|
|
Post by wessy on Aug 2, 2005 10:51:34 GMT
Hi guys,
How are you finding bike/scooter shops dealing with any problems that you have with these scoots?
My Boatian is ok so far but if there is something I need to have done professionally then do you think I will have a problem?
I am sure I will be able to tinker but I just want a bit of peace of mind, if you know what I mean?
Let me know what you think ;D
|
|
|
|
Post by Gavin on Aug 2, 2005 10:59:56 GMT
If you download the manuals, listed elsewhere on this site, then if you have a problem, you could just print out the relevant part, and give it to the mechanic to work from.
It is usually the unknown that scares mechanics, so the more information available to them, the better.
|
|
drzoom
Forum Master
Posts: 187
|
Post by drzoom on Aug 2, 2005 12:39:29 GMT
I think I posted this somewhere else on this forum, but here is a tip for dealing with Motorcycle Garages.
I bought my Adly 125cc with no warranty and there are no Adly dealers in the UK. I took it for a first service to my local Motorcycle Garage during the summer months when the shop was very busy. They hummed and hawed for ages before agreeing to do the service. The next time I took it back was during the winter and the shop was dead. Suprise suprise I was welcomed like a long lost friend and nothing was too much trouble !
Motorcycle shops don't seem especially keen on scooters, and even less keen on obscure inexpensive brands, but it's amazing how accomodating they can be when all the fairweather summer bikers have returned to the warmth of their cars and as a result there is no money in the till !!
|
|
|
|
Post by weeyin on Aug 2, 2005 12:41:23 GMT
After my brake episode at the weekend with the lad I stopped to help, he me runs a bike repair shop in Clydebank, he said he's happy to work on these bikes, even though he fixed my brake i'm not sure after he called it a "heap of chinese s*it", i'm a bit insulted and will prob look about for somewhere else....but then again, its not squeeking yet!
|
|
drzoom
Forum Master
Posts: 187
|
Post by drzoom on Aug 2, 2005 12:48:08 GMT
don't worry about the abuse directed towards your scoot. The majority of "big" bikers just don't like scooters in general.
If you have found a mechanic who is happy to work on your bike (whatever his personal opinions) and seems honest and reliable then you've struck gold !
|
|
drzoom
Forum Master
Posts: 187
|
Post by drzoom on Aug 2, 2005 12:51:48 GMT
by the way the abuse isn't just limited to mechanics. I did my first CBT on my little Indian 50cc scoot. The guy taking the course found it hilarious and took the p**s out of me all day. His best comments was that the bike had so much plastic on it he thought it was an extension of the helmet ! Just as well I've got a sense of humour and a thick skin...mind you as a scooter rider that's pretty essential  |
|
|
|
Post by Ginger Phil on Aug 2, 2005 14:30:49 GMT
I took my scooter to a local bike garage and when I asked if he serviced Chinese scooters he said "I do and I don't" which meant he would service it as long as it didn't need any spare parts.  I think we'll all be OK when it comes to routine servicing by a garage but if ever we need some spares it'll probably be a different story. |
|
drzoom
Forum Master
Posts: 187
|
Post by drzoom on Aug 2, 2005 16:16:16 GMT
Exactly Phil. That is very much the problem I had with their attitude to the Adly. It was only when I pointed out that Adly UK have an excellent website through which I could order any spare parts that were required did the mechanic agree to check the bike over. You would have to source spares yourself, the garage would certainly have no interest in doing that. The mechanic at Adly UK told me the reason for this is not only the difficulty in obtaining such spares, but also that if you do find them they tend to be cheap so there is no profit for the garage.
The main problem you may have with these Chinese scoots is getting a reliable and long lasting source of spares.
On a positive note the engines all seem to be based on old Honda or Yamaha designs which may mean parts are interchangeable with these makers.
It's a risk but then when you are buying a scoot for under £400 they almost enter the "disposable" bracket, by that I mean if you get a few thousand miles out of them then maybe that is all you can realistically expect. I would guess the re-sale value of a lot of these models is very low ?
|
|
|
|
Post by Ginger Phil on Aug 2, 2005 16:33:22 GMT
You'd think so but I bet if people like me who paid under £400 for their scooter tried to sell it in a local free ads paper we'd probably get our money back. It's only when you try and sell them on eBay you'll find people unwilling to spend a lot and why should they when a brand new, unregistered model can be bought for around £400 or up to £500 for the better models?
|
|
|
|
Post by Rusty on Aug 3, 2005 8:10:53 GMT
Totally agree. Before i found these things on ebay i would have snapped up any year old scooter for £400.
|
|
|
|
Post by Ginger Phil on Aug 3, 2005 15:20:57 GMT
Totally agree. Before i found these things on ebay i would have snapped up any year old scooter for £400. Part of the reason I bought my Taishan was because of the price, add to that the fact it was brand new and didn't need an MOT for 3 years which for a newbie like myself was ideal. Had I have seen all the negative press I wouldn't have bought it. Had this club have been on the net then I probably would have bought it. ;D |
|
|
|
Post by ianf6512 on Aug 3, 2005 16:22:55 GMT
Phil,
you say that you would not get your money back on ebay, but I recently bid and followed and advert for a guy selling his 2 month old Taishan Commuter which (according to his history) he had brought from Bike mart direct for £380 in May 2005.
When he sold it the auction ended at £600.
The guy must have been laughing all the way to the bank, even with his delivery and registration fees, he had made an hefty profit.
Ian.
|
|
|
|
Post by Ginger Phil on Aug 3, 2005 16:24:48 GMT
Phil, you say that you would not get your money back on ebay, but I recently bid and followed and advert for a guy selling his 2 month old Taishan Commuter which (according to his history) he had brought from Bike mart direct for £380 in May 2005. When he sold it the auction ended at £600. The guy must have been laughing all the way to the bank, even with his delivery and registration fees, he had made an hefty profit. Ian. What idiot would pay £600 for a second-hand one when a new one is about £400?  |
|
|
|
Post by ianf6512 on Aug 3, 2005 16:35:15 GMT
|
|
|
|
Post by Ginger Phil on Aug 3, 2005 16:38:42 GMT
The winning bidder is new and has zero feedback, I bet it's either the seller or his mate trying to bid up the price. |
|
|
|
Post by ianf6512 on Aug 3, 2005 16:47:32 GMT
I thought that as well which is why I stopped bidding, but I've check a number of times since, to see if the seller has re-advertised and as yet nothing has appeared.
|
|
|
|
Post by Ginger Phil on Aug 3, 2005 17:50:33 GMT
He'll probably relist it and say it's due to a non-paying bidder. Isn't that always the case? |
|
