How to choose a new or used scooter. What to look for

≡ 26 February 2018

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It's finished! - the money has been saved, the model of the device has been chosen through long research, advice and searches, you have already met with the seller. Here it is, your dream - it stands, dimly gleaming on its sides, exuding the smell of a hot engine, hands are shaking with anticipation, the body asks for the wheel, but the brain of a cautious, prudent person is in doubt, because the vehicle has already traveled a considerable number of thousands of kilometers, could have been in accidents, and all the difficulties and obstacles overcome on the path to the dream can turn into endless repairs with accompanying headaches. We will try to give some tips on how to check the condition of a scooter when purchasing.

Main difficulties and features:

Of course, the seller will not be completely frank with you and will very likely hide from you the malfunctions and adventures that the device experienced in his hands.

No one will allow you to disassemble the device down to the screw and check everything thoroughly, unless you remove the variator cover - more on that below.

Where to start

In terms of appearance: broken plastic, abrasions, scratches, chips can indicate both an accident and careless handling of equipment. Particular concern should be caused by severe damage to the front plastic (beak) - most likely, there was a head-on collision and possible damage to the fork or frame, and this can be treated, respectively, by replacing the fork or overhauling the chassis structure, and the quality of the repair may disappoint. In general, after such collisions, many newly acquired sores can emerge.

Next is the rubber. Bald tires directly indicate the disdainful attitude of the owner (or salon) towards equipment, Chinese tires are a normal option, old tires from famous manufacturers indicate the recent arrival of the scooter in Russia (also not bad, the scooter did not really have time to taste the delights of the Russian road surface), the presence of relatively fresh European tires of a size larger than the standard one (usually 3.00 - 10) indicate that the vehicle has been properly maintained and, possibly, is in good condition.

When inspecting the tires, we pay attention to the condition of the discs: dents and “eights” are extremely undesirable. It’s good if the wheels are tubeless and there are no cameras installed, which means that the seal is not broken, and the scooter did not jump over large holes.

We continue the external inspection: the brake levers - if they are frayed at the ends, bent or broken - are a sure sign of a fall at speed.
It's the same with plastic. A huge number of stickers most likely hides defects in the coating; the presence of “beautiful” handles, light bulbs, and lighting should not obscure the buyer’s eyes with shine - rather, this indicates the recklessness of the driver and the burning of rubber in front of the amazed public - hence the wear of the clutch and parts variator

Types of motor vehicles

The range of choice of scooters and motorcycles is quite wide: from lightweight and economical options to heavy and power-hungry 200-horsepower road “monsters”, differing from each other in both style and level of performance. All models are created specifically for specific purposes, based on the specific needs of the pilot. For example, some motorcycles are designed for off-road use, others for long highway rides, while others are capable of combining several “talents” at once.

As a rule, novice drivers are advised to first get used to riding a light scooter - they are easy to control, have a modest weight (they can even be lifted by hand) and have an automatic transmission. In addition, in everyday life, a scooter may turn out to be more practical than the rest of the motorcycle equipment, since it almost always has a compartment for storing things and even a helmet.

Easy to ride scooter

Let's move on to the brakes

The serviceability of the brakes is a necessary condition for moving on a scooter - not only the safety of the body’s members, but also the life of the driver often depends on them, so here we show observation and patience (the main thing is that the seller has enough of it).

You need to check the brakes while driving, but first just push the handles. Drum brake: due to the design, a “cotton” feeling cannot be avoided, but if you press on the lever and when you apply force, the lever rests on the handle, most likely the brake cable is old and stretched (although it’s possible to drive like this, it’s unpleasant). Having pressed the lever all the way, release it - if it immediately returns to its original state - good, the cable is lubricated and is in satisfactory condition, if you have to return it all the way by hand - the cable has turned sour, and the sensations on the road will not be pleasant.

Disc brake: look through the inspection window on the reservoir - if you see clear fluid standing above the mark - this is already a good sign, the absence of it or a dirty, dark color is a cause for concern. Inspect the brake disc - deep grooves and general wear promise a quick failure of the device.

Electric bike

Electric bike

This is a young segment of motorcycles, gaining popularity with rising fuel prices and the movement of world society towards reducing harmful emissions into the atmosphere. There are apparently minimal maintenance costs, which is appropriately combined with good power and speed performance. The batteries can be charged both at a gas station and at home - from a household outlet; the range is usually up to 80 km. Price tags: from $8,000 to $14,000 in the USA and Japan; in many countries there are incentive systems for the purchase of such equipment.

