New Like 200i owner in So. Calif.

[zombie]

I wonder if anyone has ever been in an earthquake and hurricane at the same time? That'd be where it's at!

Slingers mom, after a bucket of beans, and a 12 pack.

[HelloPitty]

Couldn't wait any longer so the first oil change has been done.
I found it strange that the bolt that houses the spring and filter was just hand tightened.  I snugged it down a tad more than that.
I put 10W40 4 cycle Motorcycle oil in it.
Here's the old oil.

[Stig / Major Tom]

Couldn't wait any longer so the first oil change has been done.
I found it strange that the bolt that houses the spring and filter was just hand tightened.  I snugged it down a tad more than that.
I put 10W40 4 cycle Motorcycle oil in it.
Here's the old oil.

Yeah, that should have been tightened with a wrench.
FYI - if you are thinking of doing your own servicing on the LIKE200i - cyclepedia.com sells an online service manual, and I think someone said you can also buy a paper manual from them now.
I use the online manual for all kinds of servicing stuff.
Stig

[zombie]

Be careful tightening that cap. I have had several of them shear off the threaded section. It's just cast aluminium.
The "O" ring provided is thick enough to hold it in place with very little more than hand tight. Combine that with the springs force, and I seriously doubt it could ever fall out even if it had a mind to.

Just sayin' Careful with that one.

[HelloPitty]

FYI - if you are thinking of doing your own servicing on the LIKE200i - cyclepedia.com sells an online service manual, and I think someone said you can also buy a paper manual from them now.

Definitely going to look into that.

Be careful tightening that cap. I have had several of them shear off the threaded section. It's just cast aluminium.
Just sayin' Careful with that one.

Noted...glad I just tightened it a little bit over hand-tighten.

[HelloPitty]

Hi all, I was looking at a Kymco Craigslist ad and saw this front tire, it looks like mine, I was wondering if the curvy middle area is correct?

[zombie]

No it's not right. It's called "cupping".
I posted a bunch of facts on why it happens, and potential cures... The witches here shot me down.

It's not a horrible threat on slow ass scooters but it is an issue to be avoided or corrected.

[HelloPitty]

zombie, I figured I'd best take a photo of my actual front tire.
Is that line down the middle supposed to be straight?
Does mine look like cupping?

[zombie]

Good point there...
The reason for that center cut is supposed to be to allow water to escape, and prevent hydroplaning. That's easy to understand.
It appears that your tire was manufactured that way. It's hard to tell. Look at the first image you posted. See how all the cuts are sort of sticking up around the edges? that is cupping. The woven bands in the tire shift around, and the rubber has to follow.
A perfectly balanced, and aligned tire will not do that unless there is a flaw in the construction.

Getting back to your tire... It appears that it is made like that UNLESS you can detect some of that distortion on / around the other cuts. In any case I would buy a different tire. Reason is in rain or wet roads that zig zag groove will pull the tire to, and fro, Just my 2 cents.

I realize it's not a 100mph bike but all the tiny things add u to big things.

Ps... Next time kick the bike on its side. The sideways pict just gave me a seizure... It's ok tho. No brain to damage.

[BettinANDlosing]

The stock tires on all the Like's are well, LIKE that ahaha. Anyway, one thing to take note of, you hardly EVER have to take the oil screen out. I change the oil out of the drain bolt and only check the screen once a year or less, never dirty. If you get crud in your oil, clean it. Otherwise change using the drain bolt to avoid the cap breaking, like Zombie said I've seen more than a few customers break the screen cap, even with minimal torque installing it back on. They are also VERY easy to cross thread because its such a wide thread.

[HelloPitty]

Okay zombie, I'll kick the bike on its side to get that right side up pic for ya!

Bettin', good to know about the stock tires.  And about that screen.  It was super clean which I was happy about.  But it did bend a bit as I tried to put it in the first time and I was being very careful.  Wish I could locate a spare screen, would love to have one.

Must go and put my NGK Iridium spark plug in it now, the plug just arrived.

[HelloPitty]

Newbie confessions: 

I haven't ridden my Vespa since I brought this home (and it's for my dad)!
I overfilled the gas the first time...aargh!
I bent the little oil screen, but bent it back.
I'm working on a seat cushion fix.
I've worried if my tire is out of round.

After all this fussing and worrying, I'm just going to ride it, enjoy it, and keep it at the ready for when dad stops by and wants
to take a spin.

[zombie]

Spin the tire on the centerstand. and attach a pencil or something like that to the fork. Any "out of round" will show up.
Check the rim too

If your pencil or whatever is firmly attached... I'm sure you follow the idea.  Just ride it is what sticks out the most tho.

[Stig / Major Tom]

Okay zombie, I'll kick the bike on its side to get that right side up pic for ya!

Bettin', good to know about the stock tires.  And about that screen.  It was super clean which I was happy about.  But it did bend a bit as I tried to put it in the first time and I was being very careful.  Wish I could locate a spare screen, would love to have one.

Must go and put my NGK Iridium spark plug in it now, the plug just arrived.

I put one of these sets in my tool box early on....If the stock part ever messes up I'm ready! My Kymco screen was a little squashed - so replaced it with the one from a set like this from eBay. Oh, and I clean mine in a little gas & dry with every oil change, (every 600 - 800 miles **) It gets out the last bit of dirty oil. Just take it easy working with all these alloy parts. Push & start the screw-in by hand to prevent cross-threading. I use a bit of silicone grease on the rubber O-ring gasket, snug it a touch with a wrench. You do NOT want that coming loose while riding down the road!
I put the new spark plug in the plug socket (has that rubber in there to hold the plug in the socket), add a short extension and Thread the plug in by hand after paying close attention to the angle the old one had as it comes out....to prevent cross threading the new plug.
And yeah, that is the way your front tire is supposed to look! It's a stock Kenda tire. Pretty long wearing tires, Kendas are, just don't go on a long high speed ride in the wet on them. The 'long wearing' ='s  low wet grip!
Enjoy the scoot - it's pretty hardy!
** I do such freq servicing not because the scoot needs it - but because it is easy to service and my personality needs to do it! Also: Freq oil changes means "you'll never have to say you're sorry!"That's from a famous movie.
Stig
http://www.ebay.com/itm/OEM-OIL-FILTER-SCREEN-CAP-SEAL-SPRING-FOR-GY6-50CC-125CC-150CC-4-STORKE-SCOOTER-/121377985010?pt=Motorcycles_Parts_Accessories&hash=item1c42b111f2&vxp=mtr

[HelloPitty]

Thanks stig!  Oil screen order placed, that will be some inexpensive peace of mind.
I haven't changed the plug yet.  Figured I'd wait on that for a bit.

There was light drizzle here yesterday so I took out the Like to try some maneuvers (purposefully trying to make it slide), I'm happy to report that at low mph (25 and lower), she handled snug to the road, I didn't try faster speed as that would not be an adequate indicator of my riding style in the rain.