Post by Sip303 on Mar 26, 2006 22:02:52 GMT
Hello guys,
I'm new to the forum. I live in Amsterdam, Holland, and just bought a Baotian. It is white/cherry red, untill now i did not find any other with the same colour scheme.
I have my BT50QT-11 for two weeks now. I bought it via the internet from a local guy who does some wholesale business with halfords. They were not interested in re-selling the bikes because the could not find a company to service them. So my baotian was a showmodel and it had already 8 kms on the clock when i got it.
So it was already assembled and i have no experience regarding building the bike from the crate and how it was packaged or delivered.
Since it had been standing in a storage for a while the battery was low. At first it did not start but after some patience it responded to the kick start. I had some issue with my electric start. After charging the battery the electric start came to live but the horn remained dead. I checked all the wiring with a friend but it all seemed to be ok. Then we hit the horn with a screwdriver and it started to work.
Untill now the engine runs well but i'm still within the first 300 km so i have to stay at 20-25 km/h for a little more km. But when i turn the lever it makes enough avances.
So i did not experience much trouble untill now. I guess when you take it easy at start and change oil when it is supposed to and check the parts the bike will perform well. If you try to drive it a at full speed from the start and don't service it you will get the performance problems i read about.
I did not have to change my oil yet so if i will get a problem with the bolts as i read about i still have to discover.
This and other manufacturing faults can always happen. Ok, if you buy a chinese scooter for a sharp price you can expect some more... But with some optimism and a couple of tools the small issues are resolved easily.
After two days i found that i could not start the enigine, my electronic and kickstart both worked fine but then it seemed that the cable to the sparkplug came loose.
It looked like it had been pulled by someone, maybe an attempt to try to get the scooter left behind so it could be stolen later on.. But i managed to reconnect the cable. At first i though it was another friday afternoon issue but the engine would have stopped running while driving it so it must have been done by some bypasser.
This is the only downside i found sofar, the engine parts being accessible easily for molesters..
I read something about having difficulties getting spare parts. Someone opposed to buy them via Ebay..? What do you expect there...?
Just browse around a little and you will find the parts and diagrams as well. I found quite some info on a dutch scooter website www.funracer.nl/FunShop/parts_display_main.php?database=p_baotian&lang=uk
Ok, i did not order something yet so i can't comment on delivery speed but at least it should be possible to get some parts.
Some more browsing will learn you the engine type is also used on other models and also by other manufacturers. (i think it is based on yamaha engine/parts) So if you find out that a dealer supports a model or other brand having the same engine they might be able to help you.
If you can find the bike on the internet you should be able to find these kind of things out as well ;-)
To me buying my BT50QT-11 was a choice between buying something new or buying some old vespa in need of repairs and possible rundown engine. Resolving technical issues is easier when everything is brandnew and i just like the fact i'm the first owner instead of the fifth.
I feel like a fool doing 20 km/h on the bike lane but i keep telling myself it is all for the engine's sake (while dodging tourist cycle tours..)
In Holland, this year, all scooters and other 50 cc's need to get license plates so they need to be technically inspected. The technical state of the bike needs to be perfect so if you buy an old one you have to spend some more money on getting it through the tests. My budget does not leave much room for retrofitting an vintage scooter but i can afford a baotian and even some extra locks and a flooranchor.
Seeing all the looks my scooter get's while being parked and while driving it i'm quite happy choosing the baotian.
I will use it to go to work daily (about 5 km drive) and go around town. Take it to the beach once in a while. Once it get it passed the first 1000km i will make a small trip.
Meanwhile i will post my experiences here.
I'm new to the forum. I live in Amsterdam, Holland, and just bought a Baotian. It is white/cherry red, untill now i did not find any other with the same colour scheme.
I have my BT50QT-11 for two weeks now. I bought it via the internet from a local guy who does some wholesale business with halfords. They were not interested in re-selling the bikes because the could not find a company to service them. So my baotian was a showmodel and it had already 8 kms on the clock when i got it.
So it was already assembled and i have no experience regarding building the bike from the crate and how it was packaged or delivered.
Since it had been standing in a storage for a while the battery was low. At first it did not start but after some patience it responded to the kick start. I had some issue with my electric start. After charging the battery the electric start came to live but the horn remained dead. I checked all the wiring with a friend but it all seemed to be ok. Then we hit the horn with a screwdriver and it started to work.
Untill now the engine runs well but i'm still within the first 300 km so i have to stay at 20-25 km/h for a little more km. But when i turn the lever it makes enough avances.
So i did not experience much trouble untill now. I guess when you take it easy at start and change oil when it is supposed to and check the parts the bike will perform well. If you try to drive it a at full speed from the start and don't service it you will get the performance problems i read about.
I did not have to change my oil yet so if i will get a problem with the bolts as i read about i still have to discover.
This and other manufacturing faults can always happen. Ok, if you buy a chinese scooter for a sharp price you can expect some more... But with some optimism and a couple of tools the small issues are resolved easily.
After two days i found that i could not start the enigine, my electronic and kickstart both worked fine but then it seemed that the cable to the sparkplug came loose.
It looked like it had been pulled by someone, maybe an attempt to try to get the scooter left behind so it could be stolen later on.. But i managed to reconnect the cable. At first i though it was another friday afternoon issue but the engine would have stopped running while driving it so it must have been done by some bypasser.
This is the only downside i found sofar, the engine parts being accessible easily for molesters..
I read something about having difficulties getting spare parts. Someone opposed to buy them via Ebay..? What do you expect there...?
Just browse around a little and you will find the parts and diagrams as well. I found quite some info on a dutch scooter website www.funracer.nl/FunShop/parts_display_main.php?database=p_baotian&lang=uk
Ok, i did not order something yet so i can't comment on delivery speed but at least it should be possible to get some parts.
Some more browsing will learn you the engine type is also used on other models and also by other manufacturers. (i think it is based on yamaha engine/parts) So if you find out that a dealer supports a model or other brand having the same engine they might be able to help you.
If you can find the bike on the internet you should be able to find these kind of things out as well ;-)
To me buying my BT50QT-11 was a choice between buying something new or buying some old vespa in need of repairs and possible rundown engine. Resolving technical issues is easier when everything is brandnew and i just like the fact i'm the first owner instead of the fifth.
I feel like a fool doing 20 km/h on the bike lane but i keep telling myself it is all for the engine's sake (while dodging tourist cycle tours..)
In Holland, this year, all scooters and other 50 cc's need to get license plates so they need to be technically inspected. The technical state of the bike needs to be perfect so if you buy an old one you have to spend some more money on getting it through the tests. My budget does not leave much room for retrofitting an vintage scooter but i can afford a baotian and even some extra locks and a flooranchor.
Seeing all the looks my scooter get's while being parked and while driving it i'm quite happy choosing the baotian.
I will use it to go to work daily (about 5 km drive) and go around town. Take it to the beach once in a while. Once it get it passed the first 1000km i will make a small trip.
Meanwhile i will post my experiences here.
