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Post by newc77 on Sept 28, 2007 20:55:13 GMT -5
::)The high speed for cruising on my Lance 250 is suppossedly over 60mph. After having it out and pusing to about 50-55 I believe it could easily make it. I am wondering? ?Anyone ever had their Chinese scoot up that far and held it? I am sure I would never be comfortable much over 50-55. Is a scoot really that reliable and safe over 55? Opinions please. Tom
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Post by 90GTVert on Sept 28, 2007 22:35:00 GMT -5
Yes, I have clocked over 70 with a GPS on Chinese 250's. Stan ::)The high speed for cruising on my Lance 250 is suppossedly over 60mph. After having it out and pusing to about 50-55 I believe it could easily make it. I am wondering? ?Anyone ever had their Chinese scoot up that far and held it? I am sure I would never be comfortable much over 50-55. Is a scoot really that reliable and safe over 55? Opinions please. Tom
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Post by Dennis D on Sept 28, 2007 22:40:37 GMT -5
Wow...how do you answer a question like that? Can't really tell you because I haven't rode your scooter. Even someone who has a scooter like yours can't advise what's safe for you. The speeds one rider will ride at fearlessly, without a care in the world, might be scary to the next guy... on a supposedly identical scooter. Is is the rider or the scooter? Could be either. Could be something as simple as different tire pressures giving them an entirely different feel, or a heavier/lighter rider can affect the weight bias and handling of the scooter. The same model scooters don't all run the same either.
Don't ride at speeds you're not comfortable and confident at... that really increases the chance that you'll overreact and do something really wrong. Then again there are plenty of candidates for a Darwin award that are comfortable at speeds that are stupidly ridiculous, expecially in traffic situations(any time a person puts a big speed differential between themself and the rest of traffic, it's dangerous for many reasons).
So if you're not comfortable at the speed you're riding at, slow down.... and remember, just because you're comfortable at speed doesn't mean it's reasonable to go that fast.
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Post by WarrenS on Sept 29, 2007 10:12:53 GMT -5
Long wheelbase scooters like the Helix and Morphous are more stable at high speeds.
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Post by poohbear on Sept 29, 2007 13:29:56 GMT -5
hmmmmm, not sure what you are asking newc77, yes, my 150cc WILL go about 55 and I have ridden at that indicated for an extended period, guessing maybe ten minutes, before I got to another little town with 35mph posted limits. My scooter did not feel like it was straining, but running wide open can't be a good thing if it is over done. A guy I sometimes ride with thinks nothing of running 70 on the interstates on his Goldwing cycle. I think the advice about your personal comfort level is extremely valid. If you are not very confident on what you are doing, you are not as safe as you should be in any endeavor, and on a scooter that is certainly not a small matter.
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Post by hillbilly on Sept 29, 2007 19:42:39 GMT -5
Don't forget to make sure you have the correct tire pressure. Also make sure that you have the proper amount of fork oil. Well balanced tires feel much better at speed. Some nice Michelin, Pirelli, Avon or other high end tires can help handling and ride a lot. If everything checks out then the scooter should be capable of continuing to be ridden at speeds you feel confident with. It is okay if that turns out to be just 50mph or whatever. As you get in more time with the scoot you may feel differently about it.
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Post by Aerostudent on Sept 29, 2007 22:33:01 GMT -5
I ride my 150 at 55+ without any problems (downhill that is, 50-55 on level or slight uphill), but I am 19yrs old and that would generally give me up for being a daredevil ;D I like to eat up corners and keep up with trafic. I feel perfectly safe pushing my scooter to it's limits, and I do it. But that is me, please, PLEASE don't ride faster OR SLOWER than you are comfortable going. I don't think that very many people think about it, but going too slow can be as hazerdous as going too fast. Keep up with trafic, and keep both eyes out for trouble. Keep it shiney side up.
Aero
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Post by Dennis D on Sept 30, 2007 0:05:21 GMT -5
Don't know about the Morphous, but the Helix is way more stable than a shorter wheelbase scooter with the same size wheels.... but I'd give up 5" of wheelbase to have bigger wheels for the improvement that would make to straight line stability. However, even with the small wheels, there's a lot to be said for the comfort level afforded by the long wheelbase(.3" longer than current Harleys) on the Helix.