Suspension

Rear shock absorber: Remove the scooter from the stand and jump on the seat (not with your feet, of course), the scooter should squat and smoothly return to its starting position; the feeling of a baby rocking chair, the presence of stains on the body, hissing, whistling, squelching sounds - the shock absorber is faulty.

Front suspension: if there are shock absorbers, the steps are as follows: squeeze the front brake lever and swing the device back and forth - the conclusions are similar to those with the rear shock absorber. It is absolutely unacceptable if the fork remains in one position, despite your efforts. In the absence of hydraulics, i.e. if the front fork has guides with springs, use the same method to determine the presence/absence of backlash and jamming of the mechanism.

Compact transport

A scooter, or moped, is a small motorcycle, its engine is located below the driver, namely, under his seat. If the user mainly moves alone, without passengers, this device is the best option. The main reason is maneuverability, which is very important in urban environments.

The larger the city, the more justified the use of a scooter. The second, no less important reason is efficiency. Why pay more for fuel if it does its job functionally as a means of transportation? And if we see that it is impossible to argue with the necessity and expediency of purchasing a scooter, the first question arises: how to choose a scooter or moped? To do this, let’s try to understand the main features and selection criteria.

Electrical equipment

There must be light! All lighting equipment must work - side lights, brake lights, turn indicators, high beams, of course, don’t listen to explanations - “the light bulb is burned out, change it - and that’s it,” maybe, but this could also mean a faulty electrical wiring or a burnt-out relay-regulator , and this means additional investments and difficulties with the search. Having a battery, even if it’s old and quickly discharges, is highly desirable; without it, many problems can arise, and a new one costs about 1000-1500 rubles.

So - the engine

The engine is the main, main unit of the iron horse - its heart. It’s great if the device has a starter and a battery - the engine starts with a short press of the “START” button - great, there is hope that “the patient is more likely to be alive than dead.” We started the engine and began to listen to the sounds produced - there should be no extraneous noise (except perhaps the clanking of the starter overrunning clutch on Minarelli (Yamaha) engines and the characteristic harsh operation of Suzuki engines, but these sounds are difficult to mistake for “extraneous”). We put our foot on the step (so that the device does not jump off it and does not jump off the curb) and twist the gas handle several times, the speed should increase quickly and without interruption.

And finally, we give the owner a deposit, take his passport/keys/license as collateral and go for a test ride, let go of the steering wheel at low speed and drive for some distance “without hands”, does the scooter “steer” to the side? We refuse the device - the frame/chassis is crooked or all together, this cannot be dealt with cheaply.

The scooter should accelerate smoothly and quickly, without failures or interruptions, up to 55 km/h (a limiter may prevent further acceleration; if there is no limiter, the speed is at least 60-65 km/h). If you come across a seller who is ready to remove the variator cover, you are in luck.

Under the cover, inspect the general condition of the variator mechanisms: pay attention to the wear of the variator cheeks (the front part sitting on the crankshaft), the condition of the clutch pads (if possible on this model; as a rule, you can look at the linings through the gap between the clutch drum and the mechanism).

Unclench the rear pulley with your hands so as to loosen the belt tension and rock the front pulley - there should be no play in the crankshaft bearing, also rock the rear shaft - there should be no play here either (except for Yamaha Jog engines - here the shaft rests on a bearing in the variator cover, so play is acceptable). And one more thing - there should be no traces of oil on the variator parts.

The wear of the belt will not tell you anything, the belt is a consumable item, although, of course, if there is an openly Chinese belt with threads sticking out in all directions, this is an alarming fact, but the seller will not allow you to look at this.

Also check whether oil is leaking from the gearbox, in general - an oil stain under the scooter is unacceptable - the lubrication system is leaky, it’s better not to buy one.

Are you satisfied with the device? Did you like everything? Great - you found what you were looking for. Some moments are stressful, is there something you don’t like? Think about whether it’s worth buying this particular scooter, maybe it’s better to look at something else? Let’s add one thing - it’s still better to buy an iron friend in a showroom than from hand, at least you will still have hope for a guarantee and no mileage in Russia, but even in this case - be careful! Go for it!

