want a Stella BBBAAADDD, but only 1 yr warranty...why?

[kmrcstintn]

I have a strong urge to trade in my Rattler 110 for a leftover 2009 Stella 2T but I 'hit a wall' when I found out that Genuine only has a 1 yr warranty on the Stella's...can someone give me a good explanation for this when the Taiwan made scoots get a 2 yr warranty? thanks

[neotrotsky]

I have a strong urge to trade in my Rattler 110 for a leftover 2009 Stella 2T but I 'hit a wall' when I found out that Genuine only has a 1 yr warranty on the Stella's...can someone give me a good explanation for this when the Taiwan made scoots get a 2 yr warranty? thanks

Well, the Stella is made in India, so there's a difference from the Taiwan bikes

But seriously, it's not that unusual for many bikes to only have a 1 year warranty. Even Honda, Suzuki and Kawasaki only offered 1 year warranties up until a year or two ago I also think that since it was the first bike Genuine put to market, they wanted to be conservative with their policy just in case the bikes didn't pan out. But, the new 4T Stellas have a full 2 year/unlimited mileage warranty so it shows confidence has improved!

The Stella 2T is a good bike, and WAY easy to work on. The fact that you found a 2T still for sale new with warranty is amazing enough, and I wouldn't let the 1 year warranty phase you. It should do great and you have a rare chance to buy one of the last 2 stroke scooters brand new! It'll be an instant classic

[izark47]

I got one of the last 2009 Stella's and must say It is an amazing work horse, However not trouble free, I would have preferred a 2 year warranty. But i have ridden mine enough that the 1 year will not come into play. I would suggest to ride the heck out of it so you can work out the bugs. BTW nothing major was wrong, and EVERYTHING, has been covered by Genuine. So if you plan on riding all the time you will run out of the 5k part of your warranty first. Either way I have never regretted the purchase, It is a wonderful bike easy to work on and when you have about 1500 miles on it smooths out really well. Also it is the last of the true monocoque bikes. Even the 4T has some tubes as part of he frame.

[Silver Streak]

Also it is the last of the true monocoque bikes.

Ermm... have you looked at the modern Vespa chassis? Sure looks like monococque construction to me.

[Dooglas]

I 'hit a wall' when I found out that Genuine only has a 1 yr warranty on the Stella's...

Seems unusual that this would be the deal killer for you. The Stella has many quirks as an old design built in India, but it is what it is. If you like that, you will enjoy one. If you are really after a lower maintenance modern design with somewhat better performance - get a Buddy, or a modern Vespa, or whatever.

(as neotrotsky observes - a one year warranty is quite common among scooters and motorcycles)

[desmolicious]

Well, the Stella is made in India, so there's a difference from the Taiwan bikes

The Stella 4T has a 2 year, unlimited mileage warranty.

vs the 1 year, 5000 mile for the Stella 2T.

[viney266]

The Stella has many quirks as an old design built in India, but it is what it is. If you like that, you will enjoy one. If you are really after a lower maintenance modern design with somewhat better performance - get a Buddy, or a modern Vespa, or whatever.

^^^^ Well said.

Its quirky and put together like its from the 60's...Oh wait...It is!!!, other than electronic ignition and 12V lighting its a vinatge Vespa made in India. That being said...I BOUGHT one!, and , like others here, I like mine. But, you will work on ( tinker) with it more than a buddy or rattler...

The cool thing about it though, if you LIKE to tinker ( I do) there is a tonne of stuff to improve it and make it different, more so than any other scooter out there.

[roasteroo]

I got one and half years and 3100 miles before the crank exploded.
(orange 09 2T).
ie: one year waranty, keep it short before crank explodes.

Otherwise it was just quirky nuances untill then. Like the way the wires are routed through the shifter handle. All silly stuff was covered under warranty but always more of a pain than just fixing it yourself.

It will be better as a 200 2T anyway...........

[Roose Hurro]

Well, the Stella is made in India, so there's a difference from the Taiwan bikes

The Stella 4T has a 2 year, unlimited mileage warranty.

vs the 1 year, 5000 mile for the Stella 2T.

As I have bolded, the difference in warranty is most likely due to the differences between 4T and 2T. A 2T is very vulnerable to the ravages of inadequate lubrication, since its lubrication in in the fuel, and any change in fuel flow effects the lubrication. A 4T, on the other hand, has constant lubrication, no matter the fuel flow.

[neotrotsky]

I got one and half years and 3100 miles before the crank exploded.
(orange 09 2T).
ie: one year waranty, keep it short before crank explodes.

Otherwise it was just quirky nuances untill then. Like the way the wires are routed through the shifter handle. All silly stuff was covered under warranty but always more of a pain than just fixing it yourself.

It will be better as a 200 2T anyway...........

