Took the scooter out for a ride on Tuesday

Kinja'd!!! "Chuckles" (chucklesw37)
12/27/2019 at 21:50 • Filed to: two wheels good, Riva125Z

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Everything went great right up until it refused to start after taking a break. It’s either the battery or the charging system, but with the help of a battery boost I was able to get it back on the road and home to my garage. I don’t expect to have many warm days between now and the spring so I’ll take what I can get.

Edited because I forgot what day it was.

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DISCUSSION (23)


Kinja'd!!! atfsgeoff > Chuckles
12/27/2019 at 23:11

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Should have gotten together for a ride! I was off on xmas eve and was bopping around on my WR250R because it was so warm.


Kinja'd!!! Chuckles > atfsgeoff
12/27/2019 at 23:34

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This was literally my first ride since I rode it home from the shop in Northampton. I rode over to the Speedway on 378 and then it wouldn't start. The problem is that as soon as I turn the key, all of the lights come on. I wasn't thinking and I turned the key and then spent 5 minutes getting ready before I tried to start it. It didn't have enough power to get started. It still remains to be seen if the battery is good or not.


Kinja'd!!! atfsgeoff > Chuckles
12/27/2019 at 23:41

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That’s easy enough to resolve.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/Kick-Start-for-Yamaha-YZ125-YZ-125-1986-2019-KICK-Starter-4DB-15620-10-00/283464182431

edit; nevermind, that’s for an unrelated dirt bike. Can’t seem to find a kick starter add-on for your scooter :(


Kinja'd!!! Chuckles > atfsgeoff
12/27/2019 at 23:54

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Because everyone else was out Christmas shopping, I ended up taking an uber to cycle world on Lehigh street. They had a good deal on a jump start kit/air conpressor/safety light. A quick boost and I was back in the road.

I think I may try a short ride tomorrow morning. I'm still getting a feel for being on two wheels. I only have about 4 hours under my belt in my entire life.


Kinja'd!!! atfsgeoff > Chuckles
12/27/2019 at 23:58

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Were you successful in getting your M endorsement?


Kinja'd!!! Chuckles > atfsgeoff
12/28/2019 at 00:05

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No, I ended up cancelling my reservation for that class. I decided to make taking the MSF course my next goal, and I will hopefully be taking that in the spring. So for now I just have my permit.

That class was on a Saturday and Sunday all day in Wilkes Barre. I didn't want to pay for a hotel but I also didn't want to drive back and forth both days. So hopefully I can get in at Blackmans. 


Kinja'd!!! atfsgeoff > Chuckles
12/28/2019 at 00:08

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Best of luck, those reservations fill up fast.


Kinja'd!!! Chuckles > atfsgeoff
12/28/2019 at 00:10

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Thanks. I was keeping an eye on them last year and they absolutely do. If I have to travel farther I will, but for the time being I'll just scoot in the daytime. I'll probably go as far as DeSales tomorrow morning. I have to be somewhere at noon though.


Kinja'd!!! atfsgeoff > Chuckles
12/28/2019 at 00:19

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Send me a text at six one zero, two nine five, three five nine five when you have a chance so we can arrange a group ride some time!


Kinja'd!!! Chuckles > atfsgeoff
12/28/2019 at 00:22

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Once I get a few more hours in the seat and I’m comfortable going more than about 25mph for more than a minute , I’ll definitely be in touch!


Kinja'd!!! themanwithsauce - has as many vehicles as job titles > Chuckles
12/28/2019 at 02:16

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Nice to see all the #2wheelsgood Oppos getting rides in at this point of the year. The KLR is still the best bike in the world and I have now put well into the triple digits on mileage in december. I almost hit 100 miles on Thursday alone.


Kinja'd!!! shop-teacher > Chuckles
12/28/2019 at 02:33

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Glad you got a ride in! You should definitely keep it on a trickle charger over winter.


Kinja'd!!! Chuckles > themanwithsauce - has as many vehicles as job titles
12/28/2019 at 09:39

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Nice! I've only put like 20 miles on it so far. This morning I'm going for another short ride that might be 10 miles. 


Kinja'd!!! Chuckles > shop-teacher
12/28/2019 at 09:42

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There was an outside chance that I was getting one for Christmas, but I didn't so now I'll buy one. At the least, I'm keeping that booster kit in my glove box from now on. It's only the size of a cell phone and you could jump start a car with it.


Kinja'd!!! SpecsGTP > Chuckles
12/28/2019 at 10:01

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Battery could be an issue especially if it’s old, but sounds like it could be the stator, among other things such as a voltage regulator. I would want to check out the stator to make sure it putting out the desired voltage.

Also , when checking the resistance in the battery cables and charging system leads be sure to disconnect the battery so you don’t fry your multimeter!


Kinja'd!!! shop-teacher > Chuckles
12/28/2019 at 10:10

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That's a good back up, but definitely get yourself a trickle charger.


Kinja'd!!! Chuckles > shop-teacher
12/28/2019 at 11:14

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Yesterday was payday so that's definitely happening. 


Kinja'd!!! Chuckles > shop-teacher
12/28/2019 at 12:51

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Went to take it for a ride this morning, and it needed a boost just to get going. Rode it around for about 45 minutes without any issue. It's only been 4 days since my last ride, so I'm guessing that in addition to a trickle charger, it either needs a new battery or something in the charging system needs to be replaced. 


Kinja'd!!! shop-teacher > Chuckles
12/28/2019 at 15:55

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How old is the battery?


Kinja'd!!! Chuckles > shop-teacher
12/28/2019 at 16:01

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I will check when I get home. It's not new, but it isn't nearly as old as those tires were.


Kinja'd!!! shop-teacher > Chuckles
12/28/2019 at 16:04

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Scooter/motorcycle batteries are pretty dang cheap on Amazon. 


Kinja'd!!! Chuckles > shop-teacher
12/28/2019 at 16:15

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Cheap enough that I should just replace it, buy a trickle charger, and see if that fixes the problem?


Kinja'd!!! shop-teacher > Chuckles
12/28/2019 at 20:11

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That would be my move. They're $25-40 on Amazon. I buy the cheapo Chrome batteries. I've been happy with them.