^^ it's possible...i go past meredith/playmakers 4 times a day, every day

i've yet to see another met, so if it was yellow/white and the dude was wearing a full black helmet, it was probably me

6/21/2008 6:48:15 PM

it was u i am sure hahaha

6/22/2008 2:05:23 AM

why do people (men or women) on scooters honk at me? is it a brotherhood of some kind that i'm not aware of? am i supposed to honk back?

6/24/2008 12:53:37 PM

you have joined the club....

6/24/2008 1:21:38 PM

Quote :

"that gives me a savings of $15.31 this month"

That is not worth looking like a bum and it definitely does not support the initial cost.

6/24/2008 1:35:13 PM

You have to take into account the oppurtunity cost of reduced wear,mileage and maintenance costs on a regular car. That coupled with the savings in fuel, plus the savings in inspection, registration and property taxes makes it VERY affordable.

6/24/2008 3:03:38 PM

wrong thread.

[Edited on June 24, 2008 at 3:07 PM. Reason : .]

6/24/2008 3:07:04 PM

^^Yes but he also owns a car. If all you had was a scooter then you would be correct but owning a car and driving a scooter outweighs any benefits unless said scooter was free.

6/24/2008 3:25:21 PM

ill buy a free scooter

6/24/2008 3:35:12 PM

^^ unless you own multiple cars like me

6/24/2008 4:10:43 PM

Quote :

"That is not worth looking like a bum and it definitely does not support the initial cost."

yes:

Quote :

"You have to take into account the oppurtunity cost of reduced wear,mileage and maintenance costs on a regular car. That coupled with the savings in fuel, plus the savings in inspection, registration and property taxes makes it VERY affordable."

Quote :

"Yes but he also owns a car. If all you had was a scooter then you would be correct but owning a car and driving a scooter outweighs any benefits unless said scooter was free."

well, the scooter cost less than you probably think it did (remember, it's a 2003 and i bought it used), so with those monthly savings, it won't take a horribly long time for me to make up the cost

but that's not all - for me, it was a chance to do something i thought was worthwhile - reducing my unnecessary and avoidable carbon emissions...yes, i still have a car, but there's no reason at all for me to drive it back and forth to work when something that gets 2.5-3 times the fuel economy (and so produces less pollution per mile) will do the same job in the same amount of time

and then there's the wear and tear on the car itself...car engines are more complex than my scooter, i think, and are (comparatively) more damaged by city driving (frequent starting and stopping) than the scooter is...1,000 highway miles (which is all i use the car for these days) produces less wear and tear than does 1,000 city miles (or so i understand it to be)

you're right, though, in that if this was a comparison just between purchasing a car and purchasing a scooter, the scooter would win hands down, and that my owning a car already greatly reduces the financial benefit of purchasing a scooter, but it's more than that

plus, driving the scooter is WAY more fun that driving my saturn sedan...i'm secure enough in myself that the style (euro-type), color (lemon yellow), and stigma attached to driving a scooter (bum, alcoholic, whatever) doesn't bother me in the least...i've had boatloads of compliments on it

6/24/2008 4:22:46 PM

yeah i like the euro style... or a ruckus.. i could handle either... but i currently drive a jacked up jeep that gets 18 mpg on a good day so it would drastically change my carbon emissions/fuel consumption... not to mention i drive to work now just so i don't have to walk home and get my car if my boss sends me somewhere urgent.

6/24/2008 4:32:09 PM

Did I mention I go door to door in ten minutes, dont need a parking pass or park at a deck (I park at a bike rack) and walk right into my building. It takes me double the time to do the same in a car. Theres a certain opportunity cost to that. My times worth roughly $20 an hour to me, so I get about an extra $7 a day in benefit from the extra 20 min. a day I have to do something else.

[Edited on June 24, 2008 at 4:36 PM. Reason : .]

