considering 03 stella purchase

rentonhighlander · Post by **rentonhighlander** » Wed May 22, 2013 6:49 pm

I currently own a buddy 50cc (and love it) but am considering the purchase of a stella. I would appreciate any input from those of you with a lot of time with these bikes.

This bike has 3k miles on it and it says that is has a sito+ exhaust but no other mods. This concerns me a bit because it has not been rejetted.

The asking is $1900 but I thought I might offer $1500 if the bike checks out (add claims it runs great but has not been used much last three years, no damage to bike).

1) I'm going to inquire how long the bike has had the exhaust. If it appears to run fine should I be concerned about long term damage by not having a the carb rejetted?

2) Are there any other things I should look at in particular? Especially for the 2003 model?

Thanks in advance.

az_slynch · Post by **az_slynch** » Wed May 22, 2013 7:31 pm

The biggest difference between the Sito and the stock exhaust is the lack of a catalyser element. As a result, the exhaust flows more freely and should allow the engine to rev on a little higher.

Generally, a Sito Plus install should be accompanied by a de-bluing of the air filter and an upjet (guessing at a 108-110, since you're at sea level). If the filter has't been de-restricted, it would keep the air intake of the engine down and could keep the fuelling at an acceptable level. Ask the seller to pop the top off of the air box and see if the filter still has a blue gauze around it.

If possible, take it for a test drive. Once check for jetting would be to wind it up in third gear, clutch it in and kill the ignition, then roll to the roadside and do a "plug chop". Remove the spark plug (careful, iy's warm) and check the insulator color of the plug. You need to kill the ignition at speed in order to get the "loaded" plug reading, if the engine returns to idle, the plug reading will change. If the plug insulator is a nice mocha color, you're good to go. If it's ashy or white, the motor is running lean and needs an upjet on the main jet. If the plug is black and oily, you may want to downjet the main.

If it was an '05, there are plenty of things to worry about; that was the year where LML employees were at-odds with management and build quality was dubious at best. With an '03, I'd only really worry about the condition or rubber bits (wiring junctions, spark plug boot and cable guides).

Lokky · Post by **Lokky** » Wed May 22, 2013 7:53 pm

I feel like that's way too much for an 03, hell I paid 1900 for my 09 and 1500 for my fireball (albeit that was a super good deal).

Also yeah I'd be really weary of someone who just bolted on a sito without rejetting, who knows what else they have overlooked in maintaining it.

Also to add to the list of rubber bits, the engine seals are probably needing replacing by now.

MrChet · Post by **MrChet** » Wed May 22, 2013 8:43 pm

Just chiming in with a another reference pt.

I bought an 08 2T with 2400 miles. This bike had a Sito+ with a cut crank and Polini 180 kit. It was rejetted up to a 105 main but I've still been playing with the jetting as I am at ~3800 ft elevation. Bike also had the seat/rear rack and pretty new Heidenau tires.

I paid $1800. I agree that the price seems high. $1500, at least to me, sounds fair.

rentonhighlander · Post by **rentonhighlander** » Thu May 23, 2013 3:11 am

Thanks for the replys,

I specifically asked the seller about the jetting and he said it has been rejetted but just doesn't know what it is. I asked for the paperwork just in case a shop did it but have not heard back yet. Is there an easy way to find out if the bike has been rejetted (I'm not aware of one)?
I might offer $1300 considering that the bike is 10 years old and has not been ridden much recently. I can certainly imagine (as stated in the above posts) that some of the seals and rubber components could be failing in the near future if not already.
This fella claims 60-70mph, is this even possible on the stock speedometer with only an exhaust mod?

Thanks Again

az_slynch · Post by **az_slynch** » Thu May 23, 2013 6:00 am

The gearing could get there, but I'm skeptical that the engine would without a downhill grade. I'd imagine that it might get up near 60 with a light rider. Howard's does a real 65 with a 175cc setup and I think Lokky said his knitted blue Stella would do similar.

Maybe they have a very optimistic speedometer.

Steady Teddy · Post by **Steady Teddy** » Thu May 23, 2013 6:49 am

If the seller will let ya pull the airbox and air filter off, unscrew the jet and see what it says. They come with 98s installed from the factory.

I always equate value to condition. Has it been dropped or is the paint pristine? If it's a pristine example, his asking price is not too far off the mark... in my opinion anyway.

T

Lokky · Post by **Lokky** » Thu May 23, 2013 10:45 am

az_slynch wrote:The gearing could get there, but I'm skeptical that the engine would without a downhill grade. I'd imagine that it might get up near 60 with a light rider. Howard's does a real 65 with a 175cc setup and I think Lokky said his knitted blue Stella would do similar.

Maybe they have a very optimistic speedometer.

Right now my kitted stella hits 62MPH GPS, while my fireball does up to 65MPH GPS.

A stock stella with a sito is not going to do over 60MPH unless like you said it's a really happy speedo, 52-55MPH depending on rider weight is more realistic.