SS300 vs MC-D54B vs MC-D54

[BooneScoot]

Hello everybody (spoken like Borat)

Yet another noobie looking for advice and wisdom. I have scoured the forums and read nearly everything I could on the Strada 300 & the D54B (couldn't find anything on the D54). Even called John @ Valley Scooters and listened to his opinion. I have developed a serious headache and am only slightly closer to knowing which of these to get. The Kymco and other "Brand" names are all out of price range for me. The Strada is stretching the ol' budget as it is.

I'm no lightweight (250 on a "good" day), 5'11" w/ 30" inseam,and need to not be terrified to get on the four lane for ~10 miles. So this is why I focused in on these 3 models.

I'm curious to know if there are any other insulated guys out there that have actually ridden these scoots. I haven't seen any negative reports (as of yet) about uncomfortable riding positions, but I also don't know what the builds are of the people that have written the reviews.

While the pricing would lean me toward the 54B, I *think* I would prefer the CVT of the 54 or 300.

Any comments on these topics will be greatly appreciated.
My headache is worse.... ARGH!!!!!!!!!

Thanks,
BooneScoot

[scooterollie]

Boonescoot;
Check my review of the SS300 in this section:

scootdawg.proboards59.com/index.cgi?board=200cc&action=display&thread=1185566326

Will respond with more later today.

[BooneScoot]

ScooterOllie,
Your thread was one of the first I read (before headache). I just re-read it (this time noticed you're only 2" shorter than me). From everything I've read to this point, I'm definitely liking the RX300 and no matter what I get, I will flush all stock fluids before running. Your story about the coolant was scary. Coolant should never look like that.

I also have read ScootOnDown's thread and MikeyScootin's thread on the MC 54 250s.
Also read someone else's 300 thread that is from the NC coast, but couldn't find his name again.

BooneScoot

[auckie]

Wouldn't the 54b & the strada 300 have the same cvt as they are both linhai (yamaha clone) and the 54 possibly have the different cvt as it is honda clone?

[scooterollie]

Auckie;
Yes, the 54B has the Linhai/Yamaha engine & drive train. Stan Jessup has a scoot with the 257 cc Linhai engine and has opened up the variator. His comment was that it had a different design than we see in the Honda-type variators.

BooneScoot;
Sorry for the short (and, hopefully, not curt) response this A.M. I was heading out the door and didn't have much time. Glad you did read my thread. Know what you mean by "HEADACHE" trying to make an educated decision before the purchase of a Chinese scoot. I got back into two wheeled vehicles just two years ago after I tried out a Chinese 50 cc. Moved from that to a 150 in two months, to a 250 five months later, then to the SS300 after another year. The first couple of moves helped me decide which scoot and engine size I wanted. The last move was to try to get better quality without the price of the big boys. My first three scoots were made by Chuanl and Bashan. Chuanl body quality was decent, with Bashan mechanicals better than the Chuanl-made scoots I had. The Linhai blows the others out of the water in terms of design, construction, materials, fit-n-finish and handling. While I might have saved a few dollars going directly to a Yamaha, etc. but I had fun pursuing the quest and learned a good deal along the way.

There have been good comments posted about the MC54 model by Roketa. I have not seen or ridden one for comparison to my Linhai so my comments can only be based on my experiences. I like the design of the MC54 as well as the SS300. I could probably be happy with either, from that stand point. However, from my experiences with the other scoots, I like that the entire scoot, from the ground up, is produced by the same company. It is based on a proven, previous generation Yamaha engine, frame and body. The machine has been sold elsewhere in the world for several years. Most seem to have the body found on the "260" version sold here but the newer body style has also been marketed. I would really like to know what, if any, other differences (other than 28 ccs) there are between the 257 cc engine in the Linhai 260 and other clones and the 275 cc engine in the SS300. Never having ridden the Linhai 260 for comparison, I am curious.

