scooter charger that you hard wire to the battery to top off charge over night #3 The brakes are getting soft at the levers (changed the fluid Dot 4 small help but would like to get a Little more lever) Over all so far enjoying the gas savings and It is a blast to ride
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Post by mch4fishing on May 25, 2008 17:05:45 GMT -5
2740 miles same just keeps going so far
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Post by mharris562 on Jun 6, 2008 18:57:47 GMT -5
I have the viva 250 roadster and it is manufactured by shanghai JM Star, as are many other brands of Chinese scooters, mine has worked fine so far except for the high speed stalling. just not sure how to install the electric pump to resolve this.
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Post by slabhardcheese on Jun 14, 2008 6:50:42 GMT -5
I bought a Viva 250 Roadster, brand new from a dealer, 3 weeks ago and it has been nothing but 3 weeks of misery. I've had the following problem
Will not start in the mornings. I've been stranded at work 3 times by this scooter. It will run fine all afternoon, but when I park it at night when I go to work, the next morning the stupid thing will not start. The starter will crank, but the motor will not start. After a while, the battery starts to fade. I've gotten it started by hooking up jumper cables to my garden tractor and laying on the starter. The time it takes to start is so random. Sometimes if fires right up, other times it takes a good 20 minutes. Once it gets going, its a crap shoot if it is going to start on its own again.
Yesterday, after finally getting it started, I took it over to my sisters house. I left it running because I didn't know if it would start without help. My brother in law said he had a charger in case it didn't. I turned off the motor and then tried to start. The battery was close to dead and barely turned the starter. I went back inside and 20 minutes later we came out with the charger. Before we hooked it up, I turned on the ignition and tried to start it just for giggles. Well, to my surprise, the scooter started. The battery still sounded like it was dead, but it gave one "rrrrrh" and then fired right up. I drove it home (about 2 miles) and then shut it off. I tried to restart and nothing.
This morning I tried to start it and it just wouldn't do it. I hooked it back up to the garden tractor and still nothing. The starter cranks but won't turn the motor. Sometimes it sputters like it wants to start, and then it quits and the starter just keeps spinning. I'm so sick of this. Its been to the dealer 3 times now. They've put a new carburator on it, they've replaced a vacum hose, they've replaced the battery, they've replaced the spark plug. They keep "fixing" it and then the next morning the problem starts all over again. Its been garage kept when at home. At work its outside, but the temps have only gotten down to 60.
Monday it goes back to the dealer for more "fixing". I told them I just wanted my money back. They won't do it and insist on trying to "fix" it. Its unreliable junk. Unfortunatley, the lemon laws in Illinois don't cover motorcycles. I can't even sell it because of these problems. I don't know what to do. Because of the randomness of when it will start, its hard to pinpoint where the problem is. I know its not the battery. I'm pretty sure its not the starter. I think it has to do with the spark igniting the fuel. I don't know if the fuel isn't getting to the spark, or if the spark isn't igniting with the starter.
When its running, it runs great. But for the last 3 weeks, its been little more than a $2600 paperweight.
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Post by scooterollie on Jun 14, 2008 7:57:04 GMT -5
slabhardcheese, Welcome to the Dawg Pound!
Well, you certainly have been through it. An intermittent problem can be difficult to track down but whatever it is, the cause should be an easy fix once it is discovered. You are a little contradictory above when you say ..."the starter cranks but won't turn the motor". Do you mean you can hear the starter spinning but not engaging to crank over the motor or the starter cranks over the motor but the engine won't fire and run?
Ask the mech. if they checked that the spark plug wire is screwed tightly into the plug cap or boot. Also ask them about the connections at the coil. These areas have been problematic on other scoots. Others here may have suggestions for you.
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Post by cat0020 on Jun 14, 2008 7:57:43 GMT -5
That's to bad about your scooter's starting problem, maybe it should be taken care of the first time you experience troube with it rather than keep cranking the starter and running down the battery until it is dying.