6/24/2008 4:35:23 PM

^ there's that, too...where i was parking was costing $25/month, and now that they've moved the parking lot, it takes 10-15 minutes to walk to the car...with the scooter, i pay nothing AND i park right outside the door

6/24/2008 4:38:51 PM

a question about oil changes - how often do you all do it? i know the honda owners manual suggests every 600 miles, but i'm coming across a lot of advice (from mechanics and amateurs alike) that suggest that you should do it after 300 miles on your first oil change (after getting the scooter new), and then at 600 miles for the second, and then around 1200 for every change after that

while i am generally of the idea that "honda knows what's best for its engines," i also realize that most car engines don't need to be changed every 3000 miles, despite what we're all told...i'd rather save myself the time (because, really, the money is negligible) if i don't really NEED to do it every 600 miles

also, does anyone know for sure about the pre-2006 met's tendency to leak small amounts of blow-by fuel with the oil? supposedly (from a few threads i've read online) this was fixed in 2006 and newer models with a new PCV valve, but this beyond me...i ask because this could be a reason that changing the oil more often is necessary, but the 2006 and newer manuals recommend the same cycle, despite being "fixed"

also, is synthetic preferred to traditional oil? i know that you're not really supposed to start using synthetic in a car that's always been run on traditional - same for scooters? and would there be any actual advantage to using synthetic to traditional?



[Edited on July 29, 2008 at 1:10 PM. Reason : thanks!]

7/29/2008 1:09:45 PM

Quote :

"i also realize that most car engines don't need to be changed every 3000 miles, despite what we're all told"

you mean that you believe some bullshit rumors spreading on internet forums. like it or not, 3000mi is the interval. 5000mi for synthetic, and half those (or less) for race cars/extreme climates

7/29/2008 4:34:52 PM

Quote :

"you mean that you believe some bullshit rumors spreading on internet forums. like it or not, 3000mi is the interval. 5000mi for synthetic, and half those (or less) for race cars/extreme climates"

I call bullshit in spades. Don't get me started on this one.

7/29/2008 4:53:45 PM

lol 3000

7/29/2008 5:05:14 PM

the 3000 interval has little to nothing to do with the actual oil, little to do with the filter and everything to do with the stupidity of humans.

7/29/2008 6:20:52 PM

Quote :

"i put in gas treatment and injector cleaner every oil change in the hopes of keeping it clean(ish)."

that ruins your oil. you're wasting money and messing up your engine at the same time.

7/29/2008 9:13:11 PM

GG people. it's a honda scooter. you can piss in it every 600 miles and it will still run like a champ

7/30/2008 7:05:12 AM

Quote :

"that ruins your oil. you're wasting money and messing up your engine at the same time."

how so? i've done it with every car i've ever owned, and i've never seen a problem (granted, i generally only keep a car for 60k miles or so before i sell it, but by the time i sell they're usually in the 120-140k mileage range)...i've abused my '02 saturn pretty bad (mostly on the outside, not necessarily in the way i drive it), so i'll probably just keep it forever until it quits working, so i'd certainly like to keep it going as long as possible...how is the gas treatment (i thought that helped to remove water and deposits) and the fuel injector cleaner (i thought it helped to remove build-up) hurting the oil and the car as a whole?

^ hah

7/30/2008 7:58:43 AM

^unless you're rings are shot or some other condition is causing fuel wash on the piston walls, it won't contaminate the oil. gas treatment/injector cleaner is mostly snake oil anyway. it's just alcohol basically. especially the stp shit or whatever you can buy at any corner store. there are a couple of more expensive ones that people claim to work, but it's still debatable. sea foam/gm topend cleaner is good for clearing carbon out of cylinders, unsticking lifters you when put it in the oil just before a change, but i'm not convinced it cleans fuel systems if put in the gas.

optmusprimer seems to be a pretty firm believer in 3-5k mile oil changes using only specific brands as well as specific brands of gasoline (shell v-power i believe). he raises some good points, and i definitely agree there are differences in oil and gas. where i stop agreeing is that it really makes any difference. i see no problem with taking a dino oil to 5k miles or so, even under hard use. synthetics should be good for at least 8-10k miles if not longer with just a filter change. you MIGHT extend a vehicle's life by a little doing it differently or save a bit on maintenance elsewhere, but you won't ever come close to recovering all the extra money spent. especially when you're talking about synthetics. synthetics aren't always the best oil to be using in every situation either, for example some higher mileage vehicles. the only situation i would possibly consider doing oil changes any sooner is for someone who frequently makes drives that don't get the engine up to full operating temp for an extended amount of time. like if you just drive 4-5 miles to work, cut the vehicle off and it sits all day, then you drive 4-5 miles home 5 days a week.

oil change and other service intervals in general are a thing of the past. just like break ins, etc. lets think about who decides a lot of these things and think about what benefit it might be to them to not ever change them even with advances in metallurgy and other things.

