Good riddance

"shop-teacher" (shop-teacher)
07/07/2019 at 13:07 • Filed to: Two Wheels Bad

Last year I bought an !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! , with plans to run it in the Gambler 500 Illinois. While it ran and rode the day I bought it, after it sat for a couple months it would not start. When I switched the ignition on, gas was getting pushed right out of the carb and onto the ground. Well, parts b eing cheap, we commenced doing the exact wrong thing and started throwing parts at it. A coil, plug, fuel pump, carb re build, and new carb later it would start right up, but it ran like fried hell.

Time ran out for the Gambler, and !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! instead.

Then the Helix sat for a while longer. At a poker game, a friend convinced me to bring it over to his place, and he would work on it over the winter and get it good to go. Well, long story short, I brought it back home in June an amount of money poorer, with a bike zero percent improved. With friends like that, who needs enemies?

At this point, I had three options: play mechanic and see if I could fix it myself, part it out, or sell it as-is.

I was tempted to play mechanic. Maybe it only needed a new timing chain, and a timing set is only like $22. But maybe it needed a new top end, which is $200. And if the bottom end was junk? Well, I’d really be screwed then. What it really came down to though, if I did fix it and build it the way I had initially envisioned, I’d really be married to that scooter. The big rub with that, is while most people find the Helix incredibly comfortable. I had rode my buddy’s for a while on the Gambler, and I absolutely hated it.

Parting it all out would net me the most money, maybe even allow me to turn a small profit. But the Helix takes up a surprisingly big amount of garage space, and it would likely take years to sell all the parts.

I tried to sell it as-is, and listed it at a firm $500. I’d be taking a big loss at that price, but it would be out of my life. I got offers from an insulting $100, to a frankly very reasonable $400. I just couldn’t bring myself to take THAT big of a hit.

I then got a FB message that proved to be the Goldilocks solution. The potential buyer wanted the engine, cooling system, wiring harness , and final drive to build a custom Helix powered Honda Ruckus. With some negotiating, we settled on me stripping the Helix down to a running rolling chassis, keeping the parts I pulled to sell, and he’d pay $300 for the rest.

So, that’s what I did. Yesterday he drove to Chicago from Detroit and dragged this damn thing out of my life.

I cleaned out my garage enough that I have all the parts squirreled away, photographed and organized. Over time, I will recover the majority of what I had sunk into that infernal piece of shit.

I learned a lot of lessons on this deal. From being more careful at initial purchase, to properly diagnosing problems instead of throwing parts at things, to which of my friends are really my friends. These are valuable lessons, which I paid a not insignificant to me sum of money for. Although I learned them at a lot cheaper price than somebody who say sunk their entire 401k into a rusty Chevelle for nothing, so I got that going for me .

It makes me happy to open the garage, and not see that monument to my failure sitting there.

DISCUSSION (23)

Mercedes Streeter > shop-teacher
07/07/2019 at 13:27

Wow...I’m impressed. That scooter turned out to be a greater pile of garbage than my Chinese Helix. Sad thing is that I do love the Helix and its clones, but after both of our hellish ordeals and some internet research, they just don’t seem to be worth it. Maybe I'll get a Reflex or PCX one day..

Chuckles > shop-teacher
07/07/2019 at 14:46

Congrats on making some space in the garage and getting some of your money back. I recently started looking into scooters and I plan on buying one within the next year. I’m always surprised at the size of the Helix when I see it in ads.

Only somewhat related, but how do you like your Zuma? It's one of the scooters on my radar.

MM54 > shop-teacher
07/07/2019 at 14:56

Hey now, I’ve not tapped into my 401k for my chevelle.

Rusty Vandura - www.tinyurl.com/keepoppo > shop-teacher
07/07/2019 at 15:24

Well, I'm glad you got that off your chest. And out of your garage...

shop-teacher > Rusty Vandura - www.tinyurl.com/keepoppo
07/07/2019 at 15:30

Thanks. Both feel good.

shop-teacher > Chuckles
07/07/2019 at 15:31

I absolutely love love love my Zuma! I cannot recommend it highly enough. I don't think I will ever sell mine.

shop-teacher > Mercedes Streeter
07/07/2019 at 15:33

When you offered your clone to any Oppo for $100 ... I damn near bought it and swapped the Chinese engine into the Helix. Thankfully a few of my brain cells were able to fire enough to realize how stupid of an idea that was.