All I can say is that this scoot really performs for a small engine. I love the balance and feel to the handling. Acceleration is strong and linear at any speed up to 60. Don't know about beyond 60 as I just haven't gone faster. I suspect the top speed will be at least 75. This is also the first scoot I have had that I feel comfortable and safe on at speeds above 50. Would I ride it on the Interstate at 65-75 mph? Probably not because I didn't buy it for that purpose and that type of ride doesn't fit my definition of fun on a scooter. I am stopping with this one. It is a "keeper" for me.

As far as the couple of problems I have had, can happen even with the best. I really don't think the gear noise is very common in the line. I just drew the short straw. I will follow the importer's wish and run it for several hundred miles to see if the gears wear in. If not, they will be replaced. I am still not certain why the scoot died the first time or wouldn't start after a 1 hr. layover another time. The first time, after two "die-offs" in a couple of miles it was OK for another 100+ miles. The second time, it might even have been that I had the kickstand down. In any event, I now have more that 330 miles on the bike and it is running well. I can afford some inconvenience while I sort out problems because I am retired and not on a demanding schedule. The world won't come to an end if I break down somewhere. I am confident these issues will be resolved.

I am an inch or so shorter than you, have an inseam about 1" longer and weigh less. You won't be wanting for power. I think you will be comfortable on the scoot - the seat can be adjusted fore and aft a few inches - and be able to "flat foot" it, or close to it, at a stop. I had trunks on my previous two scoots because of limited storage under the seat. I am not even considering one on this scoot because the under-seat storage is massive. A definite advantage of the low-profile Linhai engine. Please remember, I have very limited experience with this scoot to-date but if my intuition proves true, it is an excellent buy for the buck - $2,600 (to ScootDawg members) from John at Valley Scooters. Easily worth more. Don't know about your mechanical ability but if you have confidence in it, no problem. If not, buy from a "Brick-n-Mortar" dealer so it can be checked out first.

[brycegtx]

Hello BooneScoot. I have been looking at the MC-54B (Yamaha) and the MC-54 (Honda) for a while now. Trying to determine which scoot is better. Here are some things I have noticed. BTW, my wife has an MC-54. I am debating about getting an MC-54 or MC-54B for myself.

1) The wheel base of the MC-54B is 60 inches compared to 64 inches for the MC-54. If you look at the side view of both bikes, you see quite dramatically the 4 inch difference. I suspect the longer MC-54 will be more stable.

2) The MC54B has the same underseat storeage as the MC-54 because they use the same frame and plastic so there is no storeage advantage to the Yamaha type engine.

3) The HP specifications for both engines is the same on the Roketa website.

4) I like the idea that Honda still uses the engine of the MC-54 in the Honda Helix. And Yamaha still uses a fuel injected version of the MC-54B engine type in the European X-Max 250. The technology of the engines seems similar to me.

5) I don't have a feel for the difference in the CVTs. So I am still up in the air about that. When I look at them in the manuals, the technology seems similar. However, the 54B appears to have better cooling fins on the driven pulley.

6) I like the pipe, muffler mount of the MC-54 (Honda) compared to the pipe, muffer mount of the MC-54B (Yamaha). The MC-54 has a very short headpipe that leads to the muffler. The MC-54B has a quite long head pipe (like the 150s) that leads to the muffler. My concern is the long head pipe leads to vibration problems that I won't see with the short head pipe.

I think the MC54 was designed to have the Honda type engines. And I wonder if the Yamaha engine may have been placed into the frame because of a lack of Honda type engines. The Honda type engines in the MC-54 are in most of 250cc Chinese scoots.

I think to see the big benefit (storeage space, longer wheel base) of the Yamaha type engine, it needs a new frame and plastic. The MC-54 was made for the Honda engine.

Everyone seems to think the Yamaha engine is much better. I am not convinced yet. I guess time will tell. The MC-54B scoots seem to have the same problems that the MC-54 scoots have. So they don't seem to be more reliable. Although, I think in general, the Rocketa MC-54 or MC-54B are better than most Chinese 250 scoots.

