SBF Kymco Downtown 125/200/300/350i Cafe 2013

[custom_biker]

I need help from the bros on this forum who ride a Kymco (any model).

 

I notice a problem which happens quite regularly (but not everytime) when I stop my bike at a signal. When the light turns green and I try to accelerate briskly, there is some squealing noise (like the brakes applying) and the bike faces a lot of resistance. If I pump the brakes momentarily, it goes away and then the bike behaves normally.

 

When I went for my first service to Motorsports, and reported this problem, they suspected that the clutch was slipping. So they took out and cleaned the variator. But the problem still occurs.

 

Any idea as to what is causing this? Could it be that my disc brake pistons are faulty and locking the disc when the bike comes to a halt at traffic lights?

[topgearalwaysrock]

Could it also be a brake pump failure??

[topgearalwaysrock]

Was applying Armour All on my scooter after 3 weeks ->

 

One wipe of a tissue first, made it super black =( Just parked for 3 weeks in the carpark so dirty liao?!?!?

[topgearalwaysrock]

I love the GoPro Motorsports HD Hero 2 that I bought in USA =D

 

Tested it today. Brilliant video quality that I took while riding =D Too bad my upload to YouTube takes so darn looooonnnnngggg..... I gave up. haha.

[simeric]

Hi Bro how much you selling your Xciting 300Ri

Hi I am letting go my Xciting 300RI, This bike is service regularly by MS (kymco workshop) every 2000km, current mileage only 13000km

 

Detail of bike

Year Of Manufacture: 2010, white colour

Original Registration Date: Mar 2011

come with H & B top box and base plate

volt meter

newly change front tire

 

NON urgent sale,

Lower baller, pls stay away! thanks

Planning to upgrade to car for family commitment.

 

If you are interested PM, me your name and HP number, and I will get back to you.

[custom_biker]

Hi bros,

What kind of experience do the new Kymco owners have with Motorsports when it comes to after sales service under warranty?

 

I bought a new Like 200i from MS in Jan-12, now having some issues when stopping at signals (details posted in the SBF Kymco Like thread) , Likely cause is the brake jamming.

 

During my first complimentary service, I mentioned the problem to MS, they just cleaned the belt and the variator. They told me it is likely that the clutch is slipping.

 

The problem is re-occuring, and getting quite scary as the bike makes funny squealing noise at traffic lights and faces a lot of resistance to accelerate.

 

When I took it back to them today to get it fixed under warranty, I was refused service and asked to come back next week. Reason given : "We have many bikes to service today."

 

But while I was talking to the technician, atleast 2 other bikes came in for paid service and they happily accepted them. Now that was funny!

 

Tried calling Herbert to discuss, but he was not in (at 11:15 AM). When I asked the technician at Ubi if there is any way to book a service, he just asked me to come back next week and try my luck.

 

I had taken leave from work to get my bike fixed, not to mention the wasted fuel and ERP in the 26km to and fro trip. Very disappointed.

 

Keen to check with other bros, how do you find the service at Motorsports? Did anyone else have a similar experience? Is there any way to do an advance booking with them?

Edited April 4, 2012 by custom_biker

[custom_biker]

Update at 4:30 PM: Finally managed to speak to Herbert at 2 PM. He was very helpful and asked me to describe the problem. On hearing the problem, he asked me to bring the bike down to the showroom instead of the workshop.

 

I brought my bike down to Macpherson and the problem was found to be with the disc brake pistons for the rear brake, one of them was jamming. The elderly guy at the workshop fixed that for me and now the bike seems to run fine.

 

What started as a bad experience early in the morning, ended on a reasonably good note. Thanks Herbert.

[juanpauk]

Hi Guys,

 

Just to let you know thart Malossi is now selling a compatible belt for our Downtown 300, the reference is 6115277, and the price is a lot more afordable that the one that comes with the bike, here in Europe it cost a fortune .