shop-teacher > MM54
07/07/2019 at 15:35

That was not a dig directed at you! Your Chevelle is fantastic, and you're going about fixing it up the right way. Like I said before, if you ever completely lose your mind and decide to sell that baby, I sure hope I'm in a position to buy it ;)

Chuckles > shop-teacher
07/07/2019 at 15:43

Do you think it would make a good first scooter for a larger (but short legged) rider? I was also looking at the 50cc Zuma, but I'm a little worried that I'm too heavy for 50cc scooters in general. I figured something in the 125-150 range might be a better way to go.

shop-teacher > Chuckles
07/07/2019 at 15:47

Absolutely. I am a big dude, with short legs. When I ride a 50, it's still fun, but it's too slow to leave the neighborhood safely. With the 125, I can actually go places. It's perfect, and so much fun to toss around.

Chuckles > shop-teacher
07/07/2019 at 15:54

My other half is a bit skeptical about two wheeled vehicles, so I was thinking of starting with a 50 to ease her into the idea. But I'm also north of 300 pounds (the plan is to get below 300 before buying a scooter), so I was worried that a 50 wouldn't even move my large self.

shop-teacher > Chuckles
07/07/2019 at 16:03

I am also north of 300 ... I need to change that of course. Anyways, I submit that a 125/150 is safer, because you’ll have some power to squirt out of the way if need be. On a 50 you’re full throttle 100% of the time, and you’re not going to go any faster if you need to, because you’ve got nothing left.

Get a good helmet, wear it every single time, and put a bunch of neighborhood miles under your belt before you venture out farther.

Chuckles > shop-teacher
07/07/2019 at 16:07

Sounds like a good plan. Now I just need to hit the gym and start working towards that goal.

MM54 > shop-teacher
07/07/2019 at 17:28

Haha it’s all good, I know it wasn’t at me. I don’t like to think about how much I’ve spent on it!

Speaking of rusty cars, there’s still a crown vic in the driveway with a ‘for sale’ sign on it...

shop-teacher > MM54
07/07/2019 at 17:38

I certainly don’t blame you there!

Did you ever get it running?

MM54 > shop-teacher
07/07/2019 at 17:41

Have had neither time nor desire to fight with the tank/pump, it’s as it was in February when the pump quit. My insurance bill came while I was on vacation last week, going to drop it before renewing and might call junkyards to find out what I can get for it later this month. I want it out of the driveway.

shop-teacher > MM54
07/07/2019 at 17:58

Yeah, in m ay be time to send it off. I would have been willing to trade you a shitty scooter ;)

Chuckles > shop-teacher
07/08/2019 at 08:44

Just as a follow up, when you say that you have short legs, how short is short? My inseam is only like 27 inches, and I saw that the seat height is about 30 on the Zuma. I pretty much have to hem every pair of pants that I buy, so I’m used to things not being designed for short people.

Also, any helmet recs? Preferably ones that don't cost more than a scooter?

shop-teacher > Chuckles
07/08/2019 at 09:10

I have a 28 inch inseam, you’ll be fine. When I have to be stopped for an extended period, I simply slide to the front of the seat so I can flat foot it. Or I'll lean slightly one way or the other and have one foot flat on the ground.

I have a Bell Sport Mag that's really intended to be a car racing helmet. I need to upgrade to a full face helmet soon, and I intend to buy another Bell.

Chuckles > shop-teacher
07/08/2019 at 09:16

Thanks. I was looking at the Zuma and wondering where they measured the seat height from, since it’s not exactly flat. And I’ve had people say that they were short legged with a 30 inch inseam, so I figured I’d ask.

Having a full face helmet is a must for me, so I'll look into what Bell has for my big head.

shop-teacher > Chuckles
07/08/2019 at 09:44

Yeah, I know the feels with the short legs. It’s so weird being a big guy with short legs. I’m build like a damn W eeble.

With helmets, go to an actual brick and mortar store and try them on. Everybody’s head is different, and fit is the most important thing.

Chuckles > shop-teacher
07/08/2019 at 10:08

It can be aggravating for sure. I'm only 5'6" but I have to buy shirts made for tall guys because of my short leg/long torso situation. And there aren't many stores that sell 5XLT shirts. There is exactly 1 brick and mortar store that sells clothes that fit me.

shop-teacher > Chuckles
07/08/2019 at 10:30

I wear 5XLT as well, so I’m right there with you.