Make CF Moto 250s the way they should be?

[scootindan]

Take a standard issue 250cc CF Moto touring style scooter (Tank, Viva, Baron, Roketa, etceras) and do this:

Start out by doing the usual recommendations. Replace fuel lines, fuel filter, and vacuum lines. Dump the factory antifreeze, engine and gearcase oil and replace with quality fluids. Tighten all fasteners.

To overcome the fuel starvation issue, install a genuine Honda Helix (not a universal) electric fuel pump BUT the alternator won’t provide enough juice to power the pump, fan, and other electrics and still charge the battery SO...

To overcome the weak charging system problem, replace the stator with a genuine Honda Helix stator, diode, and CDI (I read on one of the threads that if you install the Helix stator, you need the Helix CDI also).

While you are messing around under the body, install baffles around the radiator to improve the air flow and cooling.

The idea is to wipe out the three most frequent problems encountered with these scoots. Will it work? What do you folks think?

[solarscootdawg]

Hello everyone. Take whatever model you mentioned, do all the work you mentioned and than add $500-$750 to the list and see how many people "run" to buy it.... The majority of on-line buyers of scoot's are looking for low bucks, and they are getting just that!
I purchased my CF Moto Fashion/ QLink Comuter from the Bandit's in Oregon not just for the bucks...I wanted someone who knew the product, could offer me advise if my grey cell's blanked on Scooter History Mechanics 101, but most of all, I wanted a product that had some history...not just an import bill and cold steel right out of a shipping box. I paid a lot more than some did for their 250 hot rods, but guess what??...I am not having all the problems mentioned...no loose nuts, no evil colored liquid's, the battery is still alive after 1000 miles, the mileage is solid in the 70's.
So being the animal we are, your ideal scooter will attrack some people, but the majority will go for the low buck item....and become member's of the forum trying to "solve" their new found problems!!!! I am enjoying my ride for sure!! Bill

[Gary]

I have a low-buck Viva 250 with the standard vacuum pump (and standard stator, CDI and diode) that runs just great. So I'm not sure all the upgrades are necessary.

[Dennis D]

My Honda Helix fuel pump bit the dust at 17000 miles and instead of pay $150.00 plus for a Honda pump, I payed $45 for a universal pump, mount and fittings with a 6000 hr life expectancy for the pump. The Taiwan replacement variator I got had all the rough casting edges from where it came out of the molds ground off, polished, the variator plates lightened and apparently balanced. The original Honda peices looked as if they could have come out of the same molds.... but all the rough uneven edges from the molds were still there. They couldn't have been balanced nearly as well, and the drive faces were worn out at 17,000 miles.

Don't think just because it came from a Japanese company, that they don't know how to cut corners. At this point the taiwanese companies just may be trying harder.

[Jacine]

The Japanese are outsourcing most of their manufacturing now. Their products since 05 are rapidly deteriorating. Cracked casings, imperfect mounts, cheaper clamps etc.

[monty57]

I have to agree with Gary. I too purchased a "low buck" Chinese scoot and had none of the above mentioned problems. I sold it last week (too many scooters in the garage) and the owners love it.

I have said on several occasions, I believe there are probably many more non-problem "low buck" scoots out there than we will ever know about simply because they aren't perusing the Internet looking for answers to their problems. Yes, I'm sure there is some real junk being sold but I also think there are some great values available for anyone willing to do their homework.

If everything out there was as bad as some would have you to believe you wouldn't be able to hire a lawyer for anything as they would all be busy suing dealers and manufactures (not that having all these lawyer busy would be a bad thing) but it seem there are plenty out there wanting to chase your ambulance for you. Soooooo it seems they aren't that busy.

[ddowl]

I have to agreee with others about not having problems. My scoot has not shown a single problem( other than speedometer wrong) that others are discussing. I have had it up to almost 80 with stock fuel lines, fuel pump. I drive it 30 miles on the highway 5 days a week.
There are probably quite a few of us that don't see any reason to fix it if it is not broke.