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Messages - XcitingSeoul

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Xciting 500 / Forward-mount mirrors for Xciting
« on: July 15, 2014, 12:02:02 PM »
New toys arrived today from Taiwan Big Scooter Shop!

I ordered a set of the forward-mount mirrors, with the hope that they would help narrow the profile of my bike to make filtering between cars in gridlock traffic a little easier. A constant necessity in a city of 23 million people who all insist on driving cars for some strange reason! I was forever slapping the cars' mirrors with my own, or having to do the 'wiggle and shimmy' dance to avoid them.

Plus, I think they look pretty bad-ass. ;)

I was all stoked to put them on myself, and then realized I didn't have the right size socket wrench for the windshield bolts. No worries, there's a bike shop on every block and my guy down the street put the on for 10 bucks!

The kit was $85 plus $20 shipping from T.B.S.S. on eBay.

Here's shots from the install:









So far so good...it's going to take a little getting used to, but it seems to be easier to glance over at the mirrors in that position- don't have to move my head at all like I did with the bar-mounted ones. The profile is not quite as narrow as I had expected, but I think it will be an improvement nonetheless. It's after rush hour here, so I won't have a chance to see if they really help with filtering in traffic until tomorrow.

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Xciting 500 / Re: Anybody running Brisk plugs in their 500?
« on: July 12, 2014, 02:50:20 AM »
Quote from: BettinANDlosing on July 10, 2014, 02:36:40 AM
If you can figure out computers, you can surely work on scooters. The way I see it with EVERYTHING, it's not a matter of knowledge more so a mind set. If you know the process of fixing something (computers, dish washers, cars, motorcycles, boats etc) you can transfer that patience to any other manner of repair. Computers and motorcycles/scooters are very similar to work on in a lot of ways. I find myself never trusting those ebsy type products, "15% more power!!!!". Maybe just a bias in that respect I would love to have a dyno to test those plugs, but would put money on no power change whatsoever. Also what zombie said, not having any gap for the spark to form seems wrong.

Bettin, I hadn't refreshed my Tapatalk app when I last posted, and hadn't seen this post yet, but thanks for the great feedback. You're right, a lot of that knowledge can transfer over. I guess the main difference between my experience with computers and now learning bikes, is that when I screw up my computer, the worst that happens is that I lose some data or waste some money...with the bikes, I could actually get killed or stranded miles from home! "Stakes is high..."

Zombie and Porkie, thanks again for sharing the fruits of your extensive experience as well! I'm thinking now that I'm going to put this spark plug up on my shelf as a decoration, or maybe hang it around my neck to remind me not to go poking around in the engine until I actually understand how it works first! I've downloaded the Service Manual and am studying up right now...

I've heard time and again on these forums to basically, "keep it stock, and enjoy," and I'm understanding the wisdom of that more and more. For one thing, I realize now I need to spend more time with this machine as it is and get to know how it runs really well, or else I'm not even going to know if the upgrades are helping or hurting. I'm a tweaker and a customizer by nature (just can't help myself), but I'm thinking I'll be a happier camper if I can limit my upgrades to the cosmetics for the moment...

Really, thanks for all the great advice, folks. I don't understand half of what you told me just YET, but I will soon enough!

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Xciting 500 / Anybody running Brisk plugs in their 500?
« on: July 10, 2014, 02:41:19 AM »
Ok, two more questions...

Zombie, how many volts does the X500 put out?

Porkie, how do you know the heat range of a given spark plug?

4
Xciting 500 / Anybody running Brisk plugs in their 500?
« on: July 10, 2014, 01:57:04 AM »
Wow...as I'm quickly learning from reviewing posts on here, every little tweak you can make  opens up a new rabbit hole of considerations and complications! My experience is mostly with tweaking computers- drop in more RAM, computer goes faster. Done. I figured I'd drop in a more efficient spark plug, bike is snappier and more fuel efficient! Not that simple...

