I really enjoy this series, but I understand your concerns. If it becomes too stressful, I'd love to see a series that documents what it takes to upgrade this into a scooter you're happy with, and how it compares to just buying a good scooter in the first place.
Excellent idea! Episode 1. Make it usable - we know already abaut bearings and brake lines that wants to kill you. Restrictors also wants to kill you by poor performance :P Episode 2. Make it comfortable, suspension is terrible, hand grips awful, same as the seat. Episode 3. Performance mods within the moped limits, especially how to change flintstone style start to wheelieeee!...(clutch spring and weights). Episode 4, unleash the beast, that will still pass basic road legalisation (I doubt that they have a dyno), unless police will catch you speeding uphill ;P (carburetor and rev your engine!). Episode 5, make it the road illegal beast, but still usable, for daily commute, so 80 ccm cylinder, exhaust cone air filter etc. So you will loose the road legalisation, by only the look of the moped. Episode 6. Take it to a drag strip :P
Ill be adding a clutch and trans kit to mine in a week or so i just got it off rolling wrench and thats a great site for upgrades on this taotao it also has install step by step video on the site for the product under the purchase sections that are great for people of any skill level to repair or replace parts
@@communist-hippie not all are I own a 50cc scooter from the UK its called a lexmoto echo I brought it new for £1250 UK pounds. I've had it for almost a year now and it hasn't let me down once
@@robertbolin1763 ...are you for real ? the UK Lexmoto brand is made in China, but it is one of the best made there. China has good stuff , but most importers -all the online ones - are not buying any but the cheap ones.
Hey, don't keep going with the experiment for we YT watchers. If you don't feel safe, call it quits. My last two wheeler was a Yamaha Majesty which had 40 hp and could go 80-85 mph. Even with that power , I felt at times like car drivers were trying to run me off the road. I enjoyed two wheeling more on the secondary roads through the country. I am sure, I just couldn't hack it on a 50cc Tao Tao. You're a braver man than I am !!! P.S. Let's hear some more piano!
i used to push a 1.0 hp, tomos revival, two-speed. top speed 28mph . i got passed by a group of bicycles more than once . i push a taotao powermax vip 150 on that old 50cc plate now for 6 years. did first engine oil change after 25,000 miles, still using factory gear oil, brakes, . i did put a maxxis 6024 on back for offroading Fun but blew a front fork seal . only two problems, muffler mounts and side plastics . $650 NIB, the ATM-A1 in the above video was $499 NIB not $750, he prolly paid $250 for delivery , i spent less than $25 in gas . i would recommend the taotao powermax vip 150cc
I like to ride too. My wife and I also own a smart car which is amazing on fuel and the parking. I look for the ass that tried to take 2 spots and squeeze right in. HOWEVER, you get no respect on the road. 😂😂😂
Ik this is 3 years late, but what an incredible video. I started watching randomly and next thing i know, i sat thru the entire video without even realizing. Your way of reviewing stuff and giving the date is so incredible, props to you👌🏼
I'm getting a Vitacci 50cc Solana Scooter in a couple of days. I have to wait for them to turn it into 100cc which is the maximum allowed for a "moped" in Michigan. I'm really hoping he tweaks the motor good and removes any restrictors that happened to be on it so that I can do around 50 to 55 miles an hour. Dare to dream right but I'm going to be using this in metro-detroit for doordash deliveries because I can't afford to get my van repaired right now.
I always say tao-taos are worth buying.... BUT i always forget not everyone has the skills to fully rebuild the motor which is not hard at all RUclips has step bye step vids on how to do everything even parts list. When you add it all up buying a brand new tao-tao and rebuilding as you go your only spending around $1,500-$2,000 for a scooter that looks amazing and does wheelies.. parts are cheap keeping one stock is silly...
I am an auto master tech. As an experiment I went all the way modifying a Chinese 50cc scoot. End result a rattling death machine that will hit 50mph in about a half mile. That's big bore kit to 92cc, big valve head, high lift cam, complete rework of transmission. Fun around town but not really worth the effort. Cost was about the initial cost of scoot. I ended up sinking about 1400 and that included a brand new scoot. Did the same thing with a 150cc scoot and it would beat most cars to 50 mph topped out around 65 and would ride a wheely.lol fun and extremely dangerous. I put 3000 miles on the 150 and had to rebuild the motor at 1500 miles. It burnt a valve from an exhaust leak I just enjoyed the backfires so much I didn't care.lol
I think you knew most of this, before you began- it's a minimum scooter, intended for people with minimum budget. And intended, as well, for a very different market than this one. If you're a chinese noodle deliveryman, it's probably near perfect, for a large American with a significant commute and time constraint, not so much. That said, you've done some useful work, here, putting it through it's paces. I look forward to seeing it rendered useful and reliable, and seeing how much it costs and how long it takes to do so.
I have a tao 50 with 1958.6 miles now, paid $750 to Dallas motor sports for it new. and I agree its the cheapest bike to buy, however for anyone who has one of these (DO THIS !!!) before anything ...change the oil and check all fasteners nuts and bolts, "BEFORE YOU START THE ENGINE" after 400 miles change oil to full synthetic and gear oil to syn also. replace air box with a pod filter , replace battery , replace coil, replace carburetor with one you can adjust "move needle adjustment to allow max fuel intake, new spark plug also, replace cdi with adjustable cdi and set to max timing advance or the best idle, (do not get a racing cdi) , get adjustable cdi , so you can tune it for your environment and the way you ride...these tao taos hate cold weather but after making these changes mine loves the cold (STARTED UP WITH ONE TURN OF THE KEY IN 26 DEG TEMP)but need to adjust carb for warm weather. i thought this video was very good and enlightening , and i do appreciate the effort that was involved, BTY after making these changes my tao tao will do 39 mph on a flat road so i can keep up with traffic , I purchased all parts on Amazon for about $120 .
I'd also add some locktite on some of the bolts and nuts, adjust the valves before starting, and concerning nuts/bolts on a few of them I replaced them with different fasteners because I wanted it where I can work on it quickly using a power drill with a bit after breaking with a wrench.
I'm jealous. You're lucky you've got those mechanic skills. And I'm glad to see the gold. Now I know my choice ordering white, was the right one. I watched your video because I'm reluctantly purchasing a Tao Tao soon to replace my Coleman scooter, which ran beautifully for three years until someone stole it. It was recovered by police, but unfortunately it was full of graffiti and trashed. I'll fix it someday. In the mean time, I'm awaiting my Tao Tao.....Keep up the videos-maybe if not the Tao Tao, on other scooters. They're helpful.
I bought a Tao Tao 49cc scooter in the Spring, ... am 6ft, 200 lbs, and have only a 2 mile commute to work. I have about 500 miles on the bike and have had zero problems. I agree the seat isn't the best and I think the suspension could use some help, and the engine is under powered, if I want to do more than commute to work and home. Mine isn't as ugly as yours, but overall is similar. For the $800 I have enjoyed it and it has done all that I expected it to do. After all of that, I did install the 100cc big bore kit and the under power problem is gone! However, it's not a quality built machine to take on long trips, but it's less frustrating to ride around town and I can keep up with traffic and no longer feel like I am in the way on the road. I bought this to see if I would enjoy riding a cycle with the intent of getting a better quality ride in the future if I liked it. I appreciate your views on the Tao Tao, but I think it delivers exactly what you would expect for the price. If your experiment continues, I will let you know how I feel after 1000 miles... thanks! Oh, and I don't think any 49cc scooter will be adequate for your commute and size, just saying.
@@snow225-o7 So far the only issue I have had is a broken kickstand. The design causes it to hold water on the welds and rust. Got a new one on Amazon. Still enjoying it. The big bore kit was absolutely worth it. Frustratingly slow as a 49cc but enjoyable as a 100cc. thanks for asking. I get about 80mpg and top speed is about 45mph. Perfect in city commuter. Other than the kickstand, I've done nothing more than change oil and put gas in it.
@@Scooter_911 I have the same scooter; I rate it 5/5; I live in Michigan. So Our Drivers here are NOT has aggressive has Texas Drivers. (and) in Michigan it's totally LEGAL to Ride Them ANY where; except the expressway. So Cars Really Can NOT Legally say anything in Michigan. Most people move to the inside lane and safely pass me. But then in Michigan Mopeds have FULL Legal Right to the Far Right Lane; on NON-Highway (*i.e. NON-Express-Way" Roads.) :-)
We have the same one, even if the color is the same. I just passed the 1000-mile point. I had to change the carburetor and tune it to a higher RPM, and 2 oil changes, but that's about it. Just minor problems. Oh, and I use it with the Kickstarter because the battery died. So far, I like it, keep using it. Having 12-20 mile trips to town, rain, and mud, snowstorm, and ice, whatever, did work every time.
