Modern Buddy

GregsBuddy

Check final drive gear ratios for 125 vs. 170i.

GregsBuddy

55-60MPH is not issue for a 170i on flat roads with no headwind. All day is easy on this scoot'.

GregsBuddy

Done!
If/when, Genuine brings a water cooled, four valve scoot' with 12"+ wheels, I'll be very interested in returning to the fold.
Until then, chao baby!

GregsBuddy

I'm looking at the SMAX and Burgman 200. The SMAX has a flat floor which is great for utility. The Burgman is a large step up from the SMAX but doesn't have a flat floor. I'm leaning toward the Burgman because it's really a big step up overall and I'll learn to use the very large underseat storage f...

GregsBuddy

Updated my profile.
I was looking at Craigslist in PDX yesterday. There's a bumper crop of attractive rides up there at the moment. I'll be up to see friends and family in a couple of weeks. Hope it's dry.

GregsBuddy

I sold and delivered my Buddy 170i to a gent in San Francisco that has been to this site. The CL price was quite low and there were many responses, however the gent that bought it is a moto guy and understands the quality of Taiwanese products. He noted the suspension updates made to the scoot' and ...

GregsBuddy

If you drained and looked at it now, it would seem quite dirty but would probably be fine.

GregsBuddy

I'm sorry to hear about the failure of your YSS shock.
I have had a YSS on my 170i for about 10K miles. It can be adjusted to provide 10mm of static sag that really helps the ride and performance overall. I've had YSS shocks on other bikes and find them to be a quality piece at a bargain price.

GregsBuddy

Thanks for the update.
Just clicked over 15K on my 170i. Just finished breaking in the newly replaced piston and cylinder.

GregsBuddy

Babblefish. Agreed, I think combustion gasses leaking passed the rings was the issue with oil darkening. The new rings/piston/cylinder are breaking in well and I look forward to being able to ride the scoot' a bit faster soon. I can feel the extra power even with partial throttle during break in.

GregsBuddy

I noticed that my oil was darkening sooner a few oil changes before the piston failed.

GregsBuddy

With ~100 miles of break-in and several thermal cycles, the compression is 210 PSI as measured with a motorcycle compression tester, not an automotive tester. The service manual indicates 11 kg/cm^2 = 156 PSI. Either manual is wrong, or, what? The scoot' runs great and I'm breaking it in according t...

GregsBuddy

Large moto's are now ridden in Taiwan, including maxi scoots.

GregsBuddy

+1
And check that the rotor is straight. When we don't change our brake fluid enough, and when our bikes are old, the caliper pistons tend to not go back into the cylinders and create more than usual drag.

GregsBuddy

Oh, and the cylinder is new.
The cylinder that came out of the engine was slightly out of round. The removed piston would slide in the cylinder when it was oriented in its normal manner but not when 90 degrees from normal.

GregsBuddy

Engine back together and in scoot' where it promptly started with its new piston/rings/wrist pin/gaskets/air filter/oil filter/ sparking plug/oil. Now to finish the many panels and details and take it for a ride. Fuel injection is so great. If the connectors are correct, the fuel pump starts and the...

GregsBuddy

Thank you, Stanza. I removed the Philips head screw on the outside and didn't see a means of further dismantling. I'll check it out again!

GregsBuddy

Started reassembling the engine last night. I damaged the oil control ring when working the piston into the cylinder and have to order a new one. Delay.

GregsBuddy

Parts arrived from Scooterwest yesterday.
I only have one question on reassembly; The cam drive chain "tensioner" doesn't appear to have any travel and is locked in position. Is this the way it's supposed to be?
Looking forward to working on the engine soon.

GregsBuddy

I'm in the thermal business. The temperatures I measured were while running and with no motion.
I think a real heat exchanger designed like a radiator would be great.
Nice lateral thinking regarding using light weights that make the engine spin to a higher RPM and provide better cooling!

GregsBuddy

I've measured the temperature of the heat exchanger and oil in/out and it's not producing much cooling. The surface area of the exchanger is pretty small and the mass is high, therefore responds slowly to changing oil temperatures.

GregsBuddy

The piston is also slightly caved in in the center and the second and oil control ring are pinched in their ring lands. The part between the top ring and piston top on the intake side, where there's a gap, is turned up. The cylinder has not aluminum transfer, while the piston is scuffed on the intak...

GregsBuddy

Cracked piston.
Will remove later today.

GregsBuddy

Yes, prepping now.
Fun, from my perspective. I hope the damage is limited and not too expensive.