[Edited on July 30, 2008 at 3:39 PM. Reason : .]

7/30/2008 3:33:25 PM

^ yeah i'm really nervous about effing up my jeep living next to work...

i don't drive very often but on rainy days or days i'll need the jeep @ work i drive it in which is ~ .5mile

7/30/2008 3:53:02 PM

simple. just base your oil changes around a time frame instead of mileage. like once every 50 times you drive it or something. or, just make sure you take it out for a good, long drive on the weekends. i wouldn't worry about it unless your driving it almost every day and never or rarely going anywhere else. you've also got to consider if an older xj is really worth the added time, effort, and money to do anything.

if it was me, i'd just sell the thing and buy something so nice, rare, or exotic that it really deserved to sit that much. or such a wild street beast that gives more pleasure driving those few miles around town than it would cruising out on the interstate. i guess the jeep could be kept as strictly a vehicle for trips and such if the later was done.

7/31/2008 1:25:23 AM

The thing is with gas the way it is i can't sell it for shit....
I'm planning on getting a motorcycle here soon just for dicking around town etc. Once i do that i may try to sell it and get something goofy ... like a 850 bmw or something along those lines... I really don't want i super nice car cause most of my trips are to the gym and back and i have to steam clean my jeep weakly to keep it from smelling like ass

7/31/2008 7:32:16 AM

Quote :

"i also realize that most car engines don't need to be changed every 3000 miles, despite what we're all told"

if you read any modern owner's manual, i can assure you it's 5000-7500, regardless of synthetic or regular

where synthetic really come into its own is in a "tight" engine that sees little to no contamination, synthetic in a small block with nothing but a breather and pcv valve isnt gonna last any longer that regular before its contaminated, if you really want to make it last, it's all in the filter, a good filter will clean the oil well but plugs quickly, i run wix filters on my truck, changing them every 5k-7500 miles and the oil every 15-25k, it all depends on driving conditions, and it has over 225k on the original engine

thats why a lot of large trucks run full flow 15-25 micron main filters, and have a ~5 micron lube refiner on a partial bypass flow, to keep from starving the engine, but still take the soot, etc. out of the oil

[Edited on July 31, 2008 at 8:10 AM. Reason : my truck takes 7 quarts so it pays off, for a 3.5-4 quart engine, might as well just change it]

7/31/2008 8:09:37 AM

i let a friend ride my scooter the other day and noticed a white-ish smoke/mist coming from a pinhole in the pipe that leads to the muffler (it doesn't hang around like smoke, though, it simply spits out and disappears)

in conjunction with that tiny hole, i've noticed a slightly rougher idle and more of a "puffing" noise

i ASSUME that this isn't anything to worry about, since i've checked everything i can (fluids, oil) and my gas mileage hasn't change noticeably...i ASSUME this is just a tiny hole in the exhaust, and the only "problem" is that now my scooter is a tad louder...yes?

8/19/2008 9:01:53 AM

in addition to ^, it now seems that my top speed and 0-25 speed is reduced...also, when i'm riding, i hear a regular variation in the sound of the engine/exhaust (i don't know how better to explain it, but rather than the constant whine of the engine, it oscillates)

i recently changed my oil for the first time since i got it (1000 miles), and i don't think i messed anything up (i mean, it's not exactly difficult to change oil...i drained it, removed and cleaned the screen, put it all back together and filled it with the correct amount)...i thought that, perhaps, i hadn't tightened the plugs correctly (because of where they are, i used ratcheting pliers instead of sockets), but there's no oil leaking or anything

any suggestions? it's got more than 17,000 miles on it, so it's not exactly new

9/22/2008 12:13:37 PM

Is anyone planning on selling a scooter?

9/22/2008 12:43:43 PM

got me a scoot now

9/22/2008 1:10:30 PM

<-- 3scoots

2 running good. 1 with fuel issues under a load.