Nowadays, only lazy people don’t sell scooters. They can even be found in supermarkets somewhere between TVs and soft toys. Just look, soon this popular product will appear in vegetable stores and newsstands. Yes, it’s convenient when you don’t have to look for a specialized store, but it’s risky.

In multi-product stores it is very difficult to assess the condition of a motorcycle product. The point is not only that in an environment of general fuss it is difficult to gather your thoughts. Scooters should not be sold by experts in clothing, perfume and sausages, but by people with special knowledge - capable of not only conducting adequate pre-sale preparation, but also explaining to the buyer what is what... In order to avoid a lot of misunderstandings and not waste time finding out the addresses of warranty workshops, Start studying the subject of your desires by reading a boring but useful book “Operation Manual”. At least read what is written here.

Based on my own experience of warranty and non-warranty repairs, I am obliged to pay attention to components that require special attention both at the time of purchase and, which is also very important, during the first kilometers of the run. These are the lubrication system, brakes, transmission and steering wheel.

LAUNCH

Here are the subtleties - many novice scooter riders really don’t know them.

Buying a Scooter • The ignition key must be in the ON position.

• Check whether the battery is installed on the scooter, if so, is it charged or not. The degree of charge of the battery does not affect starting the engine with a kickstarter.

• To check whether the battery is charged, press the horn button. If the battery is “live”, then the sound should be loud and sharp.

• When starting the engine, do not turn the throttle - this will only make things worse!

• The JOY model and others with the same engine (Style, Smyle) need to be started only when you open the starting enrichment ( indicated by the arrow in photo 1 ). And in cool weather, without the enricher involved, it is completely useless to torture the starter or kick.

• Don't forget to press one of the brake levers. In this case, the limit switch should close, its rod should extend ( indicated by the arrow in photo 2 ) and the brake light should light up.

Only then will the electric starter turn on.
And the kickstarter will start the engine only when you squeeze the left brake lever. The kickstarter locking lever moves the rear brake cable tip ( indicated by the arrow in photo 3 )

First questions

First you need to decide for what purpose you plan to use your transport. The answer to the question of which scooter to choose will largely depend on this. It would be useful to remind you that the engine capacity of motor vehicles is up to 50 cubic meters. cm does not require a driver's license. There are owners of larger engines who are not afraid to drive without a driver’s license, but mostly make do with short distances or use their vehicles in sparsely populated areas and dachas.

For obvious reasons. Depending on your requirements and preferences, the price of scooters can range from 300 to 2000 USD. e. It would be a good idea to immediately decide which scooter is better to buy - new or used. And a used one will not always be cheaper, because you can buy a high-quality “Japanese” one, even if not new, or even a new one, but “Chinese”. Therefore, you will need to consider all options. We will consider the question of how to choose a used scooter.

STEERING WHEEL

It would seem that everything about it is elementary, and there is no trick to wait for - it is attached with only two bolts: one tightens the base of the steering wheel around the yoke pipe, the second passes through the pipe and tightens the base of the steering wheel. It would seem that…

This second one is very short, located in a very inconvenient place - the headlight trim prevents it from being twisted. The thread is weak, and even on the assembly line of the manufacturing plant, the assemblers, for fear of tearing it off, often do not tighten the bolt. As a result, after several days of driving, the steering wheel begins to wobble.

If you feel any play, you can contact the warranty workshop. But you can save time: remove the upper part of the front fairing, headlight trim yourself and tighten the bolt. But from experience I can advise: it’s better to immediately replace it with a longer one.

The LUBRICATION SYSTEM is one of the most important! It is very simple and reliable, but it is responsible for many returns to sellers of recently purchased scooters.

In modern scooters with 2-stroke engines, pure gasoline is poured into the fuel tank, oil is poured into a separate tank, and it is supplied to the cylinder by a special pump.
At the factory, very little oil is poured into the tank; it will only last for a few tens of kilometers. So immediately after purchasing the machine, fill the oil tank to the maximum ( the filler neck is indicated by an arrow in photo 6 ).

When you try to test run the engine in a store, as a rule, a bright red light will immediately light up ( indicated by an arrow in Photo 5 ): this means that the engine is “eating” the oil reserve, and it won’t last long. But you need to start the engine before purchasing to make sure it is working.