I'll give you some advice for riding a 49cc scooter in heavier traffic. Put something on it to let cars know you're in the way. I think a lot of drivers are confused because they aren't familiar with scooters and don't know what to make of them. They might not know it has a top speed of 30-35mph and might just think you are driving slow on your own. I put an orange safety flag on mine that sticks back at an angle and even though some people might think it looks stupid (I happen to like it):it makes a world of difference to how cars react to me. Drivers seem a lot more willing to accept me as an obstacle without getting angry. Might be worth a try.
Brother, you nailed it. Especially the last part. I have limited income and I thought my mechanical skills were better than they apparently are. Wait till it get's a little older. And you start getting into electrical issues. You risked a lot more than you realized on those 1,000 miles. I hope people realize that. Thank you.
You must have crappy second hand one. I’ve used to have a few of these scooters and put thousands of miles of them. Other than a few minor upgrades and a 80cc big bore kit, I never had them fail on me.
@@applepoop10 Let me get this straight thousands of miles Big Bore Kit on a TaoTao and it never broke down I'm just going to come out and say it you sir are a liar.
i loved my chiness bike .i got 7000 miles on my tao tao .its silver too . only thing i had to replace was the belt. beside the oil changes. i only ran super teck in my scooter .from the dollar store.
I was a scooter rider for more than 20 years, most recently a 2007 Silverwing, but I sold it within weeks of moving to Texas. I had plenty of acceleration and top speed, but the extremely aggressive drivers, unpredictable weather and random clouds of wasps did me in right away.
In my country there's an old saying "one should drink the tea, when he's a child". Meaning decent education and upbringing, can really solve a few society issues! Reports like yours and the daily news confirm it, all the way! Rather sad! ;-)
I actually own a taotao evo 49cc. It's in a bigger frame, 12" tires. Two people can ride it. I had a 100cc big bore kit, hi- performance Exhaust.etc. It will do 45 mph with me riding. I weigh 260 lbs. I have had no issues, am right at 750 miles. But your review is very eye opening. You have their lowest end, I have their highest end, with work done to it
I own one up to 1400 miles on it drive about 20 miles a day to work works great for me only problem I've had is the gas line kept tearing (cheap little lawnmower gas line) so I bought a real one (1.50 for a foot) and had no more problems since plus it cost me about 2 bucks every 7-10 days for gas which is great but driving in winds like 15mph+ will slow you down and keep you around 30 instead of the 35-38 I'm usually at all and all I enjoy this little scooter
And I very much appreciate the fast comment! I'm a first time user of a scooter and it will take me a time to get used to what type of moter and what is compatible with it. Once I figure that out then I'm good!
Can not tell you how many times a day I've said "living with a tao tao" so glad I found this channel Also if you are no longer comfortable riding it, scrap the project and come up with something else to do with the bike like "making the most hated scooter reliable" or something.
What a monster video! Good to know where you stand on all accounts. I bet this is going to help a lot of people make some good decisions. At the same time, do keep yourself safe while continuing!
after 2600 miles on my tao tao i must agree i live in dallas tx and drivers are brutal to scooters so i modified mine and now it is to fast its even more scary.. if anyone is interested the mods i did. were ... new carb set up for go cart racing new jets and intake got rid of the air box replaced with pod breather high preformance coil and adjustable cdi replaced battery, factory batt sukt.. all synthetic oil eng and trans.. a few other things like spark plug and the normal , high flow fuel filter and new fuel lines .. after all that i spent about $150.00 .. now it has fast attack on take off good mid range accleration and top end is ,, i dont know , i shut down at 45 mph still had trottle to go but this thing isnt made to go that fast , any faster is certain death bumpy roads are scary, screws and parts falling out and fuel gauge broke head light and brake lite need to be replaced now.. cheap chines stuff.. most of the parts on the scooter are worthless like electronics however if taken care of the gy6 eng is good also the trans .. brakes need constant adj .. my advise is unless you have the mecanical know how invest in a better scooter and if you do buy a tao tao and modify it get ready to have your teeth shaked out while you pintch the seat cover.
I say the most important question has been answered by the experiment. Why not modify the experiment to capture what you think it takes to make it a better and safer feeling scooter?
Garret, your videos are are Very informative and I see you have given lots of attention to the filming and editing of your videos. I started your series Living with a Tao Tao and now have watched most of you videos. (Great Job!!!) Your talents are helping lots of us on RUclips. I have been thinking about getting a larger scooter for a while. We do have a Yamaha 650 V-Star and a Harley Super Glide, but scooters just look fun!!! Please be safe.
Perhaps you should have found a guinea pig test subject that fell into the optimum parameters for this type of transportation . Say a high school kid of 175 pounds or less with an evening job at a local burger joint Ect. 5 miles or less from home. In my mind that is it's intended target consumer. It's not to late you could hand off and just do service and data collection.
Found something you might want to check on your tao tao. One of the bolts on my intake manifold worked its way almost completely out because the nut fell off. Scooter wouldn't start until I removed it and repositioned the gasket and reinstalled the bolt. I Found alot of lose bolts as time went on. Including rear axle.
When you talk about prices for components I think you are spot on! Add then the microscopic payment the workers get in the sweatshops! I would rather buy a quality product that have good components and where the workers get a descent paycheck. A high price might not assure you of working conditions and quality but it sure helps!
I got the same tao tao in silver great scooter im 255lbs it's gets around with no problem it's well broken in at 4000 miles had it for two years got it for 663 all together from super power sports from Dallas if took a,week to get it my title says it weighs grvaw of 200lbs shipping weight 220lbs but it don't weigh that it only weigh 180lbs i took it to a public scale to have it weigh but its a,great scooter worth the money great video
I was an auto mechanic myself for over 40 years, and I'm sure you are aware of the adage: "You get what you pay for". We know this first hand when we bought Snap on, Mac, Matco tools for our trade instead of cheap knuckle busters that sent you to Concentra faster than if you stuck your hand in a running blender. The same could be said of the super cheap econo car that customers buy and wonder why the day after the warranty runs out, they're doing a major repair to the drivetrain. You get what you pay for. This bike would be ideal for the wiry little guy of 5 ft 7 going to school from the dorm, but not for someone with your frame. Or even mine. (I weigh in at 245 at 6ft tall.) Overall, you have this a good and honest assessment, and it certainly is valuable information for someone to consider when buying a scooter. I'm with you on recommending one save their money and buying a better scooter if they want to do anything other than ride through town on their machine.
Your videos help me. I'm 53 and disabled and live on a fixed income. Thank you. I rebuilt my bike by my self and put a big bore kit in it but it won't crank. So I'll keep watching until I get to the video on what to do about it
As an owner of a 2012 Kymco Like 200i scooter I would like to recommend the Kymco Agility 50 as an alternative to the cheap Chinese scooters. At only $1195 it offers an excellent value for money and in restricted mode it qualifies for the "moped" class.
I'll second the KYMCO Agility 50. Got a 2014 model in 2020 for $1000 with 17 km on the clock. I'm 6'5", 320# and it handles me well (no passenger please!). Derestrict the boss in the transmission and change out the CDI and voilà, something that can deal with traffic faster than 25 mph. (Yeah, gotta rejet it -- lean and lacking power). But the first 400 km have been fun! Oh, yeah, did have to adjust the valves at 300 km (TIGHT!!!) and change the oils. I prefer my 2003 KYMCO ZX50 SUPER-FEVER 2-stroke, to be honest... But the Agility 50 4T FEELS good, handling is good, and brakes are AWESOME! By the way, bought the ZX50 in 2019 for $650. Used scoots are the way to go!
I'll third that. I've got a Kymco Spade 150 and it's a blast. If I found a good deal on a Kymco scooter at the right time, I'd not hesitate to pick it up. Great value and build quality on a Taiwanese scooter.
