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Overbearing Aprilia I have an Aprilia that is eating main bearings. It’s an RS125 race replica with 15k on the clock and generally in top condition. My local dealer (not an official Aprilia one) replaced them, but they went again 200 miles later. The dealer denied responsibility for the problem and said I must have run it out of oil or have been thrashing it beyond what should be expected of it. He did offer to do the job again for the cost of the labour, but it didn’t look like rocket science so I had time off work to do it myself. My friend and I replaced them without too much hassle. The bike ran fine but within 300 miles they went again. I always use fully synthetic twostroke oil, good quality parts from a proper bearing supplier and don’t consider myself a throttle-happy boy racer. I have run out of ideas and my bike is currently laid up in pieces because I don’t want, and can’t afford, to make the same mistake again. Andy Mackin, Leicester I’ve come across this one before. Have you got the old parts to hand? If so check the numbers on the side of the bearing casing, along with the four-digit number used to identify the bearing itself (there is a letter and a digit to show the clearance within the bearing). This is critical for particular machines; most Japanese models run C3 bearings while Aprilias using the Rotax engine like yours must have a C4 clearance bearing (allowing for a greater expansion of the bearing due to heat build up). This C4 bearing will not be a commonly stocked item unless the dealer or supplier normally works on Rotax engines. I strongly suspect this is the cause of the problem. If you run a C3 bearing in the Aprilia it will overheat and not last very long at all. Suck, squeeze, bang, no My Honda SXR50 scooter suddenly stopped and wouldn’t start again, I put a new spark plug in and I have checked the carb. It is clean and petrol is getting in it, yet it still won't start. I took the head off to check the piston and that seems OK. I’ve checked for loose wires etc, but it still refuses to start, I don't know what else to do. Rick Swindail, New Romney One must always start at the beginning and stick rigidly to the procedure until a fault is found. You have already begun this process but do not give me vital information needed to trace the fault. You say you have a spark, but what colour is it? A good spark is a blue one, ideally fat and vibrant. Secondly, where is it happening? The timing may well be out, so you will need a strobe light to ascertain this. With these two components in place, is the plug getting wet with fuel? You can bypass the carb by dripping a small amount of petrol directly down the plughole to see if the bike will fire up, albeit for a short time. Is the plug getting wet when you try to start it? You can have too much fuel in a two-stroke engine and this will flood the bottom end preventing the plug from igniting the mixture correctly? The next thing to check is the compression. It’s OK having a look at the top of the piston but unless this has a hole in it you’re not looking far enough down. It’s the rings that do the work in that department so the barrel will have to come off, or you can simply get the compression checked. Any well-equipped dealer will have a tester, and while I wouldn’t expect the loan of it, they may help out in some way. If this isn’t an option, they are not expensive to buy. Another forking problem Is it possible to rebuild the front forks of my Piaggio Skipper? If so, where can I get the parts? Dean Stanyer, Trent Vale, Stoke on Trent It is possible to rebuild most Piaggio forks, although there may be problems due to corroded bolts etc, which makes disassembly very difficult. Once apart any Piaggio dealer will be able to source the correct parts for you and may even have them in stock. Make sure the bike is firmly held off the ground before you begin and try to get hold of a manual so you can make sure you have the correct tools etc. Haynes produce a book that covers your model in great detail. Bromley city rollers I own a Peugeot Speedfight 2 100cc. It’s standard, no modifications and pretty nippy, I can easily get 65mph out of it. When I pull away I am getting a drumming noise and sometimes it struggles. It makes a vibrating noise up to 30mph but past that it clears itself and picks up speed very quickly. I’ve phoned around a few shops they reckon it could be the rollers. Can you confirm this before I spend the money out? I don’t want to pay out and find out this is not the problem. Phil Bateman, Bromley Ghost in the machine? Sounds very much like the rollers. They are quite fragile and often overlooked during regular servicing and maintenance. Over time they develop flat spots and eventually begin to stick in one position. This causes the belt to flap about and will result in noise and vibration. They’re not expensive to replace and while you are in there you can replace the belt as this sounds as if it has gone through the mill a little bit. Also have a good clean in and around the pulley area. Make sure you get the correct weight rollers as you may end up with a completely different feeling machine. My Piaggio BV200 starter engages when battery is connected in any ignition switch or cut-off switch position. Even with ignition key removed. Brian Cope, Pitman, New Jersey, USA For this to happen there must be a direct supply of voltage from the battery live to the starter motor. I would check the wire you are connecting to the live/positive terminal isn’t the wire that should be bolted to the starter solenoid (they have the same size connector and can easily be mistaken). I suspect that you have no electrics when the ignition is switched on either, as the red wire that normally carries the voltage from the battery isn’t connected correctly. NOVEMBER 05 87
