Motorcycle Alabama

Bikes => Scooters => Topic started by: LoupGarou on February 27, 2021, 11:38:09 PM

Title: Re-joining the scooter world...
Post by: LoupGarou on February 27, 2021, 11:38:09 PM
...for the first time since oh, 1980-something.  :)
Brought this home today, 2006 Aprilia Scarabeo 500. Runs & rides well, 3,800 miles, clear title, price: Free.
That's the good stuff.
The not-so-good, a previous owner (the one before the guy I got it from) decided he wanted to re-paint it, and proceeded to CUT BODY PANELS OFF WITH A RECIPROCATING SAW.  ??? I haven't seen all the panels yet, but I assume I'll have to replace a bunch... or just ride it like it is.  :D
Besides that, it's just maintenance stuff, I'll replace the fluids and rubber bits, starting with those dry-rotted wooden tires.
I've gotta say, the hardest part about riding it was getting used to my feet having nothing to do until I stopped.

(https://i.ibb.co/G24dx4V/4-E6-E2-C9-C-96-F3-4561-A84-B-768-A322-A266-A-1-201-a.jpg) (https://ibb.co/xjt2CtM)
Title: Re: Re-joining the scooter world...
Post by: 2372ighost on March 02, 2021, 10:30:34 AM
That's quite a find! Can't believe someone would cut it apart for painting 😳
Title: Re: Re-joining the scooter world...
Post by: Nice Goat on March 02, 2021, 03:58:14 PM
Quote from: LoupGarou on February 27, 2021, 11:38:09 PM
...the hardest part about riding it was getting used to my feet having nothing to do until I stopped...


That's funny.  I felt the same way when I rode Gringo's scooter to Pensacola for him in 2013.

(https://photos.smugmug.com/Miscellaneous/i-ShjM48n/0/f82fca07/L/2013-08%20Beach%20%282%29-L.jpg)
Title: Re: Re-joining the scooter world...
Post by: LoupGarou on March 02, 2021, 09:57:13 PM
Quote from: 2372ighost on March 02, 2021, 10:30:34 AM
That's quite a find! Can't believe someone would cut it apart for painting 😳
I'd love to talk to the guy get some idea what he was thinking.
You can see it in this pic... the turn signal should have come off with that panel.

(https://i.ibb.co/k15y3NS/B7364605-E3-D6-4546-8103-A89-FD5573095-1-201-a.jpg) (https://ibb.co/Qdpc8yK)
Title: Re: Re-joining the scooter world...
Post by: LoupGarou on March 11, 2021, 10:04:58 AM
Digging into it... lots of cleaning up to do.

No mice living (or otherwise) in the air box, so I've got that going for me.  :D
(https://i.ibb.co/QdzJtfW/43-BDE579-5-F59-451-C-B2-A9-5-EDE9-ED32662-1-201-a.jpg)


Suboptimal... 
(https://i.ibb.co/fkCwDSq/FD456226-1973-43-F0-941-E-EAAF7-ACC5549-1-201-a.jpg)


Still haven't gotten whatever body panels there are from my buddy... in the meantime, I'm filling my shopping cart at AF1 Racing,
going to clean things up and make it roadworthy.
I sure hope he has most of the parts... body parts are available, (mostly from Europe) but they are EXPENSIVE. I'll do a naked
scooter if I have to, but these were such good-looking scooters, IMHO. Hoping to bring it back as close to original as possible
without breaking the bank.
Should be... fun.  ???
Title: Re: Re-joining the scooter world...
Post by: TWJohn on March 11, 2021, 11:18:10 AM
Seems like a fun project. Good luck with replacing panels. Really makes you wonder what some people are thinking.
Title: Re: Re-joining the scooter world...
Post by: LoupGarou on March 11, 2021, 02:19:49 PM
Looks pretty good in here. Under 4,000 miles, I guess it should.
I guess I can leave the drive belt alone for now.


(https://i.ibb.co/jrm44x0/20210306-164336.jpg)
Title: Re: Re-joining the scooter world...
Post by: LoupGarou on March 12, 2021, 03:13:37 PM
I call this part "going backwards to go forward."  ;)

(https://i.ibb.co/xYZHDVj/8040183-E-57-BC-45-A9-8-D9-A-661-C612-F6351-1-201-a.jpg)

New tires soon.
Title: Re: Re-joining the scooter world...
Post by: LoupGarou on March 25, 2021, 10:36:55 PM
Well, this project may be dead in the water.  :'(
It appears nobody has made tires for these in years... it may be the last running example on earth, based on how little info there is out there.
Title: Re: Re-joining the scooter world...
Post by: LoupGarou on March 26, 2021, 07:43:19 PM
Fingers crossed, I may have a rear tire. Halfway there...
Title: Re: Re-joining the scooter world...
Post by: klaviator on March 26, 2021, 10:49:53 PM
What size tires does it use?
Title: Re: Re-joining the scooter world...
Post by: LoupGarou on March 27, 2021, 10:21:30 AM
110/80-16 front, 140/70-16 rear.
Good news is, I've got a new Shinko SR568 rear on the way. Haven't had any luck finding a front... at this point I'm not too worried about matching the rear.  :D
I have seen fronts in 110/70-16... wonder if that would work.
Also, I've found a Heidenau in the UK in the correct size, but the price including shipping kinda makes that a last resort.
Title: Re: Re-joining the scooter world...
Post by: klaviator on March 27, 2021, 11:42:04 AM
How about a 100/90-16?  IRC makes a tire in that size.  (rs-310 durotour)

Michelin makes a 120/80-16. (pilot activ)

I'm sure a 110/70-16 would work but IMO scooters already have limited cornering clearance so I'd be more inclined to go bigger than smaller.