Does the engine run well when it is runing? any back firing, stalling or blowing smoke or burning coolant? if not you can eliminate soe of the possibe causes and go from there. these scooters are not rocket science, they are easy to work on and more than often the problems are simple and just take some time to diagnose.
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Post by "Big Guy" on Jun 14, 2008 8:14:06 GMT -5
I'm left wondering if the shop checked the valves or not? Sounds like classic valve adjustment to me...
slabhardcheese, you're darn lucky you haven't burnt up the starter by now! You really have about 5 seconds to start this bugger with the electric start before letting it cool down for 20-30 seconds.
I would have them check the valve gap if I were you, I'm willing to bet that's your problem here.
-Rich
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Post by slabhardcheese on Jun 14, 2008 12:02:49 GMT -5
Thanks for the replies. To answer some questions:
1. The starter cranks over the motor but the engine won't fire and run. Once it does run, the starter will start the bike in a second, it fires right up. But after it sits overnight, indoors or out, forget it. A couple of times, at the first start in the morning, it fired and then quickly died out and wouldn't fire again. Its so random on what it will do, its driving me nuts.
2. The engine runs fine when it is running. No backfiring, stalling..etc . It works fine.....when its working. Thats whats so frustrating. Its a great looking little bike. It handles nice (windy days are a little trying) and I get asked about it all the time. A few motorcycle riders will actually wave to me when we pass. But I cannot rely on it to start.
Thanks for the suggestions, I've already written them down and am going to drop the bike off at the dealer today. I was going to wait until Monday, when the mech will be there, but that will just give me a day and a half to try to tinker with it and screw it worse.
Anyone that thinks riding a scooter is embarrasing should try being seen pushing a brand new one because it won't start.
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Post by tex0514 on Jun 14, 2008 12:51:07 GMT -5
slabhardcheese This sound exactly what mine is doing as we speak ; I went out this morning did the same thing sometimes it starts sometimes it doesn't my wife will make the comment what are you taking this morning ; my comment is whatever starts !
I bought my bike about almost 1 1/2 months ago and had these issues since I received it every morning its like a crap shoot ; I have had lines replaced have change fuel pump ; after seeing your article I am now thinking its the CDI unit ...maybe they are faulty ; I do have 800 miles on it tho but its all from riding when I get home in the evenings ; I have yet to have it not start then ; but its a morning vehicle ...... at all but sometime I get lucky ! people know what kind of day I am having when they don't see the scooter outside ....... Your very Correct it is Frustating to the point I was thinking about scraping it out for junk; but I bought from a online ; and can't get any help from them what so ever
Maybe we can both benefit from our findings ; I did notice the last couple of days that it was sputtering around 60 mpg then I would back off of throttle and it would return and to the same thing all the way home which is 25 miles one way ......... Also to note its been around 100 - 105 degree where I live and it does some worse at sputtering more when it hotter out ....
Goodluck to ya ; if I find out whats going on ; I will report back
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Post by WarrenS on Jun 14, 2008 12:59:51 GMT -5
If it has a sidestand interlock that could be sticking.
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Post by slabhardcheese on Jun 14, 2008 13:00:15 GMT -5
Thanks tex, I hate to see someone else having problems, but at least I'm not alone.
Once again, random starting. I tried this morning to jump it off the garden tractor without any luck, (I didn't try for very long, just enough to see if it would start.) I went over to my sisters, grabbed the battery that had been on the charger, hooked it up and without any effort....it started right up. No sputtering, no hesitation, just press the ignition and half a second later...it starts. I didn't roll the trottle or anything. Just pressed the ignition.
It won't idle on its own until it gets warm. It died out shortly after it started. I pressed the ignition and it started again.
This is the stuff that is going to put me in a rubber room.
BTW, wives that weren't to keen on the whole idea to begin with make this situation even more interesting.
