45,000km Downtown - maintenence report

[Haarek]

There has been many posts about DT300 here but I have never seen any about DT125 ,is there anyone here having experience of owning or riding Downtown 125 cc ?Is it as reliable as DT300 ?


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I got a Downtown 125i -13 model.

Only got around 12 000km on it.
Replaced the tires for Power Pure SC on the 10k mark. Can recommend these!
Changed engine and gear-oil every year and replaced filters.
Replaced variator rollers as they was starting to get flat spots (@11k).
Replaced the battery last season as it died during winter storage.

No noticeable wear beyond cosmetics. No oil sweating or suspect noises.

From time to time my clutch will be a bit "jumpy" on takeoff, but I think this has to do more with longer periods of non-use.

All in all very content with the scooter.

[de dee]

  put a charger on the battery, for cold weather, find a smart charger that cuts off,and on, to not over charge

[Aminkymco]

I got a Downtown 125i -13 model.

Only got around 12 000km on it.
Replaced the tires for Power Pure SC on the 10k mark. Can recommend these!
Changed engine and gear-oil every year and replaced filters.
Replaced variator rollers as they was starting to get flat spots (@11k).
Replaced the battery last season as it died during winter storage.

No noticeable wear beyond cosmetics. No oil sweating or suspect noises.

From time to time my clutch will be a bit "jumpy" on takeoff, but I think this has to do more with longer periods of non-use.

All in all very content with the scooter.

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[Aminkymco]

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Many thanks for your reply !

I am planning to trade my agility 150 with a new downtown 125/250 cc. I am in a doubt if 125 cc downtown will perform strong take offs in a city riding Or I will miss 250 cc engine in cases I have my wife with me to enjoy the ride( total weight of us two will be about 390 pounds).

Since you have had the experience of riding your 125 cc downtown for almost three years I will be grateful to know your idea ! I am not thinking about wide open throttle riding style,Torque power in the low and average rpm is more joyful for me...

Thanks !


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[Aminkymco]

I got a Downtown 125i -13 model.

Only got around 12 000km on it.
Replaced the tires for Power Pure SC on the 10k mark. Can recommend these!
Changed engine and gear-oil every year and replaced filters.
Replaced variator rollers as they was starting to get flat spots (@11k).
Replaced the battery last season as it died during winter storage.

No noticeable wear beyond cosmetics. No oil sweating or suspect noises.

From time to time my clutch will be a bit "jumpy" on takeoff, but I think this has to do more with longer periods of non-use.

All in all very content with the scooter.

Many thanks for your reply !

I am planning to trade my agility 150 with a new downtown 125/250 cc. I am in a doubt if 125 cc downtown will perform strong take offs in a city riding Or I will miss 250 cc engine in cases I have my wife with me to enjoy the ride( total weight of us two will be about 390 pounds).

Since you have had the experience of riding your 125 cc downtown for almost three years I will be grateful to know your idea ! I am not thinking about wide open throttle riding style,Torque power in the low and average rpm is more joyful for me...

Thanks !





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[Haarek]

I find that the DT 125i is very adequate for my use; that is mainly driving within city limits where speed limits is <80 km/h.

- When in start-stop traffic and up to around 50 km/h the DT 125 is plenty fast and usually more snappy than  surrounding traffic. Within city limits I very rarely suffer from lack of power.

- From 60-80 Km/h the acceleration is adequate (As in not attracting aggression from other motorists), but I have to use all 15 horses to get up to speed.

- Cruise speed of 80-85 is possible for all but the heaviest of slopes. RPM @6500-7000

- Acceleration from 80 km/h to top speed of 110 km/h is anaemic and very, very slow.

- Overtaking in a DT 125i should not happen above 70 km/h as there is no power surplus.
 

Overall the DT125 feels and rides as a proper big scooter as long as the speed is kept low. It handles very well despite it's large size. As far as I know it shares the frame, brakes and suspension as the bigger bore variant, making it a better built 125cc scooter than most other competitors. In roundabouts I am as fast as anybody else, the bosch ABS brakes are wonderful and storage is great. My biggest gripe is the cramped footpositioning and the stock windshield that created serious buffeting. I solved the latter with a Dremel and about 10cm lower wind-shield.

Fuel consumption is about 3L/100km

[Aminkymco]

Thanks a lot Haarek !


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[Stig / Major Tom]

Fascinating  report of a large frame scooter with smaller engine!
Something we will never experience in the States. Here, for the most part, in the Land of Horsepower, wheelbase follows  engine size - which, for urban riding,  is a shame.
Thanks for your report.
What country?
Stig

[Haarek]

I'm from Norway.

My licence let me ride all bikes from 50cc to 1200cc + but I have never felt the need for big bore motorcycles or scooters.

The only time I miss having more power is for the odd overtaking or for long ascents, crossing mountains etc. For everything else I love the lighter weight and efficiency of a small bore.

Because of how regulations are set up in this part of the world there isn't really any market for the "welterweights" like 200cc and 250cc bikes. Instead a standard bike in my country is either a 50cc scoot, a 125cc screamer (driven by a teen) or a 800cc + full-size motorcycle.

[kneeslider]

I for one would ABSOLUTELY LOVE a T-Max 530.

[gregspeople250]

+1!

[Stig / Major Tom]

As for brisk launches from traffic lights... I am under the impression that even small engined  scooters are designed to out-jump the surrounding  auto traffic almost every time.
Urban traffic situations seems to be where most scooters are designed to live their lives....with the occasional rural jaunt.
Big engined scooters  probably make up a small % of scooters sold worldwide....but can haul the mail once underway!
There are darn few scooter congested intersections awaiting a green light in Ohio.°¿°Stig

[kneeslider]

Hi all,
Any of you experience your DT having a hard time to start up after leaving it for a week?

Every time I go away on a trip, upon returning home my DT doesn't start up as usual. I'll have to keep cranking while opening the throttle until finally she fires up.

Of course I do not crank more than 10 seconds each time.

Plug is good, fuel pump is running. I sounds like the engine is flooded. Also once she starts, I will have to maintain a throttle or she'll die. After 10 secs of my manual choke, she'll then be alright.

[tvniklas]

Its winter here now in Sweden and i start up the DT once a month to get it warm.
It always starts immidtly on the first try, and it sounds as it was used everyday.

So i guess you have some kind of trouble

[CROSSBOLT]

Kneeslider, vent the gas cap! The vacuum valve is sticking.

Karl