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Post by newc77 on Sept 30, 2007 14:55:26 GMT -5
OK guys, I never ride at any speed I am not comfortable with in any situation. Just wondering what most of the dawgs feel about higher speeds on a chinese scoot. 55 is fine for me but I have read in some places about the reliability of scooters much over 55 mph (smaller tires making it low to the road and that with the smaller tires taking the imperfections of the road harder and making control more difficult). Appreciate the safety comments and advice. Rest assured safety and control are of the highest priority to me. Thanks guys for the input. Just enjoying the ride... Tom
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Post by vodavi6346 on Sept 30, 2007 17:38:02 GMT -5
I could never get my reflex 250 over 70 but I would push it to the 69-70mph all day long .. i'm 20 so yes dare devil at heart and plenty of road rash to back me up lol
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Post by earlwb on Oct 1, 2007 8:46:17 GMT -5
Well you do know they set a worl speed record of a little over 137mph on a 50cc engine powered motorcycle a while back.
But I think 70mph or so going downhill with a tailwind on a 250cc scooter is about right. The CVT drive unit has a fair amount of power loss to it. A 250cc motorcycle with a clutch and transmission might get up to 80-85mph. This is about what the kawasaki Ninja 250 gets up to.
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Post by newc77 on Oct 8, 2007 14:38:36 GMT -5
Well had the Lance 250 out this weekend and had it up to 60-65 on open country road and it handled great and rode smooth. I felt quite comfortable with it.
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Post by johnnyscoots on Oct 20, 2007 13:16:52 GMT -5
Flat out, I've hit a GPS 119 kph (73.96 mph) on the Kymco P250 (flat road, two way average) and it cruises comfortably at GPS 63mph. I manage that speed while visiting friends in Harrisburg, PA which is 140 miles from Jersey. I have been getting some irregular readings with the GPS (Garmin E-Trex) and feel it's time to get a better GPS...or a Veypor...
John
with the smallish Kymco screen removed, top end only increased to 122 kph (75.8 mph), not to mention the full brunt of a near-76 mph headwind...
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Post by swampsniper on Oct 20, 2007 13:38:07 GMT -5
Try mounting the GPS in a different place, you may be getting reflected signals.
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Post by Dennis D on Oct 20, 2007 14:29:03 GMT -5
I've had my Helix up to 78mph on a flat road once since I changed to DR Pulley weights. Its' usual top speed seems to be 73 to 74 mph, though. I've seen several people with Kymco 250 Bet & Wins and Grand Vistas report 80 mph top speed.
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Post by rerun2 on Oct 21, 2007 0:48:01 GMT -5
Glad to hear your 'comfort level' is improving! Practice builds confidence. In my opinion, yoare doing well! Congratulations! ;D
Have a karma on me!
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Post by newc77 on Oct 21, 2007 8:00:33 GMT -5
Thanks Dogbro. I am loving this scoot. I am crusing all over the area at 55 and have no problem creeping it up a bit. Its all about the {safe} ride! Back at ya rerun for the encouragement!
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Post by stewntexas on Oct 21, 2007 11:40:54 GMT -5
The main thing would be to ride in your personal comfort zone. I have ridden my Helix up to 70 MPH once. It was a very unusual day in that there was no noticable wind. My normal speed does not exceed 60 to 65 MPH.
Here in S. Texas, along the coast, winds change direction and force without notice. When it is strong enough to blow a Helix around, it is blowing.
Nothing but fear and common sense keeps me at 65.
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Post by aristide1 on Oct 21, 2007 19:52:14 GMT -5
....The CVT drive unit has a fair amount of power loss to it. A 250cc motorcycle with a clutch and transmission might get up to 80-85mph. This is about what the kawasaki Ninja 250 gets up to. About the same top speed for a Virago 250, better mileage too. Gears->
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Post by Dennis D on Oct 21, 2007 21:27:57 GMT -5
I have ridden my Helix up to 70 MPH once...... Nothing but fear and common sense keeps me at 65. I've only gone faster on my Helix a few times... particularly since I installed the new fuel pump, just to make sure that the fuel pump was actually the problem I needed to solve(I'm confident now that it was). Generally, speeds in the upper 60's are as fast as I want to cruise at. And in winds like you described.... 65 mph or less, definitely!
