Stay with Kymco?

[AMAC1680]

Ok first things first. Kymco motors are not running at the bitter edge of disaster.
Matter of fact the P250 is known for having miles piled on, ive seen them with 30,000 miles on them. The rap was they were a bit slow but sturdy.

Yep the 300s put out just under 30hp. They have one of the best weight to HP ratios of any 300 scoot.
That said with my 130lb butt on board 80mph/gps on the slab is doable but that's the upper end. I've run 1000 miles on I95 and lived to tell about it.

You need more than 300ccs.

AMAC

[Stig / Major Tom]

AMAC .....you're a pistol!
".....bitter edge of disaster." Great stuff! Always a treat to read your posts.
Spot on ....and how do you spell erudite?

Stig

[AMAC1680]

AMAC .....you're a pistol!
".....bitter edge of disaster." Great stuff! Always a treat to read your posts.
Spot on ....and how do you spell erudite?

Stig

I cant spell, or type.
Everything voice rec. lazy crip !

AMAC

[Stig / Major Tom]

I cant spell, or type.
Everything voice rec. lazy crip !

AMAC
[/quote]

A lazy guy doesn't ride a scooter from NJ to St Augustine, Florida!
That is hard work.

Stig

[hypophthalmus]

Interesting that the 300 Kymcos are slower even with a better power/weight ratio. I guess I don't really understand  the physics of it (drag being a bigger obstacle than weight, gearing, something else?). It sounds then like the Majesty wouldn't be pushed as far to its limits in terms of speed. I'm not sure how hills fits into this though.

People 250's may be sturdy, but for comparison there are bikes with reports of 200,000+ miles. They tend to be 650 and larger though. I don't know if that's because people don't put that kind of mileage on smaller bikes or if the smaller ones don't survive that long. If you do need a large enough engine for that kind of lifespan, I also don't know where that line is.

That's a compelling recommendation for the Majesty, and definitely respectable engine life reports. The only part that gives me pause is the air filters, since I intend to go on some gravel/dirt roads. It might be bad if they get dirty easily under normal circumstances.

Speaking of ABS, does anyone know if you typically need some sort of expensive computer controller to activate the ABS pumps on scooters when you're changing the brake fluid?

[AMAC1680]

Interesting that the 300 Kymcos are slower even with a better power/weight ratio. I guess I don't really understand  the physics of it (drag being a bigger obstacle than weight, gearing, something else?). It sounds then like the Majesty wouldn't be pushed as far to its limits in terms of speed. I'm not sure how hills fits into this though.

People 250's may be sturdy, but for comparison there are bikes with reports of 200,000+ miles. They tend to be 650 and larger though. I don't know if that's because people don't put that kind of mileage on smaller bikes or if the smaller ones don't survive that long. If you do need a large enough engine for that kind of lifespan, I also don't know where that line is.

That's a compelling recommendation for the Majesty, and definitely respectable engine life reports. The only part that gives me pause is the air filters, since I intend to go on some gravel/dirt roads. It might be bad if they get dirty easily under normal circumstances.

Speaking of ABS, does anyone know if you typically need some sort of expensive computer controller to activate the ABS pumps on scooters when you're changing the brake fluid?

Not sure where the kymco 300s are s lower.
Slower than what? Other scoots or cycles.

Can't compare scooters to cycles.

AMAC

[hypophthalmus]

I meant compared to the Majesty. The Majesty has an extra pound or two (roughly estimating the wet weight of the Downtown) per HP.

[hypophthalmus]

Looking/thinking into the Silverwing more, the difference between that and the Majesty in terms of gas mileage isn't *that* big of a difference. Apparently if it's 2008 or later, it's actually the same, due to the addition of an O2 sensor.

It seems like the consensus is that the Silverwings should last into the hundreds of thousands of miles too.  And while I don't strictly need it, I'm sure the extra speed would be nice.

Maybe it'll just come down to what's available at the time.

[ole two wheels]

Here's another possibility for your failure. Worn out timing chain guides. While it would be unusual for the guides to be worn enough to jump teeth with only 12,000 miles, it's not out the question. Here's why. The links on a timing chain and most all chains, for that matter, are stamped. If you pull the chain out of your broken motor and look at the edges of the links, the part that rides on the guides, with a magnifying glass, you will see what looks like a metal file. This is the results of a badly worn stamp press. Whenever I replace a timing chain, in any kind of engine, I first take it to the polishing wheels and polish the side that will contact the guides until it looks like chrome. Harley Davidson (sorry Tom to mention that dreaded name and I use it here only for illustration) has had a world of problems with their cam chain tensioners on their big twins for this very reason, resulting in class action. Perhaps your engine was built just before they replaced the stamp jigs. Anyways, I'm sorry your engine broke and I know Kymco makes quality bikes.

[hypophthalmus]

Unfortunately I can't be sure of the condition of the guides, since I got one stuck/pressed between the head and the cylinder block. Evidently there's no way for the head to clear the frame without removing all of the studs, and I hadn't noticed the guide had gotten between the two went I went to push the head back on.

I don't see any obvious signs of wear from the chain. The top guide is bent out of shaped and a bit roughed up at a corner... but that could have easily been me. The bottom guide looks fine, as far as I can tell..

I'll definitely keep in mind that I should polish any new cam chains I install though.

When the chain was installed, I could move a link just a tiny bit up from the sprocket. Should that be possible if it's correctly tensioned?

[ole two wheels]

The simple answer is no you should not be able to  move the chain on the sprocket if it is properly tensioned. However all chains have an acceptable deflection limit between sprockets. Can you tell if the chain is broken. The guides probably weren't the cause for the lost timing. The idea of polishing the links is a good practice regardless. You wouldn't notice how rough they were with out very close inspection. Those guides and/or tensioner shoes are usually made of nylon, nylatron or fiber and they don't last long if the link edges are scared up.

[hypophthalmus]

The amount I could move it was very very little, but still there. So I guess the tension was in fact low?

The chain is still in tact.

[Forbes1964]

One thing Forbes forgot to mention: a Majesty, in the flesh,  is a gorgeous looking scooter!
(also, recent top 10 article rated Yamaha as #1 in quality)
Stig

Yes, it was a beautiful scooter. I used to get compliments all the time.

Oh. I just LOVED the parking brake. I could park it ANYWHERE without fearing that it would roll off its stand.


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[Scooter Dan]

I'd like to put in a plug for the SW. First off, I bought my 2003 ABS for 1900 with 39k. I had no misgiving about buying a high mileage SW but in truth is not high mileage for this scooter. It can easily go over 100k and some have gotten over 200k. I expect this will be my last Maxiscooter and will out last me. I've owned now for 3 years and have had "0" issues. It truly is the Swiss Army knife of Maxiscooters. I wouldn't hesitate riding mine cross country. It's wonderful for 2up also and is smooth as silk even at 100mph. Perhaps if there was any issue it might be the weight for some as it tops out at 550. Having moved down from a Goldwing at #950 pounds, it feels like a flyweight to me. I get about 50mpg which I find acceptable as my Goldwing was about 30 and my present BW 250 gets about 60.

[hypophthalmus]

A parking brake would have helped me recently. After I got my People 250 up into the Uhaul truck, I put it on the side stand so I could rest. It almost slid out.

The last time I was looking for a bike, I was reluctant to consider bikes with significant mileage. But at this point, I'm starting to see that kind of mileage as someone testing out the scooter for me to make sure it's mechanically sound.