Pay attention to the exhaust pipe - bluish smoke should come out of it.
If the exhaust is clean, it means that the factory forgot to fill in oil - turn off the engine immediately... Fill the tank with oil, taking your time and counting: determine how much oil goes in until the reserve lamp goes out. Knowing its volume, you can then determine how long you can move with the light on. The oil pump is located in the rear wheel drive (indicated by an arrow in photo 7). Without knowing some of the subtleties of its operation, the engine can easily be ruined. Please note:

1. When the rear wheel does not spin even though the engine is on, the oil pump is not working. Hence, if you “accelerate” for a long time, standing still, not allowing the rear wheel to rotate, the motor will jam without lubrication!

2. And another ambush: if you roll the scooter for a long time with the engine not running, the oil pump will flood the crank chamber with oil. The result is a water hammer at startup and, again, the engine will jam. To ensure that the lubrication system does not fail, inspect its tubes regularly, at least once a month. If you miss, at least one of them will fray or jump off the fitting, the motor is “not a survivor.”

But there are more benefits

After all, traveling on a motorcycle is colored by a more diverse palette of impressions, rewarding you with the opportunity to feel the smells and sounds of the surrounding world, and to travel where a car cannot. Many two-wheeled vehicles have a fuel consumption rate of 5 liters/100 km, while more economical options can travel more than 40 km on 1 liter (2.5 liters/100 km). This is a very important point that you need to pay attention to when visiting a dealership. True, at first it will not be easy to physically adapt to driving a bike.

Yamaha motorcycle parking

BRAKES

Even if the scooter has undergone pre-sale preparation and the brake drive has been adjusted by the technician, re-adjustment will be needed very soon.
After all, over the first hundreds of kilometers, new parts wear in, the gap between them grows, and the brakes gradually weaken. So it's time to tighten the cables. To adjust the rear brake, simply place the scooter on the center stand. To adjust the front one, lift the front wheel off the ground - place an object under the front part of the trim. While rotating the wheels one at a time, gently press the corresponding lever. The free play of the ends of the levers before braking begins should be about 10 mm. To reduce it, turn the nuts on the ends of the cables near the wheels clockwise ( indicated by arrows in photos 8 and 9 ).

TRANSMISSION

Immediately after purchase, check the transmission oil level and top up if necessary.
A slight deficiency or excess of oil is not a problem - it’s bad if there is none at all. The rear wheel drive is very durable and, subject to careful care and proper operation of the machine, will not bother the owner for years. But if there is a lack of lubrication, the gears, and after them the rest of the parts, wear out in a matter of minutes. The transmission can be filled with almost any automobile or motorcycle engine oil. How many? You can learn about this from the hint label located near the filler neck. To check the oil level in the tank, place the scooter vertically and unscrew the special screw ( indicated by the arrow in photo 10 ).

Oil should come out of the hole. Tilt the scooter slightly to the left - oil should start flowing out. If it doesn’t flow, add more.

***

Running in correctly

Having used, among other things, this article, you have finally become the happy owner of a new two-wheeled friend, and you no longer need to think about how to choose a scooter. If your purchase is a device with no mileage, its correct operation at the initial stage is very important. An important detail is running in the vehicle. This is required so that the parts of the engine mechanism get used to each other without overload. Run-in should last at least 500 km. If the engine has been repaired in terms of replacing the rings, 200 km will be enough.

Things to remember when breaking in:

• use high-quality oil, preferably synthetic;
• the octane number of the gasoline being filled must correspond to the figures specified by the manufacturer in the technical documentation;
• acceleration dynamics should be smooth, driving should not be intense;
• Do not overload the scooter by weight or when driving on steep and long climbs;
• It is not recommended to suddenly release the throttle while driving, this has a bad effect on the engine due to a decrease in the oil supply to it;
• When you stop, do not immediately turn off the engine; it is advisable to let it idle for two minutes;
• the speed of movement should be no higher than 40 km/h;
• After break-in, it is advisable to change the spark plug and oil in the rear hub.

Before the break-in process, it is advisable to start the engine at idle speed. Run the engine in three batches for 5, 10 and 20 minutes. Allow it to cool for 10-15 minutes between runs.

Is it worth buying a new Chinese scooter?

Today, Chinese scooters in Russia have literally occupied all motor markets (like, in general, any other Chinese product in any other market). The price of Chinese scooters ranges from 20,000 to 45,000 rubles. And it is not surprising that many of our compatriots have already tried the taste of Chinese freebies - many Chinese scooters failed on the second day of operation. But despite this, in each new season we expect an even greater influx of Chinese equipment.

