Format: Date: 2007-06-17 04:17:35 -0500 Pings: Off Comments: On

My scooter, returned from it’s walkabout with a meth addict, but is still recovering. I was riding to see Pat at Pho79 for soup Friday, cruising about 40mph, the engine made a really loud farting sound then died. I thought it was just hot, or a really fouled plug.

I spent a while at a neighboring auto parts store and replaced the plug. I bought some ether ( starting fluid ), everything starts with starter fluid; most anything. The plug wasn’t the exact type, but close enough

For reference the correct NGK spark plug for a 2003 Aprilia Mojito is a BPR8HS and a NGK 3725, they are one in the same. It’s damn near impossible to find the BPR8HS but the 3725 is common, and when I got the 3725, it had bpr8hs written on the box under 3725. I think they are changing the part number schemes.

The starter fluid didn’t help. The plug was AMAZINGLY FOULED. I was in the process of futzing with the tuning, when the scooter was stolen. It was in an especially bad state of tune, and driven by the thief for 1000 miles. and it showed in the wear on the scooter.

I brought it home and yesterday did a compression test, it was supposed to have 11 : 1 compression or 176psi, it has 60psi. The piston rings are shot.

I called aprilia and they said that the rings are the weak point in the engine, for precisely the reason to mitigate dumb guy damage. The replacement part is cheap, but takes 4 hours to replace and requires a tree and some rope to install, you decide why.

I’m actually looking forward to riding my bicycle in to work for a week. I have to get up much earlier, but it will be fun.

For a little while yesterday I considered a different scooter. I found this on you tube.

$200 for info leading to return

Yep the scooter was ripped off.

Click here for info on the scooter

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So I bought the scooter just before Christmas, in pieces, untested, not running….

Over the last few weeks I have rebuilt it. Tuned it. De-restricted it for good speed. Its been operational for 3 days. Then it was stolen.

Bike thieves are the lowest form of scum.

So I spent the day giving flyers to all the gas station attendants within 5 miles, (16) stations, 2 laundromats, and zip plasma services (if you’ll sell your blood you might sell out your blood.)

I’m pretty sure I will get it back, they stole it nearly empty on gas so they have to fill up.

In researching this I found out that the are a I live in is 3 blocks from the highest theft area in St. Paul.

I bought a Aprilia Mojito 49.6cc scooter ( 50cc ) just before Christmas. It was a real deal, however it was also in 3 or 4 boxes. I bought it from someone who tried unsuccessfully to modify it. Well, I fixed it and is a blast to ride. I’ve had 6 motorcycles ranging from a 72 RD 350 to a GPz 1100 ( punched out to 1400 ). This scooter is by far the most fun. It also gives warm fuzzies to my inner cheapskate.

In Minnesota, insurance is not required on 50cc or less scooters, and 50cc scooters (but no larger) are allowed in bike racks in downtown Minneapolis. So basicly I got this nifty scooter, I like to ride, thats free to park, that doesn’t require insurance, and gets 65-70mpg. Cool.