9/22/2008 2:01:50 PM

^NEEDS A COMPRESSOR TO CLEAN UP THE FUEL

9/22/2008 2:14:26 PM

also, as of the last tank of gas, i've dropped fuel economy by ~5mpg

any suggestions?

9/22/2008 2:29:32 PM

^IS IT A 4 OR 2 STROKE

i COULD SEE AN ISSUES WITH FUEL MIX IF IT IS A 2-STROKE, ASSUMING YOU WERE MIXING THE FUEL YOURSELF.

9/22/2008 2:30:49 PM

nope, 4-stroke...i don't remember what oil i put in there, but it was whatever was recommended...i've checked my oil levels a couple of times, as well, and they're fine

9/22/2008 3:15:28 PM

Quote :

"Is anyone planning on selling a scooter?"

check this one out...if you can talk them down a bit, this would be pretty good: http://raleigh.craigslist.org/mcy/850434113.html

9/22/2008 4:36:35 PM

ahh dude ive seen better deals.

5500 miles isnt bad though.. but $1000..

just last week i saw 2 for around 550-600.

either way..
have you done a tube up on your scoot? i know there isnt much to do, but in terms of plugs and fuel and oil/gear oil change, carb maintenance.. all that jazz

15,000 miles is a good bit on a scooter. the most ive seen out there.

http://www.scootusa.com/trouble_shooting_4_maint.htm

9/22/2008 4:58:24 PM

Quote :

"ahh dude ive seen better deals. 5500 miles isnt bad though.. but $1000.. "

for a 3/4-year old name brand japanese scooter? i don't think that's too bad...besides, i wouldn't pay the $1k, i'd suggest knocking it down some...i haven't seen many jap scoots cheaper

Quote :

"have you done a tube up on your scoot? i know there isnt much to do, but in terms of plugs and fuel and oil/gear oil change, carb maintenance.. all that jazz 15,000 miles is a good bit on a scooter. the most ive seen out there. "

i have not...i'm not very mechanically inclined outside the standard stuff (and while this might fall under "standard", i've never done it before)...i'm a bit ashamed that i don't know more about basic maintenance

thanks for the link, though

it's actually got 17k

there are a couple of people on urban scootin with 20k+ mets, and one guy who just passed 30k...these jap scoots are in a league above the chinese ones, i think

[Edited on September 22, 2008 at 5:07 PM. Reason : .]

9/22/2008 5:07:05 PM

oohh, didnt realize it was a jap scooter.
yeah, then its not bad.

[Edited on September 22, 2008 at 5:17 PM. Reason : both the one for sale, and yours. ]

9/22/2008 5:16:33 PM

alright, i'm giving up on trying to figure out, with my limited knowledge, what's wrong with this thing...changing out the oil and adding a bit of seafoam brought back some of the top speed and acceleration, but it's still below what it was 300 miles ago, and it's still leaking oil

any of you guys willing to take a look at it? what would you charge? i'll probably call scooterz today and see what they'd charge for tripleD4u to take a look at it, but i'm betting it'll be $vermont...after a point, it's simply not worth the money when i could probably just ride it and add oil until it finally quits working

but if someone could take a look at it and/or fix outside of a shop, that'd be great (paid, of course)

10/3/2008 8:55:23 AM

Anyone down for some serious scootin this weekend? I b bringing my KILRB.
I hear Jeepman been toolin around Western on a scootscoot lately.
tripleD4u better bring his new unit as well, i run it



[Edited on October 9, 2008 at 6:14 AM. Reason : .]

10/9/2008 6:12:51 AM

[Edited on October 9, 2008 at 6:13 AM. Reason : double post]

10/9/2008 6:12:51 AM

Is a motorcycle considered a scooter?

10/9/2008 6:32:15 AM

oh werd... im down for some scootin..

and tunin'

10/9/2008 7:11:34 AM

^^only if it can keep up
^holla

10/9/2008 7:45:29 AM

O WE SC00TN!

10/9/2008 3:05:02 PM

im in for some scootin

10/9/2008 7:03:21 PM

I just ordered a CDI to up my rev limit

10/10/2008 5:58:29 PM

steve is your exhause derestricted?

10/11/2008 10:49:06 AM