The main motive for this is that China produces not only bad, but also quite high-quality goods. And of course it's true. But with regard to the supply of Chinese scooters to Russia, this principle does not work well - more and more low-grade, self-falling Chinese scooters are being brought to us. It's hard to imagine that a cheap Chinese scooter will ever be able to compete with a Japanese scooter.

It often happens that a Chinese scooter is sold under the signature “Made in Taiwan,” or Malaysia, Indonesia, etc. But usually, if the cost of a scooter is not more than $1500, then it’s just a scam. For some reason, the scooter seller hopes that the name of Malaysia will ignite in the buyer a greater desire to purchase a scooter than China.

Although, for example, Taiwanese scooters are slightly better in quality than Chinese scooters, it is rare to find them, for example, in Moscow. The exception will probably be the Korean Daelim, which combines good quality and relatively low cost - about $2000.

And yet, if there is supply, then there is demand. In addition, you cannot “bury” all Chinese scooters in one fell swoop - in fact, there are Chinese manufacturers of high-quality scooters. You just need to figure it out.

What awaits a scooterist who buys a Chinese scooter? This article describes the process of testing the device - a scooter just received from China; Let's start it, drive it, then break it down into small details, analyzing the quality of assembly and workmanship.

This article became possible thanks to one of the companies that asked to test a scooter from the Chinese brand Honling and wanted to remain anonymous and, thanks to the Scootershop company, which kindly agreed to provide the premises of one of its service centers with all the necessary equipment, and participated in the analysis.

The device being tested is a 50cc, 4-stroke Honling scooter (HL50Q7-6).

Power – 2.4 hp/7.5 kW Cooling: air. Dimensions: 1705 x 675 x 1050 mm; Base: 1170 mm. The front brake is disc, the rear is drum. Weight: 110 kg. Suspension: front – telescope, rear – pendulum. Transmission – variator. Ignition – electric, kick starter. Price in Moscow : $990 US.

A short master class for beginners

This guide is aimed primarily at drivers who have decided to connect their lives with riding a motorcycle or scooter for the first time, as well as those who have not saddled a two-wheeled “iron horse” for a long time and have decided to plunge back into the world of bikes. We will tell you about the main types of motorcycle transport, the basics of traffic safety, equipment features, maintenance costs and other points that every motorcyclist needs to learn.

Anyone can ride an iron horse if they want

Assembly and launch of a Chinese scooter

Here it is, a Chinese scooter just delivered from the manufacturer, fully packaged, partially disassembled. The packaging is clever - the corners of the wooden frame are secured with metal corners, and the fastening wire is covered with plastic so as not to scratch the plastic of the scooter.

Let's take a look at the packaging - I generally like the scooter right away. The good appearance and large size are captivating. Large double seat, the set includes a large trunk (removable trunk). Although this delight dissolves as we examine the Chinese scooter more thoroughly. First things first, however.

Although the seat is large, for two people, its design does not allow one person to sit in the middle of the seat - it is made of a “step”. The case seems to be reliable, but this is only at first glance, like many things in this scooter. The trunk is made of thin aluminum, the nominal weight of luggage is 3 kg. But it is clear that even if the norm is slightly exceeded, it can easily break at the seams. In addition, one fastener is slightly bent. There is a rug under the driver's feet - an extremely impractical thing, considering that it is made of ordinary carpet.

The plastic of the scooter is, at first impression, quite bad. However, only according to the first - according to the second, it is fraught with a bunch of minor defects. These are mainly fastening elements. And the assembly of Chinese plastic is not very neat.

We place the front wheel without any obstacles. The wheel mount on this scooter is of very good quality. The speedometer drive seal is missing. The fork has corrugations instead of anthers (in principle, this is the same thing, only the corrugation breaks faster). The seals are fine.

The design of the front fork cross member is not very good. The mounting points for the fork legs are made at an angle of 45 degrees. With such fastening, even with a slight impact (curb, hole), there is a considerable risk of damage to the fork.

The tires are not bad at all, not over-dried, and of good quality.

As for the electrical connectors, it is advisable to check them all, because they were assembled, it must be said, carelessly. It’s better to check right away - otherwise a problem may arise later, albeit a small one, simply from a disconnected terminal. It is clear that it is impossible to do without the most thorough pre-sale preparation of the scooter. Having tightened and checked all the connections, we got a pretty decent picture.

