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Messages - Grumpy old man

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1
General Discussion / Re: AK 550 Drive Belt
« on: October 04, 2024, 09:53:58 AM »
spoke with Kymco USA about finding a dealer near me with the sonic tester for belt tension and after an hour found that Kymco  USA does not require it's dealers to have any specific equipment and there probably is not a dealer in the USA with the proper tension tester.   WTF?  How can this be?  I changed my rear tire and did my best to tension it using a dial mic and adjusted to sound.  it seems OK but? 
 After 4200 miles the rear tire was getting within 2 32nds on wear bars.  Went Dark side.  installed a 165 60 15  Vredestein  Quatrac and I love it.  can't tell it from a bike tire except that it will last 40,000 miles.

2
General Discussion / Re: I stopped and visited with these folks this morning
« on: September 19, 2022, 06:40:20 AM »
I totally agree that the VA needs to step up it's efforts to assist those who were f***ed over for this government and country.

3
General Discussion / Re: I finally got my Kymco AK 550
« on: September 19, 2022, 06:37:19 AM »
Yesterday I got my AK 550
I had a 2015 Yamaha T max and I loved it until a lady named Karen pulled out in front of a parked semi on a highway and tried to left turn in front of me, I ended up with a broken ankle and elbow.  3 years later I bought a Kymco AK 550  it was one of the scooters I wanted back in 2017 but in America could not get.  until 09/18/2022  I purchased and drove off with my new scoot.  I traveled from Oklahoma City OK to Eureka Springs AR. and today I traveled to Louisburg, KS  I have a total of 617 miles on it.  I am doing an oil change using Amsoil 10-40 motorcycle oil.

The filter was a challenge I purchased a Purolator pureone 14610 oil filter for it but wasn't able to use it.  I have since ordered an Hiflofiltro HF164 and a KN 164 replacement filter, I sawed off a piece of plastic covering the filter to access it. The power is probably equal to the Silverwing 600 I was using prior to the purchase to the AK550..  However the windscreen and fairing were very small compared to the above scoots and I felt quite a bit of wind turbulence. 
I would love to recommend the AK 550 except that the wind screen is set for a sport rider not a tour rider.  and the scoot needs a trunk mount.  I will add to the comment as I flesh out the scooter and get used to it.


 

 

4
Grandvista 250 / Re: adjusting headlights
« on: August 16, 2019, 10:28:41 AM »
I did try an H4 Led and it is brighter but still falls short of what I need for night driving on the highway.

     So I made a couple of brackets and mounted a short light bar LED just over the headlamp and at the bottom of the windscreen.   at least I can see down the road at night, and when the jerks wont lower their brights I just flick the light bar on for a second and viola they get the idea!  on a four lane highway I still turn the light bar off but just to be mannerly.   

5
Grandvista 250 / Re: GIVI Windshield fits 2009 Kymco Grand Vista 250
« on: August 16, 2019, 10:24:03 AM »
Great looking windscreen, I like the height, could you repeat the link I couldn't follow it very well and I would love to get one myself.  I see it's on ebay but beyond that?  Thanks   Jim

6
Grandvista 250 / rollers
« on: August 16, 2019, 10:18:19 AM »
Hi kids

     I am thinking about replacing my belt and rollers on the old 06 GV used to you could find any Kymco part but now it's getting tough to find them online and the dealership thinks that it will take a couple of weeks to get the Kymco parts from their supplier.

   How are you getting parts now?  I saw the report about the belt using a gates as a replacement I actually have one we got several years ago as a spare.  I might use it anyhow. 

7
General Discussion / Re: Where is the AK550
« on: May 08, 2019, 09:18:27 AM »
Usually there is something we can learn from one of these crashes.
Would you care to offer a thought on what the rest of us might take away here?
Stig

  Only this   Everyone dies but how many of us are blessed to really Live,  Enjoy every day as it were your very last, Love who and how you will, ride what and where you like and strive to receive the maximum joy from this brief time together on the earth.   That's the best I can offer Stig
 Sometimes you just can't control the out come of every situation or even see the problem before you are involved.   Just cope with it to the best of your ability and pray.   

8
General Discussion / Re: Where is the AK550
« on: May 05, 2019, 05:40:16 AM »
Yep on the 19th of April I got into an accident with a SUV turning left in front of me in spite of a semi parked on the right lane of the highway creating a major blind spot for everyone, I have a broken left leg and broken right arm which is a real pain trying to get around.