I have one I bought from a girl she had in college 100 km was parked, new carb and fuel tank I have 800km on it now broke in the rings gonna keep riding it to work and around town it's very reliable
It's the perspective of the user. In your case you ride other motorcycles and cars and will automatically compare the TT to those. However, someone who has never ridden a motorcycle or does not have access to a car will probably feel different. Maybe their choice is a 50CC scooter or riding the bus or even riding a bike. Smaller communities would be a better match than your environment with higher levels of traffic and speed limits...
I'm a little confused when you talk about the "transmission " there is no actual transmission or gears that chest. There's some weird clutch like squeezer on both ends of the belt that change sizes as the motor spins faster giving you better ratios to move faster but it's all spring powered
Well it is still technically a transmission. Most modern cars have an optional CVT (continuously variable transmission). And while the springs in the driven clutch play a big part in the operation the other half is the variator, which uses centrifugal force on sliding weights to vary the ratio. For instance the Nissan sentra CVT is nearly identical only the belt is steel and it uses a stepper motor to vary the ratio instead of weights. There are also a set of gears for final reduction in the "final drive case". A lot of people get hung up on the term "shifting" but that is the only way to describe transitionioning through ratios. I never say shifting gears, just shifting.
Great video as always, Garret. Barring the issues with the steering (which I assume you can fix with better parts) I really think a big bore kit would negate all the trouble you have on the road. (people cussing you etc.) When I had mine installed on my last tao tao, it was like night and day.
Dude, I praise your will power. I was a strong believer in keeping it stock but since it's taking such a mental toll on you, I think you can help your YT followers by being safe and end the Tao Tao series before it gets to bad. Maybe switch to safety upgrades to the Tao Tao. Live long and prosper.🖖
Whoop whoop. Love the series dude. Watching at work 🤫😁 keep up the great work. A moped in England is a motorized peddle bike. No peddles it's not a moped. It's a scooter.
Those are definitely my views as well (hence the air quotes)! But here in the colonies we like to completely disregard the etymology of words for lazy colloquialisms!
No idea how far out of the loop you are - in UK a moped used to be classified as a motorcycle of less than 50cc that was also equipped with pedals so it could be ridden like a bicycle. At that time there was no power limit. That all changed in the mid 70's and there was no longer a requirement for pedals but power was restricted so that it would not do more than 30mph. That's well over 40 years ago. There is no legal definition of 'scooter' under UK law; scooter merely refers to the style, like 'cruiser' or 'sports tourer', it's either a motorcycle or it's a moped.
I found upgrading the variator and clutch and put 5 gram rollers in the variator for better take off. Add a 100cc bbk to it for even better performance
I would rather compare it to a electric bicycle, for the same price so: +Two times faster. +You can carry impressive amounts of shoppings +I could use bus lanes in my city, where I only annoyed taxi drivers. They are scums anyway, so I didn't care abaut their feelings :P +I felt safer then on bicycle paths, cyclists are idiots and recently "unlocked" electric things made it worse... +I could just leave it anywhere, zipped to itself - whole world was a parking! People react for motorcycles on sidewalks, but never cared abaut that thing. +Motorcycles are so much fun, I want a real one now! - Fuel and maintenance costs, but in fact as I used it instead of my diesel station wagon I was still saving money.
My '64 Vietbodge Vespa (other contender for the internet's most hated scooter) is the polar opposite of this... *after* I was finished redoing/ upgrading all of the mechanicals properly. It was not cheap to get it into proper roadworthy condition, but now it's 5 stars in all categories and so much fun to ride!
I am loving this series. As a rider who loves motorcycles and scooters and have had many of each, I enjoy seeing how you get on with the Tao Tao. I love my Vespa GTS300, and I am not ashamed to be seen on it! LOL! Don't risk you life any more on this thing. You have already proven that is it not worth buying. We don't want to see you hurt, when you have already proven it is not something one should purchase.
I have both those problems hence why I am watching. I either walk or drive my "Pony". I am having starting issues right now. Checked plug, changed carburetor, check battery, fuel and vaccuum lines, check and made sure petcock was working. Its 1:15 in the morning and I'm about to go check the valve lashings. I'm at my wits end. Cdi is probably my next buy in a week when I can afford it. Anyways going back to your video on valve lashings. Any advice is much appreciated.
I recently got this scooter, im on 130 kilometres. A couple of times, my knee hit the keys in the ignition and turned off the scooter while riding it. I'm 5'9''. I'd say it's fun to ride, but I'd definitely recommend a helmet.
Team BZ I’m 5”8 and I hit my knees to I’m on 714 miles I have a different version same chassis different company only had one problem which was when the kill switch killed spark so I umpluged the kick stand kill start
I owned this type of moped (it's a generic model sold under different names - mine was a Jinlun JL50) and the best way to get the best out of them is to change out all the Chinese service items as they are truly poor quality. The bike itself is not as bad as some people say and that little 50cc GY6 engine is very tough. Regret selling mine..
Killed me with the Jessica bit 🤣🤣. Just found your channel while learning about scooters. Recently picked up a 1981 Honda Express SR (not currently running). Your channel has been an unexpected pleasure on this new journey (never owned a motorbike before)! The videography and production is excellent 👌. Thank you for the free education and enjoyable content 👍. As for a content suggestion. I would love to see a restoration project series. These older bikes still have a lot of love to give and I would enjoy seeing you tackle such a project with your delivery style.
I've had my tao tao pony 50 since 2020 and put just about 5000 miles on it and the only issue I've had is needing to chance the cdi box after 4500 miles with a 80cc big bore kit installed
I totally get your feeling vulnerable on the small scooter/bike. I've found over 30 years of riding that wearing one of those dayglo vests like some police bikers wear has an effect of causing cagers to back off. Also, time to mount the gopro to your helmet and start reporting the idiots. (I know, you don't have time for that). I applaud your tenacity keeping this experiment going...^^
Had same problem with the centerstand grinding in the corners. And did have the Jam nuts for the steering come loose too. I did have to change the flywheel and the stator also. And a cdi too. And only had the scoot for a year and said f it.
That was a really good summary. Maybe you can make a series where you live with another cheep motorcycle l, something like one of those 125 cc bikes. Eventually showing reliability and viability of cheap transportations
I've really been interested in this series, mysteriously having never ridden or owned a scooter, I gravitate to all things mechanical. I have learned through being an automotive technician for 25 years that you definitely get what you pay for. I look forward to seeing your 2000km service video. I would be interested in seeing you build it into something useful.
I think that you've basically learned what you wanted to learn. If you need to cancel this experiment for your own peace of mind, please do so by all means.
I wonder if the quality on a 2008 scooter I have is different from a Tao Tao being made by a different manufacture called Taizhou Chuanl but is almost an identical chassis. Despite it being pretty old and was given to me because it wasn't working anymore, it didn't take much to get it running again and a lot of the original equipment still works perfectly. It has roughly 1600 miles on it so it hasn't been rode on for a long time for it's age and probably sat for a long time but it hasn't shown to be as trouble prone as the Tao Tao in your video.
Sell it to a UT kid who lives on campus and wants to get to and from the 6th St bars. I'm kidding. Sort of. We'll forgive you if you dip out. I found Austin to be more uptight than it's reputation. And I was there during winter break. I have heard traffic has gotten a lot worse since I was there in 2000. Great video.
I broke the key off in one that I owned for about 3 weeks in college one semester. It took me about 4 minutes to learn how to hotwire and then hotwire all while removing the handlebar lock. Just something to think about.
Maybe tune it and make it run faster in order to continue this experiment longer/safer and just see how many miles you can get out of the scooter. Great series by the way!!!
Hey Garrett... When are we gonna get another update on this thing.. I'm about to catch up to your final video milage and wonder if you found any other trouble spots...I just crossed 2000 km today( that I've managed to put on since getting it registered in May)... Your videos have been an awesome guide for this thing and I'm trying to get to 3000 km before it starts to get cold and snow here...I take mine on 40-50 mile day trips on a regular basis and wonder what the next failure may be... Keep up the good videos man... Have a good day!
I've got a used GY6 clone and it's fine. I bought it used at around 6000 miles. I have about 7500 on it. I've changed the engine oil, the gear oil and replaced the air filter. I bought it used without a rear lug nut too which was fun. It gets me around my large city just fine and nobody has ever given me a problem because in my area, we also carry so road rage is pretty pointless especially throwing objects. The people upset at your speed are vehicles that can barely do the speed your scooter is doing and if they slow down, they risk breaking down. I've actually seen this many times. However the previous owner did some modifications on it, I suspect, such as unrestricting it so it keeps up on the main road's 30mph traffic. I can push 40mph on some roads but I need a new rear tire. It's a fine option in 2022 with gas prices the way it is but I wouldn't have my mother, aunt, grandmother, etc. use this as a means of transportation. It's good for somebody 20-40 years old who is trying to save some money and needs transportation.
