Given up!

Is that frame a classic? or is it new? Looks a lot like a Columbia.

Maybe not give up so quick? you may be just a step or two away from getting it to run how you like. What sort of trouble was it giving you? What motor you got on it and where'd you pick it up from?

You may also think of switching to a 4 stroke instead of 2 stroke...they're generally much more reliable

I have always wanted a MB and finally got going with one last year. I also went through the learning curve and frustration that most new riders experience, but after a couple weeks I got things tuned up and running pretty reliably.
Funny thing is, I had a Honda Elite 50 scooter sitting in my garage for almost 12 years that I got when I purchased my house, it came with the "Everything in the garage" deal. The kid told me "I rode the he11 out of it in college until the motor seized up" so I never messed with it. Last year I almost tossed out the scooter cause it was taking up space in the garage, I tried to kick it over and it was locked solid. While wheeling it out I took a look at it and saw all those parts, levers, cables, nuts and bolts etc and thought to myself, "Hey, I could use this stuff on a MB, why toss it out", so there it sat...
After a year riding and working on the MB I decided why not rip this scooter apart and see what's going on with it. To my surprise I found it was in pretty decent shape, the knuckle head that owned it just jammed up the kick start and burnt out the electric starter. I fixed the kick, then fixed the starter motor, all for free, and actually got her to fire up a bit. This encouraged me to push further, so I pulled the carb, it was gunked up beyond belief! I tried to clean it up but it was really bad, so it ended up in an overnight berrymans parts dip. I put in a new spark plug, new air filter and put the cleaned carb back on and hot damn, she fires up and runs freakin great, cost me less than $20 bucks.... (the damn thing sat for at least 12 years without a spark plug installed and still fired up and ran without too much coaxing, gotta love a Honda!)
I've had the scooter rolling all summer, and the MB too. I find that I do ride both, the MB is more fun to ride in a lot of ways, and I do still get a fair amount of exercise on the MB. The scooter parks and locks up easier and is a bit more friendly to drive in traffic, turn signals and all, and has a real headlight for riding at night. So I ride the MB more for recreation and the scooter more for running errands etc, but I do ride them both....
I guess what I am trying to say is, if you need something more reliable that you can put on a lot of miles without wrenching a scooter is a good choice, however, the MB is just more fun and sporty, so they both have their place. It's kinda funny, when I ride the MB everyone looks and smiles and asks questions seeming very impressed, when I ride the scooter people kinda seem to be holding back a chuckle. (like I give a damn!) Totally different experience. I'm glad I have the scooter but I'm definitely gonna keep my MB, perhaps you may consider doing the same? I like having them both, when I am wrenching on one I am riding the other, it works out nice...
If you do buy a scooter, after my experience I can't help but suggest you look at a Honda.....

i went to electric for the same reasons. scooter need to tag and insure and everything else here. i am real happy with my decision

IMHO the most effective upgrades for the HT kits are the cheapest ones. Spark plug, plug wire, chain, air filter, carb tuning, use torque wrench and loctite. If you do the above you have a fair chance at building a decent running bike... The rest of the expensive stuff gives much less bang for the buck IMHO....

IMHO don't dump a ton of money into a H.T. Chinese two stroke. These engines give all two strokes a bad name. I have been Two stroking for ever now just not with a H.T.....There are lots of better alternatives out there.

ok seen it a million times... whats an HT???

youknouno said:

ok seen it a million times... whats an HT???

Click to expand...

HT = Happy Time motor/kit
Just another name for these 2-stroke china motors...

Sry to see another person with more expectations than reality can produce at the lowest end of the horsepower range.

40mph will be very serious, on a scooter, and will require the next step up in displacement class. Reliability... well that's another situation!
It can only be resolved with the quality that requires bucks, and plenty of 'em.
Good luck
rc

And I would agree with the nightcruiser... an HT is really not worth putting a bunch of investment bucks into, unless you're just doing it outright for the fun of it.
IMO, the best improvement that can be made would be replacement of the rag joint with a hub adapter.

.

can you give some #'s for the 49cc pocket bike pipe?

Looks like it'd maybe fit my 33cc, 43-46 scooter ones do. I'll check mine in the next few days. or would that be way to big? :|

Sad to see you go, but I think you are making the right decision by going with a scooter if you want a reliable 40+ MPH ride. My wife had a Vespa LX150 for a while and it was a blast to ride. No issues, just gas and go, and would easily cruise at 50+.

From what I hear, with the right gearing you can get a good 40+ out of a 99cc Predator build and have a pretty reliable running bike, but I have no first hand experience with one of those... yet!