 The 2015 T max with 31,000 miles on it was probably totaled and now I am realizing that there are no new substitutes available for sale in the USA.  I wouldn't mind a 300 but I just don't fit them I would need highway pegs handlebar riser's and a larger windscreen just to start I like to distance ride and have earned a saddle sore with the T Max several times.
  I have always admired the AK 550 and have been very happy with our Kymco's I still have an 06 Grand vista that I will probably get running and use until I find something more highway suitable as I commute 62 miles a day to work.  wish me luck with the outcome I did hire a motorcycle accident lawyer to advise and represent me. now it's just a waiting and healing game.   Shalom.

9
General Discussion / Re: Where is the AK550
« on: May 04, 2019, 02:58:49 AM »
My Bad for the language, pain killer's are my excuse with left leg, and right arm broken it will be a few weeks before I am riding again and I'm starting to crawl the wall's  I need to get some wind therapy...  The real reason behind the post was Why did all of the manufactures stop selling Maxi Scooters?  Kymco made some horrible marketing mistakes with the 700 If they had allowed it to sell in the USA the first year it was out it would have done well, the story I heard was that they purposely kept it out of the market to prevent competition with the Kymco powered BMW.  I don't know how much truth there is to that but the other part of the story is that by the time it arrived it was dated The design was old no LED lighting and cramped without the luggage for a touring class scooter.  It was pretty pathetic.  There is a sweet spot for large scooters and I really believe that the AK 550 would be a winner.   

10
General Discussion / Where is the AK550
« on: April 29, 2019, 01:05:52 AM »
What is going on in the scooter world?  I just got teed by a cager and need to replace my 2015 T Max, and have always thought that the AK550 was a better scooter however there is a glitch  It has to do with Kymco USA the won't bring in anything larger than a 300
So I took a look at Suzuki and the Bergman 650 is not in the USA this year either.
How about the Honda Silverwing? nope they only have the 289 Forza.
Yamaha?  Nothing over 299cc  What is going on I love my maxi scooter's and I love scooting but am seriously considering a cheaper motorcycle.   

11
General Discussion / K 50 concept or reality?
« on: March 08, 2017, 08:26:35 AM »
Will the K50 be one of the scooters that Americans only get to hear about or will they make it to America the first year out?  The concept looks great but I still want to see Kymco score with this one.

12
Grandvista 250 / Re: How to drain gear oil?
« on: July 06, 2016, 11:12:10 PM »
GV take's 180 ml of gear oil..  use a syringe to add and you can't miss.   https://www.amsoil.com/shop/by-product/gear-lube/severe-gear-75w-90/

 

13
Grandvista 250 / Re: Gear oil level
« on: July 06, 2016, 11:08:29 PM »
The best method for adding gear oil is to use a large syringe you can purchase them from any farm supply store.  I simply fill the syringe with fluid holding my finger on the squirty end and then insert the plunger a bit invert the syringe remove my finger and let a little air escape and then place it in the hole and squirt away repeat as needed and you have a quick and accurate method of filling the gear oil as the syringes are marked in ml's.  I prefer to use Amsoil 75-90 super gear lube.  it will last forever and not need changing.    Jim.    https://www.amsoil.com/shop/by-product/gear-lube/severe-gear-75w-90/
 

14
People 250 / Re: Proper HID or LED headlamp
« on: June 11, 2016, 04:47:36 PM »
On my 08 People 250S  I had my scooter mechanic add a unit I bought here is the unit link.  [/url](http://www.ddmtuning.com/Products/DDM-HID-Kit-Slim-Ballast-35W-or-55W)  I had one 35 watt unit I used during day's and most roads at night then add a 55 watt unit for lonly highways and roads during night rides. Together they worked extremely well.  I wanted to add some sort of egg crating to the front of the lens to keep too much glare from oncoming drivers however I didn't get that far.  The kits were around 30 dollars and the mechanic charged another 50 to install both, I did add two lighted rocker switches to control the lamps and kept the original wiring and lampholder in the headlamp cover just in case and carried a spare bulb just in case but neither were ever needed. 

15
Xciting 500 / Re: Belt life
« on: April 14, 2015, 07:44:34 AM »
I had a belt disintegrate on a highway all that was left was some dust and a few threads, however it also took out the outer pulley splines when it went.  So it was down for 4 or 5 days.  till the parts showed up this was an opportunity to add Dr. Pulley sliders.  no real difference I just wanted them. Oh this was a People 250 S.   

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