I'm still of a mind that the whole "crank grenading" thing is more isolated than some would rather have believed. I put 15k miles on the same engine on my '05 Stella and it was rode HARD! Not one bearing issue

[viney266]

It will be better as a 200 2T anyway...........

^^^ Thats my kind of thinking right there

[kmrcstintn]

update...

the 1 year warranty seemed strange since the rest of the lineup has a 2 year warranty as a standard, even my 2009 Rattler 110

after reviewing my finances, I decided not to trade my Rattler and have to put out more money; right now I'm gonna keep both my Rattler 110 and Vespa LX 150

[viney266]

Oh, if you have both, do something fun with the rattler, maybe a hot clutch and a pipe?

But the rattler is a cool piece...and the stella is kinda like your lx...So you have a good mix

[ericalm]

and the stella is kinda like your lx

Not at all!

I went from riding the LX daily to riding the Stella daily if that says anything. I'm glad I kept the LX, though, which is better for certain types of riding (twisty canyons, when I need to go faster, etc.).

Can't really compare the difference with a Rattler! I like the idea of having variety in the scooter stable, though. When I think about future additions (daydream about, really), it's always with the idea of getting something that offers a different riding experience or broadens my range somehow.

[Stitch]

There are a few Stella's with the near mythical exploding crank. Mine blew apart at 1200 miles. With all the other issues it had, I wasn't really surprised, I am pretty sure someone at lml showed up one their first day, hungover, and assembled my scooter from a box labeled "defective parts".
That being said, I have an awesome dealer, an awesome shop, Genuine pays for the warranty work, and the roadside assistance works.
Genuine has earned my business, and I will probably add a few more of them to my stable in the future.

The Stella f@$&!%g rocks!

[ericalm]

There are a few Stella's with the near mythical exploding crank.

To date, no reports of this on the 4T!

[kitty]

I just bought a leftover 2009 Stella and it came with a two year warranty.

[Robbie]

kitty,

Unless a special warranty program has popped up since this April (when I took delivery of my 09) I suspect your salesperson was misinformed......the first Stella's with a two year warranty are the four strokes.
But in all seriousness, as long as you actually operate the machine, if there will be a warranty concern it'll generally show up within the first 2000 miles.

As far as problems, by its nature, the forums draw two types of posters.
Those that are very pleased with their purchass, (me) and those who have had multiple, aggravating failures.

As a result, we forget about about about the thousands of machines that are operated by non-internet users that have no problems at all.

Congrats on your purchass and I hope it meets or exceeds your expectations.

Rob

[kitty]

Perhaps? Or maybe I misunderstood, I might be confusing the roadside assistance, which I know is two years. Either way, one or two years isn't a dealbreaker for me.

[desmolicious]

As far as problems, by its nature, the forums draw two types of posters.
Those that are very pleased with their purchass, (me) and those who have had multiple, aggravating failures.

As a result, we forget about about about the thousands of machines that are operated by non-internet users that have no problems at all.

That normally would make sense but...
W/ respect to the Stella 4T, a bunch of us had joined this site in anticipation of their arrival. And started posting our experiences the moment we got them. So this is a pretty good representation of the market as a whole.
And I do not know of anyone who has NOT had an issue.
So the claim cannot be made that there is a silent majority with no issues.

[Robbie]

As far as problems, by its nature, the forums draw two types of posters.
Those that are very pleased with their purchass, (me) and those who have had multiple, aggravating failures.

As a result, we forget about about about the thousands of machines that are operated by non-internet users that have no problems at all.

That normally would make sense but...
W/ respect to the Stella 4T, a bunch of us had joined this site in anticipation of their arrival. And started posting our experiences the moment we got them. So this is a pretty good representation of the market as a whole.
And I do not know of anyone who has NOT had an issue.
So the claim cannot be made that there is a silent majority with no issues.

Points well taken......and agree, to a point.

I guess I should say something like it is my believe the majority have not experienced 'Major' failures, but just about everyone has had small, aggravating failures of one sort or another.

I believe that after this many years of seeing the same type problems, a dealer could, if they really want to increase customer satisfaction, spend more time during setup to short circuit those problems.

For example, we all are aware of the ground wires coming off the front turn signals.....to the dealer, pull the wire off every one of them and close down the grip section of the wire.....takes less than a minute.
Labels coming off...ie Stella nameplate......I'll bet it was delivered this way.
Why not remove it, properly prepare the area it is to be applied to, and replace it prior to the sale.

Just two examples of very simple things that could have been corrected before the machine ever got into the swowroom.

I was the service director for a Honda Mcy dealer for 15 years.....My mechanics were told to look at each setup as if was going home as their own......I was fanatical about a first quality setup because it sets the tone for the future relationship between the new owner and my department.

It appears that a large percentage of Genuine dealers need to brush up on this part of the new vehicle delivery.

There is no disputing the companies from Tiawan and S. Korea have learned their lessons well from the Japanese....specifically getting the machine as close as being deliverable right out of the box.

