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Messages - sc00tcrazy

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1
Downtown 300 / Re: sounds system project. need help with numbers
« on: June 27, 2012, 05:00:17 AM »
Hi,

Not sure from reading your posts whether you only wanted this setup only for yourself when you are riding? Or whether it was so a pillion could listen also? Or when you get to a destination having the bike running and the stereo playing?

Not an answer to your question but possibly a different solution (assuming you just want speakers for personal use while riding): I recently picked up a Sena bluetooth headset that installed easily in my helmet. Enough power to last for 8+ hours on a single charge. Sound quality excellent streaming via Bluetooth from my phone. Only cost a little over $100. Maybe something to consider?

Ride safe.

2
Downtown 300 / Re: Replacing rear shocks on DT
« on: May 25, 2012, 04:05:38 AM »
Quote from: racewalker on May 24, 2012, 01:45:29 AM
Why not just adjust them to your liking?

Hi racewalker,
Thanks for the reply. I have tried each of the 5 steps of preload adjustment on the DT's stock rear shocks. Settled on 3 as the best overall compromise. It is fine on my normal commute, 0-60km/h on city and suburban streets - can easily avoid most decent sized bumps/holes and prepare myself for any that can't be avoided.

However, when riding in the twisties, which is what I like to do for fun, I have been almost caught out a couple of times. One such scenario - coming around a tight sweeping bend at 70kmh, scoot leaned well over, come to a corrugated section of road that cannot be avoided --> both front and back suspension are struggling to keep up with the frequency of bumps --> increased anxiety level, though never in danger of crashing.

From reading other people's posts it seems as though upgrading ones suspension - adding extra preload adjustability and rebound dampening - can help.

Ride safe.


3
Downtown 300 / Replacing rear shocks on DT
« on: May 23, 2012, 11:07:22 PM »
Loving my DT. We have only done 2,000km of mainly commuting, but still having a blast each time I get out there.

I have come across a good deal on some aftermarket rear shocks for the DT. Considering giving them a try.

I am around 90kg and the roads that I ride on leave quite a lot to be desired, with lots of both small and big bumps/holes.

I am somewhat handy with tools and can borrow a stand from a friend. Does anyone know, from either personal experience changing the shocks on their DT or just general knowledge, what I will need to do?

Main questions are whether I will need to remove the rear wheel? And whether I need to remove all the fairing on the rear of the bike for access?

Thanks. Ride safe.

4
Downtown 300 / No go on replacement handlebars for DT
« on: April 24, 2012, 12:07:16 AM »
Hi All,

The handlebars on my DT are a little too high for comfort on longer rides. I had been considering replacing them with slightly lower ones after seeing someone else replace theirs on their Burger.

I pulled off the tupperware this morning to measure the width/height/sweep of the stock bars, but found to my disappointment that replacing the bars is not going to be easy/possible. Instead of the fairly standard bars and clamp system of other scoots/bikes the DT has a completely different system. The bottom of the DT's handlebar is a vertical cyclinder, which fits over the shaft of the steering column and is bolted into place. The more standard system that I have seen is that there is a horizontal clamp fixed to the top of the steering column that the handlebar clamps to.

Anyone find a way to replace or modify their DT handlebars? I can easily live with the current setup, but I had thought that for under $100 for replacement bars the upgrade would be worth it.

Ride safe.


5
Downtown 300 / Aftermarket brake levers
« on: April 19, 2012, 07:07:49 AM »
Hello Everyone,

Have any of you come across aftermarket brake levers for the Kymco DT 300? I bought my DT second hand and love the adjustable reach of the levers, but the dials for some reason are rusting and the previous owner bent one of the levers a bit. Not looking to upgrade right at the moment, but would be interested to know of any quality, reach-adjustable aftermarket levers that would fit.

Ride safe.

6
Downtown 300 / Heated grips on the DT
« on: April 13, 2012, 03:36:48 AM »
Hello Everyone,

I have fallen in love with my first pair of gloves, which are a type of Rev'it summer gloves. They are thin leather gloves with good protection, but no padding and some perforation around the sides of the fingers. They have served me well since I started riding in August last year - through lots of rain (they dry out real fast), some mildly cool weather (Sydney), and some heat. I like that I retain good dexterity even while wearing them. If standing up I can fish things out of my kevlar jeans pockets.

