Thank you Neil955i
Thank you rjs987, that’s was nice and detailed. Was that heated grip part of a recall? Or it’s just something you have to call the dealer about?
You said you didn’t have to remove panels to get to the oil filter? The video I saw he had to remove rivets behind the front wheel plastics then remove a few bolts to unhinge the plastic skid plate covering the oil filter.
Yes the heated grips are always a great option. I’m coming from a bmw c650 gt ans it has heated grips and seats
To post pictures can I just upload them here or do I need to go to a file sharing site?
In reverse order...
Picture posting can be done directly here using the Attachments and other options link just under the reply box. But there is a severe limit to the size of any pictures that can be directly placed within a post. I have Google Photos and simply include a link to most of the pictures I want to include with a post. Almost all my photos exceed the size limitations and I'm not interested in resizing all the photos I want to post. I can post a link for an individual photo or a collection of photos as desired. Here is an example:
https://photos.app.goo.gl/hw6HJ75RxAfMbXmA6I also saw videos before I bought mine showing how to remove the plastic skid panel... or at least loosen it enough to have it drop to gain easier access to the oil filter. Then I saw another video of a Japanese or Taiwanese girl who did the entire oil change, including the filter replacement, without removing any panels at all (can't seem to find it now). So that's how I do it now. The very first 600 mile oil change I did remove screws from the right foot board and then removed the screws to be able to drop the skid panel. But then I realized that it could be done without all that trouble. The pictures I linked to just above show how I use the BMW filter wrench with my ratchet handle to remove/replace the filter. I am then able to work the filter out from that space between the panel and the exhaust pipes. The space is a little tight but it can be done and is less hassle than removing any plastic. The oil from the filter does drip onto the plastic skid plate and then into my oil pan but it is nothing that cannot be wiped off. During an oil change oil does tend to get on some parts and the floor anyway regardless of what you try to do to prevent that (true with every bike I've owned). I found I actually had less oil mess doing it this way. More contained and controlled.
Here's a link to the filter wrench I have:
https://a.co/d/0emarzcuThe heated grip controller issue is not a recall that I know of. The system worked great until the temp dropped a few degrees below freezing. I contacted the dealer and also KymcoUSA head office. The head office on the east coast said they had the controllers in stock. My dealer took out the old controller and when they hit it with freeze spray it did fail. They got the replacement controller from the head office within 3 days and did the same test on the bench and it did not fail with the freeze spray test. I think the entire system was designed with the climate near Taiwan. If they designed it someplace a lot colder then it might have had no issues from the start. With my bar muffs from Kemimoto and heated grips now I have been riding in temps down to -5F (-20C) so far... but only because I haven't had colder temps around here yet to ride in. My hands were toasty warm with the heated grips set to medium heat at that temp. Like putting my hands in little heated caves. When temps are only 10 deg F below freezing I have to set the heat to low or it's just too hot.
I don't think the dealer or HQ will do anything unless you can show a fail with it. I wouldn't expect that to be any different with any brand of bike. The owner manual as well as the service manual give the error code that blinks at the left heated grip LED to indicate what part of the system is at fault. Mine called out the controller.
I have the same alias name on the BurgmanUSA forum as well as ADVrider forums (Battle Scooter sub forum) and have many posts in those that detail my experience with the AK. There are several others on the ADV forum with the AK 550 as well.
One place I have gone to for finding parts is TBSS.
https://taiwanbigscootershop.com/collections/ak550They seem to continue to add more and more parts and aftermarket accessories to their pages. They also support several scooters and super scooters. I bought a set of rear brake pads from there. I have a cross reference for the Brembo front brake pads that cost half what the Kymco original pads cost but the only real difference is the brand stamped on the package (EBC FA630HH). I find those at Amazon. I also get my OEM oil filters (HiFlo Filtro HF164) as a 4 pk from Amazon for a really fair price. I check and adjust the final drive belt tension the same way Harley Davidson owners do, using a belt gauge to check deflection with 10lbs of force (also bought on Amazon). The belt is the same width as those used on some HD bikes, though a different length.
Did you ever look at the name cast into the engine block on your C650? Kymco made those engines to spec.