All fasteners also need to be tightened.

When assembled, this scooter is very reminiscent of the Honda Spacy 125, model 94. Just as big. 50 cubes obviously won’t be enough for him.

In addition to the necessary fasteners, the underseat trunk also contained a set of tools. But the quality of these tools leaves much to be desired - you can immediately buy something better instead.

There's a whole story about the gas tank. Its lid did not open; it was blocked by a hole. And when it was finally possible to remove it and it was possible to fill it with gasoline, there was another surprise - due to the design of the filler hole of the Chinese scooter, gasoline splashed out like a fountain.

That is, there will be problems at gas stations - you need to pour fuel in a thin stream. Although I would recommend not refueling your scooter directly at a gas station, but doing it in your garage using a special watering can with a filter - today’s gas at gas stations is not so great, you can even grab some garbage. It is clear, of course, that there is a fuel filter for this, but still.

The engine oil of the Chinese scooter is available in sufficient quantities. Also lubricant in the necessary places. And in some places, in abundance. This is a good sign.

A serious omission - the ignition coil (terminals) is located in a completely unprotected place - expect trouble.

The switch looks like a similar one from the Honda Dio ZX; most likely, they are interchangeable, which is also a big plus.

The battery supplied with the scooter is quite powerful, but the wire terminals are weak.

The preparatory and assembly work is completed, the scooter is ready, you can start it. When starting with the electric starter there is a terrible sound, the scooter will not start. The second time I tried, I couldn't start the scooter either.

The scooter was started only on the tenth attempt, and then only after using ether. The reason was in the idle jet hole, as well as in the jet itself, which were clogged with small aluminum shavings. After cleaning the carburetor, the scooter engine spun at half a turn.

After eliminating the malfunction, the sound of the scooter's engine changed pleasantly, after all, four strokes. Having adjusted the carburetor, we notice that the instability of the scooter engine has also disappeared.

There is no opportunity to ride properly yet - it’s winter, but for those meters that we drove, the Chinese scooter demonstrated good traction. Usually Chinese 4-stroke engines turn out to be weaker. You might even think that the scooter has more horses than the declared 2.4 horses (although, for comparison, the 4-stroke Honda Dio has up to 6.5 hp).

Sportbike

Sport bike

Sports motorcycles require a lightweight design coupled with a high-performance engine and an aerodynamic body kit. But the driver is in a half-bent position, and these are far from the most comfortable and practical models. They are more suitable for experienced motorcyclists who are good at handling vehicles in any driving conditions. Engine volumes range from 250 cc. see also real exoticism, which only professionals can ride. The cost of purchasing such a bike is from 150,000 rubles.

Disassembly of a Chinese scooter

And now we get to the most interesting part - disassembling this Chinese scooter. We dismantle the side body kit. Next is the rear body kit - it is removed along with the brake light. The plastic of the scooter can be removed very easily - mainly using screws and latches.

Lack of rust is a plus. Rust is not uncommon on Chinese scooters such as Gili and Quinci. This is an indication that this scooter did not stagnate in warehouses.

The air intake is high, which is good for dusty roads. Everything you need is lubricated. There are no questions about the scooter's variator - the surface is smooth and polished. CVT belt - width - 18 mm, length 670-675, that is, similar to the Honda Dio ZX. It is noticeable that from the outside this Chinese scooter copies the Honda Spacy, and its transmission is similar to the Honda Dio ZX35.

Although the Chinese air filter is oiled, it is clear that it was not done carefully. One of the fasteners is not fully tightened, the other is completely torn off. The feeling is that the Chinese assembled the scooter haphazardly, hastily. And the scooter air filter housing itself is structurally located very close to the shock absorber - that is, it is possible that the scooter will experience good bumps on itself.

The Chinese shock absorber itself is quite good. The muffler, although nice, is nothing special - an ordinary iron muffler.

The carburetor of a Chinese scooter has an accelerator pump. As already mentioned, there were metal shavings in the jets.

The plastic spark plug cap is attached sluggishly, a piece of the cap is broken off. It is also not easy to replace the spark plug itself - the standard key does not fit.

