New to me DT300i

[rdhood]

Last Mon, my brother and I  made a trip from Dahlonega, GA, to Telford TN to pick up a lightly used (7860 miles) from an older couple. While I wanted to ride it home, the temp dropped 10 degrees in the few miles from Asheville and made it to cold for me to ride it home. Nonetheless, these were bike people and this bike is in great shape. They only had one key... and the seat cable is busted... but those were the only gotchas when I got there. We were only a few miles from the AT, and he told us stories about how they used to ride mini bikes up there as kids.

I'm used to Asian scooters lacking in leg room, and my plan is to get a used leg shield and remake the footwells to add more room and feel less confining. I  have already made a seat mod to increase legroom... the two together will add an additional 4 inches of riding length.

It is outfitted with the taller Givi windscreen, new tires, battery tender already installed. They rode it less than 80 miles in the last three years, so I  drained the tank and put in some new fuel.

Is there anything I should pay attention to besides all of the typical scooter things ( belt, oil, filter, etc)?

[rdhood]

After a thorough inspection, I'm doing the 6000 and 9000 mile services. While looking the bike over, I  noticed some strange dry rot around the rim of the front wheel, so I  purchased a new tire, and I'm going to pull the front wheel and introduce myself to Atlanta's Kymco dealer. I'll try to get a key made, too. Oil is changed, spark plug next, and a valve check is coming...

[CROSSBOLT]

Oh, boy! Another DT300i guy! You won't be disappointed unless the previous owner put sand in the gearbox! I would change that as soon as possible. I have been using synthetic 75w90 gear lube in every CVT Kymco that we have owned. Realistically, any gear lube for car differentials will work fine. The early change is the idea. You got the rest covered!

There is a mountain of DT300i stuff on this forum. There are some things that affect ALL brands (Stall of Shame) and some that seem to plague Kymco (regulator/rectifier and stator failures). The 300i 2009 to 2016 models seem to be really reliable.

The "Stall of Shame" is engine failure (carburetor) or poor idle/power loss (EFI) caused by the vacuum operated vent valve to the fuel tank getting stuck shut. Your DT is EFI so if you get unexplained idle problems or power loss, stop, shut off engine and open the gas cap, start up again quickly. If the problem disappears, your vent valve is stuck shut.

Keep in touch! There are no stupid questions unless you are a lawyer! Har, har!

[rdhood]

Hi Crossbolt,   the previous two owners were a church pastor  and (literally) a little old lady.  Heck, I will bet this thing had never been over 70mph until I punched it!!  The lady that I bought if from couldn't handle it (size/weight), and only put on 60 miles from 2016 till I bought it.  So it has sat for about 3 years. (the old gentleman that I bought if from says, "The gas has been in there for a couple of years. I put some Stabil in it for storage, but you might want to put some fresh fuel in it...).  The amazing thing was that even with years old fuel, it started right up and I was able to take a test ride like he gassed it up yesterday. 

The dry rot was kind of crazy... I inspected the tires and noted that the front tire was circa  mid-2012.  But it looked good.  I took it on ONE ride of about 40 miles, and when I came back it was literally dry rot cracked around the rim of the wheel on both left and right side.   It's the strangest thing! But someone on this forum in the General/Technical how-to section noted the EXACT SAME THING on their 300i, and even provided a picture! So I have ridden it only about 50 miles since purchase, but the wheel goes in tomorrow and hopefully I will get it back and can put in some miles. 

Other than a broken seat cable, I haven't found anything else wrong or amiss.  I am changing the spark plug and pulling the front wheel tonight. 

[CROSSBOLT]

Yeah, I think that picture of the Maxxis cracks at the bead were MINE! 2013 sold to me as new old stock and they cracked in the dealer showroom! Replace both tires.

[Neil955i]

Yeah, I think that picture of the Maxxis cracks at the bead were MINE! 2013 sold to me as new old stock and they cracked in the dealer showroom! Replace both tires.

Heed Crossbolt well, it's just not worth taking any chance with rubber!

[rdhood]

I dropped off the wheel/ new tire this morning. Yeah, I  might have should have tried ot myself, but they are only going to charge me $25 to mount the tire, so I  let them do it. Should be ready by the weekend...

[Stig / Major Tom]

I dropped off the wheel/ new tire this morning. Yeah, I  might have should have tried ot myself, but they are only going to charge me $25 to mount the tire, so I  let them do it. Should be ready by the weekend...

Good deal. Less damage to tire bead and rim when using proper equipment.
Good price, too.
Stig

[rdhood]

Here's a pic.  I am just learning how to put these in...

[rdhood]

BTW, you can see my work-in-progress seat. It is already moderately successful...

It sits me 2.5" higher and 2.5" further back, increasing leg room by (2.5 * 1.414) inches = 3.5" .

[wbdvt]

What is the seat cushion you have on there?  My seating is the only complaint I have with my DT200 and I am looking at taking it to a seat upholster to modify but am interested in your mods?  Can you provide more detail?

[rdhood]

I retrieved my front wheel from the shop today. Don't you just love new rubber? It's like opening  a new jar of peanut butter... it's all
pristine and undisturbed. It's all back together.  I'm crossing my fingers for weather for the weekend.

[Stig / Major Tom]

I retrieved my front wheel from the shop today. Don't you just love new rubber? It's like opening  a new jar of peanut butter... it's all
pristine and undisturbed. It's all back together.  I'm crossing my fingers for weather for the weekend.

You know how youngsters take pix of their meals?....I'm like that with new scooter tires!!
Post proof when I get home

Stig

[rdhood]

After putting the front wheel on, I  noticed the front brake was a bit spongy, so I  did a complete brake bleed. The manual says that service interval is every two years, and I'm sure it's original fluid.

[rdhood]

I took it out for an hour ride just a few minutes ago. Man, it rides like it's on rails. It feels stuck to the road.  It is great!

So when I took it out before, I noticed that it had a tendency to want to turn in tighter when you are already making a tight turn. There's a note over in the wrenching section about their dt300 doing the same thing. People said maybe it's too much weight on the front of the scooter or something. Before I got the tire fixed and put on my seat cushion, my bike would do exactly that. In a tight turn, it would suddenly want to get tighter and you'd have to push it away with your inside and and pull with your outside hand to get it back under control. So I don't know if it's that I'm sitting two and a half in further back or if it was something grossly wrong with that previous front tire, but all of that turning strangeness is gone now. It's wonderful!