Hey Folks--sorry in advance for the long post:
I have an ungoverned 2001 People 50 that I inherited in '06. It wasn't driven that much before I got it and wasn't that well taken care of. I don't know that much about scooter engines--just the parts that I've repaired in the past.
Recently I noticed that it had started to lose power (lower top speed, less accel, less off-the-line) and took it in for service. I asked them to see if they could find out the cause (dirty carb, air filter, etc...) and to go ahead and do whatever scheduled service was necessary. They performed the 9000 mi service and changed out the belt.
Things I first noticed/experienced after Repair Visit 1:
1) Coasting--going downhill or even on a flat road I can let off the gas and feel like I'm coasting. Before if I let off the gas I'd slow down.
2) No off-the-line power.
3) A few instances of feeling & hearing what can only be belt slippage
4) As bad or worse than it was when I brought it in.
I took it back to the shop and politely expressed my dissatisfaction. I left it there and when I picked it back up the Service Mgr said he looked at the CVT again and it looked fine--and that he got it up to 45 (really? that couldn't be because I've got 40lbs on you?). He sent me along my merry way.
I'm convinced that it's a transmission issue. The more I drive it the more it feels like whatever they did to "restore" the power worked--only to be offset by a really horrible acceleration curve. They screwed up whatever is closest to the gear ratios in the world of CVTs. I dread even the slightest of inclines because my scooter will crawl. I really dislike driving it now--it's hard to drive with the philosophy of "don't piss anyone off" when your scooter has no get up and go.
So, after the wordy mess above, do you concur? CVT issue? If so how do you recommend I approach the shop who fixed it. They are--unfortunately--the only game in town for Kymcos.
Thanks
-cd