Bryce

MC54 side view: Notice close clearance of rear fender

MC54B side view: Notice 4 inch more clearance of rear fender

[bikernuc]

Hello Boone Scoot,

I am the guy on the NC coast with the SS300 (linha mainstreet, Strada SS300, etc). I currently have ~350 miles on my SS300. I took it real easy on it until after 200 miles and I am now keeping it to 55 mph steady state, with occasional higher speeds. At 500 miles I will consider it fairly well broken in, change the oil and likely have a normal top cruising speed of 60 mph depending on the speed limit and traffic. I have clocked it at 75.3MPH with a gps.

I am 5”7” tall and weigh ~200 pounds, and have a ~28” (or less) inseam. The seat on the SS300 is fairly low but he seat is rather wide. I can easily flat foot the bike if I am toward the front (narrower end) of the seat but on the balls of my feet if sitting back at the butt stop. I have yet to ride two up on this bike. The trunk is of a very useful size. I have experience with second tier motor sports products both from China and from India. The SS300 seems to be on the upper end of that group.

I bought my bike though a local dealer, and it was pretty well prepped when I got it. It was a new product for his store (ordered at my request) so he gave me a great deal just so he could check out the bike with me agreeing to take some of the $$$$ risk on an unknown product. I paid no more than the price on Valley Sports web site. The dealer I bought it from will likely sell others for a higher price to recoup his prep costs.

Please see my thread of comments under "Help a newbie (yet another, I Know)" in the 250 cc thread, while not as detailed as scootrollie’s comments, they may be of help.


Oh yes ...very important...whathever you get make sure tht the MSO (title) is notorized this will make registering in NC much less stressful. Other than that the registering/titling) of the SS300
when much smoother than my other no name bike.

Bikernuc

[scooterollie]

Brycegtx;
Good points about the wheelbase differences between the two drive trains! Having owned both the CFMoto 250 and now the Linhai 300, I think both engines are probably of good design and decent quality. I wouldn't have a problem recommending either. I agree that the frame and body of the MC54 were probably designed for the Honda style engine, since the MC54 is a copy of a Honda scoot. It would be really interesting to do a comparison of the two.

Bikernuc;
Glad to hear from you again. Was wondering how things were going. I have about the same number of (s)miles on my SS300 and can feel the engine loosening up some. On my CFMoto 250, at around 1K miles, I could really feel a difference. I wouldn't expect full break in at 500 miles. Don't think it is a problem to run it like you are but plan on 1K miles before you consider synthetic oil.

[bikernuc]

Scooterollie,

I agree about the break in point. I ment that at 500 miles I would feel comfortible holding higher speeds than 55mph and some two up rideing . At 1000 miles I will likely consider it broke in and look into synthetic lubes. I will base it on whether I think that the perfromance and sound of the machine has stoped changing not just mileage. My Max-Fine TM 200 dual sport bike really did not stablize until around 2000 miles. I have been adding to the "Help a newbie (yet another, I Know)" thread lately now that I can put some miles on it.

Bikernuc

[BooneScoot]

Well, I finally made up my mind and then was forced to abort the entire process.
I decided on the Strada RX300. The look, power, & storage won me over. Then my wife car (primary family car) decided it wanted attention and chose to have an nice expensive computer sensor fail.

Well, I guess I should change my nick to BooneWalk.

[scooterollie]

BooneScoot;
Know what you mean. Murphy's Law, or something like that. House AC went out yesterday and the Co. can't get here 'til Thursday afternoon. Predicted highs are around 90 for the next several days! Hopefully, you will recover quickly and can order that 300.

[BooneScoot]

S.O.
I was just up in Charleston this past weekend and it was HOT. I'm glad I'm 2000 feet above you guys.... we only get into th 90s one week a year, if that. This morning we were 56 degrees... nice!