[custom_biker]

Problem isolated to the the rear disc brake pistons. One of them was not retracting fully when the brake is released. Took it down to MS for repairs, now seems to be OK. Will keep monitoring.

[topgearalwaysrock]

Update at 4:30 PM: Finally managed to speak to Herbert at 2 PM. He was very helpful and asked me to describe the problem. On hearing the problem, he asked me to bring the bike down to the showroom instead of the workshop.

 

I brought my bike down to Macpherson and the problem was found to be with the disc brake pistons for the rear brake, one of them was jamming. The elderly guy at the workshop fixed that for me and now the bike seems to run fine.

 

What started as a bad experience early in the morning, ended on a reasonably good note. Thanks Herbert.

 

 

 

My experience with MS is a good one. Dunno why they treat you like that.... =(

 

Yeah. Herbert is a nice guy =D

[parotae]

Hi Guys,

 

Just to let you know thart Malossi is now selling a compatible belt for our Downtown 300, the reference is 6115277, and the price is a lot more afordable that the one that comes with the bike, here in Europe it cost a fortune .

 

Thanks for the update.

Yeah, it cost a bomb here too at ~USD$210 but agent tell me it can last about 30,000km - 40,000km. I wonder how long the Malossi one can last?

On the service manual if i remember correctly, recommend belt replacement at 20,000km.

[topgearalwaysrock]

Yeah. Shouldn't be a problem to change every 20,000km.

 

But more kiasu people will change at 15,000km???

[parotae]

My experience with MS is a good one. Dunno why they treat you like that.... =(

 

Yeah. Herbert is a nice guy =D

 

I had similar treatment also but was gently reminded that due to a lot of scoot, computer tuning cannot be carried out. I was complaining about high fuel consumption and one fine evening decide to bring it down for tuning. I have ask ah lau weather need an appointment as i hate turning up an find that i have to wait or job cannot be carried out. He say no need and i think they don't have this practise. After the mech explain that they cannot tune my scoot today, an uncle pop up drive up and got attended promptly. After waiting a while since i had nothing else to do except hanging around, the uncle's scoot started to be service. Then i thought maybe he had an appointment, then again do they have one? Hmmmmm.......

 

They (the Mechanic )are generally friendly but i just felt that they are more interested in doing and finishing their job.

Then again, they are mechanic not customer service officer.

Poor customer management rather than poor service.

 

Mr Herbert Teh will be a very good customer service officer but he don't stand in front of the workshop welcoming you and attending and listen to you. He is also aware of the situation and are trying to get the mech to be more sensitive towards customers.

Edited April 4, 2012 by parotae

[parotae]

Yeah. Shouldn't be a problem to change every 20,000km.

 

But more kiasu people will change at 15,000km???

 

For an almost $300 belt it is a problem changing at 20,000km and it's an even BIGGER problem changing at 15,000km dear topgearalwaysrock.

[topgearalwaysrock]

Are you referring to the Malossi belt or the stock belt? Haha.

 

If it's expensive, of course change longer intervals -> If it lasts. Haha.

Like you said, if expensive and change at short intervals, then something is wrong of course.

 

DT125i and DT300i belts are different though. Am not exactly sure what's the change interval for the DT300i.

 

For the DT125i, the manual puts it at 20,000km replacement.

[parotae]

I had an issue of rear minor brake binding. Not serious enough to slow the scoot but it's causing rough surface wear on the rear rotor disc.

I started to notice around 2000km about why are the rotor disc on the rear so rough and uneven. Some parts smooth and some parts rough like sandpaper. I highlighted to Herbert and he assures me that it is normal as the pads used have this effect and so i monitor in the mean time.

I have never come across such weird pattern except maybe on my previous ride long ago where i change to sintered pads that was eating up the disc badly. So i was thinking maybe it's using those rough pads that is eating up the disc.

 

One fine day while i was just tinkering around the scoot, i turn the rear wheel just for fun and found that i need to use some effort to turn the rear wheel. I was wondering how is that so, so i turn the front wheel and it turns smoothly spinning.