I've never really been mechanically inclined, but I'd like to learn more and figured this scooter with its single cylinder and relatively simple CVT would be a good place to start. As with anything, it's fun and exciting on the one hand, and mind-bending on the other!

I guess I'll give it a go. One guarantee is that I'll learn something!

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Xciting 500 / Anybody running Brisk plugs in their 500?
« on: July 09, 2014, 06:23:13 AM »
I've got one on order from a seller on eBay...I've read reports from riders of other bikes that it improved throttle response and MPG, but I am curious to hear if any of you have tried them on your Xciting before I drop it in.



http://www.ebay.com/itm/HP-PERFORMANCE-SPARK-PLUG-PART-Kymco-Downtown-125i-200i-300i-Xciting-R-500i-/151015926812?pt=Motorcycles_Parts_Accessories&hash=item2329402c1c&vxp=mtr

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Xciting 500 / First trip to the shop: Bad case of blue bells and a Coo new case
« on: July 08, 2014, 11:45:15 AM »
I'm way late in posting this info, but better late than never!

I took my X500 into the shop two days after I bought it to have him install a Coocase Reflex V50 top case and rack I had bought on the Korean version of eBay ($160 for both). My wife and I had also noticed a strange noise coming from the CVT on our first ride around the city, and I wanted to find out if it was just a normal sound from an unfamiliar bike, or something wrong.

Once again, I've got a 2012 ABS model. I paid the KRW equivalent of $5,700 USD for it, and it had 807km on it when I picked it up.

Now, I had assumed that the bike was just like new and that the guy who had it before me couldn't have done too much damage, only having ridden it 500mi. When the mechanic opened the transmission case, we found out he evidently took it for quite a ride, and had totally blued out the clutch bell. Fortunately, I had taken it to a guy who specializes in Kymcos and seemed to really know his stuff. He proceeded to drill out the edge of the clutch bell and changed out some of the rollers, alternating lighter and heavier ones. (Unfortunately, this was the first time I had ever seen the inside of a CVT, and didn't really understand how it all worked or why he was doing what he was doing, or else I would have been curious to know what the roller weights were that he put in, etc., plus my wife was doing the translating and she's not familiar enough with mechanical terminology to tell me all he told her about what he was doing...) While he was at it, he went ahead and changed the oil and added a magnetic drain plug to catch any metal fragments as the engine continues to break in.










The rear rack he installed for me is actually a mash-up of the used rack I had bought and a rack he said would be much sturdier from a company called MSR. The MSR rack mounts under the passenger grip bars and to the rear seat mounts, and then he used the struts off the used rack which bolt up under the bike like the GIVI racks. So, altogether, the top case mount has six points of contact with the bike, and it ain't going nowhere!







The bike's CVT seems to be running great now (just passed the 1,600 km mark a few days ago), and the Coocase adds tons of usable storage space, and makes my wife feel much more comfortable when she's riding back there.

Here's the damage:

2014.06.13 Bought Coocase Reflex V50 top case and Xciting mounting bracket on Joongo Nara for â‚©160,000

2014.06.13 Bought MSR mounting bracket (hacked together with used Xciting bracket) for â‚©170,000 installed at A-Plus

2014.06.13 Oil & filter change & magnetic oil drain plug for â‚©64,000 + â‚©10,000 at A-Plus

2014.06.13 CVT service (drilled out blued clutch bell & switched out rollers) for â‚©80,000 at A-Plus

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Xciting 500 / GIVI AirFlow for the 500Ri ABS
« on: June 24, 2014, 01:30:24 PM »
This is another nice option that doesn't require removing the original windscreen- the X-creen by MRA: http://www.twistedthrottle.com/mra-x-creen-add-on-variable-windscreen-spoiler-blade-clamp-on

It comes in bolt-on and clamp-on flavors, and in smoke and clear colors. Pretty sharp.






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Xciting 500 / Coming out of the Scooterist Closet
« on: June 20, 2014, 02:27:49 PM »
And if course, if any of you ever make it over to this neck of the woods, give me a shout and I'll show you some beautiful roads and a great time!