I have about 100 miles on a 150cc scooter I got for $1400 delivered, an X-Pro Tahiti 150. Senling is the manufacturer. So far no problems and amazingly it hauls me around quite well (I weigh 300) I would like to find out what more I need to do to maintain it, not just oil changes. I bought it for the back of my RV, but am really loving riding it. I have 2 motorcycles, a Yamaha 1100 and a Suzuki 800, but this lightweight little thing is so much fun, I just really can't stop with it.
The "intended user" is a person that had their driver licensed revoked. In my city they used to refer to the Tao Tao Pony as a "DUI Scooter" Now as of 2016 all scooters require a license and insurance to operate.
God bless you man. Excellent review for this. The baked Potaotao is not worth your life on any road imo. I also appreciate your skills and informed comparisons to other scoots. Good jokes on top of everything 👏👏👏
I have the same scooter in blue it’s definitely the owners ive had 0 issues bought used with 70 miles on it and it ran like it was brand new at a dealership it’s been extremely reliable and amazing on gas also just had the performance clutch kit from rolling wrench shipped out I will be installing it in a week or so once i have the time to put it on over the weekend bus with 200+ added on mileage its been an amazing buy from fb market also just a screw turn on the carb allowed my scooter to hit 40 on flats and 35 - 37mph uphill
You make an incredibly valid point there with regards cost - ever part of that bike generates someone profit - from the frame to the fasteners to the importers to the end retailer- so your $760 bike may actually only cost $400 to make - probably less. Then you think just how cheap / crappy must the components be to make it yet still make money on the sale.
MOPED means Motor AND Pedals. So if you ran out of gas, you could pedal it. An example of this is the Peugeot 103SP. I'm not sure how that term got molested by various states over the years, but that is what a "Moped" really is. I understand the gold paint was not as flashy as you anticipated so how about gluing thousands of fake diamonds on it like it was meant for Liberace.
I got a blue 2020 Tao Tao 50 cc ..I drive to town and back every day ..Its so wonderful ..Mine is beautiful blue.Mine cruises comfortably .Feels like riding on a couch.I think it's a high tech scooter.Mine boogies fast ..Mine has tons of power.Mine looks just like this one in this video..
i actually havent found a manual i like yet. I've collected everything i know about these bike just by working on them for the last 12 years or so. I am however working on my own book of chinese scooter knowlege. look for it soon in a bookstore near you!
If it looks like a duck, sounds like a duck and acts like a duck it’s a duck. Honestly, just having the steering coming broke from the factory is enough.
Have one myself, happy with the purchase. It's top speed totally stock with me 175 lbs 6' tall is 47 mph. Idk why people keep saying 30-35 mph. It's cheap but better than walking 🚶
I love your videos...Have you ever ridden a Adly GTA50? I'm having an issue with mine and as far as I've seen not much on upgrades for it either. When I first got the bike it was awesome. Now what it is doing is shutting down on me and it seems that it is locking up when it shutdown. Then it won't start for a while. Now it seems that it will not hold a charge!
Yes in fact I used to work at a dealership that sold Adlys! At the end of the day they are just standard "Chinese scooters". However the GTA is a 2-stoke and it uses a "minarelli" 50cc motor so all of those 70cc kits and hop up parts bolt right on!
The movable face of the driven pulley is attached to the other half of the driven pulley with guide rollers that ride in a spline on the movable part. The shape of this spline determines at what rate the rear pulley will expand. Some manufacturers will make a bent spline rather than a straight one to make handling the scooter at low speeds easier. This gives more forgiving power control at lower speeds. You can feel the bend in the spline as a sort of low and high gear.
As a guy whos family used one of these as daily transport for 2 years, I've not seen better advice. I always tell people if you're going on 40mph roads, or youre heavy, a 50cc scooter is outright dangerous. You have no power to get anywhere, pull out to merge with traffic, anything. Ive personally never seen failures like yours, but they don't surprise me. You gotta really know what youre getting into. I find that if you truly daily commute going over 30, just get a 150cc. Hell, I'd say the best beginner scooter is a Vino 125. Not scary with power, low seat, lots of storage, great breaks, but it can do so much more than these little 50s. Id push people to buy a used Yammie or Honda over these. They're great scooters if you need them, but you could get a 150 for 200 more dollars, and be so much better off.
I totally agree with you. I had both a Honda Elite 50 and Yamaha Vino 125. Did derestricting of the Elite and Dr Pully weight and variaters on both. I get that the Elite is a Honda and has better build quality. It would do 40 and get there reasonably well for me at 175lbs, but I stuck mainly to back roads I learned through commuting on bicycles. The Vino would get to and cruise at 60 nicely and I never felt uncomfortable on any road but country highways and interstates. Yes, I'm a little adventurous in my travels. I recommend going with at least 125cc and if on a budget, go with Kymco. I've got a Kymco Spade and although the fit and finish isn't as good as the Japanese brands, the quality is where it counts.
I understand the stress I have 2 scooters a 250 and a 150. They are my daily drivers yet it seems to keep both of them running I'm working on something once or twice a month if not once a week. A 50 was great for me in the big city where I wouldn't hit roads faster then 45 ever yet where I live now it's 55 most areas even though the 150 hits 53 and holds it well drivers get so angry and hateful. I can understand if you have other options for transportation use them.
I've been shopping for a 50cc trike and Icebear seems to be the only option in that area, but after doing some research on Google maps and watching some videos about them it would probably meet my needs/wants, and I'll probably learn a lot taking care of it.
A few friends of mine all agreed to a 50cc scooter race around his property. I bought a nearly new (about 75km on the odo) TaoTao atm 50 that I rode for a few months around town before race day. Finally, the morning of the race it had some issue with the ignition system, and was not able to even start the race. I'm so pissed at it I'm not going to bother selling it. It's going to the metal scrap yard where it belongs this week. Didn't even last 190km until it died. Death to the TaoTao ATM 50.
i have a secondhand taotao 100cc,the previous owner make it a deqth trap.i have restored it 85% and never done anything to the engine and im using it 4months as a daily it doesnt give me any problems
I bought a 49cc taotao scooter, and I'm 5'11 like 300 pounds, and I've had zero issues with my scooter, it feels great and I love it
I really enjoy this series, but I understand your concerns. If it becomes too stressful, I'd love to see a series that documents what it takes to upgrade this into a scooter you're happy with, and how it compares to just buying a good scooter in the first place.
Thanks for the idea!
This is a great idea, especially because this is the process typically undertaken by most scooter owners.
Excellent idea!
Episode 1. Make it usable - we know already abaut bearings and brake lines that wants to kill you. Restrictors also wants to kill you by poor performance :P
Episode 2. Make it comfortable, suspension is terrible, hand grips awful, same as the seat.
Episode 3. Performance mods within the moped limits, especially how to change flintstone style start to wheelieeee!...(clutch spring and weights).
Episode 4, unleash the beast, that will still pass basic road legalisation (I doubt that they have a dyno), unless police will catch you speeding uphill ;P (carburetor and rev your engine!).
Episode 5, make it the road illegal beast, but still usable, for daily commute, so 80 ccm cylinder, exhaust cone air filter etc. So you will loose the road legalisation, by only the look of the moped.
Episode 6. Take it to a drag strip :P
Ill be adding a clutch and trans kit to mine in a week or so i just got it off rolling wrench and thats a great site for upgrades on this taotao it also has install step by step video on the site for the product under the purchase sections that are great for people of any skill level to repair or replace parts
How many miles realistically could one max out on this TaoTao if well taken care of?
I wish you luck If you keep "Living with A Tao Tao ". But I would certainly understand If you stopped now before it turns into "Dying with A Tao Tao".
I owned a chinese scooter..its litterally a piece of shit.
@@communist-hippie not all are I own a 50cc scooter from the UK its called a lexmoto echo I brought it new for £1250 UK pounds. I've had it for almost a year now and it hasn't let me down once
@@johnnysins8717 Yes, it is a UK scooter. He clearly stated Chinese scooter. Give me UK, Italian, or Japanese any day.