I used to have an Aprilia Sport City 250.  It was nearly impossible to find rear tires in the right size so I went with one size larger motorcycle tires.  I found I could go up one size in ratio or one size in width but not both.  You will have to check your scooter for clearance.

Title: Re: Re-joining the scooter world...
Post by: LoupGarou on March 27, 2021, 05:28:32 PM
Good point about clearance... I had to build a new ramp into my shed for this thing. The Spade never had a problem.  :D

The 100/90-16 does look a lot closer than the 110/70-16 on the size calculator,  maybe slightly smaller...

(https://i.ibb.co/zxH1qkD/DAF279-E0-D936-40-CD-BA1-C-E3-C46-C78-DBA0.png)

The 120/80-16 looks just a bit bigger...

(https://i.ibb.co/RHpYvVK/16-DC926-B-88-B3-4-B50-A10-F-15-B88-E452838.png)

I am finding those available, so I guess I'll just have to pick one and give it a shot.

Thanks for the help... today I'm learning everything I didn't know about tire sizing!
One more possibly dumb question... Motorcycle tires vs Scooter tires... does it matter? Going into this, I didn't realize there was a difference.
Title: Re: Re-joining the scooter world...
Post by: klaviator on March 27, 2021, 10:05:22 PM
Quote from: LoupGarou on March 27, 2021, 05:28:32 PM
Thanks for the help... today I'm learning everything I didn't know about tire sizing!
One more possibly dumb question... Motorcycle tires vs Scooter tires... does it matter? Going into this, I didn't realize there was a difference.

Motorcycle tires vs scooter tires?  Motorcycle tires come in sizes to fit motorcycles and scooter tires are sized for scooters.  Other than that I don't know that there is much of a difference.  Scooter tires do seem to have lower speed ratings.  Just make sure the tire fits and has a suitable speed and weight rating and it shouldn't make any difference.
Title: Re: Re-joining the scooter world...
Post by: LoupGarou on March 27, 2021, 10:29:41 PM
Thanks, just figured I'd better ask.
I'll probably give the 120/80-16 a shot. Looks like it can go a bit bigger.
Title: Re: Re-joining the scooter world...
Post by: klaviator on March 27, 2021, 10:51:03 PM
If it was me I'd also look at going one size bigger in the rear.  That will keep the geometry closer to stock and give you even more cornering clearance.
Title: Re: Re-joining the scooter world...
Post by: LoupGarou on April 25, 2021, 02:06:50 PM
Finally got out and rode the word's ugliest scooter a bit today. 
After riding nothing but my Kymco Spade 150 (which I love!) for the last few years, I was amazed at how smooth and refined this felt, even looking the way it does.  :D
All I've done so far has been tires & mechanical maintenance, just to make it ridable.
I have some needed parts on the way, some have proven to be pure unobtainium, most just too expensive to be worthwhile.
I'll tidy up the wiring a bit, (most of the wires you can see here are for the battery tender) cover whatever needs weather protection, fabricate some sort of foot rests and ride her just like she is for a while. I figure if I enjoy the experience as much as it seems I will, I'll give in to that Kymco AK 550 I've been drooling over lately.

(https://i.ibb.co/z8bkDfN/FC2-AD7-F7-27-C8-42-B0-8-BDA-04-C9-F31116-BB-1-201-a.jpg)
Title: Re: Re-joining the scooter world...
Post by: klaviator on April 25, 2021, 02:46:39 PM
At least you don't have worry about someone stealing it :D
Title: Re: Re-joining the scooter world...
Post by: LoupGarou on April 25, 2021, 03:35:18 PM
Not much chance of that!  :D
Although, I do find myself having to assure business owners that Yes, it runs, and No, I'm not going to abandon it in their parking lot.  ;D
Title: Re: Re-joining the scooter world...
Post by: klaviator on April 26, 2021, 01:29:24 PM
I talked to Mathew at Max Motorsports today.  He said they will be getting 2 AK550s but don't have them yet.  There are a number of people on ADV who have bought one and it's getting good reviews from them.
Title: Re: Re-joining the scooter world...
Post by: LoupGarou on April 26, 2021, 10:04:38 PM
Hall's Motorsports here in Mobile had a couple in a few weeks ago. Man I gotta stop walking into motorcycle shops like that.  :D
I really liked the look/feel of it.