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Xciting 500 / Re: GIVI AirFlow for the 500Ri ABS
« on: June 20, 2014, 03:33:28 AM »
Thanks, Skutorr! I've added that to my rapidly growing list of planned upgrades. Looks like a perfect solution for me. I spend most of my time in the city, but that would be awesome for weekend trips on the highway.

Brilliant concept, too, the way it pressurizes the air and fires it up and over you.

Here's a good explanation of how it works:

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Xciting 500 / Re: heated grips on xciting ri 2009
« on: June 20, 2014, 03:15:20 AM »
Traditionally, soju was distilled from rice or barley, but these days the mass produced factory swill is made with potatoes or tapioca. Cheap as dirt. It's about a buck for a 12oz bottle, and at 40-45 proof, you could get totally zombified for about 3 bucks!



And, of course, all the ladies look just like this:


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Xciting 500 / Coming out of the Scooterist Closet
« on: June 20, 2014, 03:08:35 AM »
Hey everybody.

I recently picked up this beautiful lady here. It's a 2012 R 500i ABS model, and only had 806km on the odometer, so it's basically a new bike. And it's the first bike I've ever owned that was less that 5 or 10 years old when it came to me, so I'm pretty stoked.



I've been lurking in the shadows for a week or two now, and as I've been slowly working my way through all the posts I've already learned a ton from you guys and gals. I've frequented some other bike forums over the years and never really felt compelled to get involved in the discussion, but this is a really great community and finally I'd like to jump in. I'm already dreaming of some bike trips I'd like to do around Korea and Japan, as well as some cosmetic and performance upgrades I'd like to make. I'm looking forward to sharing the journey with you folks and picking your brains along the way.

I've been riding for almost 8 years now, all of it in Korea, although I'm originally from Nashville, TN. A bike is the absolute best way to get around the city, and as my job as a voice actor sometimes requires me to traverse Seoul's labyrinth of  gridlock traffic several times a day to get from studio to studio, it's a way of life for me. As my avatar blurb alludes to, riding here is a full-on, real-life video game. I've mostly ridden motorcycles (a few Korean 125s, a Honda CB400 and a BMW GS650), and always considered myself a motorcycle guy. However, when my CB400 was sick and on its way to the grave, I picked up a cheap Daelim Forte 125, from a friend who was leaving the country as a "filler bike." I was embarrassed to admit I kinda LIKED it!  :o I appreciated the simplicity, the storage, the automatic transmission in traffic, the weather protection and the way it... just worked. I ended up getting another Daelim Scooter, a bigger Freewing 250 (what's called an S2 or S3 overseas), and I began to embrace the fact that, yes, I was becoming a scooter guy after all.

Sure, I've still got my dreams of owning a cafe racer and a big adventure touring bike intact, but now that I've got this super sexy and powerful beast of a bike in the Xciting 500, I can wait for a good while.  ;D


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Xciting 500 / Re: heated grips on xciting ri 2009
« on: June 20, 2014, 01:22:48 AM »
I hear you there, Zombie! I'm sure the soju we drink here has shaved off more than a few IQ points along the way.

For those you you who don't live in balmy, sunny Florida, however...I know these aren't the sexiest bit of gear, but I've found that with a pair of heated grips plus set of these babies, I was able to ride to work in -18° C (O° F) temperatures without my fingers rotting off.


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Xciting 500 / Re: heated grips on xciting ri 2009
« on: June 20, 2014, 01:12:32 AM »
I ride year-round here in Korea, and it get freeze-ass cold in the winter with the frigid winds blowing over from the Gobi desert. Heated grips are essential equipment and I've already started thinking about installing some on my brand new XC500. I appreciate hearing about the Oxford units- I've always just used whatever my local shops had in stock with varying degrees of success. Great suggestion about the control unit placement, too, Zombie! Thanks...

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