@@robertbolin1763 ...are you for real ? the UK Lexmoto brand is made in China, but it is one of the best made there. China has good stuff , but most importers -all the online ones - are not buying any but the cheap ones.
@@robertbolin1763I've heard Taiwanese scooters like the SYM LancerCabo are supposed to be way better quality.
Hey, don't keep going with the experiment for we YT watchers. If you don't feel safe, call it quits. My last two wheeler was a Yamaha Majesty which had 40 hp and could go 80-85 mph. Even with that power , I felt at times like car drivers were trying to run me off the road. I enjoyed two wheeling more on the secondary roads through the country. I am sure, I just couldn't hack it on a 50cc Tao Tao. You're a braver man than I am !!! P.S. Let's hear some more piano!
i used to push a 1.0 hp, tomos revival, two-speed. top speed 28mph . i got passed by a group of bicycles more than once . i push a taotao powermax vip 150 on that old 50cc plate now for 6 years. did first engine oil change after 25,000 miles, still using factory gear oil, brakes, . i did put a maxxis 6024 on back for offroading Fun but blew a front fork seal . only two problems, muffler mounts and side plastics . $650 NIB, the ATM-A1 in the above video was $499 NIB not $750, he prolly paid $250 for delivery , i spent less than $25 in gas . i would recommend the taotao powermax vip 150cc
I like to ride too. My wife and I also own a smart car which is amazing on fuel and the parking. I look for the ass that tried to take 2 spots and squeeze right in. HOWEVER, you get no respect on the road. 😂😂😂
Ik this is 3 years late, but what an incredible video. I started watching randomly and next thing i know, i sat thru the entire video without even realizing. Your way of reviewing stuff and giving the date is so incredible, props to you👌🏼
I'm getting a Vitacci 50cc Solana Scooter in a couple of days. I have to wait for them to turn it into 100cc which is the maximum allowed for a "moped" in Michigan. I'm really hoping he tweaks the motor good and removes any restrictors that happened to be on it so that I can do around 50 to 55 miles an hour. Dare to dream right but I'm going to be using this in metro-detroit for doordash deliveries because I can't afford to get my van repaired right now.
I always say tao-taos are worth buying.... BUT i always forget not everyone has the skills to fully rebuild the motor which is not hard at all RUclips has step bye step vids on how to do everything even parts list. When you add it all up buying a brand new tao-tao and rebuilding as you go your only spending around $1,500-$2,000 for a scooter that looks amazing and does wheelies.. parts are cheap keeping one stock is silly...
I am an auto master tech. As an experiment I went all the way modifying a Chinese 50cc scoot. End result a rattling death machine that will hit 50mph in about a half mile. That's big bore kit to 92cc, big valve head, high lift cam, complete rework of transmission. Fun around town but not really worth the effort. Cost was about the initial cost of scoot. I ended up sinking about 1400 and that included a brand new scoot. Did the same thing with a 150cc scoot and it would beat most cars to 50 mph topped out around 65 and would ride a wheely.lol fun and extremely dangerous. I put 3000 miles on the 150 and had to rebuild the motor at 1500 miles. It burnt a valve from an exhaust leak I just enjoyed the backfires so much I didn't care.lol
I think you knew most of this, before you began- it's a minimum scooter, intended for people with minimum budget. And intended, as well, for a very different market than this one. If you're a chinese noodle deliveryman, it's probably near perfect, for a large American with a significant commute and time constraint, not so much. That said, you've done some useful work, here, putting it through it's paces. I look forward to seeing it rendered useful and reliable, and seeing how much it costs and how long it takes to do so.
I have a tao 50 with 1958.6 miles now, paid $750 to Dallas motor sports for it new. and I agree its the cheapest bike to buy, however for anyone who has one of these (DO THIS !!!) before anything ...change the oil and check all fasteners nuts and bolts, "BEFORE YOU START THE ENGINE" after 400 miles change oil to full synthetic and gear oil to syn also. replace air box with a pod filter , replace battery , replace coil, replace carburetor with one you can adjust "move needle adjustment to allow max fuel intake, new spark plug also, replace cdi with adjustable cdi and set to max timing advance or the best idle, (do not get a racing cdi) , get adjustable cdi , so you can tune it for your environment and the way you ride...these tao taos hate cold weather but after making these changes mine loves the cold (STARTED UP WITH ONE TURN OF THE KEY IN 26 DEG TEMP)but need to adjust carb for warm weather. i thought this video was very good and enlightening , and i do appreciate the effort that was involved, BTY after making these changes my tao tao will do 39 mph on a flat road so i can keep up with traffic , I purchased all parts on Amazon for about $120 .
I'd also add some locktite on some of the bolts and nuts, adjust the valves before starting, and concerning nuts/bolts on a few of them I replaced them with different fasteners because I wanted it where I can work on it quickly using a power drill with a bit after breaking with a wrench.
I'm jealous. You're lucky you've got those mechanic skills. And I'm glad to see the gold. Now I know my choice ordering white, was the right one. I watched your video because I'm reluctantly purchasing a Tao Tao soon to replace my Coleman scooter, which ran beautifully for three years until someone stole it. It was recovered by police, but unfortunately it was full of graffiti and trashed. I'll fix it someday. In the mean time, I'm awaiting my Tao Tao.....Keep up the videos-maybe if not the Tao Tao, on other scooters. They're helpful.
did you get your scooter?
Wait-Coleman camping gear makes a scooter?! 😆
I bought a Tao Tao 49cc scooter in the Spring, ... am 6ft, 200 lbs, and have only a 2 mile commute to work. I have about 500 miles on the bike and have had zero problems. I agree the seat isn't the best and I think the suspension could use some help, and the engine is under powered, if I want to do more than commute to work and home. Mine isn't as ugly as yours, but overall is similar. For the $800 I have enjoyed it and it has done all that I expected it to do. After all of that, I did install the 100cc big bore kit and the under power problem is gone! However, it's not a quality built machine to take on long trips, but it's less frustrating to ride around town and I can keep up with traffic and no longer feel like I am in the way on the road. I bought this to see if I would enjoy riding a cycle with the intent of getting a better quality ride in the future if I liked it. I appreciate your views on the Tao Tao, but I think it delivers exactly what you would expect for the price. If your experiment continues, I will let you know how I feel after 1000 miles... thanks! Oh, and I don't think any 49cc scooter will be adequate for your commute and size, just saying.
still holding up?
@@snow225-o7 So far the only issue I have had is a broken kickstand. The design causes it to hold water on the welds and rust. Got a new one on Amazon. Still enjoying it. The big bore kit was absolutely worth it. Frustratingly slow as a 49cc but enjoyable as a 100cc. thanks for asking. I get about 80mpg and top speed is about 45mph. Perfect in city commuter. Other than the kickstand, I've done nothing more than change oil and put gas in it.
"That's the same distance Vanessa Carlton will walk, just to see you tonight."
Goshdurnnit, thank you for making me choke on my wrap.
I wonder how long it took him to learn how to play that?
That little skit was unexpected but certainly welcome.
Don't let this go to your head but that's the best review of ANY item I've seen on RUclips.
I promise I won't. Thank you very much
@@Scooter_911 I have the same scooter; I rate it 5/5; I live in Michigan. So Our Drivers here are NOT has aggressive has Texas Drivers. (and) in Michigan it's totally LEGAL to Ride Them ANY where; except the expressway. So Cars Really Can NOT Legally say anything in Michigan. Most people move to the inside lane and safely pass me. But then in Michigan Mopeds have FULL Legal Right to the Far Right Lane; on NON-Highway (*i.e. NON-Express-Way" Roads.) :-)
Thanks for taking the time to do this experiment and for making the video. Stay safe! Greetings from UK
We have the same one, even if the color is the same. I just passed the 1000-mile point. I had to change the carburetor and tune it to a higher RPM, and 2 oil changes, but that's about it. Just minor problems. Oh, and I use it with the Kickstarter because the battery died. So far, I like it, keep using it. Having 12-20 mile trips to town, rain, and mud, snowstorm, and ice, whatever, did work every time.
I'll give you some advice for riding a 49cc scooter in heavier traffic. Put something on it to let cars know you're in the way. I think a lot of drivers are confused because they aren't familiar with scooters and don't know what to make of them. They might not know it has a top speed of 30-35mph and might just think you are driving slow on your own. I put an orange safety flag on mine that sticks back at an angle and even though some people might think it looks stupid (I happen to like it):it makes a world of difference to how cars react to me. Drivers seem a lot more willing to accept me as an obstacle without getting angry. Might be worth a try.