Looking for more club members in your area? Don’t belong to a club, but would like to join one? Why not place your entry here – free of charge! (All entries received are only guaranteed for two issues) LOCAL CLUBS TO JOIN CORNWALL STRAYHORNS AUTOMATIC SC, Cornwall and South West needs new members, meet at Plume of Feathers, Mitchell, Cornwall, second Sunday of the month at 1pm. More information from Alan 01726 824164 or mobile 07748 475530. EAST ANGLIA EAST ANGLIA SCOOTER CLUB. A dedicated scooter forum for Essex, Norfolk, Suffolk and Cambridgeshire! A free forum where local people can discuss their scooters and possibly arrange meets. If you live in East Anglia or surrounding areas pop along to http://easc.proboards54.com and say hello. HERTS & BEDS HERTS & BEDS VESPA CLUB. We are a new branch of the Vespa Club of Britain (VCB) and invite riders of traditional and twist and go Vespas who want something other than the ‘scooter scene’. Our primary aim is friendship and a common interest in Vespa scooters and a desire to revitalise the VCB. All you need is to be a member of VCB and own a Vespa. Visit http://www.hertsbedsvespaclub.org.uk/ to see what we are about. KENT CANTERBURY AND DISTRICT is a new club being set up in the Canterbury area of Kent and looking for members from Canterbury, Whitstable and Herne Bay. Contact Tom on Mob. 07866 282242. LANCASHIRE BURSCOUGH PATRIOTS SC, Lancs: A family run club, 20 members with over 10 scooters and two twist & goes. Meet at Beaufort Hotel on A59 at Burscough. Contact Mike Dowson on 07971 659 540. Everyone welcome. Come on down and join the club. NORTH WEST SCOOTER CLUB (Fylde area): Anybody wanting to join us on our rideouts (croozes) are welcome. We visit the Lakes, Lancaster, Morecambe, Preston, Trough of Bowland and Knott End on a Wednesday night along with about 200 other bikes (a good night). Anybody is welcome to come along with us - male/female any age – as long as you are legal on your bike/scooter. We are based in Fylde area near to Blackpool and would like to hear from anyone in Southport area and Morecambe as well. Website address is http://nwscooterclub.bravehost.com A new site will be running soon as well http://www.nwscooterclub.co.uk LONDON ELMS Scooter Club meets at the Young Prince PH, Roman Rd, Bow, London E3 every second Friday of the month, 8.30pm onwards. Prospective members and visitors always welcome. See www.elms-sc.co.uk for details. LONDON MODIFIED BIKERS. This club is for all ages and all sorts of bikes from Zip 50 to 600 bandits. Contact me via email: K_ryder1986@hotmail.com NATIONAL CLUBS TO JOIN ATTENDING INTERNATIONAL EVENTS? If you own a Vespa and are interested in attending international scootering events with the Vespa Touring Club, then contact Bev Hayward on 01375 677227 or email: enquiries@vespatouringclub.co.uk Alternatively, visit our website at www.vespatouringclub.co.uk TAISHAN/BAOTIAN OWNERS’ CLUB. A brand-new club for owners of Taishan, Baotian and any other Chinese manufactured twist and go scooters. The club was launched at the end of June and is totally free of charge. If you own a Chinese scooter get along to http://taishanowners.proboards41.com and register! THE X9 OWNERS’ CLUB is a friendly internet-based club for Piaggio X9 owners and prospective owners. The club site has areas for general X9 chat, technical enquiries and more. The X9 Owners’ Club boasts members from all around the country and abroad, other maxi-scooter riders can become honorary members. The X9 Owners’ Club is not just an internet site; it is an active club and has regular ride-outs nationwide. Visit the site at www.x9ownersclub.co.uk CLUBS OUTSIDE THE UK CANADA: SCOOTERS VANCOUVER STYLE is a ride-focused group in Vancouver, Canada. If you're in Van or visiting us, check out our site to find out the next big ride. (Often two or more rides per week, and always at least one.) http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ scootersvancouverstyle/ DON’TFORGET! Entries to this page can be made via the TAG website at: www.twistngo.com Alternatively you can write in to: TAG CLUB PAGE, PO Box 99, Horncastle, Lincs LN9 6LZ. NUTTY BOYZ SCOOTER CLUB meets at the Gipsy Moth Pub in Greenwich on the second Sunday of each month from 4pm. New members always welcome, regardless of what you ride. For further info contact Gary on 07939 491682 or via www.nuttyboyzsc.co.uk