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Post by tex0514 on Jun 14, 2008 13:14:07 GMT -5
warstein I am new what is a sidestand interlock ? Sorry I have had this completely tore down to the frame only ; because I replaced the fuel lines ; I looked at every connection on it and I didn't see anything out of whack ; but maybe that will also aid me into seeing what the above item is or even located
Thanks
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Post by WarrenS on Jun 14, 2008 13:48:49 GMT -5
If you can't start it with the sidestand down you have a sidestand interlock. There is a switch down by the side stand that might stick and keep the scoot from starting. Just a thought.
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Post by cat0020 on Jun 14, 2008 16:04:39 GMT -5
Once again, random starting. I tried this morning to jump it off the garden tractor without any luck, (I didn't try for very long, just enough to see if it would start.) I went over to my sisters, grabbed the battery that had been on the charger, hooked it up and without any effort....it started right up. No sputtering, no hesitation, just press the ignition and half a second later...it starts. I didn't roll the trottle or anything. Just pressed the ignition. It won't idle on its own until it gets warm. It died out shortly after it started. I pressed the ignition and it started again. So what do you do to keep the engine idling before it gets warm? hold the throttle open a bit?
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Post by slabhardcheese on Jun 14, 2008 16:06:12 GMT -5
It doesn't have a stand switch. I know what you are talking about, but this bike doesn't have one. It can be started with the stand up or down or the frame stand up or down.
For some reason, its been starting fine today. It might start fine for the next 3 hours or the next 3 days, but soon enough, it isn't going to start.
Yeah, I hold the throttle open a little until it gets warm. Just under where the rear wheel engages. Takes a couple of minutes. If I don't do it, it will cut out at stop signs and lights until it gets warm.
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Post by "Big Guy" on Jun 14, 2008 18:46:37 GMT -5
...It won't idle on its own until it gets warm. It died out shortly after it started. I pressed the ignition and it started again... Still sounds like a valve adjustment to me... -Rich
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Post by tex0514 on Jun 15, 2008 23:43:19 GMT -5
I have noticed that it makes a high pitch muzzled sound when it turns over trying to crank engine ; just thought I would add ; but once started you don't hear it ; until you go and start again
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Post by tex0514 on Jun 16, 2008 17:20:40 GMT -5
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Post by cat0020 on Jun 16, 2008 19:13:19 GMT -5
Base gasket went kaput?
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Post by tex0514 on Jun 16, 2008 21:08:28 GMT -5
actually after further investigating ; I discovered that on top of the cylinder there is a pvc valve like that had come out of the hole; .. I stuff it back in and turned the hoses so it won't be easy for it to come back out ..... Whew ... I was going nuts ! oh well oil got change again
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Post by ispoons on Jun 17, 2008 13:39:23 GMT -5
hello i have a 250cc vivi scooter 2007.do you know where i can order a head gasket. thanks
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Post by slabhardcheese on Jun 20, 2008 6:28:53 GMT -5
I brought my scooter back to the dealer's "mechanic" on Monday with a list of everyones suggestions as to what might be wrong with it. The look of enlightenment that went across his face was incredible. I was told yesterday that I wouldn't be getting it back until at least Monday. Of course the weather is going to be beautiful this weekend. I just want the stupid thing fixed. This is the 4th week out of the 4 that I've owned this gas powered boat anchor that its been in the shop.
Thanks to everyone that tried to help. I think they've got it narrowed down to a faulty vacume fuel shut off valve. Hopefully thats the problem and it will get fixed.
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Post by slabhardcheese on Jun 27, 2008 13:41:59 GMT -5
Just wanted to thank everyone for their help and suggestions. I don't want to jinx it too much so I'll just say I've had it back 3 days and its started every time.
Its a shame that the consumer has to do all the research and report it back to the "mechanic" so he can "fix" the problems. But I'm glad you guys are here with the info.
Thanks again.
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Post by mch4fishing on Jun 28, 2008 5:50:42 GMT -5
What did they find to be the problem?
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Post by slabhardcheese on Jun 28, 2008 11:53:16 GMT -5
valve adjustments.
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Post by mch4fishing on Jul 27, 2008 7:50:11 GMT -5
Bones for Big Guy
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