GregsBuddy

110 PSI increasing to 130 PSI with WD40 added for second test.
Something major...

GregsBuddy

Thanks for the info, Stanza. I have the pet carrier out and can check the coil. The spark is bright blue. The engine hasn't started since it quit on the ride that I had to return in the truck bed. The most it will do now is fire several times and then quit with some throttle. I've been keeping the n...

GregsBuddy

Tested fuel injector out in open and yup fuel flowing. Tested spark and removed, and reinstalled plug cap. Working. Checked valve clearance. No problem. The last time I had a similar problem with a Honda CH80, the exhaust valve seat had come loose in the head. It acted exactly like this problem. The...

GregsBuddy

Fuel pump running. I'll check spark easily enough. How to check for fuel? Just note a wet plug?

GregsBuddy

Hello, At 15,000 miles my 2013-built scoot' has shown its first problem. I was riding in a high headwind, pushing the scoot' to about 90% of its capacity, when the engine warning, red, light came on. As I slowed down to check out what might be wrong, the engine died. After looking the scoot' over fo...

GregsBuddy

As a testament to the goodness of the 170i, I'm at 15,000 miles and having the very first issues with the scoot. I do all the maintenance with regular oil changes, valve adjustments, filters, belt/rollers/guides, sparking plugs, etc. The scoot is goodness incarnate. Value and quality are right where...

GregsBuddy

SNELL.

GregsBuddy

Now, that's a cute kid!

GregsBuddy

Good idea on Genuine's part.

GregsBuddy

I think the FI is the key to the mileage. The correct mixture at all throttle angles and RPM's makes good power and mileage.

GregsBuddy

I've gotten 105 MPG over a five-tank average on the 170i as well. The scoot' has 14,500 miles now and running like new.

GregsBuddy

I won't let mine near the tree. It has pride of place with my other die cast models.

GregsBuddy

I got this ornament from my wife. Little did she know that it is a huge piece of moto history. It's a Honda NR750 road bike. Only 300 were built and cost $50,000.00 in '92. The technical highlight was oval pistons arranged in a V4 orientation. With 32 valves, the engine was essentially a V8 with fou...

GregsBuddy

Oh, the tarif that Trump said the Chinese would pay...

GregsBuddy

NICE! Didn't know these things would do that. Never tried it with my 170i.

GregsBuddy

I looked at one yesterday at a dealer in Tucson.
The clutch pull is heavy. The rear brake is a drum. The fit & finish is just okay. The materials are just okay.
I'm overlooking this bike because there are used bikes in the price range with low mileage that are way better.

GregsBuddy

I like it a lot but would have a hard time purchasing it over the Kawasaki Z400...

GregsBuddy

10-40 RedLine or Motul Synthetic.

GregsBuddy

Excellent. That's what I would expect from a good quality, air-cooled four stroke engine. It appears that keeping good quality oil, changed at ~1,500 mile intervals is the key. In other words, follow the Genuine (PGO) Service Manual. With a new piston, rings and wrist pin at ~45K, the engine could g...

GregsBuddy

With no "external" or "errors" problems by you (sorry, we all make errors like letting oil get low or not adjusting valves, etc. in maintenance, I don't mean to be at all negative) would the first engine have gone longer? Or was it spent? Your experience is in alignment with mine...

GregsBuddy

So good to see that the scoot' is still treating you so well. Could you share the kind of riding that you are doing to gather your miles in such a short time frame? Do you ride to work ~50 miles a day on back roads? Do you go on many rides for pleasure? Are you collecting many highway miles? Is the ...

GregsBuddy

Removing bodywork on scoot's is generally not fun. It's quite easy to damage the little clips and straps. I find the Yamaha TMAX bodywork to be of good quality and removal is above average in ease. Vespa/Piaggio bodywork is the most difficult and easily broken, from my experience.

GregsBuddy

I'm moving to Tucson (Green Valley) with my 170i and planning to join the Sky Island club as well. I do all my own work and am at 14,500 trouble-free miles. The Buddy's very easy to work on and maybe we can work on yours when I'm there.

GregsBuddy

I'm now at 14,500 miles with very little wear. I ride longish distances of ~13 miles and hardly use the brakes. Maybe I should use them more!

GregsBuddy

I sat having my morning coffee in Hanoi watching small children play in the street because the rest of the road/walkway was used for motorized traffic. Somehow it all worked just fine there. Traffic was light with small, mostly moto traffic. The street was not very wide and things just clicked. We w...

GregsBuddy

Yes, either will work if you know where the level should be.
Speaking of checking oil, my 170i uses no measurable oil between changes. These engines are of a good design, materials and assembly. At 14K miles, this engine is as tight as any Japanese scoot' engine I've experienced.

Modern Buddy

Search found 502 matches

Sold my Buddy 170i

170i ECU reset issue?