first day of the daily commute

fs8gbe · Post by **fs8gbe** » Thu Mar 05, 2009 4:04 pm

had my first extended ride on the blur this morning. it was a little chilly

but otherwise very nice. i would have been miserable in my car that cold but somehow being on the blur made it worth it. i do have a couple of questions though but a warning, they may seem stupid as i didn't receive a manual...

1. after 25-35 mins of riding i smelled a faint plastic heating up smell. is this "new bike smell?" i vaguely remember smelling something similiar when i was braking in my vespa. it's almost like the smell that a new imac will give off as the plastics are warming up and settling into place. just wondering if that is normal...

2. the light switch. i understand what the off position and the on position are (duh) but what is the 3rd position to the left? it looks like a lightbulb and from what i can tell, had no difference than the 2nd middle position.

3. when i hit 45-50 indicated, i noticed a pretty constant vibration, much like what you feel on a car that needed an alignment. i think i am going to take it to twist n scoot today on my lunch break but, does anyone have any ideas on what this may be? it wasn't like that when i test drove it, so i am wondering if when i strapped it down on my truck, if i did something to the shocks or something? i checked the tires because i figured i might filled them too much, but the tires were around 30psi, which is what the column indicates...

all things considered it was still a great, if not chilly ride. looking forward to tomorrow's ride being about 10 degrees warmer!

charlie55 · Post by **charlie55** » Thu Mar 05, 2009 7:10 pm

1) Never noticed any such aroma on mine, but the exhaust/muffler gives off a faint sort of "overheated automotive undercoat smell" when hot.

2) Yup, going from right to left, it's "off", "panel and marker lights", "ditto". They must have used a generic switch assembly with provisions for parking or hazard lights. What you're seeing is normal.

3) Is it a vibration throughout the entire scoot, or just a wobble in the front/rear wheel?

fs8gbe · Post by **fs8gbe** » Thu Mar 05, 2009 7:29 pm

yeah took it to twist n scoot in atlanta just to give it a general oil cleansing and a once over.

they said the smell could be from the catalytic converter, and would stop after some time. it appears the guy i bought it from didn't ride it very much.

the vibration was definitely due to the tires. 55psi in the back and 45 in the front. i definitely need a new tire gauge...it was showing 30.

but they gave it a clean bill of health, and all is right with the world...now i just can't wait to drive home

bluelghtning · Post by **bluelghtning** » Thu Mar 05, 2009 8:27 pm

I'm glad you are enjoying your Blur!

Sometimes I wish my commute was longer just so I could enjoy my scooter more.

I don't think that guy ever rode that Blur very much. It had like 1400 miles on it or something, correct?

BTW, did he get you a new title for it?

fs8gbe · Post by **fs8gbe** » Thu Mar 05, 2009 10:30 pm

yeah just like he said, he had lost the title, and issued up one on monday.

that was the only reason i bought it, i sort of had a sense he was telling the truth, even though it was quite risky. it worked out in the end.

30 more minutes and i get to ride again!

charlie55 · Post by **charlie55** » Thu Mar 05, 2009 10:36 pm

they said the smell could be from the catalytic converter

Catalytic converter? I know that some scoots have catalyzed exhaust systems, but I don't remember that feature ever being listed for the Blur, but maybe I missed it.

Strange.

fs8gbe · Post by **fs8gbe** » Thu Mar 05, 2009 10:38 pm

dunno. btw, thanks for the reassurance on the light switch. i don't feel like i am missing the obvious now

Lostmycage · Post by **Lostmycage** » Fri Mar 06, 2009 3:07 am

The light switch on the 06's are set up for no light, parking lights and headlights+parking, just like a car. They've been rewired to run the headlight all the time, so the switch is sorta weird. I think maybe the 07's are set up like the Buddies, where they have a relay and hazard, but the lights remain on all the time. Even if they aren't, I'd like to set mine up to do that.

The plastic is most likely the heat shield. It's a new scoot smell, it fades way (or you get used to it) over time.

Seems like everything is running normal for you there. Glad to hear you're enjoying it.

KCScooterDude · Post by **KCScooterDude** » Fri Mar 06, 2009 6:11 am

Posts like these make me wish I had a longer commute.

I've had none of the above listed problems with my Blur. I would imagine a good tune-up would solve most of this. If the bike hasn't been ridden for a while, you will find it amazing how much just riding it will work things out.

Enjoy!

Lostmycage · Post by **Lostmycage** » Fri Mar 06, 2009 6:37 am

What's that old school term for fixing a poorly running car by taking it out for a ridiculously hard run? (I know the term, I'm just avoiding the implicated slur, cause there's got to be a better name for it).

It's just further proof that these things like to be ridden within an inch of their life. They also like quality lubricants and red wine with a succulent lamb roast, but that's just splitting hairs.

fs8gbe · Post by **fs8gbe** » Fri Mar 06, 2009 3:01 pm

lostmycage: where do i place the lamb? in the pet carrier?

Lostmycage · Post by **Lostmycage** » Fri Mar 06, 2009 5:27 pm

Well yeah... I mean it keeps a better center of gravity when it's in there as well as keeping it warm. The red wine, of course, goes in the fuel tank.

Just an FYI... the wine actually decreases performance, but it does ride smoother (at least that's what it tells all it's friends).

KCScooterDude · Post by **KCScooterDude** » Fri Mar 06, 2009 5:35 pm

Lostmycage wrote:What's that old school term for fixing a poorly running car by taking it out for a ridiculously hard run? (I know the term, I'm just avoiding the implicated slur, cause there's got to be a better name for it).

It's just further proof that these things like to be ridden within an inch of their life. They also like quality lubricants and red wine with a succulent lamb roast, but that's just splitting hairs.

I call it an Italian Tune Up, and while I'm not an Italian, I'd consider it a compliment. I wouldn't mind it if they called it an Irish, Welsh or German Tune Up. I think it has more to do with the fact that great sports cars are made in Italy, not a slur. Then again, you might have been thinking of another term.

Lostmycage · Post by **Lostmycage** » Fri Mar 06, 2009 6:28 pm

Yep, that's what it's called. I'm facetious by nature. As much as I'd like to not offend anyone on the internet, it's gonna happen, so I guess deep down, I don't care. It's still fun to pretend that I care, though.