Tao Tao Roman 150 - PDI, upgrades, and eventually review

[nwscooterboy]

SUCCESS!!!

Well, I thought it might take me 3-4 afternoons but it ended up to be just a couple. I have 3-4 screws to put on the scoot and install the trunk but for the most part, it's done! Took me probably about 20 hrs total. (probably a lot for most but this is my first one)

Here's what I did....

Unpacked scooter and inspected all parts and welds.
Installed front wheel
Was going to put the liquid in the battery but SURPRISE! This Tao Tao came with a sealed battery compartment with the acid already in it!
Removed as much plastic/housing as I could
Replaced vacuum and fuel lines with Helix tubing and installed NGK sparkplug
More assembly and used loctite on all permanent bolts
Here's where I did a little overkill - opened up all electrical connections and put in di-Electric grease in connection then after closing it up, used silicone around any openings of the connectors to seal it. Living in the Pacific NW, moisture is aplenty here!
Changed motor and gear oil
Did a first start before putting all the plastic on....started right up! I did adjust the idle screw just a bit.
Reinstalled all plastic. Used loctite in appropriate places...also put a dab of silicone on screws that were screwing into plastic to make sure they don't vibrate loose over time.

That's where I'm at at this point. Of course there are like 5 million little screws that hold all the plastics on and I misplaced a few so I need to pick up a few of those today (looks like a common screw I can get at the hardware store), install the seat and then the trunk and I'll be good to go.

A few questions:
Does anyone use the center stand when they park at the store, etc after traveling there? Or do they use the single kickstand? That center stand is kind of a b&#*h to get down but I don't want to look TOO much like a newbie by using just my kickstand if I should be using the center stand all the time.

I know there will be breaking in period...I've noticed just riding it around the driveway today that the exhaust smell is pretty strong smelling. Is this normal for a brand new scooter? I noticed the PDI videos I watched that the guy in one video showed how you can screw out the little caps that are on a carburetor so you can adjust the mix. I wonder if my mix is off? But it might be too early to tell.

The scooter arrived from Scooter Madness (or wherever they have it shipped from) in one piece for the most part...however the "paint job" that is on the main rear body piece - well, check out the pic. Where the stripe is SUPPOSED to meet in the back is waaaay off. I've already submitted this to the company and after I spoke with Tao Tao on the phone, it looks like it will be replaced because obviously it's under warranty.

When I get time, I'll do a little review and give you my feedback after a few rides.

[seamus26]

Originally Posted by nwscooterboy

SUCCESS!!!

A few questions:
Does anyone use the center stand when they park at the store, etc after traveling there? Or do they use the single kickstand? That center stand is kind of a b&#*h to get down but I don't want to look TOO much like a newbie by using just my kickstand if I should be using the center stand all the time.

I know there will be breaking in period...I've noticed just riding it around the driveway today that the exhaust smell is pretty strong smelling. Is this normal for a brand new scooter? I noticed the PDI videos I watched that the guy in one video showed how you can screw out the little caps that are on a carburetor so you can adjust the mix. I wonder if my mix is off? But it might be too early to tell.

The scooter arrived from Scooter Madness (or wherever they have it shipped from) in one piece for the most part...however the "paint job" that is on the main rear body piece - well, check out the pic. Where the stripe is SUPPOSED to meet in the back is waaaay off. I've already submitted this to the company and after I spoke with Tao Tao on the phone, it looks like it will be replaced because obviously it's under warranty.

When I get time, I'll do a little review and give you my feedback after a few rides.

Man, you are one motivated individual. Hat's off to you.

I find that I almost always use my center stand. Once in a while I'll use the side stand, but that's usually when I'm at home. It just seems "tippy" to me. I always imagine a good stiff breeze or a shopping cart laying it over while I'm in the store.

I don't know if this is true for scooters, but growing up working on air-cooled VWs it was always a rule of thumb to let it warm up a little before making the engine push you down the road. I start it on the center stand and it revs high enough to spin the back wheel for a minute. Then, when the choke opens up, the idle spools down and evens out. The CVT stops spinning the wheel at that point, and I feel like I'm good to go. Not only does this allow the oil to splash around everywhere it's supposed to, but it also lets all the metal bits warm up and snuggle in. John Muir's "How to Keep Your Volkswagen Alive" taught me a lot about air cooled engines and how to (and not to) take care of them.

Happy riding!

[nwscooterboy]

Originally Posted by seamus26

Man, you are one motivated individual. Hat's off to you.

I find that I almost always use my center stand. Once in a while I'll use the side stand, but that's usually when I'm at home. It just seems "tippy" to me. I always imagine a good stiff breeze or a shopping cart laying it over while I'm in the store.

I don't know if this is true for scooters, but growing up working on air-cooled VWs it was always a rule of thumb to let it warm up a little before making the engine push you down the road. I start it on the center stand and it revs high enough to spin the back wheel for a minute. Then, when the choke opens up, the idle spools down and evens out. The CVT stops spinning the wheel at that point, and I feel like I'm good to go. Not only does this allow the oil to splash around everywhere it's supposed to, but it also lets all the metal bits warm up and snuggle in. John Muir's "How to Keep Your Volkswagen Alive" taught me a lot about air cooled engines and how to (and not to) take care of them.

Happy riding!

I read that VW book! Awesome! Had many Beetles growing up and part of my adult life.

Thanks for your thoughts...did you see my post about speedometer issues?

[seamus26]

Originally Posted by nwscooterboy

I read that VW book! Awesome! Had many Beetles growing up and part of my adult life.

Thanks for your thoughts...did you see my post about speedometer issues?

Just did. I really should check mine, too, but I figure as long as I'm keeping up with traffic, I'm fine.

We have a summer car. It's a Porsche 928. The difference between driving that and the scoot is that I will never, ever, ever drive that car the way it is built to be driven. On the scooter, I can ride WOT and push it as hard as it will let me and still not get a speeding ticket!



I love living on the edge.

BTW, I had two copies of that book. One was in really nice shape and all color tabbed for chapters. That's the one I showed people. The one I kept in the van had holes and tears and tape, and the tune-up chapter was almost unreadable from oil and grease stains.

Good times, man.