Brother, you nailed it. Especially the last part. I have limited income and I thought my mechanical skills were better than they apparently are. Wait till it get's a little older. And you start getting into electrical issues. You risked a lot more than you realized on those 1,000 miles. I hope people realize that. Thank you.
You must have crappy second hand one. I’ve used to have a few of these scooters and put thousands of miles of them. Other than a few minor upgrades and a 80cc big bore kit, I never had them fail on me.
@@applepoop10 Let me get this straight thousands of miles Big Bore Kit on a TaoTao and it never broke down I'm just going to come out and say it you sir are a liar.
i loved my chiness bike .i got 7000 miles on my tao tao .its silver too . only thing i had to replace was the belt. beside the oil changes. i only ran super teck in my scooter .from the dollar store.
I was a scooter rider for more than 20 years, most recently a 2007 Silverwing, but I sold it within weeks of moving to Texas. I had plenty of acceleration and top speed, but the extremely aggressive drivers, unpredictable weather and random clouds of wasps did me in right away.
In my country there's an old saying "one should drink the tea, when he's a child".
Meaning decent education and upbringing, can really solve a few society issues! Reports like yours and the daily news confirm it, all the way! Rather sad! ;-)
I actually own a taotao evo 49cc. It's in a bigger frame, 12" tires. Two people can ride it. I had a 100cc big bore kit, hi- performance
Exhaust.etc. It will do 45 mph with me riding. I weigh 260 lbs. I have had no issues, am right at 750 miles. But your review is very eye opening. You have their lowest end, I have their highest end, with work done to it
My wolf does 46 mph stock but I weigh 120lbs
I own one up to 1400 miles on it drive about 20 miles a day to work works great for me only problem I've had is the gas line kept tearing (cheap little lawnmower gas line) so I bought a real one (1.50 for a foot) and had no more problems since plus it cost me about 2 bucks every 7-10 days for gas which is great but driving in winds like 15mph+ will slow you down and keep you around 30 instead of the 35-38 I'm usually at all and all I enjoy this little scooter
And I very much appreciate the fast comment! I'm a first time user of a scooter and it will take me a time to get used to what type of moter and what is compatible with it. Once I figure that out then I'm good!
Can not tell you how many times a day I've said "living with a tao tao" so glad I found this channel
Also if you are no longer comfortable riding it, scrap the project and come up with something else to do with the bike like "making the most hated scooter reliable" or something.
i like how you compare this low budget scooter to the most expensive ones
He's letting you know what a 5-star example is, so you know what his reference is when giving you his score.
What a monster video! Good to know where you stand on all accounts. I bet this is going to help a lot of people make some good decisions. At the same time, do keep yourself safe while continuing!
after 2600 miles on my tao tao i must agree i live in dallas tx and drivers are brutal to scooters so i modified mine and now it is to fast its even more scary.. if anyone is interested the mods i did. were ... new carb set up for go cart racing new jets and intake got rid of the air box replaced with pod breather high preformance coil and adjustable cdi replaced battery, factory batt sukt.. all synthetic oil eng and trans.. a few other things like spark plug and the normal , high flow fuel filter and new fuel lines .. after all that i spent about $150.00 .. now it has fast attack on take off good mid range accleration and top end is ,, i dont know , i shut down at 45 mph still had trottle to go but this thing isnt made to go that fast , any faster is certain death bumpy roads are scary, screws and parts falling out and fuel gauge broke head light and brake lite need to be replaced now.. cheap chines stuff.. most of the parts on the scooter are worthless like electronics however if taken care of the gy6 eng is good also the trans .. brakes need constant adj .. my advise is unless you have the mecanical know how invest in a better scooter and if you do buy a tao tao and modify it get ready to have your teeth shaked out while you pintch the seat cover.
I say the most important question has been answered by the experiment. Why not modify the experiment to capture what you think it takes to make it a better and safer feeling scooter?
Dont let the owners off that easy!
There are loads of bad owners that add to the bad name of the Tao-tao.. but you are right .
Garret, your videos are are Very informative and I see you have given lots of attention to the filming and editing of your videos. I started your series Living with a Tao Tao and now have watched most of you videos. (Great Job!!!) Your talents are helping lots of us on RUclips. I have been thinking about getting a larger scooter for a while. We do have a Yamaha 650 V-Star and a Harley Super Glide, but scooters just look fun!!! Please be safe.
Perhaps you should have found a guinea pig test subject that fell into the optimum parameters for this type of transportation . Say a high school kid of 175 pounds or less with an evening job at a local burger joint Ect. 5 miles or less from home. In my mind that is it's intended target consumer. It's not to late you could hand off and just do service and data collection.
i would get the 150cc powermax and put that 50cc plate on it and see how long it takes to get pulled over, i'm on my 6th year
@@carmineredd1198yea what r they gonna do take away ur license?😂
Found something you might want to check on your tao tao. One of the bolts on my intake manifold worked its way almost completely out because the nut fell off. Scooter wouldn't start until I removed it and repositioned the gasket and reinstalled the bolt. I Found alot of lose bolts as time went on. Including rear axle.
I love my Tao Tao. Of course I added an 80cc big bore kit and larger carburetor.
I really enjoy your vids but your safety is paramount!
When you talk about prices for components I think you are spot on! Add then the microscopic payment the workers get in the sweatshops! I would rather buy a quality product that have good components and where the workers get a descent paycheck. A high price might not assure you of working conditions and quality but it sure helps!
I got the same tao tao in silver great scooter im 255lbs it's gets around with no problem it's well broken in at 4000 miles had it for two years got it for 663 all together from super power sports from Dallas if took a,week to get it my title says it weighs grvaw of 200lbs shipping weight 220lbs but it don't weigh that it only weigh 180lbs i took it to a public scale to have it weigh but its a,great scooter worth the money great video
I was an auto mechanic myself for over 40 years, and I'm sure you are aware of the adage: "You get what you pay for". We know this first hand when we bought Snap on, Mac, Matco tools for our trade instead of cheap knuckle busters that sent you to Concentra faster than if you stuck your hand in a running blender.
The same could be said of the super cheap econo car that customers buy and wonder why the day after the warranty runs out, they're doing a major repair to the drivetrain. You get what you pay for.
This bike would be ideal for the wiry little guy of 5 ft 7 going to school from the dorm, but not for someone with your frame. Or even mine. (I weigh in at 245 at 6ft tall.)
Overall, you have this a good and honest assessment, and it certainly is valuable information for someone to consider when buying a scooter. I'm with you on recommending one save their money and buying a better scooter if they want to do anything other than ride through town on their machine.
Your videos help me. I'm 53 and disabled and live on a fixed income. Thank you. I rebuilt my bike by my self and put a big bore kit in it but it won't crank. So I'll keep watching until I get to the video on what to do about it
Just buy used Japanese scooter. These will absolutely not save you money.
As an owner of a 2012 Kymco Like 200i scooter I would like to recommend the Kymco Agility 50 as an alternative to the cheap Chinese scooters. At only $1195 it offers an excellent value for money and in restricted mode it qualifies for the "moped" class.
I'll second the KYMCO Agility 50. Got a 2014 model in 2020 for $1000 with 17 km on the clock. I'm 6'5", 320# and it handles me well (no passenger please!). Derestrict the boss in the transmission and change out the CDI and voilà, something that can deal with traffic faster than 25 mph. (Yeah, gotta rejet it -- lean and lacking power). But the first 400 km have been fun! Oh, yeah, did have to adjust the valves at 300 km (TIGHT!!!) and change the oils. I prefer my 2003 KYMCO ZX50 SUPER-FEVER 2-stroke, to be honest... But the Agility 50 4T FEELS good, handling is good, and brakes are AWESOME! By the way, bought the ZX50 in 2019 for $650. Used scoots are the way to go!
I'll third that. I've got a Kymco Spade 150 and it's a blast. If I found a good deal on a Kymco scooter at the right time, I'd not hesitate to pick it up. Great value and build quality on a Taiwanese scooter.