The most worthy and interesting thing about this Chinese is its engine. The compression is decent. The cylinder has an automatic chain tensioner. The engine body of the Chinese scooter is carefully molded. Further. The bearings, valves, chain, as well as the piston and cylinder are all of decent quality. The studs are made of hardened steel, which is good. It is clear that the engine was not manufactured in the same place as the rest of the scooter. All the faults that are quite common on a Chinese scooter are simply absent from the engine.

Therefore, having gone through a normal run-in on this Chinese vehicle (according to the recommendation, 1000 km for this engine), the engine will prove to be reliable in the future.

Restoring documents for a motorcycle

Motorbike documents that are lost or stolen can be restored. In this case, traffic police officers must provide:

• passport of a citizen of the Russian Federation;
• a certificate from the police about the initiation (or refusal to initiate a criminal case for the loss/theft of documents);
• document of ownership (DCP);
• registration certificate;
• OSAGO policy;
• registration plates;
• check for payment of state duty.

If the vehicle was driven by power of attorney, it (+ a notarized copy) must be attached to the specified list. If the vehicle was purchased on credit, you will have to first obtain permission from the bank.

Conclusion

Although it would be stupid to compare Chinese scooters with Japanese ones, nevertheless, the above-described process of assembling and disassembling this Chinese scooter changed the first hostile attitude towards Chinese technology. So you can buy Chinese scooters, but extremely carefully, preferably with a four-stroke engine, and imagining all the disadvantages of the Chinese. They can only be eliminated by normal pre-sale preparation with the necessary special tools and qualified specialists. Therefore, before purchasing, you need to ask whether such preparation has been carried out.

Separately from all Chinese scooters, it is necessary to note the Baotian and Huoniao conveyors, which produce high-quality scooters and are devoid of 95% of the considered Chinese shortcomings. These brands are not known in Russia, since the supply of these scooters is focused on European countries. In Russia, the HONLING brand models are better known, which are structurally practically a copy of these models.

The HUONIAO brand is produced at the DIHAO MOTORS plant and supplied to Spain.

The BAOTIAN brand is best known in Germany and the UK.

Since the scooter models we offer are intended for sale in the European market, they have high build quality and reliability. From personal experience of using the Chinese Baotian scooter (BAOTIAN Tanco 50), I can judge it as a worthy competitor to European scooter models. There are no special complaints even about its plastic (the first thing that catches your eye is the poorly assembled plastic of a Chinese scooter).

After proper running-in and removal of the speed limiters, the Chinese BAOTIAN scooter confidently goes 65-70 km/h, and its daily use is not marred by another “jamb” that would require repair or replacement of something. (I had only one problem with this scooter - the carburetor membrane broke due to a small burr inside, which was removed with sandpaper by the ever-growing Scooterists).

In addition, at the moment BAOTIAN is the only Chinese company that provides a guarantee for its products. (For some other Chinese scooters you can also find a warranty, but this is a branded warranty - given by the dealer company - and not a factory one).

As cheap as possible

The cost of any motor vehicle depends on factors such as its class, engine power and manufacturer's brand. The least burdensome from a financial point of view will be an inexpensive, small-sized “Chinese” with an engine capacity of less than 50 cubic meters. However, saving money when purchasing, you can lose when operating the vehicle. We can talk for a long time about how to choose a Chinese scooter.

Be that as it may, Chinese quality is famous for the fact that it will periodically remind you of the existence of technical problems that will need to be fixed. And bear the costs. For example, a “Japanese” one, even if it’s not new, will allow the owner to feel much calmer. Although if problems arise it will cost more. There is a lottery aspect anyway. When trying to save money, don't forget to look ahead. At least try to do it.

Cons of Chinese scooters

• Numerous jambs
• Requires a break-in period of strictly 1000 km (in our conditions, when you want to sit down and immediately drive normally, this is an important thing)
• Problems with plastic
• Complete absence of the secondary market (that is, selling a used Chinese scooter is almost impossible).

Tags: how to choose • which scooter to buy • moped • what to look for • used • purchase • scooter • transport

Tourer

Tourer

Touring motorcycles are suitable for both day trips and long trips. Touring bikes always have room for a passenger and offer maximum comfort for the rider, so that you can spend the whole day on the wheel without any problems. The base package often includes duffel bags and other accessories that make travel more enjoyable, such as cruise control, a stereo system and heated steering wheel grips. The prices are appropriate: from 250,000 rubles..