I will get to talking about heated grips eventually. I have been considering options for windscreens to address the buffeting issues I am getting on my Downtown. One such screen was a large Givi screen and feedback suggested that it had some features (wider near base) that deflected some of the wind/rain off the hands when on the move. I don't generally feel the cold much and last year my hands were OK as almost all my commuting is 15km max in one direction - not really long enough to get really cold hands in Sydney weather. Having said that a little extra protection would not go astray, so I then started thinking about purchasing a set of separate hand wind deflectors or guards to protect my hands (if I didn't end up going the Givi option).

This eventually led me to consider heated grips. Oxford seems to be a well known brand and I have read reviews here and elsewhere about them. Couple of things:

* if I get them I will set them up with a relay and no connect them directly to the battery --> hopefully minimise probs with drained batteries etc.

* based on feedback elsewhere the Downtown battery potentially is a weak point and may need to be upgraded before hooking up the grips to ensure stability/performance

* if I go with the Oxford ones, which model to buy? There looks to be ones for scooters 50-250cc, ones for sports bikes, etc.

* have any of you any experience with any of the other established heated grips brands, like Hot Grips?

* I have not real experience hooking up electricals, but I can follow instructions and have a bit of common sense. Is this the sort of job I should attempt or leave to the professionals?

* if I can only get one - either hand guards or heated grips - which one would you recommend?

Thanks for any wisdom shared.

Ride safe.

7
Downtown 300 / Re: Observations about aftermarket exhaust on my DT
« on: March 20, 2012, 11:16:29 PM »
Quote from: TANWare on March 19, 2012, 08:27:58 AM
That is the one mod I have stayed away from. I prefer the bike be as quiet as possible. If there were a huge performance gain I might be so inclined but I think it is more of a placebo effect. The 14gr sliders though will make a very bif differnce in the bike, just rememeber to be easy on the twist grip or risk loosing that nice L/KM rate..............

Hey TANWare,

Thanks for the reply. If I didn't receive the exhaust when I purchased the scoot - previous owner intended to upgrade, but then decided to sell scoot and get a Moto Guzzi motorcycle instead - I wouldn't have done this upgrade either. Since I had it sitting there I thought I would put it on and see whether it was worth having.

I have tried reinstalling the stock can and I can definitively say that what I am experiencing is not a placebo effect, though I do know what you mean about imagined power gains etc. Putting back the old can reintroduced the significant shuddering, lull and then firmer post-lull acceleration on my particular DT, all three of which are diminished with the aftermarket can on. Definitely louder by approx 10-15% and I like the exhaust tone a little better. So no huge performance gain, but a couple of positives that are making me lean towards keeping it on.

Will definitely get the 14gm sliders when I get the scoot serviced in a few thousand kms time.

Thanks again, Jared

8
Downtown 300 / Observations about aftermarket exhaust on my DT
« on: March 19, 2012, 02:03:44 AM »
I now have about 1,000km on my new-to-me DT. I am getting between 3.3-3.6km per 100km, depending on the type of riding I am doing, which I am happy with.

About 200km ago I replaced the stock exhaust with the MIVV slip-on exhaust that I got with the DT. Installation went fine and fit is good.

My observations:

Good:
* much of the shuddering I was getting on take off before, which I thought was due to the stock clutch, has disappeared. Still there a little, but no where near as noticeable as before. This was a huge, but welcome, surprise.
* the torque/acceleration curve has smoothed out --> used to have a lull in acceleration from approx 25-40km/h, then the 'real' acceleration kicked in after that. Now the acceleration is more of a steady curve without the lull.
* has a nice, deep growl at idle and slow speeds - not too loud. N.B. Still can't really hear it through the helmet when the speed rises over 60-65km/h.
* lighter than the stock can - think approx 2-2.5kg lighter.
* looks good - smaller and classier looking

Not So Good:
* the DT is not quite as fun to ride now. 0-80km/h times still the same, if not a fraction quicker (just counting in my head), but I now don't experience the lull followed by the kick in the pants at 40-45km/h that used to push my head back!
* I tightened the 2 main bolts that attach the slip-on to the scoot and have been checking them each week or so, but I neglected to tighten the little allen key headed bolts that attach the metal heat guard. Was out riding the other day when I heard a tinkling sound. Slowed down, looked back, and saw my heat guard hanging by a single bolt. Replaced two missing bolts and will check those from now on also.

All of this is just my subjective experience, so no guarantees that yours will be likewise if you install this or any other aftermarket exhaust.

I have also removed the screen completely to see what effect that has. Back to riding a naked scoot and enjoying the nice clean, non-buffeting airstream again. I also got a sport screen with the DT, so will try that next.

Only other planned upgrade I will do is 14gm sliders at the next service/transmission check.

Ride safe.

