New Dawg: Thanks and n00b Questions

[massawyrm]

Hey Dawgs!

(feel free to skip the preamble and get to the questions)

Wanna send out the usual thanks to the community! My POS 22 year old jeep (which conveniently broke down EVERY year around my birthday (and then some)) died again last week. This time we opted to give up the ghost. But saving up to buy a house next year kept us from buying a new car to replace it. So a silly thought entered my head: buy a scooter.

Now I happen to live in what is apparently Scooter Heaven (located in sunny Austin Texas ), a three mile radius paradise filled with dealerships, repair shops and gear stores featuring every brand I've seen listed here on Scootdawg (okay, so I actually have to drive across town for the SYM dealership.) It is physically possible to walk to reach any type of Scooter. (I even wrapped my legs around the new Vectrix - the only one in Texas - the completely electric 70mph scooter that is completely silent, has zero emissions, a 100 mile range and completely recharges in 2 1/2 hours.) And so the decision was pretty tough. But after spending a bulk of the weekend reading your posts I decided whole heartedly against a chinese made scooter and found a 2003 Honda Reflex off of Craigslist with 5K on it and talked it down to $2500.

Then I spent all day today making it mine. Inspection, Title, Insurence, Oil Change, gear (gloves, goggles, lock, rain suit, dust cover.) The inspector (who doesn't handle Scooters) pointed out that the bike likely sat for 6mos to a year as the tires had Dry Rot and needed replacing. Those are on order.

Now I Haven't ridden in 10 yrs (although Machismo kept me from letting my license lapse) and even then it was an old Honda CT70. So I have a number of very n00b questions. You guys have been so helpful thus far, I was hoping you'd be up for offering a little more help. So here goes:

-I've changed the oil. How long/how far should I expect to wait before my next oil change?

-Barring road damage, how much life should I expect out of these new Avon tires (which will see regular use)?

-Is there an online/downloadable owners manual for the Honda Reflex? Is there a way to get a hardcopy cheap or free?

-I would like to learn how to maintain this bike myself (you guys make it sound like a great hobby!) What books/materials should I have to start from? Where are the best places to get them?

-I'm unfamiliar with how the bike rides/sounds/feels when in tip top shape. Should I get a tune up or some other sort of maintenence, just to insure it is running in tip top form? What can you guys recommend?

-Reflex owners, what is the best advice you can give me or the most Reflex specific information I should know?

-I'm having issues getting the bike onto the center stand. Is there some sort of trick to it?

Thanks in adavnce guys. You've been a huge help so far. I LOVE my new bike. Took her for a 20 mile ride tonight and had a blast. And the wife's already named it. Bumblebee. Fits perfectly.

[scooterollie]

Massawyrm;
Welcome to the Dawg Pound!

Drove through your fair city last March. Beautiful! Was visiting a cousin south of San Antonio and attending my son's graduation from Basic at Lackland AFB. You are very fortunate to live where you have so many choices in dealers and so much support, not to forget great riding weather.

You made a good choice on the Honda. How many miles on the scoot? Seems kind of curious the tires dry rotted in just a few years. Maybe it is the intense sun. There are several Reflex owners here as well as others who have owned one in the past. You should get lots of good advice. About fluids - engine oil, gear oil and coolant. My feeling is that if you don't know the service history or it hasn't been serviced for a year or more, change out the fluids so you know what's in there.

[massawyrm]

Thanks Scooterollie!

The Reflex has 5000 miles on it. When i get the new tires put on on Tuesday, I'll have them change out the fluids as well (if they didn't with the oild change - probably just topped stuff off.)

Yeah, I'm feeling very blessed that my little slice of Austin is so hip to my new lifestyle choice. Explains why I see so many scooters up and running in this town (helps to live in the liberal capital of the southwest.)

Thanks for the tips.

[Gary]

Check Stan Jessup's Oregon Vintage site: www.oregonvintage.com/Scooter.html

Ton's of information, including answers to most of your questions.

As far as getting your scooter on the stand, once you've done it the first time, you are home free. After that, it just takes practice and you'll be able to do it blindfolded.
Gary

PS: You got a great deal!

[Dennis D]

I haven't put a reflex on the centerstand, but the secret with most bikes is to use your weight and leg muscles to put it on the stand and just use your arms to steady and help balance the bike until it's fully on the stand. Really stand on/push the foot lever for the center stand and it should go right up.

[tomtom]

Here's a technique I found on Abacus-es.net:(Note - edited slightly to make it easier to read). I use this on my Roketa MC-54 which weighs well over 300 lbs and it works every time.

Some people have had difficulty putting the larger scooters up on the center stand. Rony (from Evosales) offered the following instructions to a member of our motorscooter forum:

There is a technique for the center stand that even the smallest guy in the factory can put the biggest bike up:

1. Stand a little to the rear of the center stand extention rod
2. Put your (left) foot on the extention rod and press down just so the center stand touches the ground, no pressure.
4. Balance the bike so both sides of the center stand touch the ground (this is where most new riders make a big mistake, they try to push while the bike is really on one side and that's way too heavy!)
5. Grab the rear rack or under the seat with your right hand
6. Stand on your left foot that is on the extention rod
7. Pull on the rear rack, it comes easy after a couple of tries.

[massawyrm]

Thanks Guys! I'm gonna try the Center Stand thing this evening.

Anyone know how much life I can expect from my tires and how often I should get an oil change in a 250cc Scoot?

[scooterollie]

Oil change once per year or every 1K Kms or miles if you ride more, whichever works easiest for you.

[Gary]

Tom,
I use the same technique but with my right foot. Seems more natural to me with my left hand on the left front front handle and my right hand on the back rack, facing forward. As you/Rony said, a key is to get the scoot balanced on the centerstand evenly first, before trying to push. Once centered, I stand on the extension hard with the ball of my foot and the scoot comes up easy.