picking up new PCX tomorrow

[chet]

Under prolonged exposure to oil, the modern dipstick tends to shrink.
The old materials used in dipsticks cannot be used for environmental reasons nowadays and the new organic green materials just don't stay the same size for long enough.

We all have this problem with our dipsticks as we age...now that makes alot of sense, very true, i know problems as we age, good one Honk....

Should the bike be taken to a shop so the mechanic can check up the tailpipe to make sure everything is in working order?

[chet]

seems funny that i am going with a scooter, coming off of an 2000 HD 2002,2007 FZ1 , 07 SV650S, and now a 2011 V Strom set up for touring,

Chet

hope it keeps my sanity

[chet]

To add to my above post, that was my second childhood, forgot to add a 2011 CRF250R, first childhood was a 68 Yamaha RD350, 69 Suzuki TS90, 69 Suzuki TS185, 70 Honda 750 4 cyl, Suzuki TM400, 72 Suzuki GT380 3 cyl 2 stroke then it happened... married in 77 had to be good for twenty some years, and a few snowmobiles in there.

Chet

ps my buddy has a scooter to, so we will ride, he has a Aprilla Scaraboro 150, he says it RIPS, Hope he don't leave me in the dust LOL

[honkerman]

The Scarabeo and the Honda have roughly the same size engine. Depending on the year of your friend's scooter, it will be carbuerated, not EFI, You'll find that the PCX cooks. It beats the socks off my old Kymco People 150, though it seems a bit less flashy in the corners, just a touch. Of course, the PCX has smaller wheels and weighs about 50 lbs more wet.

I rode a Scarabeo 100 several years back when I was looking to upgrade from my 50cc Yamaha and while I found it...ok, it didn't take my breath away...of course, it cost about $1000 more than the Kymco at the time, and had 50 fewer CC's...kinda a no brainer.

All that to say, unless your friend has seriously modded his Aprillia, he may be surprized by just how good the PCX is comparatively.

As for the oddity of going to a scooter from a bigger bike...I started out on a 50cc scoot, got a 150cc scoot, then bought a 750cc Honda V4. After a few years with the V4, I discovered it was just too much bike for me. The 750 got sold to a buddy up in CT, and I went back to riding the 150 as my primary transport. The Kymco took me more than 24,000 miles over the years. It was just a fantastic machine and the engine was based on a Honda design. When a brand new 2013 PCX-150 showed up at Lancaster Honda for 3100 OTD, I figured it was time. It's amazing how much more machine the Honda seems to be. The engine is the same size, but the EFI, the Honda quality, just miles above the Kymco (though i'd still recommend Kymco as a viable option and a quality scoot). I just topped 800 on the PCX tonight when I went out for a ride. Working on a blog entry actually. Anyway, if you're at all like me, the PCX will not bore you. It's light, clippy, nimble, and just a load of fun to ride.

[chet]

Hi paul

Sounds like you are having some good times on your PCX, i am sure i will too, so tomorrow i pick it up, still deciding if i should drive it home or trailer it, about 60 miles, i have a trailer but if i trailer it, would there be any problems tying it down as i did with other bikes one strap on each side of the handlebars ect.

chet

[honkerman]

Hi paul

Sounds like you are having some good times on your PCX, i am sure i will too, so tomorrow i pick it up, still deciding if i should drive it home or trailer it, about 60 miles, i have a trailer but if i trailer it, would there be any problems tying it down as i did with other bikes one strap on each side of the handlebars ect.

chet

If I were you, I'd ride it. I'd avoid the highway, plan a route with secondary roads, and get used to it. 60 miles is child's play. Might take a couple hours to get home, but it would be worth it.

[you you]

Ride it. That's what you bought it for...?

[ScooteringAbout]

I ride mine often on the A49, and other busy A roads, been down the East Lancs Road a few times also! it does fine, I tend to find a van or other heavy commercial and ride 2-3seconds back at about 55-60.

[chet]

Well guys, thanks for the "Ride it Home" I did and was all smiles. I took some backroads, made a wrong turn at one spot, had to get on Rt 81 interstate for about 7 miles, I let her rip wide open, 64mph, not bad, but i would not do it regularly wind from other vehicles does effect me on the scoot, was glad to get off the interstates, great back roads and not hi speed highways, so i put 60 some miles coming home, one thing i think i might see in the future is a seat or have it reupholstered with a better padding, everything else so far is good, when i was taking off a few times today had a habit of looking for the footpegs, and realized uh uh you have floorboards. have to read the owners manual on how to use the know under the dash, brake hold ect, and what wheel it locks, and another question, warm ups in the morning, being they are belt drive cvt, any issues letting it idle few minutes. now once i get used to floorboards, and trying to pull the clutch lever thinking of riding a bike, i am really going to be confused.. but all in all the ride of this short scooter is nice, power is about what i expected,

Chet

[honkerman]

Well guys, thanks for the "Ride it Home" I did and was all smiles. I took some backroads, made a wrong turn at one spot, had to get on Rt 81 interstate for about 7 miles, I let her rip wide open, 64mph, not bad, but i would not do it regularly wind from other vehicles does effect me on the scoot, was glad to get off the interstates, great back roads and not hi speed highways, so i put 60 some miles coming home, one thing i think i might see in the future is a seat or have it reupholstered with a better padding, everything else so far is good, when i was taking off a few times today had a habit of looking for the footpegs, and realized uh uh you have floorboards. have to read the owners manual on how to use the know under the dash, brake hold ect, and what wheel it locks, and another question, warm ups in the morning, being they are belt drive cvt, any issues letting it idle few minutes. now once i get used to floorboards, and trying to pull the clutch lever thinking of riding a bike, i am really going to be confused.. but all in all the ride of this short scooter is nice, power is about what i expected,

Chet

Glad you decided to ride it home. Knew you'd not regret it. The manual vs. CVT is disconcerting. When I had both a manual bike and a scoot at the same time I used to get all sorts of confused.

As for the seat, if you put your feet forward and up on the slanted part of the floorboards (your toes will hang out a bit, but if you're used to cruisers, that's no big deal), you'll see why the "rump bump" is there (got that advice elsewhere on this forum and it's spot on). I like it, personally, though it seems to be one of the more discussed annoyances amongst many PCX owners.

I always start my scoot, then get my gear on. This gives time to get the oil circulating. If it's a colder day, I go outside, start it, then go inside to dress for the ride. I've been told many times that it's never good to flog a cold engine, so a bit of warm up is good. Not as big of a deal with an EFI engine, but still. I did this for six years and 24000+ miles of riding on my old Kymco and it ran like new the day I sold it.

Congrats on your purchase. I hope you have many happy miles. Take a pic or two and post them in the gallery.

[chet]

Thanks Paul for your input.

going to try and make a trip to Cabelas, some hills but no interstates, i figured out the parking brake

Chet
ps then i can stop at Cigars International for a few cigars

[gn2]

another question, warm ups in the morning, being they are belt drive cvt, any issues letting it idle few minutes

No issues, it simply isn't necessary.
The thing is good to go immediately the engine starts.

[you you]

another question, warm ups in the morning, being they are belt drive cvt, any issues letting it idle few minutes

No issues, it simply isn't necessary.
The thing is good to go immediately the engine starts.

Well a second or two to get full oil pressure after a cold start might be a good idea before giving it the berries. Doesn't do any harm to let both coolants warm up a bit when riding but ticking over on the stand is a waste of anxiety

[Bash On!]

The colder it is (ambient temp and engine temp), the longer I give the engine before really ripping it. As far as starting, I'll let it idle just long enough to put on gloves before heading off.