For those of you who think that yes the rear is harder to turn due to the clutch and gears resisting the momentum but it's not that usual resistance. This is like it need a lot of effort to turn and it doesn't even want to spin.

 

I have tried turning other downtown's rear wheel and it can be turn relatively easy, so i guess mine is an isolated case. Then again it might not.

 

Go look at your rear disc for rough wear and try spinning them and see if it spin even if it's just half round. If it don't spin more that half round then we have an issue here.

I have taken the rear caliper out, clean them and grease them and they spin easily but after riding the next day to work, it get stuck again even after cool down.

 

At 7000km the rear brake pad is already near finish. I was like huh???!!!

Yeah you must be thinking i brake a lot right or i brake hard right.

Ya, you can think that but it's not.

 

That's the problem when i highlight to mech, no choice they don't know how i ride.

 

When i complaint high fuel consumption, they said I...

1. Traffic light always full throttle

2. I ride like hell

3. Too little highway

4. Carry pillion

5. Tire pressure

6. use miles instead of kilometers

7. Petrol used

8.Engine haven't run-in

 

When i say cornering can scrape the lower fairing and exhaust cover they said I

1. Must have scrape the kerb

2. Impossible to scrape anything

3. Not possible

 

Anyway it's a normal response for them but the worst feeling is when i didn't tell lie or cook up a story.

No choice, they need to cover their backside and leave my backside expose to fire

After my backside get burned and what do i do?

[parotae]

Are you referring to the Malossi belt or the stock belt? Haha.

 

If it's expensive, of course change longer intervals -> If it lasts. Haha.

Like you said, if expensive and change at short intervals, then something is wrong of course.

 

DT125i and DT300i belts are different though. Am not exactly sure what's the change interval for the DT300i.

 

For the DT125i, the manual puts it at 20,000km replacement.

 

I hope your belt cost $300 and change at every 20,000km interval LOL!

[parotae]

Thanks for the feedback custom_biker

[topgearalwaysrock]

I hope your belt cost $300 and change at every 20,000km interval LOL!

 

That's why I changed my rear brake pads at 7500km.

 

Will try spinning the rear tires tmr. The last time I tried, can spin 1 round no problems.

 

Stock belt costs $120 nia. Haha. $300 is a crazy price to pay....

 

What's your average riding speed anyways?? Maybe your SH47 top box is causing a lot of drag?? It can affect fuel consumption....

[parotae]

Wah, then this downtown is really something, change at 7000km rear brake pads that cost $44.

Coming will be the rear tire. I estimate 10,000km change rear tire and 15,000km front tire.

Now my mileage about 7500km.

[parotae]

Maybe i still think i am riding a small scooter

 

Bigger scooter things wear faster than 2B scooter i guess.

[topgearalwaysrock]

Yeah, of course. Bigger cc, the higher the maintenance cost, well generally speaking lah. =D

 

That's why if you want economy and low maintenance, Class 2B still the best. =D

 

I paid $20 for the rear brake pads if I rmb correctly. Tires wise, Silverwing using same tires as mine - Metzeler, he change at 20,000km interval. Haha

 

My mileage now 9400km, another 600km to 10,000km =D

[topgearalwaysrock]

Ok. I tried spinning the rear wheels on the main stand -> Found it to be difficult; Doesn't spin as freely as I want it. Perhaps the brakes are clamping it a little too tightly?? But when riding, there doesn't seem to be a difficulty moving off, and also the brakes are functioning properly.

 

Is there a cause for concern here? Other than the improper and faster wear of the brake pads and subsequently the brake disc??

[parotae]

Riding no problem, infact I don't even feel anything. I am concern only after I saw the un natural wear on the disc and the pads seems to finish very fast. Any maxi Scooterist care to share what mileage your pads wear ? I know it's subjective to riding style and city or highway use but just a gauge only.

[topgearalwaysrock]

Well, they say usually change at 10,000km intervals. But mine at 7,500km already 60% worn compared to the new pads. Haha.