Is there something SPECIAL about "full break-in"?

[oldchopperguy]

Is there something SPECIAL about "full break-in"?

My Xingyue Eagle 150 has undergone some major (make that "typical"...) "tweaking" (No-limit performance CDI, Bando coil, Mikuni stock-type carb, Uni-Filter) during the two seasons in my family, to get it running as good as I thought it ever would with mostly stock parts... Smooth, decent acceleration, top-speed of about 53 mph at 8,500 rpm or so.

Weather broke warm this week, and I hit the road. "Lil' Bubba" turned 1,700 miles and suddenly, within 50 miles, acceleration is stronger, top speed is now 60 mph at 9,600 rpm (the accurate factory tach is marked red at 10 grand, but I do KNOW better than to run those kind of revs for long!) and the little wheezer now will cruise at 55 on level ground. Bubba now roars up hills with authority!

WHAZZUP? It's now running like the advertisements promise... Can we no longer call the sellers liars until we hit 2,000 miles? Has some hidden Japanese DNA surfaced? LOL!

I have a Prodigy variator, high-perf exhaust, and a fantastic new performance head (oh Kliff, you wonderful guy...) awaiting Springtime assembly, BUT... the major performance increase, while very welcome, is quite a surprise.

Any other Rebs or Rebettes out there experience a big performance increase at 1,500 to 2,000 miles?

Enquiring minds want to know LOL!

Just wondering...

Leo in Texas

[Rocketdog]

Not to curse you Chooper, but when I use to run small block Chevys, that when I knew they were going to blow up. A 327 will run like a bat out of Hell when all the tolerances get real loose. Just not for long.

RD

[oldchopperguy]

Hey Rocketdog,

Ah... I know what you mean. LONG ago, a buddy campaigned a little Chevy II with a de-stroked 283. It was something like 220 CID if I recall. It would rev to over 10 grand, and like you mentioned, it just got better until it "lunched" itself...

Everything on the scoot seems in order... no loose noises, etc. In fact, it seems to feel nicely "fitted" with that solid, cushioned feel like the "new" finally wore off. Hope that's the case... I just got surprised at the sudden increase in performance. I usually keep the rpm below 8,000 and will be installing the Prodigy variator in the spring. That should keep things to a manageable rev limit. If it doesn't go south first!

Both the tach and the speedo are pretty accurate, but I don't know about that 10,000 rpm redline. A little optimistic I think! Especially now that on a downhill entrance ramp, it will exceed it.

Anyway, we shall see!

Stay safe!

Leo

[Rocketdog]

Might be the belt or variator getting broke in good.

RD

[oldchopperguy]

Rocketdog,

That's just what I thought. Just a teensy bit of stretch in the belt, and little freeing up of the variator would do wonders... Sort of a "po-boy's Prodigy". LOL!

Sure is fun to finally keep up with traffic!

Leo

[kliff]

Mine did the same Leo....started levelling off at about 2500 miles. Guess I'll pep her up this Spring.... got a whole set-up laid out, just need the time....

[FootScoot]

Mine's only got 1600 miles. I guess I'll find out in a few more hundred whether or not mine turns into a rocket. ;D

[oldchopperguy]

Footscoot,

Hope it does! They cause enough hassle with rotten fuel lines, faulty petcocks, bad CDI's, wonky carbs, square wheels, funky air intakes, feeble starters and more... These little wheezers OWE us a 60 mph blast of wind in the face once in a while... LOL!

One thing I know for sure, is that little changes make BIG differences in performance! I do believe the performance increase probably comes from the belt stretching just a hair. Can't wait to see what a Prodigy variator will do!

Hope yours runs like a scalded dog! YEE HA!

Ride safe,

Leo in Texas

[oldchopperguy]

Kliff,

Glad to hear it! Now, I'm anxious to see what that head, Prodigy variator and free-flowing exhaust with more carb tweaking might do! Might just cruise 55 at a reasonable rpm. THAT would be GREAT!

I'm always surprised to read posts where riders feel the handling of these gets scary past 50 mph or so. Maybe I'm just lucky with mine, or because it's the larger scoot with 13" wheels, but it rides much like a small motorcycle at any speed it will go. Very manageable, and the brakes are more than adequate. Heck, the engine braking is so effective that I seldom use the brakes until almost stopped. The pads should last forever...

I suppose they don't ride like a modern Japanese motorcycle at highway speed, but they're certainly as good as the old Triumphs and BSA's I used to ride long highway trips on as a youth. Light years ahead of the Cushman, Vespa and Lambretta scoots of the old days. More than good enough fer me!

Great transportation, and brand-new, about $100 in late fifties' money!

What a deal!

Ride safe...

Leo

[Rebel]

Regarding the belt, I know I've read comments about buying one just a few mm longer so it goes higher on the pulley, resulting in an effective higher gear ratio.

[oldchopperguy]

Rebel,

I do believe that's what has happened. Same principle as the Prodigy variator, but with the stock variator, the revs are still way high. When I hit near 60 on the level, I was amazed, THEN, I checked the tach and it was heading near 10,000 rpm... And I've checked the tach, and it's accurate within a couple hundred revs. Even though the redline is marked at 10K, that's WAY too fast!

I'm really beginning to understand why small differences in the transmission can make the difference between running with the traffic, and falling behind!

When you're only working with 8 to 10 hp, you need every edge you can get! LOL!

Glad to have you back!

Leo

[olscootrider]

My JmStar150cc scoot tacks 8,000 at 50 mph. tops out at 62 mph, never noticed the tack that time. Yes it's stock 2,300 miles. I've been told to never ride over 8,000 rpm much to extend life of the motor. Hell 50mph is to fast to stop a scoot in a emergency stop.
Jim near Lumberton N.C.

[oldchopperguy]

Hey olscootrider,

While my factory tach redlines at 10,000 the 8,000 rpm rule is certainly a good one! I'll be installing a Prodigy variator in Spring, and that should bring the 50 mph rpm down to around 6,500, with a "potential" for 60 mph or so at no more than 8,500. We shall see...

I haven't had any problem with stopping power, even in an emergency at top speed. The scooter will slow down so fast just from engine braking that normal riding requires little braking until nearly stopped. Even from 60 mph, it will out-stop most any car with a good squeeze on the brakes.

Guess I'm "brainwashed" from 50 years riding big bikes with mechanical drum brakes front and rear... LOL! THOSE were more like "Fred Flintstone" brakes, and stopping from 80 or so was a little "adventurous"...

I do keep the revs to 8,500 or less most of the time, I just got SURPRISED the other day at the new-found "frisky" performance. Even MORE surprised at the rpm. Didn't run long that fast!

Ride safe...

Leo in Texas

[Rebel]

Olscootrider,

Welcome to the forum

[kuzikood]

over 5k miles and front pads are still at 60% remaining .