I have one I bought from a girl she had in college 100 km was parked, new carb and fuel tank I have 800km on it now broke in the rings gonna keep riding it to work and around town it's very reliable
It's the perspective of the user. In your case you ride other motorcycles and cars and will automatically compare the TT to those. However, someone who has never ridden a motorcycle or does not have access to a car will probably feel different. Maybe their choice is a 50CC scooter or riding the bus or even riding a bike. Smaller communities would be a better match than your environment with higher levels of traffic and speed limits...
That's why this vid is so valuable. He makes great imformed comparisons to other scoots.
I'm a little confused when you talk about the "transmission " there is no actual transmission or gears that chest. There's some weird clutch like squeezer on both ends of the belt that change sizes as the motor spins faster giving you better ratios to move faster but it's all spring powered
Well it is still technically a transmission. Most modern cars have an optional CVT (continuously variable transmission). And while the springs in the driven clutch play a big part in the operation the other half is the variator, which uses centrifugal force on sliding weights to vary the ratio. For instance the Nissan sentra CVT is nearly identical only the belt is steel and it uses a stepper motor to vary the ratio instead of weights. There are also a set of gears for final reduction in the "final drive case". A lot of people get hung up on the term "shifting" but that is the only way to describe transitionioning through ratios. I never say shifting gears, just shifting.
Great video as always, Garret. Barring the issues with the steering (which I assume you can fix with better parts) I really think a big bore kit would negate all the trouble you have on the road. (people cussing you etc.) When I had mine installed on my last tao tao, it was like night and day.
Dude, I praise your will power. I was a strong believer in keeping it stock but since it's taking such a mental toll on you, I think you can help your YT followers by being safe and end the Tao Tao series before it gets to bad. Maybe switch to safety upgrades to the Tao Tao. Live long and prosper.🖖
start the mods, rejet, rollers, ignition.
Yep just ride and improve as you go
Whoop whoop. Love the series dude. Watching at work 🤫😁 keep up the great work. A moped in England is a motorized peddle bike. No peddles it's not a moped. It's a scooter.
Those are definitely my views as well (hence the air quotes)! But here in the colonies we like to completely disregard the etymology of words for lazy colloquialisms!
No idea how far out of the loop you are - in UK a moped used to be classified as a motorcycle of less than 50cc that was also equipped with pedals so it could be ridden like a bicycle. At that time there was no power limit.
That all changed in the mid 70's and there was no longer a requirement for pedals but power was restricted so that it would not do more than 30mph. That's well over 40 years ago. There is no legal definition of 'scooter' under UK law; scooter merely refers to the style, like 'cruiser' or 'sports tourer', it's either a motorcycle or it's a moped.
Found the channel by accident, glad I did. As soon as u broke into a song I was hooked. Great job. Subscribed
I found upgrading the variator and clutch and put 5 gram rollers in the variator for better take off. Add a 100cc bbk to it for even better performance
I would rather compare it to a electric bicycle, for the same price so:
+Two times faster.
+You can carry impressive amounts of shoppings
+I could use bus lanes in my city, where I only annoyed taxi drivers. They are scums anyway, so I didn't care abaut their feelings :P
+I felt safer then on bicycle paths, cyclists are idiots and recently "unlocked" electric things made it worse...
+I could just leave it anywhere, zipped to itself - whole world was a parking! People react for motorcycles on sidewalks, but never cared abaut that thing.
+Motorcycles are so much fun, I want a real one now!
- Fuel and maintenance costs, but in fact as I used it instead of my diesel station wagon I was still saving money.
My '64 Vietbodge Vespa (other contender for the internet's most hated scooter) is the polar opposite of this... *after* I was finished redoing/ upgrading all of the mechanicals properly. It was not cheap to get it into proper roadworthy condition, but now it's 5 stars in all categories and so much fun to ride!
The intro jingle is the best. I’m a motorcycle guy but find this very interesting. Thanks.
I fit your comment as well....lol
I am loving this series. As a rider who loves motorcycles and scooters and have had many of each, I enjoy seeing how you get on with the Tao Tao. I love my Vespa GTS300, and I am not ashamed to be seen on it! LOL! Don't risk you life any more on this thing. You have already proven that is it not worth buying. We don't want to see you hurt, when you have already proven it is not something one should purchase.
Hello there! You sir give me a lot information in perspective. Thank you!
Can you derestrict the scooter so it will be a bit faster?
Members of my group do ride taotao scooters, your series is very informative, i shared this vid with the group.
Amazing review!
I have both those problems hence why I am watching. I either walk or drive my "Pony". I am having starting issues right now. Checked plug, changed carburetor, check battery, fuel and vaccuum lines, check and made sure petcock was working. Its 1:15 in the morning and I'm about to go check the valve lashings. I'm at my wits end. Cdi is probably my next buy in a week when I can afford it. Anyways going back to your video on valve lashings. Any advice is much appreciated.
TYVM you just made me look at a buddy ...
I recently got this scooter, im on 130 kilometres. A couple of times, my knee hit the keys in the ignition and turned off the scooter while riding it. I'm 5'9''. I'd say it's fun to ride, but I'd definitely recommend a helmet.
Team BZ I’m 5”8 and I hit my knees to I’m on 714 miles I have a different version same chassis different company only had one problem which was when the kill switch killed spark so I umpluged the kick stand kill start
I owned this type of moped (it's a generic model sold under different names - mine was a Jinlun JL50) and the best way to get the best out of them is to change out all the Chinese service items as they are truly poor quality. The bike itself is not as bad as some people say and that little 50cc GY6 engine is very tough. Regret selling mine..
Killed me with the Jessica bit 🤣🤣.
Just found your channel while learning about scooters. Recently picked up a 1981 Honda Express SR (not currently running). Your channel has been an unexpected pleasure on this new journey (never owned a motorbike before)! The videography and production is excellent 👌. Thank you for the free education and enjoyable content 👍.
As for a content suggestion. I would love to see a restoration project series. These older bikes still have a lot of love to give and I would enjoy seeing you tackle such a project with your delivery style.
I've had my tao tao pony 50 since 2020 and put just about 5000 miles on it and the only issue I've had is needing to chance the cdi box after 4500 miles with a 80cc big bore kit installed
Thanks for making me smile!
I totally get your feeling vulnerable on the small scooter/bike. I've found over 30 years of riding that wearing one of those dayglo vests like some police bikers wear has an effect of causing cagers to back off. Also, time to mount the gopro to your helmet and start reporting the idiots. (I know, you don't have time for that). I applaud your tenacity keeping this experiment going...^^
Great video production man. Love it.
Had same problem with the centerstand grinding in the corners. And did have the Jam nuts for the steering come loose too. I did have to change the flywheel and the stator also. And a cdi too. And only had the scoot for a year and said f it.
That was a really good summary. Maybe you can make a series where you live with another cheep motorcycle l, something like one of those 125 cc bikes. Eventually showing reliability and viability of cheap transportations
Would be cool to see how cool u can make it ? Upgrading it it
I've really been interested in this series, mysteriously having never ridden or owned a scooter, I gravitate to all things mechanical. I have learned through being an automotive technician for 25 years that you definitely get what you pay for. I look forward to seeing your 2000km service video. I would be interested in seeing you build it into something useful.
It's way past that. Trust me!
I think that you've basically learned what you wanted to learn. If you need to cancel this experiment for your own peace of mind, please do so by all means.
Thanks for all your detailed videos on Tao scooters. I have a pony and wrench and ride the hell out of it
I wonder if the quality on a 2008 scooter I have is different from a Tao Tao being made by a different manufacture called Taizhou Chuanl but is almost an identical chassis. Despite it being pretty old and was given to me because it wasn't working anymore, it didn't take much to get it running again and a lot of the original equipment still works perfectly. It has roughly 1600 miles on it so it hasn't been rode on for a long time for it's age and probably sat for a long time but it hasn't shown to be as trouble prone as the Tao Tao in your video.
Sell it to a UT kid who lives on campus and wants to get to and from the 6th St bars.
I'm kidding. Sort of.
We'll forgive you if you dip out.
I found Austin to be more uptight than it's reputation.
And I was there during winter break.
I have heard traffic has gotten a lot worse since I was there in 2000.
Great video.
Can those scooters make it up steep hills?
Not without slowing to a crawl!
I broke the key off in one that I owned for about 3 weeks in college one semester. It took me about 4 minutes to learn how to hotwire and then hotwire all while removing the handlebar lock. Just something to think about.
Maybe tune it and make it run faster in order to continue this experiment longer/safer and just see how many miles you can get out of the scooter. Great series by the way!!!
