Stella 4t in San Francisco with a passenger

pesce · Post by **pesce** » Mon Sep 05, 2011 6:12 am

Went up Powell and up Lumbard. Passenger and I are roughly 300lbs. No problem. Used 1st gear! Also went down all those crazy streets! Locked up the rear brake a few times though.

Saw lots of parked vespas and one parked px150.

Pro tip. Lean forward when going uphill.

pesce · Post by **pesce** » Mon Sep 05, 2011 6:20 am

I tell you what, shifting a lot in big city traffic on steep hills with a passenger is tough!

Mulliganal · Post by **Mulliganal** » Mon Sep 05, 2011 1:01 pm

I always wondered who lives on Lumbard Street; those must hell-of expensive pieces of property on that street.

My wife just ordered her helmet so we'll be hittin' the town next weekend and checking out some new neighborhoods. She still has her eye on a pretty 50cc Pamplona Buddy with the matching rear trunk.

monkeykat · Post by **monkeykat** » Mon Sep 05, 2011 3:16 pm

Ah, good to know my learning curve wasn't just *my* fault! I definitely find I have to lean forward going up some of the hills, especially going from 1st to second--otherwise, wheelies!

Next time, also add in a ride through the Presidio, which has nice curvy roads and amazing views.

Did you come in over the GG Bridge? How was that? I would love to ride across it someday, but the crosswind scares me...

viney266 · Post by **viney266** » Mon Sep 05, 2011 9:03 pm

Yeah You gotta shift "em Quick going up hill, and the twist isn't as fast as the foot on a bike.

Cool ride though

pesce · Post by **pesce** » Mon Sep 05, 2011 9:17 pm

We did the ride through the precidio! Was awesome! I trucked the Stella in. But accidentally went on to the Golden Gate... Around mid point I busted a u-turn when traffic was light! Crosswinds were too much!

neotrotsky · Post by **neotrotsky** » Mon Sep 05, 2011 9:18 pm

Throw on a Sito+ pipe and re-jet the carb accordingly, and you'll find those hills MUCH easier to climb! Best solution for under $130

pesce · Post by **pesce** » Mon Sep 05, 2011 10:08 pm

Do they make a sito+ for the 4 stroke? If so can you post a link please!?

Mulliganal · Post by **Mulliganal** » Mon Sep 05, 2011 10:17 pm

pesce wrote:Do they make a sito+ for the 4 stroke? If so can you post a link please!?

That was going to be my question also. I don't think they do at this point.

neotrotsky · Post by **neotrotsky** » Mon Sep 05, 2011 11:44 pm

No... very few performance options out for the 4 stroke Stella. It's one of the reasons I've decided to purchase a 2-stroker. I like the idea of more reliability, but for me turning a wrench isn't a chore and it's not like 2 stroke engines are hard to maintain.

Perhaps there will be a growing aftermarket since the LML Star is quite popular in the EU. Right now, unless it's a 2 stroke you're kind of out of luck for cheap power gains

Post by **ericalm** » Tue Sep 06, 2011 12:35 am

pesce wrote:Do they make a sito+ for the 4 stroke? If so can you post a link please!?

There are a Pinasco Pipe and a Polini that I'm aware of. Don't know about a Sito+.

desmolicious · Post by **desmolicious** » Tue Sep 06, 2011 3:02 am

ericalm wrote:
pesce wrote:Do they make a sito+ for the 4 stroke? If so can you post a link please!?
There are a Pinasco Pipe and a Polini that I'm aware of. Don't know about a Sito+.

You should go to Rt66 and test ride their tuned Stella4t. It has a 165cc kit an pipe (and maybe a different carb - I'm not sure).
It feels barely faster than the stock 4t so I'm not sure if doing this is worth it. Especially since it will grenade the 2 year warranty.

Post by **ericalm** » Tue Sep 06, 2011 3:19 am

desmolicious wrote:
ericalm wrote:
pesce wrote:Do they make a sito+ for the 4 stroke? If so can you post a link please!?
There are a Pinasco Pipe and a Polini that I'm aware of. Don't know about a Sito+.
You should go to Rt66 and test ride their tuned Stella4t. It has a 165cc kit an pipe (and maybe a different carb - I'm not sure).
It feels barely faster than the stock 4t so I'm not sure if doing this is worth it. Especially since it will grenade the 2 year warranty.

On its own, a pipe won't void the warranty unless you have an issue with the pipe or that can be caused by the 3rd party pipe. With a kit and carb, there's not much left on the warranty other than the transmission!

I'm happy with the stock scoot. Not much use to have one that goes 5mph-10mph faster; it's still not a freeway rider.

pesce · Post by **pesce** » Tue Sep 06, 2011 3:53 am

I totally agree about the freeway! I don't live in an urban environment (mostly suburban), and most connector roads are 50-55mph.

Capping out at 55, when all other traffic is going 60+ is a tad scary at times!!!

Now, if I lived in a large city with more traditional city type surface streets, I would feel much more safe.

That being said, the 4t un-modded in downtown San Francisco and downtown Sacramento was perfect.

I live in Folsom

Eric, apparently it also does well in Los Angeles!!

Just trying to squeeze in a few extra mph!

desmolicious · Post by **desmolicious** » Tue Sep 06, 2011 4:02 pm

ericalm wrote:I'm happy with the stock scoot. Not much use to have one that goes 5mph-10mph faster; it's still not a freeway rider.

