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I just recieved the pictures of the prototype I spoke of a few months ago and the looks exceeded my expectaions ! I can not share them at this time but I think they will have a winner that will please most of the old school people with its looks and modern as it is a twist and go. This bike looks as close to a VBB as a knock off can get.
It is all plastic, has the dual seat set up. I have given the the list of options I would like and want some feedback for and additions I may have over looked.The prototype had a decent rear rack. Unfortunately we can not do a spare tire set up with the modern wheel system. Front has a trailing link w/disc, rear remains a drum.
my list is:
1. engine cover crash guards, with passenger foot rest 2. front leg shield crash guards 3. front rack (folding) 4. glove box to attach to rear of leg shield 5. floorboard strips or plates 6. full bench seat option 7.matching colored carrier box

They will start the EPA test next week on both a 50 & 150 engines. I have not heard about the 50 engine but the 150 will be fuel injected.

It is Chinese, so I will go to Shanghai to over see quality control when production is about to start later this winter. We hope to have them available for the Indy show or at least preprodution for spring sales orders.

This is what Lambretta has been trying to get out for years but have been unable to get done and the Adly Moto factory should have done but still has not.

I think this could be the hot scoot for next year rivaling the numbers of the Buddy if we don't run into any quality problems. This will be my first Chinese experience and have the benifit of my new boss being a pretty Westernized Chinese guy so he can convey the quality we wish to achieve.

I'm as excited as a little schoolgirl getting ready for Prom. I hope I get laid.

Can't wait to see it! Sounds cool

Paul;

There was one word in your summary which concerned me a little bit. "Chinese". I bought a Chinese scoot before I bought Black Beauty, I was not very impressed with the amount of plastics, nor the fit and finish of the product. Do you believe that this entry will be able to sway the buyers who were once burned by their experiences with the Chinese made scoots from eariler in the scoot awakening?

Thats kick ASS Paul... totally K.F.A.

someones finally listening...thank god.


can't wait to see pics...

also... going to the PRC? postcard please...

also... an optional BBQ style rack would be a nice option...for you know... delivery guys...and those of us who want to haul lots of beer.

It is going to be a legitimate concern and some will depend on what price point they want to bring it in at. We can buy anything. I even suggested buying the drive train from Adly if we had too, though that would probably triple our end cost.

I'm not sure if this is going to be a partnership with our owner, as he has done on a couple of ventures with the Chinese. It may be a work in progress as we find fault. I have no way of getting legitimate test results of the durablility of components and can mainly rely on history. Even in Taiwan we have been caught by suppliers that did not maintain tolerances supplied.

ISO certs can be bought and that only shows that they at least once were able to follow practical engineering and manufacturing practices.

I have many more questions than can be replied to in the short time I've seen this and thus far am relying on the owner who has his money at stake is looking out for himself.
As they have gained experience and reinvested the money they are making, one hopes (springs eternal?), they have progressed up the quality foodchain somewhat. The basic GY6 motor has been a proven design and if the basic metalurgy is sound I can only hope it has some legs under it.

For a prototype the pictures look very good and the cowls do come off to access the motor & on rght side. It does have the small storage door and vent louvers, too. Until I actually get to lay hands on it and try to pick it apart I can only say that Kymco, Honda, Suzuki and & Yamaha all have factories in China now and their reputations are at stake ,too.

You might suggest that they provide one to me for my daily commute. I'd test the bejeebers out of it.

True.

Yo Bermshot! What are the chances of getting this engine past the EPA? This would be AWESOME in a scooter!

smokes just a tic, doesn't it...
a diesel scooter would be a trip.

i spotted this at 2stroke Buzz

got any pics of this newbie?

Several months ago, I read of a diesel powered scooter in Ireland, so i know they are out there and can be produced. I think it was built more for off-roading than commuting.
I will see if I can find the article again.

***edit***

I could not find the specific Irish scooter that I had read about, but I did find this...http://www.peace65.freeserve.co.uk/Pictures/simpson.htm

The only current "production" diesel two-wheeler I know of is the HDT: really a conversion of a Kawasaki and only for military applications. A civilian version has been delayed indefinitely. Which is ok, 'cause it was estimated to cost more than $20k and diesel costs more per gallon than regular gas. Not much advantage to be found there. Still, it does prove the viability of the diesel concept for two-wheelers.

the only advantage to having a disel powered scout bike for the Military is everything else they have runs on diesel... removes the need to carry gasoline just for the bikes.

wonder what kind of MPG they offer

I think the diesel bikes were made by Rousch Racing family. Cris is right in everthing for the militarty has to use a common fuel grade, same with NATO. The advantages will be less mantainance, better MPG, more engine torque, longer engine life cycle. Disadvantages are heavier wt., frequent oil changes, polutes more and is noisier.

I got word today they are to ship us several preproduction units in the next few weeks to test and then I have to go over for start up, maybe by Christmas. Not sure if I will get the 150 or 50 units first, maybe both.

in the same light that Carl can ride the shit out of anything...

I have the well established knack for find a way to root out the failure points on anything... the "I can break anything" deal...
some call it back luck... I prefer to think of it as being a perfect "bug tester"...so... if you need help looking for the weak links...

my bad... shoulda read the whole thing

They do want to keep any pics from the competition as long as possible, less time for them to react, but as soon as we get them here to test it will be hard to stop them from being seen. Just imagine a VBB with modern mag wheels & a fr. disc and it will be pretty close. i did notice the cowl access cover and the engine vent louvers are reversed because the engine orientation is to the left side instead of the right with a modern style engine.

So, it looks just like this with cooler wheels and such.
Sounds awesome! I love the VBB styling. I'd be very interested in this. Sounds like a long way off though.