When you played 1000 miles on piano 🤣🤣🤣🤣
Great review
I'm changing steering barings on my wifes 150 tao tao today,they are shot at 5906mi
Hey Garrett... When are we gonna get another update on this thing.. I'm about to catch up to your final video milage and wonder if you found any other trouble spots...I just crossed 2000 km today( that I've managed to put on since getting it registered in May)... Your videos have been an awesome guide for this thing and I'm trying to get to 3000 km before it starts to get cold and snow here...I take mine on 40-50 mile day trips on a regular basis and wonder what the next failure may be... Keep up the good videos man... Have a good day!
I've got a used GY6 clone and it's fine. I bought it used at around 6000 miles. I have about 7500 on it. I've changed the engine oil, the gear oil and replaced the air filter. I bought it used without a rear lug nut too which was fun. It gets me around my large city just fine and nobody has ever given me a problem because in my area, we also carry so road rage is pretty pointless especially throwing objects.
The people upset at your speed are vehicles that can barely do the speed your scooter is doing and if they slow down, they risk breaking down. I've actually seen this many times. However the previous owner did some modifications on it, I suspect, such as unrestricting it so it keeps up on the main road's 30mph traffic. I can push 40mph on some roads but I need a new rear tire.
It's a fine option in 2022 with gas prices the way it is but I wouldn't have my mother, aunt, grandmother, etc. use this as a means of transportation. It's good for somebody 20-40 years old who is trying to save some money and needs transportation.
I have about 100 miles on a 150cc scooter I got for $1400 delivered, an X-Pro Tahiti 150. Senling is the manufacturer. So far no problems and amazingly it hauls me around quite well (I weigh 300) I would like to find out what more I need to do to maintain it, not just oil changes. I bought it for the back of my RV, but am really loving riding it. I have 2 motorcycles, a Yamaha 1100 and a Suzuki 800, but this lightweight little thing is so much fun, I just really can't stop with it.
The "intended user" is a person that had their driver licensed revoked. In my city they used to refer to the Tao Tao Pony as a "DUI Scooter" Now as of 2016 all scooters require a license and insurance to operate.
You should really consider forcing the throttle wide open and saying how long it takes to blow up
As a Texan I'm offended by long distance measurements based on other states.
God bless you man. Excellent review for this. The baked Potaotao is not worth your life on any road imo. I also appreciate your skills and informed comparisons to other scoots. Good jokes on top of everything 👏👏👏
Thanks for your kind words! Ride safe!
Can't wait for modification segment of the experiment
I have the same scooter in blue it’s definitely the owners ive had 0 issues bought used with 70 miles on it and it ran like it was brand new at a dealership it’s been extremely reliable and amazing on gas also just had the performance clutch kit from rolling wrench shipped out I will be installing it in a week or so once i have the time to put it on over the weekend bus with 200+ added on mileage its been an amazing buy from fb market also just a screw turn on the carb allowed my scooter to hit 40 on flats and 35 - 37mph uphill
You make an incredibly valid point there with regards cost - ever part of that bike generates someone profit - from the frame to the fasteners to the importers to the end retailer- so your $760 bike may actually only cost $400 to make - probably less.
Then you think just how cheap / crappy must the components be to make it yet still make money on the sale.
MOPED means Motor AND Pedals.
So if you ran out of gas, you could pedal it.
An example of this is the Peugeot 103SP.
I'm not sure how that term got molested by various states over the years, but that is what a "Moped" really is.
I understand the gold paint was not as flashy as you anticipated so how about gluing thousands of fake diamonds on it like it was meant for Liberace.
I got a blue 2020 Tao Tao 50 cc ..I drive to town and back every day ..Its so wonderful ..Mine is beautiful blue.Mine cruises comfortably .Feels like riding on a couch.I think it's a high tech scooter.Mine boogies fast ..Mine has tons of power.Mine looks just like this one in this video..
Garret, what print scooter manual do you recommend for overall scooter repair? I find PDF's difficult to work with.
i actually havent found a manual i like yet. I've collected everything i know about these bike just by working on them for the last 12 years or so. I am however working on my own book of chinese scooter knowlege. look for it soon in a bookstore near you!
@@Scooter_911 Sounds good! Is it nearing completion?
If it looks like a duck, sounds like a duck and acts like a duck it’s a duck. Honestly, just having the steering coming broke from the factory is enough.
Have one myself, happy with the purchase. It's top speed totally stock with me 175 lbs 6' tall is 47 mph. Idk why people keep saying 30-35 mph. It's cheap but better than walking 🚶
I love your videos...Have you ever ridden a Adly GTA50? I'm having an issue with mine and as far as I've seen not much on upgrades for it either. When I first got the bike it was awesome. Now what it is doing is shutting down on me and it seems that it is locking up when it shutdown. Then it won't start for a while. Now it seems that it will not hold a charge!
Someone please help!
Yes in fact I used to work at a dealership that sold Adlys! At the end of the day they are just standard "Chinese scooters". However the GTA is a 2-stoke and it uses a "minarelli" 50cc motor so all of those 70cc kits and hop up parts bolt right on!
@@Scooter_911 Thank you! That is very helpful my friend. 👍 Keep up the good work!
So can you tell me what upgrades I can use for this scooter? I've even tried looking up the number on the scooter and can't find anything on it!?
Best piano face ever!
haha yep that was lesson # 1
quick heads up, the transmission does not shift
its a CVT, it just slowly goes trough the ratios on an infinitely fine slider
The movable face of the driven pulley is attached to the other half of the driven pulley with guide rollers that ride in a spline on the movable part. The shape of this spline determines at what rate the rear pulley will expand. Some manufacturers will make a bent spline rather than a straight one to make handling the scooter at low speeds easier. This gives more forgiving power control at lower speeds. You can feel the bend in the spline as a sort of low and high gear.
As a guy whos family used one of these as daily transport for 2 years, I've not seen better advice. I always tell people if you're going on 40mph roads, or youre heavy, a 50cc scooter is outright dangerous. You have no power to get anywhere, pull out to merge with traffic, anything. Ive personally never seen failures like yours, but they don't surprise me. You gotta really know what youre getting into. I find that if you truly daily commute going over 30, just get a 150cc. Hell, I'd say the best beginner scooter is a Vino 125. Not scary with power, low seat, lots of storage, great breaks, but it can do so much more than these little 50s. Id push people to buy a used Yammie or Honda over these. They're great scooters if you need them, but you could get a 150 for 200 more dollars, and be so much better off.
I totally agree with you. I had both a Honda Elite 50 and Yamaha Vino 125. Did derestricting of the Elite and Dr Pully weight and variaters on both. I get that the Elite is a Honda and has better build quality. It would do 40 and get there reasonably well for me at 175lbs, but I stuck mainly to back roads I learned through commuting on bicycles. The Vino would get to and cruise at 60 nicely and I never felt uncomfortable on any road but country highways and interstates. Yes, I'm a little adventurous in my travels. I recommend going with at least 125cc and if on a budget, go with Kymco. I've got a Kymco Spade and although the fit and finish isn't as good as the Japanese brands, the quality is where it counts.
The idea of the 50 cc is no insurance. Title fee. And motor cycle license. Bill.
I understand the stress I have 2 scooters a 250 and a 150. They are my daily drivers yet it seems to keep both of them running I'm working on something once or twice a month if not once a week. A 50 was great for me in the big city where I wouldn't hit roads faster then 45 ever yet where I live now it's 55 most areas even though the 150 hits 53 and holds it well drivers get so angry and hateful. I can understand if you have other options for transportation use them.
I've been shopping for a 50cc trike and Icebear seems to be the only option in that area, but after doing some research on Google maps and watching some videos about them it would probably meet my needs/wants, and I'll probably learn a lot taking care of it.
A few friends of mine all agreed to a 50cc scooter race around his property. I bought a nearly new (about 75km on the odo) TaoTao atm 50 that I rode for a few months around town before race day. Finally, the morning of the race it had some issue with the ignition system, and was not able to even start the race. I'm so pissed at it I'm not going to bother selling it. It's going to the metal scrap yard where it belongs this week. Didn't even last 190km until it died. Death to the TaoTao ATM 50.
i have a secondhand taotao 100cc,the previous owner make it a deqth trap.i have restored it 85% and never done anything to the engine and im using it 4months as a daily it doesnt give me any problems