MIDLANDS MATURE maxi scoot riders (Birmingham/Midlands area). Are you looking for ride-outs/meetings etc. Interested? Contact davethescoot@aol.com or 01214 432609. NORFOLK NEW CLUB. A few of us would like to set up a club for small bikes, scoots and peds. We are in the North Walsham area of Norfolk, but anyone, male or female in any part of the county is welcome to join us. Ring Lenny on 07776 380629. NOTTS MANSFIELD SCOOTER CLUB. New members welcome. Meet every Wednesday at Lakeside, Mansfield, 8pm. Ring Lee 07971 490358. NOTTINGHAM MODIFIED Scooter Club. New club forming – meeting at Nottingham Megabowl (6.30pm). Call 07961 014337, 4-11pm, or email me at oli_bo2003@yahoo.co.uk, about joining. SCOTLAND FALKIRK CLASSIC AND AUTOMATIC SCOOTER CLUB. Meets every Thursday at Firkins Pub, 7pm prompt. All welcome. Email kevmcgill@hotmail.co.uk for further information. MALAYSIA: Ghetto Scoot Clan – the most aggressive auto scooter in Malaysia. Our scene here is mostly into drag-race, autoshows and customising. Please visit our website at www.ghettoscoot.cjb.net – and don't forget to post your comments. We always support ‘TAG’! IRELAND, WALES, ISLE OF MAN, CHANNEL ISLANDS, SCOTLAND. Attention maxi-scooter owners in these locations, our international scooter club wants to establish links with you. If you are interested then please contact us by writing to: Blues Scooter Club, The Bridge, 96-98 Leith Walk, Edinburgh EH6 5HB. Tel. 0131 552 2386 or email: albablues79@hotmail.com CLUBS WANTED BRISTOL: Anyone who knows of a moped club or similar for Piaggio and Gileras in the Bristol area for rides etc, please email me details: ashleyhaskins@hotmail.com EAST SUSSEX: Scooter clubs in the Brighton area, If anyone knows of any scooter clubs, please call me. Tel Caz 07749784935. EDINBURGH: DOES ANYBODY KNOW if there is a scooter club in Edinburgh. If not, I am considering starting a scooter club and will need help. Anyone interested, email me at fonziexxstreetra@aol.com WORCESTERSHIRE: I’m looking for someone to ride with me in the Redditch area, no Vespas or Lambrettas please. Tel. 07769 681136. You can also send in a picture of your club to go with your advert – free of charge to clubs only. But make sure that the quality is good enough for reproduction (min 2 mega pixel recommended), otherwise it will be omitted. 88 NOVEMBER 05
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• SCOOTERS, BIKES & QUADS • CUS
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42 DAELIM NS125 DLX A solid and rel
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Put your writing on The Wall... Tha
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SCOOTERS QUADS 500QT-15 RETRO CLASS
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feel the force Bursting on to the s
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XTC125 £2,999 OTR RRP INSURED* FRO
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NOVEMBER 05 15 MO270400
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SAVE £200 NOW £1,299 OTR RRP AND
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MUSIC Arctic Monkeys - five minutes
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Easy rider CP gets his motor runnin
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gives the best getaway). This shows
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After the success of last year’s
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A marshal’s point of view Two rid
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Words and pics: Paul Robinson WHO D
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From its inception, the Madass alwa
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August Bank Holiday for me and thou
Page 37 and 38: Pics: Words and Joe Brown There’s
Page 39 and 40: A long time ago in a galaxy far, fa
Page 41 and 42: Mersea Island2005 Island 2005 With
Page 43 and 44: Daelim NS125 DLX Words: CP Pics: St
Page 45 and 46: Words and photos: Iggy More photos
Page 47 and 48: Words: Fontaine Pics: Mau What a Ma
Page 49 and 50: Words and pics: Adam Eaton Scooter
Page 51 and 52: BSSO SCOOTER RACING Words: Iggy Pic
Page 54 and 55: TEENAGE KICKS part 50ccSHOOTOUT 50c
Page 56 and 57: CP SAYS: Sitting at the upper end o
Page 58 and 59: CP SAYS: OK, I’ll come clean, I
Page 60 and 61: CP SAYS: Having already been impres
Page 62 and 63: CP SAYS: The whole concept of the D
Page 64 and 65: CP SAYS: Almost in a league of its
Page 67 and 68: Honda TRX 450R race quad Words: CP
Page 69: alongside his years of knowledge am
Page 72 and 73: VITAL STATS Top speed: 100mph Cruis
Page 74 and 75: NOVEMBER 05 73 BE270415
Page 76 and 77: ALL MAJOR CARDS ACCEPTED 109/111 CO
Page 78 and 79: unit. The scooter wiring loom was u
Page 80 and 81: today ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ Plus
Page 82 and 83: Mark Shirley ready for action X-Rac
Page 85: Brought to you by in association wi
Page 91: What’son? Welcome Welcome to our
Page 94 and 95: GILERA RUNNER SP 50, blue/silver, v
Page 96: SYM JOYRIDE 180 cc 6500 miles new b
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