9
Downtown 300 / Re: New member just dropping by to say hi
« on: March 04, 2012, 10:48:24 PM »
Quote from: TANWare on March 01, 2012, 04:27:47 AM
Welcome to the forum and ownership of the fine scooter. Not tooo sure the road conditions there but for the flat roads in the US the stock shocks seem to be fine. Id it that your are stiff or do not provide enough travel etc?

as far as weight, the sliders will help out with performance. If you so alot of lower speed riding the 14gr may let the engine rev a bit much for you and decrease MPG. The 15gr may be the better choice in that case and provide even slightly lower RPM's at high speed cruise.

Lights are what you are willing to do and live with.

1.) Stock replacements get the PIAA replacements.
2.) HIDs for lows (will require some wiring to keep low on with highs) and PIAA's for highs
3.) Hids for high and low (rewire lows on all the time but then highs have to warm up)
4.) actually just PIAA's low and high but rewire lows all the time.

I am satisfied with just the PIAA's but thee is a noticable difference between just riding with the highs or on lows using the flash switch as this lights up low and high beams.......................

Hi TANWare,

I lived in California for a couple of years so I know the general excellent quality of roads in that neck of the woods. Regrettably, in comparison, much of the Sydney road network leaves a lot to be desired. In particular, I love riding in the twisties the most, but the majority of such roads close to where I live have surfaces that show up the limitations of the DT stock shocks. Now for my commuting purposes, which accounts for most of my riding kms, the stock shocks are more than fine 95% of the time - just need to watch out for the odd pothole and remember certain corners that have a less than ideal surface. But, given that I believe this scoot is going to be a keeper for a number of years - love it - I am still tossing around spending some money eventually on replacement shocks for both the added safety and added enjoyment. Having said that, aftermarket shocks aren't cheap so it could very well remain a pipe dream!

Thanks for laying out the options for the lights. I don't currently have a regular need to ride in the dark, but anything that keeps me safer on the road is always welcome. I will investigate further.

Ride safe.

10
Downtown 300 / Re: New member just dropping by to say hi
« on: March 04, 2012, 10:37:38 PM »
Quote from: zombie on February 29, 2012, 11:31:06 PM
"* upgrading rear shocks - have only managed to research/find one brand (bitubo) that makes DT-specific shocks. If anyone knows of any other decent manufacturers I would love to hear about it"
 Measure your shocks from center to center on the mount holes. Then you can google that length shock to find one that you like. Just an example 235mm scoot shock...http://www.google.com/search?client=opera&rls=en&q=235mm+scoot+shock&sourceid=opera&ie=utf-8&oe=utf-8&channel=suggest
 

Hi zombie,

Thanks for the tip. Much appreciated.

One follow up question - is using a set of aftermarket shocks designed for a motorcycle (of the right length), assuming I come across some, a possibility? Or are they substantially different in how they perform and not suitable?

Ride safe.

11
Downtown 300 / New member just dropping by to say hi
« on: February 29, 2012, 10:50:50 PM »
Hello Everyone,

New member here, down in Sydney, Australia. Thanks for all the great info on the forum.

I recently became the proud new owner of a used 2011 DT in white. Was used by a gentleman wanted to get back to motorcycle riding after a 20+ year break who decided to get a scoot first to re-familiarise himself with life on two wheels without the added stress of a clutch/gears. Good for me because the scoot was a little over a year old and only had about 2500kms/1500 miles on the odo.

I have ridden push bikes my whole life - mountain biking, road, commuting. Got my first scoot, a PGO X-Hot 150cc (fantastic scooter), in August last year. Have been commuting 5 days a week (rain or sun for us down here, no snow) approx 30km round trip. Upgraded to the DT to get better storage, better weather protection and a little more grunt to push around my 95kg.

Loving it so far, especially how surprisingly nimble the handling is given its size (not as flickable as the X-Hot, but different types of scoots). Only one minor negative at the moment that I feel the need to adress - the screen produces a fair amount of buffeting over 50km/h (I'm 5'9"), so will need to sort that out with a sports screen or some sort of spoiler perhaps. I am still getting used to the added weight when pushing the DT in the garage/driveway, but that is already passing after 2 weeks of ownership. Later down the track I am considering:

* upgrading lights
* upgrading front suspension internals
* upgrading rear shocks - have only managed to research/find one brand (bitubo) that makes DT-specific shocks. If anyone knows of any other decent manufacturers I would love to hear about it
* upgrading to 14g or 15g sliders - thanks for the great thread about this. DT has significantly better performance than the X-Hot (and the X-Hot wasn't a slouch for a 150cc) and I ride solo, so not rushing to make this upgrade.

Ride safe.

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