The stuff from India, Russia, and China....not so much.

In the Stellas defense, it is design of the fourties, regardless of who put it together, just like a Ural is a reverse engineered design of the thirties.....a 1936 BMW assembled by Russians.
Having worked on a few of those, IMO, we retro Stella owners got it good.

Oh well, enouph thoughts.

Rob

[Rusty J]

I believe that after this many years of seeing the same type problems, a dealer could, if they really want to increase customer satisfaction, spend more time during setup to short circuit those problems.

There are probably more Stellas among the people on this board than any one dealer has sold. Individual dealers may not have seen enough of them to be aware of a pattern. This is especially true since people interested in these bikes often have a background with older Vespas, and therefore a certain degree of inclination and ability to do their own repairs outside of the warranty system.

-Rusty

[ScootLemont]

I could be wrong but.....
Didnt all Genuine scoots have a one year warranty in 2009?
My 06 Rattler had a 1 year warranty.
I seem to recall Genuine announcing the upgrade to the two year warranty in 2010
My 08 Stella had a 1 year warranty
So I am guessing that it isnt a India v. Taiwan thing as much as a model year thing.

Anyone know for sure?

[MGM]

My '09 Blackjack had a two year warrantee and two year roadside assistance. Also got a '09 buddy 50 for my son. Samw warrantee

[Dooglas]

My '07 Buddy came with a 2 year warranty. At that time it was about the only scooter around with 2 years rather than 1. (never made a warranty claim though )

[viney266]

....My mechanics were told to look at each setup as if was going home as their own......I was fanatical about a first quality setup because it sets the tone for the future relationship between the new owner and my department.


In the Stellas defense, it is design of the fourties, regardless of who put it together, just like a Ural is a reverse engineered design of the thirties.....a 1936 BMW assembled by Russians.
Having worked on a few of those, IMO, we retro Stella owners got it good.

Oh well, enouph thoughts.

Rob

^^^^ I couldn't agree more. The Indian stuff is not as well set-up. The Taiwanese stuff comes out of the box ready to go. Add gas, battery, bolt on a tire, and off you go.
If a dealer spends an extra 30 minutes or so on a Stella ( okay maybe an hour), half the little annoying problems wont show up. Thats why a shop charges set-up

[50CC Cape Cod]

I am looking at 2 new Stellas a 2T 2009 left over & new 4T any opinions
pros & con. I can do some repairs on scoots but not a mechanic. What I am looking for is the vintage style and shift with a potential side car knowing the side car will tax the speed and handling but as long as only a little would be OK with me. Has the 4T improved that much over the 2T from 2009? Overall what difference with ongoing maintenance & repairs?
I know Taiwan products are better quality over India but again a trade off
for vintage style.

[Robbie]

I am looking at 2 new Stellas a 2T 2009 left over & new 4T any opinions
pros & con. I can do some repairs on scoots but not a mechanic. What I am looking for is the vintage style and shift with a potential side car knowing the side car will tax the speed and handling but as long as only a little would be OK with me. Has the 4T improved that much over the 2T from 2009? Overall what difference with ongoing maintenance & repairs?
I know Taiwan products are better quality over India but again a trade off
for vintage style.

For a admitted not very mechanical person, I would recomment the 4T.
Yes, you still get to fiddle with the cables, sometimes resecure a bulb or harness, tighten fasteners from time to time, but on the four stroke you really don't have to give the engine much thought.
Change the oil and filter every now and again, give it a air filter, check the valves and rock on.

I like two strokes.....a lot, but that may be because they are from my era and because I am accustomed to their little issues.
You have to be sensative the them.
For example, if the idle seems to be different today, not as accurate, but the ambient temp is the same as yesterday, it may be trying to tell you the carb is a bit loose and it is running lean.
Continued operation could lead to heavy engine damage.

A four stroke would just run lousy but no real harm would come of it and you would look into the concern eventually.
That, IMO, is the key wiord...eventually.
A two stroke requires its issues to be addressed, NOW.

Operators that let it slide, pay the price.

Since you are considering a hack, the four stroke, again my opinion, will exibit better reliability over the long term.

Good luck!

Rob

[50CC Cape Cod]

I test drove the 4T and was surprised the scooter was so nice. The 2T 2009 leftover needs some adjusting so will have to go back for that test ride that one.
The dealer indicated the side car will bring the speed down from 65MPH to
45MPH and may want to add a steering damper for better ride.
Since the scooter are old manufacturing setup know there will be some issues, but if limited to maintain not looking to rebuild engines but adjustments etc like some other 2T would be acceptable. Now at least I know the Stella is my scooter choice if can be had.

[BuddyRaton]

I can do some repairs on scoots but not a mechanic. What I am looking for is the vintage style and shift with a potential side car knowing the side car will tax the speed and handling but as long as only a little would be OK with me.

Adding a hack to any bike is going to change the handling and performance A LOT