I'm in agreement which is why I was unimpressed. It may, may have had 5mph more, but that's about it. And to be honest I couldn't tell if the difference was real or just because the way the louder exhaust sounded!

Even if my scoot could go, say , 70mph, no way would I want to on those small wheels etc etc! I'm happy with it just cruising around.

Post by **ericalm** » Tue Sep 06, 2011 5:34 pm

desmolicious wrote:
ericalm wrote:I'm happy with the stock scoot. Not much use to have one that goes 5mph-10mph faster; it's still not a freeway rider.
I'm in agreement which is why I was unimpressed. It may, may have had 5mph more, but that's about it. And to be honest I couldn't tell if the difference was real or just because the way the louder exhaust sounded!

Even if my scoot could go, say , 70mph, no way would I want to on those small wheels etc etc! I'm happy with it just cruising around.

The brakes and suspension definitely aren't made for a 70mph+ scooter. Of course, you could upgrade those, but then you're on that slippery slope of mods. That can be fun if that's what you want and you know what you're getting into, but that's not why I got a Stella. In terms of cost, practicality and results, a new, warrantied Stella 4T probably isn't the best foundation for building a racing shifter anyways.

Silver Streak · Post by **Silver Streak** » Tue Sep 06, 2011 5:57 pm

Ahh... you guys just aren't real gearheads.

I don't want freeway capability. I'd be happy with the ability to cruise at a real 55 - 60, topping out at maybe 65. Need to keep up with the fiancee's Buddy!

The suspension and brakes are fine for that. The tires, on the other hand...

There really aren't any alternatives in a 4T scoot to build a "racing shifter" on.

Post by **ericalm** » Tue Sep 06, 2011 6:27 pm

Silver Streak wrote:There really aren't any alternatives in a 4T scoot to build a "racing shifter" on.

That's pretty much what I'm sayin'. A P200 or Rally might be a better place to start.

desmolicious · Post by **desmolicious** » Tue Sep 06, 2011 6:42 pm

Silver Streak wrote:Ahh... you guys just aren't real gearheads.

I don't want freeway capability. I'd be happy with the ability to cruise at a real 55 - 60, topping out at maybe 65. Need to keep up with the fiancee's Buddy!

The 165cc kit does not give you that.

Silver Streak · Post by **Silver Streak** » Tue Sep 06, 2011 8:49 pm

ericalm wrote:
Silver Streak wrote:There really aren't any alternatives in a 4T scoot to build a "racing shifter" on.
That's pretty much what I'm sayin'. A P200 or Rally might be a better place to start.

No thank you... I don't do two-strokes any more. Four strokes can be tuned dramatically, too. It's just a little more complicated.

Silver Streak · Post by **Silver Streak** » Tue Sep 06, 2011 8:55 pm

desmolicious wrote:
Silver Streak wrote:Ahh... you guys just aren't real gearheads.

I don't want freeway capability. I'd be happy with the ability to cruise at a real 55 - 60, topping out at maybe 65. Need to keep up with the fiancee's Buddy!

The 165cc kit does not give you that.

I still maintain they didn't really know what they were doing, or didn't try very hard.

I'll wager that goal is easily within the realm of possibility with a bigger carb in addition to the kit and pipe, and perhaps a little cleaning up of the ports.

Challenges are fun!

desmolicious · Post by **desmolicious** » Tue Sep 06, 2011 9:30 pm

Do it Dave!

It would be interesting to compare your experiences.

Post by **ericalm** » Tue Sep 06, 2011 9:47 pm

Silver Streak wrote:
ericalm wrote:
Silver Streak wrote:There really aren't any alternatives in a 4T scoot to build a "racing shifter" on.
That's pretty much what I'm sayin'. A P200 or Rally might be a better place to start.
No thank you... I don't do two-strokes any more. Four strokes can be tuned dramatically, too. It's just a little more complicated.

I agree, as evidenced by all the mods in my LX.

Silver Streak · Post by **Silver Streak** » Wed Sep 07, 2011 12:02 am

desmolicious wrote:Do it Dave!

It would be interesting to compare your experiences.

I'm going to. Likely won't be until late spring, though. Getting married in October, and then have two stage sets to design this fall/winter. Then a delayed European honeymoon in late April.

Won't have time for a major project until after that. Maybe they'll come out with a bigger kit by then.

Lovelandstella · Post by **Lovelandstella** » Wed Sep 07, 2011 8:24 pm

Silver Streak wrote:
desmolicious wrote:Do it Dave!
It would be interesting to compare your experiences.
I'm going to. Likely won't be until late spring, though. Getting married in October, and then have two stage sets to design this fall/winter. Then a delayed European honeymoon in late April.
Won't have time for a major project until after that. Maybe they'll come out with a bigger kit by then.

sorry- a little off topic -- hey congrats Silver Streak!

back on topic. kind of.
I have gotten my stock 4t up to 60 mph (indicated) accidentally 2-3 times.
I say "accidentally" because I am still *just* under 1000 miles and I wanted to take it easy so once I realize I am going that fast I cuss once or twice and I back it off
but I am very impressed with this stock 4T - it's a lot of well-performing scoot!

and for a simple 5 mph gain- can't we just get a windshield? like the "shorty"? I heard that would give a few mph...

Post by **ericalm** » Wed Sep 07, 2011 8:56 pm

Lovelandstella wrote:and for a simple 5 mph gain- can't we just get a windshield? like the "shorty"? I heard that would give a few mph...

You'll get some benefit from it. YMMV!