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Post by termite on Oct 22, 2007 3:32:11 GMT -5
Guys,
Remember: some of the Chinese tires aren't made for high speed cruising. Also, the smaller the tire, the more rpms it will turn at a given speed. That builds heat in the tires. I would be uncomfortable running 75-80 mph on a Honda Reflex or Kymco B&W 250 for extended times. I wouldn't mind 75-80 at all on a Ninja 250, which will actually reach 100mph.
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Post by scootagent on Oct 26, 2007 1:26:31 GMT -5
I've had my yamaha vino 125 up to 65 several times now. I've been asked if this is downhill or with a strong wind at my back. I don't think so. Yesterday though I rode from Corvallis Oregon to Eugene (about an hour's ride). This is the farthest I've had it so far. On my way there I was wearing my big old coat (not very aerodynamic) and was having a hard time getting over 55. On the way back though, I had my new Corazzo scooter jacket on and was able to get 55-60. Then I was passed by a semi truck. I was able to catch on to the little drift pocket behind it ( I was surprised at how far back I could fall and still be in the pocket). Then I did 65 sitting straight up at about 3/4 throttle. I'm sure I could have done a lot faster if the truck was.
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Post by rverr on Oct 26, 2007 7:33:28 GMT -5
Let me say first I have been on two wheels over 50 years and lost my [NEED FOR SPEED] years ago---BUT! Since I cured my fuel problem on my ROADSTER 250 it cruises 65 at ease and have run it up to 70 to pass, it is stable at those speed's even with the 4 inch taller than stock w/ shield. KEEP ON SCOOTIN!!!
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Post by AZscooter on Nov 12, 2007 8:35:42 GMT -5
I have had my GV250 up to 75 GPS on the freeway, this said I find 60-65 MPH a much more comfortable speed where it is needed. I prefer to ride secondary roads at 50-55 Mph. Mike
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Post by Greg on Nov 12, 2007 18:49:20 GMT -5
my wife rides a vespa gts 250 and it will do 81 gps tested
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Post by newc77 on Nov 12, 2007 19:53:10 GMT -5
I wonder what the point is in making a stock scooter for that can make 70 mph plus? I don't think I'd crusie up that fast except to just find out. Tom
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Post by zippadeedudah on Nov 29, 2007 9:00:53 GMT -5
Finally got to take a second ride on my Kymco People 250 yesterday. At one point in the 30 mile ride I hopped on the interstate where the road was flat out for a mile and then ended at the exit I wanted to take. Entered the expressway very safely, made sure no one was around me, and let her rip for a short period topping 75 mph. I slowly eased off although the scoot handled the road well at that speed, returning to 55 mph which is what I consider a reasonable cruise. Then I exited. Later checked the Mio 310x GPS and the actual fastest speed I had reached was 72mph. This bike is brand new and do not know if break in will make any noticable difference but I know now where it is gonna be way fast enuf for me. I agree with REVRR on top speed...nice to have at your disposal but use good judgement when you apply throttle. There is nothing more I love to do that to cruise out on secondary country roads where the speed limit is 45mph, with no traffic in sight front or rear, and run a leisurely 35-40mph and view the homes, landscape and scenery out there, especially this time of year in Georgia. Onward Dawgs! Joe
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Post by ireland2004 on Apr 15, 2008 12:36:14 GMT -5
Well, to make a scoot that can go fast is to give riders a genuine option: cycle or scoot? For instance, a Honda fan can choose the Silverwing, or the Shadow 600. Either will provide plenty of performance to ride anywhere, including the boring interstate.
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Post by slowscootin07 on Apr 15, 2008 23:11:59 GMT -5
Personally I think the whole point of having a scooter isn't of how fast you can get there, but how you get there. Twist and go, squeeze and stop, that's it and fun along the way. That is scooter performance defined.
Now how you define scooter performance is a different story. Get what you physically need and a then a little bit more. It's always nice to have a little reserve when you need it, but you shouldn't have to use it to get what you want. If mechanically sound, I don't see why a 250 shouldn't be able to cruise at 60 and top a good 10+
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Post by geezerbob on Apr 16, 2008 7:22:36 GMT -5
I guess there's no fool like an old fool, but I've had my Linhai 260 up to an indicated 80 a couple of times with no problem. I regularly run my People 250 wide open on the slab just to keep up with the traffic. The fastest I could ever get it to go was an indicated 85 on flat ground. It will hold an indicated 75 on the steepest hill in the area, which isn't too shabby for a little 250.
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